Notes and Disclaimers: I don't own YYH, but I own the cute little foxes, Silvati, and the Cardens.

Chapter 6

During the day between reading a book and feeding her charges she also began working with them. She wanted to see if they would take to having their minds impressed with visions of doing their business outside. So far it worked, but it took a great deal of concentration and she had to do it slowly. The three were still very young, it being both a blessing and a frustration.

By mid-afternoon she had also named them. The female twitched her ears a lot so she was named Twitch. One of her brothers was a deeper red than the other so he was named Russet while the last one was dubbed Pouncer.

Autumn giggled as Pouncer once again chased his tail and then jumped on top of Russet. It prompted Russet in turn to twist beneath his brother and bite his ear. Twitch watched with bemusement, her head cocked to the side. Autumn watched as the two romped around and soon all three were involved in a rough'n'tumble.

Glancing at the clock she found that it was nearly three. She would need to call Ms. Silvati. She rose from the floor where she had been watching the pups. The three stopped their play to look up at her. But Autumn only went to get the phone from its cradle only on the other side of the kitchen and went to reclaim her spot on the floor against the cabinets. The three watched her for a moment more until Pouncer playfully swatted at Russet. That prompted them in their play again. Autumn smiled and quickly dialed the number at school for the teacher who brought her any assignments she missed.

"Moshi Moshi." A feminine voice came over the line.

Autumn switched to Japanese (she was American and Japanese her second language) and prelude, "Silvati-sensei? It's Carden Autumn."

"Autumn! Did you miss school today?" the kind lady asked.

"Hai. I had one of my days. I rescued three baby foxes from drowning." She replied smiling.

"I see. Well, I shall gather your work. But would it bother you if I sent someone else to deliver it in my stead?" Silvati asked.

It took a moment of thought before she replied, "This person is trustworthy?"

"Yes. He's the top student of the school and a grade above you. His name is Minamino Suiichi." The teacher replied.

"Okay, I don't see why not. So you have something else to attend to that would keep you from coming yourself?" she asked curiously.

Though her shields were still below everyday strength, they were still working properly. Even the shields that had long ago been placed on Silvati-sensei didn't block out the sudden burst of embarrassment coming from the teacher.

"Silvati-sensei? Something you wish to share?" Autumn couldn't resist giggling.

"Autumn!" Silvati was blushing now.

"Come on Silvati-sensei. You know as well as I do that even with your shields and some of mine up around me, when you project that blatantly at me I will receive it…or at least most of it." Autumn said. "So spill."

Autumn wouldn't have been this friendly and open with any of her other teachers, but Silvati-sensei was in her early twenties and the fact that she was also American helped the relationship bloom with the family.

Silvati let out an embarrassed giggle, took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Okay, I'll tell. Remember the guy I told you about a couple of months ago?"

It took a minute for the sixteen-year-old to remember, but she did. "Yes. You told me once that he made you feel giddy."

"Well, yes." Her blush was deepening, Autumn could tell. "Well, we're still dating…We've become more serious and I think he may propose!"

Autumn squealed in delight, "Oh Silvati-sense! Congrats! I hope he does!" she said.

"I hope so too." Silvati agreed. Then she went back to why the girl had called in the first place, "Well, about your work. I will go see what you missed and send it along with Minamino. So expect it shortly after school sometime, okay?"

"Okay Silvati-sensei, will do. I'll talk to you later then."

"Bye now."

"Bye." Autumn hung the phone up and lowered it to gaze upon her charges.

Russet was trying to sleep, but Pouncer kept tugging at his ear. Russet finally snapped his jaws at him, a very tiny growl emitting form his throat. Twitch watched on, her tail curled around her feet.

"Now, now you two," Autumn intervened. She rose to her knees and grabbed Pouncer, cradling him in her arms. The fox in her arms struggled a little, but when he realized she wasn't going to release him, he looked up at her. The other two were watching her as well.

She smiled and scratched behind Pouncer's ears. He closed his eyes in bliss, rubbing his head against her hand. She smiled and her eyes lifted to the other two.

"Now you can sleep my little ones." She said.

They stared at her for a few moments more but when she gently projected an urge for sleep, Twitch and Russet lay their heads down on their paws and closed their eyes. She looked down at Pouncer once again and projected the urge to sleep again. Pouncer yawned and settled in her arms, wrapping his tail around as much as he could.

She kept a soothing feeling flowing throughout the room and then slowly rose to her feet. She had moved the bed her dad had made for the babies into the kitchen earlier and went to it to place Pouncer inside. He stirred a little as she put him down, but she gave him an extra little scratch behind the ears. He settled down again and pausing only a moment more to smile down at him, she went to the other two.

They stirred only a little as she moved them to the makeshift bed, but they curled around each other once they settled. Autumn remained, keeping the gentle projection around them and when she was sure they wouldn't wake for awhile she tiptoed out to the bathroom.

Afterwards she went to the living room and sprawled in one of the armchairs. She felt exhausted, but it wasn't physical. She put up a little more of her shields. They would need to be almost up to daily strength by the time the one to deliver her work arrived. She didn't know this Minamino Suiichi to now how strong she would need her shields. But she did know him b reputation.

Letting out a deep breath she relaxed against the chair and soon began to lightly doze. During the time the house was quiet, Autumn subconsciously still continued to boost her protections.

Time passed and then a loud knock came from the door.

TBC