---Prologue---
A shadow blocks the light seeping in from the doorway; claws tap lightly on the stone floor for a moment, before fading into the incessant dripping of liquid from an unknown source. The shadow spends a small moment acquainting itself with the room, identifying any suspicious objects and effectively obliterating them with a slash of the paw before using a small, sensitive nose to seek out its target.
Upon sniffing out the familiar scent, it takes a step forward, and yips softly. The sound comes out weird, as only foxes can manage to make high pitched barks sound mature and dignified.
And scary as hell.
So, despite the beautiful, sheer subtlety of it all, still Sasuke snaps immediately awake, and stares at the messenger in confusion for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief that is swiped away by a non-existent breeze as soon as it leaves his mouth.
There, standing next to him on the cold floor of a random dungeon in a hidden dugout of the Sound, stood a fox. It was nondescript, barring the fact that it had more than one tail, and odd purple eyes. Vaguely Sasuke thought it must not be quite mature, judging from the five and one third tails sticking proudly from its rear, and the little bits of baby-fat resolutely sticking to the edges of its cheekbones.
It slipped closer to his frozen, yet somehow welcoming form, and almost obediently, Sasuke pushed his ear closer to its pointed muzzle. It opened its mouth, running its tongue over decidedly dangerous-looking fangs before whispering in a voice all too familiar;
"Hey there, Sasuke-bastard! Didja' miss me?"
---End Prologue---