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Dial Coyote: Ch12 (Blood)


“Coyote the trickster, coyote the fool, watch out or he’ll come after you. Hated and loved by all he meets, watch your dinner closely, or he will steal your meats. Shifty and loathsome, he tricks and lies, his curiosity is how he died.”

The fox sang with utter glee and spite, playful with an inductive undertone.

Dial just stood there blank faced, part of him was amused but he was to confused to know what to say…ultimately the only thing that eventually came to mind was simple statement.

“Um… so I guess I am not the first coyote you have met then…”

……

Dial sat nervously and felt that may have been a stupid reply. What he had meant to say was that it was clear the fox had mistaken him for another coyote. This one sounded much more mischievous than himself. It was most definitely not himself. He was relieved to be nothing but a boring coyote, well not average coyote but certainly not some legendary coyote.

The fox came up and stared in his eyes closely, which made Dial feel uncomfortable. Being stuck in mud he could not move to keep some personal space. Only natural to flinch with a predator staring you right in the face. After a moment of examining him, the fox grinned.

“Hmm… I guess I am mistaken. For a second you had me worried there little coyote. I thought you were someone ancient and powerful in disguise. He is dead from what know and so I doubt he found a way to be reborn. I both delight and am terrified by the idea of him once again walking the world but you are just his name sake and while there is a mystery or two about you; you are nothing more than a weakling pup.”

Dial was in no condition to feel insulted. The fox spoke with a clear and serious tone that made Dial’s fur stand on end a bit. He was clearly through with playing. Didn’t he say he may kill him? Dial withheld fear for the moment because he did not know if he required it, but it had most definitely been a threat to a coyote not a joke. Then the fox lay down calmly before him in an elegant fashion as if Dial was there to entertain him and he was waiting for the next show.

“What the hell was that all about…” Dial paused for a second then continued “No wait... I don’t want to know... fuck it... just get me out of this stupid pit already… please…”

“Only if you sing to me back. A song is a fair gesture of friendship”

Friendship… was Fox his friend after all? Dial did not know what was better, putting up with abuse of a friend or fearing a powerful enemy. They both seemed bad but clearly one was worse so dial complied friendly and appeasing but he just did not know any songs.

“Um… I don’t know any songs?”

The fox quirked his head sideways perplexed.

“How can you not know any songs... that is… impossible. You are a coyote. All coyotes sing.”

The fox sniffed at him closely as if to assess what may be impersonating a coyote. Dial had never thought about an actual song before. He thought he heard a few uttered or whistled but could only recall a slight melody. He knew no words to any songs. Coyotes howled, or squeaked rather; at the moon. Or often when vocalized he was excited, scared or happy. He did not think that very much singing. He wondered if he could actually use coyote speak before now or if that understanding had invaded his mind with the new found intelligence. Before he just knew how to read and signal back with his body language tail and yes…his vocalizations. That may be more like dancing than singing.

“Dam… ok then… well I guess you are of no use to me after all…. Good day.”

The fox started to walk off. No use to him? Did fox need him to sing? Dial suddenly realized the fox had been there for possibly an hour or more and had not helped him at all and seemed now not to have intended… that bastard! Dial could not remotely be upset he was too afraid of being left for dead.

“What? No wait please don’t leave me… I could die of cold or drown or worse…please!”

Dial panicked… he closed his eyes and thought deep inside of himself… a song a song I need a song … please a song… maybe I can make one up… Tony if you can hear my thoughts HELP.

“Um... ahem”

“Help me the way to get home… I am muddy and I need to go to bed… I really thought I liked a fox a minute a go... until he jumped right on my head…”

The fox turned around and gave the most pleasant grin ever thought possible from a fox. It was almost unnervingly pleasant. Dial felt he did well.

“He he he… Ok… that was amusing… not quite right but amusing… I think you just got a little help from something with that one… but I guess it passes the game. Why don’t you tell me who showed you that song? It is not fair to get help to win a game, best play the game honestly little one.”

“Game… I wasn’t aware it was a game”

“Oh sorry... sometimes I forget to say the rules. So I guess it was not a game… you passed though…”

Dial looked perplexed.

“I will sing to you all the time if you help me out of here… please.” dial whimpered.

“Hmm well you just renewed my interest in you.”

Dial felt a bit of a cold chill down his spine as he did not think that it was necessarily a good thing for the fox to be interested in him.

“Anyone that weird should get along with me just fine providing they keep their manners and stop asking questions so much. No scratching at me. Besides I don’t think you are much of a threat to me after all. You had me rather spooked when we first met because I thought you had been sent to destroy me. I believe humans refer to it as a spy or a sleeper agent or something. I am far too clever to be caught though, and I sniffed you out the moment I first saw you. That bite you gave me had me worried but appears to be of little concern after all. Even if there is magic it is weak and pathetic and not worth anything to me. However; it would seem that something has blessed you with just a bit of extra intelligence. It may even be human in nature, science? Perhaps a sickness may have altered you, or some kind of experiment to make you more human perhaps? I do not think humans know magic but they may have some sort of weird science. Then again you could be an accidental freak of nature without any purpose at all. It seems you are a bit magical; if only just a bit. All things alive or dead have some magic in them, it’s just a matter of how much magic, what is active, and what the magic does. You are no threat to me and just enough interest for me to keep your alive. I think you may have some potential if you work hard, and may yet have some use for me...”

Dials mind was alive with far too many thoughts; he could not contain all of it. He tried to sit there like an obedient pup as minutes ago he was nearly left for dead. He could not begin to feel emotional about all that had been revealed to him, as he had been deemed worthy enough to live and did not want the fox to change its mind? The fox had said so much so fast and dial wanted to absorb it all but did not want to ask questions. He could think about it later when he had time to but he worried he would not understand it all, or remember it all. His mind raced with questions… so many questions…

“…are trying to get free information from me again? I do not like to give secrets away freely pup; they may be used against me. Knowledge comes at a price you can’t afford; best let it go and stop with that annoying scratching. If you do not I may just leave you stuck in that mud to find your own way out. If you stop your scratching I may help you get out of there. Then I will take you for a nice little walk with your new paw. No more scratching at me you hear!”

