~Prologue~

A young fox kit opened its eyes for the first time, and snuggled closer to the warmth of its two siblings, the bright rays of sun beamed upon its red coat, and it let in all the bright colors of its Burrow.  When its eyes were closed the world was black and grey, now, it was orange, red, blue, green and yellow.  There had to be more, the fox kit wanted only to see and know the world around it, every patch of lush grass or clear sky, and perhaps cloudy sky, but of course, it did not yet know what a cloud was.

Swift stared fondly at her three kits, the vixen was bright orange and had her mother’s eyes with a glint of mischief in those blue depths, she brought this one to her side, and named her Lyn.

The grey one was a runt, with specks of orange, and looked rather nervous and unsure of his place.  She cuddled this one too, he was named Cody, and a red one, who looked like he was ready for an adventure. This scared her, as her own father had had many adventures in the WideWorld, and when she was born he was not there, only at the age of three moons did she first see him, when she was four moons he left again, never to return, and she missed him dearly.  He may have died, she did not know.  She did not want the WideWorld to take her kit away from her like it had taken her father.  She pulled the red one closer, the kit stood out against her grey coat.  She stuck her rather short muzzle into his soft fur.  I mustn't put the past behind me, for the safety of my little ones.  Swift nuzzled each kit in turn.  And then told them an old burrow tale that her father had once told her;

             “ said fox, King of the wood;

If you pass in our sights we’ll give you our frights and send you speeding out from our woods.

And said eagle, King of the sky.

If you hunt from our skies we shant take your lies, unless you be none of our cares.

And said Salmon, King of the water.

Our waters deep flowing may be your going if you don't keep out of our stream

And said deer, King of the meadow.

Our grasses be growing and wind over be flowing and one herd of hooves be enough.”

She finished.  Perhaps if I remind them that our forest is enough, when they are of age they shan't leave me, she thought.  She stared down at the two balls of fur that were snoring peacefully at her side, but the red one stared up into his mother's face.  His mouth wide open and his paws stretched towards Swift’s snout.  She eyed him curiously.

“I shall name you Hugo.” said Swift as she stared into his light blue eyes.  “And you shall stay in this Hollow until you are of age, do you understand?” Swift asked.  Hugo squeaked, and barked as an answer, but if he could have said something for Swift to understand he would have said...