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Chapter 1

An Unexpected Meeting

A cold winter's night. The trees frosted by a blanket of white. A snout as black as the icy trees surrounding it pokes through a drift of snow. Yawning, the wolf stretches, shakes its pelt and begins to sniff around. Finding what was desired, the wolf squats down to relieve itself. The sun high in the sky, shown its rays upon the chestnut fur of the wolf.

Out of nowhere, a rabbit, eyes wide with terror bolts though the foliage. The lone wolf bounds after it, forgetting everything, but the thrill of the chase. The rabbit puts on a burst of speed and dodges through the trees, but the wolf slowly gains on it, wind flowing through its fur, ruffling it. The wolf jumps through the air, spinning so it kicks off a tree and up into another's branches. Hopping from tree to tree the wolf begins to catch up. Soon, if the rabbit doesn't find refuge, it will become dinner. Just as the wolf jumps out to snap up its meal a fox jumps out of a briar patch, gaining a thorny hide along the way, and snatches the rabbit right from under the nose of the wolf. The wolf growls, "What in the world do you think you're doing, you scrawny, little thing?"

Its ears flat down in shame the fox replies, "I'm sorry. I was just chasing this plump hare and didn't even notice you. I scared it from up on the hill and had to chase it nearly to its burrow right under that bush. I just didn't want to let it get away..." He pushes the rabbit toward her and backs off.

Realizing how much of a fool she had been, the wolf apologizes, "I should have known someone was after the dumb bunny already. I mean it practically landed in my lap. It is yours to keep. I don't deserve to keep something I didn't earn."

Ears perking in surprise the fox happily enquired, "Would you like to share? I know it's only a little for you, but I don't eat much. I just have to get these stupid briars out first."

"Hold on, let me help." After relieving the fox of his prickly pelt the two enjoyed their meager meal. Wondering at the oddity this little fox presents the wolf glances at him in between bites.

He looks like any other fox, not quite skinny, but that just means he's a good hunter. His coat looks rather pale for fox, but that isn't really abnormal. I'm not sure why, but I can't quite get the feeling out of my head that he's different somehow, she thought. Deep down the words that she wouldn't think, but were lurking, waiting for their chance... like me.

The fox burps, interrupting the wolf's ruminations, and sighs, "That was good rabbit," and laughs, "I never even mentioned, my name is Michael, sorry about that. What's yours?"

She rolls her eyes, "Do you apologize for everything?" she smiles replying, "My name is Amber. Yeah, I know, exactly like my eyes. Not very original, is it?"

"I think it suits you. It's a beautiful name for a beautiful wolf." He looks down at his paws, his ears back in embarrassment and fluffy ear tips a touch red.

"Uhhh, thank you. You're cute too, for a fox." She smiles at him, and asks, "Would you like to take a walk?"

For hours the two talk of likes and dislike. Her favorite meat, pork from the hogs down by the river. His favorite place to hang out, a field where in the morning the mists swirl and make the most beautiful rainbows as the sun rises above the pond. They talked for so long that the sun was just beginning to show itself over the hills and valleys they travelled.

"Wow," Michael yawns, "I can't believe it's actually sunrise. I can't believe we talked this long. I'm sorry if I kept you up."

"Not a big deal. I'm more nocturnal anyway. I blend in with the snow better that way. Would you like to come my place to get warm? It's a bit chilly out here," Amber remarked, wondering to herself, is that appropriate? Should I wait before asking that? He shyly accepted her offer and they both headed into the forest with the sun's first rays bathing them in light.

Chapter 2

The Heat of Love

As they approached Amber's home, the wolf slowly moved her tail so it touched Michaels'. They emerged from the trees leafy embrace into a secluded valley when the fox's fur began to bristle. He backed away growling, "Humans. I can smell them. They must have moved in recently. We should go another way to your place."

Amber snorted, "Mike, this is my house. See that cabin at the bottom of the hill? It's where I live. Don't worry, the humans ditched it a long time ago. Their cat is kinda my roommate; she's nice though, her name's Kiley. She stayed behind when they left because she liked it here."