“Scratching?”

Is that what he meant by scratching. Trying to manipulate him or read him to figure out secrets? He did not tell anything much directly? Dial looked very puzzled. The fox was talking almost in riddles and it was getting a tad annoying. What the hell was he talking about? He was the one who just decided to tell him all of that information… now he seemed angry about it... and dial had not asked to be told any of it. Dial burst out in frustration.

“What the hell fox? You are confusing me… I don’t know what you are going on about. First you act kind to me, then mad and short tempered, then aloof and uninterested, then dominating and arrogant. You seem to want to play games, when I am in a dangerous situation. Now you act kind of scary and serious and even a bit crazy? Then you turn around and blame me for listening to what you chose to tell me…of which even if I cared, I would not know if it was true or not.”

Dial got rather worked up over that… after he finished speaking; all that came out was a series of squeaks and whines and barks of being stressed and annoyed. Surprisingly Fox did not get mad at this… He just rubbed on dials muzzle top in a calm and soothing manner to calm him.

“Feel better now that you got that all out”.

Dial wanted to cry. He was crying, he just had no tear ducts to show he was crying. Inside he was raining down tears as an evening worth of frustration came out similar to the way that tony had vented earlier in the evening.

“It’s your fault… it is all your fault…”

“What?!” fox barked out, in a surprised but not in an aggressive way.

“You could have helped me moments after I fell in here but it has been possibly hours and I am still here because of you. You are a devil…do you have no compassion! Why are you testing me… you are
selfish…are you teasing me… are you cruel and heartless? You care nothing of my life or my friendship. I am just a useless animal to you. A toy of amusement because you are bored”

Dial was venting an evening of frustration and he was starting to hate fox, as most all of his woe was because of him. He closed his eyes and wished he could cry. He whimpered and shook. The trials of this mud pit had made him welcome his cage with open arms, hell even the tiny cage was better than this pit because at least he had friends and food. He swore if this whole night was some plan of the fox to humble him it worked… he wanted nothing more than to never set foot outside his cage again. He knew he was not serious he just was home sick and regretted ever leaving there at all. He was so stupid to fight with Tony, if he had just stayed… he did not care about the fox or spirits anymore he just wanted to get home…

“Uh… I feel… sleepy”

He had used up the last bit of energy in his body. That last fit drained him. His head felt dizzy and he started to lose consciousness. He felt like he was falling asleep next…there was such anger growing inside him. For a moment he felt like he was about to be swallowed by it.

“Ugh…”

The fox grabbed his head with human like hands and shook it firm yet carefully to snap him out of it.

“NO! do not go that way little one… bad things that way… even worse than me… come back to me now little pup. I need you too much to let you die this way.”

The fox exhaled and some of its light entered the air and was breathed into Dials lungs. He revived almost instantly as though an electrical current had flowed through him. His lungs gasped for more air but his body was frozen in shock. Deep inside he was warmed up again and he felt alive once more… had he been dying? Did the fox say it needed him? Was that a good or bad thing? He could not move. His body felt limp and slowly feeling returned. He was now standing on two legs in the mud. It was thick enough to let him stand without strain. His front legs were rested on the top of the mud bed and the fox was panting deeply… what was wrong with him? Like a dream the memory of his unconsciousness faded and soon he only recalled being mad at the fox moments before.

“…what…”

Dials head spun and his vision came back into focus.

“What did you do?”

The fox was too out of breath to reply…

“What did you do to me?”

“Have to feed… weak… no… must resist…”

Dial was still a bit foggy… though he was a compassionate coyote and even though he was angry he did not want the fox to starve if it needed food.

“do you need food? We have meat back at the ranch…”

“…no…shut up… gah…sorry…just…so hungry now…need to get away from you quick…before I…will be back…soon…”

Fox leapt away in his fox form and dashed out of sight. This time it departed too fast to be prevented from leaving him alone. Dial was revived but weaker. Not a matter of energy this time but like his muscles had ¼ their normal strength. Now he was able to make progress in the mud but his body was feeble. He squirmed and the pain was sore all over. He felt like he had tumbled down a cliff and rolled and broken bones and they had been perfectly repaired, and his skin uninjured but his muscle and fleshed was weak and bruised. He seriously doubted if he was able to get out, if he could even stand and walk. He felt like he was a newborn pup or a very old crippled coyote. He prayed this feeling was only some kind of fatigue and not permanent.

“DAM IT TO HELL. Stupid fox… what the hell game is he playing. Did he just drain my energy or something… I mean no... wait… did he? Give me his energy? Why would he? My body is so weak though… warm but weak as a kitten. I can barely stand… and am only able to due to the mud. Maybe I can slowly dig my way through this mud.. I hadn’t thought of that yet. Dam…no… the water flowing makes the mud just stir not dig… dam it I am still stuck! After all that I am still stuck!”

In the distance he heard something squeal being murdered… he feared the worst then realized he knew that sound well… a rabbit. Had fox just killed a rabbit? His belly gurgled and he winced as he realized he was starving and the sound of prey in distress naturally makes him want to feed.

“Oh that was… eerie… I don’t think even I have ever made a rabbit make a noise quite like that… it sounded like it was in unimaginable pain but then silenced. At least it sounded to be a quick death…”

Most animals tend to go for a kill and the prey does not suffer to long, Dial had never killed something since he had his new intelligence and started to feel sheepish about ever doing it again. His instincts compelled him but he could control them well enough with his new found logic. So long as his belly stayed fed he would not desire blood and meat to be fresh and warm, even if it is best when that way. Soon he saw the fox running back over the hill and he was carrying something small in his mouth. Still in his natural fox form, it looked innocent enough, just a fox carrying a rabbit.

