Chapter 1
Akira’s sides heaved with every breath as she dragged herself across the sunlit sand. Her mind groped for a hint of rememberance on her situation, only to be left hopeless.
Where am i?
Where is my family?
I can’t feel my paws.
The thoughts drifted in her head as her brooding eyes dropped to meet her paws. Thick, red fluid seeped down her legs and pooled beneath her, leaving a sickening crimson trail in her wake. The repulsive reek of it - the blood welling out of the jagged gash that tore across her body, starting at her shoulder and carving its way down to her torso, the skin twisted and raw.
Her limbs gave way beneath her as she slumped heavily into the ground, her body limp and almost lifeless. The slow rise and fall of her chest grew shallower, her vision beginning to blur as she slipped into unconciousness.
Drowsily, Akira’s eyes fluttered open, her senses returning. the throbbing in her side had ceased, yet her body still felt stiff. Pupils contorting to slits, she sprang up into a defensive stand at the four unfamiliar fennec foxes surrounding her. Her paws skidded the sand as she backed away, her teeth baring in a snarl.
“Who are you?!” She prompted, the fur on her neck prickling.
The one on the left was a young reynard (male), his fur a pattern of light brown and white, his ice blue gaze brimming with fear. He was frail and skinny, his trembling body cowering behind the tan-coloured vixen (female);she seemed to be slightly taller than him, yet she was still young. Excitement and thrill shone in her eyes, a light green colour.
The two reynards on the left looked about Akira’s age, one of them had light grey fur, speckled with dark grey. A gnarly scar tore across his right ear; his navy-blue gaze locked on Akira, his expression illegible. The one next to him took a step forward to face Akira, his fur a light and dark brown pattern. the lack of hostility in his dark green eyes made Akira’s expression soften. Standing in front of Akira, his jaw parted to speak.
“My name is River, the healer of the sand tribe,” acquainted River, his gaze resting on Akira. “we found you lying on the ground bearing a nasty shoulder wound, and so I bandaged it up with some cobwebs and dried weeds.”
The fragile reynard on the left shuddered, his nose scrunching up in disgust “eugh! J-just thinking about it makes me gag..” he stammered in his high-pitched voice. The young vixen beside him flicked his ear with her tail.
“Dont worry, Scruffy, Just think happy thoughts! That way you’ll forget about it quicker!” she giggled, her teeth baring in an embracing smile before she turned to face Akira, clawing at the sand with excitement, “Are you gonna be part of our tribe? Please join our tribe! I can’t wait to show you the tribes burrow! Where did you come from? Are you an outsider? I can’t wait—“ her words were cut short when the grey reynard slapped his bushy tail onto her muzzle.
“Quit your rambling, Cecelia. I bet on my left ear you’ve just confused the newcomer even more.” He ordered, a slight tinge of playfulness in his tone as he released his tail from Cecelia’s mouth.
“Er.. sorry, Stone.” she chuckled, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Akira’s puzzled gaze flickered from one fennec fox to another, “Um, what’s a tribe?”
“We’ll talk about that once we get to The Tribes Burrow,” answered Stone. “are you able to walk?”
The sweltering sunlight had almost completely vanished when Akira and her newest companions set out to find their way to what they called ‘The Tribes Burrow’. Stone was in the lead, his snout brushing against the sand as he crept forward steadily, in search for its familiar scent. Akira and Scruffy were padding close behind Stone, followed by Cecelia and River. Akira had already begun to notice that River was observing her every move, keeping an intent eye on her wounded shoulder. Why do they care so much for somebody that they had only met a moment ago? Had they always grown up never having to fend for themselves?
Back where she was raised - fennec foxes had always lived in groups, but it only consisted of none other than close family. Food was a precious commodity, and was almost always cherished over comrades. So why did River care so much about her wound? She was completely fine as far as his concern!
