"Kaden? Kaden...? Come on we are in Nohrian territory, this game isn't fun anymore."
"I know I know!" Kaden transformed from his Kitsune form to human. His Kitsune form wasn't that big and scary like his Dad's, but he hoped to be like him, with the cool little fires that spirited out of his nine tails. The Fox-boy held your body as his Dad sprinted over before turning into a man.
"Kaden, this girl is Nohrian! What were you thinking?"
"But she fell from the sky! She could have died Daddy. What should we do?" Kaden asked innocently. Both Kitsunes twitched their ears and heard the shouts and screams of Jacob and your twin maids calling your name. Kaden's Dad looked straight at the fox boy's brown eyes and transformed into a fox again.
"Kaden. Carry her back to the village. Now."
Kaden nodded and turned into his fox form, you on his back. The father and son ran through the crack of the valley as fast as they could. The sound of more and more guards could be heard at the top of the valley, as spears, axes, and even arrows were shot at them.
Kaden's Dad dodged all of these weapons with ease, while Kaden thanked his ancestors he wasn't killed as he was close with it almost twice.
"I hope she'll return the kindness ya know?" Kaden complained, and his Dad grunted. They could see the end of the valley and also less weapons were thrown at them. It was almost a blessing, but mostly because they were close to the border now. Very close to making it to Hoshido territory.
Finally they made it out with barely any breath left. Kaden shook you off and turned back into human form gasping for breath.
"Gee Dad, I see why I can't leave the clan... Those Nohrians really wanted our fur! And what did that girl do anyways that caused them to hunt after her? Dad do you think she's maybe like one of us? I mean look at those weird ears, it's not human-" Kaden's tail wagged in excitement, but his Dad looked in the distance.
"I don't know Kaden... But whoever she is, they were after her for something."
Over the horizon, Nohrian troops were marching forth and were closer to their spot with every step, so the two Kitsunes started their adventure again, this time dragging you through the forest, Kaden's Dad holding your arms with two of his nine tails.
However, thank the gods you weren't conscious to even feel any of that, because trust me, it was a rough ride.
"Yui, where's my Mom?"
"She's around here somewhere, why? Also your fur is a mess!"
The fox boy panted out. "Human. Girl. Injured. Dad has her."
Yui, an elder fox, gasped. However, if the Chief, the one rescuing this human girl, she couldn't oppose it. The lady went to go get Kaden's mom, the Spiritual Counselor of the clan and also master healer. As Yui came out with a beautiful pale-fured she-fox, Kaden's father came running in with you. Your poor body has scratches everywhere and dirt staining your pale limbs. Yui's ruby red ears twitched at the sight of a human, but nevertheless she picked up your tiny body, and hurried into one of the huts. The she-fox then transformed into her human self and gave a stern look at Kaden's father. Kaden's father transformed back into his human form and right away she scolded the man. However Kaden peeped up.
"Mommy will she be okay? She fell from a cliff..."
"She'll be fine, just probably needs some sleep. Why don't you help Yui with her? I need to talk to your Dad." She crossed her arms. "Privately."
Kaden nodded and dashed into the hut, excited to finally be able to talk to a human. Now that Kaden was gone, she finally talked to her husband, and raised a brow.
"Hiro what were you thinking? That girl, she could bring in other humans, and who knows? We all will be pelted alive! Your setting a bad example for Kaden and the rest of the tribe! I can't believe you are doing this, when that girl wakes up she's going to be-"
Hiro grabbed his wife's arms and pulled her close, looking into her hazel eyes.
"Aya, she's the girl from your vision. I think."
"What vision are you talking about?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Don't give me that look love... You know which vision I'm talking about. A trapped Princess who fell off a cliff? Kaden finding her? She would later become a dragon? I saw that girl fall, and her clothes looked like royalty. She's the one. She's the Hoshidan Princess Lord Ryoma has been looking for."
Aya's eyes widened in shock.
