Isis grimaced. She looked out at the direction of the market, inhaling through her nose. She bounced on her tip toes, as if itching to jump. Then she looked at Kitan as he tried to reason with her, telling her that he would much rather pay for some chicken than steal the entire spit. The vixen realized that he was clearly not ready to do everything she said willy nilly, and that it would take more convincing to get him to do anything bad, nevermind the illegal bit.
"Well that's no fun," she said. "If you're scared to do it then why not just say so."
Isis pushed her hand through her long hair in thought. She looked up and him again, shrugged, and then smiled. "All right, we'll do it your way." It had taken her this long to shove the bag of bishani back to him. "But I'm paying."
She itched at her scalp, looking toward the market. She was not planning on paying for chicken.
Isis stepped out onto the road, taking care across the sharp pebbles so as not to hurt her bare feet. She started at a jog, grinning widely from ear to ear. Kitan would probably not like what she was about to do, but he'd get over it.
The Kitsune's Legacy
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan’s mouth opened in distress when she called him a coward. He was not! And he didn’t want her to see him as one either. Had she let him get a word in, he might have agreed to go through with the theft then and there.
Instead, she pushed the bishani back to him and dropped from the tree. “H-hey!” he cried, noticing that she was already running down into the market. She was going to cause them to panic if she walked out of the woods looking like that! How could one as worldly as her not realize that?! “Wait up!”
A few green coins dropped out of the bag when Kitan rolled off the tree branch. He kicked off the trunk to hit the ground running. As soon as he did, the dirt failed to grant the stability he needed and slid out from under his foot. Kitan stumbled forwards and nearly crashed into a bush before regaining his balance just in time. He reached up to close his little bag’s tie with his teeth. Isis was already far enough ahead that Kitan decided not to waste time putting the bishani back into his pocket. Instead, he burst from the brush with the cloth bag still held between his teeth, were it flopped around like a dead rodent caught between a fox’s jaws.
When he caught up to her, he spat the bag back out into his hand and frantically looked up at her, searching for some sort of clue on her face. She had to know what she was doing, but it would have been nice of her to tell him! “Um. Why didn’t you...?” He said quietly, leaving the word ‘shift’ up to implication as he tried not to cause anybody alarm. So long as they walked normally and didn’t talk to anyone, it might still take time for people to notice.
Instead, she pushed the bishani back to him and dropped from the tree. “H-hey!” he cried, noticing that she was already running down into the market. She was going to cause them to panic if she walked out of the woods looking like that! How could one as worldly as her not realize that?! “Wait up!”
A few green coins dropped out of the bag when Kitan rolled off the tree branch. He kicked off the trunk to hit the ground running. As soon as he did, the dirt failed to grant the stability he needed and slid out from under his foot. Kitan stumbled forwards and nearly crashed into a bush before regaining his balance just in time. He reached up to close his little bag’s tie with his teeth. Isis was already far enough ahead that Kitan decided not to waste time putting the bishani back into his pocket. Instead, he burst from the brush with the cloth bag still held between his teeth, were it flopped around like a dead rodent caught between a fox’s jaws.
When he caught up to her, he spat the bag back out into his hand and frantically looked up at her, searching for some sort of clue on her face. She had to know what she was doing, but it would have been nice of her to tell him! “Um. Why didn’t you...?” He said quietly, leaving the word ‘shift’ up to implication as he tried not to cause anybody alarm. So long as they walked normally and didn’t talk to anyone, it might still take time for people to notice.
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
When Kitan had caught up to Isis, he started whispering to her, and she realized her mistake. While she did not want him to know that it was a mistake, he was correct that she could not exactly waltz right into town looking like that. It looked downright unnatural, for one thing.
"Oh," she said, and promptly transformed the rest of her body seamlessly into Isis the human. The hem of her white dress had become a few inches shorter, mostly for Kitan's benefit. "Thanks."
Isis shook herself a bit, as if to rid her nonexistent fur of dirt. "I forget sometimes," she lied. She couldn't remember the last time she had forgotten to shift before going into Marn or Shim. Isis had intentionally gone to both cities while fully transformed, but changing only her face was not something she did much. Kitan didn't need to know that she was a little bit distracted.
