~Whisper~

     Night appointed Jay as the new deputy, how in the name of our guardian foxes does he think Jay, a new trainee, can stick up the Deputy rank? It's absurd! He's not even a real hunter or fighter! I look over to Jay, his mouth is open agape in surprise and anxiety. His eyes were flaring with horror. 

The crowd was bustling with comments and concerns.

"No way! Jay is too young!"

"He's just a trainee!"

"Is he going to be able to hold all that pressure? What is Night thinking?"

   I walk over to Jay, flinching as I touched him. 

"You'll do just fine." I reassured the newly appointed deputy, Jay gulped nodding as he started at me, eyes panic stricken and full of pressure. Night launched off the tall stone.

"Jay Fire." Night claimed using his full name.

"Sir." Jay diminished his eyes with determination.

"I expect a lot from you." Night returned the look. Jay smirked.

"Definitely Sir." Jay spoke with a slight shake. Night nodded, heading towards his den. Jay exhales loudly, all the determination draining from his eyes to a more exhausted feeling. I give him a small smile while he returns it with his own awkward one.  Jay makes a firm stance, clearing his throat. Stress flashing in his eyes every once in a while.

"I can do this, I can do this." Jay whisper repeatedly to himself, I chuckle at his technique. Joining him at the preypile. I pick up a thrush for Jay and two mice for myself. I strode towards Jay, who was packing back and forth in front of his den. Repeating his saying, zoning out.

     I look at him in amusement, snickering as he bumped into me, his head snapped up quickly. 

"S-sorry Whisper!" Jay stuttered. I chuckle at him, lowering my head in a bowing position. 

"I picked the loveliest thrush out of the pile for you your Majesty." I say with a royal tone. I hear Jay giggle, picking up the offering,

"Why thank you Sir Whisper." He charmed with a wink. I release myself from the position, bouncing next to Jay's side as he sauntered to the preypile, his shoulders heavy with pressure. He slowly eats his thrush, plucking out the feather and spiting them to the side. I watch as Jay gnaws in the bird, his eyes droopy with exhaustion,

"So uh." I try to spark a conversation. "It's-its a big day, right?" I struggle to search for the words. Jay looks at me with his sad hazel eyes. Nodding slowly before turning his head to return to his thrush. I gobble up the mice I chose for myself, licking my lips in satisfaction. Next to me, Jay yawned as he stretched. 

"I'm going to bed." He confessed, I nodded my head.

"Have a well night's sleep your majesty!" I called over as he trekked towards den. Jay gave a small laugh.

"You too Sir Whisper." He smiled.

I stargazed for a bit, wondering what my guardianfoxes were thinking. Do they believe my friends and I could fulfill the prophecy? Did they think we were too young? What are their opinions on Jay being the new deputy? I brought my thoughts to a stop, slumping in my den, giving a sigh as I rested my head on my paws.

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"Help." A weak voice called out. I whipped my head around, only to be met with a soft breeze.

"Hello?" I say, straining my ears to receive an answer.

"Help." The voice came again, a bit clearer. I darted through the forest, the voice's whimpers getting louder and louder. My paws hit something warm, sending me tumbling through the dry leaves, leaving me dazed for a moment. I look at what a ran over. It was a fox, a brown fox with  tan highlights. The body staggered trying to stand up. I gasp as the face revealed.

"Leaf." My mouth hanged, not believing my eyes. Pawsteps pittered on the ground, coming closer. A gray blur wooshed by, taking me by surprise as the animal pinned me, 

"Whisper! Boy, I am glad to see you!" Jay chirped. I giggle at his kit like behavior.

"I can say to you Your Majesty." I chuckle, pushing him off me. Joy is here too, she smiles at me. 

"Help." Leaf says from behind, intruppting our  reunion.

"Oh yeah!" I'm struck with realization, darting next to Leaf's side, her pelt is ragged and she has a nicked ear. Leaf is thin, her eyes are empty and emotionless as she continues to cry out.

"Help." She yelps, not seeming to notice my friends and I.

"Leaf." Joy gasps, eyes filling with sorrow as she takes Leaf's over side, sitting down. Jay rushes over, sniffing the former deputy. His eyes diminish.

"What?"

Jay looks up, his pupils dilating.

"Frostpack." He breathes, his tone holding rage. I grimace at the thought of Leaf being slaughtered by Frostpack.

"Are you sure?" Joy asked, cocking her head. "It could be anything from a badger to a bald pelt. Do you have any evidence."

I turned my attention to Jay, who nodded his head. His snout bared in a snarl,

"Yes." He answered nodding towards Joy. "Hey Joy could you come here." Jay commanded.

