Thieves
Chapter 16 - Luck


"Wake up, Jack! Wake up!"

A pair of black paws tore Jack from his sleep. Not yet fully awake, Jack tried to open his eyes just as the fox shook him again.

"Get up, Jack! Now!!"

The human could feel the cold outside air creep into his legs. He ran a hand over his face and mumbled, "Wha' is it?"

"She's gone, Jack!" Sis spoke panicked.

"What's gone?" Jack asked, sitting up in the small tent and noticing that the cold around his legs had its source at the opened tent flaps.

"Not what. Who!" Sis clarified. "Kirae. She is gone!"

Jack took a glance to his side, where the vixen had slept the night. The place was empty. His second glance went for the luggage, to check whether everything was still there. The backpack was opened and some of the provisions were gone. It wasn't too much, though. They had still enough to make the trip without needing to go back and resupply, if they were thrifty. At this point Jack knew she was gone forever. "Isn't she outside?" he asked.

The fox shook his head, "No. And it snowed this night. There aren't any tracks of her and I can't find her smell either." Sis was really worried for her. "Where has she gone, Jack?" he asked his friend, helplessly.

"Well..." Jack began, finally awake. He sat up straight and closed the flaps first, to keep the biting wind outside for a moment longer. He looked at the fox who had locked eyes with him, hoping for a benevolent answer. "I don't think she'll come back, Sis," Jack said finally, seeing the black-tipped fox ears fold back.

"Why would she do this?"

"I guess she just wanted to go her own way, now that she could," Jack suspected.

"But, why is she gone? We have food, a tent.... What does she want in the cold? How does she want to survive?" the fox asked, desperately searching for an answer.

"We don't know what kind of life she lived before," Jack said.

Sis was almost weeping now, "Bu-but... but why...?" His arms slumped down into his lap.

Jack reached a hand around the fox's back and pulled him close to his side. Sis didn't resist the gesture, he let the human press his face against Jack's chest and waited for him to continue. "Don't be sad, foxy," he said and started to gently rub his back. "You gave her the opportunity to live a life in freedom, you can't hold it against her to take the offer. You have made your decisions, when you escaped the slavery, and now, she has made hers. I told you we are no heroes. If you do something good for free, you'll only earn ungratefulness. But...," Jack put his other hand under Sis' chin and brought his wet eyes up to meet his own, "there's nothing wrong with doing something good once in a while. You're a good guy, Sis. That's what I like so about you," he spoke and then he pulled the fox close into a hug.

When Jack had brought his eyes up, Sis had tried to avoid eye contact. He didn't want him to see him whining like that. But the sudden hug from Jack really surprised him. What Jack spoke was true, and it felt good to hear. Unaware, and purely out of the need to do so, Sis reached his arms around Jack and pulled himself close. He felt the warm human's body against his face and was glad to have a friend like that. He sniffed to clear his nose. "Thanks.... You're a good guy too, Jack," he said.

"You okay now, foxy?"

"Yeah," he said, withdrawing from the embrace.

"Good," Jack said, ruffling through the fur between his ears. "Ready to go then?"

Sis nodded, and soon after, Jack had put the camp back together and they were on their way through the forest again.

All the while on his way further away from the night camp Sis looked out for any sign of Kirae, footprints in the muddy snow, her features behind the trees, her scent which he hadn't had any chance of remembering. But the forest was empty and the only thing he heard was the wet crunch of snow under his paws. The emptiness was calming, somehow. He'd always enjoyed strolling the forest, where everything was untouched.

After half a day of traveling, the river Jack had indicated, finally came into view. It was covered with a thick layer of ice that thinned out further into the middle, occasionally leaving a spot of water through the surface.

"Told ya we wouldn't get lost," Jack spoke, taking in the sight of the river.

"Yeah," he said, walking up beside him. "And where do we go now?"

Jack took a moment to lit a cigarette, before he continued his way, then he answered, "We're following the river. It'll take quite a few days. Somewhere along our way, by a ridge that marks the border of this land, are some mines." He let out some smoke through his nose. "I've never been there," Jack continued. "We'll have to see if we can get somewhere from there, or if we have to continue as before."

