The Red Panda And The Fox

• Caitlin Parker, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2018

My red fur glistened in the morning sun, the black paw pads under my feet burning from the rays of light. As I lifted my head, I opened my beady eyes. I gazed down at my fur and paws. It was my first day of adult hood, I was three years old.
I rose up and stretched. My muscles flexed and felt more able to move about. I leaped down the tree and onto the land below. I gazed around until I saw a patch of squashed grass and fading paw prints of dogs.
"Jules! Jules! They're coming! Ru-!"
I shook my head. "Leave me alone!" I shouted to myself. "Why me? What did I do?"
I collapsed onto the ground and my eyelids forced themselves shut.
I awoke to the smell of fish breath. The rancid smell running through my nostrils as though it were in a marathon. I slowly opened my eyes and stood before me was an orange-furred fox. His pelt was lava, shimmering under the sun like smelting gold. A shiver ran down my spine.
He sat and gazed at my eyes. Then he sat on his haunches and panted like a dog.
"You... okay?" His delayed and scratchy voice somehow soothed me and my body relaxed.
"Uh. Yeah, yeah. I think so."
"Good. A vulture or something was eying you up, so I... 'took care of him'."
He glanced behind me for a split second. As quickly as possible, I followed his gaze and saw a black figure lying in the grass.
"That's a crow." I said.
"Well, you don't need to get technical."
I stifled a laugh. He looked at me then cocked his head. "What animal are you?" He asked, confused but intrigued.
"A red panda. What about you?" I knew what he was, but I thought I should just make sure.
"I'm a fox!" He answered proudly.
"Okay."
We sat there in silence for a moment. Finally, the fox broke the silence. Unfortunately, it was after it got awkward.
"Well... I better be off."
"Bye."
"You okay still?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep!"
"You sure you're sure?"
It felt like an interrogation.
"Super sure?" He questioned.
"YES!" I yelled a little too loud. The birds in the trees cawed and flew away, flapping their wings hard to gain height.
I cowered in the grass. My foxy friend looked hurt. "Sorry." I mumbled. "I didn't mean to be that loud."
"Its okay. I know when I'm not wanted."
"Oh, don't be like that. Please! I'm sorry!" I begged.
"No! You're not sorry!" He growled.
I turned and raced back up the tree in fear that he'd eat me. I watched him from above as his ears folded down. He was sad, that was all I could tell from that height. He turned and slowly padded away. Then I never saw him again, or did I?