"W-Wait so your saying one of my visions-"
"Came true? Yes. That's why I brought her. But we can't tell the rest of the clan, and especially Kaden. I think it would be nice to see him interact with someone from the outside world who isn't trying to kill off our kind." Hiro mumured and Aya smiled a little bit. A Kitsune then called for Hiro and so he leaned in to kiss her pale cheek before leaving, making the she-wolf's cream-colored ears flatten. The couple then parted to their duties, little to know what their fate also held.
"So Elder Yui, when do you think she'll wake up?" Kaden asked, his head resting on the cot as he awaited for any signs of you regaining conscious. His tail wagged in a bored manner, just impatient for you to wake up. Yui sighed and put away a couple bottles of herbs that she used.
"You're so impatient Kaden. Grass doesn't just grow instantly, and our spirits didn't just suddenly appear to protect us. Have patience child. Patience."
"Okay I'll be patient..." Kaden pouted and rested his head on the palm of his hand. He waited for a few moments before slowly reaching to poke your face. Yui quickly slapped his hand out of the way, and scolded "Kaden! She needs rest don't do that!".
"But I want her to wake up Elder Yui! So I cam play and show her the other Kitsunes in the clan! I bet they'll like her too! Maybe she'll live with us and-"
"Enough nonsense Kaden. What's with all the sudden energy? I have never seen you like this."
"Elder Yui, I just am so excited I get to talk to a human! I can't believe Dad let me take her with us! Especially since she's a Nohrian!"
"A Nohrian?" Yui gasped. Kaden nodded as if it was no big deal and continued rambling.
"Don't worry Yui! Daddy says he thinks she was chased by those Nohrians! So she's good! Anyways, I just want to meet my new friend, do you think she is kind? Or funny? Or super girly like Mira? Mira is so girly, mom said she has a crush on me, but she's so boring!"
Elder Yui laughed softly and patted Kaden's head.
"Maybe she will, maybe not. But I don't think she will be able to resist such a handsome Kitsune like you."
The Elder then went to exit the hut, but stopped and turned around, looking at Kaden's burnt orange eyes that looked exactly like his Father's eyes.
"Stay here and wait for the girl to wake up okay? She should be awake in the next few hours, so she'll be probably confused as to where she is. Just when she wakes up, don't scare her okay?"
Kaden nodded quickly and Yui exited the hut, leaving just you and Kaden.
"Can you hear me? I'm just like you... Our fates have been intertwined since your father died." A voice called out. In the distance, you saw a girl sitting down, in a flowing white kimono. Her face was a fair one, and her blue hair fell to the floor, spaying out beneath her. "What do you mean?" You called out, keeping your distance still. The girl started to fade and you tried to run toward the figure. "Wait don't leave! Explain to me what you mean! My Father, King Garon is still alive actually!" You yelled again but the only reponse you heard was. "You'll know one day, but enjoy the time you have now..."
You woke up to find a Kitsune boy in front of your face cheering "Yay you're awake!"
This definitely wasn't Nohr or Northern Fortress.
You blinked, thinking maybe this was just a dream until you saw the kid had a tail... Erm... Wagging. Really fast.
What was he?
You screamed and got out of the cot, tripping backwards into a wooden table, and fell onto the floor. Kaden tried to silence you, but instead you kept shrieking at the top of your lungs.
"C-Calm down! It's okay I won't hurt you!" Kaden exclaimed, holding his arms out in defense. You quickly became quiet, but trembled in fear. You saw the little fangs in his teeth and ears on the top of his head twitched.
Was this real? Jacob never told you about whose kind of beings. This has to be a demon or someone bad, yet you thought that wasn't the case. Kaden sat on the floor, but kept his distance from you so you would feel more comfortable. His Amber eyes were so full of happiness and you found comfort in them.
"Well my name is Kaden! And you are...?"
"(N-ame). B-but what are y-y-you?" You replied in a timid voice.
"I'm a Kitsune! Well... Everyone here is a Kitsune! We all have ears," he pointed to his ears then his fluffy tail that wagged "a tail, and!" He then transformed into his little fox form.
