Alex Fox

By Chris Kotschwar
I kneel on a hollow, icy log near the lake, wearing my worn out brown leather hood, with my
usual matching leather boots and pants. I keep my hood up as I watch the glittering white flakes
of snow drift down from the puffy marshmallows in the sky. These flakes are toxic though,
because of the dragon attack over in the small village of River Run, about 4 miles from here. I
kneel there, in the cold with my bow in the palm of my hand, waiting for something to happen. It
is about 5am now, and I know Ill have to be going soon. My game bag is full of rabbits and
other small rodents and I am not supposed to be out of the gates before 6am. If I enter the town at
6am I will get imprisoned by the humanoid guards. Not saying that they would bother
imprisoning someone like me.
I guess youd like to know who I am. Well, its not who I am, its what I am. They call me a
draugar, which means the walking dead, or part human, part cat, and part dead. I am one of a
kind, because there are no other draugars here, or anywhere. The rest of my family is human
though, so I dont know how I was born. We live in the city of Interluder in fact we are the
royalty there. My father is King Peter, he rules with honor and justice. My mother is the
foundation of the family and she is the glue that holds Interluder together. My brother Sir Leon,
he is the commander of the guards in Interluder. That leaves me, I am Alex Fox, and I am part
human, part cat, and part dead. I am very skilled at combat and using my bow, and I have secret
powers that no one else in my family has.
When I walked up to the electronic gates of Interluder one of the burly guards stops me, State
your name and business, he gestures to one of the security cameras meant for recording every

visitor that enters the town. I walk over to the camera and put my face about a foot away and say,
Alex Fox, Going inside to sell some animals. The guard pauses a moment to figure out who I
was, then he gestures to the door, Go on in Princess Alex. I usually dont like being call
Princess but on occasion its nice to know that he knows who I am and that I am not to be
messed with.
As I walk into the city of Interluder and I hear screams of horror. The snow had turned into rain
and the road was extremely muddy. I walked further into town and saw a crowd of people in the
Forum so I decide to check it out. Then I saw her, there on the muddy ground is, my mother. I
stand there seeing the body of my mother, Im not moving at all. She had been poisoned. I knew
what this meant, we all did, I would have to take up the job of Queen.
Hours went by as I stood there in the rain, looking down at the spot where she had died. I was
paralyzed. I didnt know if this is a dream or reality. At noon I finally I dredging my feet towards
the palace gates, and once again I am stopped by the guards. State your full name and Business
and take off your hood for the camera. I slid my hood off my head and just stood there looking
at the guard. Sorry Alex didnt recognize you. The guard that was there was my brother. I
knew he didnt recognize me because I usually dont where my hood near the palace but this
wasnt an ordinary day. Mom was poisoned, Alex. My Brother told me. I know Leon, I saw
her.
When I walked inside one of the maids made me take off my leather boots. Apparently they
would, Muddy their clean floor. I was not in the fighting mood so I just went along with it.
When I walked up the stone stairs that lead up to the throne room, my father was sitting on his
golden throne jeweled with rubies and sapphires, as usual. I dropped my game bag on the long
wooden table, Alex what happened? My father said, getting up from his throne and standing

next to me. Mom got poisoned in the Forum. I remarked taking out some of the rabbits from
the bag. We will have a feast in her honor. He said with a tone of justice. I headed up the stairs
in a fast, parkour fashion because, I was really not looking forward to dressing up.
Around 7:30 I heard loud people yelling in the throne room and the sounds of music, the guests
were here. I didnt want to go, but I was expected to go. No matter what I thought, I was going. I
put on a clean tunic but it wasnt really that clean, it was more of a mustard yellow color, the
color of maze or corn. I look at myself in the mirror and look at all the dirt on my fur covered
face. I just decide to head out.
I know Im not supposed to but when I headed out of my room I did a double back flip off of the
unstable balcony. Applause started rumbling all around me but my tail had gotten stuck up there.
I managed to get it untangled but it has a mind of its own. My father stood up from one of the
long tables and called everyone to attention. Attention, Attention. The Queen has died, and with
her death comes a new era of royalty. There will be a tournament to fight for Alexs hand in
marriage. This was not what I was expecting.
I managed to escape upstairs in my bedroom before I could hear the rest of his speech. I put my
leather attire back on, grabbed my bow, and waited till no one was looking to sprint out the door.
I kept running till I was out of the palace gates, out of the city of Interluder, far away from my
father. I finally reached the spot where I was this morning, on the icy log I had knelt. The sky
was clear because I could see the moon, and the northern lights. I had a plan, it was dangerous
though.
I went back to the palace in the morning bringing a full buck. My father was setting up for the
tournament in the courtyard, thats when I saw the sign-up sheet. I took the quill out of the

drawer and wrote the name Alex Fox. I knew the only way to stay in Interluder was to win the
tournament or to run away. Running away was plan B though. I knew I could win this, everyone
would know that I am the best. I crossed out my name to and wrote, Sir Alec Box of RiverRun
I knew it was the worst fake name ever but just to make things less complicated I went with it.
The tournament is today, and I know I will get caught. Sir Alec Box of RiverRun? Okay and
Sir James Black of WhiteRiver, will have the choice to either joust or duel with swords till there
is a victor. My brother announced as it was his duty to be the announcer at the event. I put on
my black Ebony knights armor, but I didnt notice that my tail and ears were sticking out. Then I
remarked, I choose a Duel. I looked over at Sir James, he had horrible rusted armor. I choose
Duel. Sir James said with a tone of pride. The Duel will start in 5 minutes. My brother
announced.
We took our places on opposite sides of the courtyard, I could see my father looking at my tail.
He was sure to find out that it was me. I grabbed my Ebony shield and matching sword. Let the
tournament Begin! My brother announced excitedly. Sir James and I charged at each other and
we collided our shields together. I could feel my powers getting stronger and COBOOSH!
There was a big wave of force, and James was on the ground. He threw up his white flag. The
crowd applauded louder than when I had did that double back flip. The winner is Alec Box!
Thank - I took off my helmet and the crowd stopped the applause, my father stood up and you
could hear my brother stop. I could tell they were surprised that it was me, so I began walking
out of the courtyard when I finally saw what they all were looking at. A dragon.
I raced over to the tent in which I kept my belongings, I snatched my bow off of the rack and
sped back to the courtyard, the dragon was sitting on the entrance, Alex, you have defied me for
the last time. The dragon said opening his dark black wings. I have done nothing Mr. uh

Yonsmchmit. The dragon snapped. Why are you here? I replied as I raised my bow. To seek
revenge on your family for killing my kin. The dragon roared. I loaded a bow with my arrow
and using my powers I yelled, Vos Rof Noth. This spell conjured an army of knights to fight
for me. Attack We bombarded the dragon with arrows and he fell the ground. I went next to
him and before I could say anything in the glory, I absorbed some sort of power from him. I was
unique and that just proved it.