This chapter explores the start of a relationship that randomly popped up while playing our DND game. Brutusdeagon created this character and I was allowed to create her background based on the role he'd chosen for her in game. I used a fair bit of artistic liberty to mold the world to fit the story.

A/N:

It isn't always easy to entertain one's interests and hobbies. Especially if that interest is magic.

For Sophia Fiontar, it was especially difficult when her parents discouraged such practices. Ranting about the evils of magic users and their wicked nature. Add her siblings on top of that and you've got quite the depressing lack of things to do. Her one escape was her brother, Gerald. As a member of the city guard he often received word of new arrivals very quickly. He'd then send word to Sophia if he heard there were any magic users amongst them. It was on one such occasion, when she was hidden away in the town library, that her brother found her pouring over books and taking notes.

"I see you're still hiding from mother." Gerald remarked, having startled her.

Sophia nearly dropped the pen in her paw as she jumped in her seat. She turned and glared at her brother as he smiled at her, silently laughing.

"Just as you keep your secret from father, I keep mine from mother." She replied, returning to her notes. "What brings you here brother?"

"Oh I just thought my dear little sister would like to know of the caravan that just arrived." He smiled when her ears twitched and turned towards him. "A paladin and a ranger brought in some outlaws. Not surprisingly, the paladin was quite forthcoming with information. He says their leader is a warlock." His smile grew when she stopped writing. No doubt her eyes widened at the news. "And his mate is a witch." Gerald found himself pressed back and nearly falling. His sister had jumped up into her seat and twirled around, her face now pressed into his.

"Where are they?!"

Some time later.

Sophia quickly walked up the hill to the area the caravan had set up. She stopped for a moment to admire the finely crafted wagons they traveled in. Ornately decorated and fashioned so they served as both home and store. The wagons themselves were sized for tigers but the largest occupants amongst them were wolves. Without hesitation, she walked to the entrance of the first tent tethered to the wagon with a sign 'Fortune teller'.

She slipped into the dark area and waited for her eyes to adjust. As she blinked away the darkness a voice called out to her.

"Come child, and all shall be revealed." The voice had age within it. Sophia felt as though her grandmother had called from beyond the grave to speak to her one last time. As her eyes adjusted, she found herself in a room shrouded with black, a table in the middle with an elderly jackal sat. The soul source of light, a purple candle in the middle of the small table.

"I wanted to ask-" She was cut off as the jackal waved a paw through the air, motioning towards a wooden box with a few coins inside. "Oh! Of course." She deposited a generous amount and took a seat at the table, her notebook clutched in her arms. Till now the jackal had sat with her head bent forward, a cowl covering her face. Once Sophia was seated, the jackal raised her head, revealing milky white eyes that seemed to glow in the candle's light. She held out a single boney paw.

"Take my hand." Sophia looked at the hand for a moment before speaking.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to ask-" She was cut off once more as the old jackal spoke.

"Take my hand and all shall be revealed."

Hesitantly, Sophia reached forward and placed her smaller paw in the jackals. The old fortune teller's boney fingers wrapped around her padless paw and she had a brief glimpse of the angel of death coming to take her away. No sooner than the thought had crossed her mind the old jackal chuckled.

"Not for a while child." As if she knew what Sophia was thinking. "Tell me, what is it you desire?"

"Knowledge, knowledge of magic." She answered softly.

"Ah, you seek the arcane. You will find the knowledge you seek here. Look to the caravan master and his mate. They have much knowledge to share. But knowledge is not what your heart truly desires. You desire understanding. To study is to gain knowledge but not understanding. To understand magic you must have it in your blood."

"But my family carries no magic blood within us." Sophia said disappointedly. It was a fact she'd come to accept.

"Perhaps, but there are other ways to gain the understanding you seek."

"How?"

Sophia watched as the milky orbs of the fortune teller began to glow in the low light. When she spoke, her voice echoed from all around them.

"This world is formed in two, the light and the dark. Those who are seen and those who are hidden. Seek out The Grey, the one who travels in the light unseen, and bring forth the Fading into the light."

