Lost

I awoke in the middle of an ally, this wasn't the first time an likely not the last. For four days straight I scoured the city, I looked in every ally, backyard, sewer and watch tower in the city. In my desperation I even broke into the kings garden in the hopes of finding a way into the castle. Alarms were raised and I was chased out of the area. I fled into the city and down several ally's before I finally found a good place to lay low. In that time I must have fallen asleep, getting up I heard my stomach growl in protest.

I decided that I couldn't continue the search unless I had the strength to keep looking. And the only way I can maintain my strength is by eating. I walked down the ally, unsure as to were I was, several times I reached a dead end and had to back track. As I walked I passed a puddle, in the reflective water I saw a fox. My eyes were bloodshot and my fur was caked in dry mud and grime, and I assumed I smelled like death. Sighing I summoned my magic, it burst out of me in a raging torrent. It blasted a hole in the nearby wall, I sighed again, ever since my connection to Kana was dampened I was unable to control my strength. My mana was a raging torrent of raw power and even my weaker core, was turned into a raging storm of mana as was evident by the gaping hole in a the building across from me.

I gave up on the idea of a bath and continued to walk on, however that walk turned into a full run when I heard shouts coming from the hole I made in the wall. As I turned a corner I smelled the scent of fresh bread and my stomach made it's self known again. Growling I ran towards the smell, I found my self in the side ally to the market square, the smell of various foods caused me to double over in hunger pains. I made my way out and found a stall selling loafs of bread, unable to pay for a meal I grabbed a loaf and took off running. Cursing could be heard behind me from the shop keeper but I couldn't help but overhear the customer as I ran. "Don't worry, I'll pay for that. Haven't you heard the story? That little fella has been searching endlessly for his summoner. I heard from my cousin in the army that a girl named Kana, who was at the top of her class vanished from the city."

"That night the whole town could hear the mournful howls as it echoed down the streets. The next day rumors spread of a Little White fox breaking into homes, scoping out shops, and even one where he broke into the kings garden. My cousin told me that they haven't seen him for days now, I feel sorry for him. God only knows how he must be feeling." The man just grunted and accepted the extra coin, he decided that the next time he saw the little guy he would try to give him a bit to eat and let the soldiers know where he has been.

I sat in the shadows just out of view from the stall owner as I finished off the last of the bread. I sat down sullen, I felt bad for abandoning my post in my search for Kana. I scoured every place I could think of and the only place I felt like I missed was the castle. It was just my worry driving me to that extreme, if someone at the castle really wanted to grab Kana, I doubted they would have resorted to such under handed means. That's not how they usually act, if they wanted something every woman, man and child would know it, they loved their fan fare.

Sighing again in defeat I decided that if Kana was still in the city I was never going to find her and if she ended up outside the city I have already lost. I made my way slowly towards the military barracks and jumped over the walls, landing in the grass lining the track and field, I saw the team running their laps while Ralph chased them with a sword in hand. Screaming profanities at the top of his lungs, I made my way over to the track.

One of the girls noticed me and ran off course, Ralph was about to reprimand her until he saw where she was going. He halted training and came over to see me. I just sat there my head hung low, my ears drooping to the floor. Ralph stood in front of me, towering over me, his shadow casting darkness on my small frame. I suddenly felt myself lifted into the air and I found my self in a massive hug. Tears welled up in my eyes and I yowled in frustration and despaired at my failure. I don't know how long I stayed that way, Ralph didn't say anything and just absently ran his hand down my back.

Moments later after calming down I was brought into the bathroom with a group of girls who were more than happy to clean me up. I however just stood there, when asked I lifted my paws or moved this way or that as multiple hands ran suds through my fur. A large tub of water was dumped over my head and I was lifted into a towel and scrubbed down until I was dry. One of the girls sat me down in her lap as she ran a brush in my fur, I laid down staring off into space, my mind elsewhere. It wasn't until I was lifted up and brought out of the bathroom and placed on Kana's bed did I stir. I could still smell her in the sheets and the pillow, I breathed deeply and closed my eyes.

