Then, She Fell Asleep

Fox waited. And waited. And waited. She laid down and in an attempt to ease the cold, wrapped her tail tightly around her until it reached the tip of her nose. She wanted to return to Rabbit’s burrow where it was warm and safe. But she wanted answers more.

Then, she fell asleep.

“Fox.” The voice was strong, but gentle in a sleepy kind of way. “Fox,” it repeated, and Fox managed to pry one eye open to look around. Her. She was still under the tree, but something was different. She opened the other eye and lifted her head to look around. The world was bathed in silver. A kind of fog that shimmered with a reflected light she couldn’t quite place.

“Fox.” The voice repeated a third time.

“Yes, I- I am here.” Fox responded. “Who are you? Why can’t I see you?”

A soft laughter wrapped around Fox then, weaving in and out of the trees like wind. “I think you know who I am. And as to why you can’t see me, there are many times that is the case. It never means I am not there though. I am always with you, even in the darkness.”

“Moon?” Fox responded with a reverent whisper.

“It is I, little Fox.”

“Am I dreaming?” Fox asked.

“In a sense, I suppose you are. You called out to me tonight, I heard you. What is it you want dear one?”

“Mother Moon, I have so many questions. You gave me Life, but I know not what to do with it. I spend my days eating berries and hiding from my own tail. Is this the life you want for me?”

“Are you happy?” Moon’s voice was soft and kind, but her question brought a wave of sadness over Fox.

“No, Mother Moon. I don’t think I am.”

“That is not what I want for you child. Rabbit lives her life in the best way she knows how, but her life is not yours. You must find your own way.”

“What way is that?” Fox asked, near tears.

“You must find your own way.” Moon repeated once more, before the world began to melt in a drowsy sort of way and Fox found herself blinking awake, in the morning sun.

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*This piece was written as a part of a series for #Folktaleweek2021 in response to the prompt “Dream” for 11/16/2021.

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-Jessica