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Description

FOXBATTLE

By FOXCARROTS

    Kaylia stood overlooking the battlefield, the wind blowing softly at her back, almost gently urging her forward. She was tall and fair skinned, her light violet hair falling to her back and shoulders, bangs held out of her eyes with an armored headband. She wore light armor of bright silver, held with black leather straps. She scanned the lands in ahead, her bright yellow eyes taking everything in, trying to get a sense of what to expect before moving forward. Her long fox ears twitched, reacting to all of the subtle sounds around her as her long bushy violet tail swished behind her nervously.

    Sounds of armor and swords being prepared could be heard as the group of heavily armed fox warriors around her prepared for what was coming. She was one of many, an army that would move as one down the slope to the fields below to fight a conflict as old as the clan she was part of. Across the battlefield on the opposing side was a similar army, all foxes like herself, similarly armed and fighting for the same purpose. Both clans had a long history with a seemingly unending myriad of offenses and conflicts, few historians knowing them all.

    In her relatively short lifetime, Kaylia had seen her share of battle, heard tales of bravery and savagery, idolizing the heroes and deriding the villains. However, this was her first real clan war, the first time she would test her skills in full open combat against such a strong opposing force. However, as her pride began to rise something stabbed at her from the pit of her stomach. The feeling of loss and dread that she had very tried to hard to bury. This was also her first battle alone. Her sister Halia was out there, on the other side, a conflict starting with a challenge of ideology leading to a change of sides. She had tried and tried to make her sister come back to the clan she was born into, struggled to make her see reason. But out there she was, prepared to stand with a clan that was not her own and draw arms against her family.

    Kaylia took a deep breath; she had long thought of what she would do on a day like this. She decided that she would face it like any other challenge, if she met her sister on the battlefield, she would have to deal with her the same as any opposing warrior...she would deal with her with steel.

    A horn blared from the other side of the battlefield followed by the unmistakable sound of marching. Kaylia moved forward with her army, reacting to the horn as their call to march as well. The opposing army was on the move, and they would meet them openly on the battlefield. Almost as an answer to the call rain began to fall from the sky. By the time Kaylia got to the bottom of the hill it was thick and she was soaked from head to toe. As she and the warriors at her sides moved forward, she smiled, it would take more than rain to deter her from moving forward

    The rain turned the flat battlefield into a muddy nightmare, the sticky soil clinging to the soles of Kaylia's bare feet making a running charge impossible. She made a note to mind her footing, not wanting to lose a fight due to a fall, such would be a poor way for a warrior to go. As she slogged through the unforgiving terrain opposing warriors came to view, they wore the dark iron armor of their clan and glared forward with weapons drawn and teeth barred.

    From her back Kaylia drew a pair of curved axes, each a solid piece of enchanted steel with sharp edges, unadorned save for tight bindings on the shafts for grips. She held them close to the axe heads as opposing soldiers began to draw close. Though tall and well armored Kaylia was thinner and less imposing next to some of the bulkier warriors at her side. She purposely displayed her bright colored hair and shiny armor, trying to invite opponents into underestimating her, assuming that such a pretty young fox would be easy prey. However, in reality she was as fierce as they came. As opposing fox warriors came into range she sprung to life, her axes dancing through the rain, cutting into the flesh of her attackers, striking weak points and driving them to their knees.

    Though she had never been in a clan war, combat was almost second nature to Kaylia, she lost herself in the moment, dancing from opponent to opponent, blood mixing with water as it sprayed from the edges of her axes, falling together to the muddy ground to meet with the fallen. Kaylia pushed everything out of her mind, only the battle needed any focus, each opponent was potentially her ruin, and she would let none get the drop on her.