“Wow that was fast… it is like it jumped into your maw and said eat me… wait… why are you covered in blood!”

Dial stared in horror as much of the white underbelly of fox and his orange was coated in blood. Almost as if he had just bathed in a river of blood.

“What a strange question to ask little coyote… do not animals bleed when killed and eaten.”

Dial was timid to inquire farther, but he had noticed that there was a ton of blood over the fox’s fur and very little if any on the rabbit. Had it all come from the rabbit? It was as if the rabbit had exploded yet there it was almost nearly undamaged except a few bite marks. Only something was horribly wrong with its corpse. It looked like it has been squeezed and shriveled. The expression on its face was…worse than death…that is the only way Dial knew how to explain it. Like it had died of pain and fright! The fox then tossed the carcass on top of the mud in front of him. He almost yipped thinking that throwing it to him was a cruel prank to scare him, until his coyote instincts smelt the meat and blood and knew what to do. With his front paws free he could grab and drag it closer.

“Brought this back for you, you look starved”

“Um… thanks…”

Dial stared at it afraid of it a bit…the life almost seemed to be stolen away from it…could fox do this to him? Would he? Dial hesitated… it had been so long since he had eaten meat with fur on it. He actually felt sorry for the rabbit which he never would have in his days as a wild coyote. Not that Dial was amoral, he just had lacked the complex mind back then to feel guilt with. Though now his mind told him something was a bit creepy about eating kill, and it definitely told him there was something wrong about the way fox killed this rabbit. How odd for a coyote to question prey… he was a meat eater and it was his life blood to eat meat… meat is what kept him living. He hoped this hesitation would pass and not be noticed by fox. Maybe he just needed to take a bite, force himself to chew and his instincts would take over to fill his belly. He bit down and was horrified by the taste…

“It’s… hard… and… what the hell…”

He stared at fox with several questions but did not want to be rude to ask, though his look said everything; confusion distaste and fear.

“Do not ask questions you do not want the answers to. I just offered you a kill little one, it is perfectly good meat. Are you going to let it die for nothing or will you make use of it?”

“…um…I am hungry and I will eat, it just smells and tastes different…not bad just different. I agree... I don’t need to know you’re eating habits…strange as they may appear in my imagination”

“Good boy… now you enjoy that while I wash up... I’ll do it down stream of course. Don’t go anywhere”

Dial wanted to bite him for that… the fox knew he wasn’t going anywhere. A joke maybe…his mind was more distracted by why the fox would get so bloody and then simply wash it off…odd. He knew fox added that last bit in to make fun of him being stuck... wait... he had pulled him up from the mud? How the hell did that little fox pull him out of the mud so much? That itself was a bit scary to think about… he was still stuck and therefore he called out playfully to fox.

“Wouldn’t dream of it”

The fox laughed and bounded off with renewed vigor… he was like a puppy running around with such energy… Dial had never seen him like that before. It was encouraging but his brain was connecting the dots and realized what it meant.

“He killed that bunny, but it was like something had occurred... like … Fox drew out all of its blood from its body and rolled in it? That… was terrifying”

Dial recalled rolling in smelly things he found; as is the nature of canines… but this was … almost evil… or was it how all spirits fed? Maybe it was just weird and extreme, but not evil? Almost all other thoughts from earlier in the evening had been erased forgotten as quickly as the smell of the blood on fox did in the stream. Or simply that the memories were pushed out of priority. Suddenly Dial knew for certain that the fox could kill him any time it liked. Why it had chosen to give energy to him he did not know. HE worried it may have done something else to him he would not know about yet. The meat before him did not have a drop of blood. It was chewy and weird but he had eaten rotting meat plenty of times and it was not to different. More like rabbit jerky dried out in the sun. Blood tended to rot fast leaving just the meat bones and fur. It was a predator thing humans would never understand, or be able to eat that way themselves. A coyote never knows where its next meal comes from and can’t be picky.

“Wait… if the blood was on his fur and he is washing it off carelessly, and the body is here almost unharmed… what the hell did he eat?”

“There there little pup. Eat up. You will feel better.”

Dial started to chew on the meat, it tasted odd but was still ok… not tainted or something. He soon had his fill which was good enough and then tossed the rest to the fox who ignored it like he could not eat it. This only made dial suspect the truth of things.

“You are going to waste it?”

“No no… I’ve had enough for now, and it’s just that the bones are quite small and with my body in the mud, I don’t want to choke. It’s amazing I can eat at all in such a weird position. Thanks for helping me stand and get my paws out. But why did you not just drag me out entirely? I am starting to suspect you want me in this mud… but I feel it would be rude to ask or accuse… and whatever you just did for me… it was very taxing to you I see…I am going to guess you would have pulled me out all the way? But you were to weak… can you now that you seem to have your vitality restored with plenty to spare?

“Now now don’t get to smart there little pup. No… not yet… don’t worry, you will get out of there… but I still have a few things about you I need to learn…first…”

Dial’s ears folded back timidly as now he knew he was being kept captive by the fox. He tried not to cower in fear or get angry or argue… if he was right this fox had just eaten a soul…or something like that? He was not to be messed with, having such big metaphorical claws at his ready use. Dial felt open and honest approach would be best even if it was against his gut instincts to fight or flee when trapped.

“Ok… I will stay here fox… as long as you desire me too… if you promise to help me out then I will stay... I do not know your exact intent… but may I ask as fair trade for being complaint to you … that you … tell me honestly... No tricks no evaded questions... What you just did… I don’t need to the full details just… the basics… it has really unsettled me and I am starting to think a mortal being such as myself never should have seen that… I think it may even traumatize me a bit. You are the only one with the power to help ease my mind and I guarantee you. If you can explain that to me first, before you do what you need to do tonight... I will be a hell of a lot more cooperative later. Not to mention less fearful and distracted… that was some horrific stuff you just did and I am amazed I can talk so calmly to you about it…because inside I feel fragile.”

