his pack so valuable to him that he would do anything for them? Falcon raised his head sleepily.

“Aw, we’re in this place again? Now, I really don’t care if I get mutated. All I want to do is go home.” Falcon grumbled.

“Don’t worry- we’ll get home sooner or later.” I reassured. “I hope so…” Falcon replied. I nodded to Falcon, and gazed at Krystal. She was still sleeping, and obviously wasn’t ready for what would happen next. Just then the animal walked over to our cage, and Wolf quickly sprung into action and snarled at the animal. The animal opened the cage, and Wolf started barking orders. “Fox, wake Krystal up and Falcon start jabbing at the animal. I’ll stall. Do my bidding. Now!” Wolf instructed. I snapped out of my trance and rushed over to Krystal. I nudged her with my nose, and she yawned awake.

“Yes, I’m awake.” She started.

“Come on let’s go! We’ve got to get out of here!” I told her. She jolted up and I looked up at Wolf, who was clawing furiously at the animal. Falcon was behind the animal, and was poking at its head. He seemed to be enjoying it, because every time he poked it, it wailed in pain. I wanted to laugh at this sight, but I couldn’t because Wolf would get angry.

“Wolf, what now?” I called to him.

“Start running! I’ll come out later. You take Falcon and Krystal!” He responded. I nodded and bounded out of the cage. Krystal and Falcon were racing behind me. Wolf stopped clawing and sprinted out the laboratory. We were almost out of the den when an animal caught us in another cage. We were carried back to the lab and a different animal took Wolf out of the cage. It was a female animal who picked Wolf up as tenderly as she could. He kicked violently, but it seemed to have no effect on her. She started whispering soothingly, and Wolf stopped kicking. His malevolent expression changed to tranquility. He closed his eyes and listened to the hushing harmony of the animal. The animal smiled at Wolf, and placed him on to a rock. She left him there, and walked over to our cage.

She carried it away from Wolf, which made me very nervous. While she took us away, I noticed my different feelings towards Wolf. He was almost like a second father. I never knew how much I relied on him, until now. Maybe staying with him for a while wouldn’t be too bad. I felt the animal place us down very cautiously, probably so we didn’t get hurt. But what would they do to Wolf? My heart was beating faster. My breathing was getting heavier. Would I ever see Wolf again?

“Uh, Fox? Are you alright?” Falcon questioned me. “Er…um…yes, I-I’m fine…” My voice trailed off. Krystal stood up and walked over to me. “Are you sure? You look like someone just died.” Krystal’s voice had worry and sympathy. But I shivered at her statement. “Do you have a fever? Your breathing has gotten faster. Let me check your temperature.” Krystal started fussing over me. “No, no. I’m fine. I think I’m just a little nervous about this different place.” Falcon knew that wasn’t the truth, but it settled Krystal. “Do you know what they’re doing to Wolf?” Krystal began. “No, but we’ll soon find out.”

A few minutes later, the animal came and took me out of the cage. I looked behind at Falcon and Krystal as I was being carried away, and they were watching me go. I was carried through many different parts of the den, until we reached a lab where I was placed down onto a rock, just like Wolf. The animal started speaking to me; only she spoke in my tongue.

“I’m sorry that I have to do this. But it is part of my work. You will be released into the wild after I’m finished. I am not allowed to release you and your friends, but I do not like seeing poor creatures like you being mishandled. Is that fine with you?” She asked. “Why is this work? Why aren’t you allowed to release us now? Why aren’t you allowed to release us in the first place? How did you learn the fox tongue?” I poured out. “Not too many questions, young one. All will be answered in later time.” She finished. She placed me in a glass cylinder, and started pushing buttons on the panel which was in front of me. Red alarms started blaring everywhere. She gasped, and started pressing buttons rapidly. I looked all around me. There was colors flashing everywhere, and they were spinning around me. I squeezed my eyes tight and prepared myself for the blow.

“I’m sorry!”

I woke from my blackout and stretched my paws- my paws! What happened to my paws?! W-What are these? I stood up, but I was taller then I usually- my hind paws! I’m standing on my hind paws? Why am I wearing these things that those animals wear? Am I an animal now? I still have fur, but...what happened to me? I looked around, and I noticed that Falcon, Krystal, and Wolf were looking at themselves with question.

