A Fox's Story (Sophophobia!)

[Anonymous]

Sora nodded, fairly tired as well. It had been quite a rough and shocking day, and she just wanted it to end. She wanted her headache to end as well. Perhaps a good night's worth of sleep would ease her wearied mind. "O-of course...show me," she said.

[Anonymous]

Drea gestured to where the clearing met the forest, to their left. "I sleep in that tree," she said, gesturing to the appropriate tree, "And Tove sleeps next to me--I do not know where she has gone, but she'll be back eventually so do not be alarmed if there is someone in the other tree when you wake." Drea briefly considered telling her not to listen to anything Tove said, but then threw the idea aside. Tove wasn't that annoying and she did have some sort of power of the shrine, even if she was only the Fourth Acolyte.

[Anonymous]

Sora nodded. "Okay...I'll sleep right beneath you...on the forest floor," she said, feeling very sleepy. She walked over to the base of the tree and sat down by it. The grass surrounding it was very soft unlike the prickly grass in other parts of the world. Then, after saying, "Sweet dreams, Drea," she lied down on her side, closed her golden eyes, and slept, all nine of her tails covering her body like a series of blankets.

Tokala smiled. Sweet dreams, my child, he said quietly in Sora's mind. His spirit slept as well.

[Anonymous]

Drea watched her for a moment, before running a hand in her hair and leaping into the tree, resting against the trunk and closing her eyes. A small part of her wished that when she woke, Sora wouldn't be there, and everything would go back top normal. But she knew that that was too much to ask for. She also knew that that was a mean thing to wish. It wasn't that she didn't like Sora; she did. But even after how long Drea had been alive, she wasn't used to change like this. She had nearly always been alone or with other acolytes. Sora was different and Drea now had a commitment to her. It unsettled her. But none the less, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

[Anonymous]

Sora's sleep was, for the first time in a very long time, restful and devoid of any nightmares. It pleased her. She could also feel Drea's presence, so ancient and powerful, so she felt very safe and protected. Sora's breathing was even, quiet, and at ease; no more hyperventilating at night. Her headache slowly ebbed away. When morning came around, she was still sleeping, a result of many sleepless nights in the past two weeks. After all she had been through, she might as well have deserved a very long rest.

Tokala thought it would be best not to disturb Sora. She had needed this kind of rest desperately, and it pleased him that she found it.

[Anonymous]

Drea's sleep was as it always was: deep, silent, and calm. Drea could sleep for years, decades, centuries if she was not woken. Perched above Sora and still as a statue, she had been mistaken as a statue before, so pale was her skin and still was her sleep. As the sun rose higher, Drea did not move. She would not move until someone woke her.

[Anonymous]

Sora continued to sleep peacefully. The woods were as still as ever. However, something emerged from the trees. It revealed itself to be a pack of wolves. And they were closing in on her as quietly as possible.

Tokala sensed their presence, however, and being the cynophobic that all kitsune were, shouted in her mind, Sora! Sora! Wake up, Sora!

Sora slowly woke, and then she heard the low snarling, the quiet breathing, and then she saw the pack of six wolves, all with their teeth bared and ready to strike. Tokala's fear had transferred into Sora; her eyes widened and she gave a loud scream of terror. Her power of flight had caused her to jump at least twenty feet in the air, and she grabbed hold of a branch. She hanged precariously over the wolves as they barked and jumped in an attempt to grab her and pull her down.

[Anonymous]

Drea woke with the suddenness of a avalanche, dropping from her branch and landing on one of the wolves. She stepped off it and it quickly sprang to it's feet, but instead of the wolves leaping at her as they would have Sora, they whined and began to back away, hackles on end. "This is still sacred ground, brother wolves," Drea intoned, eyes alight with anger, "You would do well you remember that."

Never before, never, had they dared to come here! Now, twice in as many days, Sora had been on the receiving end of violence here, and that would not do! Not only was it an affront to the Goddess, but also--also--Drea;s heart constricted a little at the thought of Sora being eaten by wolves, or injured by humans. Sora was her friend, and though she had only a small inkling of what that actually meant, she still--had to do right by Sora.