《Candor the Fox》


 Cold

    It was cold.


    Why was it so cold...?


    Where were his littermates? Where was Mother? He let out a whimper, opening his eyes. He wasn''t in the den... where was he? He stumbled up onto trembling paws as he let out another whine, louder this time. With shaky steps, he made his way out of the brush, searching desperately for anything familiar. He was hungry and cold and scared. Why was he alone??? He let out a panicked yip as he picked up his pace, wandering aimlessly through the woods.


    He tired himself quickly, finally slowing to a stop at the edge of a stand of alders. He sat there, confused and alone, crying out for his mother. Every noise of the forest felt louder now, scarier. Every shadow felt like a looming threat. How was he meant to survive without his mother? To begin with, he was smaller and weaker than his littermates. And now he was alone. As the cold seeped back into his skin, he took a deep breath. He felt... exhausted. He shouldn''t have run around so much... What if Mother came looking for him? How was she meant to find him now? And what if something wanted to eat him? He was far too tired to get away. Certainly, if any hungry creature came across him, he would become their next meal. He needed to hide... His mother would come for him. She had to.


    He tottered over to some strong-smelling, broad-leaved plants. They grew quite thickly together, and he nestled himself beneath their foliage. Hopefully, this would be enough to hide him from predators for the night. Though he found the pungent aroma quite unpleasant, this was his best bet if he wanted to remain hidden. He curled up tightly, resting his tail over his face as he tried to regain warmth. Exhausted from the stress and panic of the evening, he fell into an uneasy rest. He could only hope that he would be able to find his mother soon.


    <hr>


    The woods always felt peaceful at this time of day. Perhaps he was getting on in years, but Mr. McKay always did enjoy a good walk at twilight. He wouldn''t let his aching joints stop him from soaking in the tranquility of the evening. Besides, he had promised Mrs. Presley that he would find her some wild garlic when he had been over for dinner a few nights ago. That girl had always been too kind to him since his wife had passed. He really did appreciate her goodness, but she always refused to let him pay her back. She ''was just being a good neighbor,'' or ''it would have gone to waste anyway.'' She always had a friendly excuse and a smile on her face when he tried to express his gratitude.


    So when she had mentioned that she was running low on a few wild herbs, he had been more than happy to offer to help. Fortunately, he knew of a good patch of ramsons by an alder thicket, and it wasn''t too far out of his way. He hummed as he strolled through the twilit woods. The cold light of dusk filtered through the leaves overhead, the last threads of daylight just barely lingering in the air. He would have to make this quick. He finally came upon the alder grove, satisfied to see a healthy cluster of the wild garlic waiting for him.


    He knelt down gently, setting his basket down next to him as he began to harvest some of the plants. Mrs. Presley would surely make good use of these. That girl was quite the cook, but she really did have her hands full, being a widow at her age, and having to take care of her homestead and children all on her own. It really was such a shame that her husband died so soon... Luckily, daemon attacks had been getting far less frequent these days. And, she had neighbors like him to help whenever she needed. Just as he was pulling away a few leaves, his thoughts were interrupted by a small sound coming from below.


    *Grrr...*


    Mr. McKay blinked, startled by the tiniest of growls coming from beneath the ramsons. He pushed aside one of the plants, only to see the tiniest, fuzziest little thing glaring up at him. It was... a pup, of some kind. It couldn''t have been more than a few weeks old. The poor thing was shaking, yet it still puffed up its fur and bared its tiny teeth at him in an attempt to scare him away.


    "Oh dear, what are you doing here, little pup?" He spoke gently, reaching for it slowly. It backed away from him, trembling and growling louder. He couldn''t help but smile at its show of ferocity. "Yes, yes, very scary. I won''t hurt you, alright?" He said softly, halting his movements. "Where''s your mother...?" He murmured. This didn''t look like a nest of any kind... there were no signs of any life other than this tiny pup. "Poor thing... you must be freezing..." He spoke gently. He couldn''t help but pity the poor creature. It was probably abandoned... it did look quite weak. Perhaps it was a runt. He pulled his hand back, and the pup started, growling louder. Fear twinkled in its eyes as he retrieved something from his pocket.


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    "Hush, hush now... it''s just a little treat... you must be hungry, hm...?" He slowly moved his hand back toward the creature, offering it a small piece of cheese. Its nose twitched softly, and it looked at the cheese warily.


    Mr. McKay smiled. "Go on, then, little thing." He said softly. "I won''t hurt you." Though the little creature was still bristling, its eyes betrayed its hunger. It was close to being convinced. With a small chuckle, he gently placed the cheese down. "How about now, hm?"


    The pup''s eyes darted between him and the cheese for a couple of moments, before it hesitantly crept forward. It finally snatched the cheese up, licking and gumming at it a couple of times before spitting it out. It tried again a few more times, and Mr. McKay sighed softly as he watched. As he suspected, the thing was probably still of nursing age. It really only had a few teeth in... This little pup surely wouldn''t be able to survive on its own.


    Slowly, he reached his hand back to it, stroking the little kit''s back. It froze, puffing up and growling again. He chuckled warmly, but he didn''t stop. "Darling thing... you''re freezing." He said softly, running his fingers gently over its fuzzy coat. The small thing began to relax, though it still eyed him warily. Slowly, it turned its attention back to the cheese, sniffing at it once more.


    Mr. McKay chuckled softly. "Little thing..." He spoke gently, careful not to spook the poor creature as he continued to stroke its fur. With a sigh, he pulled back his hand. He really should be heading back to the village soon... It would be too dark to see in a bit. "...do you want to come back with me?" He said softly, knowing full well that the little cub wouldn''t understand his words. He reached his hand back out toward the pup, which stiffened again, though it did not growl this time. He couldn''t help but feel protective over this little creature. It surely would not survive without its mother... and it was too young to be harmful, really. He could easily take care of it... it had been a number of years since he had last raised a puppy, and he did miss the companionship. He began to pet its soft back once more. "Hm? What do you think, pup?" he said gently, smiling kindly at the little creature.


    Its tiny eyes twinkled up at him, growing more curious than wary. It made some little sounds in response to being pet, and Mr. Mckay felt a little tug at his heart. In that instant, his mind was made. He gently scooped up the creature, which made a small noise in protest, wriggling in his grip. He chuckled warmly, crooning softly to the little beast. "Hush, hush now... it''s alright... I won''t hurt you. you are safe with me." He murmured, holding the creature close to his chest. He picked up his basket, with its meager harvest of wild garlic, and tucked its handle into the crook of his elbow. He stood up, holding the little beast firmly to himself, tucking the edge of his jacket over the poor thing to try and warm it some. It wriggled, growling and nipping at his fingers in an attempt to escape his grasp. Though it did not have many teeth, the ones it did have were sharp, and Mr. Mckay winced as he tried to ignore the way its teeth pinched at his skin.