    As lighting cracked the sky and rain continued to fall the battlefield became a mess of clashing swords and battle cries. The mud became worse as some of the heavier battlers became bogged to their shins, unable to advance or retreat, swinging at any that came into reach. Kaylia made sure to keep moving, knowing that those who had become stuck were already dead even if they still stood. Their only hope would be for their side to win and have the time and effort to get free. One such warrior, bogged nearly to his knees struggled to lift a leg between swings of his sword. The mud hungrily locked him in place as Kaylia dodged under one of his swings and slashed at him, ending his struggle instantly. As harsh as it was a warrior must use every opportunity to their advantage. If it were she who was stuck she knew there would be no hesitation.

    As Kaylia fought through, going from opponent to opponent the battlefield began to open up, most warriors around her dead or hopelessly stuck in the mud. Even the quick footed Kaylia found the mud concerning, the muck clinging to her feet as she trudged trough it, ankle deep. She cut down another fighter, slashing at her stomach and pushing her aside and saw a familiar face ahead of her. Halia pushed through a pair of opponents, cutting them deeply as she rushed past and moved toward Kaylia. She admitted she was relieved to see her still alive and not trapped in the oppressive mire. Halia was dressed in the dark armor of her new clan, her red hair striking a contrast against it, her bright green eyes piercing through the dreary night.

    “Sister.” Halia called out, her voice barely carrying over the sound of clashing swords and pounding rain. “I knew you would find me.”

    “I had no doubt.” Kaylia responded as she slowly began to circle her sister. “This is your last chance to see reason.”

    “That chance has come.” Halia responded. “And it has already gone. So, save your pleading and your speeches.”

    “So be it.” Kaylia responded in an emotionless tone. “I suppose the only talking we need to do is with steel.”

    Halia only nodded, bringing her sword up to bear to respond to the statement. Kaylia recognized the cleaver like blade all to well, remembering when it had been given to her some years before. It was a family blade and it hurt Kaylia to her core to see it wielded by someone serving the other clan.

    Kaylia steeled herself, pushing all sentimentality and attachment deep to the back of her mind as she trudged forward to engage her sister. Her axes worked as one, slicing through the air in precise strikes at her opponent. Halia spun her sword, parrying one axe then the other and causing Kaylia to dodge to the side to prevent a counterattack.

    Kaylia kept her eye on the sword, though she had nearly half a foot of height on her sister and more reach she knew she was faster and at any moment could spin the sword under her guard and go for a kill shot. She had to keep her defense up and look for an opportunity to strike.

    As the rain continued to litter the battlefield other combatants on both sides began to give the dueling sisters a wide berth. Both because of the dangers of getting caught in the attacks of the skilled pair and knowing that this was a feud that only the two of them could settle.

    Halia struck again and again at Kaylia, her strikes furious and precise, only through focus and determination could Kaylia keep parrying them. The impacts from the strikes going through the sparse wrapping and sending pains up through hands and up to her forearms, numbing them.

    Kaylia knew that she would tire first, though the stronger she knew her muscles would tire, growing sluggish and opening up for attack first. She had to make a move now before Halia did. As strategies played through her head a lingering doubt rose up. She was planning something that might be a kill shot. Would she kill her sister? Could she kill her sister? Kaylia scanned her opponents face, searching for any hint of compassion or indecision...looking for any signs of the same dilemma on her sister’s face. Halia's face was set, emotionless, only the exertion and focus of the fight on her face and the detachment of her task showing.

    Kaylia nodded; she knew what she had to do. As her sister gained some distance, preparing to attack Kaylia readied her axe in her dominant hand. A trick in sparing she had done with her many times she hoped would have a different outcome this time. She brought her axe back and launched forward, letting go at the last second, causing the blade to spin horizontally in the air. Before Halia would always jump the blade, wanting to take advantage of the weapon leaving her opponent’s hand. However, this time was different, almost as instinct she went to jump but the thick mud clung to her limbs, causing Halia's jump to fall short, the axe slicing into the girl’s thigh as it passed.

