Chapter 14: The Lucky Fox

An afternoon with Yhisin

Chapter 14: The Lucky Fox

 

 

              “Is this what I am reduced to…?” Yhisin asked himself while holding his cup of alcohol between two clawed fingers and sighed in slight boredom. What was Rial really expecting him to do…in this city all by himself? It probably would had been more fun with another male to drink with but being left to his own plans made it feel…awkward. He was never one to drink either during the day hours, maybe later but not when the sun was in the sky burning him to a crisp. He took another sip and started to be disgusted by the taste since it was his third glass.

 

“Eh…maybe it’s the gods telling me to quit,” he mused and pushed his half-finished cup away to stand, making his way out of the bar while looking as sober as a priest.

 

“Didn’t even make my head spin.” It was a waste of gold but he learned his lesson which was a part of life. Now that he was back out in the midst of the city, he looked toward the signs to see if anything would interest him.

 

Arena? Hmm…he didn’t feel like pummeling poor fools at this time. It was his day off.

 

Market? He was a tiny bit hungry…but wasn’t starving. He could wait.

 

Show Quarter? The first thought that came to his mind was that it wouldn’t be an innocent show…so he snuffed that idea from his mind. He was still a father and a faithful husband…despite all his tragedies. He frowned with dropped ears and looked up toward the sky.

 

“…what would you have me do?” He whispered, picturing his dearly departed wife and how she would respond. “You’d probably tell me to go do something I enjoy,” he told her but no one responded. With another sigh, his eyes turned back to the signs and tilted his head curiously.

 

“…Aqua Ring…? What in the world is that?” It seemed to be stationed by the markets so it could be a plan to visit this odd place before grabbing a snack. Set on his destination, Yhisin blended in with the crowd to walk down the cobblestone streets. He made sure to keep his tails close or else someone would step on them since they were terribly poofy for a fox and he remembered his sweet wife teasing him constantly about it.

 

Being in Treaish did feel weird compared to Hulei. Back in the other city, he walked around to strike fear into those who opposed the king and he heard whispers that even if someone looked at him, it was a death wish…but here, it was so calm. Ferals walked past him…humans…other species that took on more bestial traits to look almost animalistic but no one bickered or formed any trouble.

 

“Hey! You little thief!”

 

‘I spoke too soon…’ He told himself and looked across the small portions of trees that separated his street from the one next to theirs to see a young human woman looking frightened with a burly man grasping her wrist hard enough to make it bleed.

 

“This is the third time I caught you stealing from me and this time you’re going to pay!” He slammed her hand down on his table and brought out a knife. The woman paled and struggled slightly when the knife was raised high in the sky to have the sun glinting off its blade.

 

“…that’s not good for business,” Yhisin muttered and left his street to easily cross the threshold of the trees just as the knife was brought down but he stopped its descent before it could cut off her hand with the use of his pipe. The clang echoed across the market and both the thief and vendor looked up at him at the intrusion…except the vendor was more furious of his arrival.

 

“What do you want, feral?” He spat out, seemingly disgusted while the woman whimpered again at the pain. Yhisin placed on a smile that made him look too innocent.

 

“There’s no need for a…grotesque scene. You want a coin so terribly…? Here,” the fox reached into his coin pouch to toss five coins onto the table. “I’m sure that will suffice for what other damage the young lady has done,” he told him and pushed the knife away from the girl’s wrist as the vendor finally released her. To the fox’s surprise, she hid behind him.

 

“She’s lucky you were here or else I’d feed her fingers to the dogs…now scram you filthy beast,” he sneered and claimed his free money while Yhisin sighed in annoyance. He forced himself to bite his tongue, wanting so badly to retort or at least smack him but the feral turned on his bare heels to continue heading to where he was going.

 

The young woman nervously looked back to the vendor to see him giving her a look to challenge him again but she cautiously followed Yhisin, keeping her distance and hiding behind stalls to keep him in sight.

