Meeting Toby

In a cozy woodland nestled by a sparkling creek, lived a family of foxes — Papa Whit, Mama Whit, and their curious little kits, Maisie and Archie.

One bright morning, as Maisie was leaping and frolicking through the meadow, a shaggy black and white puppy named Toby dashed into view. Toby’s tail wagged like a propeller, and his brown eyes shone with excitement.

“Hey, you! Wanna play?” Toby barked, his voice a burst of energy.

Maisie’s fur bristled, and her breath caught in her throat as Toby’s bounding figure drew near. Her instincts took over, and her little paws propelled her swiftly away from the approaching puppy.

As she found shelter in an old hollowed-out log, Toby skidded to a halt; his enthusiasm dampened. “Hey, wait! Where’d you go?”

Peeking out from the log, Maisie’s wide eyes blinked at Toby. “You scared me.”

Toby’s floppy ears drooped as he realized the impact of his actions. “Oh no, I didn’t mean to! I just wanted to play.”

Maisie, still a bit wary, studied Toby with a mix of curiosity and caution. “Play? But you were chasing me!”

Toby sat down, his tail thumping softly against the ground. “I’m sorry. I thought that’s what you foxes liked to do. I guess I got carried away.”

Maisie felt her heart soften as she saw the earnest expression on Toby’s face. Slowly, she emerged from her hiding spot. “I’m Maisie.”

Toby perked up, his tail swaying gently. “I’m Toby. And I really am sorry. I didn’t want to make you scared.”

Maisie tilted her head, her wariness giving way to curiosity. “Why do you like to chase?”

Toby’s eyes sparkled as he explained. “Chasing is just what I do. It’s like a game to me, and I love seeing everyone run around.”

Maisie nibbled on her tail, considering Toby’s words. “But what if someone doesn’t want to play?”

Toby’s expression turned thoughtful. “I guess I never thought about that. I just wanted to share the fun.”

A small smile tugged at Maisie’s lips. “You know, maybe I overreacted a bit. I’m just a bit jumpy sometimes.”

Toby’s tail wagged slowly. “I promise, I won’t chase you if you don’t want me to.”

Maisie had a warm feeling growing inside her. “Actually, now that I know you didn’t mean to scare me, I kind of want to play.”

Toby’s eyes lit up like fireflies on a summer night. “Really?”

Maisie nodded, her tail beginning to twitch with anticipation. “Yeah, let’s give it a try. But no more surprises, okay?”

Toby grinned, his tongue lolling happily. “Deal!”

Maisie and Toby played and chased each other through the woodlands. They were having fun, and a new friend was made.