Lexi could feel herself drifting off to sleep and she struggled to stay awake. Across the room, the others were dozing peacefully, but Aldah has still not returned. Lexi felt her pack and feeling that it was warm and dry, she begin to refill it. As she was folding a small blanket, Cedric appeared beside her. She glanced at him questionly. "I thought the fire might need a bit more wood, but it seems fine." he explained.
"Yes, I have been keeping an eye on it." she answered.
"Are you waiting for your friend to return?" he asked.
She nodded. "I'm fixing to go look for her, but I don't know why she left like that."
"Maybe the subject bothered her." he suggested.
"Maybe," she answered thoughtfully. "But I don't know why. She loves fighting and war and battles and all that other stuff." Lexi had finished packing most of her belongings; only a few items remained closer to the hearth. "Can you hand me my stone over there?" she asked Cedric.
"Of course." answered the silver-furred fox.
He passed her the sharpening stone and several unfinished arrow points, which she stuffed into her pack.
"This is nice. 'Alexandra Quickpaws'." She looked up to see him holding a beautifully carved wooden apple.
"Give that here!" she snapped.
"Where did you get it?" he ashed suspiciously as he set it in her hand.
"It was given to me by someone very dear." she answered as she gently rapped it in a cloth and placed it into her pocket. "Someone who was murdered by that evil waste of air."
"Your family?" he asked.
"Is Alexandra Quickpaws your given name?"
Lexi had had enough of his questions. "If it is or if it isn't, why should I tell you?" she growled. "It won't change anything! You can't bring them back."
Leaving Cedric with a hurt look on his face, she slung her pack over her shoulder and quickly left the room.
The cold night breeze greeted Lexi as she left the inn and headed towards the river. She could hear the waves gently rippling against the bank and the leaves rustling in the trees, but no insects filled the darkness with songs. Above, the moon shone brightly and the star twinkled in the sky.
She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Aldah.
"Where have you been?" she demanded.
"I was feeling a little dizzy, like I was coming down with something." she answered. "I think that I just needed some fresh air."
"For two hours?" Lexi asked.
The rat looked at her in disbelief. "It has not been that long, surely."
Lexi shrugged. "Close to it."
"Well, did I miss anything?" she asked. "Nothing much. Just battle planing and all."
"Are you still gonna kill him?" Aldah asked.
"Kill who, the searat?"
Aldah nodded.
"Of course. I have to."
"Don't do it, Lexi. Please." her friend pleaded. "If you die, how will that help anyone? You're supposed to forgive, remember?"
"Some things can never be forgiven." Lexi hissed. "And since when did you care so much about my safety?"
"It's not that!" she bared her teeth. "But you stand no chance against the searat."
"I'm not gonna challenge him to a duel. All it will take is a well aimed shot or a little poison and he's dead." Lexi scoffed. "You really underestimate me!"
"Well, when something happens to you, it will be your very own fault. Don't say I didn't warn you!" With a hiss, Aldah staled away from the angry vixen. Lexi watched the rat's retreating form until she disappeared inside the inn.
Lexi stood on the edge of the dock as she gazed up at the night sky. Many stars shone in the darkness, and every now and then one would twinkle and die. But after a moment, it was impossible to notice that one was missing. Shivering from the cold, she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and buried her hands in her pockets. She was surprised to feel the wooden apple, as she had already forgotten that she had put it there. After unwrapping it, she held it in her hand.
He mother, who had loved to carve, had made it from a tree that her father had cut down. She had planned to make Lexi's younger brother one also. But that was before tragedy struck.
Now, it was all that she had to remind her of her past life.
"Lexi, I want to talk to you."
Startled, she looked up to see Cedric striding towards her. "What do you want?" she demanded.
"Can I ask you a question? Without you getting mad?" he asked hesitantly as he stopped beside her.
"Go ahead." she said with a sigh.
"Is your name Alexandra Quickpaws?"
"Not anymore."
"But it was?"
"Yes, it was. What's with all the questions about my name?"
"Because," he said with a grin. "I know your parents."
Lexi tilted her head, not sure if she had heard him correct. "Pardon me?"
"Your parents, Hiden and Catherine, are alive." he continued as she starred at him, her eyes wide and her heart pounding. "Hiden is our harvest overseer and your mother is a good friend of my mother."
Lexi could not say anything. She just looked at him in shock.
Finally, she choked out, "And Ocran ... is he alive?"