"Taa-da! A fox! I saved you when I was in this form! Right before you passed out though."
You giggled at his fox form after that, walking up close to him and started petting his ears.
"I remember you! You saved me!" You said cheerfully, all your fears melting. You were out of the Nohr castle. This was the outside world. It didn't seem to be much, but certainly it was new. Even the smell was different. Kaden lowered his head down as you petted his head even more. The fox boy studied your features however. You had red eyes, (color) skin, and (color) hair that could brighten anyone's day. Kaden then turned backed to his human form and grinned.
"So do you want to see the village?"
"A village?" You gasped. "Full of fluffy foxes like you?"
Kaden nodded, and opened the door. You walked slowly toward the door, nervous to see a part of the outside world, but maybe it's beautiful like Silas described it. Even the earth beneath you felt foreign but nice. Outside wasn't like Nohr. It was smaller than the Northhern Fortress, but it had a comforting Aurora. Silas never talked about Villages like this though. Kitsunes of all different shades of ivory and red walked around. You saw a middle-aged woman talking to a younger she-fox outside a hut, a man carrying a pot filled to the brim with fish and daikon. You only saw those types of foods at the table during the holidays, but here it seemed to abundant.
You stood in amazement just looking at what was just a normal day for Kaden. The fox-boy crossed his arms and smirked playfully, staring at you looking at the village.
"I'm taking you have never seen a Kitsune village have you..?"
You shook your head, and looked down.
"Actually I've never seen the outside world." You muttered, "The only outside I ever seen was the front of my garden every morning, so I ran away!" You smiled. "And you guys saved me, and now I'm here! This part of the world seems nice. It seems friendly!"
Kaden looked up at the sun and sighed.
"Well I mean, everyone here is nice! Except maybe Elder Yui, she's thinks I'm 'reckless'. What does that even mean?"
"Reckless means maybe you're too crazy in her opinion." You explained and shrugged. "But you don't seem that way." A fox-man walked right toward you two. He was a tall man with amber eyes and messy sunburnt red hair. You looked back at Kaden then at the man.
Gods they were literal mirror images of each other.
"Dad! Dad..!" Kaden ran over to him and you walked timidly behind. The little fox-boy pointed to you and shouted "Don't you see? She's awake! And she is really nice! Right, uh..."
"(Name)." You corrected him and slightly curtsied. "T-Thanks for allowing me to stay here in this village. I hope it wasn't that much of a bother, Sir-"
"Sir?" The man couldn't help but laugh a little. "My name is Hiro! I'm the Cheiftan of this village. This here is my son, Kaden-"
"Dad!" Kaden whined. "I already introduced myself! And I was just about to show her the rest of the village!"
"I know, I know" Hiro ruffled his son's hair, which Kaden didn't appreciate, and continued talking. "Anyways your welcome (name). It seemed like those damned Nohrians were after you. Did something happen?"
"I..." Your voice trailed off. "I was running away from the castle because I wanted to see the outside! I'm so sorry if I caused any trouble sir-I mean Mr. Hiro!" You bowed again, your eyes brimming with tears.
"'Mr.'? Is that the word you use to address your elders in Nohr? Sounds nice. Anyways, don't worry about it! Your safe here with the Kitsune clan. Typically we don't let humans in here, but we can make you an exception." Hiro said in a calm voice, wiping your tears away. Kaden nodded and cheered. "Yea we'll protect you (name)! I'll protect you with my vicious Kitsune form!"
"Vicious?" You giggled. "You're so cute and cuddly what are you talking about?"
"(Name)! It's a beautifully vicious form, I make sure to make my fur looks shiny and beautiful everyday so if I fight, I will look beautiful while fighting!"
"Oh good she's awake!" You looked up to see an older she-fox in a long green kimono. Her hair was decorated with leaves and ornaments that twinkled in the sunlight. Her ears were a dusty brown and she seemed strict. Was this the Elder that Kaden talked about?