The road was frequented primarily by farmers and other commuters who lived in Shim but went to Marn for work. There was one person who had potentially seen her shift. A man in his forties had ridden past them by horse when she did, but she didn't seem to notice. The Marnian Guard would have had a hundred misdemeanors on her had she frequented the city, but she preferred Shim since it was policed very little.
Slowing her jog to a sort of awkward trot, Isis followed the smell of rotisserie chicken. The square was soon visible to their right, and Isis turned toward it. A woman carrying a basket, her young son in tow, followed their path. The Shim market could barely be called a market. It consisted of, on most days, a handful of stands selling a handful of things. By far the most interesting, and successful, salesperson was the man selling the chicken.
The chicken stand had a sign above it painted in green ink that read, "SPIT CHICKEN." It was set up toward the middle of the market, which Isis supposed the other stand owners had allowed him to do because it brought in people. The woman behind them went right for a different stand, which was selling milk and eggs. She began loading eggs into her basket, and Isis watched the boy out of the corner of her eye.
She swallowed, the smell of that chicken driving her senses completely mad. She looked at Kitan, and gave him a reassuring smile, trying to convince him that she was not about to do anything terrible. Technically, she wasn't.
Isis waltzed up to the spit. She bent over and stared at it, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth.
"Ten bishani," said the man. He had very little hair and a fat nose. Isis wanted to laugh at him.
"Ten? You must be joking," she said. She stood upright to size him up, pushing her hips to one side so as to look sultry. Her cheap tactics did not appear to work on him. Isis did not want to bother with magic unless she had to. Well, not mind-magic anyway. "I can stay at the Chalice for five; I'm not paying eight for a chicken."
"Beggin' ye pardon miss, but it's ten and the Chalice isn't the best chik'n in all Thar Shaddin."
"Uh huh," said Isis, unimpressed. She looked at Kitan, and chuckled. "Are you hearing this?"
"Oh," she said, and promptly transformed the rest of her body seamlessly into Isis the human. The hem of her white dress had become a few inches shorter, mostly for Kitan's benefit. "Thanks."
Isis shook herself a bit, as if to rid her nonexistent fur of dirt. "I forget sometimes," she lied. She couldn't remember the last time she had forgotten to shift before going into Marn or Shim. Isis had intentionally gone to both cities while fully transformed, but changing only her face was not something she did much. Kitan didn't need to know that she was a little bit distracted.
The road was frequented primarily by farmers and other commuters who lived in Shim but went to Marn for work. There was one person who had potentially seen her shift. A man in his forties had ridden past them by horse when she did, but she didn't seem to notice. The Marnian Guard would have had a hundred misdemeanors on her had she frequented the city, but she preferred Shim since it was policed very little.
Slowing her jog to a sort of awkward trot, Isis followed the smell of rotisserie chicken. The square was soon visible to their right, and Isis turned toward it. A woman carrying a basket, her young son in tow, followed their path. The Shim market could barely be called a market. It consisted of, on most days, a handful of stands selling a handful of things. By far the most interesting, and successful, salesperson was the man selling the chicken.
The chicken stand had a sign above it painted in green ink that read, "SPIT CHICKEN." It was set up toward the middle of the market, which Isis supposed the other stand owners had allowed him to do because it brought in people. The woman behind them went right for a different stand, which was selling milk and eggs. She began loading eggs into her basket, and Isis watched the boy out of the corner of her eye.
She swallowed, the smell of that chicken driving her senses completely mad. She looked at Kitan, and gave him a reassuring smile, trying to convince him that she was not about to do anything terrible. Technically, she wasn't.
Isis waltzed up to the spit. She bent over and stared at it, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth.
"Ten bishani," said the man. He had very little hair and a fat nose. Isis wanted to laugh at him.
"Ten? You must be joking," she said. She stood upright to size him up, pushing her hips to one side so as to look sultry. Her cheap tactics did not appear to work on him. Isis did not want to bother with magic unless she had to. Well, not mind-magic anyway. "I can stay at the Chalice for five; I'm not paying eight for a chicken."
"Beggin' ye pardon miss, but it's ten and the Chalice isn't the best chik'n in all Thar Shaddin."
"Uh huh," said Isis, unimpressed. She looked at Kitan, and chuckled. "Are you hearing this?"
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Believe it or not, Kitan understood haggling. Before he had been a messenger, he had helped his father sell hides in Marn’s market. He had spent half a year at most at such a profession, but it was enough that he could see what Isis was trying to do.