    Kaylia wasted no time, moving forward as fast as the mire would allow her, swinging hard to her shocked opponent, cutting deep into the woman's stomach, trough her armor and deep into her flesh. Halia's eyes went wide as the weapon devastated her, her grip on her sword failing as she fell backwards, landing with a splash into the muck behind.

    As what she had done came home in her mind the dread and emotion buried deep inside erupted from below. As much as she prepared for this nothing could have warned her of the feeling of cutting down her sister, the war, the battle, nothing seemed to matter now as she ran to her sister’s side. She knelt down and touched her head.

    “I'm sorry Halia!” Kaylia said, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn't want to hurt you.”

    “No.” Halia responded with a painful groan. “This is the path I started down coming to its end. I do not blame you.”

    “I will get a healer!” Kaylia said as she went to get up, but the mud clutched greedily at her knees, refusing to release them. “Damned this mud!”

    Kaylia struggled again and again to get up, but the mud acted like a thick glue and outright refused to release her. She looked around for help but could not seem to locate anyone around who was not stuck. Dozens upon dozens of fox warriors from both sides strained to fight their way out of the mud...no one remained free.

    “I need help!” Kaylia called out. “Someone.”

    “There is no help for us.” A fox called out from behind her. “We are all stuck!”

    “How do we get unstuck?” A large fox demanded from nearby as he tugged on his trapped legs.

    “No idea!” another called out, a female fox, stuck on her hands and knees, her hands trapped in the moor to her wrists. “I can't break free no matter what I do.

    “Is anyone free?” Kaylia called out. “There must be someone!”

    Foxes began to shout out to each other, both sides working together. Silver and Black Iron foxes working together to try and pull each other out. Several moments went by as Kaylia fought the mud, her right hand becoming trapped as in by a wet vice, refusing to come back out of the mud.

    “Got a message from the rear flanks.” A fox called out. “No one remains free. All are either stuck or dead.”

    “What about you!” Kaylia called out to an Iron fox who was conversing with those behind him. “Has anyone on your side found a way out of this stuff.”

    “We stopped advancing while ago.” The opposing fox admitted. “Apparently, they have been focusing on escape and no fox who has set foot on this battlefield can leave it. Everyone...is...stuck. Our general himself is trapped without even one free limb!”

    “Our Queen General as well!” The previous fox added. “Her feet are bound into this mud as ours and no one can set her free!”

    “There has to be some way!” A massive warrior fox said defiantly to Kalylia's left. He was trapped hand and foot and he roared as he strained to get up, the mud refusing to so much as stretch as he fought. Muscles flexed and his teeth gritted as he fought. However, with all his strength and all his determination he could not so much as force his hands to come even slightly above the surface of the mud. “I can't break free! It is like my hands are locked under the surface and they WON’T COME OUT!!!”

    “Relax.” A feminine fox pleaded. “You will break your wrists before you break free of this stuff.

    “I don't care!” The massive fox responded. “Unless we figure out how to get free of this crap were all done for.”

    “Let me help.” A large opposing fox next to him offered. “My hands are free and though my feet are locked in place I can reach and help you pull.”

    “I am a spell caster!” Another fox offered. “I can use magic to loosen the mud!”

    “Everyone work together!” Kaylia pleaded. “Someone has to find a way out of the mire's grip.”

    The rage of the battle long forgotten, the foxes around began to discuss ideas and work together. This massive fox was their best chance, if they could free but one of his hands, they could prove hope that the rest of them might escape. Spears were passed, creating a structure above the fox, driven into the mud next to him and ropes were lashed to his arm by the free fox above him. Several foxes nearby would all pull, creating a combined strength fulcrum around the fox with several ropes. There also ended up being several more magical foxes nearby and they all rallied to work together.

    “Just give me one free hand.” The massive fox pleaded. “If we can free one then we can go from there.”

    Everyone worked together, the foxes on the rope pulled with all their strength while the casters poured more and more magic into the mud, trying to force it to relinquish its grip on the massive fox’s hand. The strong fox groaned in effort and pain as Kaylia watched with hope. She wanted so much to see the surface of the mud stretch and peel off of the trapped limb. However, her heart sunk as even with all the magic and strength the wrist laid locked at the surface of the mud, not even straining its surface tension.

