All I Have Left

Word Count: 300

Dog sat matter-of-factly in front of the hole, barring any chance of escape. He watched his quarry pace back and forth. Nervous energy.

“Poor Fox, trapped with nowhere to go.”

Fox stopped his pacing and sat slowly on his haunches. He tried his best to stare down Dog but couldn’t help dart his head about, searching for Man.

“I admit you’ve got me, Dog. I know not how you sneaked up on me, but I am surely caught and dead this day.”

“You’ve no one but yourself to blame. You understand that, right? How many times have you come here to steal what rightfully belongs to Man? It was inevitable this day would come to pass. Fox, why do you pester Man so? Why risk your life for such worthless rewards?”

Fox thought long about it. Eventually he sighed, lowering his head in sadness. “Dog, you of all must know the true nature of Man. Can you say you’ve never seen the cruelty in his eyes? Heard the primal rage in his shouts?”

Now it was Dog’s turn to look away. “Fox, it is the nature of Man. He is what he is.”

“Tell that to the cold soil that covers my mate…my cubs. Murdered, because Man decided we didn’t belong. It is he who doesn’t belong. Where was he so many seasons ago? My kind have always been here. If I can bestow upon him any grief, no matter how small, it is all I have left.”

Fox walked towards Dog, head high and proud. “It will be good to see my family again.”

Dog rose instinctively but suddenly stepped aside. “No, Fox, not today. Today I understand.”

Fox hurried under the wall to freedom. Dog’s mournful howl followed him into the woods, safe once more.