Scary Stories for Young Foxes

“‘All scary stories have two sides,’ the storyteller said. ‘Like the bright and dark of the moon. If you’re brave enough to listen and wise enough to stay to the end, the stories can shine a light on the good in the world. They can guide your muzzles. They can help you survive.’ [...] ‘But,’ the storyteller said, ‘if you don’t listen closely…if you turn tail from the horror and don’t stay till the end, then the darkness of the story can swallow all hope. It can frighten you so deeply you’ll never want to leave your den again.’”

Seven fox kits venture to the storyteller’s den on the night they hear the tale of Mia and Uly’s harrowing journey. One by one, they run back to their den in fear; only one fox kit remains to the end to bear witness to the eighth and final installment. This storyteller’s warning, issued before the story begins, echoes the philosophy expressed by the author, who believes in the use of Horror as a Teaching Tool for Young Readers, for the genre allows them to imagine, consider, and accept the more frightening realities that they will one day have to face regardless of how careless or how protective their parents may be. Thus, the story is designed to help children’s psychological development by preparing them to face adversity with courage, strength, and steadfast morality.

“A shudder ran from his teacher’s ears straight to the tip of her tail. She tried to take a step toward his voice, but then wavered and missed. She turned in a half circle, then sat down again. Her gooey eyes stared at nothing. […] Miss Vix’s head swayed. Her breath sounded choked with cobwebs. […] Miss Vix lifted her snout. And she saw him through the goo. Her muzzle tightened into a snarl, but then she shook her head back and forth, like she was trying to escape a sneeze. A sound bubbled from her throat. ‘Run.’”

In this passage, it is clear that Mia and her siblings, Roa in particular, have always looked up to and tried to emulate their teacher, Miss Vix. Her sudden transformation from nurturing expert to menacing threat is confusing to her students, who struggle to process and react to what is happening. In the moment, they are unable to reconcile this vicious foe with the vixen who has made it her objective to protect and prepare them for the dangers of the world they will face as independent foxes.