    “DAMMIT STOP!” The large fox cried out as everyone relaxed their magic and muscle. “I'm stuck.”

    “We all are.” The fox next to him replied in a defeated tone. “This mud is so strict I couldn't even move my toes. Not even a wiggle if my life depended on it.”

    Kaylia looked down at her trapped legs, realizing the mud had completely enveloped everything below her lower thighs. She tried to wiggle her toes but found them as if bound in stone. She gritted her teeth as she tried to flex her calf muscles but found she could not.

    “As much as I hate to admit it, I doubt I’m getting free any time soon.” The large fox admitted. “Were only putting pressure on my body the mud is completely unaffected by the escape attempts.”

    “Oh gods what is this stuff?” Kaylia said in shock and fear. “It's like my legs are gone.”

    “They might as well be.” A nearby fox said as she stared down on where her legs disappeared into the muck. “Nothing under the surface of this crap seems movable.”

    “Can we pry ourselves out maybe?” A fox offered. “We have spears...we have tools.”

    “Maybe.” The standing fox replied as she carefully pushed a spearhead into the mud by one of her feet. “No good! The second it touched my arch it froze in place. The spearhead is now rigidly locked against my foot.”

    “Can we dig ourselves free?” Kaylia asked. “It might break...whatever is holding us here.”

    “If you want stuck hands.” The massive fox admitted. “Anything you put in this mud wont came back out.”

    “Use your weapons!” Kaylia pleaded. “The surface is less sticky, dig slowly it might release us.”

    Several foxes nodded and went to work with sword, knife and shield, carefully digging at the mud. However, as they watched in horror the mud's surface immediately reformed after every movement.

    “The mud won’t let us out!' One fox cried. “It's enchanted!”

    “No caster could make a trap this strong.” One of the magic foxes replied. “I am using all my magic power to figure it out and nothing. It is like my feet are in another dimension and nothing can peer in. This is beyond anything I have ever heard of before.”

    Kaylia's mind raced she was desperate to figure out the stuff. She saw a fox who had fallen forward into the muck only his shoulders and head emerged. “You! What can you move?”

    “Nothing!” The fox replied in a clearly afraid tone. “I'm locked up tight! Anything that is under the surface tension of this stuff is strictly held. I can barely breath!”

    “Are you sure you can move nothing?” Kaylia asked. “Fight!”

    “I am fighting!” The sunken fox replied. “Every muscle, every limb screams with effort to move but none can respond.”

    “I have had enough of this!” One fox called out. “I refuse to allow this stuff to be my doom. I will hack off my feet if I have to!”

    “How far do you think you will get?” Another fox asked. “Even if you didn't get restuck instantly you would bleed to death before you got to the edge.”

    “So, were all doomed to just sink to our deaths in this stuff?” Kaylia asked in an annoyed tone.”

    “Were not sinking.” A female fox warrior responded. “I can clearly feel solid ground under my soles. Can't move my feet of course but I can still feel them. Some of us might be in deeper spots than others but were not in any risk of sinking deeper.”

    Kaylia looked down at her sister. “Can you move at all.”

    “No.” Halia responded. “No part of me can move at all, even if I weren't injured, I'd be imprisoned in this exact position.”

    “So, we just sit here stuck like this?” Kaylia called out in frustration. “I need to find something. I will find a way to save you!”

    “Kaylia.” Halia said weakly. “You do not have to save me. Not anymore.”

    “Well, it looks like no one will save any of us.” Kaylia responded as she looked around her as countless foxes fought the mire to no avail. “It appears we are all doomed.”

    Kaylia continued to hold her sister as the rain continued to fall on the foxes trapped below. The armed fighting over, replaced for the desperate fight yet to come...the fight to be free.