Knowing of haggling and being good at it were two entirely separate matters. His father had been forced to step in on multiple occasions. And there had been that one time a fellow had offered his young self some magic beans and, well... it is enough to say that it turned out to be a very disappointing evening.
In this particular case, Kitan had not expected to be put on the spot. His ears flicked upwards as the man’s gaze fell upon him. He looked so funny squinting his eyes like that. Kitan was reminded distinctly of the toads that had been in the pond earlier. Even though the owner of the spit roast was clearly staring right at his fox ears, Kitan’s lips tightened for a moment as he tried not to laugh.
All things considered, Kitan came through remarkably okay when he nodded and said, nary a trace of a giggle, “It does seem awfully pricy.” He nodded, leaning in to inspect the meat “I guess you were right.”
When Kitan leaned in a little too close, the man raised a pudgy hand and waved it rapidly up and down as if shooing off an animal. The little shifter quickly took a few steps backwards. Ever the opportunist, the man chose to press the situation, “See tha’, miss? Ye fox canna hardly keep himself away.”
Kitan blushed a bit, realizing his mistake. He defaulted to crossing his arms and pouting, which made the chicken salesman cluck like a rooster.
Knowing of haggling and being good at it were two entirely separate matters. His father had been forced to step in on multiple occasions. And there had been that one time a fellow had offered his young self some magic beans and, well... it is enough to say that it turned out to be a very disappointing evening.
In this particular case, Kitan had not expected to be put on the spot. His ears flicked upwards as the man’s gaze fell upon him. He looked so funny squinting his eyes like that. Kitan was reminded distinctly of the toads that had been in the pond earlier. Even though the owner of the spit roast was clearly staring right at his fox ears, Kitan’s lips tightened for a moment as he tried not to laugh.
All things considered, Kitan came through remarkably okay when he nodded and said, nary a trace of a giggle, “It does seem awfully pricy.” He nodded, leaning in to inspect the meat “I guess you were right.”
When Kitan leaned in a little too close, the man raised a pudgy hand and waved it rapidly up and down as if shooing off an animal. The little shifter quickly took a few steps backwards. Ever the opportunist, the man chose to press the situation, “See tha’, miss? Ye fox canna hardly keep himself away.”
Kitan blushed a bit, realizing his mistake. He defaulted to crossing his arms and pouting, which made the chicken salesman cluck like a rooster.
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
"You must make quite the fortune off of these poor farm folk," said Isis, glaring at the man as he eyeballed Kitan like some horrendous beast. Fear and disdain of shifters and anything that looked like one was common in Thar Shaddin. Isis had noticed a slight increase in such behavior in Marnians in particular, but she wasn't sure why.
"I don't know about that," said the man. He scrunched his face together like he was trying to turn it into a fist. "It's the cost of my time, rent, and chickens," he offered. But Isis looked at him with an eyebrow raised and a crooked smile. Her disbelief was made obvious.
"Seven."
"Ten."
"Seven and a half."
"Ten."
"Nine then!"
"Ten."
Isis, aggravated, sighed in defeat and scratched the back of her head. She reached for something inside of her dress at her decolletage, an action most would find indecent. The man just stared, shuffling a bit to one side. From the dress she pulled out a small leather bag, and opened it. She dumped a few bishani into her hand, then dumped more out until there were ten. Very quickly, she showed the bishani to the shopkeeper and then retracted them in her fist.
"Right," said the man, and made an ugly grunting sound as he walked around her to get to the spit. He used metal tongs to lift the spit and then another set to pull one of the chickens from it. He stuck the chicken through with a wooden skewer.
As she went to grab it, he pulled it away from her and held out his palm.
Isis grinned, and put the bishani in his hand. Then, abruptly, she grabbed Kitan's hand and ran back out of the square toward the road and the woods beyond.
Not more than two seconds of running passed before shouting came from behind them.
"Impossible!" She could hear. She began to giggle, knowing that the illusory bishani had disappeared the moment she was out of range.
"I don't know about that," said the man. He scrunched his face together like he was trying to turn it into a fist. "It's the cost of my time, rent, and chickens," he offered. But Isis looked at him with an eyebrow raised and a crooked smile. Her disbelief was made obvious.
"Seven."
"Ten."
"Seven and a half."