"Oh Elder Yui! What do you need?" Hiro looked up at the elder and she sighed, fanning herself.
"I need the girl Hiro. Aya says we should get her out of those Nohrians rags so they can't track her with those Wyvern Riders..."
Hiro nodded then looked at you. Kaden looked up at Elder Yui, who in turn gave him a quick glare. Kaden's ears went down and he backed a little bit away.
"(Name), this is Elder Yui. She's going to get you a new pair of clothes okay?"
You curtsied to Elder Yui, and she motioned with her fan to follow her. You followed diligently, skipping to keep up with her pace. She was fast for being an "Elder". You walked through the main road of the village, passing by many hits, and also many Kitsunes, a lot staring at you. One that really caught your eyes was when you passed by some child Kitsunes that was seemed to be as old as Kaden. One that particularly stood out from all of them is a dark brown-haired girl with straight hair and ears that were tinted at the tips in a dark Crimson. She gave you a hostile look that made you want to run away, but all you did was continue walking and hoping she wouldn't come close to you while you stayed in the Kitsune Village. Finally at the end of the village, you and the Elder she-fox made it to the hut and entered in. In the hut you heard some ladies quietly talking behind a screen. Their silhouettes seemed animated and flickered with the candle's flame. The smell of incense filled the air, it had a calm a nice atmosphere to it. Elder Yui pushed you gently and prompted you to walking behind the screen, where two ladies stood hunched over a piece of fabric. However when you walked in, they looked up and smiled warmly.
"Oh you must be the girl everyone's been talking about~" One of them said, finishing up her part on the fabric and cut the strings, holding the garment up. It was a kimono, done in a bright red. The lady held the kimono to your body and nodded in approval. The other one finished her embroidery on what seemed to be a sash and gasped.
"Wow that color looks so good on you!" The lady holding the sash exclaimed. "Wait til she wears the sash, and she'll look amazing!"
"And not smell like a Nohrian!"
The girls laughed at each other, while you stood there uncomfortably. What did they mean you smell like Nohrian? You quickly smelled yourself, but all you smelled was mud. And dry leaves. Your nose wrinkled a little bit and questioned. "Wait, madames, why am I here again..?"
They both stared at you blankly before a second, before their faces becoming neutral again.
"Oh sweetie, we made you a new outfit so you don't have to wear that Nohrian outfit! It's already in rags!"
You looked down at your dress and then realized all the holes and tears in your nightgown.
They had a point. The lady making the sash then stitched her final one and cut the string, smiling.
"Now, ready to change?"
_
"Oh wow! You look so pretty!" One of the ladies gasped.
"Wait til the rest of the clan sees our handiwork. It's absolutely gorgeous!" The other said, handing you a mirror. The bright red kimono with a design of dragons and foxes matched brightly with your Crimson eyes. You even saw the change in your hair. They had done your hair and put many ornaments in your hair, like the other lady Kitsunes in the village. Your shoes were little clogs with hand painted designs of a dragon. It was so pretty! You giggled and exclaimed "Thank you so much!". The ladies couldn't help but smile back at your cuteness but then Elder Yui came back, her aurora making everyone quiet.
"Is she ready for the festival?"
The ladies nodded.
"Yea she is! We even got her hair done so we wouldn't trouble the others since they are getting ready too."
Elder Yui just looked at them with no expression, and turned around, you habit to run behind.
"Have fun at the festival!" The two ladies cheered as you exited and you waved back.
Right outside the hut, Kaden stood there, his tail wagging so fast.
"(Name)! You're ready to see how we have a festival here?"
You looked at Elder Yui, and she nodded, walking away leaving the two of you to talk. Once she left, you started talking.
"Yes I am! How are festivals here?"
"Well..." Kaden thought for a moment. "Let's see...! We have fishing games! My uncle Li makes the best rice balls and sells them! Also everyone is in nice kimonos- likehow you are right now! And I too!" He stood proudly for a moment in his dark blue silk kimono. You giggled a little bit as he tried to show off then continuing on.