-

Description

FOXBATTLE

By FOXCARROTS

    Kaylia stood overlooking the battlefield, the wind blowing softly at her back, almost gently urging her forward. She was tall and fair skinned, her light violet hair falling to her back and shoulders, bangs held out of her eyes with an armored headband. She wore light armor of bright silver, held with black leather straps. She scanned the lands in ahead, her bright yellow eyes taking everything in, trying to get a sense of what to expect before moving forward. Her long fox ears twitched, reacting to all of the subtle sounds around her as her long bushy violet tail swished behind her nervously.

    Sounds of armor and swords being prepared could be heard as the group of heavily armed fox warriors around her prepared for what was coming. She was one of many, an army that would move as one down the slope to the fields below to fight a conflict as old as the clan she was part of. Across the battlefield on the opposing side was a similar army, all foxes like herself, similarly armed and fighting for the same purpose. Both clans had a long history with a seemingly unending myriad of offenses and conflicts, few historians knowing them all.

    In her relatively short lifetime, Kaylia had seen her share of battle, heard tales of bravery and savagery, idolizing the heroes and deriding the villains. However, this was her first real clan war, the first time she would test her skills in full open combat against such a strong opposing force. However, as her pride began to rise something stabbed at her from the pit of her stomach. The feeling of loss and dread that she had very tried to hard to bury. This was also her first battle alone. Her sister Halia was out there, on the other side, a conflict starting with a challenge of ideology leading to a change of sides. She had tried and tried to make her sister come back to the clan she was born into, struggled to make her see reason. But out there she was, prepared to stand with a clan that was not her own and draw arms against her family.

    Kaylia took a deep breath; she had long thought of what she would do on a day like this. She decided that she would face it like any other challenge, if she met her sister on the battlefield, she would have to deal with her the same as any opposing warrior...she would deal with her with steel.

    A horn blared from the other side of the battlefield followed by the unmistakable sound of marching. Kaylia moved forward with her army, reacting to the horn as their call to march as well. The opposing army was on the move, and they would meet them openly on the battlefield. Almost as an answer to the call rain began to fall from the sky. By the time Kaylia got to the bottom of the hill it was thick and she was soaked from head to toe. As she and the warriors at her sides moved forward, she smiled, it would take more than rain to deter her from moving forward

    The rain turned the flat battlefield into a muddy nightmare, the sticky soil clinging to the soles of Kaylia's bare feet making a running charge impossible. She made a note to mind her footing, not wanting to lose a fight due to a fall, such would be a poor way for a warrior to go. As she slogged through the unforgiving terrain opposing warriors came to view, they wore the dark iron armor of their clan and glared forward with weapons drawn and teeth barred.

    From her back Kaylia drew a pair of curved axes, each a solid piece of enchanted steel with sharp edges, unadorned save for tight bindings on the shafts for grips. She held them close to the axe heads as opposing soldiers began to draw close. Though tall and well armored Kaylia was thinner and less imposing next to some of the bulkier warriors at her side. She purposely displayed her bright colored hair and shiny armor, trying to invite opponents into underestimating her, assuming that such a pretty young fox would be easy prey. However, in reality she was as fierce as they came. As opposing fox warriors came into range she sprung to life, her axes dancing through the rain, cutting into the flesh of her attackers, striking weak points and driving them to their knees.

    Though she had never been in a clan war, combat was almost second nature to Kaylia, she lost herself in the moment, dancing from opponent to opponent, blood mixing with water as it sprayed from the edges of her axes, falling together to the muddy ground to meet with the fallen. Kaylia pushed everything out of her mind, only the battle needed any focus, each opponent was potentially her ruin, and she would let none get the drop on her.

