"You must go on a quest, Streamer," the old fox said to the little red fox.
Streamer had been chasing a butterfly along a babbling brook when he came across the elder, and now confronted by him, the little fox felt a little feisty.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about, old timer?"
The elder fox ignored his impertinence.
"You must leave and find your spirit other."
"My spirit what?"
"Your counterpart in the forest world. The invisible guiding essence that will one day be a part of you. Go now," the elder fox said in a booming commanding voice, "do not return until you have found your spirit companion."
Seeing no other option, Streamer sniffed the air then followed a path away from the grumpy elder and deeper into the forest.
It was still early in the day, and the little red fox realized he was hungry. How was he supposed to look for his spirit other on an empty stomach?
Up ahead, he heard the sound of rushing water and decided to investigate.
When he reached the edge of the stream, he saw a bear near the boulders trying to catch the salmon who were trying to jump upstream.
"Hey bear!" shouted the little red fox.
The bear seemed focused on the current and did not hear him.
Streamer hopped across a few boulders and stood closer.
"Hey bear!" he shouted.
The bear looked up.
"Who are you? What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"I just wanted to know if you're my spirit other," the little red fox said.
The bear growled and returned to his fishing.
"I guess not," Streamer muttered to himself.
But it was not all a waste of time. There were fish guts and pieces scattered all across the shore. The bears had been feeding and as usual made a mess. For Streamer, it was just what he needed to get enough energy to continue his quest.
The little red fox scurried among the rocks and had himself a salmon feast.
With his belly full, Streamer was ready to continue his journey, but soon the sky had darkened, and the clouds moved in.
I must seek shelter, he thought as the deluge began.
He came across a pond, dammed with logs, broken branches, and sticks, neatly stacked up along one edge of the pond. He saw a few dry spots in the massive pile and made his way there.
As Streamer watched the rain fall across the forest, under the shelter of the dam, he heard a voice call out.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my home?"
The little red fox was surprised to see a whiskered face floating on the water.
"Hello, Mr. Beaver, sir. I'm Streamer, and I'm on a quest to find my spirit other. But then it began to rain, so I sought shelter in your fine abode."
"I see... very well then," said the creature, "This is none of my business. I will allow it this time, but you should really build your own home and stop pestering people."
"Yes, sir," said Streamer, then added, "If I may ask one question: are you my spirit other?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"It's an important question."
"To you maybe," said the annoyed beaver, "you better leave as soon as the rain passes."
So that was that. Clearly, Mr. Beaver was not Streamer's spirit other, and so he waited by the dam until the rain ceased falling.
This is all foolishness, the little red fox thought. I could be chasing butterflies or running along the stream, which was his favourite game. Instead, here was chasing shadows in the forest.
Caught up in a tangle of thoughts and emotions, he failed to notice the dark figures among the trees.
Wolves!
"What do we have here? A little red fox," said the big wolf grinning and baring large fangs.
"Oh hello there," said Streamer, clearing his throat. "I was just passing by and-"
"This is our territory!" growled the wolf.
"It is? Then I'm terribly sorry I've trespassed. My mind must've been distracted. I'm just going to be on my way."
Streamer began to turn around.
"And where exactly were you going?" asked the wolf, stepping closer.
"I'm on my way to find my spirit other," said Streamer, feeling his heart quicken.
The wolf chuckled and looked at his companions, who also chuckled. Then he burst out laughing, and the other wolves laughed too.
"You're one of those, are you? Absolutely ridiculous. The spirit other is superstitious nonsense. What else is there beside the hunt? The fang sinking into flesh and drawing warm blood. There is nothing like it!"
"But sometimes things are not always what they seem," said Streamer.
The wolf growled and moved towards him. The pack along with him.
Just when it looked like the wolf was about to maul him, the horrid creature burst out laughing.
"Today is your lucky day, little fox" he said, "we got bigger fish to bite, so move aside!"
Streamer shuffled off to the side and let the sniggering wolfpack go by.
His heart was still beating fast when he saw the forest give way to an open glade up ahead, filled with summer flowers glistening in the afternoon sunlight. Poking up above the flowers was the softest and most luxurious fox tail he had ever seen. It swayed magnificently among the flowers and the reeds. As he moved closer, Streamer saw the tail belonged to a she-fox and his curiosity was roused.
