To Save a Fox

"I am sure I saw something... It looked like a person", one of the hunters said.

I held my breath when I heard them say that, trying to make the least noise as possible... I couldn't see if they were getting closer to the tree I was hiding, but I was getting tenser and tenser with each footstep they took...

"Eh, forget that... Let's just find our bear trap. By the sound of pain, I am pretty sure it managed to catch something...", the other hunter said. Judging by the footsteps and since I heard no other voices, I guessed they were only two hunters... Daringly, I tried to confirm that and took a peek to see the hunters. I saw the two hunters, just as I expected, and they were walking in the direction of the bear trap with the fox. Luckily, they didn't notice me.

"Oh, take a look at that... Such a beautiful fur and this pattern... It must be a mythical fox, its fur is almost ten times more expensive than normal foxes' fur", one of them commented.

I almost thought of running away at that moment, before I was found out behind this tree, but hear their words got me worried. I came to see the source of the noise and now I was simply going to abandon it there? No, that was not right, I needed to intervene...

"Umm... Excuse me!". I said, appearing from behind the tree. "I would like to buy the fox alive if I can..."

They examined me up and down, suspecting something. I just appeared from behind a tree after all, and my armor probably caught their attention, I was the first and only knightess of these regions, therefore this armor was unique. I just hope they don't recognize that I am Dagger Everblade.

"And what do you have to offer?", one of them asked while the other had a thoughtful expression while looking at me, as though he was trying to remember if he saw me somewhere... Maybe in wanted pamphlets? No, the Coventry kingdom covered it up with lies, if they distributed pamphlets they would prove that I was alive. But he was suspecting me, that was the problem that made me start to sweat in tension a little, but I managed to keep my composure and picked up my sack of coins, dropping it on the ground after. By the light weight and appearance of it, I am pretty sure that the number of coins inside it wasn't enough. And that was all my money.

"Seriously? I am sorry, I can't negotiate with so few coins that you have there", he said and sighed, disappointed. "I will sell this fox's fur to someone who can pay the price". The other hunter had a smile, however, looking at the other as though he had an idea.

"Unless, well... If you're so desperate to have the fox, you can offer your body for us just for the time being... We will take care of it very well...", he said and started walking towards me.

I walked away afraid of what they meant by that... It could only mean something bad, that's what I thought. And when I realized that they wanted to enjoy themselves sexually, I just drew my sword and put myself in a defensive position.

"Back off, my body is not for sale!", I warned. The two started getting even closer to me, but I was not going to allow them to do anything to me. Raising my feet, I quickly kicked one of them on the stomach, pushing him away. The other took the opportunity and tried to hold me from behind and although his position was not favorable to execute such an attack, he managed to successfully do it.

I was still fighting, however, I put all my strength on the legs and pushed myself with him against a tree. Smashed against the tree and in pain, the hunter was forced to release me.

"You think you're smart, huh? But you're outnumbered, two against one and worse, we're both men here while you're a woman", he said and I just smiled at what he said.

"I understand the logic of being outnumbered, but the part of me being a woman makes no sense to your advantage", I said to him and attempted a sweep kick, making the hunter that was smashed against the tree fall flat on the ground while the other decided to use the weapon on his back against me, a crossbow. He aimed at me and I managed to defend just barely with the flat side of my sword.

He seemed surprised with my defense and started to prepare the next arrow to fire, enough time for me to strike with the sword, destroying the fragile wooden crossbow in the middle. He tried to use the pocket knife on me and he managed to do a slight cut on the left side of my chest. That was nothing, however, just a small superficial cut.

I proceeded with a kick, the same attack I used to start this confrontation. He fell on the ground just like the other... I thought that was the end, but then I heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind me. I did not hesitate and stepped to the side, clearing the way for the attacker who tripped because of my unexpected act and he fell on top of the other hunter.

"I learned that you should never underestimate an enemy, independent of who is them", I said to the two hunters and approached the fox, still keeping my eye on them to see if they weren't plotting anything... They were quite pissed off, but they only stood up and walked away from the area, signing that I had won that fight.

With a long sigh of relief and feeling much calmer after that battle, I gave my full attention to the fox.

"Alright, are you okay?" I asked. It wasn't like it was going to answer me... But then it shook its head up and down...

"Wait, you can understand me?". It nodded again. That was surprising, but I think I should have expected that. According to the hunters, this fox was a mythical creature after all.

"I will free you, return to your family, alright?", I said to it, smiling a little.

Then, I attempted to release its tail... I wasn't used to hunting traps, all my experience with hunting was only for survival, food... Not for commercial purposes or collections... But I managed, somehow, to disarm it and the fox was free.

"Alright... Now goodbye, please don't forget about me in the meantime", I said to it and started walking away from that area, returning to the area I was previously alone, marking that tree with my sword.

Reaching there, I looked back at what I did to the tree... I think that combat with the hunters managed to relieve a good part of my anger that the tree didn't, I was already feeling much better...

That's when, from behind that tree, the white and red fur started to appear again. The fox had followed me.