    As lighting cracked the sky and rain continued to fall the battlefield became a mess of clashing swords and battle cries. The mud became worse as some of the heavier battlers became bogged to their shins, unable to advance or retreat, swinging at any that came into reach. Kaylia made sure to keep moving, knowing that those who had become stuck were already dead even if they still stood. Their only hope would be for their side to win and have the time and effort to get free. One such warrior, bogged nearly to his knees struggled to lift a leg between swings of his sword. The mud hungrily locked him in place as Kaylia dodged under one of his swings and slashed at him, ending his struggle instantly. As harsh as it was a warrior must use every opportunity to their advantage. If it were she who was stuck she knew there would be no hesitation.

    As Kaylia fought through, going from opponent to opponent the battlefield began to open up, most warriors around her dead or hopelessly stuck in the mud. Even the quick footed Kaylia found the mud concerning, the muck clinging to her feet as she trudged trough it, ankle deep. She cut down another fighter, slashing at her stomach and pushing her aside and saw a familiar face ahead of her. Halia pushed through a pair of opponents, cutting them deeply as she rushed past and moved toward Kaylia. She admitted she was relieved to see her still alive and not trapped in the oppressive mire. Halia was dressed in the dark armor of her new clan, her red hair striking a contrast against it, her bright green eyes piercing through the dreary night.

    “Sister.” Halia called out, her voice barely carrying over the sound of clashing swords and pounding rain. “I knew you would find me.”

    “I had no doubt.” Kaylia responded as she slowly began to circle her sister. “This is your last chance to see reason.”

    “That chance has come.” Halia responded. “And it has already gone. So, save your pleading and your speeches.”

    “So be it.” Kaylia responded in an emotionless tone. “I suppose the only talking we need to do is with steel.”

    Halia only nodded, bringing her sword up to bear to respond to the statement. Kaylia recognized the cleaver like blade all to well, remembering when it had been given to her some years before. It was a family blade and it hurt Kaylia to her core to see it wielded by someone serving the other clan.

    Kaylia steeled herself, pushing all sentimentality and attachment deep to the back of her mind as she trudged forward to engage her sister. Her axes worked as one, slicing through the air in precise strikes at her opponent. Halia spun her sword, parrying one axe then the other and causing Kaylia to dodge to the side to prevent a counterattack.

    Kaylia kept her eye on the sword, though she had nearly half a foot of height on her sister and more reach she knew she was faster and at any moment could spin the sword under her guard and go for a kill shot. She had to keep her defense up and look for an opportunity to strike.

    As the rain continued to litter the battlefield other combatants on both sides began to give the dueling sisters a wide berth. Both because of the dangers of getting caught in the attacks of the skilled pair and knowing that this was a feud that only the two of them could settle.

    Halia struck again and again at Kaylia, her strikes furious and precise, only through focus and determination could Kaylia keep parrying them. The impacts from the strikes going through the sparse wrapping and sending pains up through hands and up to her forearms, numbing them.

    Kaylia knew that she would tire first, though the stronger she knew her muscles would tire, growing sluggish and opening up for attack first. She had to make a move now before Halia did. As strategies played through her head a lingering doubt rose up. She was planning something that might be a kill shot. Would she kill her sister? Could she kill her sister? Kaylia scanned her opponents face, searching for any hint of compassion or indecision...looking for any signs of the same dilemma on her sister’s face. Halia's face was set, emotionless, only the exertion and focus of the fight on her face and the detachment of her task showing.

    Kaylia nodded; she knew what she had to do. As her sister gained some distance, preparing to attack Kaylia readied her axe in her dominant hand. A trick in sparing she had done with her many times she hoped would have a different outcome this time. She brought her axe back and launched forward, letting go at the last second, causing the blade to spin horizontally in the air. Before Halia would always jump the blade, wanting to take advantage of the weapon leaving her opponent’s hand. However, this time was different, almost as instinct she went to jump but the thick mud clung to her limbs, causing Halia's jump to fall short, the axe slicing into the girl’s thigh as it passed.