"Ten."
"Nine then!"
"Ten."
Isis, aggravated, sighed in defeat and scratched the back of her head. She reached for something inside of her dress at her decolletage, an action most would find indecent. The man just stared, shuffling a bit to one side. From the dress she pulled out a small leather bag, and opened it. She dumped a few bishani into her hand, then dumped more out until there were ten. Very quickly, she showed the bishani to the shopkeeper and then retracted them in her fist.
"Right," said the man, and made an ugly grunting sound as he walked around her to get to the spit. He used metal tongs to lift the spit and then another set to pull one of the chickens from it. He stuck the chicken through with a wooden skewer.
As she went to grab it, he pulled it away from her and held out his palm.
Isis grinned, and put the bishani in his hand. Then, abruptly, she grabbed Kitan's hand and ran back out of the square toward the road and the woods beyond.
Not more than two seconds of running passed before shouting came from behind them.
"Impossible!" She could hear. She began to giggle, knowing that the illusory bishani had disappeared the moment she was out of range.
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan frowned as the man refused to budge on the price of the chicken, partly because he refused to be haggled down and partly because of being viewed as an animal. He almost attempted to shift his ears away right then and there, but before the thought so much as concluded he realized what a poor decision that would be.
Eventually, Isis forked over the ten bishani. Though his first reaction was to blush at the notion of where she kept her bishani, his second was to wiggle his lips with a disappointed look on his face, a little saddened by the outcome. It almost made Isis’ earlier idea to steal it seem like the most valid option, especially now that he knew the man who made the chicken was so rude and stubborn. Kitan wanted to head butt him.
Isis concluded the payment, took up the chicken and grabbed him by the wrist, leading him off. Kitan stumbled for the first few steps, but dexterously regained his balance and continued onwards. The food smelled delicious, and his fox instincts made him lick his lips in anticipation. For all his faults, it seemed the fat chicken man knew what he was doing with cooking.
Wondering why she was moving so quickly, he moved to ask “Why are we-” His voice dropped into a squeak as a bug flew into his face. He lowered his eyes and swatted, but it had already tumbled from his features by the time his hand approached his face. While his hand was on his face, his ears picked up the noise of a stunned exclamation by the man. He blinked and lowered his arm, intending to look questioningly at Isis.
When he looked up, there was a jet of water bursting from the ground! It was as if a geyser had suddenly erupted in his path; the force and noise of it resounded in his sensitive ears.
Isis just kept running, like she didn’t see it! Kitan’s feet dragged, kicking up an impressive cloud of dust in the process, but her insistent pull drove him forwards. Just before he collided with the jet, he noticed that it didn’t feel as if any drops of water were falling back to him.
His eyes went wide, connecting the dots with admirable swiftness. He leapt forwards and passed right through the delusion, matching Isis’ pace once more. He looked over his shoulder as they ran off.
“I guess you didn’t see that then.” He said quietly, turning his head back up to her. “Sorry. Just a delusion, and it wasn’t the spirit thing.”
They quickly crossed the border back into the forest. Kitan’s eyes narrowed, a little suspiciously. They gave way to a mischievous grin. He was starting to suspect what Isis had done and he couldn’t say he still disapproved. Pushing past ferns, he made an effort to slow their pace a little. They didn’t really need to rush. Even if the rude chicken man had any support, a fact which Kitan naively doubted due to the man’s rudeness towards shifters, Kitan knew his ears would hear them long before they arrived. Avoiding them would be child’s play. He giggled a little, putting a hand over his mouth.
“Okay,” he admitted, “You were right. That was fun.”
Eventually, Isis forked over the ten bishani. Though his first reaction was to blush at the notion of where she kept her bishani, his second was to wiggle his lips with a disappointed look on his face, a little saddened by the outcome. It almost made Isis’ earlier idea to steal it seem like the most valid option, especially now that he knew the man who made the chicken was so rude and stubborn. Kitan wanted to head butt him.
Isis concluded the payment, took up the chicken and grabbed him by the wrist, leading him off. Kitan stumbled for the first few steps, but dexterously regained his balance and continued onwards. The food smelled delicious, and his fox instincts made him lick his lips in anticipation. For all his faults, it seemed the fat chicken man knew what he was doing with cooking.