As the day ultimately reached its end and the two of them had followed the stream for some miles now, Jack sought for a good place to build up the tent. Tired, Sis set the backpack down and stretched his arms, taking in a deep breath of the cool forest air that smelled of mold, of tree resin and the needles of the evergreen.

"Hey, foxy!" Jack called behind him. "How 'bout you gimme a hand here?"

Sis left the pack and went for the human to help him set up the tent. Jack had already rolled out the hide and was about to put the supports into place. "What shall I do?" the fox asked.

Jack passed him a bundle of metal rods, bound together with a leather cord. "I'll put up the poles," he said showing him the wooden stick that would hold the tent upright, "and you need to fasten the ropes at the side with these pegs." Then he went inside the leather bag and gave it its triangular shape.

Sis pulled the first tent peg free and secured the left front corner, before going on to the next rope.

"Do the corners first, to get the form right!" Jack called from inside the tent, slowly finding his way out again.

So Sis moved to the backside of their night shelter, driving the second peg into the cold frozen earth. It took some effort, but the forest ground was loose enough, so he managed. He made sure to keep the rectangular base shape of the tent and to tighten the leather over the poles.

"Not like that," Jack spoke from across the half standing tent. He finished securing the longer rope at the front with a peg, to prevent the poles from falling inside, and then circled the tent. He positioned himself directly behind Sis. Being much taller than the fox Jack had no problem with looking over his head. He reached one arm around either of Sis' sides and grabbed the rope. "If the wind hits the tarp," he explained while pulling on the rope, "the peg will just slide out, if you drive it in straight." And as he said, the peg simply slipped from the loose earth.

Sis watched Jack's hands move, his voice directly between his two ears. It almost made him feel like a child being shown how to build a tent. He could feel the human's proximity against his back and his warm breath in his fur, his chin almost touching Sis' head.

"If you stick it in oblique," he continued, giving the peg an angle, its tip pointing to the tent, and pushing it back in, "the wind can't pull it out that easy." He gave the rope another tug and this time the peg held.

The shiver that run down Sis' back, as the warmth Jack emitted spread over his neck, would usually have made him cup his ears back as a natural instinct, but he applied all his strength to hold them upright, fearing to touch Jack with them. "Got it," he said at length, not moving an inch.

"Fine!" Jack said, giving Sis' shoulder a clap. The touch startled him so much, he almost dropped the tent pegs. Then the moment had passed as Jack went to fasten the back rope.

When Sis stood, to move to the next corner, he noticed another feeling, this time much more physical and located between his legs. Instantly feeling the blood rush into his ears, he grasped the pegs firmly in his paw and turned his back to Jack so he wouldn't see. He didn't know why, but somehow he couldn't suppress the sudden wish that Jack should have taken him into his arms again.

He pushed the thought aside and continued his work. The cold breeze that got stronger every minute, too, helped him to cool down. As the tent stood, Sis was sent to gather some firewood while Jack prepared the fire place. They were far enough now to risk a fire, even if someone was near, the forest would hide the smoke.

Back again, Sis found Jack already starting the fire with the dry bundle of hay he carried in his pack. Sis dropped the pile he had found next to the fireplace, to further dry the wood before it would be put into the flames.

A portion of the fresh meat Jack had bought would serve them as dinner. The human had put some sticks together to cook the meal over the flames. "Your friend," Jack spoke, "has taken some of our provisions with her. We won't starve, if we don't slow down, but we need to be careful with what we have left. Just so you know."

The mention of the vixen made Sis feel bad again, especially now that he knew that she'd stolen from them. He nodded to Jack in reply.

"We're lucky to be in a forest," Jack continued. "Keep your eyes open for some mushrooms, berries, or nuts, or something. I hope we don't need to eat from the nature, but it's always better to be prepared."

Sis made a mental note to look for edible things.

Since both of them seemed to be done for the day, they decided to go to bed. They had put some logs on the fire to keep it going. The warmth it emitted didn't do much to heat up the tent, but anything was better than nothing. And maybe it was still smoldering in the morning, so they would have warm water and could prepare a warm breakfast.