"Also you can buy pretty fans here and there are toys and more food, and there are fortune teller readings my mom does-"
"Hey Kaden! Hey Kaden!" The little fox girl form earlier ran to you guys.
"Oh hi Mira..!" Kaden greeted in a cheerful voice, only to be hugged tightly by her.
"Where have you been Kaden? The whole group has been looking for you! We haven't seen you in a week!"
"Well you see-"
"It's okay Kaden! I know, Elder Yui told us you were taking care of her!" She pointed at you without hesitation and, feeling slightly intimidated, stepped back a little bit. A smug smirk was etched on her face but only for a moment as the two of you eyed each other. Her eyes then shifted to Kaden and she smiled kindly at him.
"So you still want to go together?"
Kaden smiled nervously, not sure how to what to say, but he then grabbed your arm and pulled you right next to him.
"Well, uh, sorry Mira. I'm supposed to take care of (name), and show her how festivals are! It was my mom's orders anyways..!"
Mira crossed her arms and her large Crimson eyes narrowed, obviously not happy with the answer.
"Oh, well, I guess if your mom says so. Sorry you have to deal with such a burden."
"Burden?" You thought to yourself. Your eyes teared up. She was right however. Kaden was just protecting you because he saved you.
"Mira, she isn't some burden! She's a friend I saved! She might not have a tail or ears like us, and smells a little weird, but come on give her a chance! She's nice!"
"Kaden, your letting her influence how you feel toward humans! Remember when my mom was killed by Nohrian pelters?"
Kaden stayed silent, and you struggled out of his grip, but he wouldn't let you go. Tears were running down your face heavily. How could she say such things in front of you? Mira continued, and you still said nothing. You didn't know how to respond, you didn't even know any of this sadness existed outside the walls. Part of you wished now you never came here. Maybe it was best to stay in the castle, where Jacob kept you in warm blankets and Flora and Felicia were always arguing about what to do. Silas would come everyday as you guys talked about all topics while playing in the garden.
"Kaden, your hurting our clan by bringing her in! She could kill us!"
"Kill us? Mira, she wouldn't do that! (Name), would you do it?"
You finally were able to release from his grip and run away, tears falling rapidly with every step. It was like that story that Jacob told, Cinderella, where the stepsisters taunted Cinderella when she was dressed for the ball. You felt exactly like that.
Meanwhile Mira looked over Kaden's shoulders then back at his now furious Amber eyes.
"She didn't answer because she knows it's true. She can't avoid it. Papa says that all the Nohrians act the same way."
"Mira how could you..." A little growl rumbled under his breath, and he right away turned into a fox, running after you.
You ran with all you could, your little feet tiring til you fell on the cool grass. Your chubby hands covered your face as your chest went up and down letting out sobs.
Kaden caught up to you and turned back into human form, his ears down.
"(Name), I'm sorry Mira said mean things to you..."
You sobbed even more. Kaden walked a little closer, but you still stood in the same position.
"She's right. My people are that cruel? Will I end up like that?"
"No, no, no! Just because your Nohrian doesn't mean that you will end up like them! My Dad always said anyone can choose their path, we just have to give them a chance. It's why I saved you!" He grinned, and you looked up at him, a smile forming on your face.
"You think so Kaden?"
"Yea! (Name), I don't think your a meanie! Mira is a meanie, not you!"
"But she said I was burden to you! That it was orders for you to take care of me..."
"I lied." Kaden smirked playfully. "I just wanted to have an excuse so I could hang out with you. I don't like Mira but mom says she has a crush on me." He shrugged. "I don't like her though."
You and Kaden then bursted out laughing for a moment, until realize you two laughed in almost perfect sync. Kaden then held his hand out for you to grab, and you took it, getting up.
"Sooooo... You still want to go to the festival together? Later I should show you something special!"
You nodded and Kaden grinned, running back into the village, you trailing behind as you two clasped hands. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea that you left the castle, because if you didn't, you would have never met this new friend.