The tension in the air spoke for the silence. Nobody had uttered a word, nobody had even breathed the name of another. It seemed as if everybody was too busy concentrating on different matters: Stone had his full attention on tracking down the tribes burrow; Scruffy was trembling with anxiety, his fearful gaze flickering around the empty horizon of sand and dried out bushes. River was examining the severity of Akira’s wound, and Cecelia - well… Cecelia was practically bouncing on her paws with enthusiasm.
All of this seemed so complex.. What even is a tribes burrow? Akira had never even come across the thought of any ‘tribes’ existing in this vast expanse of land.
After what seemed like an eternity, the silence was finally broken when Stone raised his head, his paws scraping sand off of the lip of a tunnel. “Found it,” He remarked before backing to the side, allowing Akira to pass. “Vixens first.” Chuckled Stone as Akira’s eyes widened with surprise.
“Oh, shut it!” She batted him in the ear with her forepaw before turning to stalk through the tunnels entrance. Trying her best to ignore Stone’s taunts, she pressed her belly against the ground, making her way through the tunnel with caution. It hadn’t been long before she emerged from the other side, blinking grit from her eyes as undistinguished chatter rang in her ears.
Almost immediately Akira was struck with awe at the enormous clearing in front of her, enclosed by thick layers of gritty sand to prevent the burrow from collapsing. It hadn’t taken long for her to realise that there were dozens of fennec foxes glaring at her, half with hostility, and half with curiosity.
Relief weakened Akira’s limbs as the others emerged from the tunnel just behind her.
“Welcome to the Tribes burrow.” River padded up beside Akira, the corners of his lip lifting to form a slight smile.
Akira was too busy examining her surroundings to notice that there was another stranger heading towards her and her companions.
“Psst, Akira!” Hissed Cecelia in her ear, gently nudging her in the side.
Awakened with a jolt, Akira quickly realised that the fennec foxes surrounding her - including her new comrades - had their heads bowed low in a respectful manner to the vixen padding toward her. Frantically, Akira imitated them in a panic.
The esoteric vixen halted in front of her, her mystifying amber gaze resting on Akira.
The vixen’s pelt was a slightly darker shade of tan than Akira’s, her right ear pierced with what seemed to be a canine tooth.
“River, Stone, who is this outsider you’ve brought into The Tribes Burrow?” Questioned the vixen solemnly.
“Uhh.. M-My name’s Akira! Nice to meet you..” Stammered Akira, her heart pounding violently under the judgemental glare of the intimidating vixen looming over her.
The fennec foxes around them had their ears perked up, eavesdropping on the conversation.
What a bunch of nosy beetle-brains!
Parting his jaws to speak, River padded forward to face the vixen.
“I apologise for bringing her inside, Viola; we were out for some air and spotted her unconscious, carrying a shoulder wound that looked like it would leave a lifelong scar.”
Viola’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Out for some air? You were gone for a long, long time.” Viola’s voice grew sharp; Akira felt a sickening jolt of guilt in her stomach. Was this all because of her? Oh no..
They’re in trouble because of me!
River dipped his head in a polite manner, signing his respect to Viola.
“She was found quite a long way from the burrow, and it had taken some time to search for the correct herbs to tend to her wound.”
“Yeah! It’s not their fault.. it’s mine. I should’ve stayed out if your territory.” Akira sprang into a stand, her ears flattening against her head as she felt violas gaze on harden.
surprisingly, the brief fire in Viola’s eyes extinguished, and her expression softened.
“I like your spirit,” Viola’s lip curled on one side to form a smirk. “You’re willing to stand up and take blame for others, even though you look absolutely terrified.”
“You look hungry,” Viola observed her starved state, and beckoned with her paw towards the corner of the clearing. “Shall we get you something to eat?”
Akira’s paws shifted, bracing herself to walk as Viola turned. Signalling with her tail for Akira to follow, Viola padded deeper into the clearing.
Akira felt small and uncomfortable at the many gazes following her as she walked on, her paws shuffling with every step.