    He began heading back to his cottage, whispering gently to the little pup the whole way. Eventually, it settled down, clearly appreciating the warmth he managed to lend it. It was just a baby, after all, and it eventually fell asleep against him. The little creature was far too precious for its own good. He was very glad to have found it. It probably would have died out here, all alone in the woods like this, if he hadn''t found it. He rubbed softly behind its ears as it snoozed away in his arms.


    Besides... it had been rather quiet in his home, now that his wife was gone. Perhaps this was just what he needed. Plus, his grandson, Anthony, would be coming to stay with him in a few months. He would probably appreciate having a pup like this for a playmate. Mr. Mckay remembered his own days as a youngster fondly, romping through the woods with a dog at his heels, not a care in the world. And... yes, this little thing wasn''t quite a dog, but... it was certainly something similar, a fox or a wolf... and raised from such a young age, it would likely be tame as a beast could be. Really... where was the harm in showing a bit of kindness to such an unfortunate little creature? He continued on his way, his mind firmly set. He would raise this little beast up knowing nothing but love and happiness. That way, neither of them would have to be alone again.

 Home

    "Mr. Mckay... believe me, I mean this with no disrespect, but have you gone mad?" A woman''s voice cut through the air, waking the little fox. His whole body felt heavy with fatigue, and he wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep against the warmth enveloping him, to relax and forget the stresses of the day... A warm hand stroked his back comfortingly as he stirred.


    "Mrs. Presley, I assure you... it''s perfectly harmless. Just a little pup." A gentle, deep voice rumbled warmly from the man''s chest, and the kit tucked his head into the crook of the old man''s arm. The soft crackling of fire in its hearth spilled out into the night through the open doorway.


    Mrs. Presley sighed, hesitating and glancing at the little creature in Mr. Mckay''s arms before opening her door wider, shaking her head. "Goodness... Come in, Mr. Mckay, there''s no need for you to be standing out in the cold like this..." Mr. Mckay gave her a kind smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling softly.


    "Thank you, Martha. I am sorry to bother you in the evening like this..." He spoke with a respectful, hushed tone, gladly accepting the warmth that her home provided.


    "Really, Mr. Mckay... you know I have no problem with you visiting at any time, if you need... It¡¯s just¨C" She paused, gesturing to the sleeping creature in his arms. "...where did you find this thing? And, why have you brought it here!?"


    Mr. Mckay chuckled. "Well, I was simply taking an evening stroll through the woods, Martha, you do know how I enjoy a good stroll..." He began, setting down his basket of wild garlic leaves. "I recalled seeing a sizeable patch of ramsons, and considering our discussion from supper, I decided to bring some back to you."


    Mrs. Presley stared at the basket, shaking her head quickly. "Oh, Mr. Mckay, you didn''t have to do that...!"


    "Nonsense, nonsense..." Mr. Mckay waved her off. "As I said, I was simply enjoying a stroll through the woods. It was no trouble at all, hardly even out of my way. Anyway, I was gathering some of the wild garlic here, when I found this little pup among the leaves. I could not simply leave it there, and seeing as it has been many years since I last raised a hound, I figured I might as well take it with me."


    "But... Mr. Mckay, this is not a hound! This is... well, I can''t be certain exactly, but it is clearly a wild beast, of some kind! Wouldn''t it be better to let its mother find it? What are you going to do if it grows up to be a wolf?" Mrs. Presley scolded.


    Mr. Mckay simply smiled, shaking his head. "My dear, this thing can''t yet even eat a little piece of cheese. Don''t you think that raised from such an age, it might not matter what it grows to be? Besides, it had very clearly lost its mother. If I were to have left it then, it would have died."


    The pup stirred softly in Mr. Mckay''s arms, and Mrs. Presley could not help but to feel some pity for the little thing... It was quite cute... She sighed.  "...Still. Why... Why have you brought it here? Surely, you do not expect me to care for it? I have children to think of!"


    Mr. Mckay nodded. "Of course not, Martha. I would not expect such a thing of you. I had to stop by to deliver the ramsons to you, and I simply wondered if I might ask for a bit of milk for this poor thing? I haven''t any in my home, and your goats have always been rather productive."


    Mrs. Presley paused, sighing. Really... such an old man should not be taking care of a wild beast... no matter how small and cute it was! Still, she knew how stubborn old Mr. Aaron Mckay could be. If this is what he had decided to do, this was what he was going to do. Shaking her head and sighing once more, she stood up. "...Stay here, I will bring you some of today''s milk from the cellar..." She said, defeated.


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    Mr. Mckay offered her a warm, dazzling smile. "Thank you, my dear."


    She simply waved him off, leaving briefly to retrieve a bit of goat''s milk from the cellar. She returned, handing him the bottle. "...I suppose it is the least I can do, Mr. Mckay... You only found this beast because you were looking to gather some herbs for me... I hope it does not cause you any trouble."


    He nodded, smiling again and gladly accepting the bottle of milk. "I hope so as well. Thank you for your kindness, Martha. I much appreciate it."


    They said their goodbyes, and finally, he headed home for the night.


    Once home, he nestled the little creature atop a little blanket inside of a basket, before going to start a fire in his hearth. He set to boiling some water for a nice evening cup of tea; the chamomile in his garden had been doing quite well this year. Though he supposed that it always did well. It was rather like a weed in some ways, with how vigorously it grew and spread. Still, he was glad for it. He always did enjoy a relaxing cup of chamomile tea, with its sweet and appley notes.


    As the water began heating, he heard the little pup cry out. He returned back to where he had left it, kneeling down gently next to the basket. The beast was wide awake now, eyeing him warily. He smiled, speaking gently. "Hello, little thing, what do you think of your new home?" He said softly, reaching to stroke the creature''s back. The pup tensed at first, but quickly relaxed as it realized that it was not in any danger. It stared up at him, making a little sound. He chuckled warmly. "Ah? Hungry, are we?" He rubbed gently behind the little cub''s ears before standing up.


    He grabbed the bottle of milk, going to set it into the pot of water as it began to boil. As the milk warmed, he found a clean piece of cloth. Going back to the pup, he picked up the basket gently, bringing it to the table. He retrieved the milk before it could get too hot, and used the cloth to stop the top of the bottle. He tipped it carefully, allowing the milk to saturate the fabric. It dripped out slowly, and he tipped the bottle back once more, bringing it to the little creature.