No sooner than she'd spoken the last word, the presence that Sophia had felt was gone. The jackal's hand slipped from hers and the old fortune teller slumped in her seat. From behind one of the curtains, a young coyote stepped out and to the fortune teller's side. Sophia watched as he checked to make sure she was okay and after being reassured that she was fine, Sophia left.

Once he was certain she was gone, the coyote turned his attention back to the fortune teller.

"What did you see, Esmerelda?" The jackal smiled and looked to where Sophia had left.

"A future, Daxter, a future with hope."

Sophia spent the remainder of the day wandering amongst the caravan. She spoke to the small cat paladin her brother had mentioned and agreed that he did talk too much but that his heart was in the right place. A wolf warrior who seemed troubled about many things but did his best to hide it. A taller than average raccoon, who strummed a lovely tune as villages walked by. She even came upon a rabbit who was a sorcerer, but was still learning and didn't have much besides a smelly healing solution to share.

It was when she came to the next to last wagon that she found some answers. There she found books for sale that she'd never seen before. Old and ancient, many in languages she'd never dreamed of. While she worked her way through a pile, she didn't notice the presence that approached from behind her.

"Would you like some help?" A female voice offered.

Sophia turned to find the strangest bunny she'd ever seen. Her ears were long but pointed, her muzzle was longer and more pointed than any bunny she'd ever seen and she was easily taller than any bunny Sophia had ever seen. The most peculiar feature was surely her fur pattern. A brilliant red with cream underbelly that was unlike anything Sophia had seen on a bunny before. She didn't realize she'd been rudely silent until the strange bunny spoke again.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" She asked, patiently enduring the scrutiny.

Sophia blinked as she regained her composure. "Y-yes, sorry, um, I'm looking for books about magic."

"Oh we have plenty of those, is there a subject you wanted to focus on?"

The two conversed over varying subjects of magic, shared introductions and Sophia learned the strange bunny was the witch her brother had spoken of. Eventually, the topic of the fortune teller came up.

"I saw you leaving Esmerelda's. Did you get the prediction you wished for?" Dielyelah, the strange red rabbit asked.

Sophia had a distant look as she considered the words that had been spoken to her. With hesitation, she answered.

"I don't know. I got the answer to my question, but…" She trailed off.

"...You got more than you expected?" Diel ventured. To which Sophia slowly nodded. "Would you like to share what she said? Maybe I can help?"

"She said that I should find the one who travels between the light unseen. That I will bring the fading into the light. That I should seek the grey." Diel's eyes widened and her ears perked, going unnoticed by Sophia as she stared intently into the distance. "But how can anyone walk in the light and go unseen? As soon as they step in the light they become visible. And what fading could she be talking about?"

"Wait here." Diel left Sophia and went to the other side of the awning that came off the wagon, there she spoke animatedly to a large black wolf. Sophia watched as he turned to regard her curiously, before approaching with Diel.

"Sophia, this is my mate, Brutus."

"Hello Sophia. Diel tells me you are looking for the grey?" Brutus asked. "And she said 'fading'?"

"The fortune teller said too, yes." Brutus and Diel shared a glance before Brutus stepped to the side and pointed towards the last wagon in the caravan and the canvas tent connected to it.

"Go to that tent and speak with the mammal inside. Tell him I sent you, that you are looking for the grey." Brutus instructed.

Sophia leaned around to see where he was pointing. The last wagon of the caravan, the only one she hadn't visited. It was built and looked the same as the others, but it was only painted a deep green. The ornate carvings were not accented or decorated, in a word, it was plain.

"Who is he?" She asked, looking back to Brutus.

The black wolf looked back to the tent for a moment, contemplating his words carefully. When he did turn back to face her, he had a smile on his lips.

"He is many things for many different mammals, but for you, I suppose he'll be more."

Neither Brutus or Diel would say more on the matter, only that he would have her answers, not even giving the mammal's name. She stood outside the tent's entrance, a single flap pulled over, and pondered if this was a good idea or not. With a deep breath, she gathered her courage, and stepped into the breach.

She found the inside to be much like the fortune teller's, dark. Before her eyes could adjust to the darkness a voice reached her ears.

"State your business?"