 

“My pipe is scratched…” he said under his breath, touching the small dent, and flicked his tails. “And now we may not have enough to make it to the pass…Rial is going to make me sleep in the dirt for sure.” He kept walking but his ears swiveled back to hear footsteps every so often catching up with him before stopping.

 

‘…and this is why humans don’t make great hunters,’ he teased and took a small detour at the end of the road to see if he was still being followed. Sure enough…he was. Placing a hand on his hip, he stopped to look back over his shoulder. He caught the young human red handed who gasped at being caught before she tried to dart behind a tree, hoping he hadn’t seen.

 

“…these ears don’t just sit on top of my head for nothing, you know?” He turned fully and walked over to the tree where she hid huddled against the bark but he grasped the back of her collar gently to pull her away.

 

“I-I-I’m so sorry! Please don’t eat me!” She cowered before him when he released her and he just raised an eyebrow.

 

“…eat you…? What sort of talk is that?” It was clear that this human was deathly afraid of him for she couldn’t move and he just rolled his eyes. “…do you really think I eat human meat? Seriously?” She looked up slowly, managing a slight nod. “Well…you’re sadly mistaken. It’s too chewy for my tastes and too fatty.” At his statement, her face paled but he laughed lightly while putting his pipe away. “I’m just joking. I don’t eat humans, only animals.”

 

“B-b-but…aren’t you…an animal yourself?”

 

“…what an insult,” he leaned on his right foot while people passed by, possibly thinking this girl was worshipping a feral…or it was what it looked like. “…do you know anything about ferals…?”

 

The human girl lowered her eyes and shook her head. “I-I’ve heard bad things.”

 

“Figures…alright, come on,” he told her and turned to take a step away but when he looked back to see if she was following, she only seemed confused. “You need to be educated before you mess with the wrong feral and I need to have a conversation partner…so come along.”

 

Still looking nervous, the woman stood and came up to him.

 

“Alright we’ll start off easy. I will introduce myself first. My name is Yhisin. Now yours,” he started to walk again toward where the Aqua Ring was with the human in tow.

 

“A-Aiko.”

 

“A pleasure to meet you then, Aiko…though it could had been on better terms,” he glanced down at her for a moment to see her eyeing his tails oddly.  “…something wrong…?”

 

At being caught staring, she looked away, still looking fearful.

 

“I d-d-don’t know what to say to a feral…”

 

“…you mean you’ve never been around one?” She nodded to his question. “What’s to be frightened of…? We think just like you…feel like you…so treat this like any other stroll with a human. Ask questions…talk about yourself…and so on. For example, now that I know your name…I will ask why were you stealing?”

 

“I don’t…have gold…and I was hungry. I can’t find work to pay me…and…” She frowned but broke off her sentence which he noticed but wouldn’t press it.

 

“I see. Well…you did cause me a bit of trouble…” he grinned. “But I was heading to the market shortly…perhaps if you do not insult me again, I can split a meal with you.”

 

“R-really?” She looked up at him with a new light forming in her eyes that made him chuckle as if he had just pleased a puppy.

 

“Yes…now, it is your turn to add to the conversation. It can be anything.” He looked forward again and could tell she was thinking over what to say or ask.

 

“W…what’s it…like…to have ears and tails?” She worded her question in the best way possible, afraid Yhisin was going to be insulted but he mulled over her question with his tails swaying.

 

“Hard to explain since I’ve known no other way. I suppose my ears are like yours.”

 

“…but…they sit on your head…”

 

“Same as if your ears sat on your head. I can just hear better and pinpoint sounds from any direction.”

 

“How good is your hearing?” She seemed to be growing interested which made him smile more.

 

“Well…I can hear your heart for one. It’s a bit erratic,” he told her and she seemed surprised at this feat. “I can also hear conversations that are a bit off. I try not to eavesdrop so I tune them out and mostly listen to birds or the sound of feet on the pathway.”

 

“T-that’s…really amazing. Does it ever get too loud?”

 

“Sometimes, if it’s a busy area. They can hurt but you get used to it. As for the tails, it feels like extra weight on your backside.”

 

“…and…you can control them?”

