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Chapter 4: The Promise

-01-

Hazel blinked, once, twice. Her tail swishing in what she hoped was agitation. "I think… I misheard you."

Erik arched an eyebrow. "Oh, why is that?"

"I thought you just called me beautiful."

"Is it so wrong to tell the truth?"

All was quiet for a moment, Hazel looking over the man, frowning. She hesitated, unsure of what to say. Erik simply nodded. "Sorry, let's just get back to camp."

He rose from the water, and opening his backpack he produced the tan robes he had been given by the man. He used it like a towel, simply scraping the moisture from his body. The sound of a rapid, wet flopping noise reached Erik and he turn, catching a glimpse of Hazel shaking the water from her fur only to look away just as quick. He ignored the heat blooming on his face as he called out. "Hazel, catch."

The keidran looked up in time to have her face enveloped by the fabric. Erik took the brief moment to change into a fresh set of clothes. He looked over again as Hazel picked up her rags, a worn shirt and a skirt, if one could call the flimsy piece of cloth such. One hand reached idly into his bag and he withdrew a pair of shorts and a navy blue shirt. "Hazel."

"Hmm?" She looked up, getting ready to put on the shirt, noting Erik's diverted gaze and his extended arm, the clothes offered to her.

"Here, you can see if these fit you."

She accepted them, running a hand over the material. It was soft, sturdy stuff. A far cry from anything she had ever worn. Slipping into the garments she ruefully noted the shorts were too big, but it seemed Erik had expected this for in his hands was a belt of woven fibers.

Erik arched an eyebrow at the sight of the Fox in his clothes, the differing shades of the dark blue shirt and faded shorts having a certain appeal in their contrast to the auburn and cream of her fur. He then mentally shrugged, grabbing his bag and sword. Underfoot loam crunched, Erik noting the dryness of the forest. "Seems it hasn't rained here in awhile."

"We are only just moving into the rainy season."

"Oh good, well, we will have to get better camping gear in the next town."

Hazel looked to the man. "Why didn't we get it back in Landown?"

"Honestly? Because I was still in a state of mild shock, my head wasn't all there."

The Fox looked at the back of the man's head, eyebrow arched. Soon the light of the little fire appeared through the twilight, and Erik moved to the blaze, adding fuel to the fire. Setting his damp clothes near the blaze he turned to the packs, unrolling the bed roll before taking his own bag and scooting closer to the fire, using the thing as a pillow.

Hazel took the bed roll, lying down yawning yawning softly. Just as she drifted off, Erik's voice could be heard at a whisper. "Good night Hazel."

-02-

The sun emerged slowly upon the horizon, birds stirring and chirping as two figures lay sleeping by the long dead remains of a fire. It was then fate played its hand. Heavy guitar cords ripped through the air, much to the surprise of a Fox and chagrin of a Human who reached for the device, silencing it with a reprimanding tap to the screen.

Erik sat up, looking around at the shimmering green foliage, his mind really kicking into high gear when Hazel entered into view. The Fox had discarded her shirt sometime in the night, something that would have normally flustered the man if it were not for way her tail lashed about, fluffed out, along with her raised fur, ears flicking in irritation.

Then Erik found himself flustered as Hazel crawled over on all four to look at the screen, stopping only inches away from the man as she looked at the devise in his hand. The Fox looked up at him quizzically. "I thought you needed to touch it for it to make noise."

"No, that is a preset alarm, meant to wake me up for work." He noted how Hazel continued to stare at the screen curiously so he shifted his grip on the device and offered it to her. He nodded before turning towards his bag, producing the two water bottles, offering one to Hazel before taking his own.

The bag of preserved meat was found quickly and Erik opened the thing, offer a strip to Hazel before taking one himself, sticking it in his mouth. He stashed the bag then, double checking he had most of his gear together he stood, buckling the sword to his belt, smiling as he kicked a bit of dirt over the fire pit. "Alright Hazel, let's get moving!"