I woke up and the room was pitch black, I must have passed out without realizing it. I guess going several days with little to no sleep, while hiding in the streets wasn't the greatest choice I made this week. I looked around and saw all the bunks but mine full, I frowned before I realized something. 'I guess they are back on their regular shifts.' Thinking back I came to the understanding that during my intensive search for Kana I didn't hear nor see any raging citizens, no screams in the distance and no riots. I paused, they all stopped when Kana vanished. Bolting upright at this realization I headed to the door. I felt so stupid, in my panic I missed a valuable clue that was right under my nose. I walked halfway down the hall before I remembered what time it was, the commander would be asleep and no work could be done this late anyway. I spun around but caught the glint of fire light reflecting off the floor where the kitchen should have been.

Walking down the hall and peering into the room I saw Anthony sitting at the table, a half bottle of whisky in his hand. He had an oil candle lit on the table and it appeared he was getting dreadfully drunk. Pushing the door open a crack, the door creaked. Anthony startled, jumped to his feet, putting the bottle behind his back. He looked around confused until I made my way to the table. I jumped up and sat down. "ooOOOooh it'sss Jussssst you, LonG TiMe Nooo Seee." Anthony said his voice rising and lowering randomly as he tried to spit out his words "Wouuld" *Hick-up* "Would You CaRe for a DRinK" Looking at him with pity I nodded my head in agreement. "GreeAAT I'll be RIGht bACK" He stood up and shambled into the kitchen before coming back out with a new bottle of Whisky and a large mixing bowl. He popped the top off the new bottle and dumped the entire thing into the bowl before shoving it my way. "Here help you" *Hick-up* "Help yourself" he sat back down with a heavy thud.

I hesitantly took a sip at the drink and found it to be very strong as it burned it's way down my throat. I coughed but welcomed the sensation as I continued to sip. "You know what?" Anthony started with much more clarity to his voice, I heard about drinking yourself sober but I thought it was just a saying. "I am almost certain that Kana is still out there." He took a drink from the bottle "She wasn't the kind of person to go down without a fight. I know that even at this moment she's trying to get back to you" he swished the bottle back and forth as he talked "You know, I was going to ask her to be my best man at my wedding. Funny right asking her to be my man?" he chuckled "But honestly I'm serious. I didn't expect to wind up engaged to my childhood friend, but I guess she had me in her sights for a long while. The whole taking me to bed was just the last step in sealing my fate." He sighed "Look I don't know what to say man, I know your smarter than me" He chuckled "The insults you manage to come up with in our little spats" we both chuckled at that before he grew serious, I stopped drinking from my bowl and locked eyes with him. "We are going to find her mark my words" I just nodded never looking away. He drank the last of the bottle just as I finished my own, standing up I promptly fell over, rolled, hit the stool and half slip half stumbled into the far wall before I finally stayed down.

Anthony's laughter echoed off the walls for several minutes and didn't stop until the sounds over angry grumbling and heavy footsteps could be heard down the hallway. A group of girls and Ralph who towered behind them looked into the kitchen from the hallway. I heard yelling and cursing, all mashing together in my mind as the hard drink finally hit me. One of the girl noticed me and I waved my paw at her, she frowned at that so I stopped turning my head in confusion. That head turn was actually me rolling from my side to my back with my paws spread wide. My tail waving back and forth in my face. Entranced I followed its movement, my head shaking slowly back and forth. The next few words I understood, if just barely "Did you feed him alcohol?" I watched her go to the table and sniff the now empty bowl "Damn it Anthony how stupid are you?" I watched her come over and pick me up. I rubbed my face on her cheek and placed a paw on her forehead as I stared intently into her eyes. I was yanked way quickly and held at arms length. "Grows, bad breath" Irritated my charms failed me I snorted. I was brought back to the room, put on a very plush pillow and tucked in. I was out again in mere seconds and woke up with a raging headache.