 

“Of course,” he chuckled and demonstrated by curling his tails up behind him.

 

“Never really noticed before…” she whispered in amazement.

 

“You just need to get to know us,” he told her with his tails resuming trailing behind him and he smiled when a slightly large building came into view with decorations of waves and coral hanging from the sides. “Wonder what this place is?” The woman looked to where they had stopped.

 

“Oh, the Aqua Ring? It’s where they house water creatures to be petted. It’s mostly for kids-“ She stopped talking when Yhisin seemed to walk faster toward it excitedly. “Come on, Aiko!” He called back to her, looking over his shoulder with a smile and the human returned his smile nervously before walking after him.

 

The inside of the building was far bigger than the outside let on and there were parents inside with their offspring dangling over water filled cages to poke and prod at helpless animals. His curiosity went overboard as Yhisin went over to the first habitat to peek inside the waters. A long slithery serpent peeked out from its rock to see if the coast was clear. Seeing no small hands, it swam out to enjoy itself.

 

“What is that?” He asked himself, obviously intrigued and looked back to see Aiko looking around for him, stuck in the crowd of visitors entering and leaving. With a chuckle, the fox walked over to grasp her hand which startled her but she looked up to see Yhisin pulling her along behind him. “You have to see this thing. Look!” He stopped at the side again, releasing her hand and watched as the long creature dug its nose into the sand, searching for food.

 

“It looks…harmless…”

 

“Only one way to find out.” Yhisin pulled up his loose sleeve and dipped his claws in the water, not approaching the creature at first or else it would only be frightened. The serpent looked up and swam over, rubbing its nose against his fingers to inspect him. “Seems so…put your hand in, Aiko,” he told her and the human just gulped but leaned over to do the same with her hand near his. The serpent left his alone to inspect her hand as well. “T-that tickles,” she giggled, retracting her hand, and shaking off the water.

 

“My pups would have loved this place,” he smiled fondly, removing his claws, and looked over to the next tank where only a few people were but his words only made Aiko look up at him in confusion.

 

“Pups?” She followed him when he left, stopping at his side.

 

“Oh, in human terms children. Depends on the feral,” he answered and saw a small crustacean trying to find solitude.

 

“…how many?” She couldn’t help but ask since she didn’t see any of them here.

 

“Three,” he responded and it felt like the conversation needed to have a change of topic as Yhisin grew bored of the small crab and went to the next exhibit with Aiko trailing behind.

 

“This place is something else. You could spend all day here and you are accompanying a feral. Didn’t think that would happen, did you?” He teased, earning a nervous look from her but his ears swiveled when he heard her stomach rumble. “Well, you kept up your end of the bargain and didn’t insult me…so how about you and I grab some food?” He offered with a smile and led her back the way that they came, leaving the rest of the visitors to the poor creatures.

 

“S-so…do you live here?” She asked when they stepped back out into the sun and headed toward the market.

 

“No. Just passing through. I leave tomorrow. Yourself?” Aiko lowered her eyes at his question but with only getting silence in return, Yhisin brushed it away. “What would you like to eat? I’m a meat lover myself.”

 

“Anything small really…”

 

“Small? Oh, pish posh, you need to fill up that stomach,” he chuckled and brought out his pipe, glancing down at her for a second. “You don’t mind if I smoke, do you?”

 

“…smoke?”

 

“Not that nasty human stuff, no. They are special herbs that taste sweet. It’s not an addiction but it helps with nerves. Want to try?” He asked, knowing how harmless it was. She still looked a tad cautious as he lit the end and held it for her. The smell alone was fragrant…almost like flowers but she nervously took a small inhale and was shocked when she accidentally coughed out a puff of red smoke. Yhisin laughed sweetly at her reaction.

 

“See? Not so bad.”

 

“I-it tasted like fruit.”

 

“Which is why I enjoy it. The stuff humans use smells and tastes nasty. I attempted it once at a human village and gagged so hard. This is more natural but I still am polite and ask if my company doesn’t mind. Never know who might get offended,” he explained and took a small inhale himself to blow out a perfect ring.