The silver fox nodded his head. "They are staying in Zamari for as long as they can to help prepare for battle."
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" she exclaimed as she throw her arms around Cedric.
"So, you're not still mad at me?" he asked.
"No, of'course not!" she exclaimed as she stepped back with a grin on her face. "How could I ever be mad at you? My family are alive! Thank you so much!"
Although she slept little that night, Lexi awoke early the next morning.
Before they left the inn, she approached Aldah to speak to her, but was ignored by the rat.
It seemed to the vixen that Aldah was always angry nowadays. In no time at all, the seven creatures were rowing down the river. Lexi, eager to see her family again, rowed as best as she could.
Lexi pricked her ears. She could hear a roar in the distance, gradually growing louder.
"What's that sound?" Barwick asked.
"That," Ozzy said, "is the Falls."
As they rounder a bend in the river, the river seemed to disappeared from sight. All the wile, the roar grew louder and the river's current became swifter. "Head for land!" Ozzy shouted.
Together, they rowed towards the bank.
When they reached the land, Ozzy and Cedric dragged the boat to higher ground.
"I'd help too." Rippler said as he and the others backed out of the way. "But my shoulder is still healing. Don't want to mess it up." Leaving the boat well above the tide-line, they headed into the woods. Although the trees were nearly leafless, little sunlight reached the forest floor.
Soon they stood at the edge of the dark woods. Ahead was a short strip of windswept brush and grass, which ended in a deep ravine that stretched as far as Lexi could see.
"Careful." Cedric warned as they neared the edge. Down below, the river rushed along the canyon floor. Rippler gave a low whistle. "Has anyone ever been down there?" he asked.
Cedris shook his head. "Not willingly." he answered. "But a few careless fools have fallen to their death by straying to close to the edge."
"How did this get here?" Barwick asked in amazement.
"It was made by an earthquake very long ago."Ozzy answered as he led them along a safe distance from the edge. "The king of Gildan at that time was very superstitious and feared the canyon, so he would not allow any of his subjects to cross. Zamari was founded by a tribe of nomad foxes who settled in the deserted land. Once the new king of Gildan decided to reclaim it, Zamari was already established, and however small the kingdom was, they were willing to fight back. After several battles and many losses on both sides, a truce was put in place. And except for a few skirmishes with neighboring tribes, we have remained at peace."
"There has only been one battle that we have suffered losses in my lifetime, " Cedric added, "And that was when a gang of bandits broke into the treasury."
"I can't wait to get there!" Barwick exclaimed. "I have never seen a real castle before."
By now they had reached the crossing. Lexi starred at it doubtfully. The wooden bridge was narrow and held in place by ropes.
"Is it safe?" Archie asked.
"Yep." Ozzy answered. "And the only way to reach the other side."
When the others hesitated, he clapped his hands. "All right, come on. One at a time. Slowly."
Lexi took a deep breath and stepped out onto the bridge. Although she was not normally bother by heights, the thought of falling to her death below made her dizzy. The bridge swayed as she slowly made her way across. After what seemed like forever, she reached the other side.
"Come on!" she called to Aldah. "It ain't so bad."
Soon the rat, who had been unusually quiet that day, joined Lexi on the other side.
"Lexi," she begain as they waited for the others to cross. "Are you still gonna try to kill Aviso?"
"I don't understand why you care so much." Lexi answered with a sigh. "But that was what I was trying to tell you this morning. Cedric said--"
"That worthless fox." Aldah hissed angrily. "He is going to get us killed!"
"Don't you dare say that!" Lexi exclaimed. "Going to Zamari is our choice and my idea. I never asked you to come along."
Aldah stepped closer, forcing the vixen backwards.
"And you were all happy when you heard that money was involved." Lexi continued.
"Gold won't help you when you're dead." Aldah answered.
"Oh, is that it?" Lexi countered. "You're scared?"
"There is no since in fighting when you have no chance of winning!"
"If you think like that then of course you will loose! Where is you courage?"
"There is no chance against my father!"
"Your father?" Lexi questioned.
"Yes, you fool!" the rat snarled. "My father, King Aviso!"
Stunned, Lexi starred at her. "I-I didn't know-" she stammered.
"And you will not slay him!"
Before Lexi had time to react, Aldah shoved her. Unbalanced, she stumbled back.
The rat's cold eyes was the last thing she saw before she fell into the ravine.
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