Dancing In the Shadows

-Original Fiction-

Chickie (1)

by Pookie

It was a warm spring day. A light breeze gently ruffled the small blooming flowers on the nearby trees. Along side a shining river, a small yet often used path made its way down to a small clearing. Two small figures were seen making their way down to the riverbanks, one running along enthusiastically, the other grumpily following behind, a large basket in his hands.

"Come on Kita!" He smiled and watched his companion slowly walking down. "What's with the long face?"

Kita looked up at his friend and shrugged. He switched the hand carrying the basket and sighed. Why was he the one stuck carrying this heavy basket again?

Kala laughed and walked up to the water, looking down at his reflection.

The sun was shining brightly and the water was crystal clear. Kala was slowly entranced by the moving reflection he could see of himself. He did not even hear Kita drop the basket to the ground with a heavy sigh of relief.

Kita started to pull things out of the basket: a blanket, some sandwiches, something he was not too sure what it was. It was not hard to guess which of the two had packed this little picnic.

"Hey Kala! Come on. Let's eat! I'm starving."

Kita waited for an answer, but Kala was not moving from his spot.

Now what could possibly be so interesting? Kita mumbled to himself as he got up and walked up to his friend.

Kala barely noticed the shadow that spread across the water. A small silver fish he had been admiring obviously did and suddenly left, small ripple marks the only evidence it ever was there.

"Awww." Kala pouted as the fish disappeared and turned around, only to find himself in Kita's arms. A small surprised cry passed his lips as he realized how close Kita had come.

"Now what was so interesting there that you could not answer me?" Kita asked with a small grin, his arms never leaving the slim fox.

Kala tilted his head, a small mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "There was a pretty fish..."

"Oh yeah?" As he spoke, Kita slowly leaned in closer to Kala's lips. "As pretty as..."

“Chirp!”

Both suddenly froze, startled by the unexpected sound.

Using Kita's firm footing on the soft banks, Kala tried to look over the wolf's shoulder, wondering what that chirping sound could possibly have been. After a quick look around his eyes returned to Kita's and he shook his head. "There is nothing out there..."

Kita sighed and released the fox, his stomach manifesting itself impatiently.

"Oh well, we must be hearing things then..." He smiled at his friend and waved towards their picnic. "Can we eat now? I'm starving."

Kala laughed and followed the wolf. "Never would have guessed."

As the pair sat down around their lunch, they heard the chirping sound again. This time the sound was much closer, yet there still was nothing around them. Kita looked at Kala, his gray eyes growing more and more confused.

As they both waited in silence for the sound to return, a small scratching noise could be heard coming from their basket.

"The basket!" Kala whispered urgently.

In one quick move, Kita grabbed the basket and emptied it out on the blanket.

Kala watched intently as a tiny something moved from under one of the napkins. His eyes grew wide as a little yellow bird emerged with a scared, “Chirp!”

"Why hello little one." Kala smiled brightly as he looked down at the chickie. Kita sat back at its side, his eyes wandering from the birdie to the fox.

The chickie looked at the big wolf by its side and took a scared step back. He then saw the smiling fox and chirped hesitantly, finding some comfort in the gentle voice.

Kala tried not to laugh as Kita obviously scared the little bird. Kita crossed his arms and looked away, trying to act offended that the bird preferred Kala over himself. His act did not last long and quickly his gaze returned to the fox again.

“Chirp! Chirp!” The chickie hopped closer to Kala, his fears having disappeared.

"How cute you are!" Kala's voice was very cheerful.

He slowly picked up the chirping bird. "Now don't be afraid of my friend here; he's much nicer than he acts." He winked at the chickie and showed him to Kita. "Isn't he the cutest thing ever, Kita?"

Kita could not help and smile at the odd pair before him. "There is someone cuter than him..." He moved closer to the bird who courageously did not move away. Kita suddenly laughed and gently petted the chickie. "But he is adorable."

Kala's smile grew larger as he soon joined the merry laughter.

Instead of a lone outing together, fox and wolf shared their picnic with a small yellow bird. The bird quickly showed its preference for the orange-furred fox, attacking the silver wolf with loud chirps every time he approached his friend too much. The afternoon passed amidst merry laughter and a lot of chirping. As the evening sun disappeared, the odd trio started their way back to the village: a silver fox walking alongside a fox, and a tiny little yellow bird sleeping comfortably atop his orange hair.

~The End~