Once inside the tent and covered with pelts, Sis felt pleased to finally rest and was sure to soon fall into sleep. However, his drift into dreams was suddenly interrupted by Jack's hand that crept over him and attempted to pull him close.

"It's cold at night," Jack whispered behind him. "We should keep each other warm."

When Sis didn't reject him, Jack rested his massive hand on his chest and pulled him a bit closer. Out of the movement, Sis pushed his back against Jack's body. He immediately felt his heat spread over him.

Jack was surprised by the act, although, it was a nice surprise. Encouraged, he tightened his grip around the small fox. He considered for a moment to let his hand wander a bit lower, but he thought it was best not to overdo it, especially since the moment was really nice. "God night, foxy," he whispered into his ear.

When Jack had pulled him even closer and wished him a good night, Sis nestled himself comfortably into the humans arm. Scarcely he remembered his earlier wish and felt happy. "Night, Jack," he responded, closing his eyes. The last thing he remembered, before finally falling asleep, was a light touch on his head and Jack's hot breath in his fur.

***

The next day, Sis' left side felt warm where he touched Jack's body, his right side was cold from the freezing night air. He scooted closer to Jack as the cold found its way through his fur. The human eventually had receded his hand during sleep. He was laying on his side now, the arms facing to Sis. Desperately the fox was trying to push his shoulder under the human's limb to feel more of this warmth. He wasn't even fully awake yet. Still dozing he pressed his nose between Jack's chest and the soft pelt they were laying on.

"Slept well, foxy?" a deep voice asked over him, still dizzy from sleep.

Sis' only response was a long, deep sigh of hot breath through his nose against Jack's chest. The human felt the hot spot cool down through the shirt he was still wearing as Sis drew his breath back in. He could also feel the fox's whiskers poke through the fabric and into his skin. They stung and itched with every movement, but he didn't want to miss the feeling.

Outside, the singing of the last birds could be heard that hadn't yet retreated into warmer territories. "We need to go soon," Jack murmured into the black tipped ears which rested motionlessly under his chin. He didn't want to go now. And neither seemed the fox willing to move, so they stayed a moment longer. Five minutes wouldn't hurt anyway.

But eventually they had to rise. Cold overcame the small features of the fox as Jack got up. Sis curled himself into the pelts. "I don't wanna go out in the cold," he said, muffled by the pelt over his maw.

"Me neither, foxy," Jack said while he rummaged for his things. "But we can't slow down and it's already bright. We need to pack up the tent too. We can be lazy once we reached the north." The fox still didn't make any attempt to get out of his nest. Smiling, Jack let himself down again, reached both arms around the bundled up creature and resolutely pulled him close. "Well... if you wanna get warmed up first, I'm sure we can take some time for that," Jack said, fondling all over the fox.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming!" Sis murmured and tried to wriggle out of Jack's grip.

Jack didn't let him go. "What? So soon?" he mused. "But I have barely started!"

"Get your hands off me, horndog!" Sis protested, finally freeing himself from the human's grasp.

"Don't pretend you don't like it," Jack laughed. He passed his jacket to Sis, "C'mon now. We better get goin'"

Jack was almost dressed, last he bound his shoes. He always kept an eye on Sis while he dressed, and the fox noticed. He was just about to say something as his keen ears twitched.

The fox listened closer. "Someone's outside," he warned Jack low voiced.

"You sure? How many?" Jack demanded.

Sis concentrated even more. It were definitely footsteps he heard, though they were not from a human or short one. The tent obscured all smells from outside, so his nose was useless. Suddenly he made out the unmistakable sound of a hoof hitting the ground on a particularly hard spot, and then the strange, interacting footsteps made sense. "It's only one. He's on horseback," Sis informed his friend.

In a rush Jack had buttoned up his jacket and drawn the hunting knife from the pack. "You will stay inside," he commanded Sis while he carefully opened the tent flaps' fastening to peer through.

"Get out th'r, fox!" a male voice yelled outside.

Jack tucked the knife into the back of his pants and signaled the fox to stay quiet, pointing a finger to his lips, then he pushed the flaps open and went outside. "There is no fox here," Sis heard Jack speak from outside. He wanted to peek out, to get a look at the threat, but doing so might reveal him.

