~Joy~

         As we marched back to the pack's territories the thought clung to me. What do the dead leaves represent. I pressed my lips in a thin line as my ears drew back. What do they mean? I questioned myself over and over. 

"Joy, are you okay?" Whisper asked, snapping me out of my daze. I gave him an awkward smile. 

"Er- yes!" I exclaimed unexpectedly. 

"Y-yes," I repeat more gentle. "I'm just wondering what the dead leaves stand for."

      Jay joins us, nosing a rabbit towards us as he gestured us to eat.

"I had a dream where Firepack and Sunpack were fighting Frostpack. Dawn was there. I tried to speak to her but she ran through me." Jay confessed. Whisper scoffed. 

"Overall, Dawn is an ungrateful She. Of course she ignored you ." He huffed, Jay shook his head at the Firepack fighter. I brushed my tail on Whisper's shoulder, feeling him relax under my touch.

"No, she actually ran through me. As if I were a guardian fox or some sort of spirit." Jay pushed. I cock my head.

"And it wasn't a shared dream?" I inquired. Jay shook his head. 

"No."

"We are probably a few days away, if we make it snappy, we should be able to make it back to camp with decent time." I pointed out, Jay blinks at me.

"The dream could be correct." I add, Jay's ears perk up. He trots past Whisper and I, striding to a bundle of bushes. 

"Round two!" A voice growls springing at Jay. Taking the Deputy by surprise. Strike and his pack. I realize. 

"Battle formation!" Ray barks, the Sunpack foxes follow the order. I lash my tail, returning my gaze to Strike and Jay.

"You're outnumbered." Jay snarls, digging his claws into Strike's cheek. Bringing forth a yelp from the Frostpack deputy. Strike's muzzle peels into an wicked smile.

"It's not always what it seems." He grins, Strike throws his head back as he howls. Foxes with pelts a variety of colors dart from the bushes. A low rumble in their throats. Jay curls his muzzle to a grimace."Did you really think that we were going to let you get to your territory on time? Firepack's camp is as good as ours, maybe even better. So why not make it ours?." Strike barked, 

         Jay narrowed his eyes. Locking his eyes with me for a split second. Attack. His gaze said. I look at Whisper, he nods at me. I bunch up my hind quarters, crouching as I launched into two Frostpack foxes, them crying in fear as I hooked my claws into their soft under bellies. Whisper took on a Frostpack fox as Sunpack brutally attacked the rest. Blood and fur flying. I slashed my claws down on my enemies, earning pain filled yelps and whimpers. Their bodies fell limp as they gave in beneath me, their chests heaving and gasping for breath.

"Get out of my sight if you want to keep your lives." I threatened. They silently nodded, traipsing off in the forests. Others following them. Jay. I whip around my head, Strike looking into the water with a devilish smile. Did he...no. 

"Oh guardian foxes." I curse under my breath as I join Whisper. His eyes glossy and glazed with sadness and fear. 

"Opsie." Strike said, his tone holding no guilt. He shook his head while chuckling.

"Well, with the thin layer of fur, I'd say he's not going to make it easily. Good thing a Frostpack fox's fur is built for cool temperatures." He laughed. 

"You evil piece of badgerdu—" Whisper growled silently, his voice quivering with silent rage. The fighters tail lashed, he sprang at Strike, knocking the Deputy over as they barreled on the ground. 

"Whisper! He could still be alive! Stop wasting your time avenging for a fox's death you can't even prove!" I barked as I ran down the river.

"Go to the territories, Whisper will lead you there!" I called over my shoulder.

"But Jo-." The ginger fox started.

"Just do it!" I shrieked as I ran off. The river's soft trickling from earlier evolved into crashing of water. My eyes searched the water.

"Jay!" I cried, hoping to hear a call back. I was met with the same sound of water.

"Jay! Where are you?" I howl more desperately. The sides of my eyes pricked with tears. He can't be gone. I ignored the wind as it stabbed my face, still observing the waters surface. There! I groaned to a stop.

Waves maneuvered around a rock, a bloody rock. The maroon substance catching and bits drifting along with the river.

"No." I squeeze out, my chest feels as if it was crushed by a tree. I darted over to inspect the rock.

"Jay." I whimper, my voice cracking.

"I'm so sorry," I mourn. I slowly turn around, plucking a few flowers from their patches. I lay them down in front of the rock, patting them down in the dirt.

"May you run freely with the guardian foxes." I pray as I sauntered to the camps, picking up my pace as tears ran freely. I ran past Whisper and Sunpack.

"J-Joy?" Whisper asks, his ears drooping slightly. I don't stop, ignoring the He.

"Where are you going?" He calls. His voice echoing.

"C'mon! We don't have much time!" I respond. I hear his paws thundering after me along with Sunpack.

"And Jay?" He asks hopefully. My eyes narrow,

"Does it look like he's here?" I whimper with slight edge, my voice cracking. Familiar scents of the forest I was raised in filled my senses.

"We're home." I breathe, Whisper nods with a smile as his eyes gleam with excitement. We ran through the forest, letting the wind blow through our fur. A yowl echos through the forest, a small gasp escaping my lips as we followed the sound.

To the Firepack camp.

The camp I knew as home was flooded with foxes, them snarling, biting and clawing in rage and anger.

"Oh my guardian foxes, Joy? Whisper? Sunpack?" Night panted, trailing to us.

"It's an honor to meet you." Night blesses as he dips his head in respect.

"You too Night Fire." Ray greets.

"Moon." Night calls to his mate, the white fox pops out of her den. Sparing us an excited glance before traipsing to Night's side.

"Bring Sunpack to their territory, do you think Flare is ready to be in charge of the healer's den for a bit?" Night asked, Moon nodded.

"Without a doubt." She confesses before leading Sunpack out of the aggressive camp. I look back at Night.

"Where's Jay?" He questions with a happy smile as he glanced around. I close my eyes as I shake my head. I launch myself into battle, answering Night's question.

"Dead."