The voice struck her as soft and strong, lost and hopeless all in one. Her eyes were finally adjusting to the low light of two candles on either side, she still didn't see anyone else in the tent with her.

"Brutus sent me, he said you could help me." She said as she looked around the dark tent. Her ears swiveled in every direction as she stepped closer to the center.

"What is it you need help with?" The voice seemed to move around the space she was in and be in one place at the same time.

"I-I'm looking for the grey." Silence, she heard the rustling of cloth, as though someone had removed a coat. The voice was moving again.

"For what purpose?"

"The fortune teller-"

"Esmerelda."

"Yes! She said I should seek the grey so I can have an understanding of magic!"

Laughter echoed around the inside of the tent. "That is one subject the grey can not help you in. What else did the old gypsy tell you?"

Sophia closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to remember everything that was said.

"She said, the world is formed in two, both light and dark. Those who are seen and unseen. Seek out the Grey, the one who travels unseen and bring forth the fading into the light." When she could recall no more, she opened her eyes and gasped when two red orbs seemed to float in front of her. She felt as though they were boring into her soul as they focused on her.

"Reach out your hand, and bring the fading into the light."

Sophia shook her head. "I don't understand."

"Reach out your hand." The voice said once more and she did so.

As soon as her arm was fully extended she felt another, larger paw grasp her own. She had just enough time to process the feel of pads when whatever had taken a hold of her began to take shape. A paw with fur that stood on end as it took shape and then laid back down. Starting at her paw she was able to makeout another, larger black paw which went up to an arm and soon she was able to see an entire mammal standing before her. She stood in awe as a fox seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Completely naked. Something she hadn't noticed yet.

"I am Bearach 'The Grey'," the fox said, bowing to kiss the top of her paw, "at your service, lady…"

"S-S-Sophia Fiontar."

"Lady Fiontar." He raised back to his full height.

"H-how did-" She started, but was cut off.

"Oh the voice?" He held up a necklace in his other paw. "A trinket taken off a dead mage after a battle."

"No not that! How were you invisible?!"

"Simple, I'm a fading fox." Bearach explained, causing Sophia to tilt her head.

"A what?" Bearach smirked.

"A fading fox, I can fade in and out of whatever environment I'm in, allowing me to disappear." He turned and started walking to the other side of the tent.

"How do you-Whoa you're naked!" To which he simply shrugged.

"Yes I am."

"Why? Why are you naked?" She asked, shielding her eyes, even though she'd turned her back to him.

"It's my fur that allows me to fade in and out. If I'm wearing clothes then it doesn't work. You can turn around now."

She slowly turned and peaked through her fingers. He'd pulled two chairs from somewhere without her hearing and also put pants on but nothing else. He invited her to sit with a gesture, and she cautiously accepted.

"Would you like a drink?" He offered once she was seated, retrieving two cups and a bottle of water.

"Yes please." As he poured their drinks she was able to get a good look at him. He was slightly shorter than the normal red foxes she'd seen. His ears were red with dark tips and that red seemed to flow in a stream down the sides of his head and along the side of his white underbelly. His back and top of his head were a grey mixed with black but his tail had a solid black stripe down the top which ended in a black tip.

"So tell me, why did you go to the gypsy?" He asked, handing her a cup and sitting across from her.

"I wanted to ask who in the caravan could teach me about using magic. My family's bloodline is bare of magic users. So all I can do is study it in the hope of creating my own."

"So you asked for directions and she sent you to me instead." He took a sip.

"Sort of, she said to speak to the caravan master and his mate, which I did. And they sent me to you."

"The Grey."

"Exactly! And I brought you into the light! Does that mean I'll understand magic now?" She asked excitedly. Bearach leaned back in his chair and smiled.

"No." Her ears fell. "I did that for dramatic effect. I can tell you what she said means but I need to ask you something first."

Sophia leaned in expectantly.

"What did she look like when she told you this?"

Sophia felt goosebumps on her arms as she recalled the experience. Telling Bearach everything she could remember. When she was finished, she looked at him expectantly. She found him considering her seriously with his eyes, eyes the color of an ocean blue. She resisted the urge to squirm under his scrutiny.

"What she gave you was a riddle." He explained. "One that very few can decipher the true meaning of."

