CHASE

Chapter 43

We're down to the last five chapters :O

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There was a gap after the boys had left where Chase, and she was sure Rock and Lily as well, felt empty. Some nights she still cried about them with Rock, hoping they were doing well. It didn't help that the weather was growing colder, stirring up negative emotions inside of her.

Although it was hard losing her sons, she knew it was for the best and that they were probably doing well. Having Lily stay comforted Chase, and of course, Rock was beside her as well, though she knew he would be joining the annual hunt again in the spring.

Though the days grew colder, the loneliness Chase felt was slowly subsiding, especially as all the younger foxes became eager to begin the mating season. The foxes were more cheerful than normal, even if snow was beginning to fall and the prey was becoming more scarce.

The sun was out brightly one day with not a cloud in sight, and Chase figured it would be a good day to go on a hunt. Rock had already left with some other tods, presumably to give them mating advice since he liked to boast how he had wooed Chase so. She often teased him for pretending he was a love master, considering he didn't get a mate until his second mating season. But Rock's seniority made the other tods reach out to him and get along well with him.

With just Chase and Lily left alone for the afternoon, they headed into the woods, straying from the cats' territory as Chase was aware that they were probably hunting all areas of the woods to make up for the loss of prey that came with winter.

"What do you think of your first snowfall?" Chase asked as Lily as she gracefully pounced around in the snow.

"It's cold, but I like the way it feels under my feet," Lily said, giggling some. "I wonder if there is snow where Fennel and Heron are too."

"Maybe, maybe. They'll probably be as excited as you," Chase stated. It suddenly hit her how old she was becoming, watching Lily pounce around. Chase was no longer the young kit that used to run off to spy on cats from so long ago.

"Hopefully we find some prey out here," Chase said as they continued on.

"Do you all get used to the hunger?" Lily wondered. It was the first time she had experienced real hunger, Chase realized. It hurt her to know that Lily, or any of the foxes really, were getting enough food, but hopefully they'd manage. Chase somehow had.

"I just think that soon it will be spring again," Chase stated. "And all the little kits will be running around, and there will be a lot of prey."

"Will you and Rock have more kits?" Lily asked.

"Oh, heavens no!" Chase exclaimed. She and Rock had never really discussed the matter, but both had seem to come to an understanding that three kits were enough. 

"Wow, quick to say no," Lily stated. "Didn't know if I'd have little siblings running around, you know."

Chase paused. "Are you lonely, dear?"

Lily shuffled her paws in the snow. "It's been hard...since Fennel and Heron left."

"But what about Daisy?" Chase wondered. "You two hang out often, don't you?"

"She recently became mates with Arrow, so we don't spend as much time together," Lily murmured.

"Do you not think Arrow is a good fit for her?"

"Of course, I do! But it just gets lonely, you know."

"Well what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you have your eye on any tods?" Chase wondered.

Lily shook her head.

"Why do you seem so down about it?" Chase asked. "Like I said, your father didn't get a mate until his second winter. There are plenty of tods for you to get to know."

"But I feel like they're all the same," Lily complained, letting out a long sigh. "I feel like I know all of them already. How did you know Rock was the one?"

"I didn't," Chase stated, beginning to walk along the woods now.

"What do you mean? Didn't you have your eye on him from the moment you met him?" Lily teased.

"If that's what your father is saying, then he's wrong. Besides he...he wasn't the first tod I loved," Chase murmured. These days she did not think of Yew much, unless it was growing near the mating season. She wondered if she'd said too much, spilling those details to Lily. She hoped her daughter would not listen too closely, but Lily's ears suddenly perked up.

"You liked someone else?!" Lily exclaimed. "Did Rock have to fight him for you?"

"It was in my old forest," Chase explained. "And I didn't just like him. We were mates."

"You had another mate?!" Lily gasped.

Chase growled at her. "Your father is not aware of that detail, and you are not allowed to share it with him either. But I'm telling you because it might help you."

"Well, what happened? Where is he now?"

"He's dead," Chase murmured.

"Oh."

"I became mates with him at a young age, even younger than you, when all the leaves were falling. But he was killed by a human contraption one day, and that's when I left and came here to this forest instead," Chase explained.

Lily paused in her steps. "I'm so sorry, Mom. That must've been horrible."

"Yes, at the time."

"Do you miss him?"

"It's been so long, that not as much anymore. Do I still love him? Of course. He was a very unique fox. I was a quirky vixen myself when I was younger. Rock would say I still am probably. So when I met this other tod, I thought I'd found my match. He was like me. We got along well, and I saw myself living a lifetime together with him, but...things happen, you know," Chase stated. "But I wouldn't trade my time with your father for anything. I love Rock a lot too."

"I had no idea you had another mate. I would have never guessed. Because you and Dad get along so well, that I always thought...well, I knew you didn't grow up together, but it almost seemed like you did," Lily stated. 

"I want to make clear that Rock was not a second choice or a way for me to get over my old mate. Rock is different than my old mate in both good and bad ways, but I still love him a lot," Chase explained. "But you really can't tell him I said all this, okay? Because I think Rock would be furious."

Lily giggled. "I won't. I won't."

"So don't just try to be mates with the first tod who shows interest in you, I guess," Chase told her daughter. "Not all tods are the same. My first mate was unlike any tod I'd ever met. There's someone out there for you, Lily. I'm sure."

"Thank you, Mom," Lily said, giving her a gentle smile.

They hunted the rest of the afternoon, managing to scrap up a few birds that hadn't yet flown south for the winter. As they returned from their hunt, prey in their mouth, Rock greeted them.

"You were sure gone a long time and only came back with a few pieces of prey. What took you so long?" Rock asked.

"We were talking," Lily stated.

"Talking? About what?"

"Nothing important," Chase promised him.

"Well, quit your chatter next time and grab more prey. We're going to starve if all you two day is chat during prime prey hours," Rock complained as they headed to the den. Chase and Lily only smiled at each other and giggled, which infuriated Rock more. At that moment, Chase was grateful for the small family she had created.