The Weekly Tot 1/8/2023

Back in the flow of Weekly Tots! This should be much easier than keeping up a daily commitment, so expect it to be regularly updated now! Today we have a story about a curious lemming who went a bit too far to prove her point... _________________________________________________________________________________

Are you scared yet?

The little lemmings huddled together in their burrow as their mother watched them carefully. "Tell us a story!" one demanded. "A scary one, not one about little hares finding green shoots. I hate those." another exclaimed. The mother lemming shook her black and gold head, and began.

The Snowfox has claws as sharp as icicles, and fur the color of snow. Pearly white fangs that can bite deep into you until frost envelopes your very soul. The Snowfox lives by the river, where the water freezes late in winter, and thaws early in spring. It is a green place where you can almost always find food, but no one dares venture close, because of the lair of the Snowfox. You can't see the Snowfox when he stalks through the snow, until he leaps onto you and carries you off. Then he holds you under the cold cold, water till your blood turns blue. And the last thing you'll ever see is cold black eyes staring back at you from the river.

The mom finished the story with a shuddered, as the baby lemmings gave eachother fearful looks. Except for one. "I don't believe in monsters! There's no such thing as a Snowfox!" she scoffed. The mother snorted. "Let me tell you some more..."

The Snowfox is so quiet that you'll never hear him coming, never see him till it's too late. The Snowfox glares at you with hunger glittering in his eyes. Once a little lemming was foraging by the river, and the Snowfox got her before she even had a chance to blink. The Snowfox can chase you till your legs fall off. He can always hear you, even when you're buried deep under the snow or huddled in your burrow.

The mother whispered softly, as if she thought that the Snowfox could hear them. The other lemmings shivered and snuggled into her fur, casting fearful glances at the roof, as if the Snowfox was about to come crashing into the burrow. The outspoken one stood aside, looking skeptical. "I don't believe you! There's no such thing as a Snowfox. Nothing can hear that well, or run that fast." she said obstinately. "You haven't heard everything yet! I'm sure when I'm done, you'll believe in the Snowfox" the mother insisted, pulling her stubborn offspring closer.

The Snowfox will come and get you. He lives where the ground is frozen hard and you can't dig your way out. The Snowfox lurks in the the tundra snows, and when you least expect it, he will pounce. Worst of all, no matter what you say, or how much you plead, the Snowfox can't hear you scream.

The mom finished dramatically. The little lemmings started chattering softly. "What a scary story!"

"The Snowfox sounds big and terrifying"

"I dont wanna be eaten!!"

"Uh, guys. That wasn't even a story!" one of them exclaimed. "I'm tired of hearing descriptions of this 'so called' Snowfox. Monsters don't exist, and I'll prove it!" she promised, before racing down a tunnel towards the exit. The vast network of burrows had few entry points, but eventually the baby lemming found one. She marched outside and was shocked by the cold air that seemed to bite into her fluffy black and gold fur. It was her first time outside, and the 2 week old lemming felt like the snow was going to consume her. Still, she hurried forward, running until the ground under her paws was solid and she couldn't dig. Her mother had said that the Snowfox lived where the ground is frozen hard. She saw a hint of green up ahead. The river! Where that so called 'Snowfox' lived.

Suddenly she saw huge pawprints in the snow, just by the river. A chill shot down her tiny spine but she straightened up and pushed through. She looked into the blood-chilling blue waters of the river. Reflected in the icy waters, she saw cold black eyes- her own. Her gold and black fur looked frosty white under the snow, and she could easily pretend her small paws had icicle sharp claws. She snorted. Some naive lemming pup had snuck off to the river, seen their own reflection and gotten so scared they fell in. She played around the river for a bit, chomping on the fresh juicy leaves and lapping cool river water. It was paradise in the tundra.

The soft paws behind her were just barely audible when all was quiet, and the lemming couldn't hear a thing through the sound of crunching leaves. Icicle sharp claws scraped against the hard floor, where no creature could burrow away. Swift paws, the creature fast enough to chase a lemming through the snows till their legs fell off. Sharp ears could hear the lemming loud and clear, snuffling along the tundra snows. A pelt as white as fresh snowfall. He bared his pearly white fangs, dripping with crimson, his breath smelling of the rank odor of fresh terror. His eyes glittered as he looked hungrily at the lemming.

"Hello little one. You'll make a sufficient snack." he hissed pouncing on the lemming. Just in time, the little creature darted away, eyes widening with fear. She hid, wedged between two rocks, while the Snowfox watched and waited. The little lemming howled, but the the Snowfox stood, seemingly oblivious to the screams. The lemming shook with fear. Their mother was right. The snowfox was real. It lurked overhead in the tundra snows, waiting and watching. It could hear every sound you made, but was oblivious to your screams. The little lemming was cornered, and now those pearly white fangs would sink into her soul. Still, she stiffened. "I see that you're going to eat me." she said imperiously, glaring at the snowfox. The predator looked amused. "Indeed, I am." he replied. "Well then tell me this. Are you really going to hold me in the river till my blood turns blue? That's the one thing that hasn't been proven." the lemming said obstinately. "What- no! I don't like soggy meals", the Snowfox said, stepping closer. "Well tell my family that, alright. Tell them they were wrong." the little lemming said. The Snowfox was practically drooling. "I will, little morsel. Where is your food- err family." the Snowfox inquired. "Right over the hill and in the burrow warren. They should know, that they were WRONG." the lemming said, coming out completely. The Snowfox nodded, icicle sharp claws digging into the little lemming. She let out a final squeak "They were wrong!" before the life was sucked out of her. The Snowfox finished his snack quickly, before hurrying up to the warren, where a bunch of terrified little lemmings would await him.

"And that," the mother said "Is your story."

"Did that REALLY happen." one of the lemmings asked obstinately. "Yup. I barely got away in time. Every single one of my pups was eaten because of that one stubborn lemming." the mother said. The outspoken lemming looked doubtful, but didn't argue. "Wouldn't catch me going where I'm warned not to be!" she said decidedly. The mother snuffled happily, and the little lemmings huddled closer, content to listen to stories about little hares finding little green shoots.

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