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DeArca sat on the steps of his wagon, chipping at a block of wood with his small knife. Sighing with relief, he put the block down as he looked at his knife, sliding a fingertip against it. "Well, she's still got some cut left in her but what I would give for a sharpening stone!" He said and then leaned back, reading one of his books. He gave a chuckle as he turned a page, nodding to the book. "Right you are, Persephone...tell that ol fox!" He joked, enjoying the events he had began to read. Ash was crawling around on the book, sniffing its pages as he clawed at the pictures. "Heh, sorry Ash, but you can't touch them...they're pictures!" He said and Ash squeaked.

DeArca put his book aside as he saw Rojiza and gave a smile. "Hey there..." He said patting her head with a smirk. "You want to see the book?" He asked, giving it to her as he leaned back. "Do you like picture books?"

"Hmm? Do you want me to read it to you?" He asked in a bit of confusion and smiled some. "I can do that....I don't mind." He asked, picking some books. "Would you like me to read....My best friend, a finch....Apples a plenty....or what I have...Persephone and the Clever Fox?"

Ash gave a squeak as he escaped into her hair, fidgeting some. DeArca gave a chuckle as he turned the book to the beginning. "Alright....well, the story begins here in a cabin on the open meadow. A little blonde girl, no bigger than her father's knee, ran out into the meadow with a basket of bread. Her mother warned the little girl that she shouldn't stop for anything and to come straight home when she delivered the bread to her neighbors. The little girl ran to the forest, only to have something following her. A red fox crept along the path, hungry for her bread." He pointed to the picture of the fox.

DeArca smiled at Rojiza's interest in the story and pointed again. "The clever fox approached Persephone, and then stepped onto a log in front of her." He said. "Dear Little girl, could you spare some bread for a starving fox?" The clever fox asked. Persephone smiled, walking to him as she handed him bits of her bread. "Of course, little fox!" She would say and go on her merry way down the path. The clever fox wasn't done though, he wanted more delicious bread so again he followed her. "That's a very greedy fox...." DeArca said.

DeArca flipped the page, continuing his story. Persephone was making good time on her trek through the forest, however it came to a halt when she noticed the broken bridge over the river. "Oh no! How will I cross?" She asked, hearing the small giggle from behind. "I shall help you find a way! If you'll give me a piece of your bread!" The clever fox asked and persephone had to cross, so she did as he asked. The clever fox ate the bread with glee, running away, leading her downstream to a fallen tree. "Come...Come!" He asked, running across it and Persephone nodded, crossing with him. "Thank you, little fox!" She patted his head, getting back on the trail. The clever fox had giggled, following her once again. "No! Thank you, little girl...your bread will be mine!" He asked.

DeArca looked down at Rojiza and smiled as he turned the page. He leaned over, giving the top of her head a little kiss as he read. Persephone was getting close to her neighbor's house and a smile came to her face. Down the trail, she noticed the fox sitting there waiting for her with his mouth wide open and Persephone stopped. "What are you doing, little fox?" She asked and the fox looked at her. "I'm waiting for it to snow. Snow is so yummy..." He said and Persephone looked up. "But its the middle of Spring?" She said and the fox whined. "But I have to gather food for my little ones and they like snow...oh what am I going to do?" He asked, opening his mouth again. Persephone frowned and looked in her basket, having only a little bread left. She wanted to help the poor little fox and then broke the bread into pits, letting them fall like snow. "See...its snowing, little fox!" She smiled and walked away down the path again. The clever fox giggled, eating every one of the bits. "Oh I'm stuffed....nnn...just a bit more!" He muttered, following her again.

DeArca smiled, flipping the page yet again. "We're at the last bit..." He said to her. Persephone was now approaching her neighbor's house, thinking of what to say now that she had no bread left. The clever fox ran behind the house, curling up against it as he waited. "I will have your bread yet, my little one!" He said. A shadow casted over him as the fox froze. "Ahhh!" The fox whined, his yelp halted by a sudden snap of the shadow. Persephone approached the house, hearing the loud sounds of chickens. She was on a chicken farm, one of few in her land. When she knocked, the farmer's wife approached. "Why Persephone! You came..." She smiled, patting the little girl's head and Persephone smiled, holding up her basket. "I tried to bring you bread..." She muttered and the wife laughed. "It makes no difference! I'll give you two dozen eggs for your mother!" She said, hearing the dogs bark. "What's that?" Persephone asked and the wife laughed. "They caught themselves a fox is my guess! Those little pests think they're so clever!" She chuckled and Persephone looked over. "I'm glad that nice fox I met was with his family, feeding them" She said. DeArca closed the book, looking at Rojiza. "Do you know the moral of this story, Rojiza?" He asked.