    Kaylia wasted no time, moving forward as fast as the mire would allow her, swinging hard to her shocked opponent, cutting deep into the woman's stomach, trough her armor and deep into her flesh. Halia's eyes went wide as the weapon devastated her, her grip on her sword failing as she fell backwards, landing with a splash into the muck behind.

    As what she had done came home in her mind the dread and emotion buried deep inside erupted from below. As much as she prepared for this nothing could have warned her of the feeling of cutting down her sister, the war, the battle, nothing seemed to matter now as she ran to her sister’s side. She knelt down and touched her head.

    “I'm sorry Halia!” Kaylia said, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn't want to hurt you.”

    “No.” Halia responded with a painful groan. “This is the path I started down coming to its end. I do not blame you.”

    “I will get a healer!” Kaylia said as she went to get up, but the mud clutched greedily at her knees, refusing to release them. “Damned this mud!”

    Kaylia struggled again and again to get up, but the mud acted like a thick glue and outright refused to release her. She looked around for help but could not seem to locate anyone around who was not stuck. Dozens upon dozens of fox warriors from both sides strained to fight their way out of the mud...no one remained free.

    “I need help!” Kaylia called out. “Someone.”

    “There is no help for us.” A fox called out from behind her. “We are all stuck!”

    “How do we get unstuck?” A large fox demanded from nearby as he tugged on his trapped legs.

    “No idea!” another called out, a female fox, stuck on her hands and knees, her hands trapped in the moor to her wrists. “I can't break free no matter what I do.

    “Is anyone free?” Kaylia called out. “There must be someone!”

    Foxes began to shout out to each other, both sides working together. Silver and Black Iron foxes working together to try and pull each other out. Several moments went by as Kaylia fought the mud, her right hand becoming trapped as in by a wet vice, refusing to come back out of the mud.

    “Got a message from the rear flanks.” A fox called out. “No one remains free. All are either stuck or dead.”

    “What about you!” Kaylia called out to an Iron fox who was conversing with those behind him. “Has anyone on your side found a way out of this stuff.”

    “We stopped advancing while ago.” The opposing fox admitted. “Apparently, they have been focusing on escape and no fox who has set foot on this battlefield can leave it. Everyone...is...stuck. Our general himself is trapped without even one free limb!”

    “Our Queen General as well!” The previous fox added. “Her feet are bound into this mud as ours and no one can set her free!”

    “There has to be some way!” A massive warrior fox said defiantly to Kalylia's left. He was trapped hand and foot and he roared as he strained to get up, the mud refusing to so much as stretch as he fought. Muscles flexed and his teeth gritted as he fought. However, with all his strength and all his determination he could not so much as force his hands to come even slightly above the surface of the mud. “I can't break free! It is like my hands are locked under the surface and they WON’T COME OUT!!!”

    “Relax.” A feminine fox pleaded. “You will break your wrists before you break free of this stuff.

    “I don't care!” The massive fox responded. “Unless we figure out how to get free of this crap were all done for.”

    “Let me help.” A large opposing fox next to him offered. “My hands are free and though my feet are locked in place I can reach and help you pull.”

    “I am a spell caster!” Another fox offered. “I can use magic to loosen the mud!”

    “Everyone work together!” Kaylia pleaded. “Someone has to find a way out of the mire's grip.”

    The rage of the battle long forgotten, the foxes around began to discuss ideas and work together. This massive fox was their best chance, if they could free but one of his hands, they could prove hope that the rest of them might escape. Spears were passed, creating a structure above the fox, driven into the mud next to him and ropes were lashed to his arm by the free fox above him. Several foxes nearby would all pull, creating a combined strength fulcrum around the fox with several ropes. There also ended up being several more magical foxes nearby and they all rallied to work together.

    “Just give me one free hand.” The massive fox pleaded. “If we can free one then we can go from there.”

    Everyone worked together, the foxes on the rope pulled with all their strength while the casters poured more and more magic into the mud, trying to force it to relinquish its grip on the massive fox’s hand. The strong fox groaned in effort and pain as Kaylia watched with hope. She wanted so much to see the surface of the mud stretch and peel off of the trapped limb. However, her heart sunk as even with all the magic and strength the wrist laid locked at the surface of the mud, not even straining its surface tension.

