A Fox and the Private Eye [A KotixBluemoon Story] [[M]]

“Sorry dolly, but this is the end of the road for ya. Can’t have ya spillin the beans on us just yet here.” The man spoke, adjusting the dark cloak around his body. Sand whipped through the winds, scouring the faces of the 4 people gathered there, three men heavily cloaked and a fourth on the ground, bound and gagged. With a pregnant moon in the sky, the men on the side of the speaker moved forward, hefting the bound woman up, despite her protests or struggles.

“See, if ya had just kept your beak shut, we wouldn’t have ta do this. Luck’s on your side though. Boss wanted ya alive, makes it harder for the cops to find a corpse.” The man spoke as his guards levied the body against a creviced opening in the ground, much like a gaping wound in the earth. He moved closer then to her, lowering enough so she could hear his words one last time.

“Sadly though, ya gotta disappear, and aint no better place than the caves. Death might have been sweeter than trying to live down there.” He spoke, leaning up and placing a foot against her chest. With one mighty heave, he pushed her down, watching as the darkness engulfed her form, any screams soon swallowed up by the scouring winds of the desert. Once the world had fallen silent, he signalled to his men to fall in line, moving quickly to cut through the sandy dunes and away from the tunnels, the cold air wrapping them in silence.

The woman fell, sliding against the rough exterior of stone and rubble, helped by the decades of sand that had been blown into the opening maw of the land. Air rushed past her face as she could only feel the world around her, the blindfold having left her devoid of all possible sight, what little good it would have done for her. She could do nothing to stop her descent, each dip and roll leaving bruises along her body. The tunnel seemed endless before finally flinging her body into open air, wind rushing past with the sound of trickling sand, leaving her in darkened freefall

Eternity seemed to hold her as she fell through the void, gravity pulling her closer towards an inevitable end, the wind, pulling at her clothes as she sailed on, heedless to reality.

As soon as it ended, reality called back, hard. The ground was both unyielding yet supporting as she landed, the stop sudden and enough to render her unconscious to her own fate.

======================================

Dafu sat up quickly, baring claws at the sandy thud that echoed around his chambers, the unmistakable sound of body hitting sand. Had another corpse been thrown down here after him? Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he began moving to the entrance of his cave, a covering of cloth hiding his hidey hole full of anything he had found useful. His nose poked out first, sniffing and testing the air around his opening. Once assured no beasties were round, he moved outside the tunnel, still crouched low in case he needed to run. The cloth was enough to hide his entrance, but he wasn’t taking any chances with these beasts. Two days here after waking up unconscious was more than enough.

“Oh, what treat. Fresh body for Dafu. May have treat for him.” Dafu whispered into the air, quickly making his way up the sandy incline towards the body. He stopped at the top, watching the form for a few moments, checking to make sure there were no traps or otherwise. This was the second body he had seen come down here, the first being mostly scraps and bones. It was best to assume some the Ants used this hole as a dumping ground for the people they killed and the stuff they couldn’t use. Sadly no weapons as of yet.

“Maybe Dafu have better luck with lady body.” He spoke before finally moving up to the body, eyes scanning the person's form for anything immediate of use. With no luck, he began to inspect and search her body, feeling around for anything that may be hidden inside the simple outfit, only to stop when he placed his hand on her side. His nose and ears twitched some, curious if his mind wasn’t just playing tricks on him. Leaning down, he placed his ear against her chest, listening quietly for a few moments before jumping back in surprise, a yelp escaping his lips as he tumbled backwards on the sand pile.

“Lady is alive.. Sleeping but alive.” Dafu spoke with a surprised tone, quickly covering his snout and looking around the room. When no beasts were forthcoming, Dafu moved forward once again, poking the body carefully as he looked her over. He could see the bruises starting to form, along with the minor cuts and nicks to her body from the fall. But very much alive, that was for sure.

“Dafu shall help her.. Maybe then help Dafu.” Dafu whispered as he carefully lifted the woman, carrying her back to his home with the intent to nurse her back to consciousness as much as possible.

A low moan escaped Del’s lips as her eyelids fluttered, the nearly complete darkness greeting her providing little reassurance as to her current surroundings. She flexed her hands, only too aware of the needles of pain prickling over them as blood flowed back into the extremities. Her mouth and eyes were also relieved of bondage, which meant she was unfettered...untied...by someone. Which led to the fact that she was not alone.

