Note: This story will be broken up into multiple parts, as it is a bit long to post all at once. It is based on a freewrite prompt (banana) provided by @mariannewest, so be sure to check out her daily prompts if you want to read lots of great stories from other users! And, as always, I hope you enjoy my story!
Aine inhaled deeply as she walked along the forest path. This was her favorite place to go when she felt overwhelmed with her life, though it hadn't always been a safehaven to her. Growing up, Aine had been told many stories about the forests that surrounded her home. More often than not, those stories involved hungry beasts who lured spoiled children with promises of sweets or toys or games. They were scare tactics, her brother had informed her, to get the two of them to behave for their grandparents. Still, she had spent much of her childhood fearing the forest and its creatures.
"Finally," Aine sighed as she sank down onto the old log bench. "I finally have an afternoon to relax."
The past week had been hard on her. Hell, the past month had seemed to be a test of her resolve. A company merger had left her unemployed and scrambling to find work, a major storm had caused enough damage to the family home to nearly drain her meager savings, and her brother's cross-country move meant that, for the first time in her life, she was truly alone here.
Aine leaned back and stared up at the trees, trying not to dwell upon what was wrong in her life. She focused, instead, on the birds as they sang their songs and darted from tree to tree. She noted the squirrels as they scrambled through the branches in search of food. And as she caught glimpses of the blue sky between the tree tops, she began to feel that the trip had been worth it. The forest was offering her the escape that she desperately needed and she was thankful for it.
A rustling sound brought her attention back to the ground and she turned toward a bush on the opposite side of the overgrown path. The bush, positioned at the base of a giant oak tree, was surprisingly lush given how little light it must receive. Plump red berries were beginning to ripen in clumps along its branches and its dark green leaves seemed to shine as though they were polished. And beneath that foliage, a lanky red fox peered out at her, watching her cautiously.
She had never seen a fox in the forest before, though she had heard them calling to one another on occasion. Foxes were known to be shy, reclusive animals, but this fox seemed to be particularly brave. Without hesitation, it crawled out from beneath the bush, its gaze darting between her eyes, her hands, and the small paper bag she held in her lap.
She knew she shouldn't feed a wild animal, that it could make the animal lose its fear of humans, but the fox kept gazing at the paper bag as though it knew what was held inside. Perhaps she could make an exception, just this once. After all, it was unlikely that she would ever get to see a fox this closely again.
Aine carefully picked up the bag and dug through the snacks inside, keeping an eye on the fox's reaction. The fox, surprisingly, didn't seem to feel threatened by her movements. Its front paws danced slightly as though it were unable to contain its anticipation. And as she pulled out a piece of fruit, she wondered if it had been fed before.
"Here you are," she said quietly, placing the fruit onto the ground and sliding it toward the fox. "You can have this."
The fox yawned briefly before it walked over and sniffed at the fruit. Rather than snatching its prize and scampering away, as she thought it would, it instead cocked its head to one side and sat down, staring at it curiously.
"Maybe foxes don't eat fruit," she said aloud, the thought occurring to her. She might have to add some chicken jerky to her snacks in the future.
"Fruit is an acceptable food, though meat is better."
The sudden voice startled Aine, sending her to her feet as she whirled around to find its source. The forest fell silent, eerily so, and she slowly turned back toward the fox. The little hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on end and she struggled to remain calm. What in the world was going on?
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