Author's note:

I've never added so many line breaks in one chapter in all the years I've been posting on this site.

Chapter 6: Communication

The gods took back their gifts of pleasant days from Kezamat. The past week had grown steadily more humid as summer progressed. Krystal felt it in her fur even in the early mornings. She loved the spring better.

It was her turn to fetch water from the river today. Krystal waded through until it reached her knees. She laid the mouth of her jar against the current. Her shoulders strained as she lifted it out again. Water sloshed wildly inside. Krystal held the jar to her chest, clinging to her balance as the contents settled.

Carefully, she returned to the bank. A ten-minute walk home awaited Krystal and her heavy load. Her clan was luckier than most to be so close to the river, yet she detested the hard labour required most days just so her family could have clean drinking water. Krystal envied those parts of the city that were already connected to Dr Andross's 'water supply system.' The people living there didn't need to fetch their water from a well or stream. Instead, it came straight to their homes on its own. Krystal did not fully understand how that worked. All that she knew was that she'd give anything not to have to haul this tiresome weight in her arms.

"Strong arms make a strong warrior," her father often told her. To the Void with that, Krystal fumed. Why couldn't she have brothers and sisters to help with this sort of thing? Of course, that meant that her family would need even more water each day. Krystal couldn't wait for her house to be connected to the city's supply system too.

Her arms had almost lost all feeling by the time she got home. Krystal set the jar down behind the house and rolled her shoulders. She rubbed her aching muscles on her way inside. Though just as she entered through the backdoor, Krystal stopped.

Fox had his back to her. He swept a broom across the floor with mostly one arm, only using his left hand to guide the handle. Krystal became still. So far, he had not heard her come in.

He truly was an intriguing sight. His pelt was the light orange hue of autumn leaves. Krystal's cousin, Sabre, had close to the same colour, though a few shades more vibrant. Fox's gave him a softer visage. A calming exterior that housed a kind soul. It suited him.

Krystal watched the lean muscles in Fox's back roll as he moved. Most male warriors were thicker in the arms and shoulders than him, yet his spirit was certainly that of one. Krystal knew as much from his memories.

The weapons and beasts she had seen him harness were beyond her imagination. He wielded such powerful magic, yet Fox lacked all the psychic abilities that her people were gifted with. Once again, Krystal wondered what kind of fox he was. He had flown through Arethan's cloak like an angel of Ilis. However, no matter which way she looked at him, Fox was a man as mortal as any other. Krystal's curiosity of him became insatiable.

Her parents believed that Dr Andross could help Fox return to the heavens. They were both foreigners from that world, after all. It seemed that they had been correct, yet horribly wrong at the same time. Krystal had never expected nor felt such hatred from anyone before Fox and Andross first locked eyes with one another. Rage exploded from Fox as he screamed and pointed his strange weapon. Andross withheld his loathing even while threatened, though it boiled vehemently under the surface. Krystal feared the worst until Fox finally stood down. Conflict tore at his mind and heart.

Krystal had wanted to ask Fox about what happened that day ever since. She didn't know how to though, what with how difficult it was for them to communicate. Worry gnawed at her. Would seeing Andross again make Fox angry once more? Why would that be? And what would Fox then do? His thoughts were usually so gentle around her. Anger was a terrible emotion, though. It could drive even the mildest people into violence if it burned fiercely enough.

Maybe she should ask him now? Fox was starting to learn her tongue. Surely, he could explain even a little bit about it. Would it hurt them to try?

Filling his days was the hardest part of Fox's recovery. There wasn't much that he could do to pass the time. The usual distractions like television, video games, and the internet didn't exist on this world. He found a modest collection of books in the Sharrde family's house and tried deciphering them. Fox only managed to translate four pages before brain drain set in. He returned the book to its shelf so that he could take a break.

Krystal went out to fetch water a short while ago. Fox would have gone to help, though with his arm still mending he'd have been useless to her. A waste of space. That was all Fox felt he was. He searched the empty house for something that he was capable of. There had to be some way he could pay Krystal and her family back for letting him stay with them.

Fox found an old broom in a closet. Deciding it was better than nothing, he took to sweeping the floors. The house was large, about as big as the one Fox spent his early childhood in, where his mother now lived by herself. That meant a lot of ground to cover. His arm and chest ached with every brush, but Fox persisted.