“Hmm… cooperating then… I doubt you would have done so from the start, but it pleases me you are being so compliant… good boy. You are fortunate to have caught me at the best possible moment as I am myself most cooperating after I feed. Well little pup if you really want to join the larger picture who am I to stop you … but information comes at a price… though… I suppose I am responsible for putting these questions in your head so I should help take them out. That seems to balance things. If you let me I can remove your memory of this day but you have to let me into your head. It requires blood magic but that is one of the magic’s I know well. There is no harm to you it sounds worse than it is. It is really just a verbal oath sealed with blood to dictate terms of an agreement, and your permission for entry and extraction which will be part of those terms.”

Dial worried about that, it sounded like he could sell his soul this way if he was not careful. He wanted to trust him but felt he was being pressured into it. He did seem awfully serious all of a sudden. Though he partially wanted to remember and learn and yet thought maybe he should just forget it all. He did not expect the fox to actually be able to do such a thing. It opened up complex and very real possibilities and he would have to be careful what he wished for, how he wished, and if he wished at all. He did not very much like the new idea that fox could simply take memories out of him. Though apparently only if he gave permission.

“Um… I’d rather not have you digging inside my head… can’t you just tell me details to ease my mind… may not be as pleasant but I’d rather not have you digging around in my head. It is worth a few bad memories. Of which I would rather not have any erased or stolen away.”

The fox huffed in a long exhale, like it would have been easier to do that than explain things and he looked disappointed.

“Suit yourself if that is what you wish… but when the blood drunk wears off I am going to be much less agreeable and calm minded and it may get rough for you… can you handle that… I am my most chaotic after feeding but while feeding my other half is dormant asleep. He is busy absorbing energy but when he is done, he will emerge from my personality and force me away completely for awhile. You may think of it like a full moon change of man to wolf, and back again. Only this happens whenever I feed. It is more like that side of me sleeps allowing only this side to show. Though when he wakes he is fully recharged; which forces me to sleep for awhile. He may be dangerous and violent if you do not keep on his good side. I am offering to remove memories to make you less of a threat to him. The less you know the less he will want to kill you for knowing too much about us. If I do not remove memories he will learn when he wakes what you know about us and may end you. He is very prideful and thus wants to feel invincible. I have been trying to befriend you but he is to arrogant to treat you fairly. You would have to earn fair treatment from him”

“Wait, this is a lot to take in. So you have two parts to yourself? You mean… like a werewolf? That sort of thing exists? I thought it was just Tony’s imagination.”

Fox just stared at Dial as though he had forgotten for a second that he was just a simple coyote without any idea of what was real and what fiction was. Yet he seemed impressed he knew about human fantasy or legends based on fact. Then he tilted his head as if trying to figure out how dial knew. This time it was Tony who had often rambled to him unaware the coyote could listen and understand mostly. Tony was fascinated with werewolves. He said once he wanted nothing more than to be a wolf. Dial found this odd and even felt a bit jealous, as he would have rather had Tony want to be a coyote like him. The fox decided to just continue and ignore the question he may or may not have found stupid.

“As you’ve no doubt noticed there is a lot of swing to my mood and personality tonight. This is my true nature. I am of two minds that are always circling. Moon and me have the same nature for moon cycles from light to dark as do i. Though thankfully for you all things are composed of four natures, so even I have order within me. I am of chaos which is at equilibrium with light and dark so sometimes you could say I am good and sometimes I am bad, just not evil. I have double addenda because there are two minds in me wanting at times two different things. I would very much like to let you live, my other half is undecided.”

“I would very much like to live too”, dial gulped nervously.

“We have not seen your true nature yet as there have been signs on all sides of the crossroads with you. However; this is normal for all living creatures. You can float around with any alignment but only when you die are you fixed into the circle. Your choices, feelings, desires, and personality in life; affect who you become after death. You are incredibly balanced, but your friends however seem to be all at different spacing’s. It is interesting that you have found yourself in the care of four humans with different natures of their own.”

“Wait… you lost me a bit… how does this relate. A moment ago you were talking about your other half being a threat to me and taking a memory to reduce the threat he perceives me to be to him?”

“Correct. It would seem you have three choices and I will let you choose for yourself. You can continue on, and would need to be extremely lucky to survive as now that you know about our feeding habits you are a threat if you let more powerful creatures know, even by accident. Second you could let me remove the entire memory of meeting me here from your mind and be no longer a threat. Third, I can remove just the critical memory back to when I revived you. You would forget all I am telling you now and will awaken just after I healed you in your memory but will never see me weakened and thus be no threat to the other fox. You know we almost ate you. Though we resisted and fed on a lesser being.”

Dial gulped nervously though despite the choices before him, his mind focused on that last part.

“Um… a rabbit is a lesser being? Do they not become sentient spirits when they die?”

“Well… seems you don’t know anything do you… I suppose its basic information and should not be kept from you as you are of magic folk and thus need to learn it sometime…”

Fox sat and paused and pondered. Dial had his own choices to make soon both came to their own compromises.

“Fox, will you teach me the ways of magic and spirits if I agree to your third option? At a later time after I am not a threat to your other half. I need a trainer and you are the only spirit who has shown any friendliness. True you have also kept me trapped in mud and been very chaotic tonight but, the side I see to you now I feel I can trust.”

“Interesting, you came to a close conclusion to what I had thought up. Though I cannot teach you magic you do not possess. Most that die gain power after death when not limited by their bodies. Magic performed while alive has consequences and you first need the power inside you, given to you, learn it somehow. These things I cannot do. I can heal you by lending you some power but you cannot heal yourself. It is unknown what that little bit of magic inside you can do yet as it seems very protected and locked up so tightly that it is worrying and fixating my other half to scratch at the mystery to figure it out early. I am more patient and do not see you as a threat as clearly you were not sent to kill me, so I am happy to wait and see. I can however train you in the ways of spirits. In hopes that it may accelerate your growth and we may see your potential earlier than later. This may be enough to satisfy my other half to also wait patiently but you will have to convince him yourself. Be very careful to not fall for his tricks and games. If he cannot force answers from you he may try to trick you.”