“Oh…hi F-Fox…” Falcon stuttered. Falcon was now blue and he had red feathers around his eyes. His luxurious wings were now more like the animal’s forepaws. Krystal still had her attractive blue fur. Wolf was an amazing sight to me, now that he was transformed. He was startlingly strong, and his white mane was sleek down his head. His sapphire eyes were lost with thought and were like the waves of the ocean, so dazzling. Wolf’s claws were as sharp as thorns, and his expression was so audacious…

“So, this isn’t as bad as I thought it was…well, I’m just going to have to deal with it. Come on, we’re going to make a new pack.” Wolf stated as he started walking. He seemed to be used to this odd way of walking, because I felt like dropping to my paws- or whatever these are- and starting off with Wolf. But I would be with him for a long time, so he would probably laugh at me or something. So I started following him and Falcon and Krystal stuck with me.

“Hold on a second!” I whirled around to see the animal. She came dashing up to me. “Your testing result was inaccurate, I’m very sorry. You would have been something else, but…” Her voice trailed off. “It’s fine, I guess.” I replied. “Since you have been transformed into something much like a human-” “What’s a human?” I interrupted. “It’s what I am.” She answered. “Anyway, since you have been transformed into something human-like, you’re body parts are different. These are your hands,” She pointed to her forepaws. “And arms, legs, and feet. You still have your tail, which is quite odd...but now I think you’ll do fine.” She finished. “Well, thanks for the help. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime.” I said with a smile. She dipped her head in farewell and walked back into the den. “What was that all about?” Falcon asked as he stumbled towards me. “Oh, I met her when I was transformed. She’s very kind.” I replied. “Uh, okay.” Falcon muttered. Krystal came from behind me and grabbed my arm.

“Wow, you’ve really changed after the mutation...” She sighed. I rolled my eyes and started following Wolf again. Falcon was about to explode with laughter, but he held it in and walked beside me. Wolf stopped and saw a huge flying thing a few foxtails away from us, so he raced up to it. “C’mon, let’s go into the ship.” He motioned for us to go into the “ship”, so I went along with his plan. “Er, are you sure we should do this?” Falcon asked timidly. “Yeah, we’ll be fine.” I answered. “We’ll always be fine if you’re around…” Krystal whispered to me. I ignored her comment and stepped onto the first stair of the ship.

We were now on the ship and Wolf was giving us jobs to do.

“Fox, you’re going to be my first apprentice for learning how to fly this ship. I’ll teach Falcon how to watch the map for enemies, and Krystal will do the household work.” Wolf instructed.

“Aw, why do I have to do the washing and cleaning?” Krystal complained.

“Because you’re a girl.” Falcon declared smugly. “Hey! No fair!”

“It’s perfectly fair!”

“No it’s not!”

“Yes it is!”

“That’s enough the two of you! Act a little more mature, like Fox!” Wolf snapped. I was slightly embarrassed that Wolf referred to me, because it’s a little awkward that your leader would highlight you as a good example. “Falcon, go to the navigation system and turn it on. I’m going with Fox to discuss flying techniques.” Wolf called to Falcon as he led me to a den room where you could look outside. He sat me down on a chair and started the meeting. “Fox, before I tell you anything-” Wolf paused to think about his decision, and he continued. “I needed to tell you that-” “Something’s on the radar! I can see it! Come look, Wolf! Hurry!” Falcon interrupted. “What?! I’m having a very important conversation here!” Wolf growled. He seemed to be very annoyed that Falcon had come when he was trying to tell me something. But he had never gotten this angry before. What could be so important that he would do anything to tell me? Wolf came back from the navigation room and sat down again. “It was just the forest that showed up on the radar.” Wolf muttered. He sighed, and started his sentence. “Fox, you know about your parents?” “Yes, they were captured by poachers and I’ve never seen them since.” I stated fearlessly. “Well, they-” “Wolf? Where’s the food? I’m supposed to make lunch, but where’s the food?” Krystal questioned. Wolf groaned and got up to show Krystal where the food is. When he came back, he seemed tired from all the interruptions. “Look, maybe I could tell you some other time, okay?” Wolf muttered grudgingly. “Um, okay…” I said hesitantly. “You can go watch Falcon and Krystal- I’m not in the mood to mentor…” Wolf said sorrowfully. He walked out the door and I think he was heading towards his den room where he would sleep. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn’t think he’d accept it, so I decided to spy on him. I dropped to four paws, which felt much better, and slinked along the ground. Wolf walked into his den room and slammed the door behind him. I put my ear against the door and listened for sounds. I heard a sound from him I had never heard before-

His weeping.

It was so desolate, so heartbreaking, to hear him cry. Was I that important to him? Did I create a bond so