Black Fox

T'was a fine spring morning as we began our hunt. The weather was fair and I hadn't the slightest cause for unease. Yet as I climbed atop my mount, unease did begin to grip my soul. I attempted to brush aside those beginnings of dread and rode off alongside my fellow huntsmen, though I know now I should never have done so. The foxhounds ran ahead, seeking the trails for which they had been so excellently bred and trained. The hour drew late into the morning, yet we found no quarry. The hounds had picked up neither scent nor sight of prey, despite searching with all the fervor of any beast so dedicated to their task. Even their excitement seemed to diminish as the time passed by and my company swore at the forest. The horses, too, stamped their feet and snorted in impatient  irritation. The master of the chase cursed at the ground withholding our prey. 

"If only the devil himself came by," he cried, "We'd run him such a race."
Suddenly sprang up a black fox from his hole, which the dogs had not been able to find. He paused for only a moment, staring at us men with his ember eyes. The hounds began their pursuit, letting up such a cry it seemed to fill the whole of the forest. The midnight prey bolted, hounds following closely behind. We chased that fox over the valley and the southern field. The horses sweat and the dogs panted furiously, but the acursed fox ran on as though he had not tired at all. We followed as far as the riverbank just north of the great ridge. He had gained a lead on us and we could scarcely see him as he leaped into the water and swum to the other side. 

Upon reaching the other bank, he stopped and turned back toward us, shaking the water from his dark fur. The dogs, nearly a third of a mile ahead, skid to a halt at the edge of the water. The master huntsman shouted and cursed at them to cross and claim their prize, but they only bayed in reply, pacing at the water's edge. The horses, too, when we reached the water, pulled at their reigns and tenaciously refused even to set foot in the water. All the while, the fox watched from the other side. To this day, I can see him, almost as if he were smiling. Upon seeing the reactions of hounds and horses and upon seeing the rising frustration among we men, he began to laugh. It was an awful, chilling, alien sound that proceeded from his mouth, resonating so loudly that the greenwoods trembled. The dread which I had so carelessly disregarded that morning again caught hold of me, twisting my stomach and squeezing my throat. The fox set one forefoot before the other and bent low, as if he might have been bowing. As he straightened, a low, grating voice came from the beast's mouth.

"Ride on, my gallant huntsmen. One day, I must come again, for you should never want for a fox to chase all over this glen. When your need is greatest, simply call upon my name, then I shall come and indeed we shall have the very best of sport and game."

I could scarcely believe my eyes and ears. Although I did not see them, I am sure all the men must have looked on with the same horrified wonder as I. Even the boldest of hounds ran back, cowering behind the horses, who had also begun to shy away. The fox again smiled and turned to the Devil himself, only the water creating a barrier between. We men, our hounds, and our horses all went flying back to the nearest town. Despite exhaustion from the prior chase, this new terror urged each soul swiftly onward. Behind us, I heard the laughter again. I know not how I gathered the courage, but as I turned to look back, I saw hard on our heels the little black fox, still bellowing out his laughter.

"Yes, ride on, my gallant huntsmen!" He cried. "Surely, I must come to you again. Else you may find yourselves wanting of a fox such as I to chase across this glen. When you find your need greatest, only call on Lucifer's name, then I will answer and we shall indeed have the best of sport and game!"

Author's Note: Unfortunately, I can claim no credit for the plot of this story. I based it off of a song that I stumbled across several months ago (linked below).I only wanted to tell the same story in a different way, so here we have this. I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to comment below. Thanks! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pUR9oxXDMA