Overhead the sun had shifted, the burning ball slowly descending, dark clouds gathering in the sky as two figures moving along the side of a road at a slow pace watched the horizon before them, sun in their eyes, the darkness sweeping in rapidly. With a quiet sigh Erik put voice to his thoughts. "I just had to say something about the rain."

"You did."

"And now the rain is coming."

"It is."

"Can you shut me up next time?"

"Sure."

They continued to walk down the dusty path, until rounding a bend in the road Hazel pointed ahead of them. "There is a town up ahead."

Erik looked up to find that indeed a small town surrounded by freshly plowed fields had come into view. Apparently too small to have a guard assigned to the perimeter Erik and Hazel entered the town unmolested, the quaint little place almost cozy. Almost.

Every eye seemed to follow the two of them, or much to Erik's chagrin and Hazel's quiet dismay the fox that walked beside him, dressed in clothing that none of the town's people had ever encountered.

Of course, Erik's own outfit was out of place, blue jeans and a red t-shirt. Had he thought ahead he may have considered wearing the more native clothing, but he had not been in a thinking mood. No, he had been more concerned with the ever present dark clouds hovering high above, heavy gusts of wind battering the trees and kicking up dust from the path.

It didn't take long to find the small building acting as an Inn, a single story affair. Erik pushed into the darkened interior, faint candle light casting a flickering yellow hue across the room. Behind the counter a young man, possibly younger than Erik, looked up as him, ignoring Hazel's presence. Erik felt a tinge of annoyance at the constant belittling of the keidran. The man didn't seem to notice Erik's look, straightening up slightly behind the counter. "How can I help you?"

"I would imagine I am looking for a room." The younger man seem to flush with slight embarrassment.

"Aye… would you be interested in a room sir?"

Erik arched an eyebrow slightly, wondering who had mentored the boy before him before nodding, resigning himself to the task at hand. "Yes, I am interested in a room, are any available, and if so what is the price?"

The boy blinked but managed a nod. "Yes sir, we have two rooms open, a single and a double, we charge a silver a night for each person."

Erik nodded, grumbling under his breath as he reached into his pocket, drawing out two pieces of silver which he quickly placed on the counter. "I will take the double."

The kid looked at the door, then back to Erik. "Is there someone else coming?"

Inhaling slowly Erik did his best to put on a friendly smile, of course, his best was smoky awful, the kid turning several shades later as Erik raised a hand, a single finger pointing to Hazel. "Aye, she is standing next to me."

"Sir we have cag-"

Erik's gaze shifted from cool to annoyed, one hand raising up to cut the boy off. "She stays with me or we are leaving, that is that."

"I- Er, yes sir, that can be arranged. If you would... " He gestured towards a door located along the wall, leading Erik and Hazel down a short hall. With that Erik and Hazel were admitted into their room. Two beds with straw mattresses were arranged against either wall, two chests at their feet with a table and unlit candle centered under a dusty window.

"Well, it will work for the night." Erik said, turning to face Hazel with a slight smile. "Go ahead and get comfortable, we will be moving on at first light."

Hazel blinked, looking to the man for a moment before sitting on her bed, shouldering her pack. "Alright Erik, what will you be doing?"

Setting his pack down Erik looked to the fox. "Going to fetch a thing or two, I shouldn't be long."

True to his word Erik returned not half an hour later, two plates of steaming food in hand, one holding a rare steak, the other holding a smaller portion with a somewhat wrinkled potato beside it. "Well, it's no three course meal, but it should hold us over."

Setting the plate of rare steak upon the nightstand Erik moved to eat his own simple meal, grimacing slightly with the first bite, the flavor utter plain compared to the food he had eaten all of his life. He continued to eat, simply to keep his energy up, but he eyed the food with weary disappointment. Chewing his second bite he looked up, nodding for Hazel to take the other plate, which she did with only mild hesitation. Inwardly he sighed, returning his gaze to his plate.

It would take time for the fox to get use to him, after all, she made it sound like he was one of a kind. Half finished with the meal he wondered if there were any others like himself, either in their dislike for slavery, or in their origins being from another world. That or the strange beings from before.