"Hello!" Streamer said.
"Uh? Well, well. Hello yourself, little fox," said she. "My name is Zorrabelle. Who might you be?"
"Streamer. I'm Streamer," he said, finding much satisfaction in letting her know his name. "I'm looking for my sp-" he began to say but stopped himself.
"You're looking for your ssssp-?" she repeated teasingly.
"For my special friend," he said quickly.
"Your special friend?"
"Yes, we got lost in the forest after an encounter with wolves. We fought them off but then got separated."
She moved closer to him.
"Poor thing," she said. "You must've been frightened by the wolves."
The scent of Zorrabelle was making Streamer dizzy.
"I know how dangerous the forest can be," she said. "As a matter of fact, I was just stung by a mean bumblebee earlier today."
"Oh no!" said Streamer. "I hope it didn't hurt too much."
"It hurt a little," she said leaning closer towards him, "it bit me right here under my tail. Would you like to see?"
He swallowed and nodded.
She stood up and walked around him, brushing against his fur, then stretching on forward legs, she arched her back and raised her tail.
Just then, the sound of howling wolves echoed in the distance.
"It's those big bullies," said Zorrabelle standing up straight. "It sounds like they're on the hunt. What if your friend is in trouble?"
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine..." said Streamer mesmerized by her tail.
"He must be a strong fox to be able to fight the entire pack all by himself," she said. "And very brave too. I like brave foxes."
"You do?" said Streamer looking nervously towards the forest. "I guess, I better go see."
"You're such a good friend," she said and thrusted her nose on his neck. "I'll be here waiting when you get back."
Streamer ran off across the glade towards the dark shadows that lay deep in the forest. The crimson sky grew faint with the veil of the drawing night.
The howls sounded louder as he approached the forest.
Streamer hid behind a cedar and watched a most astonishing sight.
There was a man fighting off the wolves beside a fire with a lit branch in his hand. He was growling, shouting, singing as he waved the flame that kept his attackers at bay.
The wolves moved in closer.
The little red fox could bear it no longer and jumping out of his hiding place, he shouted, "STOP!"
The big wolf scuffed.
"You again!" he said baring his fangs.
"Don't do this!" Streamer shouted at him. "He has done nothing to you. Why do you wish to harm him?"
"We do not wish to harm him," the wolf said, "we wish to eat him."
"That's right! Eat him up good," shouted a smaller wolf at the back of the pack.
"Oh wow, you can talk, and I can understand you," said the man looking around with the flickering flame in hand.
Everyone turned towards him.
"The peyote is kicking in. Jesus. Am I seeing things? Is this even real?" the man said looking at everyone with wide eyes. He turned to Streamer and said, "you're a little red fox, just like my tattoo. Look!"
The man turned sideways and showed Streamer his arm, which had the impression of a little red fox coloured on the skin.
"Woah..."
"Enough of this nonsense!" shouted the wolf. "You're both annoying me, so I think tonight we're going to have both of you for supper!"
The rest of the pack howled in approval.
"I can't believe this is happening," said the man. "It's just like the professor said."
The wolves closed in a circle around the man and the little red fox.
Streamer felt faint and the world spun as if he was floating on a cloud. Below him, he saw cities made by men, flying machines, rolling machines, lights as far as the eye could see, more machines and people. Streamer had some of their memories, their feelings, and thinking. It was a rush like no other he had felt in life.
Limb by limb, the little red fox and the man became a single being.
The wolves stopped their advance and seemed confused at this turn of events.
The man-fox spread his arms, and a ball of fire appeared in one hand, and a fish in the other. He threw the fish on the ground where it turned into several plump salmons.
"Take what you need and leave," said the man-fox. "Do this if you want to see the sun rise in the morning."
The wolves looked uncertain, but then each took a fish and retreated into the woods.
There was a silence for a moment. Then the world began to solidify again, and Streamer found himself lying beside the man.
"Oh, that was just trippy," said the man rubbing his eyes. "What's even happening?"
Streamer stood up and walked to the edge of the light.
"Wait, little dude!" the man said, "I think you're my spirit animal. Are you?"
The little red fox sniffed the air, then turning around, he returned to the forest.
Thank you for reading my entry The Ink Well Fiction Prompt #185: Things are not always what they seem. I hope you enjoyed reading about Streamer's adventures.
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