 

“You can do that too?”

 

“Practice. I’m working on making animals leap through it currently but it’s hard forming a solid creature.”

 

Since she had joined him on this small adventure, Yhisin could tell the woman was relaxing more around him and even let out a small giggle when they finally reached the market where there were benches for customers to eat if they wished.

 

“Grab us a seat. I’ll fetch us something that’ll plump you up,” he smiled and wondered into the market but made sure to stay within her eyesight. He wasn’t sure where else she had stolen from and if she had from these vendors, they might grow vicious at seeing her again so he wanted to stay close. There were lines at most of the stalls and his nose sniffed the air, salivating when he smelled fresh pork being roasted. The line wasn’t too long…only one person so Yhisin stood patiently, putting away his pipe for now and waited for the man before him to grab his meal. When he left, the fox stepped up with his coin pouch out.

 

“May I have two servings of pulled meat?”

 

“Any spices?” The vendor asked, shredding off delicious looking meat from a large boar that had probably been cooking since that morning and Yhisin couldn’t help but lick his lips at the sight.

 

“One of them a bit spicy. The other leave it plain,” he responded since he didn’t know what Aiko preferred. “Do you have drinks?”

 

“We have loeiun berry juice.”

 

“Splendid. Two of those as well.”

 

“Fifteen gold,” the vendor brought out two bowls filled with boar meat along with a large looking berry that Yhisin knew he’d have to crack open to drink the juice inside. He reached into his coin pouch and frowned softly…to see only sixteen coins left. It was all he had…and he knew Rial would kill him…

 

He sighed and dumped out the fifteen to hand it over and retrieved their meals, bowing his head in appreciation to the vendor before heading back to the table where she waited. Aiko seemed more comfortable…but when the fox drew nearer, he could tell on her face that she was feeling a bit of pain as she rested her head down on her arms. He came closer to place her bowl beside her.

 

“…are you feeling well?” He asked and took a seat across from her, making her head pop up and she faked a smile.

 

“Y-yes, thank you for this,” she told him and brought her bowl close to instantly start eating…rather quickly. She must have been really hungry. Growing a bit concerned, Yhisin took the large berry that was the size of his head and made a small opening with his claw for her. He handed it over to begin his own meal, enjoying the juicy boar a bit too much since his tails started to sway like a mutt getting a belly rub. It didn’t take long until Aiko was finished with hers, only eating for a mere fifteen seconds and she wiped off the back of her mouth in embarrassment when Yhisin looked over in surprise.

 

“You’re done?”

 

“S-sorry,” she lowered her eyes and the fox sighed, holding his bowl out for her to take.

 

“Go on. Have more.”

 

“I c-can’t. That one is yours.”

 

“I can’t eat too much. I usually eat more with my eyes than my mouth and I have to take care of this figure so go ahead,” he told her. Though he could have eaten more, he was unsure when her next meal would be so it would be better if she ate more. Shyly nodding a thanks, Aiko started to finish off his meal while he took his berry and instead of using his claws, he sunk his fangs into the soft outer layer to suck down the juices.

 

“You said…you were leaving tomorrow?” She asked, looking up from her slowly vanishing meal to watch as Yhisin licked away the excess juice from his lips and pressed a hand to his chest to try and hide a belch that wanted to surface.

 

“Yes. I’m traveling with a friend of mine and he’s as strict as a parent. We’re rising before dawn to head on our way.” Aiko’s lips slowly lowered to a frown.

 

“I won’t be seeing you again then…”

 

“Who knows?” He shrugged. “Once we’re done traveling, I’ll be coming back this way. I can stop by, buy more boar and we can prod at the crab this time,” he chuckled and took another sip from his berry. The woman looked down at her bowl, seeing only a few strips of meat left and let out a shaky sigh.

 

“I…won’t last that long…” she whispered but Yhisin heard it all the same. He stopped drinking to look over at her curiously.

 

“Of course, you will…you just have to be careful with your lifestyle.”