    "Here you are, little thing." He spoke softly, picking up the little beast and setting it on the table as he sat down. He allowed the creature to sniff the bottle, before tipping it gently. It didn''t take long before the pup had latched onto a little nub of the cloth, greedily drinking the milk. Its eyes squeezed shut as it filled its belly. Mr. Mckay looked on warmly at the little beast, which now relaxed under his touch as it continued to feed. He stroked its soft, fuzzy back. There was no world in which this creature deserved to die. Who cared if it was a wild beast? It was only a baby, and raised by his hand, who could say that it was still wild?


    After some time had passed, he noticed the creature slow in its feeding, and he pulled the bottle back. He set it down, gently wiping the little pup''s face. It made a small noise in protest, and he chuckled as he watched it try to pull away. He gently picked it back up, placing it back in its basket as he stood up to fetch his water, which was now boiling. The pup cried out for him, tugging at his heartstrings. "Yes, yes, little thing... I will be right there." He reassured it. He made himself a good mug of chamomile tea, before returning to the table and sitting down. The little creature watched him with drowsy eyes, though it looked determined to stay awake. He chuckled again, stroking the little beast''s soft fur. It fell asleep quite easily, content to finally have a full belly and a safe place to stay.


    Mr. Mckay drank his tea, enjoying the warm sounds of fire crackling in the fireplace. He grew tired, and he carried the basket with him to his room, setting it down as he changed into his night garments. He got into bed, but as he was drifting off to sleep, a little cry interrupted, breaking through the darkness. It was a desperate little call, and Mr. Mckay got up, carefully making his way over to where he had left the basket.


    "It''s alright, little pup... I''m here." He murmured, finding it in the dark. The pup squirmed into his hands, complaining with little sounds as it was reassured that it had not been abandoned by him. With only a moment''s hesitation, he picked up the beast, cradling it close to his chest as he returned to his bed. He got back under the covers, and the little pup nestled itself against him, sufficiently contented.


    Everything would be different from now on, he was sure. Mr. Mckay held the pup gently, protectively. He could already tell that it trusted him, relied on him. He would make sure that nothing bad happened to this little beast. He stroked the small thing''s back, listening to its soft breaths as they evened out. Yes... this had been the right choice. Like that, he fell asleep, ready for the days to come.

 An Early August Morning

    There had never been a time that Candor hadn''t been with the old man, not as far as he could remember. Well, other than that one time he snuck out past the garden to play by the creek (there were all sorts of bugs around there)... he really had never strayed far from old Mistamakay''s watchful gaze. The old man rarely went out, but when he did, he would happily bring the little fox with him. In fact, when Mistamakay had roused him earlier that morning, he was sure they were going on another trip into town. He would''ve felt more excited about it if it hadn''t been so early, really... where was the sense in getting up when the sun had barely done so itself? Still, he went along with the old man, albeit a bit reluctantly...


    Perhaps it had shown too much though, his reluctance... The old man always did tell him that his expression was far too honest for a fox. But, he always said it with a warm chuckle or a smile, maybe even an affectionate rub of the ears (which Candor really did enjoy every now and again). It had never occurred to him that perhaps such honesty could be a bad thing.


    And, really, morning wasn''t all so bad... It was far too hot these days, "hotter than it usually is this time of year," according to Mistamakay. Candor wasn''t all too sure if he liked this whole ''August'' business, but he had to admit that morning was a lot more bearable than late afternoon, with the sun directly overhead. If only he hadn''t been so grumpy about getting up early... Maybe things would be different then.


    ...But really, it wasn''t his fault! He wasn''t the best at going to bed on time even in the best conditions, but it was fine since he could usually make up for it by sleeping in the daytime. The old man even enjoyed an afternoon nap or two as well every once in a while, so he never really felt too odd about it. So, as he tended to do these days, he had been up quite late the night before. It especially couldn''t be helped, last night... he had most definitely heard mice skittering around in the walls. Had he known Mistamakay wanted to wake at one most unreasonable hour, he might''ve let the mice wait for another night. He had really been hoping to catch one last night... But, certainly, he might''ve been persuaded to leave his pursuits a bit earlier if he had known.


    But he hadn''t known, and thus, he had spent quite a bit of the night awake. And, because of that, waking up so early had left him quite irritable. So, as he followed the old man, who seemed to have been in a very good mood, out into the cool, morning air, dragging his paws the entire way, it made a lot of sense that Mistamakay took notice of his discontent. Maybe that was why, instead of a trip into town, the old man had brought him to Mrs. Presley''s house. He hadn''t quite been listening, though it seemed like Mistamakay was going to pick something up there. He figured he would find out what it was once they got there. Except, the old man left without him, Mrs. Presley''s two sons going with him instead. He couldn''t believe it! How could the old man leave him behind like this?


    It upset him quite a bit, and he had spent a good portion of the morning in a foul mood, quite distressed. He had even growled at Mrs. Presley''s stupid daughter, which he did feel a bit bad about now... but to be fair, she was quite annoying. Luckily, Mrs. Presley had told her to leave him alone, but he still couldn''t quite bring himself to forgive either of them. He couldn''t even look at Mrs. Presley, who had been the one to distract him as the old man was leaving earlier. It was nothing short of betrayal. He refused to go back over to her, and though he was quite sleepy, he didn''t dare to let himself fall asleep. He simply sat by the entryway, glaring drowsily at the space under the door as he waited for the silly old man to come back already. He fully intended to stay there until Mistamakay returned... that was, until he took note of the skittering in Mrs. Presley''s walls. A very... familiar sound.


    It seemed Mistamakay wasn''t the only one with a mouse problem. His ears twitched as he heard another little *scratch, scratch* through the walls, and he really couldn''t stand it anymore. He stood up, abandoning his post by the door. Whatever, he wasn''t patient enough for it anyway. The old man was taking too long... why should he be stuck here waiting for him? He began tracking the mice, which had definitely been out and about last night. He made it to the kitchen, which the mice had apparently decided belonged to them. Their smell was everywhere... and yet they were nowhere to be seen.


    He huffed, leaving as he saw Mrs. Presley. Whatever... maybe he would just take a nap. Time would pass faster that way anyway... He curled up at behind a cushiony looking chair, falling asleep quite quickly. He really had been quite exhausted from the night before...