    “DAMMIT STOP!” The large fox cried out as everyone relaxed their magic and muscle. “I'm stuck.”

    “We all are.” The fox next to him replied in a defeated tone. “This mud is so strict I couldn't even move my toes. Not even a wiggle if my life depended on it.”

    Kaylia looked down at her trapped legs, realizing the mud had completely enveloped everything below her lower thighs. She tried to wiggle her toes but found them as if bound in stone. She gritted her teeth as she tried to flex her calf muscles but found she could not.

    “As much as I hate to admit it, I doubt I’m getting free any time soon.” The large fox admitted. “Were only putting pressure on my body the mud is completely unaffected by the escape attempts.”

    “Oh gods what is this stuff?” Kaylia said in shock and fear. “It's like my legs are gone.”

    “They might as well be.” A nearby fox said as she stared down on where her legs disappeared into the muck. “Nothing under the surface of this crap seems movable.”

    “Can we pry ourselves out maybe?” A fox offered. “We have spears...we have tools.”

    “Maybe.” The standing fox replied as she carefully pushed a spearhead into the mud by one of her feet. “No good! The second it touched my arch it froze in place. The spearhead is now rigidly locked against my foot.”

    “Can we dig ourselves free?” Kaylia asked. “It might break...whatever is holding us here.”

    “If you want stuck hands.” The massive fox admitted. “Anything you put in this mud wont came back out.”

    “Use your weapons!” Kaylia pleaded. “The surface is less sticky, dig slowly it might release us.”

    Several foxes nodded and went to work with sword, knife and shield, carefully digging at the mud. However, as they watched in horror the mud's surface immediately reformed after every movement.

    “The mud won’t let us out!' One fox cried. “It's enchanted!”

    “No caster could make a trap this strong.” One of the magic foxes replied. “I am using all my magic power to figure it out and nothing. It is like my feet are in another dimension and nothing can peer in. This is beyond anything I have ever heard of before.”

    Kaylia's mind raced she was desperate to figure out the stuff. She saw a fox who had fallen forward into the muck only his shoulders and head emerged. “You! What can you move?”

    “Nothing!” The fox replied in a clearly afraid tone. “I'm locked up tight! Anything that is under the surface tension of this stuff is strictly held. I can barely breath!”

    “Are you sure you can move nothing?” Kaylia asked. “Fight!”

    “I am fighting!” The sunken fox replied. “Every muscle, every limb screams with effort to move but none can respond.”

    “I have had enough of this!” One fox called out. “I refuse to allow this stuff to be my doom. I will hack off my feet if I have to!”

    “How far do you think you will get?” Another fox asked. “Even if you didn't get restuck instantly you would bleed to death before you got to the edge.”

    “So, were all doomed to just sink to our deaths in this stuff?” Kaylia asked in an annoyed tone.”

    “Were not sinking.” A female fox warrior responded. “I can clearly feel solid ground under my soles. Can't move my feet of course but I can still feel them. Some of us might be in deeper spots than others but were not in any risk of sinking deeper.”

    Kaylia looked down at her sister. “Can you move at all.”

    “No.” Halia responded. “No part of me can move at all, even if I weren't injured, I'd be imprisoned in this exact position.”

    “So, we just sit here stuck like this?” Kaylia called out in frustration. “I need to find something. I will find a way to save you!”

    “Kaylia.” Halia said weakly. “You do not have to save me. Not anymore.”

    “Well, it looks like no one will save any of us.” Kaylia responded as she looked around her as countless foxes fought the mire to no avail. “It appears we are all doomed.”

    Kaylia continued to hold her sister as the rain continued to fall on the foxes trapped below. The armed fighting over, replaced for the desperate fight yet to come...the fight to be free.

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