 

She shook her head slightly, clutching the bowl a bit harder. “…I’ve…been sick for…a long time…since I was little…and every day I feel pain in my body…it just keeps getting worse. Today, I tried to hide it…so that you could enjoy yourself.”

 

The fox’s ears folded back slightly at hearing her confession. This entire time he had been pulling her around, she was in pain? He felt something was amiss when he returned to the table but to know it was this bad? He felt a bit guilty but offered a comforting smile as he stood slowly from the table and held his hand out for her.

 

“Let’s have you rest…” he offered and with a frown still on her face, she took his hand to get some help in standing. She winced slightly when she felt pain shoot down through her legs and Yhisin tilted his head in worry. “…we can’t have you walking like that. Don’t slap me, okay?” He asked and tucked his arms under her legs and behind her back to lift her up in his arms. She gasped at the sudden change, gripping onto his vest when he carried her away from the table and the market toward a small grassy area with a few trees for visitors to just rest and relax, even watch the lights or night sky when it came.

 

“W-where are we going?”

 

“Just right here,” he answered and found a nice comfortable spot beneath a tree that was away from the bustling streets. He gently placed her down to be laying on her back before he sat down and did the same with his arms behind his head.

 

“…y-you just…want to lay here?” She questioned, feeling terrible that he was staying with her.

 

“I don’t mind. You can hear the music…see the lights…we don’t need to be walking to enjoy ourselves,” he responded and yawned behind his claws and stretched out his tails. Aiko frowned and turned her eyes up toward the floating magical lights that passed by overhead until they occasionally exploded in specks to fall upon them before resuming how they once were. Her hands rested on her stomach, feeling small aches here and there but turned her eyes back toward the feral beside her who had his eyes closed and breathing deeply.

 

“…Yhisin…?”

 

“Hmm?” He moaned, his ear turning toward her to listen.

 

“…I…I just want to…thank you for…everything today,” she whispered, her cheeks glowing with a bit of color. Yhisin opened his eyes to glance over at her with his own smile.

 

“Someone had to get you comfortable around ferals…gods forbid you run into a reptilian one. They’re nasty.”

 

“Guess it’s a good thing it was you,” she giggled and looked back up toward the sky to softly frown. “…I don’t mean to ask this…but where do you…think we go when our life is over?” The fox turned his eyes toward the sky as well in deep thought.

 

“…I’d like to believe once our time on this land is done, our being or conscious goes to a much more peaceful place where past loved ones are waiting for you with open arms…though…I do not know if I will be allowed to experience such a pleasure,” he smiled sadly and thought back to how many people who he had struck with fear…harmed…even killed…all for that dreadful king.

 

“Why do you say that?”

 

“I…I wasn’t always the kind feral that you see me as. I was put in situations that demanded a more…harsher hand…I regret each moment…so…I might not be able to see my kin…but I know they are in peace…wherever they are.”

 

Aiko frowned at his words and felt a sharp pain rising through her chest but she hid it nonetheless.

 

“…I think…you’re still a good feral…you’ll see them…I just know it…” He smiled at her kind words.

 

“Thank you, Aiko…I sure hope so…” he whispered and exhaled deeply to watch as more lights passed by. Would he be able to see his family once more…? His wife…pups…friends…? His one pup still waited for him back in Hulei and he frowned at the thought of his son scared and alone…crying out for him.

 

‘Wait for me…I promise to come for you…’ he told him mentally and closed his eyes only for a moment but his ears twitched when he couldn’t hear movement from the woman beside him. He opened his eyes worriedly to look down at her when he sat up. Her eyes were closed…with a soft smile on her face…but her chest no longer moved.

 

“…Aiko?” He asked and reached out to gently nudge her shoulder…but her body was limp…and his ears strained to try and hear her heart…but there was nothing. A small pain twisted his heart at seeing this innocent woman die right before him…but to see the smile on her face…he knew that even with it being her last day…he brought some comfort to her. With a sad smile, he rested his clawed hand on her brow.

 

“…you’re living in peace now…we’ll see each other again someday, dear friend…”