L – Lies
This continues the story Back to Selat, followed by D – Darkness, F – Fox, and J – Jack. If you haven’t already, you may want to read them first.
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Having left Jack, who helped me avoid a life-threatening ordeal at the top of a cliff, I worked my way back through the wooded forest to a path that was familiar to me. I aimed to find Fox, hopefully at his den, and confront him with what he did.
While I was traveling, lots of thoughts passed through my mind. Fox had definitely lied to me. He claimed he wasn’t running from me, which he was. He also made up some ridiculous idea that an eclipse caused the darkness. Then, when I asked about Necroma, he denied remembering who she was, yet he seemed knowledgeable enough about her when he directed me on the path that led to the cliff, which was clearly meant to get rid of me. Something was up, and Fox was involved with whatever it was.
I approached stealthily rather than marching right up to Fox’s den. I stayed hidden behind some trees. I watched and waited. It was not long before I observed an unexpected occurrence.
Wolf came out from the opposite side of the woods and stopped in front of Fox’s den. It was the same Wolf from the Little Red Riding Hood tale.
Wolf called out to Fox, and it wasn’t long before Fox appeared out the front opening of his den.
“Why have you called me here?” Wolf grumbled.
Fox replied, “Because we have a problem. Characters are getting suspicious. The storyteller even showed up, asking a lot of questions about the darkness and the girl.”
“So what!” Wolf answered. “You’re clever enough to figure out a way to explain it all. As to the storyteller, he should be easy to make disappear. We’ve done it before.”
“That’s true,” said Fox, “I did come up with an excuse for the darkness, though I’m not sure if the storyteller bought it. Either way, I took care of him. He won’t be around to question us or anyone else again. Do you still have the book?”
“Of course I do,” Wolf said. “It’s hidden where no one can find it but me. I’m not as dumb as you all make me out to be. After all, I did get the book.”
“Yes, yes. Yet, without my help,” Fox reminded Wolf, “you would not have known how to use it and benefited from all the things we’ve been able to get due to all of this darkness you created.”
“So why worry? We’ve got it made,” Wolf remarked. “We can keep this up forever. No one is going to be the wiser. Let them all get lost in the dark.”
Fox was not about to try to explain to Wolf the implications of perpetual darkness. He had his own plans, which would eventually involve getting his own paws on the book, and that didn’t include Wolf.
Fox said, “You’re right, Wolf. Let the rest of Selat suffer. It’s only to our benefit. Why don’t we go down to old Midas’s palace? I hear he has a lot of gold, just waiting to be taken.”
And so, they both departed back the way the wolf had come.
Once they were out of sight, I stepped out of my hiding place. Knowing Fox, I was pretty sure he had his own selfish plans for Wolf and whatever book they were talking about.
Rather than following the two of them, I decided to return to my original plan. I needed to find Red’s grandmother and learn the true story of what had happened.
To be continued in O – Origins
