Magical Mystical Fox Hunt

MadEmperor · April 19, 2023, 03:57:39 PM

"You never have to ask if a gnoll wants to be lazy," Thrax smirked as he walked to his bedroll. "We're notoriously happy to just take it easy. We're like cats that way."

He yawned as he lay down. "Night."

The next morning, after just lazing about for a while, they ventured out for one last look around the village...

DragonSong · April 19, 2023, 04:32:50 PM

From the relatively small amount of time they had spent in the kitsune village, Hana had been rather under the impression that folks tended to be early risers. Which was why she was more than a little surprised when they emerged from the guest house and found Kiba leaning against the wall beside the door.

"Gods!" She yelped, the fur on her tails puffing out as she jumped back.

The other fox flinched in turn and skittered back a step himself, already apologizing: "Forgive me, Miss Hanako, I didn't mean to startle you—"

"What are you doing out here?!" Hana blinked, then clearly forced herself to relax, smoothing down the fur on her tails and forcing her ears back up. "I mean, ah, I...wasn't...expecting you..."

MadEmperor · April 19, 2023, 04:47:32 PM

Thrax barely restrained him from lunging at whoever had startled her. But he relaxed when he heard a familiar voice.

"Shouldn't you be on duty by now?" he asked as he followed Hana out.

DragonSong · April 19, 2023, 05:02:05 PM

"I—I am," Kiba answered Thrax's question first. "That is...I volunteered to guard your door."

Hana blinked. "But...my aunt isn't a danger anymore."

Kiba cleared his throat, glancing down. "No, she...she's not. I just—I thought maybe..."

He huffed. "My—my mother knew Tsukihana. When they were young."

Hana blinked. "Oh..."

MadEmperor · April 19, 2023, 05:25:43 PM

Thrax put a hand on her shoulder. "We have plenty of time left before we leave if you want to go talk to her."

DragonSong · April 19, 2023, 05:42:37 PM

"I—" Hana looked back and forth between them, clearly unsure.

Kiba ducked his head again. "If...if you'd like to meet her, I can show you the way?"

Hana bit her lip. Then, slowly, she nodded. Without really thinking about it, she reached out to take Thrax's hand as Kiba nodded in turn and beckoned for them to follow him through the village.

"Stay with me?" she asked quietly.

MadEmperor · April 19, 2023, 06:12:12 PM

"Of course," Thrax quietly answered with a smile. He would always be willing to be there for her; there wasn't a doubt in his mind.

As they walked, he asked Kiba, "Was your mother friends with Tsukihana?"

DragonSong · April 20, 2023, 07:05:50 AM

Kiba nodded slowly. "Yes. At least, that's how she speaks of her. As a friend."

Hana held Thrax's hand a little tighter, but said nothing. She felt strangely adrift, as though she wasn't quite present in the moment.

Kiba led them to one of the small houses closer to the center of the village. "I'll let here know you're here," he told them with a little nod. "Just...wait here a moment."

Hana nodded in turn as he disappeared into the house. She didn't seem to realize that her hand in Thrax's had started to tremble.

MadEmperor · April 20, 2023, 07:15:09 AM

Thrax squeezed her hand and hugged it to his chest. He smiled supportively. "I know you're nervous, but it'll be okay. I know you'll do fine."

"And if somehow this goes poorly, I'll be there. I wouldn't be anywhere else."

DragonSong · April 20, 2023, 10:59:59 AM

"Good," Hana muttered, side-eyeing the door, "because you're faster than me, so if we have to make a run for it, you're carrying me."

Kiba opened the door for them a few moments later--but he paused to give Thrax an apologetic look. "Would you mind...waiting here, for her? It's nothing personal, this is just...a very emotional topic for my mother. I--I don't think she wants an audience..."

"Oh..." Hana hadn't even thought of that. She looked up at Thrax and gave him a small nod and smile. "I'll...be right back."

MadEmperor · April 20, 2023, 11:23:50 AM

Thrax hadn't thought of that either. He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I guess I'll be here then."

He smiled. "I'll just... chat up Kiba while you do your thing."

DragonSong · April 20, 2023, 12:03:34 PM

Hana nodded, tried for another smile, then gave his hand a quick squeeze before disappearing into the house.

Kiba hovered awkwardly in the entryway, looking from Thrax to the door and back. "Ah... She's safe. I promise," he mumbled after a few moments.

MadEmperor · April 20, 2023, 12:24:28 PM

Thrax nodded in agreement. "I'm not worried." He smiled. "She's tougher than she thinks."

"So... what would you do if you didn't have to hide away here?" he asked curiously.

DragonSong · April 20, 2023, 02:47:30 PM

"Do?" Kiba blinked. "Me?" His ears flicked back and forth as he seemingly considered the question.

"I...this probably sounds very boring to you, Master Thrax," he murmured eventually, "but...I'm not sure I'd really do much different. If we didn't need such a heavy guard on our borders though...I-I think I'd like to keep a garden."

He flushed a bit as he said it, clearly admitting something that he found at least mildly embarrassing. "Maybe we could trade for more exotic plants, too..."

MadEmperor · April 20, 2023, 03:14:17 PM

"Hey, I can't judge. I'm from a warrior race, and I chose to be a bard." Thrax smirked self-deprecatingly.

He chuckled a little. "Admittedly, I had to do something to survive, and it was just what made sense at the time. But it became my dream, if that makes any sense."

DragonSong · April 20, 2023, 04:08:06 PM

The guard nodded slowly. "I...think it does." He glanced at Stormsong, then asked with what had clearly been repressed curiosity, "So...it really does play music? I mean, I heard the song you used to heal Miss Hanako, but I wasn't sure how much of that was magic and how much..." He trailed off, waving his hand in a vague gesture.

MadEmperor · April 20, 2023, 04:26:16 PM

Thrax grinned proudly. "Oh, my magic doesn't work that way. I have to play the song correctly to draw the magic out and also supply some of my own to guide it."

"Do you want me to play something nonmagical for you before we leave?" he asked. "It does sound a little different outside of spellcasting."

DragonSong · April 21, 2023, 08:13:47 AM

Kiba's ears perked up, though he seemed to work to keep his expression neutral. "If...it's not too much trouble, that sounds...nice," he murmured, dipping his head respectfully in Thrax's direction.

Hana was inside the house for a while longer, and when she finally re-emerged it was with Kiba's mother at her shoulder. The guard straightened up quickly when he saw the seven-tailed kitsune, but she just waved him off.

"It was lovely to meet you, dear," she told Hana, taking the younger woman's hands in hers.

Hana nodded and smiled at her. "And tou, ma'am. Thank you."

"Of course." Looking to her son, the kitsune said briskly, "You'll keep an eye out for her while she's with us, yes?"

"Of course, Mother."

MadEmperor · April 21, 2023, 08:45:55 AM

Thrax smiled. "Don't worry, he's gone above and beyond for us already."

To Hana, he asked, "So, how'd it go?"

DragonSong · April 22, 2023, 06:13:55 AM

"It was..." Hana looked back at Kiba's mother with a small smile. "Nice," she murmured eventually.

Kiba and his mother were talking quickly in Thanati, and the older woman seemed to be giving him instructions of some kind. With a very quiet huff, the guard looked back to Hana and Thrax and offered, "Would you like an escort to the gate?"