Chapter 3
Kitsune wiped her bloody snout on the tall meadow grass.
Her hunger was satiated, but her apettite for knowledge was not.
Maybe it was foolish to expect a field mouse to know the answer to her question. But Kitsune thought that her question was simple enough.
Someone out there must know.
Kitsune's pondering was interrupted by a sound:
Ruff! Ruff!
It was the barking of foxhounds.
Kitsune took a moment to clean herself thoroughly. Then she took off running. She sped across the meadow and made a beeline for the deep forest.
Trees shot past her and shadows swirled around her. Kitsune heard the dogs' heavy panting footsteps behind her. She leapt over rotten logs, and her padded feet brushed across foliage in mid-air.
More sounds of running. This time from in front of Kitsune.
She was surrounded.
Kitsune darted at a right angle and leapt for the nearest tree. Her claws sunk into the bark. The bark was easy to climb, because it was soft from the recent storm.
Hound
Ruff! Rrrrr-ruff!
A foxhound skidded to a stop underneath Kitsune's tree. It was panting and drooling all over the place. Kitsune easily climbed her way to a thick branch and sat down comfortably.
The dog circled around and around the tree. It wasn't going anywhere. But neither was Kitsune.
Kitsune
Pardon me, foxhound. Would you be interested in a proposition?
Hound
Rrrr-ruff! What are you talking about, little fox? Rrrr....
Kitsune
A proposition, a deal. If you can answer my question, I will agree to come down from this tree. Then you can chase me again.
Hound
What choice do you have, little fox, rrrr-ruff? You'll have to come down sooner or later!
Kitsune
Oh, but I'm quite comfortable up here. I'm in no hurry.
Hound
I think I'm a lot more comfortable than you are, grrrr!
Kitsune
Is that so?
Kitsune waited a moment until the dog was in place below her. Then she raised her leg and urinated.
Hound
RUFF! Grrrrrr-ruff! Ruff!
The enraged foxhound jumped up the tree and dug his claws and paws into the bark. Splinters of wood flew at his furious attempt to climb the tree. But he could not pull himself up as Kitsune could.
Hound
Get down here, you little beast! I'll tear your throat out! Your body will lie in pieces when my master finds you!
Kitsune
If you want to tear me to pieces, you'll have to catch me. And if you want to catch me, you'll have to wait until I come down from this tree.
Hound
Rrrrr-ruff! Grrrrr! Get down here now, you cowardly mongrel!
Kitsune
I'm tired. I think I'll take a nap right here.
Hound
Rrrrr!
Kitsune
Unless, of course, you answer my question. Then I'll come right down.
The dog beat at the tree's soft bark with his paws. He clawed at it with all fours as he tried to leap up the tree. But even a dog possesses a bit of reason, and after a while the dog realized the futility of his effort and he sat down on his haunches and looked up at Kitsune, trying best he could to remain calm.
Hound
Alright, fox. I'll try to answer your question if it means you'll come down.
The dog licked his lips.
Kitsune
Very well. Why is my tail so fluffy?
Hound
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr, what kind of question is that?
Kitsune
It seems like a simple enough question. Shall I repeat it, dog?
Hound
Your tail, ruff? What kind of stupid question is that? Who gives a damn about your tail? Ruff! Rrrr-ruff! Ruff!
Kitsune sighed.
Kitsune
Of course ... I shouldn't have expected a dog to know the answer to that question. A dog is scarcely more intelligent than a field mouse.
Hound
Come down here and say that to my face, rrr-rruff!
Kitsune
If only you knew the answer to my question, I would come down just as you asked.
Hound
Even if I did know, I wouldn't tell a mangy little coward like you, ruff!
Kitsune
But you don't know—correct?
Kitsune wondered if the dog would fail to act with honor and pretend to know the answer to her question.
Hound
Rrr, ruff! No, I don't. So what?
The fox smiled, for she was glad to see the dog exhibit one of the few good traits for which their canine race was known. But she was still unsatisfied.
Hound
Now get down here, ruff!
But Kitsune had already leapt to the next tree, and then the next. She was far away now, flying through the leafy treetops, and the dog knew the scent was lost with the wind through the branches.