A soft voice snapped him from his suddenly from his thoughts. "Erik? Are you feeling well?"

He glanced up at Hazel with a smile. "Yes, just tired after a long day of walking."

The fox nodded and set aside her empty plate, laying down in the candlelight, Erik shifting slightly as he once more began to cut at the plain meat. It did not take long for him to finish, the sun having been gone for some time during the meal itself. Erik set his plate to the side, laying in bed as he simply gazed at the ceiling, wondering just what he was doing. What was he doing here? He had just gone along with it like it was a dream. Yet he was here, a long way from home.

With a quiet sigh he began working his shirt off, attempting to ward off the slight heat of the inn. Turning his head he heaved one heavy breath, blowing out the candle before settling down, folding his hands over his chest. It was bitter irony that he didn't sleep. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling as moonlight poured in through the windows, wondering just how he had slept on the ground the night before. He rolled over, the bed creaking slightly.

It was maybe three hours later that he heard something. A soft stirring, blankets rustling. Erik rolled over, looking to Hazel who had begun to fidget in her sleep, rolling over as she kicked her blankets away. A quiet whine slowly began to build in her throat, moon light reflecting mutely from a tear that slowly ran down her cheek.

Erik sat up quickly, feet touching the ground as he made his way over to the sleeping fox who turned over once more, whimpering in her sleep. Reaching out he hesitated for a moment, hand hovering over her. She whimpered quietly again, curling into herself and Erik made his move, laying his hand gently upon her shoulder. Gently he held his hand there, not sure of what to do, his thumb idly stroking her soft fur.

Her head slowly turned upwards, her eyes opening as she peered up at the man over her, silhouetted by the moonlight as he slowly knelt by her bed, a gentle smile on his face. She propped herself up, Erik retracting his hand only for Hazel to catch it, holding it in her own. "Erik?"

"Sorry, it sounded as if you were having a bad dream."

"I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No no." He moved up, sitting near the foot of her bed as he continued to hold her hand. "Couldn't sleep myself, I just wanted to make sure you were ok."

"I am now… just a bad dream."

"Well, it is over now."

Hazel gave a quiet sigh, looking away from him. "For now."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"I am just… I don't want to be alone again."

Erik nodded in understanding. "I will stay with you."

"You don't have to, I know I am just a Keidran."

"Hazel, you are not just a Keidran, you are my friend."

The fox looked to the man again, squeezing his hand gently. "Erik, you can't be my friend."

"Why not?"

"Because you are Human."

"So what." He shrugged. "That is no reason for me to leave you alone."

"Erik…"

"I am not going anywhere, I will be right here."

Hazel seemed to hesitate, still holding his hand even as he made to stand. "Do you promise?"

"I promise I will be here when you wake up." He replied with a smile. Turning he made to return to his bed when he realized Hazel still held his hand. He turned to face her, the fox still staring up at him, eye wide.

"Erik… can… can you lay with me?" She asked quietly. Carefully he sat again on the side of her bed. "I hear… that it helps… with bad dreams." She managed, voice slowly growing quieter. He hesitated for a moment, it would not be his first time sleeping with someone, but, he had only known her for a short time. He then mentally slapped himself, the fox before him slowly turning her gaze downward as she released his hand. Carefully he began to lower himself.

"Scoot over a little please." He asked, almost chuckling as her ears shot up in surprise. She shifted, making room as he lay behind her. Slowly she moved back again, gently pressing her smaller frame against his own, her warm fur brushing his chest as he put an arm around her, holding her close.

"Thank you." She whispered, placing a hand over his arm as she closed her eyes. With the warmth of the one close to him lulling him to sleep, Erik could not help but drift off as his mind finally settled, his arms around the one being in the world who he could call a friend and companion.

Well guys, here it is at long last, the long delayed chapter four. I deeply apologise for the delay, but life decided it had other things in store for me and writing had eluded me for some time. When I finally got back, well, it was hard to finish this chapter. Hopefully you all can enjoy this. I will see about continuing this story as everything settles down once more. - Gate