“So if I understand correctly… if I agree to your third option…if…you will agree to train me at least in spirits… that is definitely a great thing. Frankly I have come to like qualities about you and would not mind you around at all as a mentor but I am a bit concerned about your more chaotic elements.”

“One thing at a time little coyote, you first need to survive my other half or none of this will be possible. You are picking the middle path. Not reckless and sure to fail, but not safe and ignorant either. Again remember knowledge comes at a price and you must have something to barter. It benefits us both to have your memory taken but training must be paid for.”

Dial thought for a moment what he had to offer the fox. Dial had so many mixed feelings of the fox over the night but this was the one he stuck with. He was humbled and honored to accept it, even though he had been put through hell to get this far.

“Thank you fox for your gracious offer, I am no worse for wear so I forgive your trials and games. The idea of your other half scares me a little though. I will follow through with this plan I just need to ensure the terms are of my agreement before I grant you permission into my mind”

“You are a clever one but thankfully I am not trying to trick you . it is wise to ensure your words and terms are carefully chosen. I warn you of my other half, he is a genius and is very hard to outsmart. You must figure out his cracks and use them to your advantage but it will be very difficult. I cannot help you cheat against my stronger half as my loyalty must always fall back to him as we share one body. However I can wish you luck and caution you. He will have advantages over you that you must figure out and counteract before you have any hope of success. To face him blindly would be folly. Now as for permission, this is a lesson you must be very careful, for my other half may try to grant access into your mind. The problem is you will not remember anything I teach you now. It merely serves as a warning for you in case you decide to change your mind now; and have the whole meeting erased to be safe. There is a risk to be considered. My other half will be fine with me talking to you now only because he knows you will not remember it.”

“About that… you have given me an idea for my terms.”

“Good, first you must let me drink of your blood; just a pin prick is enough. Then you must lick your own blood. Then state your terms. Choose them wisely and I must accept. I am being compliant but you must not ask too much of me. Do not take advantage of my kindness. Be sure to state the exact memories you wish taken or my other half may take advantage of your poor wording.”

Just as fox stated the two feral creatures tasted Coyote blood. The fox used its claw to poke at his paw pad and then licked its claw. Then Dial licked his wound as best he could stuck in mud but the fox helped him reach it.

“Speak your terms of the blood oath and I will see if I accept then I will speak my own. If you accept we are in agreement”

Dial thought long and hard for the exact words then boldly spoke.

“You may only take my memory up until the moment after you healed my paw. I have chosen that time because I was most grateful with you then and do not want to have to remember the crazy fox that emerged soon after. I do not believe I learned anything vital after that point and it may make your other half more friendly and docile with me. It will both remove knowledge but create questions again in my mind but hopefully that will be better than knowing things for certain.”

“Oh…I did not expect that from you, I had suggested simply to the moment I spared you from death but I feel your logic is sound and you have found an interesting option. I therefore accept this first term. Speak any more you may have”

Dial nodded. There was no worry the fox would not accept that term.

“Secondly you must return any and all memories that you take from me by the time you start to teach me about spirits. You must follow through with this training, I trust you but I would like it to be part of your oath to me so that if I survive this night I will gain a greater understanding. Though; I would like more time to adjust to my humans. I have barely gotten to know them or find my place so I ask that you train me after summer at year’s end, starting on the winter solstice and continuing after. You must keep safe my memories until that time and return them then so that I remember our deal and will also remember about you.”

The fox sat and pondered a bit.

“Not as I had planned but I can see some wisdom in your plans, this may work well with my own plans. So yes I accept this term.”

Dial sat nervous trying to figure out how to state his third desire; it was several but seemed to fit well together. The problem was how to phrase it and if the fox would accept it

“My final term is for protection from you, and hopefully in time friendship. I hope you will both protect me from spirits and forces which may do me harm as you can use magic and I cannot. But I hope you will also not use your power to hurt me or my friends. So if you merely promise not to cause too much trouble and chaos and be kind, it will be enough to satisfy my third and final term”

“Well that one I have an issue with. You cannot ask to control my nature little one, I most certainly can agree but my other half may not. You will have to ask the same of him if you wish it. So all I can promise is that I will agree to these terms for my own self and what influence I may have over my counterpart will try to advice him to comply to your wishes but he may choose not to. He and I have different agendas after all. I cannot promise either of us will not kill you if you become a threat to us, I can keep some interested parties away from you and will behave as it is fair enough to have you all to myself to observe and watch curiously. In order to accept this you…must…accept my own term. I only have one but you must accept it.”

Dial sat nervously, the fox could ask anything of him…anything… he wanted to trust him…

“I want to trust you fox but I hope you are not trying to trick me now… please don’t be please….”

“my term is that if ever you become a threat to me and I am unable to defend myself from you; you must spare me and show mercy. I desire for you to never kill me and if something else would intend this you must support me. Even if we may someday become enemies and your allies wish my destruction, you must stand up for me and do all you can to prevent them from destroying me. I doubt that this will be of any issue; this is just insurance for the future. Which also helps you now as other fox will know the terms and be less inclined to destroy you”

Dial was greatly relieved fox had not asked for more or worse.

“I have no intention to lead you to your doom fox, so I accept your term.”

“Then I accept your third term as well.”

“Did you have another term?”

“No I feel this is a rather balanced agreement and would not wish to grant anymore from you for asking for more from you.”

Fox then licked the wound and it magically healed in an instant as though it never were.

“There it is done”

“Oh… I thought I would lose my memory instantly?”

