She was cold. And tired. But she still went on, the merciless, harsh winds of the north piercing her face and the deep snow freezing her paws. She wrapped the navy blue cloak tighter against her silky white fur, but it made no difference. She looked up. She had been running west nearly the whole night and now she was rewarded with the sight of the woods only about 30 paces, they would be her safe haven. She looked back at the dark stone castle far behind her on a hill, Castle Cranata, and sneered. Fools, she thought, they'll regret not trusting me. They all will.
She heard shouts and cries far off, coming from the castle. She could barely make them out.
"She's dead! Queen Raidya's dead!"
"What?"
"Poisoned!"
"By that fox, Dailina. The guards can't find her anywhere."
At the sound of her name, she walked a bit faster.
Dailina Swiftwhite was slightly taller than the average height for a fox, with milky white fur everywhere except the black markings on the tips of her ears, tail and paws. She was an assassin, and a good one indeed. She wore a purple tunic and a belt, carrying a silver dagger that looked like it did on the day it was made. She wore many bracelets on her hind paws, and an earring in each ear. Dailina was born with red eyes, making her look extremely menacing. Around her neck she carried a small wooden container with a stopper on a leather band. On it small symbols were carved and in it was a deadly weapon she had made herself: a fatal powder containing wolfbane. One breath of this and her enemies would die instantly. She finally reached the woods, and sat down, shivering. She could hear more shouts now. "Hail to King Tarlin Whispmane, Ruler of the North!"
She dragged her frozen body farther when she heard the next voice, the voice of the new King.
"Now, let us seek yon fox who killed mah mother!"
Dailina got on her feet and started walking. She felt a snowflake on her nose and smiled. Her tracks would be covered. They would never find her. At least she hoped not. It would take at least two days to get the whole army to where she was now and that was if they figured out which way she had gone. She let out a chuckle. Nothing could stop her. She was well into the forest now and dug her self a deep hole to rest in so that she would be well hidden. Tomarrow she would continue travelling until she reached the north path, which she would follow to a place called Re... Red... it didn't matter. She fell asleep grasping the dagger at her side, always ready for a fight.

Tarlin was still young but was feared by many as the son of Queen Raidya. Now he crouched behind some bushes waiting for his prey. This was an old game to hime one to sharpen his skills at killing it didn't matter who he killed just as long as he suceeded. Tarlin didn't have to wait long until his prey, two large foxes came into view.
Tarlin Whispmane was a black fox of immense size with white on his chest and paws. His eyes were a piercing blue and rivaled the ice glaciers that covered his mountain home. He was lavishly dressed in a white velvet cape that camofluaged him in this snowy land, a dark gren vest decorated with gold thread and a pair of black slacks. Tarlin always carried at least three daggers with him at all times as well of a dangerous crossbow made ofsolid oak. He had taught himself how to you all the weapons he concealed and he indeed used them well. He and his brother, Morin, were the last of six brothers and sisters. The rest were killed off by either the severe cold of the winters or by Tarlin's blade. Morin was a peaceful beast that rarely attacked so Tarlin left him alive, but one day he would have to go. He shook his head and glanced at the beasts before him.
Now he hid behind the bush watching as the two foxes walked confidentally into the clearing. They were snowfoxes, pure white coats only marred by small tufts of black on their ears, tail and paws, the vixen was carrying a small bundle wrapped in a shoddy blanket. The larger fox stopped her and sneered, "this is far enough. Leave the thing here and let's get out of here. Hopefully it won't find it's way back to our home."
The vixen dropped the bundle into the snowdrift and turned to the fox, "Let's go."
Tarlin grinned as they turned away, drawing his crossbow he took careful sight and fired. It hit just where he aimed, the vixen dropped to the snow with an arrow sticking out of her throat, a small pool of blood staining the snow. The fox looked abou and acting quickly ran towards the sanctuary of the trees. Abandoning the crossbow, Tarlin took off after the fox and just as the fox reached the trees threw a dagger that was hidden in his cloak. It his the fox directly in the back and the fox dropped heavily to the ground.
Tarlin smiled in satisfaction, he relished in these killings. Tarlin retrieved the dagger from the fallen fox and wiped the blade off returning it to it's secret place in his cloak. Turning he picked up his crossbow and then went to examine the bundle the vixen left in the snowdrift. Catiously he moved the blanket aside and was surprised to see a small infant fox sound asleep. She could only be a season or two old and was a white as what he assumed were her parents. Tarlin was about to turn and leave, a foxbabe was no concern of his and he would have left it there to freeze if at that moment the young fox who thougt was asleep opened her eyes, dark blood red eyes, and stared up at him. As soon as she opened her eyes as saw Tarlin staring at her, the vixen jumped up and grabbed at his cloak, sufficiently tripping Tarlin. She startled Tarlin further as she siezed one of the daggers that was hidden in his vest, having no idea she knew of it's existence and held it to his throat. "Donna move ir I kill yoau."
She glanced up swiftly at her dead parents and grinned, "Soa yoau kill mide paarents, good, saves me fromme doin' it."
Tarlin glanced warily at the dagger at his throat, still stunned that he had been bested so easily by an infant fox. He noticed the real ruthlessness in her, perhaps something he could exploit.
He grinned and said with as much charm as he could muster, "allow mai ta introduce meself. I'm Tarlin Whispmane, son of Queen Raidya, Ruler of the North."
The young vixen apeared unimpressed and pressed the dagger into Tarlin's throat, "Geeve mei a good reason not teh kill yea." Tarlin thought for a moment,"Because I killed your parents when they were gonna leave ye here tah freeze."
Immediately the dagger was removed, "good reason," the young fox muttered. Tarlin sat up and rubbed his thraot and idea forming in his mind, "I'll tell ye what, you may come and live at the Queen's castle. I'll teach yous more than you'll eveer want to know about killing. In return you will kill Queen Raidya for me after you've grown enough." The young fox thought about the deal for a moment then nodded, "Done, my name is Dailina Swiftwhite."

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