I'm not the most athletic person or the most graceful so I was surprised at the ease with which I picked up running on four legs. It's actually easier than running on two. I felt like I could run forever and never tire out. With my enhanced senses, the woods were a teeming riot of colors, sounds and smells. The sound of a woodpecker in the distance caught my attention and I found myself salivating at the thought of fresh eggs. I jumped over a log and, somehow, knew that there would be fat grubs underneath and the thought both disgusted and excited me.

The Phouka had given me a head start but I was so enchanted with my new senses, I hadn't made the best use of my time. I could hear him breathing behind me. "I'm gaining on you, little one! What will you do when I catch you?" he taunted. I ran faster, leaping over fallen trees. He was still gaining on me when I came to a fork in the path. Do I go left or right? I started right but then dodged left. He laughed and said, "Now you're thinking like a fox!" Thinking like a fox!?! I hadn't been thinking at all.

The Phouka was steadily gaining on me. I didn't really think he'd hurt me but I felt compelled to run away from him. The path we were on was fairly clear and, since his legs were longer than mine, he had an advantage. I was reluctant to leave the path, not knowing what was lurking in the woods, but decided it was the only way to lose him.

I dodged under a bush and ran for the closest big tree. I circled it a few times looking for a way to climb it but, without opposable thumbs, it was impossible. I continued on, using bushes and scrub as cover. I came to a stream and, since my feet were beginning to tire, I waded downstream a bit to cool my toes. I thought I saw a raspberry bush on the other side, so I crossed and climbed the bank. Off in the distance, I could hear the Phouka crashing around in the underbrush and calling to me. I snickered to myself, pleased with my newfound cleverness, and munched a few berries.

A few feet from me, I heard a strange sound emanating from a hole in the ground. It was as if the earth itself was moaning. Curious, I stuck my face down the hole but jumped back when I saw a pair of bright black button eyes staring back at me. A round opossum hissed at me as it waddled from its lair. "I'm sorry, Mr. ‘Possum!" I exclaimed in my yip-yip fox voice. "Didn't mean to intrude into your home!" He just glared at me and wandered down to the stream.

I was tired of running and didn't hear the Phouka behind me, so I strolled along and took in the sights. Springtime in the woods is so pretty and it had been far too long since I'd spent time outdoors like this. The May apples under their leafy umbrellas, sprays of purple violets, clusters of pink spring beauties and trout lilies - all so vibrant and alive to my heightened senses. I nosed around in the leaves on the ground and found a fat earthworm. Without letting myself think about what I was doing, I slurped it up and chewed. Not too bad ... sort of like a bacon-wrapped scallop, only not salty. I mosied on.

Eventually I came to a small stand of Oak trees. The pile of last year's leaves that were banked about their trunks was so inviting, I curled up with my tail wrapped around myself - it really was a most beautiful tail! - and dozed. I wanted to keep an ear out for the Phouka but the sun was so warm on my fur, before long I was snoozing away.

I bolted upright when I heard the Phouka baying. He was too close for my liking, so I scampered back into the safety of the underbrush. The sun seemed to be sinking and I wondered just how long I was going to remain a fox. It was fun and all but I didn't want to live out my days on a diet of berries and worms.

My attempt to evade the Phouka seemed to be failing and he was getting closer. I made my way back to the path and ran like the wind back to the clearing. I wasn't feeling so well and I really just wanted to go home. I was almost at the end of the trail when the Phouka burst from the undergrowth just a few feet behind me. "Aha!" He exclaimed. "Now I've got you!" He pounced and I sprang off to the left. He must have anticipated that I'd go left because he swept my legs out from under me and I went tumbling. He pounced again and we rolled into the clearing.

I was really feeling dizzy and disoriented now. The Phouka had me pinned on my back and was licking my face and growling into my ear. I could feel myself elongating as I yip-talked to him. "Get off me, ya big oaf!" I yipped. "I can't breathe," I finished in people-talk. I had turned back into myself at last. He eased off to the side, but still had me pinned down with a front paw. I closed my eyes as the last wave of vertigo passed through me and heard the now-familiar popping sound and I knew the Phouka was a man again.

"Um, Phouka," I said, looking at him.

"Yessss?" he drawled.

"I seem to have lost my clothes," I said.

His eyes raked down my body. "Why, so you have," he leered. "I believe I have misplaced mine too." He waggled his eyebrows at me. We stared deeply into each other's eyes and I was starting to think we were about to have an "interlude" when that lemur-thing began chattering madly and pelting us with pixie pears. The moment was past and I realized I was bone tired.

I pushed the Phouka's arm away and sat up, pulling my hair down over my chest. I felt very self-conscious and couldn't make eye contact. He ogled me for a bit longer and then crossed the clearing to retrieve our clothes, which had fallen away on the other side. It was my turn to ogle him. For a dog, he had a mighty fine backside.

He unceremoniously tossed my clothes to me, turned his back to me so I could dress, and said, "I guess we had best get you back home now. Mary's going to be sick with worry."

Before we left, I impulsively hugged him and said, "Thank you for one of the best days of my life."

He chuckled and said, "You're easy to please. A couple of mealy apples and an earthworm and you're happy as a lark!"

I blushed crimson, horrified that he knew. "How did you know I ate a worm?" I asked.

"You've got dirt on your breath," he said with a smile and pulled my hat down over my eyes. "Come on, little fox-girl; let's go home." He grabbed my hand and we left through the portal together.