“No only when I take it…I was hoping you would neglect to say exactly when I could so the next time I take a memory you will lose it back to the point you chose”

“Wait… did you just trick me? Dam it I forgot to say that…”

“No stupid I did not trick you; you are just stupid and forgot yourself… but… I have a plan of my own I am trying to keep from my other half... you must trust me.

“Trust you? Wait… ok... I suppose I just made an error… not you.”

“Exactly but I am clever and shall use it in a way that will both benefit us. Now hush.. sit there and let me switch.”

“Switch?”

"I need to bury myself deep into my own subconscious to lay dormant. It will force my other half out early and disorient him a bit. He will not know all which just occurred here. I need you to play dumb. Whatever you do, to not think about me, or you will give away my plan to him."

“But I do not know your plan?


“Exactly stupid coyote… now just silence your mouth and your mind and relax.”

The fox Turned into its spirit form and its body shifted and melted into a puddle on the top of the mud. Dial sat flabbergasted at this as he thought the fox made of bones and flesh. Maybe it had none at all or simply could be flesh and blood when it chose. He half wondered what he would taste like but tried to wash the thought from his mind. Not that he would have at all though as the formless fox was just too scary when it showed off its magic this way. He was an obedient little coyote and this was a big distraction for his mind. Perhaps, good as the fox had wanted him to focus on other things.

Suddenly it reformed itself and grew limbs and a shape and then converted itself back into a fox form with fur and once again looking flesh and blood.

“What happened? That was most unexpected of him. How suspicious… I wonder what he is hiding from me this time. That little brat…why did he not let me recharge fully, he forfeited his time willingly. Hmm what could he be up to.”

The fox then stared at dial and a grin came over his face like he was about to eat him piece by piece.

“Hellllooooo again…my darling”

The fox grinned and spoke with the most eerie voice imaginable. The boogieman, whose hill apparently was nearby?...could not have spoken in such a frightful voice in the night.

“Umm… hello fox? Did you go somewhere?”

“Don’t play dumb little one!”

The fox rushed over and poked at his nose with a claw threateningly

“No no I just meant you have been acting weird tonight. Come now.. I am your friend remember… I thought you wanted to play. You do not wish to hurt me do you?”

The fox relaxed his posture and sat in front of Dial again smiling pleased with itself.

“Perhaps”

Dial did not know if that was a, perhaps I shall hurt you, or perhaps I shall not. Or maybe it was intended as both? He was a bit upset having to deal with this clown again but worried why the other had not completed the deal. Knowing what he knew, left him very vulnerable to this side of fox. He could kill him. He tried to push all thoughts from his mind as fox had asked him to.

“Scratching what are you scratching at… stupid fool. I know you know things. I may kill you yet but I still want to see what is inside you. You are lucky that does not require me to tear you apart. Come now… I won’t kill you if you let me take a peek.”

Dial almost pissed himself; he had not thought the fox to be so direct.

“No you may not, it would be…cheating.”

The fox grinned and spun around a little and then laughed amused as though it half chased its tail and then gave up.

“HA!” I see now, my other half made a deal with you didn’t he. Tell me what it was little one… I will find out soon enough but you best tell me now. don’t want to anger me do you.”

“That would be cheating you silly fool, thought you were clever and did not need answers given to you. Does not information come at a price?”

“Oh so he thinks he can play with me now does he? How intriguing…”

“No more games now Mr. Fox, I just want to go home.”

“What no more scratching at me for tonight? You don’t want me to tell you things? What a change, earlier you could not stop scratching at me.”

“If you are patient I may yet let you see what lay inside as I learn for myself but you may not peek at the surprise early.”

Dial thought he was being clever but the other fox had created a false sense of security which was slowly fading. Still though; standing up seemed the correct strategy even if slowly it was becoming a lie of strength.

“Never mind… anyway… you already know answers too many things, you just are too stupid to put it together… no offense”, the fox chirred happily.

“Um... none taken I guess…”, dial looked sheepishly and a little annoyed, he would have to swallow his pride so much that it would be crapped out. The only way he would get anywhere with this bully is if he could take his abuse and not let it bother him.

“Shifty fox…what is your interest in me… why won’t you tell me why you keep coming around?

The fox just grinned at him amused by the coyote who wanted to play a game of wits.

The idea came out of nowhere. Actually the fox just helped him find it. By saying he already had the answers. He recalled the fox would not let him leave. Perhaps its curiosity about him was not the only reason he was held here. The fox seemed hesitant to kill him as if it needed him alive but was trying to pressure information out of him as well. Wait… the other fox had stated two agendas… one wanted to see the power hidden inside him, the other needed him to do something it could not do? Dam… he wished he had figured that out before he made that blood oath. Maybe he could use the revelation now that he had it.

“I guess that there is something you want from me that you cannot do yourself. Am I right?”

Dial thought what the fox may need him to do, that with all its power it could not do itself. Dial thought back to when he first met the Fox. He shrunk down entered his pen then his cage and was bit and…wait the foxes tail had not mended? If the fox could heal things why was it not able to heal its tail? That had to be what it wanted.

“Snarl” the fox growled softly but enough to get Dials full attention.

The fox’s disposition changed sudden and his paws shifted into little hands. Almost human like hands but with long fox claws and entirely black skinned with no fur. They almost looked like a birds talons but soft like paw pads. Dial was so amazed by the transformation he did not feel threatened until the fox placed a claw directly between his ears.

“Now now I just healed you twice, it would be a shame to have to hurt you. You are a clever boy and if you become a threat to me I will not hesitate to end you. Do not think me joking on this one pup.”

The fox tapped a claw on him up and down to intimidate him and he was doing a fine job. Dial gulped nervously and tried not to pee himself. What had he done? The last thing he said implied… oh…that he had something the fox could not do itself. The fox needed to use him. What could he do that an extremely powerful spirit could not? The fox had been trying to show many things the coyote could not do. Maybe it was a sensitive topic that it needed him. He was too afraid to pursue the topic much father.