Working dust into the centre of the kitchen, Fox turned so he could sweep it all out the backdoor. He leaped out of his skin when he discovered Krystal standing there. She jumped as well. "I'm sorry!" she said quickly.

"Mookun," he forgave. Fox chuckled. "You surprised me."

Krystal eyed the broom and dust pile. "You do not need to do that."

"I want to help." Krystal wore a conflicted expression for a moment. Eventually, she smiled and stepped out of Fox's way so that he could keep working.

It took Fox a few minutes to sweep across the short distance to the door. The best he could do were small strokes. Some bits of dirt caught in the grain of the floorboards. Fox's brow creased as he dug them out with the broom's head.

"Fox?" He turned to Krystal sitting on a cushion. Her ears drooped a little. Something troubled her.

"Yes?"

Krystal averted her gaze, frowning. "Doctor Andross… Why…?" She hesitated, seeming to struggle to say what she wanted in a way he could understand. Fox smiled as he tapped his head. Krystal's sapphire eyes darted to and away from him several times before she nodded.

Fox found himself standing in Andross's laboratory. He watched himself pull his blaster on Andross. His own shouts were garbled in Krystal's memory. Even Fox couldn't understand himself. He did understand what Krystal was trying to say, though. She wanted to know why he had acted that way. Why he hated Andross so much.

"That's hard to talk about," Fox said in his mother tongue, Papetoonish. Krystal tilted her head. He was only confusing her more. Fox held out an open palm to ask her to wait.

He ran upstairs to his room and retrieved a scrap of paper. Since he knew Krystal would ask this eventually, Fox did his best to prepare an explanation for her about what happened. When he returned to the living room, he sat down across from her. She glanced at his notes curiously.

"Krystal, I'm sorry about my behaviour that day," Fox read aloud. "I threatened Andross because he is a criminal from my home. He killed many people and started a war. He also killed my father."

Krystal's eyes widened in horror. Her hand clasped her hanging mouth. "I was sent here to find Andross and arrest him," Fox continued. "But because I can't take him home, I wanted to kill Andross instead. He is evil and dangerous. You must not trust him."

Once again, Fox saw the scene from the lab. This time he turned away from Andross furiously, then later shook the ape's hand. Fox prepared that explanation too. "He knows how to get home. He can't do it alone. I can't either. We need to work together, even though I don't want to."

Krystal nodded slowly. Sorrow marred her face. "I'm sorry," she said.

Fox saw her leading him to the laboratory. She blamed herself for his anguish. "Please don't apologise. You were trying to help. Thank you for that."

She smiled, though it did not stretch far. "Can I help you?"

Scratching the back of his head, Fox let out a sad sigh. "Yes… but I don't know how."

Andross hadn't given him any details about his plan. Fox had a sinking feeling that even if he did, it would be too technical for Fox to pull it off himself. That ape was the smartest person the Lylat System had known in over two centuries. Multiple scenarios came to mind. None of them Fox could be certain about. For the time being, he was forced to depend on Andross and follow his lead. It was the only way he'd be able to see his friends and family again. If Andross betrayed him at the last minute, Fox would deal with that when it happened.

Fox's thoughts turned into a maelstrom. Images flashed through them faster than Krystal could make out. She could feel the signals in his mind strike like lightning bolts. Two things stood constant in his flurry: Andross, and the collective thought of those people precious to Fox.

Krystal had heard about Andross's past sins. Rumours about them spread through the ranks of the Lythan Jad and city guard. She never imagined that Andross had hurt Fox on such a terrible and personal level. Krystal felt awful for ever luring Fox into the same room as that man.

Now that she was aware of it, Krystal could detect Fox's grief buried below the surface. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently between her fingers. It startled him. Looking from their hands to her eyes, Fox gave Krystal a small smile. He squeezed back as his thoughts became calm.

Krystal swore a silent oath to Cerinia. She did not know how, but she would help Fox in every way that she could. Krystal would be wary of Dr Andross. She would make certain that he never caused Fox any more pain so long as she could do something about it.

