Rhene

**Rhene** of the Fox Tribe is a famous vixen.

## Background

Her parents named her after Princess Rhene of the southern Fox Tribe. Gesture combat was her hobby. She is Rif's girlfriend and accompanied him to the annual Market Faire.

## Quest for the Orb

During the Faire she congratulated Rif who won second place in the Puzzle Contest, although Rif had bigger expectations from himself. Right then the theft of the Orb of Storms was announced and the Faire closed; the Foxes were the first suspects and she tried to support Rif. She was held captive by the Boar Captain to compel Rif to solve his mission.

While in the dungeon of the Boar Castle she noticed that the door was unlocked. She saw a wolf and a boar talking about an alliance and a Wolf Ring that should be kept in the Boar's room. The two entered the room and she had to hide quickly in the closet. Making sure they left, she returned to her cell. Soon after they sent for her and took her to the bowels of the castle. It was actually the Boar King's Broug's mudbath. Rif visited King Broug, and requested to see his "guest" and exchange a word. He tried to comfort her and promised that she will get her out. As the guard pulled her away, she threw the ring into the pool, which was found later by Rif. The loss of the ring was noticed and her cell was searched.

After days, Rif and Okk returned with news about the Orb and Rhene was released.

## Little Wolf Lost #1

They decided to move from the Fox Village for a change; during Rif's adventure, he became a honorary member of the Builders' Guild and he suggested the Ferret Village as their new home.

One day by the beach Rhene was complaining that nothing new happens, and they discovered an unconscious wolf cub whom they took to their home. As the cub was soaked with sand they nicknamed him "Sandy". He was secretive and holding an ancient human artifact that Rif could not discern what it was. She reminded him that last time he wondered about human technology he consulted the Rats, prompting him, to her frustration, to go to the Rat Complex, leaving her tending for the cub by herself.

Eventually Sandy woke up, and was feisty. As before, he refused to answer her questions, pretending to have forgotten everything. When Rhene went to bring him a clean blanket, she found him sleeping and mumbling about a box.

Days passed and Rhene was worried. Sandy was searching around her house for his box, and wondered about Rif, who eventually returned after his long trip.

The next day, while Rif and Sandy went out to investigate, a Hare came with a message from Elara requesting to see them the soonest. She prepared their clothes and hosted the messenger for the night.

They reached the Sanctuary of the Orbs where Elara requested Rhene to bring a letter to Prince; as she explained, Dogs had enmity with the Hares. She promised to have information about Sandy once she returned.

At the Dog Castle Rhene was accused for her "insolence" to deliver a letter, and Annabelle spoke in her favor. The letter requested the leaders's presence at the Sanctuary, and the fact that a Cat was telling Prince what to do made him furious; he ordered Rhene to be taken to the dungeons, but Annabelle reminded him that maiden prisoners are taken to the tower.

## Little Wolf Lost #2

Annabelle visited her and returned her satchel, as well as a diguise and instructions for escaping. With the disguise, Fidor the jailer thought she was Annabelle. She reached the store room and moved a loose stone. In the rain she reached a Hare's hut and they left for the Sanctuary.

Elara explained that she didn't warn her about Prince's touchiness to not worry her. As promised she said what she knew about Sandy: his clothing suggested he came from a mixed tribe from up on the western coast. She offered to let Rhene rest and tend her clothes but she had to return to Rif. The Hares gave her bread, cheese and smoked fish.

Back home she found their house empty and Rif had even left his grandfather's ring behind. She went to ask Jarfa, and saw him with a Ram. The Ram was surprised to see foxes there; he said he saw a fox going north-west and a young wolf running towards the Wild Lands. As Sakka borrowed her cloak, Rhene left only with a blanket and a lantern.

She found a cave to rest, but a bear was inside. They engaged in gesture combat and she was about to flee but the bear stepped on her tail. As she held her up, Rhene tickled her nose with her tail. Calling it a draw, the bear explained that she had a run-in with another fox and a wolf cub. She invited Rhene for tea in her cave and Rhene said all the story; the bear offered to escort her the next day.

They followed their tracks up to a cliff and were perplexed. Rhene found tracks going back, but it turned out they were Sandy's route, who changed his mind and returned back up. Remembering Elara's words that Sandy was from the west, they decided to go there.

On their way the bear uncovered Rufi, an Otter who followed them to find Sandy. After a small fight, they left him and continued their way. By the ferry, Rufi threw stones at them, hitting the bear unconscious. Rufi was about to take her with the raft and use her as a hostage when he met Rif and the wolf, but she was rescued by Mama Bear. The Ram offered to lead them to his village of Sheepstown.

## Little Wolf Lost #3

Arriving at Sheepstown they found it burned down. Rhene comforted the Ram saying that the ewes fled. While their tracks were east, she noticed fox tracks going north, and several Morph tracks stop at the water. The Ram told them about a nearby fishing village.

Two days later the three arrived there. They found the only building that was not a tavern, and they met Sandy's mother, Kyrrah, a healer. After exchanging news, Kyrrah was summoned to help some sailors and she took Rhene as her assistant. They boarded the ship *The Black Raccoon*, which was the pirate ship that had burned Sheepstown. While tending the burned, Elrik, a white fox, introduced himself and invited her for dinner; he was too insisting and Rhene had to accept, but then starting worrying. Kyrrah told her that they would be off before dark. On their way out, she was spotted by Rufi who was talking to Elrik, and he ordered to seize her. Rhene attempted to run away but was stopped by a Dog. She was soon joined by Rif, caught in the captain's cabin with a sextant. The two ignored Captain Jarkim's questions as they tried to catch up with each other. Jarkim inquired about the wolf cub about whom they both said they didn't know. Elrik and Jarkim ordered to keep them separated, and search the ship for the wolf. She followed Mama Bear's advice to tickle the guard, allowing her to escape. She saw that Rufi had Captain Jarkim's sword and had immobilizaed Mama Bear and Rif. But Rhene sneaked behind him and hit him with an oar. She ensured Sandy and Rif that the feral bear was actually her friend. The crew surrended to Rhene, who tied up Jarkim and Rufi and released the prisoners. A crowd of villagers came demanding justice. She refused being in command and stopped Rif's dreams of that (which also would make him accountable for their crimes). They agreed to go to the Forest King Tallek to settle the affair; Kyrrah finally reunited with Sandy, and Rhene suggested to her to move to the Sanctuary.

Weeks later the ship approached the Great-forest Domain. She reminded to Rif that it was the end of the warm season, the Harvest Fair and the puzzle contest; Rhene credited him for solving a greater puzzle. She also wondered where Elrik ended up.

## Short Tales

The couple returned to the Ferret Village, while Kyrrah and Sandy relocated to the Sanctuary.

## Catch and Release

One rainy night they were reading a book with Rif when an alarm rang. There was a disaster in the Sunrise Hills and Sakka needed their help. Rhene ensured Dun they would do their best to help the Ferrets.

The other morning she woke up Rif who said that they discovered a human-made tube, and he would go to explore it. She said she was busy to join him but would do tomorrow.

She found them on their way back to the Village with a picnic basket, and they were joined by Kogga and Utti. Eventually the human structure was camouflaged as a silo, and she quieted Rif who wondered about other secrets, and how nice a drone would be.

## Short Tales #2

One time Rif was sleeping and had a bittersweet dream with Shiala and a wolf he had met. Rhene woke him up to go on with their lunch plans and gave him a sandwich.suggesting that it would improve his mood.