Gold-Dust

After brunch we set off out to survey the land. The first day we were here we explored the land off to the west of our cabin. We traveled half a day before we were brought to a stop by a cliff that reared it's ugly, sharp head out of the ground. A think mop of hair dangled down its wizened face, long strands of ivy and creeper twisted in with thick heather and gorse. The cliff stretched as far as the eye could see, although that wasn't far as we were in a valley at the time. We collected samples of grass and plants to take back with us. None of us knew what to do with them but we were told to collect them for the scientists backing this trip. The rest of the day we spent messing around and getting settled in. The next day we headed east. We got much further, about two thirds of a days walk. This time, however, we were cut off by the rolling, raging mass of the sea. The wind screamed in our faces and the waves spat at us. The water was black and uninviting, it seemed to curse our faces every time it dashed itself to pieces on the rocks. We gathered more samples there, although nothing of any interest to us. Then we began the long journey back. That night we were so tired I nearly didn't go out. But on our path we had come across a hill, crested by a beautiful tree who's leaves shone a royal red in the autumn sun. That was the hill I had lain upon last night. This afternoon we were heading to the north. We all carried backpacks filled with gear just in case we were forced to stay out during the night. Xavier took the lead, hacking from time to time at large thorn bushes that stood in our way with a large machete. We'd been walking for five hours straight when we stopped for lunch/tea. I can barely feel my legs as I lie here, watching the sky. It's somewhat clear, but I don't think that will last. We have a small campfire going that everyone is soothing their sore feet by. Even Xavier, the most active of us all is worn out. Traversing the wilderness of Scotland is far different to running a flat track.

"What are we doing here?" Kianna asks suddenly.

"We are here to observe, map, and take samples from the recently changed landscape for-" Georgia begins, quoting the form each of us filled out to come here.

"No, I mean, what are we doing here?" Kianna asked, cutting off her friend. "Six teens, in a house in the woods, away from civilisation? And collecting samples for scientists? Why can't they come and collect their flipping samples themselves?!"

A collective shrug makes its way around the fire. That's the ultimate question. Who would let six teenagers spend two months on their own? Away from everyone and everything except the task at hand. I had sat up slightly, leant on my elbows, as Kianna was speaking but now I just slumped down onto my back again. I'm shattered; staying up through most of the night three nights in a row isn't exactly good for the human body. Despite being tired, my stomach rumbles as I smell the food that Grace is cooking. Joel thrusts a dry twig into the fire somewhat despondently. "Let's face it, we were all really excited to come out here, see what the radiation left behind, but there's nothing crazy here. No two-headed animals, flying snails or whatever. Just cliffs that are out of place."

Georgia sighs as she watches the twig that Joel has just thrown into the blaze crack and pop. "Maybe you're right. But we can't go back now."

Xavier opens his mouth to say something but gets cut off by a rustling in the nearby bushes. We all hold our breath. It's not going to be anything interesting, we know, but if we don't hope then we have to accept that nothing major happened ten years ago. I watch as Xavier pulls a small knife from his rucksack, ready to attack just in case. The air feels tight, like the feeling you get just before a storm breaks. My lungs feel hot, like they're drying out. We watch with bated breath as the thick grass begins to part. Slowly a small, black, wet nose pushes its way through the ferns. Above it I can make out two pairs of eyes, glowing a bright yellow. The creature seems small, but that doesn't mean it's not still very dangerous. Xavier readies his hand, grasping the knife so tightly that his knuckles are turning white. This is to be the first confrontation we've had with any animals larger than rats. Even the large rats we found that were as long as my forearm. I feel like me lungs are about to burst as I cough out the air that I had held within my body, desperately gasping in fresh oxygen and hoping fervently that the noise would not be noticed. That faint hope flatlined as I see the sharp yellow eyes snap towards me. A crackle cuts through the silence as a pointed snout weaves its way out of the grass. On the back end of the snout appears a triangular head, with soft looking ears perched on top. Wary eyes follow its every move as the fox completely slinks out of hiding. The small mammal swiftly trots towards me, it's yellow eyes seeing only its prey. As it is getting closer I can see all the hairs on the back of its neck standing upright. It pads over to me, it's feet not making a sound. I try to crawl backwards but before I can move it's stood over me, snarling as its cold eyes stare straight into my fearful ones. 'It's a fox you idiot! Stop being so freaked out!' My brain complains. 'This fox is a meter long.' Another half of me reminds. I stare into its cold, unforgiving eyes as I hope for a swift death. Suddenly I see a hand reach out and rest on the foxes head, ruffling the fur on its neck. The sharp brightness fades from its eyes and it begins to look a lot less ferocious. Its eyes now look more human than robot and the sense of dread it carried is gone. I hardly move as the creature steps off of me, except to let out a huge sigh or relief. I push myself up off the floor until I'm sitting, and watch in wonder as the fox slinks over to Xavier who starts stroking its fur gently. I open my mouth to say something but the words betray me as I see small sparks flicker from the little foxes fur and up Xavier's arm. I blink and they're gone, but I know what I saw. Rather than corner Xavier about it now, I just watch as he starts playing with the fox like a large dog. In a way I guess it is.

***

It takes a while but eventually everyone comes round to the 1.4 meter fox that's currently laid on his back for his tummy to get scratched. I give his belly a quick rub before turning back to the argument that everyone else is having.

"We cannot just keep him, if it is a him, simply because he's cute!" Joel exclaims frantically.

"It's a him!" Xavier calls from the back of the group where he is giving his new 'pet' a belly rub.

"Joel, this is living proof that things have increased in size up here! It might not have any other differences but still!" Grace protests.

"And he'd be a brilliant guard fox, wouldn't he?" Georgia adds.

"AND he's cute." I say with a laugh, "but they're right, he is living proof the people backing us are right, and he can be a great guard do- er, fox."

"Fine!" Joel concedes, throwing his hands up in defeat. "But if we're keeping him he needs a name, we can't just call him 'the fox' all the time."

"Gold-dust. Like his eyes when he appeared and the specks in his fur." Xavier announces, as he stands up and stomps out the fire. "Now come on, let's keep moving."

Slowly we all agree and stood up, stretching our arms and legs in anticipation for the long walk ahead. We shoulder our packs and begin our trek anew, now with a new addition to the team who keeps running ahead but always comes back.

"That's it," Kianna encourages, "Lead the way Goldie!"