Mike grudgingly crawled from underneath the canopy and into the sunlight. They padded up to the front door, Michael a little cautious, but willing to trust his newfound friend. Pawing the door open, the handle had broken off, Amber called inside and whispered, "Kiley, you home?"

A pair of golden brown slits cracked open from on the small cot to their right. The cat the eyes belonged to stretched, yawning hugely and replied, "I'm awake, just finishing a catnap before heading out to catch something to eat. You want anything?" then, spotting the fox asked, "Who's the ball of fur?"

Swatting playfully at the cat Amber replied, "His name is Michael. We bumped into each other chasing a rabbit and even though he caught it he was nice enough to share it with me. We've been hanging out and talking since. I thought it would be nice to show him our place so here we are."

"Well I'm hungry, which you know I never am in the morning, so I will take the opportunity to enjoy some sun and warm food. Have fun with your boyfriend. It was nice meeting you Mike," she said as she used a claw to click open a window latch and jump out.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Amber called out the window to the tail disappearing into the trees. The only answer she received was laughter. "I'm sorry about her. She thinks she's funny. You are really nice though. I don't mean for you to think I don't want to be your girlfriend or anything. She just gets on my nerves sometimes, you know?" she told the blushing fox.

His ears perked up at her statement. "Really? I like you a lot. I've been thinking about it since we first started talking. I know it's weird for a fox to date a wolf, but you're just so nice and..." he said trailing off at the end, too embarrassed to continue.

"Well I liked talking with you too. You are a great guy and I'd like to get to know you better. I never really did care what anyone else thinks anyway. Does this make it official then?"

"I think so. If you think it does then yes."

"Then it's official."

Amber showed Michael around the small cabin. The wooden floor of the cabin was gouged with claw marks. In a small kitchen to the left you could see specks of blood on the floor from past meals. The cozy living room hosted a stone fireplace with a brick interior. A raised metal grate with paws for feet stood inside it. Next to the fire a holding bin stood overflowing with logs and kindling. The window Kiley jumped out of stood to the right. The untidy little cot completed the tour. "I know it isn't much," Amber told Mike, "but it's home."

"I think it's kinda cool you live here. I mean it must be pretty warm in here during winter," Michael replied.

Amber shivered. "Well, maybe not right now," she said and proceeded to nose the window closed once more. "So how about we get this place a bit warmer. I'm going to show you something I only showed Kiley before." She walked over to the logs, and placing her paws on the rim, grabbed a mouthful of tinder from the top of the pile. Curious Mike followed behind and watched her carefully place the tinder in the fireplace so that it made a cone shape. She then nosed behind the stone wall and pulled out a worn piece of wood therein. Claw marks scarred the material along most of one side.

"What are you doing?" Mike asked, simply unable to hide his fox curiosity back any longer.

"Just watch," Amber mumbled between the teeth still supporting the board. She carefully positioned the wood at an angle facing toward the fireplace. Closing her eyes, she gathered herself and then while balancing on three paws she quickly sliced her claw along the surface of the plank. Out of seemlingly nowhere, a spark flew from the board and onto the tinder. It instantly caught fire and soon grew to a roaring fire. Amber looked at Michael with a mixture of question and a touch of fear clouding her face.

"That. Was. Awesome. How did you do that? Can you teach me?" his eyes sparkled with admiration for his new mate.

Amber's ears turned a rosy red at his compliment. "...Uh th-thank you. Well no, it can only done by me. I tried to show Kiley how, but soon realized that only I can make it work. I seem to have some kind of attachment to the elements of Earth and Fire. It's like I can feel fire burning in my heart and the earth rumbling under my toes."

Michael's eyes widened. "I thought I was the only one! I can hear the wind whispering in my ears and the water in the air and streams sings to me. I never thought I would meet anyone else that could do the things I can."

"Me either. I can't wait to tell Kiley later," Amber yawned. "Sorry about that. I guess I'm a little sleepy. It's probably a long walk back home and I'm sure you're tired too, would you like to join me by the fireside?" Mike bobbed his head in agreement. Bleary eyed and stumbling the two went to the fire and settled down to sleep. Together the curled into a mass of colored fur, touched noses and faded into a deep and restful slumber.

Well, this is what I have so far. What do you think?