The vixen lay on the knoll and watched as the two upright animals entered the clearing. She had seen these kinds of beasts before, though rarely, and only from a distance. Her mother had warned her to steer clear. They were dangerous she knew, but they hadn’t noticed her. “This could be a good opportunity to study their habits,” she thought to herself. Realizing that she was in a unique position to learn more about these strange creatures she crouched a bit lower and stayed where she was. She remained still. She watched.
Her keen sense of smell told her that one of the subjects was female and one was male, she could not be sure from this distance but, she assumed the smaller specimen was the male as the brightly colored plumage would seem to indicate. Was that feathers or fur? Impossible to tell. The larger of the two removed a hump from her back and set it on the ground. Reaching inside it she removed a covering, like an extremely large leaf, and spread it on the ground. It was red and white checked. Food was then removed from what she now realized was a sac to aid in carrying their burdens. “Interesting,” thought the fox, “they have tools,” and she filed that fact away while she enjoyed the aromas of the food that had been carefully set on the ground.
The subjects sat together on the place that they had prepared for themselves and she thought, “Now they will eat.” But that was not the case. The small one began removing his brightly colored plumage and the vixen soon realized that she had been wrong – this was the female which meant the larger, more monochromatic, one was the male. This was confirmed in due course after they rolled around in the grass, making strange noises for a while, and his less brightly colored plumage fell aside.
“A mating ritual,” the fox realized. This was truly a strange and rare occurrence. To her knowledge none of her skulk had ever witnessed such an event before. She would have great stories to relate when she returned. But she soon realized that there was a problem. The vixen was no stranger to mating; she knew that there could be no consummation if the male remained flaccid.
The smaller beast, the female, was trying hard to help – coaxing, teasing, cajoling, and for a moment it seemed that she might be successful. It fluttered for a moment, magnificent in its struggle, then wilted and lay still. The fox wished that she could understand the noises they made, so strange they were. She heard the male, “I don’t know, Ann. This has never happened to me before.” What could it mean when the female seemed to growl and snarl? When she stood on her back legs and began replacing her brightly colored plumage? Soon the male did the same. Before he was done, the female left the clearing, stomping her feet and going back the way she had come.
The male gathered the red and white checked covering and hastily stuffed it back into the sac. He reached toward the food and then, deciding against it, hefted the sac onto his back and quickly chased after the female making noises that sounded like, “Wait, Ann, Wait.”
The vixen knew that she had just witnessed the beasts failed attempt at mating. She also realized that there was a huge mound of abandoned food in the clearing. She lay still and watched for awhile to ensure that they would not return. After what seemed an appropriate amount of time she rose cautiously and began to pick her way down from the knoll towards the waiting feast.
The Prompts:
Okay, this week’s sentence prompt, provided by last week’s winner, AZ Gringa,can be used ANYWHERE in your piece. And the media prompt is a painting of a silver fox, by John James Audubon, celebrated artist and naturalist.
The Painting
The Sentence
“It fluttered for a moment, magnificent in its struggle, then wilted and lay still.”
The Rules tell us to “Remember to think outside the box when you write your piece. Exercise those fabulous writer’s muscles! Think about how others might use the prompts, then go in a different direction.”
This week I took that suggestion to heart!
I do love this story, and can safely predict that NO ONE will put that sentence to better use.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks sir
LikeLike
Well WOW. I NEVER could have come up with this use of that sentence as a prompt. Fantastic creativity there, and the fox telling the story made it that much better. Nicely done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah gee, Thank you so much.
LikeLike
This was an interesting take on the prompt. I would’ve never thought of something like this great idea!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went in “a different direction” for sure! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
LikeLike
Hahahaha! Too good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the speakeasy! You and everyone else here are so, so encouraging. It is a true pleasure to write with this group!
LikeLike
Wow. You should definitely win the award for most “out of the box” use of the sentence! Had to laugh while reading this one 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Gracias
LikeLike
No doubt the best use of the prompt this week! Certainly a different perspective with a certainly interesting narration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Renada. Thank you very much.
LikeLike
That was simply FANTASTIC. When I read that sentence I almost spit tea all over my screen. I never expected to see it used quite that way. BRILLIANT. 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
You just made my day! Muchísimas gracias.
LikeLike
This was so creative! (I’ll be surprised if someone else has the same concept.) Great use of the prompt sentence, although the man in this story probably wouldn’t agree 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Janna – Your gracious consideration and feedback are always appreciated. I couldn’t be happier that you liked it. Thanks
LikeLike
I may actually have damaged myself giggling.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so sorry – hope you’ll be OK!
Thanks for checkin’ it out.
LikeLike
oh dear. 🙂
i LOVE THIS! 🙂 🙂 🙂 very creative use of the sentence prompt. hehe. wow. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I am glad you liked it! It was fun to write.
LikeLike
Hahahahaha! That is such a fantastic use of the prompt sentence! Love the voice of the vixen, and her scientific curiosity. Nicely done! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLike
This was brilliant! I laughed so hard my co-workers must be wondering what I’m doing (obviously not working!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I won’t tell. I promise!
Thanks
LikeLike
At first, I was thought, oh an interesting take on gender stereotypes and how the animal world would view us from the outside…then I roared with laughter for the next few minutes. Clever and hilarious, very well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your endorsement and comments are most appreciated. Thanks – I glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
I love the fox point of view and the good meal she will scavenge. Great take on prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your use of the sentence prompt! I laughed out loud 🙂 Great story, enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I am so happy to hear this. Thanks!
LikeLike
I loved “She also realized that there was a huge mound of abandoned food in the clearing” and how in the end that was the most important thing XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
The rest was just science to her. Observation.
Thanks for the read and the feedback.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for writing it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor guy, but loved reading this from a fox eyes! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only winner here is the one with the food. Thanks for the feedback.
LikeLike
lol!
LikeLike
*hahaha* I loved the very clinical view the fox took of the whole situation. And needless to say, your use of the prompt was unexpected. 🙂 Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for giving it a read Christine and thanks also, for the encouraging comment.
LikeLike
Oh, very nicely done. I wouldn’t have thought of using the prompt in that particular and hilarious way. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLike
I always love reading stories from the animal’s perspective. I like that she mistook the large one for the vixen. An appropriate mistake. You described the details so well yet kept the story moving very well. Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad that you liked it and appreciate the kind feedback. Thanks.
LikeLike
Very clever and fun! Great job!
LikeLike
Thank you. I am having a lot of fun this week. Fun writing, fun reading and a real strong sense of community!
LikeLike
So, not knowing the prompt before I started reading, I’m going along and thinking to myself, I wonder what’s the funny bit…I mean, humans do engage in the most awkward looking (salad making?), which is funny I suppose, but it’s not funny to laugh at the poor guy…and then I read the prompt and had the best laugh! All the pieces fell into place. Big fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person