    He woke a couple of hours later feeling significantly more energized. The nap had been a good choice, it seemed. He stretched, sniffing the air. It seemed Mrs. Presley was making breakfast...which could only mean good things for him. Perhaps he could find it in himself to forgive her... He went back to the kitchen, where Mrs. Presley was cooking something that smelled delicious as her wretched little girl set the table. He pretended to ignore both of them, sniffing at the floor.


    Well, he started out pretending, but he was happily distracted by the scent of mice trails going every which way. Really, what had Mrs. Presley been doing? She had quite the colony of mice living in her home. Well, he supposed he could help out a bit... He began following one specific trail... maybe he could find their hiding place! He became completely absorbed in the task, his mood improving immensely with each minute that passed. He didn''t even pay too much mind to the way the girl''s voice got all high when she finally noticed him.


    Candor darted happily around the kitchen, ignoring Mrs. Presley''s girl as she tried to bother him again and again. Couldn''t she see that he was busy? He trailed around the table leg, nose glued to the floor. A mouse had come right through here...


    He stopped abruptly when the girl knelt down in front of him. She had a smile on her face, and was cooing with a gentle, cloying tone. He eyed her distastefully.


    "Hi baby..." She said, her voice high and soft.  First of all, he wasn''t a baby! He was already 2 and a half months old, and Mistamakay always talked about how much and how well he had grown in that time. Secondly, he really didn''t like it when she spoke like this... but she always did for some reason. Maybe she thought he couldn''t hear her otherwise, he did tend to ignore her... Regardless, it was annoying.


    She reached out to pet him, and he felt the annoyance prick in his chest. She always did whatever she wanted. He didn''t like the way her fingers ran through his fur without warning like this. It made him uncomfortable, like he''d dipped his tail into something sticky. He pulled back from her, making a small sound of discontent as he shook off the feeling.


    "Heyyy-! Candor...!" She whined as he wiggled away from her grasp. He ignored the distraught look on her face.


    "Eloise, darling, just let him be for now. You should be eating your breakfast." The angelic voice of Mrs. Presley floated over to them, and he slinked over to her chair. Alright, he definitely could forgive her. He truly did like Mrs. Presley, after all. She always had bits for him to eat. She was a wider-set, jolly woman, with rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes. She always had her messy blonde curls tied up with a strip of cloth. It was hard for him to believe that the shrill-voiced, scrawny Eloise was her daughter. He tilted his head up to stare at Mrs. Presley, licking his chops as he picked up on the scent of eggs wafting down from the table. The mice could most definitely wait...Mrs. Presley chuckled warmly at him as Eloise begrudgingly returned to her seat. Candor''s ears twitched as he heard the clinking of silverware against plates. He stared at Mrs. Presley as she ate, watching as the food went from her fork to her mouth. He tilted his head slightly, hoping to catch her attention. Silly Mrs. Presley. She must have forgotten about him. He was starting to grow impatient, and he readjusted his position slightly, walking his front paws back a tiny bit as he made a little sound to remind her of his presence.


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    Suddenly, he heard Eloise clicking her tongue gently, and he turned his head to see her reaching her hand down below the table, a small piece of bread in hand. He gave one last glance at Mrs. Presley, huffing softly as he sprung back to his feet and darted over to snatch the food from Eloise''s fingers. He did appreciate her willingness to share, but the food never tasted as good when it came from her... He could smell her delight as it filled the air around her, and it filled him with an unreasonable sense of annoyance. Still, when she snuck him another bit of food, and then another, it wasn''t as if he could really refuse... He happily gobbled down a couple of berries and a bit of egg, his initial distaste with the girl dissipating. She wasn''t so bad, when she was quiet... He even let her scratch behind his ears a couple of times. He let out a contented puff of air, though he tried to act like he wasn''t enjoying it at all. Didn''t want to make her think she could always get away with this...


    He pretended to ignore Eloise''s growing excitement as he caught Mrs. Presley''s eye once more. She smiled at him, and he scampered back over to her seat, gladly leaving Eloise behind. She laughed softly, before finally slipping him a little bite of sausage. He made a happy sound in the back of his throat, munching on it greedily.


    "There you go, Candor. Not too fast, or you''ll choke, silly thing..." She murmured, giving a little rub between his ears. He had already scarfed down the meat before she''d even finished speaking, and he looked back up at her expectantly, licking his chops. She sighed, shaking her head. "Goodness... Mr. Mckay is going to wonder why you''re so fattened up when he comes back..." She said with a smile, tossing a small bit of egg to him from her plate. This was why he liked her so much.


    "Mother, Anthony''s going to be here soon, right?" Eloise asked, looking hopeful.


    Candor paused, his ears twitching. ''Anthony...'' He''d heard that name a lot recently. The old man liked to talk about him, saying that Candor would enjoy playing with him. As long as this ''Anthony'' boy wasn''t annoying like Eloise, he was sure he could tolerate him just fine. Still, he liked the old man best, even if he couldn''t play with him very much.


    Mrs. Presley set down her fork, nodding. "He should arrive in the village soon, yes, but you shouldn''t bother him today. I''m sure he''s exhausted from his journey here. He''s got some settling in to do before school starts in a few weeks."


    Eloise''s tone grew whiny. "What? Why do Roger and Lionel get to see him then?" She looked pleadingly at her mother, outraged by the unjustness of it all.


    Mrs. Presley sighed. "Eloise... don''t whine. Your brothers are helping Mr. Mckay to pick Anthony up from town. You''re the one who said you wanted to stay and help watch Candor, didn''t you?


    Eloise just grumbled, pushing her food around her plate. She couldn''t really argue with that.


    So, this ''Anthony'' was the reason Mistamakay had left him here? He was arriving... today? Candor glanced back at Eloise, who seemed to have completely forgotten about him now. Was ''Anthony'' really so good? It seemed even the wretched Eloise liked him even better than she liked Candor... not that he exactly hated having her attention pulled away for him for a moment, but..


    Something occurred to him, as he watched Eloise grumble. What if the old man liked ''Anthony'' more than he liked Candor as well? What if he didn''t want him anymore? He supposed that he had been rather naughty lately... not that it was his fault that the cushions were so easy to tear. Besides, how was he supposed to know they were full of feathers??? And, why were feathers so much fun to pull out of cushions if he wasn''t meant to do it? Was that why he had been left behind here? What if the old man wasn''t coming back? Ugh... it was too late to regret it now. He tried to ignore his anxieties. The old man was very kind. He would not discard him so easily just because he had an ''Anthony'' now... right?