Wondering why she was moving so quickly, he moved to ask “Why are we-” His voice dropped into a squeak as a bug flew into his face. He lowered his eyes and swatted, but it had already tumbled from his features by the time his hand approached his face. While his hand was on his face, his ears picked up the noise of a stunned exclamation by the man. He blinked and lowered his arm, intending to look questioningly at Isis.
When he looked up, there was a jet of water bursting from the ground! It was as if a geyser had suddenly erupted in his path; the force and noise of it resounded in his sensitive ears.
Isis just kept running, like she didn’t see it! Kitan’s feet dragged, kicking up an impressive cloud of dust in the process, but her insistent pull drove him forwards. Just before he collided with the jet, he noticed that it didn’t feel as if any drops of water were falling back to him.
His eyes went wide, connecting the dots with admirable swiftness. He leapt forwards and passed right through the delusion, matching Isis’ pace once more. He looked over his shoulder as they ran off.
“I guess you didn’t see that then.” He said quietly, turning his head back up to her. “Sorry. Just a delusion, and it wasn’t the spirit thing.”
They quickly crossed the border back into the forest. Kitan’s eyes narrowed, a little suspiciously. They gave way to a mischievous grin. He was starting to suspect what Isis had done and he couldn’t say he still disapproved. Pushing past ferns, he made an effort to slow their pace a little. They didn’t really need to rush. Even if the rude chicken man had any support, a fact which Kitan naively doubted due to the man’s rudeness towards shifters, Kitan knew his ears would hear them long before they arrived. Avoiding them would be child’s play. He giggled a little, putting a hand over his mouth.
“Okay,” he admitted, “You were right. That was fun.”
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
In what Isis assumed was in protest to her actions, Kitan abruptly pulled back. She pulled him harder, getting mildly annoyed by his stumbling and now his stopping. Thankfully, she managed to get him to continue on their getaway. “I guess you didn’t see that then,” he said, to her confusion. She scrunched up her face, giving him a perplexed look. Kitan apologized, and explained in a mid-run sentence.
Delusions. Funny things, those visions he'd mentioned earlier. Clearly he was able to see things that she could not, for better or worse. She wondered if they gave him a sort of clairvoyance, or if they were just ink blots on his abilities. With this kid, anything seemed possible. He'd already surprised her by how talented he was for a half-breed. There was a real chance she could summon up even more from him, with time.
Once they were back in the forest, Isis followed one of her better-remembered pathways. She'd always take the more interesting route while traveling, opting to balance her way across a fallen log or push her feet off the sides of trees rather than merely walk. Kitan followed her, and when they were out of bounds from human eyes, he began giggling.
That wily grin reached her again and she transformed back into her favored half-fox form. She spun in an overly excited circle and swung the chicken around, being careful not to let it fly off of its skewer.
"He didn't know what hit him!" Isis was thankful that the man had been an ogre of a salesman. Kitan's little introduction to crime would not have gone so well if he'd been an honest father trying to earn a living, or worse, a woman.
"Ten bishani." She stopped moving and stared at the chicken, as if angry at it for pricing itself. She shook her head, and then tenderly bit a small chunk from it. She tossed the skewered chicken to Kitan to enjoy.
"I know, I'm terrible."
Delusions. Funny things, those visions he'd mentioned earlier. Clearly he was able to see things that she could not, for better or worse. She wondered if they gave him a sort of clairvoyance, or if they were just ink blots on his abilities. With this kid, anything seemed possible. He'd already surprised her by how talented he was for a half-breed. There was a real chance she could summon up even more from him, with time.
Once they were back in the forest, Isis followed one of her better-remembered pathways. She'd always take the more interesting route while traveling, opting to balance her way across a fallen log or push her feet off the sides of trees rather than merely walk. Kitan followed her, and when they were out of bounds from human eyes, he began giggling.
That wily grin reached her again and she transformed back into her favored half-fox form. She spun in an overly excited circle and swung the chicken around, being careful not to let it fly off of its skewer.
"He didn't know what hit him!" Isis was thankful that the man had been an ogre of a salesman. Kitan's little introduction to crime would not have gone so well if he'd been an honest father trying to earn a living, or worse, a woman.
"Ten bishani." She stopped moving and stared at the chicken, as if angry at it for pricing itself. She shook her head, and then tenderly bit a small chunk from it. She tossed the skewered chicken to Kitan to enjoy.
