Scrambled-A short story

Scrambled
'''“Must get the eggs, must get the eggs, must get the eggs…” I thought to myself repeatedly as I padded down the forest trail, “Mother won’t be happy if I don't.” I sighed, “When is she ever happy? Oh well…” I shook away the thought and kept walking, the sound of my pawsteps muffled by the thick carpet of pine needles that blanketed the forest floor. I knew that somewhere up ahead there would be a human den, and next to that den there would be a small, wooden structure with chickens inside. I walked faster, taking note of the sun’s position within my not-so-small fox brain. “If I don't get there before nightfall the humans will surely lock their little hen-nest and then it will be much harder to get into…” I snapped my teeth  at a mosquito that buzzed a little too close for comfort then watched with satisfaction as it flew off in search of more docile prey.'''

'''I continued to walk, stopping only once to lap water from a small but quick flowing stream that ran the length of the woods. After what seemed like forever I spotted dim but distinct light breaking through the trees ahead, I slowed into a creeping pace, making sure my paws were silent on the ground and avoiding sticks, leaves and other crackly things that could give me away if I took a wrong step. I slipped closer to the light and glanced at the setting sun, “I have to be quick…” '''

'''I surveyed the open ground between me and the den, figuring out how long it would take me to cross it. I took a deep breath and shot forward, booking it across the lawn and into the sparse shrubs that grew along the edge of the large den. I skidded to a stop and crouched silently, listening for any signs that I had been spotted. It was silent. I released the pent up breath I had been holding and sidled away from the larger den and towards the one that smelled like chickens and hay. I paused for a moment, remembering the scent from when I lived in...what was the word? Ah, yes, “Barn” the memory soured when I remembered humans storming in, taking us away from our warm nests and dumping us in the cold forest. I shook my head to clear it even though the memory was fuzzy, I had been newly kitted when it happened anyway. I crept closer to the soft clucking, relying more on my ears and nose than my eyes as the sun dipped further into the horizon.'''

'''I poked my head out of the brush and looked up at the chicken den, tail twitching with anticipation. Suddenly a soft creak alerted me to the human emerging from its den, small silver objects (keys) clinking in it's oddly shaped paw. I froze for a split second before hastily retreating into the shrubs, silently berating myself for not being quicker. The human walked confidently towards the chickens in their house, jaws opening in a wide yawn. I stared quizzically for a moment, transfixed by the utter dullness of what I assumed to be it's teeth. “How in the actual heck do they eat with those? They're flatter than the fur of a soaked squirrel!” I shook my head, “What strange creatures.” '''

'''I watched as the human, whom I had just dubbed Flat-Face, approached the miniature chicken den and looked inside through the wire, muttering under its breath. After an agonizingly long minute Flat-Face stood up and walked to the other side of the chicken den, disappearing inside right after. I blinked, wondering where it had gone. I took a cautious step forward, then another, and another until I could see a rectangular hole leading into the chicken-den. The fur on my back spiked up with glee and I darted forward, taking a short hop and scrambling inside, ducking under the first wooden ledge that I saw.'''

'''I looked around the dim room, registering dust spinning in the sunlight and feathers coating the floor. Everything smelled like hay, dung and dust. My gaze travelled upwards to the highest shelves where the birds resided, fat and fluffy as they sat upon small piles of hay and downy feathers. My nose twitched at the underlying scent of something rotten, perhaps an egg that had been dropped. “So the eggs should be under the chickens...which I’m supposed to move how?” I sat and pondered this, several completely useless ideas coming to mind then being immediately discarded. After nearly a dozen bad ideas I finally settled on one that involved scaring the chickens away and snatching the eggs while they weren’t looking. '''

'''I inched forward slowly, being careful not to make a sound and hopped up onto the second level of ledges so that the chickens were directly above me. I looked across the center of the den and up, to where the first ledge of chickens sat unaware. I crouched, muscles tensed as I prepared to leap up and startle the birds, a flicker of motion at the edge of my vision warned me of something but it was too late to go back. I leaped up into the air, soared the three foot gap and landed with my front paws on the ledge. The next few moments were total pandemonium as the chickens panicked and my rear paws swung free. I dug in my claws and heaved upwards with all of my strength, quickly finding myself on the ledge. I puffed up my fur to look bigger and yapped at the remaining chickens who squawked and fluttered away, tumbling over each other like the bird-brains they were. I turned to the nest where three, gleaming white eggs sat. I looked at them for a moment, trying to figure out how I would carry them when a gleaming metal object buried itself in the wood next to my snout. '''

'''I yelped and jerked back as Flat-Face prepared to swing again, a long stick with an odd looking head in it's paws. I scrambled for cover and dashed along the platform away from the human who shouted angrily and gave chase, huge paws thumping on the wood floor. I glanced back and saw the still-exposed eggs and spun around, dashing back towards them and Flat-Face. Before I could decide how to carry them fashionably I scooped a pair of them up in my mouth and stuffed them into my cheeks, much like I had seen chipmunks do during leaf-fall. Flat-Face bellowed and swung the flat end of his sharp-head-stick(axe) at me. I staggered to the side as it smacked into my face, breaking one of the eggs inside of my mouth. I hardly felt it however, due to the adrenaline pumping through me but knew that I most certainly would later. I scrambled to my feet and dashed back the way I came, leaping down just as the sharp-head-stick whisked over my head and stuck into the wall. '''

'''I landed hard and scrabbled upright, shooting out the door as soon as my paws were underneath me. Hearing Flat-Face shouting behind me I put on a fear-fueled burst of speed, streaking across the ground and towards the trees where I knew I would find refuge in the dense undergrowth and close pressed trees. As soon as I passed the first few rows of bushes and trees I pitched to the side and slid into a small hollow at the base of an old oak tree where I lay, spitting out the whole egg and what remained of the other, gasping for breath. I perked up my ears and listened for a moment, Flat-Face had stopped at the edge of the woods and was leaving. I sighed with relief and took a breath, slowing my breathing to almost normal.After awhile I pulled myself upright, wincing slightly at the pain in my jaw and turned to leave when a slight tapping noise caught my attention. I turned towards the remaining egg as it began to crack down the middle,”Well so much for the eggs…”'''

''' “Well...it won’t hurt to rest a little longer…” I sank down to the floor and rested my head on my paws as I watched a (u g l y) chick flop slimily out of the egg, It made a small “cheep!” and rolled over onto its head as an odd, but not bad idea began to form in my mind. “So if we need eggs...and chickens lay eggs...and we have a chicken…” I smiled a sly fox smile and nudged the chick upright with my snout. “I think we are going to make great partners…”'''

✯The End✯