A fox watched from a den of brambles his gaze furtive and treacherous ra er Bald complexion and complimenting race with a ravenous smile Nel the winds spoke and the leaves rustled their solemn consent wormed his way into the clearing with vulpine ease Padding lightly on slight paws the fox trotted in his reticent gait to meet the girl of florid heart. M. The creature sat before her in a mound of tangled moss and his eyes gleamed misfortune ‘She removed her plait and the halo dropped into a silken waterfall which hung past her waist, and the wildflowers were brave little rafts fighting for surface among her golden currents She knelt before him softly and nature ceased her call The insects quieted and the entire wood heard her even breath The girl, with her skin washed ivory in the pale moonlight kissed the fox's snout with tender lips and inhaled his woodland musk She closed her eyes And moved on. vi. His den was warmed by his temperate body and his slumber was pleasant ‘Sweet beads of crimson dotted his whiskers and the metallic taste on his tongue lingered heavily The hart did not stand watch that night but grazed untroubled as the skies developed its morning tinct The jay sang jovially, without fear or reservation The rodents made their nests amid the gnarled roots of the judicious oak and the forest was refined in the wake of her sacrifice.