Outside, Jack stood in front of the man. A tall, muscular person, dark skin and scars visible on his face and hands. He'd left his horse, a black stallion with white hooves and a white streak on its nose, a good distance away. He wore a thick, black coat, leather gloves and on his massive belt hung a rolled up whip to his right, and a large, sheathed knife with a bone-white hilt made of ivory that stood out against the black wardrobe, to his left. "I know that 'e's 'ere," the man barked angrily.

Jack came two assertive steps closer and braced his fists against his hips. The threatening gesture didn't seem to impress the stranger.

Pointedly, the man took hold of the white knife hilt. "See, I dun wanna get'n trouble with ya," the man said. "So, if ya jus' gimme the fox, I'll leave ya 'lone."

The man obviously knew about Sis, Jack thought, avoiding to take a look behind him so that this guy wouldn't know right away he was lying. Intimidation didn't seem to work either, so Jack played on time and hoped to talk him out of this somehow, "Why at all would you ride that far out just to catch an escaped slave?"

The man smiled darkly, "Turned out da' one 'e killed was da' bre'r of the father of... that...," he didn't seem to remember. "Ahr! 'e was related t' someone important with da' Dolemans. Put quite da' nice bounty on 'is head."

"How did you find us anyway?" Jack asked, the 'us' admitting by now that he wasn't alone.

"Ah!" he acknowledged him. "Wasn't all dat easy, dat Ah mus' admit. Almost lost track at da' city. However," he said tightening the grip around his knife that the leather grated. "Gimme dat fox now!" he shouted.

Having heard the whole conversation, Sis knew the man was convinced that he was here, which in turn convinced him that the man wouldn't leave without him. Determined he opened the tent and stepped outside, positioning himself beside Jack. Better to face him with two men, rather than alone.

"Ah! There 'e is," the man spoke, confirmed in his tracking skills. "Get o'er 'ere, slave!"

Sis bared his teeth, "I ain't going anywhere!" His fur stood on end.

"I really dun wanna 'ave t' come and get 'im," the man said, consequently NOT addressing the rebellious slave. "Jus' gimme da' fox and Imma gone. Ya dun wanna die out 'ere for a short one, do ya?" He slowly drew the knife out, revealing its shiny steel blade.

Jack also reached for his knife, pulling it free from behind his back. He was solely fixated on his opponent.

Sis had a damn lot of respect for Jack, in this moment. Standing up on this guy for him, defending him upon the cost of his own safety. He was a real friend. And Sis would stand beside him in this and aid him at any rate.

Now the man also removed the whip from his belt, holding it and the knife in one hand. The knife pointed backwards, whilst the whip was ready to hit its target.

Jack knew that he first had to get the whip out of the game, disabling him to attack from afar. But without getting near to him and risking to be hit by his knife, there was only one way. Slowly he began circling the man, leaving Sis where he was so that they could go at him from two fronts. The man's concentration remained on Jack - the only one armed of them both - just as he had hoped. He tried to mentally prepare and gripped his hunting knife tight, expecting what would soon come.

Full force, the man lashed at him.

Jack brought his arm up and the whip connected with it. The pain, despite his thick winter jacket, was indescribable, but he tried to focus. Next time it must work.

Again the whip struck through the air, and just at the right time Jack moved his arm forward, so that the leather cord would loop around his limb. The pain, increased due to the former hit, made him almost lose it, but he quickly gripped the whip and shoved the pain aside.

Distracted by Jack the man couldn't watch his back and Sis took his chance. Though the knife was out of reach for him, he landed a hard punch in the guy's back and kicked at his leg, aiming at the knee pit to make him loose balance. It worked.

As the man made to keep his stand, Jack yanked at the whip, freeing it from the foe's hand. The knife went down too.

Instantly the man retrieved it and turned to the fox. Within a second he'd kicked at him. Sis managed to buffer the impact with his arms, but the hit let him hurl backwards nonetheless. He simply hadn't enough mass to withstand such a blow. He landed hard on the back.

With the man facing away from him, Jack made use of the opportunity and went for the knife, but that guy was fast. In a flash he'd turned and swung his knife at him. Jack dodged. The blade sliced the air merely inches from his body. Now it was Jack's turn. He used the motion of his rival to land a blow with his hunting knife, but the man grabbed his wrist before he could hit.