“I am sorry… that was insensitive of me. You clearly have great power, I see no reason why you would need me at all for any help with anything. You are most impressive. I am merely curious is all, you kill a coyote for being curious when you show him amazing talents can you?”

“Too many questions and information is pricy. You have nothing to barter with. Let’s just say that spirits have their own rules little pup. Children are supposed to be naive, and supposed to learn these things after death. Unless you want to die today I suggest you stop asking questions.”

There was no joke, no laugh, no intimidation; just a calm serious voice as though the silly games were done with and Dial should heed the warning.

“Um… did you just threaten to kill me???”

The fox smirked a bit evil and then shifted back to normal and started to walk away as though it was leaving. For a moment Dial was actually glad then realized he was still stuck in the mud and there were dogs nearby.

“Wait... don’t go. I need your help. Get me out of here.”

“You already used my free help and I am now short on help now silly coyote. Get yourself out or don’t and die. It is up to you to decide your fate.”

It had not occurred much yet to him he could die by simply freezing to death or drowning… had that been what he was saved from earlier? For a moment his mind returned to the cold which was not freezing but still enough to kill him in time. His body started to shake not because of the cold but because of the fear. He closed his eyes and tried to think warm thoughts. He was getting a bath now for sure with all this mud but he wanted a hot bath now. Oh how wonderful that would be.

Dial’s ears perked up when he opened his eyes and the fox was lying down on top of the water on his belly with his forearms stretched out. He looked like royalty that demanded respect. He was uncomfortably close and dial nearly cringed as a moment ago he was walking away and now was right in front of him. How had he done that? He had seen him move fast before but it was like he teleported or moved while his eyes were shut. More questions and he tried not to speculate farther because nothing mattered if he died today.

“Yawn”

The snob yawned in his face and dial could still smell a tiny bit of his own blood scent from the ritual. The fox’s paws were stretched out to both sides of his head as it stuck up of the mud. In his thrashing his healed paw had been submerged a bit and now only his head was above the mud.

“You are so boring, but I suppose it would be more boring to leave. I think I will sit and watch what happens to you. Watch you die. Your last moments would be entertaining. Just pretend I am not here.”

Dial starred in horror and hate as he could not decide if it was genuine cruelty or just a bad joke. All this swell of emotion was replaced by confusion when the fox disappeared, literally, right in front of his nose. It had been close enough to lick him and it vanished. For a moment dial sat motionless and flabbergasted. Then he got the courage to raise his submerged paw and swish it in front to see if the fox was still there.

“…Fox?”

No reply… silence… just the moon above and the frogs in the distance. Dial did not realize he could do that. He could see spirits but what good that did if they could still be invisible when they wanted. Fox had to be still there, he had teased him he wanted to watch. He probably was still right in front of him and the coyote had no ability to detect him. However; without having to look at him it seemed to make him vent frustration.

“Dam it broken tail! You are a bastard sometimes… you confuse the hell out of me and I don’t know how to feel about you … how the hell can I even trust you at all.”

No reply…Dial squirmed and started to get serious about it but still was very stuck and unable to get free.

“I need to calm down… I will waste all my energy if I am not smart… and be too weak to get free. But if I wait too long I will be to cold and weak to get free.”

“FOX!” dial yelled out and a dog barked somewhere distant.

Dials ears flattened and he waited and heard nothing more. Fear ran through him.

“I do not feel in the mood to be your spirit guide this day. I do not mind being helpful if it is worth my time and only to those who are nice to me, so best not chase me away anymore. Don’t want to provoke my wrath either do you? So many tricks I could play with you good and bad. Trust me, I am far better at this game than you and you really do not want to know what I am capable of. You would have nightmares. Consider yourself lucky you have gotten my interest at all.”

Dial shivered as the voice came from thin air and fox was still invisible. He wanted to shout out that he knew he was playing a game but that was the least of his concerns. Dial did not like the sound of any of that; especially the part about that the foxes behavior could get far worse.

“Wait a moment…You manipulative little bastard, you have been playing me his whole time haven’t you?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are talking about.”

“Oh please… you have shifted your personality around more in the last half hour than I ever thought possible. You are playing a game with me aren’t you? Either that or you have been trying to distract me from some kind of information or prevent m from learning anything. God now I even question if you have two sides to you or not.”

“Oh look… the human pet thinks just cause he now has a brain it makes him a genius. Step lightly mortal! You challenge me in a game of wits and you will lose more than you bargained for. You have some balls on you. Too bad it won’t matter when you freeze to death. Your humans are going to never find you and if they do you will be a half rotten corpse. Then again I may just bury you so they never do and they live their lives in sorrow thinking you just ran off and hated them or never loved them at all.”

“SHUT UP!” dial barked half angry half mortified. If he could cry angry he would be.

“You stupid fool what you are trying to do...ring the dinner bell? Keep your voice down.”

Dial suddenly looked around concerned as the bark echoed in the valley. There was silence for a moment and dial wondered where his anger had come from. Was this really him? He felt something almost itching inside to attack the fox and tear him apart if he could. He could not see him, which made the animal inside even angrier. He lost his concentration for a moment. This was the same feeling when he bit the fox and Tony.

“What is this feeling inside me”, he thought to himself. “No… that is not me…I am not evil…I am not a monster”

Dial knew this feeling; sometimes he felt it returning and had managed to control it. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. His primal mind was taking over and he needed to keep his brain about him or he may actually get himself killed. When he opened his eyes back up he realized the fox had become visible again…he was staring him right in the face and dial thought he had made a grave error and it was about to rip his throat out.

“Wow… you have some anger in you… good. I would very much like to see that again. What are you little pup…show me.” he sounded very pleased which was not what his menacing evil grin had indicated.