    His attention was stolen once more as Mrs. Presley slipped another piece of sausage to the floor. He discarded the uncertain thoughts, by her side in an instant as he practically inhaled the meat. Mrs. Presley stroked his fur, smiling down at him affectionately. He stayed in place for a moment, allowing her to pet him for a bit until he had had enough. In the blink of an eye, he darted away, looking for something else to do. Sometimes, it felt like there was static building up under his skin when someone pet him for too long. It made him very uncomfortable, filling him with an ugly sort of energy that tingled beneath his fur, like ants running around in his veins. Still, the old man had told him that biting wasn''t allowed, so he had no choice but to simply escape whenever that feeling welled up in him. He dashed around the room, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of her touch.


    Soon enough, he found something else to distract himself with. There was a shiny black beetle making its way across the floor. He stared at it from a small distance, getting down close to the ground. Really... Mrs. Presley had far too many little pests in her life. He focused in on it, making some small noises in excitement as he wound himself up, springing up quickly and pouncing on it. The beetle never stood a chance, and he stared triumphantly at his catch, sniffing at it. It didn''t smell particularly good, but he snatched it up into his jaws anyway, crunching at it. That was what you were supposed to do with your catch, after all. He had seen a fat tabby doing the same with a spider a while back.


    "Candor? What is that you''re eating?" Mrs. Presley stood up, her voice sounding slightly alarmed. Candor continued to munch on the bug, side-eyeing Mrs. Presley warily as she moved closer to him. Before she could reach him, he bolted away, feeling absolutely alive with the thrill of it. He yelped happily as he darted behind a chair, hunkering down low as he watched her approach. He felt the excitement bubbling up in his chest as he watched her draw nearer, one step, and then the next... Ha... she would never see him coming! Suddenly, he sprung out from his hiding place, pouncing on her foot. He made a series of little sounds in the back of his throat as he jumped ferociously at her foot again and again, biting at her sock. He was careful though, making sure not to hurt her. He pretended to kill the evil sock-monster, and Mrs. Presley laughed. He let out a satisfied puff of air, feeling proud. His fluffy tail swished behind him as Mrs. Presley poked his nose with her foot.


    "Stop it, you silly little thing..." She said, though she was still laughing. Eloise was laughing as well, from her seat. Candor sneezed, blinking up at her as he sat back. Stop? She wanted him to stop, but she was smiling and laughing, which was supposed to mean she was happy, right? She didn''t make sense sometimes. Perhaps the mice were getting to her.


    She sighed, smiling and shaking her head as she crouched down. "Look at you... what were you eating earlier, hm? You shouldn''t eat random things from off the floor..." She scolded warmly, petting his head a couple of times. Luckily, it had been a beetle, not a random thing. She really didn''t need to worry so much...


    "And don''t attack my feet, alright? I need those!" She said, tapping his nose with her finger. He made a small noise before gently biting at it and licking it a few times. It tasted like sausage from breakfast. Obviously, her feet were still just fine. Didn''t she know that he wasn''t actually going to kill her feet? Silly Mrs. Presley. It was like she lacked common sense sometimes.


    "Good." She said, as if that was enough reply for her. He had overheard her telling Eloise one time that mothers knew everything, and he wondered if that was how she always seemed to know what he wanted to say even though he couldn''t speak. It was very handy, he had to admit. He sneezed again as she stood up, licking his lips a few times. He was about to follow her back to the table, when...


    *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*


    There was a quick rapping at the door. Candor''s ears perked up immediately, and he sniffed the air as he dashed over, yipping excitedly. He didn''t even care enough to feel mad anymore. His old man had returned, and that was enough for him.


    Mrs. Presley laughed as she trailed behind him... really, she was far too slow at the worst of times! Couldn''t she just hurry?! He whimpered impatiently, grumbling as he stared at her, stepping in place a few times. As soon as she had gotten the door unlocked and opened a crack, he slipped out, making a series of excited noises as he jumped up at Mistamakay''s legs. He was back! He was finally back! His tail wagged as the old man laughed, crouching down to greet him. He stared into the old man''s eyes, opening his mouth to scold him.


    "Aaaaa...aaa! nnrrrrrr... graaaaAA!" Candor complained. He bit gently at the old man''s fingers. How dare he leave him here like this... He should''ve just brought him to town with him! Didn''t the old man know how scared and upset he had been?!? Though he knew Mistamakay wouldn''t understand him, he couldn''t help but tell him his worries. Perhaps Mrs. Presley would understand, mothers knew everything after all.


    "...Is this the surprise you were telling me about?" Candor froze, quieting down as an unfamiliar voice broke through the air, a hint of amusement to his tone.


    Candor stared up into the boy''s eyes; eyes that twinkled the same way the old man''s did when he smiled.


    Oh.


    So this... was Anthony.

 Anthony

    Candor heard the old man laugh. "What do you think?" he asked good naturedly.


    Anthony smiled, but was rudely interrupted before he could respond.


    "Anthony!"


    Eloise ran out of the house, hugging the boy. Anthony looked rather uncomfortable, patting the girl''s back awkwardly. "Haha, hi, Eloise..."


    Candor continued to stare at the boy''s face. He... didn''t really look like the old man at all. For one, his curly hair was dark, nothing like the silver hair on Mistamakay''s head. And his face didn''t crinkle up when it smiled, not like the old man''s did.


    Luckily, Anthony managed to escape the hug with Eloise easily enough, smiling down at Candor once more. "...quite the surprise, Grandfather. Is it tame...?" He asked, squatting down in front of Candor. Candor blinked, pulling back slightly as the boy examined him. He suddenly felt quite shy, and finally tore his gaze away from the boy to dart behind the Mistamakay''s legs. Eloise was bickering with her brothers in the background, but he wasn''t paying attention to what it was about. He continued to watch the boy warily from his safe spot behind the old man...


    "Quite tame. I found him in the woods when he was just a wee little thing..." The old man spoke fondly, chuckling softly at the little fox''s behavior. "...he''ll warm up to you, I''m sure." He said, leaning down to pick up Candor. Candor made a slight sound in protest, pushing against the old man''s body with his paws. He squirmed a bit, trying to wiggle free. He didn''t want to be held right now... especially not with this ''Anthony'' watching!


    The boy gave him an amused look as he stood back up. "I didn''t know you could just raise up an animal from the wild like that..." He said, staring at Candor with interest as he came a bit closer again.


    The old man''s chest rumbled warmly with laughter. "Oh? But I''ve been raising you just fine, all these years..."


    Anthony laughed. "Grandfather, are you calling me a wild animal?"


    Why did this ''Anthony'' keep calling the old man ''Grandfather?'' Wasn''t his name ''Mistamakay?'' That''s what everyone else called him... He huffed and stopped squirming for a second, glancing at the old man, who didn''t seem to think it was a problem.


