Way away Chapter two.

A fox of man named Mr.Tom.
Who hides about the doors and on your lawns.
A man who knows many a' things.
I am the servant of kings.
The ruler of rings.
And the one who sings of many an odd things.
Jing' a ling'a dingily ding!

Chapter two, Foxxy business.

He awoke and sat up swiftly

What was that?

He thought looking about him.

He could've sworn he heard music buzzing out and about just a moment ago.

All seemed silent.

Perhaps it was nothing.

No, there it was again.

He thought scrambling to his feet.

The sound of strange music hung on the air like a rich smell baiting him to come closer.

He began to slowly head west to the peculiar sound.

He stopped suddenly, realization hitting him.

If he went out there he may never return.

Never return to see the old town Dale.

Never return to hear the church bells ringing.

Never return to see his mother again.

He pondered these things, becoming quite pensive.

"Oh bother."

He said pacing back and forth.

He knew the music could vanish at any moment, he had to decide.

His heart quickened knowing this could be his chance.

"Confusticated music!"

Suddenly the music stopped.

He swung about wildly.

Wait what happened?

He thought desperately.

Is it gone?

"No."

He whispered.

He dropped to his knees and felt himself begin to weep, and sulk.

He had lost his chance.

No adventure, no mystery, nothing.

He stood to his feet, turned, and began to head back for the woods whence he came.

He stopped, but why?

David turned around and put his ear to the west.

Could it be?

Yes!

The music had returned!

He didn't need, nor want, a second more to choose.

With a strong new resolve he headed west, his heart prepared.

He stole silently out of the clearing and westward into the tall trees.

He cut through the wood slowly, quietly.

He didn't want to walk in on someone, or something dangerous.

In the distance he smelled smoke.

A fire.

He came up behind a large thorn bush and peered through.

A small orange fire surrounded by stones, moved about flowing in the wind reaching to and fro.

Sitting on a fallen tree holding an old, dusty guitar was a fox.

The gypsy was dressed in half a dozen ragtag clothings of every color of the rainbow.

His torn top hat slid back on forth on his furry head as he swung about singing his merry song.

And the dozen rings upon his fingers shown bright in the fire light.

He seemed more like a vagabond than a killer.

For the time being David relaxed.

"Leaning on the river side where all the fish come and reside.

I came across quite a thing.

A little golden ring.

Quite a curious thing fit for quite a king!"

The gypsy stopped, laughing merrily he reached for a pot upon the blaze and poured soup into an old glass mug.

David laid down onto the ground hoping for another song soon.

"You can come out, little child."

The fox said suddenly, sipping his soup

"I am the eater of fish, turtles, frogs, but not human.

Fear not."

His strange accent had a hypnotizing effect upon David.

He came out.

"Hello, my young comrade!"

Laughed the fox.

"Sit, eat, talk."

The old wanderer offered up the glass mug.

The soup sloshing to and fro in the cup.

David sipped it slowly.

The taste of fish and barley filled his notrils and danced upon his tongue.

"Now tell me, who are you?

Where do come from?"

Asked the fox tapping his fingers in sync with one another along the neck of the dusty instrument.

David opened his mouth to answer, but was quickly interrupted by the traveler.

"Oh, dear me!

Wherever are my manners!?"

He said gnawing at his furry fingers.

"I neglected to introduce myself!

I, young sir, am Mr. Tom!"

Said the fox in a proud sort of way.

David simply stared, not knowing exactly what to say.

A stale silence seemed to hang in the air.

"Well child?"

"Oh? Oh, yeah!"

Said David remember what he should be saying.

"I-I am David."

Said the young boy studdering.

"Oh, I see.

David, a good strong name."

Said Mr. Tom reaching over to take back his soup.

"So, tell me David, what brings you out here?

Or do you just live among these pines?"

Said the old fox sipping from his mug.

"I just heard the music and became curious.

I guess."

David still seemed mildly skeptical of Mr. Tom's kindness.

Without warning Mr. Tom erupted into a great laughter causing David to jump off of the log.

"Boy, music?

You're out in the middle of the woods because I was playing an old guitar?

Well, then if thats what you came to hear then that what you'll be likely to get!"

Within seconds the gypsy began to strum the instrument, and sing a new song.

David laid in the grass moving his head back and forth in rythm with the tune.

The fox sang of mountains, imps, dragons, pirates, and great adventures, of greater heroes.

David gave a longing sigh as Tom played the last chord, and regained his composure.

"Wow."

Whispered David.

"Whats eating you child?"

Said Mr. Tom lighting a pipe and blowing smoke rings about David.

"Well, its j-just, I-I, wish-."

Replied David coughing and studdering from the smoke.

"I wish I could go see all those thing you sing about."

He managed to squeeze out, both quickly, and a little loud.

Tom took off his top hat, scratching his red hair.

Suddenly there was a gleam in the foxes eyes.

"Well now, you don't say?

Adventure is it?"