Again the man's blade came flying at Jack and he likewise stopped it by fetching it. Sis tried to repeat his earlier attack, though he did so without suppressing his natural instincts. Like a wild animal he jumped at him and used all his power to bite him in the thigh. The man screamed horribly.

Jack tried to get his hand free, but the slave hunter was not only fast but also incredibly strong. And his other hand, the one he held the man at bay with, still throbbed from the two hits of the whip.

Suddenly, the man backed off, immediately pushing forward again and sending Jack several steps back. He used the second he'd gotten to land a critical blow at Sis' head. The fox lost his grip and was thrown back.

Before the hunter could knock the fox out, Jack was at him again. Sis could only lay there for a few seconds, dazed from the hit. His eyes slowly started to focus again. He saw the two humans wrestle about the knives again. But only for a moment.

He saw how Jack had to take a hard blow at his wounded arm, he didn't take it well. It was only a second, but that was all the man needed. He stabbed at Jack and the blade hit his chest. Desperately Sis saw how his friend hit the ground, his hunting knife landing in the snow.

Fully in rage now, Sis stormed at the man, who just turned around. The last time he felt like this, was when he escaped and ran through the forest, meeting the guard who would bring him back. Like a red lightning he hit his mark, jumping off the ground, shooting the snow in the air and ramming his foot into the fucker's crotch.

Again he made the man scream in pain. As he bowed forward to cup his aching parts, Sis' fist shot up and met his chin.

Never would he have thought that he had so much power in him. The blow sent the man almost flying backwards into the snow. He dropped his knife and tried to get up again, but Sis was on him in a second, pushing his knees into his stomach as he landed on him. Then he hit his face, and then again, and again, left, right, left, right... over and over, until the man went limp under him and his black paws were tainted red with blood.

For a moment he stood still, looking down at the bloody pulp, the torn skin, the broken nose. Ascertained that the man wouldn't stand up again Sis hurried for Jack, who still lay in the snow.

He was still conscious and held his chest. "Jack! Jack, is everything alright?" he yelled, dropping down on his knees beside him.

"You-you got him?" Jack asked weakly.

Sis nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes! He's out!" He was near tears now. This was definitely something he wasn't prepared for.

Knowing the threat was gone, Jack relaxed and closed his eyes, sighing.

"Jack, come on," the fox pleaded, not knowing what to do.

Sis saw, through his wetted eyes, how Jack's finger indicated for him to come nearer. Sis complied. Jack's voice was weak, "Wou-would you give me a kiss before-before I go?"

Not knowing what else to do he complied again, granting him his last wish. He pointed his lips and bent down to kiss him, but a finger stopped him from connecting with Jack's mouth.

Sis opened his eyes. "Not there," Jack whispered, then his finger pointed down. "There."

The fox stared him in the face. He couldn't believe what he had asked of him.

When Sis eyes, completely clear again, followed the finger, he noticed 'nothing'. Not a single drop of blood was on his friend. He wiped the tears from his eyes to be sure, and he was correct. The brown jacked was unstained. Carefully Sis lifted his friend's hand away and saw the torn hole in the fabric, but no blood. He opened the jacket and gingerly examined the man's chest with his pads, no wound.

Sis searched for an answer in Jack's eyes, "W-what...."

The human grinned up to him, "I really got you there for a moment, didn't I?"

The fox still couldn't really grasp it. Angrily he punched his friend in the stomach, "Damn it, Jack! I really worried about you!"

Jack held his belly. "Ouch," he said as he slowly sat up. He looked about and saw the slave hunter lay on the floor, unconscious and with a bloodied face. "Damn, foxy," he said, taking in the sight.

"Why aren't you hurt?" Sis blurted out. "I saw how he hit you!"

Jack touched his chest and reached into the pocket. He protruded a silver coin, trapped between his fingers. The knife has hit the pocket, as the hole proofed. And as Jack turned the coin around, a deep scratch adorned its surface. "Told ya these bring luck," he said amazed.

Unwilling to believe this, Sis watched the coin disappear again. He shook his head.