SOUL FIRE

"Hey, Ice Storm can we stop for a while?" Dark Claw whined. " I feel like my paws are worn down to nothing ." He shook himself and looked at Ice Storm. Ice Storm looked back at Dark Claw.

" No, we cannot stop; we need to keep moving." Ice Storm grunted. " We cant have the humans following us. We need to make sure we've lost them before we can stop." Dark Claw looked at Ice Storm with anger and continued to complain. Ice Storm looked annoyed and eventually the two started bickering with each other. I trailed behind my brothers.

" Ha, those two sure argue a lot." I thought, " I guess that's why they are siblings." I smiled as I watched the two of them. The two continued to argue as we walked through the sun dappled forest. Suddenly, my ears picked up the sound of rustling in the bushed and felt a pair of eyes watching my every move. " Um... Ice Storm... Dark Claw... I think somethings following us.." I whined. They looked at me.

" Really?" Ice Storm asked as he flicked his ears up to check out the sounds around us. " I don't hear anything..."

"But, but there is really something following us!" I barked.

" Its probably nothing, come on Soul Fire, its probably some prey that doesn't want to be caught." Dark Claw growled. As we continued to walk, I grew more anxious. What if the thing that is tracking us is dangerous?

The sun set as we set up camp for the night. Dark Claw is hunting for prey and Ice Storm is attempting to build a fire. He's failing miserably though.

" Looks like he needs some help..." I thought as I stood up and stretched. I paddled over to Ice Storm, my black and silver fur blending in with the ferns and shadows.

" I'm such an idiot.." I heard Ice Storm mutter, " I can't even star a fire..." I heard the sound of a twig snapping and Ice Storm growling in frustration. " What kind of nine tailed fox am I?! I cant even start a small fire?!" I stepped forward to see the broken stick come flying in my direction.

" Whoa, Ice Storm! Watch where you're throwing the stick!" I yelped as I dodged the stick. Ice Storm looked up in surprise.

" Sorry, Soul Fire. I didn't see you there." He apologized. He stared at the pile of stick in front of him. I walked over to him and sat down. A flickering flame appeared from my paw and lit the pile of sticks; within a couple of minutes, a fire had sprung from the pile of sticks. I looked beside me to find no one there. I looked around and saw the silver-grey pelt of Ice Storm a couple of tail lengths away from the fire. Frost slowly formed on the grass around him. He lowered his eyes in shame. " I guess you now know why I can't start a fire like any normal nine tailed fox could..." he whispered. " I can't use fire, instead I wield frost and ice." His eyes flickered with sadness, loneliness. I flicked my tail.

" That doesn't change anything," I said, " No matter what you can wield, you're still my litter mate. I'll always accept you the way you are." I paddled over to him and gently nuzzled him. " You're still my big brother."

" Did I miss something?" a sharp yap made me jump a little. Dark Claw had just returned from hunting; he had a rather plump bird in his jaws and a small sparrow slung over his back. " Whatever, I brought back some food." he growled and prowled over to join us. He dropped the prey in front of us. " Lets eat" He began to chew on a foreleg. Ice Storm began to bite the head. I took the bird and paddled to ate a few paw steps away from my brothers. They looked at me.

" Soul Fire, is that enough for you?" Ice Storm asked as he lifted his head from the squirrel. " we have plenty over here you know..." I nodded and muttered quietly. Dark Claw looked at me as well, his eyes were slowly turning dark red...

" You're not going to get enough nutrient from just that scrawny piece of a bird." Dark Claw retorted. " You're need more meat that that." He tore a foreleg from the squirrel and prepared to toss it to me. I stiffened as Dark Claw made eye contact with me. A dangerous light shone in his now pure red eyes. I picked up the bird and immediately fled into the shadows of the outer ring of ferns and plants.

" Soul Fire! Wait!" I heard Ice Storm howling, " Come back!" I continued to race into the dark forest...