David rubbed the smoke from his eyes, shaking his head up and down.

"Well, It may interest you to know I have done everything that I sang about in those simple songs."

David's head snapped up his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes, truely indeed.

I've gone across mountains, fought imps, slain dragons, and had a few run-ins with pirates."

"Gee' really?"

Asked the young boy, who had become beyond fascinated within moments.

"Why yes, dear boy.

For instance, three years or so ago I fought a great dragon."

Mr. Tom blew out smoke rings that took the shape of a small Mr. Tom, and of a great dragon.

"A great beast, uh, Og, was."

Has the fox went into a grand explanation of the tale the two smoke figures began to do battle in an epic fashion.

"And right then and there I pushed the blade of Azmure into the beast's heart."

Said Tom a few minutes later.

David was spell bound.

"I am a great adventurer you see lad."

"Are you really Mr. Tom?"

"Indeed young fellow.

In fact, I am on a great quest at this very moment!"

Said Mr. Tom throwing his hands into the air!

"I have been on many a great gamut of adventures, but none like-"

The old fox stopped midsentence for he noticed that the child had his hand raised.

"Um, yes David?"

"What does gamut mean?"

Asked the child.

"Young sir, I am on a quest of tremendous proportions!

I don't have time to explain adult words such as these."

Said the gypsy scratching his head head.

David lowed his head, nodding in agreement.

"Aw yes, where was I?

Oh, yes!

I am on a great adventure."

Said Tom stopping for dramatic effect.

"But, I have quite a dilemma."

"And that is?"

Asked David cocking his head to one side.

"I am after two items, one in a great tower not to far from here.

And, one in an underwater tower.

I would get them myself but, in neither one of these places are foxes allowed!"

He said with a flair of rage.

"Its prejudice!

Bias!

predilection!

Racism!

speciesism!"

Ranted the fox!

Tom suddenly stopped, his arms still raised, and looked upon the boy.

"Ahem.

As I was saying, only humans are allowed in these places.

So naturally I have quite a problem."

At this moment the traveler leaned back and lowered his head.

"Lad, I'm just not sure what I am to do."

Suddenly an idea dawned upon David.

"I-if you want, I could go do it for you."

He said shakily.

He did seem like rather a timid child.

Mr. Tom's head jerked up and a large smile came across his face.

"Why dear boy, are you being honest?"

He asked the gleam in his eyes now evidedent.

David shook his head up and down quickly.

"Y-yes sir!

Yes sir, indeed!"

David exclaimed.

Right at that second the old fox lept up from the log in a great excitement.

"Why dear boy I do believe you and I shall become good friends!"

He laughed beginning to play his guitar.

David stood to his feet feeling the excitement carry him away.

Laughter and music filled the forest air as the boy and the fox danced about the fire.

"Head west David I'll see you again soon my comrade!"

Said the fox laughing merrily.

David, still laughing, began to walk away from the fire when he had a realization of sorts.

"Wait."

He said turning around to face Mr. Tom.

"You aren't going with me?"

Asked the boy his eyes wide with fright.

Tom stopped playing at that second, a curious look then came upon him.

"Young sir, I am a busy fox.

I have some pressing matters a ways east."

Answered Mr. Tom.

Tom could see the boy's courage fading from him swiftly.

"Ah, but do not fear!

We shall meet again soon!

And besides, I have something to give you."

He reached into his back pocket and pulled forth a small bronze compass.

"By chance do you know the workings of this device?"

Said the gypsy passing the old compass to David.

"Well, yes."

He said studying the parcel.

"I learned that in my schooling sometime ago."

David opened his mouth as if to continue but was interrupted by his new ally.

"Splendid!"

Laughed the fox.

"The sky tower I spoke of is directly west!

As for the under water tower, south!

Now be along young man!"

At this point Tom began using vague hand gestures to send the boy on his way.

David slowly turned away, one of his eye brows raised in confusion.

"Wait, wait!"

Yelled the wanderer suddenly.

"Lordy my boy, you don't even know what you're looking for!"

Laughed the old fox.

"Each piece is in the shape of half a heart."

They are splendid in appearance, and appear as fire, and stone."

He said in a serious fashion.

"Now, do you understand what you're doing here?"

He asked putting his hands on the child's shoulders.

David slowly bobbed his head in understanding.

"Marvelous!

Now be on your way good sir!"

He yelled turning David around and pushing him away towards the west.

At first David walked slowly, but as he went he felt his heart grow strong.

He picked up speed and sped of into the unknown.

"So long David!

So long friend!

So long you gullible little child"

Tom sat back upon the log, laughing.

Mr. Tom was in fact an adventurer of kinds.

Saddly, David did not know he was also a great confidence man.

Tom yawned, staring through the trees.

"Its going to be quite an interesting day."

He said chuckling darkly to himself.

David was about to go upon the adventure of a lifetime.

If only he knew what fate had in store for him.

Reviews

[Jackson Lai]

What the heck,it is so cool!!!!!