"Of course, why would I ever not listen to my deputy?" Joy batted her eyes, her tail swishing up the leaves behind her, Jay scoffed playfully, it left as soon as it came as a serious face layered Jay's more serious one. Jay nodded, my ears perked up as I ran to see Jay's inspection.

"Look here." Jay said, his claw pointing towards the gruesome marks that stained Leaf's pelt. Leaf flinching as Jay accidentally came into contact with her flank.

"Help." She whimpered.

"Sorry." Jay apologized urgently. Returning to her pelt,

"Match these scratches to the ones on Joy's shoulder." Jay compared, his paw gesturing to Joy's pelt, faint scratches still fading away meddled into her pelt. They were similar to the ones on Leaf's pelt.

"These scratches display the same width and deepness." Jay explained, his eyes darting from Joy to Leaf. I observed the cuts, tracing them in the air.

"You're right." I snarl, anger raising in my voice.

"If you still don't believe me look at her claws." Jay recommended. I looked down, her shredded claws held tufts of fur, I sniffed them, wishing I had Soi's amazing sniffing abilities as I try to smell over the scent of blood, it's metal scent making me wrinkle my nose.

"I guess your right." Joy realized in disbelief.

"Unfortunately, yes." Jay shook his head in disapproval.

"Help!" A more fear-struck voice rang through the forest. Joy traipsed towards the sound without a second thought. Jay and I right in her tail. She growls to as stop as we are meet with the brink on the cliff. Twig and Oak clinging on the edge, tears streaming down their faces.

I gasp at the two, scrambling over to help them. Jay and Joy right beside me. I tug at Twig's paw, my legs wobbly from the weight and movement as Twig digs her back claws into the cliff's wall, trying to support her weight. I finally pull her over, Twig gasping for air while her flanks heaved.

I look at her, her pelt is messily groomed, eyes were filled with exhaustion and her usually fluffy ear tufts were clotted with debris. She look at me,

"Thanks." She panted, managing to crack a small smile.

"Don't mention it." I grin, Jay and Joy heaved Oak over the cliff. The three of the, collapsing from exhaustion.

"Where's Dawn?" Jay piped up, Oak and Twig's eyes flooded with sorrow, Jay flattened his ears to his head, his head turning repeatedly to look at the too.

"She fell down." Twig confessed tearfully, Oak sobbing quietly. My heart sunk. N-no. I run to the edge of the cliff.

"Dawn!!" I shout, my heart shattering as the echo carried on into the oblivion. "Dawn." I repeat more weak, calling out my She's name as my legs giving out under me as I lay down on the cold surface of the ground. "No. She. I bawl, tears invading my vision. Jay and Joy join me in mourning, our tears wetting the dirt below us.

Jay nuzzles his nose in my flank, his tears dampening my fur, but I couldn't  care less. He gives out an uneasy breath, his sobbing becoming more sloppy, them becoming louder and uncontrollable. After what seemed like moons Jay sniffled, taking control of his tears.

"I never knew her that well, but she was really nice. She knew how to cheer me up and it was like she knew me her whole life, she was like my She for the past  moon."Jay weeped, stopping every once in a while to sniffle.

"Dawn was amazing, whenever I was sick or injured she would bring me prey." Joy whispered quietly.

"She didn't deserve to die. Neither did Leaf." I mourned, looking down at my paws.

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"Dawn!" I yelp as my head snaps up. I look around, I'm still in my den. 

"Whisper." A young voice sounds from outside my den. 

"Huh?" I'm still a bit wary from sleeping.

"Whisper, did you get the dream?" A grey fox enters my den, Jay. I let myself relax, 

"The one with Leaf,  Twig, Oak and....Dawn?" I supposed. He nods, 

"Lets go, their could be some time and we can rescue them." Jay bounces around like an excited kit. I shake my head.

"No Jay, you remember how Leaf was there? She was still alive, she's dead now, theirs a chance that Twig and Oak are dead too." I explain, my voice drooping with sorrow. 

"Oh." Jay's jumping stops as his tail halts to a stop while his ears flatten to his head. 

"Y-yeah your probably right." Jay murmurs sadly. I frown at the young deputy.

"I'm sorry Jay." I apologize. He shakes his head,

"It's alright." He replies, I'm not too sure though. He grumbles something not loud enough for me to hear. I set my head on my paws again, dozing away as I felt sleep overcome me.

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I'm awaken by the shrilling call of a bird. I snap awake in an instant. Slowly setting my head down once more, trying to catch a few more winks of sleep. A yowl rings out snapping my attention, the tiredness draining away.

"Jay is gone!" Soi yells.

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