    "Aren''t you one?" Mistamakay asked with a playful smile, a twinkle in his eye.


    The boy let out an amused puff of air, shaking his head. "You are so ridiculous sometimes, Grandfather..."


    The old man laughed, and Candor used the distraction to finally wiggle free from his grasp, darting a few metres away. He pretended to sniff at the ground for a moment as they continued to talk, but his curiosity got the better of him and he couldn''t help but glance back at Anthony. He blinked, feeling surprised when their gazes met. He stared intensely into the boy''s eyes. His eyes were really the only thing that seemed remotely similar to the old man. Yes... as he examined them, they really were the same. Their shape, the light color, the way they curved when he smiled... They looked a bit brighter than Mistamakay''s, but...


    The boy finally broke his gaze, turning to the old man and laughing. "He''s staring at me." He said with a smile. "Does he always do that?"


    Mistamakay looked over to Candor, who met his eye briefly before turning away to sniff at the ground again. The old man chuckled softly, shaking his head. "He''s just curious about you. I''ve been telling him all about you, you know." The old man said with a humorous glint in his eye.


    Anthony snorted softly, looking back at Candor and catching the little fox peeking up at him again. "...Does he have a name? I want to try calling him..." He said, squatting down in his place.


    The old man huffed out a soft laugh. "He does have a name, but whether he''ll listen to it or not is another matter entirely..."


    The boy chuckled, and Candor sent an unamused glance toward the old man, who didn''t seem to notice it. The boy smiled, looking up at Mistamakay. "What is it, then? I still want to try..." He said, turning a curious gaze back to the little fox.


    The old man chuckled, sighing. "He is called ''Candor.''" He said warmly.


    The boy blinked. "''Candor?'' that''s an... interesting name." he said, tilting his head slightly.


    The old man smiled. "It means ''honest.'' Do you like it?"


    Anthony let out a laugh. "Honest? You named a fox after honesty?"


    Mistamakay let out a deep chuckle. "Ha... you''ll understand soon." He said, smiling warmly at the little fox, who was busy inspecting a very interesting piece of dirt. He sighed, shaking his head softly as he looked back at his grandson. "Well then, go on. Try calling him over."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Anthony looked back at the little fox. "...Candor...?" He said softly, testing the way the name felt on his tongue.


    Candor froze for a moment, side-eyeing the boy slightly.


    Anthony smiled. "Candor, hey little guy... Why don''t you come over here, so I can say hi to you properly, hm?" He said, patting his knee a few times.


    Candor lifted his head, meeting Anthony''s eye. He tilted his head slightly, still curious about the boy, but too shy to approach. He took a few hesitant steps toward him, staring at him intently.


    The boy laughed, patting his knee again. "Come here, Candor, I won''t hurt you... Do you know your name? Is that why you''re looking at me like that?" He said with a smile.


    The little fox met his eyes, taking in the way they sparkled with amusement. Really... just like the old man. He crept forward, not breaking eye contact. He could hear the way the boy''s heart beat excitedly in his chest as he approached, and he sniffed the air, taking in the boy''s scent and the way it mingled with its surroundings. He smelled... fresh, like soap. And sweet, like pastries, and cream. And, there was the faintest smell of sweat, probably from the heat that was already starting to penetrate the air wherever the sun hit. But the boy didn''t seem to carry any bad intentions, with his outstretched hand. Candor was at most an arm''s length away, and he glanced from Anthony''s hand to his face a few times.


    "Hi, Candor..." The boy said with a wide smile, reaching forward slowly.


    Candor''s heart jolted out of his chest, pounding quickly from the nerves as he saw Anthony''s hand begin to move closer. He pulled his face back slightly before darting back over behind Mistamakay''s legs. He continued to stare at the boy from a safe distance, waiting for his thumping heart to quiet back down.


    Anthony sighed, smiling. He looked a little disappointed, but he stood up, deciding not to rush it.


    The old man laughed slightly. "I think he likes you. He''s just being shy, the little thing... It takes him a while to get used to new people."


    "Isn''t he cute?" Eloise interjected, popping into the conversation quite suddenly. It seemed she had come out victorious in the little spat with her brothers. She was looking quite proud with herself.


    Anthony smiled. "Yes, I suppose he is."


    She smiled widely at Anthony, grossly cheerful. "He didn''t like me at first either, but he loves me now!" She said, turning around and smiling at the little fox where he stood positioned behind Mistamakay''s legs.


    Candor stared at her distastefully as she giggled. Really, she had no sense for these things. She was not a very smart girl, was she? In no way, shape, or form did he ''love her.'' Even ''like'' would be a bit of a stretch... He flicked his ears slightly, breaking eye contact with her and looking away to signal his disinterest. But obviously, she ignored it. With a chipper laugh and not a moment''s hesitation, she swooped right in next to him, reaching out to pet him. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and the discomfort bubbled up in his chest again. Seriously, why did she always assume he would want her to pat him and get in his space like this? He leaned away from her slightly, peeking up at her disdainfully as she crouched in front of him, her hands extended. He tilted his ears back, staring at her silently to try and will her to stop.


    Eloise simply smiled, ignoring his distaste. Just like that, she reached out and buried her fingers in the fur behind his ears, scratching a bit at the thick fur by his scruff. He tensed slightly, extremely uncomfortable, and he tried to back up and away from her. She pouted slightly. "What''s wrong, Candor, didn''t you like this earlier?" She cooed, giving a hopeful smile, trying to reach around under his front legs to pick him up.


    Nope. Nope nope nope. He bunched up slightly, leaping out of from under her arms as they closed in around him, bounding away with his heart pounding in his ears. He darted behind the nearest pair of legs, trying to shake off his discomfort.


    He didn''t realize who it was, for a moment. Not until he heard a warm chuckle coming from above him. He looked up. Ah. Right. Anthony. He tensed slightly, his shyness returning for a moment as he stared up at the boy. But there wasn''t really any time to reconsider his decision before Eloise began heading toward him again.


    He broke eye contact with Anthony, peeking out from behind him to look at the girl. Luckily, Anthony seemed to understand his distaste with her. He turned to her, remaining firmly between them.


    "Candor, don''t you want to play...?" Eloise asked with a disappointed pout.


    Anthony interjected before she could lean down to reach for Candor again. "Hey, Eloise... Maybe he''s just feeling a bit tired. He didn''t even want my Grandfather to hold him earlier..." he said, trying to comfort her. Candor blinked up at Anthony''s turned back, calming down slightly. He felt quite reassured by the way Eloise actually seemed to listen to the boy''s words, and he relaxed.


