The next morning, sunlight poured into the cave and shone on a very miserable six-tailed fox. Rong Ye woke up and realized he was still tied up like a giant fluffy dumpling.
And Stove was still guarding the entrance like a strict bouncer.
Rong Ye tried to shout, "MMMPH!" but then suddenly froze. As the call of nature made him tremble.
He needed to relieve himself.
Panic filled his eyes. He began chewing the vines around his mouth as fast as he could. His teeth scraped and pulled until finally...snap! ...one vine broke. Then another. Soon there was a small opening.
"Stove! You evil, heartless weed!" he gasped. "You can't keep me tied up! I need to… I need to pee!"
Stove didn't move. Its leaves rustled once, as if saying, "Not my problem."
Rong Ye blushed so hard his ears burned. He took a deep breath and changed his tone completely.
"Stove, my dear, noble friend," he said, adopting a sickly sweet tone that made his fur prickle.