"I know, I'm terrible."
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan caught the chicken, though its greasy surface slipped from between his fingers. He dexterously maneuvered his second hand underneath it and caught the evasive meat before it could fall any significant distance. He could see where she had taken a bite from it; a sizeable chunk had been torn out by her fox’s maw.
He wondered how her digestive system worked what with constantly changing. He flipped the meat to an unbitten side and dug in, happy to ponder it as he remedied his empty stomach. The day had seen him without food barring a single dormouse for breakfast. The sight of the delicious chicken now served as a reminder of this fact, and he wolfed it down without a second thought for Isis.
About midway through his feeding frenzy, he decided that her real illusions must also create real internal organs. The one flaw in his theory was the mystery of what happened when she turned into a rock. As he finished off his last bites, he gave up and decided that ‘magic’ would have to suffice as his answer. A determination filled him to one day figure out what it felt like to eat chicken with a fox’s snout.
“You’re not terrible. You’re nice!” He put the skewer down beside him and smiled across the distance to her. “I should have listened to you the first time.” He added, having learned his lesson about not trusting Isis. She had probably already known about the chicken man, and wanted to show him rather than tell him. His smile grew comfortable, and he languished against a tree.
His thoughts inevitably wandered back to himself, and the curious display that he had endured in the market. Hand on his chin, he made a couple ‘hmm’ noises that implied he was mulling something over. “Actually, I was surprised back there. My delusion made noise and wasn’t that spirit thing that has shown up for the last two.” He suddenly realized the implications, “Oh. I hope that doesn’t mean that if I learn how to shift I’ll have to start feeling my delusions too. I’ve got to find a way to get rid of these things.”
He wondered how her digestive system worked what with constantly changing. He flipped the meat to an unbitten side and dug in, happy to ponder it as he remedied his empty stomach. The day had seen him without food barring a single dormouse for breakfast. The sight of the delicious chicken now served as a reminder of this fact, and he wolfed it down without a second thought for Isis.
About midway through his feeding frenzy, he decided that her real illusions must also create real internal organs. The one flaw in his theory was the mystery of what happened when she turned into a rock. As he finished off his last bites, he gave up and decided that ‘magic’ would have to suffice as his answer. A determination filled him to one day figure out what it felt like to eat chicken with a fox’s snout.
“You’re not terrible. You’re nice!” He put the skewer down beside him and smiled across the distance to her. “I should have listened to you the first time.” He added, having learned his lesson about not trusting Isis. She had probably already known about the chicken man, and wanted to show him rather than tell him. His smile grew comfortable, and he languished against a tree.
His thoughts inevitably wandered back to himself, and the curious display that he had endured in the market. Hand on his chin, he made a couple ‘hmm’ noises that implied he was mulling something over. “Actually, I was surprised back there. My delusion made noise and wasn’t that spirit thing that has shown up for the last two.” He suddenly realized the implications, “Oh. I hope that doesn’t mean that if I learn how to shift I’ll have to start feeling my delusions too. I’ve got to find a way to get rid of these things.”
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Isis had eaten a fresh rabbit shortly before she'd stumbled across her new companion, so when Kitan went ahead and devoured the rest of the chicken, she didn't mind. She sat on a carpet of grass, removing some sticks and stones from under her. She watched him eat for a bit. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, she cleaned her claws of what little dirt they held and wondered more about the boy's new role in her world.
This whole situation she had helped invent was really just an attempt for her to collect him. Having any person enjoy her presence, and especially devote themselves to her, gave her reason to live and reason to keep being a naughty fox. Otherwise, there was no one to enjoy it with.
Lost were the days when she found pleasure in doing rotten things to people for her own enjoyment. Now, she needed a bystander, someone to watch her doing it. It got her off more if they could actually help her in the act.
She licked her lips at the thought, daintily wiping her mouth with one finger as if to clear it of food.
"You're nice!" Isis resisted the urge to laugh. She smiled, and shrugged at his admission of being wrong. "I didn't used to like stealing either."
Kitan spoke more about his delusion, and Isis's tails flicked with interest.
If the delusions would get worse were Kitan to learn how to shift, that would be bad. He might seriously injure himself by shifting, and that was something they'd have to find a way to prevent. He was right; they needed to figure out how to get rid of these visions. Concern washed over her face. Real concern.