After Krystal helped him clean the rest of the house, she took Fox out to the marketplace. She intended to buy Fox new clothes that suited him better than Thalse's. Fox hoped that they might get something simple he can put on without needing assistance.

The air was rich with delicious aromas from food stalls. Some Fox couldn't recognise. His stomach yearned for whatever they were. Krystal guided Fox to a baker's tent. Round loaves of bread were on display. Several were sweetened with honey, as well as small pieces of fruit baked inside. Fox's nose brought him to stare into an oven at the rear. Something beefy cooked within it.

Krystal's perception was uncanny. Their frequent telepathic conversations gave Fox a faint sense of whenever she was in his head. However, he hadn't felt her powers once since they left the house. She bought two of the items that were in the oven. The baker handed Fox a large, warm bun. Ground meat welled in its centre, mixed with herbs, spices, and a Cerinian variety of onion. Fox took an earnest bite. The bread was soft and fluffy. His mouth flooded with hearty flavours and his own saliva. The baker grinned at Fox's astonished delight.

They sat on a bench near the plaza's well to eat. Fox relished his bun with each bite. It reminded him of one of those Zonessian street foods Slippy once bought during a pub crawl with their friends. The smell had tempted Fox that time as well, though he never did try one himself. He wondered if it would have tasted anything like this.

Krystal savoured her food more patiently than Fox did. Her eyes hung half-lidded as a smile tugged at her chewing jowl. Little flecks of bread and grease stuck to her whiskers. It made Fox oddly happy to see her enjoying herself. When she finished, Krystal wiped her chin clean and licked the mess from her wrist. She then looked to Fox and smirked as she tapped her muzzle. It took Fox a few seconds to realise that he had crumbs still stuck to his face.

With their hunger sated, Krystal led Fox through the crowd again. He caught glimpses of street artists, buskers, and children running wild around startled adults. Krystal ended up having to pull Fox's hand to keep him focused and moving. There was so much for him to see.

They walked into a small shop. Judging by the number of different coloured fabrics, Fox presumed it was where Krystal sought to buy his clothes. The only completed garments were dressed on stuffed mannequins. This could be one of those tailoring businesses where they made clothes to order.

Krystal spoke with the shopkeeper. They regarded Fox a few times before the lanky, grey man stepped in front to examine him. He fetched a few scraps of cloth from a worktable and held a dark blue one against Fox's fur. The elderly tailor frowned, though, and switched it with a green cloth. Fox liked that colour much better. It was the same as his old flight suit. However, the other man looked to Krystal. She shook her head. Fox felt his fashion sense fall under attack.

Black and grey both earned straight faces that didn't suggest passing grades. White cloth finally made the tailor nod. He then pulled out the coloured samples once more. Blue again then purple. Green never saw another appearance. The tailor's gaze lingered on the red cloth for longer than the others. He spoke to Krystal briefly, after which she smiled. The tailor looked satisfied and set the white and scarlet fabrics to one side.

He then took Fox's measurements with a knotted length of string. Fox wasn't sure about the whole process, yet the tailor scribbled notes with each ruling. He seemed to know what he was doing. Fox looked to Krystal for reassurance. He hoped that she understood what was going on a lot better than he did. He had a feeling that his life was once again in her hands.

Poor Fox was anxious the entire time the tailor fussed over him. It showed in the tightness of his shoulders and bend in his tail. Wary eyes watched the older tod pick through colours that would look good on him. Fox softened with the green cloth, hinting that he liked it. Unfortunately, green represented creation and new life, and was often worn by courting or mated foxes. Krystal shook her head to tell the tailor that wasn't the case. She didn't want to give people the wrong impression about Fox when he knew so little about their culture. Fox became somewhat disappointed as a result. It was for his own good, though.

Eventually, the tailor settled on a combination of white and red. "I have an idea for your friend's garments," he said. "Do you mind if I share it with you?"

"Not at all," Krystal replied. A vision soon distorted her view of Fox. The brown of her father's toga became replaced with the pure white of snow. Rims of scarlet accentuated Fox's waist and forearm. A delighted smile spread on her lips.

"Could you make it into a full shirt?" she asked. "I think he prefers to dress that way." The vision shifted so that red capped both of Fox's shoulders. He looked quite handsome. "I like it. I'm sure that Fox will too."

