One fall morning, in a forest that rested at the foot of a mountain, the creatures began to awaken. The red, orange, and yellow leaves flitted about in the early morning breeze. Sweeping past a tiny hole on the earth, they came to a rest on the moist soil.

Inside the hole, was a sleek female fox with a silky, red-orange coat, her name was Liana. Her breath came out in a puff, as the sun had not yet warmed the cool morning air.

Laughing silently in a way only a fox can, she felt a nip at her tail when she shited. She heaved herself up, mindful of the tiny paws of her kits, Hana and Kou.

"Mooooom, why must we get up this early?" They protested in unison. Liana just chucked and nudged them out.Ordinary Worl

"You can't catch us!" They taunted, as the family of three slowly made their way to to a small meadow, where Liana knew that there were some berry bushes. After eating in the peaceful clearing, she finally gave in and pounced playfully on her kits.

"Oh what?" Liana giggled, "you can't catch an old fox like me?

"We can?" and "Humph, no fair!"s echoed off the tree's as the sun slowly painted golds and purples on the horizon.

"Alright, time to go now kits, back to the den," Liana called out after awhile. Seemingly out of nowhere, she saw four paws kick a mountainous pie of leaves on her. Her vision was blocked by red and fading green leaves.

When she finally got out under the pesky leaves, she glared around the clearing, looking for her rust colored kits. A shot of panic went through her when she couldn't spot them anywhere! "Hana, Kou! Get back here!" She yelled, managing to keep her voice calm.

Liana dashed through the foliage, going the perimeter and everywhere in between, but not seeing a hint of her kits. She forced herself to calm down and be rational. "They probably went home!" She reasoned, "Yeah, that has to be where they went!"

But this does not stop the thoughts that a hunter could've taken them. There had been rumors of a hunter coming deep within the forest, and taking the citizens for whatever reason.

Call to adventure and refusal of the call

Skidding to a stop in front of her den, she dashes inside, hoping with all her might that her kits would be there. No such luck. The air had turned frigid and foggy as Liana sniffs around, hoping that they had been somewhere near here.

"The kits, the kits," cawed a raven that watched her with a critical eye.

Liana gasped, nearly sobbing with relief as she asked, "You know where my kits are? Please, tell me!"

"Aye, where the Hunter has taken the others he has. To the east they go."

"Thank you!" Liana cried, then with a push

of her paws, galloped away.

"Save the kits, save the forest," croaked the

crow, before flying off. Beginning of Adventure

After awhile of non-stop running, Liana panted as she slowed. Before her was a wall of thorns and brambles that seemed to stretch for miles. "How in Gaia's name am I supposed to get over this?" She questioned with a snarl. Looking up, she is surprised to see a board covering the top of the wall. "Most likely the way the hunter got over," she reasoned. "If only I could get up there!" R.O.T 1

Liana glances around, hoping for a solution. Looking at a tree a little behind her, a tiny, imaginary light bulb goes on above her head. Turning to face the tree while backing up, Liana crouches low and muscles tense. Blasting at full speed, she leaps at the oak. Twisting in midair, she uses the momentum to propel her up and over the wall of thorns.

Liana wanted to give up. She wanted to turn around and go sleep in her den. Her kits would be alright, right? Was two kits really worth the risk? Liana could just have more, and forget them!

But then a laugh echoed around her. Liana flash-backed to the morning of Hana and Kous first steps.

"Look mama! I'm walking!" Squealed Kou.

"I am too! I am too!" Giggled Hana, the light reflected off their rust-colored fluff.

Liana cherished that day, as it was the first day that they had walked and nuzzled her for the first time. Making up her mind, she set off. She would not give up her kits, and would fight till the end to get them back. Unconditional Love

Eventually, Liana had to stop running again, even as it angered her. A river with a strong currents if the too-smooth rocks are any indication to. She spies a rope bridge going across the distance for the hunter no doubt. But it doesn't look like she could go across it, as multiple planks were missing and too far apart. She would just fall in!

Seeing no other way, Liana plunged into the rushing water. Paws scraping for a hold on the riverbed and snout desperately help above the water, Liana slowly treaded across.

Heaving herself out when she met the riverbank, Liana tromped to relatively dry land, shook herself off and continued onward. Sopping tail dragging behind her. R.O.T 2

"At last!" Cried Liana, "I'm here! Don't worry my kits, I'm coming!" She was finally at the hunter house! Without stopping, she dashed out of the cover of the forest and headed to what looked like a jail yard for animals.

Thud! Liana quickly backed up as she bumped into a large, solid, breathing object.

"You will not trespass!" Growled a large mutt, who was now blocking her path.

"Let me through!" she challenged, "My kits have been taken! R.O.T 3

"Like I care," the mutt snuffed.

They growled in place for a minute, muscles tensing up, and crowing low. Hissing through her teeth, Liana pounced.

Wrestling for dominance, Liana managed to scratch the mutts eye, causing it to retreat for a second. That second was all she needed. Yowling, Liana leaped at the mutt, scratching and biting, screaming and clawing. She was satisfied to see the dog flee with his tail between his legs.

Liana took off, panting from exertion. What she saw horrified her. Rows and rows of cages with critters in them blurred by as she desperately dashed to

find familiar rust fur. Spotting them out of the

corner of her eye, Liana scampers to unlock their

cage, crying out to her kits.

"Mom!" the whimpered into her fur, "We didn't think you would come for us!