It was all too obvious.

The men that had surprised her at her apartment had made sure she was aware of their presence as well. Three against one...unfair odds even at the best of times. She had been unprepared and fell to them easily, outgunned and fisted, bound like a Thanksgiving turkey before being thrown in the oven...or cave...in her situation. There had been no dignity...no care...in her handling. The rough shove sending her tumbling to her doom...and all for what? A telling she had never told. She had left a message on her boss's phone before being assaulted...but only to the extent that she needed to talk to him...no specifics. She had not done any ‘spillin’ of the beans...

Now, here she lay, a prisoner of pain...every muscle aching from her struggles...each inch of flesh pounded and scraped by her descent into hell. She could feel the sand beneath her...and a harder surface which radiated a coolness that could only be stone under that. She wasn’t sure where she was, but the men had mentioned ‘caves’. And there was only one maze of caverns in the area, the Halifa, inhabited by the Meliorut. The mere thought of them sent a shiver down her spine.

She stiffened, shoving aside her musings as a scuffling noise caught her attention. She needed to keep her head and concentrate on surviving this encounter. Without her weapons, she had only her wits...and hands...to fight with. Her green eyes narrowed, drawing in the sliver of light which filtered down the tunnel from the full moon, and capturing the faintest hint of a shifting shadow near what could only be an exit to this space, There was a peculiar odor...musk...that assaulted her nostrils, and she tightened her body even more as she prepared for whatever was to follow.

Dafu paused at the sound of shifting sand, his hands stalling over the banding that he was wrapping around the stones. He sniffed the air as he turned his head to look at the body laying on his bed. It had only been a few hours since he had gotten her into his home. He had managed to unbound and untie her without causing any damage, but he had yet to treat her wounds yet. Water was precious for him, and even more with two people. He turned his head and studied her, watching as her body tensed in regards to his movement. A smile flitted across his face that her mind went right into defensive even after what she had been through.

“Good, you awake. Dafu worried it be waste bringing you here.” Dafu spoke as he slowly stood, still holding the bandages that he had made from the bindings. He already knew he needed to be careful, not wanting the woman to panic and attack him in a possible panicky state. While he was confident he could beat her in the state she was in, the last thing he wanted was to fight. It would be useless and get both of them nowhere.

“Now, be still and Dafu bring light.” Dafu spoke before moving to the entrance. Taking a few sniffs of the air to check again for the ants, he gladly let out a huff as he opened the cover just a bit, allowing it to bounce off some shiny trinkets and baubles he had found in the sand. It wasn’t much light for them, but enough that even he could see her form much better than before. Taking another look over her, he could see the woman was pleasantly fit and shapely by humans standards.

“You survive big fall like Dafu. You okay in head?” Dafu asked while stepping into better view, keeping his arms by his side. He knew that appearing non-threatening usually won over a lot of people. His soft and alluring features brought him quite a few looks from the fairer sex plenty of times.

“Your name is Dafu...is that right?” Del asked as her rescuer lit up the small space, her voice raspy and thick. She shook her head gently, a half smile coming to her lips. “Of course it is…” she said lightly, answering her own question, “...it’s what you just said….just not used to someone talking in the third person.” She pushed against the bedding with the flat of her hand, attempting to sit up a bit too quickly. A bolt of pain shot up her spine, traveling along her arms and legs and causing her to cry out. Obviously she was injured worse than she had imagined, her lower back spasming until she laid down again. The slide down the tunnel was not the cause of the problem, but the drop…

Closing her eyes and taking long controlled breaths, she was finally able to work through the sudden pang. She would just have to take it slow so she didn’t injure herself further...and unless there was a stairway or notches carved out of the stone, she would need to find another way out of this place...and walking was the only mode of transportation. One step at a time.

Her gaze drifted back to the man...or should she say fox...his orange fur and bushy tail now obvious in the improved light. He was smaller in stature than she, but his Beastian heritage did not provide him with an ounce of trust in the detective’s eyes. Most such creatures she had met in the past were perps, and nothing but trouble. She tried to ignore her prejudiced views, after all, she worked with other non-human types in the office and they seemed cordial enough. She didn’t associate much with them, other than an occasional night out to the bar as a group, but they had never laid a hand on her...friendly or otherwise.