"Excellent." The tailor set the fabrics aside. "I'll just take his measurements. Any suggestions for the material?"

"Something durable, I believe." Krystal did not know what Andross might have Fox do during their stay in the city. Clothes that would not tear easily would be the wisest choice.

Fox looked to her with the worried expression of a lost child. Krystal barely refrained from giggling as she sent calming thoughts to him. It would be all over soon.

"He'll need a few extra sets of clothes. A week's worth to start with," Krystal considered. "I think a similar dress with blue trimmings in place of the red. As for the rest…"

"Grey will work for labour. Does he require any formal attire?"

"I shouldn't think so." Then again… it might be handy, just in case. Overall cost outweighed the idea. They could always come back later if the need arose.

The tailor stepped away from Fox and made notes about his size. "For what you're asking, I can have it finished by the end of the week."

That quickly? Krystal was impressed. Her mother did promise that this man's telekinesis could sow faster than his hands. "Thank you. Fox is new to the city and doesn't have much to call his own. We appreciate you helping us."

They haggled on a price and reached an agreement quickly. It was more expensive than she hoped for, though Krystal believed it would be worthwhile in the end. She explained to Fox as best as she could. He didn't understand her words well. However, Krystal sensed that he knew that they weren't going to buy his new wardrobe today. Earlier, she had seen clothes shops in his mind where people measured bodies with strings as broad and flat as bandages. Perhaps Fox's world had tailors like this one after all.

Krystal needed to pick up some items for the shrine before they returned home. After leaving an apothecary with parcels of herbs, she heard her name be called out. Krystal smiled as she recognised the voice. She turned around to meet the two foxes approaching them.

"Sabre! Uncle Randorn!"

Fox watched in interest as Krystal embraced the two men who had called her. The younger one had a brighter pelt of orange than Fox, grinning as though the sun shone every day on Cerinia. The man next to him was much older, with grey specks dusting his muzzle and cerulean fur. Fox noted that the elder carried a large, golden staff on his back. Green and blue beads hung around his neck on multiple strings.

Krystal introduced them. All that Fox understood was that the amber tod was named Sabre. The second man called himself Randorn as he clasped his hands together and dipped his head in formal greeting. "Hello," Fox replied, bowing his head in the same custom.

While Krystal spoke with the pair, Fox tried to guess their relationship with each other. Sabre could have been a close friend. It was harder to consider the same with Randorn due to his advanced age. His fur colour was similar to Krystal's…

She must have picked up on what he was thinking. Krystal met Fox's eye and adopted a look of deep thought. She then tapped her temple. Curious, he tapped his. A scene painted itself of the inside of a house. Two kits with blue fur stood next to each other. A boy and a girl. The pair grew progressively older until Fox recognised them as Randorn and Nomar.

A lightbulb switched on. Now Fox understood. Randorn was Nomar's brother, making Krystal his niece. Nomar quickly disappeared from the vision. An orange pup took her place, again aging beside Randorn until he looked like Sabre. Fox interpreted that to mean Sabre was Randorn's son.

A third realisation then struck Fox as he studied Randorn's face. He looked familiar for another reason. "You work at the shrine," he exclaimed. "You helped me too, when I was injured."

"Yes," Randorn smiled.

"Thank you. I'm grateful."

Fox's smile soon fell as Sabre started talking to him in a blur. He tried his best to listen, but the tod spoke so many words Fox didn't yet know that his head spun. Desperately, he looked to Krystal for aid.

"Fox doesn't yet know our language," Krystal stepped in to stop Sabre. "We're still teaching him."

"Really?" Sabre threw his arms behind his head and stared at Fox inquisitively. "Huh… Guess that explains why his head's full of gibberish."

"Pay respect and stay out of it," Randorn scolded.

"Well, how else am I supposed to talk to him?"

"You could try asking for his permission first, like I did." Krystal mirrored her uncle's disapproval. Ever since they were young, Sabre had always done as he pleased without much regard for manners or good sense. It had been cute while he was a small and rambunctious child. However, that charm had faded long ago.

Sabre tapped his head towards Fox. Although apprehensive at first, Fox tapped back. Krystal watched Sabre's grin grow while Fox became even more unsettled. "Go slowly and try to visualise what you want to say to him," she advised. "Keep your thoughts short and simple. Not that it would be difficult for you."

