The sun was lower now.. damn .. how long had he slept. With a groan he sat up, rubbing his sore back as he had slept uncomfortably, reaching forward to tug his soft leather boots back on, lacing them quickly. The sky was cloudy now and off in the distance he saw a flash of lightning, just like in the dream, counting to himself.. one.. one thousand.. two.. two thousand, hearing the crackling of thunder, putting it as a few miles off. Matt, not being the patient type and not wanting to spend another night in the cave decided to keep following the river, hoping to maybe hit a road before dark.
After embarking down the river for an eternity, he faintly heard the distinct sound of hoof-beats further along the stream. As the river gracefully curved and carved through the woods, Matt spotted a wooden bridge down stream and could hear the sound of a horse and carriage to his left, coming up to the bridge.
If he ran he'd just barely catch up with them...
****
Getting up, clutching this hand? paw? to his head unsteadily in a momentary wave of dizziness, Matt charged down the river bank, amazed at just how fast he could travel in his new form. Back in his own world he had not been a slouch really but wasn't a track star either. At this rate he thought, he might just barely reach the bridge in time before the horse drawn carriage passed on by.
The old and unsafe looking wooden bridge panned into full view as he raced around the final bend in the river, feet finding purchase as he leapt once more, clearing a fallen log, rather enjoying this, getting a bit caught up in the moment and not paying attention as he leapt up, bursting out of the forest in a flurry of broken branches and debris and landing onto the road, causing caught a scare to the driver, now pulling up the reins to halt his startled, whinnying horses. "Whoa.. there.."
****
The driver glanced over to the fox, now stopped on the side of the road, clutching his chest and panting in exhaustion, locking eyes with this slight fellow, looking on in suspension wondering why one of the Fallerth race was even out in this part of the woods, let along this land, as they weren't seen often around here to begin with.
Finally the driver approached the figure cautiously with horses commanded to a slow trot, pulling alongside him, asking in an uneasy tone, "...may I help you stranger?"
The panting fox, finally catching his breath, looked up to him and grinned..