    Mistamakay''s voice cut through the conversation. "Yes, I would expect that he should be quite tired. He was up all night chasing who-knows-what around the house." He said with an affectionate chuckle.


    Candor whipped his head around to stare at the old man. So he knew??? And he still made him get up early???? The tricky old fellow...


    Mistamakay continued, smiling politely at the girl. "We should probably be headed back about now anyway, my dear. And, Mrs. Presley," he turned to the woman, who was now standing by the doorway, "Thank you again for taking care of Candor. Your family''s help has been greatly appreciated. I got some bread for you as thanks while we were in town."


    Mrs. Presley stared at the package as he tried to hand it to her. "Oh¡ª! You didn''t have to¡ª" She began, shaking her head as the fresh loaf was presented to her.


    "Nonsense, it was the least I could do for the favor." He said, politely forcing the bread into her grasp.


    "Well... Thank you, then, Mr. Mckay..." She said, accepting it hesitantly, though she did look grateful.


    "Of course. We''ll be on our way now. Thank your boys for me, for their help." He said with a smile. Eloise was ushered back inside by her mother as Mistamakay turned, gesturing for Anthony to follow.


    Candor perked up, trotting alongside them happily as they began their journey home. Finally. He would be happy to see home again. Nothing against Mrs. Presley, but Eloise was a lot. Plus... this ''Anthony'' didn''t seem too bad after all. Perhaps he wouldn''t mind sharing Mistamakay too much... or ''Grandfather,'' as Anthony called him. Maybe... this would be a good change. He really hoped so, anyway.

 Warming Up

    The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Candor kept his distance from the boy as they headed home, peeking at him curiously whenever it seemed like he wouldn''t notice. Though, it seemed Anthony was just as curious about Candor, as almost every time he snuck a glance, their eyes would meet. The boy would smile, and Candor would look away, doing his best to make it seem as though it had been mere coincidence. His heart, though, would hum nervously in his chest, and he would dart off, his nose glued to the path as he pretended to be unbothered, chasing imaginary mousetrails round Mistamakay as they walked.


    It was hard to stay hesitant around the boy for long, though. It seemed as though Anthony was good enough... A bad person wouldn''t share their breakfast, after all, and Candor had already munched up half a biscuit by the time he realized he had taken it straight from the boy''s hand. He had frozen in that moment, his heart racing. He didn''t dare look up at the boy, but he could feel his gaze on him. Still, his curiosity got the better of him, and he braved a peek. And, of course, just as before, their eyes met. He kept eye contact this time, pausing briefly as he considered his options before finishing the biscuit, his gaze still glued uncertainly to the boy''s as he crunched the rest of it down. Anthony smiled, laughing softly before tossing him a small bit of sausage. Which... certainly did help Candor warm up to him a bit more.


    After that, Candor tried to go about his regular activities. Out in the garden he went, ready to chase grasshoppers and butterflies, perhaps scare away the odd mouse or two. Those stupid rodents simply loved chewing away at the plants in Mistamakay''s garden, and it had been causing the old man quite a bit of distress. Candor was determined to put a stop to it, but after the recent, entirely accidental trampling of one of the flowerbeds, his time outside had been... limited, to say the least. A few minutes here or there, if the old man was willing to spend the time watching him closely. It really wasn''t fair, how was Candor supposed to know those dainty little flowers would crumple under his paws like that? He tended to avoid the beds now, if he could help it... but Mistamakay took no notice of his efforts.


    So, he was quite pleased when the old man let him into the back garden again, it nearly took his mind off of Anthony completely. He took off happily, nose to the grass, taking in the scents of the morning. He eyed the old man, who had settled on an old wooden bench, and was watching him with his all-seeing gaze. Candor made sure to very clearly walk around the recovering violets, making eye-contact with the old man the entire time. He sniffed the air, bounding over to the old redcurrant bush, excitedly munching the last of the season''s fruit. Well, the ones he could reach, anyway. Mistamakay eventually took notice, and Candor darted away from the bush as the old man began scolding him.


    He quickly turned his attention to something else, hoping the old man would let it go. It would be unreasonable to send him inside for a few... dozen or so... currants. Luckily, Mistamakay didn''t seem overly upset over a handful of berries, and sat back down on his bench with a sigh.


    Candor, with the tart sweetness of the currants still lingering on his tongue, began to chase after grasshoppers in the pathways, creeping up to them slowly before pouncing toward them with a great leap. Those things were quite tricky, far more difficult than beetles, and they seemed to notice him fairly easily if he got too close. Still, Mistamakay didn''t seem too happy about seeing them in the garden, so he figured he might win back the old man''s favor by catching some. After a few thrilling chases, he actually managed to catch one, and he proudly brought it over to Mistamakay, who chuckled, scratching him behind his ears as he presented it.


    "Oh? Is this for me?" He said, his voice warm. "Well... thank you. you''re shaping up to be quite the little hunter, Candor." The old man smiled at him, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he accepted the catch.  Candor wiggled happily, making a small, proud sound in response. He soaked in the praise for a few moments more before zooming away, reinvigorated by the old man''s words.


    Perhaps he set his sights a little too high after that, though. Dragonflies, tantalizing as they were, lazily perched on blades of grass or flower stalks as they liked to do, were far faster when flying than was at all reasonable. Candor wasted a bit more time than he''d care to admit chasing those stupid, beautiful things round the garden, not catching a single one. It wasn''t until he heard the gate open that he abandoned his pursuits. He sped over to the gate excitedly. He heard Mistamakay call out to him, but he ignored it, quickly worming his way through the open gap.


    He wasn''t going to go anywhere, he just wanted to see who it was. And... it was Anthony. Which, made sense when he actually stopped to think about it. He immediately felt several times less adventurous, sheepishly sniffing around the boy''s ankles for a short moment before quickly bounding several lengths back into the garden, stopping to stare at him.


    Anthony chuckled, caught off guard. "Hi¨C!" he said, his gaze following the little fox as he darted away. The boy entered the garden, closing the gate behind him. He was smiling, still laughing slightly.  Candor moved himself behind Mistamakay, who had, by this point, reached his side.


    The old man scolded him, though there was a fond look on his face. "Candor, you shouldn''t just run out like that, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest!" He said, leaning down slowly to rub between Candor''s ears. Candor glanced at the man briefly before turning his gaze back toward the boy.