"Hey!" Sabre snapped indignantly at Krystal. She merely grinned. It was always fun to tease her brash, younger cousin. Randorn chastised her softly, though Krystal caught the faint smirk he wore.

After a few more minutes conversing, Fox began to warm up to Sabre. He even managed to give a few verbal responses. Meanwhile, Randorn knocked on Krystal's thoughts. "How is his recovery coming along?"

"Steadily," she answered. "Fox struggles to sit quietly and rest though. This morning he insisted on cleaning the house because he felt indebted to us."

Randorn hummed. "You might want to find other ways to keep him occupied. I take it that he's learning to read as well?"

"Not as much as he is trying to speak. I think that's more important to him right now." Krystal stared at Fox worriedly. "Uncle… What more can I do to help him get home? Doctor Andross turned out to be Fox's enemy. I don't know if I can trust that man to help Fox the way we hoped he would."

"His enemy?" Randorn replied with interest. Krystal told him about the foreigners' history with each other. "I see. That would complicate matters."

He pondered on her question for a time. "We've always been wary of what Andross is capable of. However, he hasn't caused us any trouble since he first arrived. I believe the best course of action is to simply observe them for now. We might be worried over nothing. But if Andross does plan to cause harm, we will know of it."

Krystal nodded. It was not the advice that she wanted to hear. However, if her dear uncle, the Grandmaster of the Lythan Jad, thought it was wisest to stand back and watch, then she would have to trust his judgement. She only prayed to Cerinia that she was doing the right thing.

Randorn and Sabre accompanied them for the rest of their trip. Both were nice enough people, though Sabre was a bit livelier than Fox could handle at the moment. For the most part, he simply trailed behind while Krystal conversed with them.

She informed Fox that they had one more stop to make before they returned home. They soon arrived at another shop, which looked like a jeweller at first glance. Many gemstones of different sizes and shapes were displayed all over the walls. Some were fixed into rings, necklaces, and various trinkets. Other gems were as large as Fox's fist. He had no idea who needed rocks that big or what for.

Fox carried his phrasebook in the satchel over his shoulder. With it, he translated some of the signs on the shelves. 'Fire; ice; wind; healing.' It appeared that several of the gems were imbued with magic. Fox would have liked to get his hands on one of the healing stones, though Nomar had warned him once that trying to mend bones with magic could do more harm than good. That kind of power was better suited to treating flesh wounds and sickness. Fox didn't fancy having his bones broken again if they healed suddenly and out of alignment.

The shopkeeper brought out a sack for Krystal and Randorn. It jingled as it landed on the countertop. Krystal pulled out a large, blue gem. Fox peered over her shoulder. The stone was slender and about two-thirds the length of Krystal's forearm. He could see partly through its body. The refraction of light bloated the blurred shape of her fingers to four times their size. Krystal turned the stone around, allowing Fox to marvel at the clean cut of its facets.

"That's a beautiful crystal," he remarked in Papetoonish.

Krystal glanced over her shoulder curiously. "Yes, Fox?""

He stared back in confusion. Then he realised where the issue laid. "Oh, no!" Fox replied in Cerinian. "I was talking about the crystal. My word for it just sounds like your name."

"Oh," she nodded. "So, what did you say?"

Fox had to consult the phrasebook for a moment. "I said that the crystal is beautiful." He then caught Krystal's stare and panic surged through him. "I mean, I'm not saying you're not beautiful! You are!" He blanched. "Wait! I didn't mean it like that! Sorry! I misspoke!" Fox flipped through more pages. "What I mean is… Um… Uhhhh…"

Oh, dear… Fox had worked himself into a state of distress. Krystal watched in amusement as he tore through his book. The meanings in his words contradicted themselves and he struggled to express himself properly. Krystal thought to help him and tapped her temple. Fox shook his head with eyes wider than dinner plates. He quickly looked down to resume his search.

She shouldn't have, but Krystal laughed. Fox looked too adorable when he was flustered. His earlier comment calling her beautiful did make Krystal blush a little. Fortunately, Fox did not see it. Even if he might not have meant what he had said, she still thought it sweet of him all the same.

He truly was a curious man.