“What am I?” Dial shook terrified of him now that the fox did not seem to be a danger this second.

“knowledge is power my dear knowledge is power… it is clear to you now that you have power, but it has been clear to me all along. Yet neither of us knows the real answers yet. so it is not information that can be bartered with.”

Neither of us? Did he mean him and his other half? Or did he mean Dial and the fox? Dial recalled something about him attracted the Fox from the start. Wait... did the fox just say that even it did not know what was wrong with him? At least he did not need to worry the fox was controlling him somehow but it certainly looked eager to rip him to pieces to find out what was inside… not a pleasant thought.

“What is inside me? I mean to say what do you know? I am not asking about you. I am asking about myself. Is that fair to inquire?”

“Well I don’t know. I see the power glow and feel it but it is foreign to me and locked up inside you. I can’t peek in because someone something or maybe your own subconscious is blocking me. There are rules for these sorts of things though.”

“Uh... Don’t do that…you are staring at me like your prey and I do not like it”

“Oh I am sorry little coyote…”

The fox then licked his lips and then licked him right on the nose teasingly and hopped back a foot away and sat amused with himself.

“Something in you is powerful, but I told you that in the Dreamlands. I don’t know whether to run from you, ally with you, steal your power, or destroy you. You should be thankful I have not made up my mind yet. I figured studying you would be best for now…”

Dial was shaking in fear but trying to hide it.

“Dam I don’t have patience for this anymore”

The fox exhaled and a warm inviting glowing breeze flowed to Dial's nose. He tried to resist terrified of it but he breathed it in and it calmed him. He wanted to sleep but knew he could die and so the will to stay awake prevailed but he closed his eyes and breathed deeply… his body warmed up like the cold mud was nothing at all. Though he felt relaxed and dull witted. He knew what they were just talking about but suddenly did not feel it very important. It was like the time the dart had hit him.

“What…are you… doing… to me”

Suddenly dial snapped back to alertness and thrashed around like a caged wild animal. The fox fell back

“Crap!” the fox muttered. “I thought that would work…I’ll just have to make it come out another way…”

Dial’s rage subsided and he regained control again… for a moment he had blacked out.

“What… what just happened…”

The fox was shifty and quick to distract Dial and probe at the same time for clues as to why his magic failed.

“You don’t remember? What is the last thing you remember?”

“I was… in a field again and there was someone there with me?”

The foxes eyes opened wide and he tried to pass it off as amusement not a something vital.

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know… had white fur…I felt warm…happy…safe…”

“What do you remember before that...

“uh… you and me talking here after you healed my paw?”

“Are you certain?”

“yes… wait.. I have been in that field before…with you haven’t I?”

“yes that is the gate between life and death. It is called the Dreamlands. Sometimes mortals travel there while dreaming but otherwise you need to die first.”

“Was I about to die? I thought you were just healing my paw, what the hell?!”

“No you passed out from the cold but in time you would have frozen or drown. I had to warm you back up. And you snapped back awake. You are lucky I was here. What is the last thing you remember us talking about before you passed out?”

‘What is that blue thing in your hand?”

The fox looked down as though it did not know what Dial spoke of.

“Wait you can see this? How interesting, you should not be able to see this”

“What?”

The fox then took the little blue sphere and ate it in front of him.

“They’re safe keeping as promised.”

Dial sat completely confused and bewildered. What the hell had the fox done to him? A crack in his mind tried to show him something… and though the memory had been taken, he suddenly remembered the fox leaving him alone to die…though nothing more. Only the single memory remained strangely.

“YOU!”

Fox looked incredibly guilty for a moment.

“You walked off… you refused to help me.”

Fox looked relieved like for a moment it thought he knew more. Dial stared at him with distrust and then he started to hear a voice in his head. It was like he was behind the fox ease dropping on whispers. The fox looked in a mix of caution and curiosity.

“Something inside this strange coyote just cleared its memory of its existence so i could not find it. Something wants to remain unknown to it. Or maybe he had done it to himself. This was not my other half’s game. That bugger may have set me up to take a memory but along with it memories unintended were also stolen so that I could not see them when I peeked inside. Clever… but not the plan of other fox. Something in this coyote wants to remain unknown and hidden. It reminded him of my betrayal just enough so he would not trust me the moment his mind reverted back to the moment his paw healed. I scratched as hard as I could, but could not get inside. I could not even tell if it was sentient inside or just instinct reacting to my invasion. I can not force my way in with this method, I will have to bide my time and figure out a way to trick him to let me inside freely. I still can’t tell if it is a threat or something worth stealing. It was not easy to block me like that, but there are other ways. I may need to play a game to get permission…”

Dial suddenly realized he was hearing the thoughts of the fox just now… Before he could think more sense of it the connection was severed suddenly.

“Dam”

“What”? Dial looked concerned the fox knew he heard.

“Nothing… just… dam”

Dial stared at the fox completely confused, distrustful and worried of his intent. Though the fox had tried to hide its guilt, Now Dial knew better than to trust him. The fox had revealed itself as dangerous. Deep down inside he knew something else was the truth and somehow the fox erased his memory or wait… he said he may have or something inside him may have? What had the fox done to him… It looked like whatever it was he failed…

Dial was freezing cold and did not want to play games but he worried that the fox had just done something treble to him. A fear crept into his mind that the fox had been manipulating him all along. Had it all just been a big game? Or was it a malicious plot. Maybe the fox was a weird ally but was keeping secrets from him for his own good. He knew he just wanted a happy simple life but it may not be what was in store for him

The two stared at each other trying to think of what to say next…

“I can feel you scratching little one.” the fox said menacingly.

What on earth did it mean by that? Had he figured it out? Dial thought quickly about other things. He was cold again… that warmth revitalized him. He thought of nothing but hot baths and hoped the fox was oblivious. He had to be careful. If the fox was clueless he had peeked into it instead, he could not let him know of this.