Following After a Fox


The crisp spring air whispers through kinky black hair. The late morning sun rests comfortably above the meadow blooming with wildflowers. Silly, rosy, and dandelion color ladybugs bumble through the air. A young lady in a pure white summer dress lays back on the fresh green grass. Domesticate animal shape clouds prance atop the vast blue sky. Soft brown eyes lazily blink toward the skyline. She sluggishly raises her deep brown hand to catch a white kitten playing on the blue carpet overhead. Sadly, the kitty got away. A disappointed hum escapes her chest. However, she isn't distressed about missing the cat and instead turns on her side. She felt it would be nice to doze off again after she tried so hard to pluck a cat from the sky. Slowly, dark eyelids hid away gentle brown eyes. She locks away the daylight out of her sight.

An hour or so passes without the maiden waking. The surrounding woods bustle more as time glides on. Finally, unable to ignore the afternoon noise of the meadow, she's encouraged to start waking up. An upward stretch of her arms and a downward stretch of her legs help in waking her body. The crack of her toes assists in blood circulation, and she finally sits up. Upright, she picks up her loaned book. An abstract art bookmark slips out. In blue ink, Mary, is penned. Picking up her fallen bookmark, Mary slips it back in its place. Mary pulls her light brown wicker basket purse toward her. Lifting the mouth of the basket, she tenderly places the book inside and removes her cell. Looking at the time, she realizes that it's half past noon. Looking around for her white sandals, Mary finds them a full stretch away. Not wanting to get up and grab them, she chooses to try and take them from where they sit. Mocking her efforts, Mary relents and crawls a bit toward her shoes. Once in hand, she puts them on as small huffs leave her mouth.

Standing up with her purse in hand, Mary scans her surroundings to ensure she has everything. A flash of red catches the corner of her eye. Turning, she spots what it is. A fox stares at her, and she recognizes that the fox must have been there for some time. Cautiously, Mary approaches the curious fox, not wanting to spook it away. Understanding, what she wants, the fox inches itself closer. Its moist snout twitching, and the cute snout sniffs the air. The scent of wildflowers and sugary grass perfumes the air, not letting the fox smell Mary too well. Flush with confidence, Mary draws nearer. She tries to give the fox another chance to smell her, but a startling sound is heard that spooks it. With the possibility of danger, the fox scurries away. And without clear thought, Mary chases after.

Running away from daylight, Mary plunges herself into the woods after her fearful companion. Within the depths of trees and foliage, the sun is cast aside. Navigating unfathomed pathways crushing unseen life, Mary charges onwards. The imitating trees obscure sunlight causing the woods to feel like night. Just the flickering red ahead is Mary's guiding light, faltering over plant life and disturbing insect homes. A stubble here, a trip there, did perturb Mary from her desire. The false night won't stall her, as the fox is just there. It's within her reach, so her legs can't give now. With labor breath and burning limbs, she forages on. Salty sweat stings Mary's eyes, and burning tears battle with salty sweat. With blurry vision, she trips, and this stumble manages to make her fall. Grassy earth stains Mary's white dress and her dark skin. Bruises scream as Mary struggles to pick herself up.

Peering ahead, she watches as the fox goes on deeper. As eruptions explode throughout her limbs and salty rain blinds her eyes, Mary compels her body to get up. The fox isn't too far ahead. She can seize the wavering red. Trembling forward, her feet are below her head, and she manages to stumble onward. Despite lacking strength in her body, Mary starts to run again with determination as her only fuel. With a slight hesitant step, the fox dashes away from Mary, leaving her behind. Refusing to lose sight of the fox, Mary gasps onward and plunges deeper into the dark woods. The sunny-filled meadow is long forgotten as Mary loses herself to the night-filled woods. Becoming a lost maiden forever. END.

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