    Anthony grinned, squatting down to his level. Candor perked up as he smelled... cheese? He tilted his head slightly, his gaze focused on the boy''s hand as he opened it, presenting a small piece of the stuff on his palm. He barely hesitated before creeping forward, snatching the morsel from the boy''s hand as quickly as it had been offered. He took a small step back as he ate it, but he didn''t dare retreat all the way. The boy''s pockets definitely held more of the stuff, and he seemed quite the giving type.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "You like cheese then, do you?" he said, his voice soft and friendly as he pulled out a few more pieces from his pocket, offering them one at a time. Candor very happily went back to the boy, enjoying the salty little treats as they hit his tongue.


    Mistamakay chuckled. "Look at you, spoiling him so much already."


    Anthony smiled as Candor licked his empty palm. "I saw him through my window... He''s been running around all afternoon, I figured he''d appreciate the snack."


    The old man sighed, smiling. "Oh, I''m sure he appreciates it."


    Candor sat back expectantly, licking his chops as he stared piercingly into the boy''s eyes.


    Anthony just presented his empty hands, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry Candor, there''s no more."


    The little fox huffed, standing back up.


    The boy laughed softly. "Hey, hey, hold on a moment, won''t you at least let me pet you a few times before you leave?" He said, holding his hand out to him.


    Candor paused, sniffing the boy''s hand for a second. Well... he had given him cheese. He held still, staring at the boy shyly.


    Anthony smiled, taking that as an invitation. He reached out, gently scratching behind his ears a few times.


    ...It did feel quite nice. He supposed Anthony wasn''t too bad at this. He held still for the boy, who, growing more confident in his patting abilities, began to stroke the little fox''s back.


    The boy smiled at him. "See? That''s not so bad, is it?" He said, scratching under Candor''s chin. Candor tilted his head into it, licking his lips a few times and making a small, pleased sound. It really wasn''t so bad...


    He heard Mistamakay chuckle warmly from his bench. When had he gone back there? Candor turned to look at him, and Anthony gave him one last pat before standing up. Candor glanced back at the boy before darting away, back to the old man''s side.


    "You won him over quite quickly, didn''t you?" The old man smiled at the boy, before reaching down to stroke the little fox''s back softly.


    Anthony grinned. "He still likes you best, Grandfather."


    Candor tilted his head up at the old man. Right, ''Grandfather.'' Is that what he was supposed to be called? He kept forgetting about it, but the old man seemed to respond to it quite well.


    ''Grandfather'' just smiled warmly. "Well, it''s a good idea to keep giving him treats like that. I''m sure he''ll be stuck to your side in no time."


    Candor held still, allowing Mistamakay... or, er... ''Grandfather'' to scratch his ears. He licked his chops, staring into the boy''s eyes. Yes, more treats did sound like a good idea.


    Anthony chuckled, leaning down to pet him again.


    Candor pulled back, standing up and darting away from them both, his heart racing excitedly. He sat down several meters away, sneezing. He watched as Anthony stood back up, smiling. Though he looked, perhaps, a little disappointed. His attention didn''t stay on the boy for long though, as a little white butterfly swooped down directly in front of him, and his gaze followed it eagerly. He leapt to his feet, giving chase. The way those things flew was honestly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, after his first snap at it, the meandering creature decided to stop teasing him and flew higher, exiting the garden.


    He gave a frustrated huff, when suddenly, he saw something move in the corner of his vision. He turned to it. It was... a leaf? There, right near him, was Anthony, holding a branch with a leaf still attached to its end. He liked the way the thing moved, and he wound up, his gaze following it eagerly. The boy smiled, wiggling the branch. The little fox wiggled slightly, pouncing toward the leaf. Anthony, the cunning boy, moved it away at the last second, laughing. Candor took chase, and he and the boy ran round the garden for what felt like ages. The boy seemed quite pleased, and Candor supposed he was having a lot of fun too. The old man had never played with him like this...


    It all came to an end when he finally did catch the leaf, taking it in his jaws. it didn''t taste very good, and he spat it out almost immediately. Unfortunately that was already too late. The thing had come loose from the branch.


    Anthony just tossed the branch aside, squatting down and rubbing Candor''s ears. "Good job, Candor!" He said with a little laugh. "Too quick for me, aren''t you?"


    Candor''s first instinct was to pull away, but the boy''s praise felt deserved. He puffed up his chest slightly, obviously proud of himself. He supposed he was quite fast, wasn''t he? He bunched up, feeling mischievous...


    Suddenly, he zipped away. He stopped after a few bounds, staring at the boy. Anthony made no move to chase, so he ran back over to him, circling him a few times and darting from side to side, making some excited noises in his throat. The boy smiled, catching on. He leaned down slightly and followed the fox''s movements with his hands out. He made a move, as if trying to catch the little fox, and Candor darted away, yipping excitedly as the boy chased him.


    ''Grandfather'' chuckled from where he was now tending to the garden, pulling out weeds. They ran right past him, Candor looping around behind him with an excited yell. He hid behind a bush, huddling down. He couldn''t help the few anticipatory sounds that escaped him as he watched Anthony approach. He leapt out at the boy, pouncing at him, landing on his foot and jumping down on it a few times with both of his front paws. Victory!


    Anthony laughed. "Haha¨C aww, you got me!" he said, leaning down and rubbing Candor''s face with both hands. Candor''s whole body wiggled, and he made a long sound in his throat, biting softly at the boy''s fingers. That was right, he did, he got him!


    Mistamakay... ''Grandfather'' stood up, chuckling softly and shaking his head. "Candor, no biting."


    Candor pulled back, glancing at ''Grandfather'' briefly before licking the boy''s hand a couple of times in apology.


    Anthony smiled. "It''s like he can really understand you!" he said, amused.


    ''Grandfather shook his head fondly, smiling down at the little fox. "Yes, well... he can be quite clever, when he wants to be."


    Candor, the clever beast in mention, had gotten distracted by a little ladybeetle on some grass, and was staring at it intently.


    Grandfather just sighed. "I''ve finished in the garden. We should head back in, before it gets too much hotter. Unless you''d like to keep playing with Candor?" He asked with a smile


    Anthony shook his head, laughing softly. "No, no... let''s head in. I think he''s worn me out, for now." He smiled at Grandfather and began moving toward the gate.


    "Come along, Candor." ''Grandfather'' called out, walking slowly toward the exit as well.


    Candor looked up from his bug, happily scampering over to follow them in. He trotted right by Anthony''s side, just ahead of ''Grandfather.'' It was safe to say, he wasn''t feeling so shy anymore. He could already tell, he was going to like having Anthony here.