Sighing, Del let her attention turn on the fox again. “My head is fine Dafu...it’s my back that is giving me a fuss. That aside, I feel I should thank you for your assistance...for bringing me to your hideaway and removing my ropes. You said you were also dropped down here, so I suspect you must have pissed off the same people. Although I’ve no idea what you did, I suppose that is not important right now. Our biggest concern is getting out. ...and staying hidden.” The words of the ruffian from above came back to her suddenly. ‘Death might have been sweeter than trying to live down there.’ She only hoped he was wrong.

With a final adjustment of her position, Del groaned audibly. “I think it is best that I rest for a bit longer...and for you to stay over there. If you don’t mind. It’s not that I don’t trust you...but I don’t. We can discuss things in the morning after I’ve had a chance to think things through. Then you can tell me what you know...and any ideas you might have about getting out of here."

There was the space of a few seconds and then she added, "...and just for the record, my name is Delores.”

“Dafu is happy to hear you well.” Dafu replied as the woman began settling back down, having seen the pain crossing her face from trying to move. He remembered how in pain he had been the first day, spending most of it just lying on top of the sand pile he had managed to survive upon. Sure he still had some sore spots, but that was nothing to complain about. It did irk him some that the woman held no trust in him, even after saving her life and healing her up some. Didn’t she know how precious his resources were to just go using them on anyone who fell down here. Humans were so judgemental.


“It not bother Dafu, but should have water first.” Dafu spoke before sliding over a white bowl with some water in it. He had managed to find clean water inside the cave, a pool that had formed from the opening. It had been cleaned by running through the sand, to form a decent sized puddle in one of the divet of the stone. He


“Dafu don’t know about getting out. Ants enter through hole, ants leave through hole.” Dafu began as he moved to the far side of the small hidey hole, resting his back against the stone in some relief.


“Dafu yet to find way out. Hole too high to climb to.” He let her know as he nestled down to relax and wait, a very tedious job indeed. Having spent so much of his time doing, he was now being forced to slow down, which just unnerved him slightly. It felt like wasted time that he could be using to do something more productive. Sure his body needed the rest to be able to move normally, but now that he mostly could, being stuck down here was tiring.

Del growled under her breath at the fox’s news, although it didn’t really surprise her. It wouldn’t make sense for the mob members to toss them down here if there was an easy way out. She nodded slightly, then reached for the water he had given her, lifting her head to drink from the bowl. There was an unusual foreign taste to the liquid, most likely because it was rain water instead of bottled, but she relished it anyhow, her mouth parched.

“Thank you,” she said after setting the bowl back down. “Didn’t realize how thirsty I was until you brought it over.” She forced a smile, really milking the idea of being nice...last thing she needed was to have her throat slit when she wasn’t looking. Besides, she might just need his assistance to get out of here...his sense of smell and keen eyesight might just come in handy. A person in peril never turned away a helping hand if they had any sense themselves.

Gingerly turning herself so she could lay on her side, Del looked to the fox. “Have you been here long?” she asked, forgoing sleep for the time being. She could rest without actually closing her eyes...and there was information she needed before she could come up with a plan. “...and what about the ants? Have you encountered them yet?”

“Dafu has seen them on roof. They skitter in when it rain.” Dafu spoke as he grabbed the bowl back from her. He moved back to the side where he kept the other makeshift items he had made while pondering her other question. While he had some guesses with the traveling light as to the time, it was iffy at best. It also didn’t include any time he might have been unconscious for.


“Dafu been here 3 … maybe 4 days.” He offered up as he moved to rest against the wall, wrapping his tail around his waist.He studied the woman in front of him. Most people he met were not this questioning after being hurt, most just wanted to rest. She was smart, and smart was good. While he was great at breaking into places, he wasn’t as lucky breaking out. Plus with it being a large cave with one apparent opening, he wasn’t sure just how they were going to get out as easily.


“Dafu not have joy of meeting ants. They very strong, and climb on walls and roof.” He offered up to her. There was information to be shared between them, and the more she knew, the better their odds of survival. Besides, he had become increasingly bored stuck down here in this cave.