"And you can?" She asked, to which he nodded.

"Me and my kind. You desire an understanding of magic. Knowledge can tell you what magic can do and how to use it but only with true understanding can you properly control it."

"But to understand it I would need it in my blood." She said discouragingly.

"Not necessarily." To which she perked up. "You merely need a connection."

"How?"

"For fading foxes the world is divided into two. The light, those who are seen like yourself and the dark, my kind which remain hidden. I walk among the seen but hide what I am to remain unseen."

"So how does that relate to me?" Sophia asked. She could tell he was hesitant to answer.

"When one of our kind is able to breed with a different species," Sophia's eyes widened, "the offspring will always inherit the fading traits. But will look like the other parent. We call this bringing the fading into the light. Meaning they don't have to hide as we do. What Esmeralda was telling you was that if you had children with me that they would be your connection that you would need to have an understanding of magic."

Several minutes passed as Sophia contemplated this new information, staring at the empty space away from him.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" She asked without looking at him.

"You don't."

After a few more seconds, she gathered her things and left. Only saying thank you as she paused at the door. Bearach assumed she didn't believe him and waited a few minutes before redressing. He stuck his head out and looked around, just to be sure she was gone. He made his way to the fortune teller's tent, having to wait for the two customers who were there to leave. It allowed him time to think on what he wanted to say once he saw her. As soon as they were gone he went inside and sat across from blind jackal.

"It is not often that a ranger wishes to know his fate."

"I already know my fate."

"Do you?" He didn't answer right away.

"Why did you send the girl to me?"

"I did not send her." Esmerelda smiled and shook her head. "And do not presume that she was chosen for you." Bearach frowned, he did not like being used as a pawn.

"Next time you speak to the gods, tell them to mind their own business." He said with malice, feeling anger beginning to boil in his blood.

"Careful Bearach Sionnach, the huntress smiles upon you now but do not bring her ire down upon your head." She warned.

"Why me? Of all my kind that may or may not remain I live the most dangerous life possible."

The jackal nodded. "Indeed you did. It is because of that that you are the best suited, for you are the one who lives in the light unseen."

Bearach left the tent after that, frustrated that he was being used by Artemis in some game of hers. He left the caravan and went into the city, wandering the streets as he pondered the day's events. As his anger slowly subsided, he found himself in a part of the town he wasn't familiar with. Looking around, he found himself standing at the entrance to a small temple. A temple dedicated to Artemis. In a town of mostly prey, it was rare to find such a place dedicated to a huntress. Perhaps that would explain the vines which grew along the outside walls and the unkept entrance. Bearach walked up the dusty steps and entered into the large open area that consisted of the interior. In the center stood a single statue of a female wolf with a bow and pet owl. The common depiction of the goddess Artemis.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, staring into the neutral expression carved into stone. He didn't know why, but he felt he should leave an offering. He'd never done so before and didn't know what would suffice. So he pulled his most valued coin from his purse and the best arrow from his quiver and laid them at the huntress' feet.

It was dusk when he returned to the caravan. The villagers had mostly left and the traveling merchants were packing things away and closing their stalls. He made his way past the others and to the back of his own wagon to climb the stairs and end his day. As he rounded the side he found the same bunny doe with blue eyes, black fur and brown spots on her face from earlier waiting for him on his steps. He would later learn the brown spots were called freckles but that night, he learned they weren't limited to just her cheeks.

A/N:

Originally, Brutus had a bunny barmaid go missing and the guards were looking for her. As a joke, I said she would have spent the night with Bearach. Brutus played it differently so that it was Sophia who stayed with Bearach instead and one of the guards looking for the missing barmaid was Gerald, Sophia's brother. Sophia is now a permanent fixture in our game.

Included in this chapter is Sophia, Gerald, Esmeralda, Daxter and Brutus who belong to BrutusDeagon. The paladin belongs to captainKelrin from and yes he really is an obnoxious big mouth in game. The wolf warrior belongs the FirnenOne. The raccoon barb belongs to crawful. The bunny sorcerer belongs to EliteShade. The bunnyfox hybrid witch Dielyelah belongs to Sandsstill.