I Turned into a Tree, Who Cares!

7 Red Fox

On the other side, the owner of those fiery red eyes, after struggling for half an hour, finally couldn’t contain her curiosity and stealthily crawled out of the dense thicket.

“Is that a red fox?”

Jack observed the cautious red fox approaching, his heart stirred. The red fox, also known as the fire fox, is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a cunning beast that prefers to operate alone, hunting at night and resting in its den during the day. Now, it seemed attracted by the commotion Jack had caused, as red foxes have exceptionally keen hearing.

However, there was something peculiar about this particular fox. It was larger than usual, measuring over a meter long, while typical adult red foxes are only about seventy centimeters. Moreover, its eyes were strangely mesmerizing, glowing like burning flames.

With every step, the red fox became more cautious, its body tense like a drawn bow. Yet, the irresistible allure of a faint fragrance compelled it to press forward towards the oddly peculiar willow tree.

Unbeknownst to the fox, something was creeping up from deep within the earth. Suddenly, sensing danger, the red fox emitted a piercing scream, “Yip!” and leaped into the air.

Jack’s eyes widened in shock; the fox soared nearly four meters high, far exceeding the average leap of a red fox. But unfortunately for the creature, Jack had been anticipating this move, and it was futile.

With a loud “crack,” a thick black root erupted from the ground, swiftly curling around the fox with a crushing grip, leaving behind a trace of blood.

“That was too much power,” Jack thought, feeling somewhat guilty. In the past, when other beasts like wild rabbits or green snakes came within ten meters of him, he would swiftly eliminate them without hesitation. He had spared this fox merely because of its unique appearance. Otherwise, with roots several times stronger than his branches, he could have crushed its bones in an instant, leaving no chance of survival.

“Truly beautiful,” Jack mused as he reeled the red fox closer to his treetop. Through the leafy canopy, he could clearly see the fox’s eyes, shimmering like rubies. They were exquisite—almost ethereal.

Yet suddenly, Jack felt a wave of dizziness, and the root began to loosen its grip. “Not good,” he thought, realizing what was happening.

Indeed, the red fox, freed from the binding roots, managed to get back on its feet and attempted to flee. But it was far too close to Jack; within a ten-meter radius, it was trapped.

“Whoosh…” A green whip-like branch shot toward the fox, followed quickly by another strike. If the red fox could speak, it would surely curse in frustration. But even without words, it was clear from the despair on its face as it watched branches raining down, sealing off all its escape routes.

The red fox’s cries, typically harsh—males making “guh-guh” sounds and females “ka-ka”—now bore a tone of sorrow that tugged at Jack’s heart.

“Thud, thud, thud…” Waves of pressure radiated out, stopping just shy of the fox. Staring at the branches that now surrounded her, the red fox froze.

Suddenly, a green branch reached out slowly towards her, inching closer. Fearful, the red fox instinctively took a step back. However, the branches behind her hovered menacingly, forcing her to halt.

Stunned, she was truly at a loss. Despite her instincts to resist, she lacked the courage to do so. A glimmer of wisdom surged within her, and she recognized the peril of her situation. Her life now rested in the hands of this peculiar being.

Just then, the gently advancing branch reached above her and began to stroke her fur with its tender leaves.

“It feels nice,” Jack thought, feeling a warm flutter in his heart. The fox's fur was not only stunning but also incredibly soft and warm, like a down comforter.

Looking at the hesitant fox, Jack smiled. He had no intention of harming her. Now that he had witnessed her unusual beauty firsthand, he felt a strong reluctance to hurt her. Thankfully, the fox seemed wise enough not to resist. Otherwise, Jack would not have hesitated to subdue her and conduct further research.

As for now? Perhaps he could attempt to tame her.