Del chewed over his words, concluding that the two of them were more fucked than she had originally thought. If the fox had not been able to find a way out in the amount of time he had been here, then how much better was she going to fare? Maybe if they put their heads together...but that meant working closely with the man-beast...not the best of situations in her humble opinion. Closing her eyes, she rubbed gingerly at the side of her head, feeling the raised lump that had resulted after her not-so-gentle landing. She vaguely remembered the fall, but with her eyes covered by a blindfold, and the speed with which she had slid, there was very little to discern from it. She had no idea how far from the surface she was...or how steep the rock face.

“If they can climb the walls, we are so screwed...” she grumbled. “...but you must have traveled through their maze of tunnels. All the things you have here...surely you found them?” Chewing her lip in thought, she squinted towards the opening that was allowing in the faint light. It was still night...which meant she hadn’t been out too long. How long before they were discovered? Before the ants found..and ate...them?

“How have you managed to remain undetected?” She asked, already working through an idea that was forming in her head. There had to be more than one way into this hell. Didn’t normal ants have multiple entrances? God, she wished she had paid more attention in her science classes. She had always been too distracted by the boys...damn hormones. Now, she was more concerned with real life issues, like paying her bills. ...and getting out of this hole!

With a groan she rolled back onto her back, bringing her knees up to help relieve the throbbing just above her lower spine. “I’d kill for some Percocet right about now,” she said barely above a whisper. “...and my gun...that would help too.”

“How Dafu hide from ants?” Dafu asked the woman, tilting his head a little bit to the side. He motioned around the room as if to indicate the walls themselves. The ants that hid in here were not always the brightest, and the stone walls hid him plenty well. Her question about the artifacts that he had found had really stumped him though. Some of the items he had found had simply been around the place already, without much need to investigate for them. The furthest was another small cave along the far wall where he had found the metal piece.

“Most Dafu found around the sand from bodies. Furthest is small hole on other side. Though Daf hear clicking over there.” Dafu mentioned, pointing in the direction that he mentioned, not having explored much on that side. Dafu knew better than to risk with the clicking noise, less he run into cave full of ants. He wanted to escape, but not risk his life when he went over there.

“And gun no do good. Ant hide very tough.” Dafu responded to her comment about wanting her gun. He could understand the want for some medicine, as she was probably in a lot of pain. The gun would be next to useless inside their home. Even if she managed to kill one, the noise would draw so many more and they would get swarmed.

“What needed is magic. Ants fear Magic.” Dafu spoke while settling down to sleep.

“Magic,” Del repeated in a soft tone, “...might as well ask for a unicorn...unless you know something I don’t.” She allowed her eyes to close, not really expecting an answer, deciding that with the information Dafu had given her that keeping quiet and trying to find an escape route was their best bet. They simply did not have the weapons to engage the ants. Damn their exo-skeletons! ...and damn the lowlife that got her in this situation to begin with. She had no idea how the twerp was involved with the mob in the first place, let alone how the thugs had found her so fast.

So many questions. And she really didn’t have much to go on...just some recorded phone conversations...and tracking data that showed the suspect’s most recent movement. If she ever got out of here, she wasn’t sure if she was going to trash the data or try to dig deeper. She would need more hands on deck if she dared pursue continuing along that track. Just like her situation here. If only there were more resources...and able bodied people...and guns with metal piercing bullets. Maybe...just maybe...they could fight their way out of here.

It was with these thoughts that sleep finally claimed Del, her breathing leveling out and softening. Her dreams were chaotic and the tossing and turning woke her hours later, the time of day lost on her due to her missing phone. How reliant she had come to be on it...for all her daily info. Grumbling, she managed to sit up with some discomfort, her lower back still complaining, but less so. Thankful for any relief, the woman slowly got to her feet and made her way to the blanketed entrance.

The main chamber was large with vertical walls and a high ceiling. There was enough light to see the tunnel she had fallen through and the pile of sand that must have dampered her landing. Brittle bones littered the floor, most picked clean of any flesh. It was a sickening sight, but Del swallowed back the bile in her throat. Not much bothered her, but seeing evidence of her own kind being used as a food source was the exception. Moving through the area with care, she paced out the open space, locating the branching tunnels which lead to the unknown. There were two of them...and sounds were coming from both. She only paused briefly, the security of the small cave the fox had claimed her only retreat. In a matter of moments she was inside, the cloth pulled tight over the opening to block out the light.