"We do. I don't want you to get hurt as you harness your abilities," she said. "I'm just trying to figure how how they could be happening. Maybe there's some trigger.. or maybe they come in a pattern.."
She looked up at him, cocking her head. "Do you keep a journal of them?"
This whole situation she had helped invent was really just an attempt for her to collect him. Having any person enjoy her presence, and especially devote themselves to her, gave her reason to live and reason to keep being a naughty fox. Otherwise, there was no one to enjoy it with.
Lost were the days when she found pleasure in doing rotten things to people for her own enjoyment. Now, she needed a bystander, someone to watch her doing it. It got her off more if they could actually help her in the act.
She licked her lips at the thought, daintily wiping her mouth with one finger as if to clear it of food.
"You're nice!" Isis resisted the urge to laugh. She smiled, and shrugged at his admission of being wrong. "I didn't used to like stealing either."
Kitan spoke more about his delusion, and Isis's tails flicked with interest.
If the delusions would get worse were Kitan to learn how to shift, that would be bad. He might seriously injure himself by shifting, and that was something they'd have to find a way to prevent. He was right; they needed to figure out how to get rid of these visions. Concern washed over her face. Real concern.
"We do. I don't want you to get hurt as you harness your abilities," she said. "I'm just trying to figure how how they could be happening. Maybe there's some trigger.. or maybe they come in a pattern.."
She looked up at him, cocking her head. "Do you keep a journal of them?"
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan’s sole tail wagged beneath him, happy as he was that Isis was willing to help. However, he was also uncomfortable talking about his delusions. Lingering unease caused him to kick at the ground and lower his gaze from Isis to the dirt of the forest floor.
“I’ve never kept a journal of them. There didn’t seem to be much of a point. Until today, they have never been the same twice.” He tried to think of what he had told her previously, and couldn’t remember exactly what he had said. He chewed on his lip in frustration before he stopped leaning on the tree, instead sitting at its base. “Also, I’m not very good with words and stuff. I can read well enough, enough to deliver mail to the right addresses. But it would take me a while to write a journal and it wouldn't be very good.”
He shrugged, “I remember all of them anyways," he claimed, grossly oversimplifying things, "They’ve never been the same, but they have reacted to my surroundings and... tailored themselves to be hurtful. One impersonated my father before turning into some sort of undead thing.” The thought of a delusion such as that gaining a voice made Kitan shiver. “I guess that means there is some sort of intelligence behind them, or that they are the product of my mind.”
Something occurred to Kitan then, something he had been choosing not to focus on due to the implications. “But that can’t be right! The paper-faced one could see and read Shade’s cards when we were playing a game of go fish earlier today. So they must be independent of me, which means there has got to be a way to stop them.”
He looked to Isis for guidance, hoping she would be able to shed additional insight.
“I’ve never kept a journal of them. There didn’t seem to be much of a point. Until today, they have never been the same twice.” He tried to think of what he had told her previously, and couldn’t remember exactly what he had said. He chewed on his lip in frustration before he stopped leaning on the tree, instead sitting at its base. “Also, I’m not very good with words and stuff. I can read well enough, enough to deliver mail to the right addresses. But it would take me a while to write a journal and it wouldn't be very good.”
He shrugged, “I remember all of them anyways," he claimed, grossly oversimplifying things, "They’ve never been the same, but they have reacted to my surroundings and... tailored themselves to be hurtful. One impersonated my father before turning into some sort of undead thing.” The thought of a delusion such as that gaining a voice made Kitan shiver. “I guess that means there is some sort of intelligence behind them, or that they are the product of my mind.”
Something occurred to Kitan then, something he had been choosing not to focus on due to the implications. “But that can’t be right! The paper-faced one could see and read Shade’s cards when we were playing a game of go fish earlier today. So they must be independent of me, which means there has got to be a way to stop them.”
He looked to Isis for guidance, hoping she would be able to shed additional insight.
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan said that he hadn't written any of his delusions down, which clearly was disappointing to Isis. She didn't know how she would help this child even if he had novels filled with details of each delusion, but at least it would be a starting point. Now she was forced to believe everything he said as the purest truth, and from experience she knew that the memory of most creatures was anything but perfect.
"I remember all of them anyways," he said, and the vixen rolled her eyes. "Right," she said.
The fox remained silent as Kitan described two delusions, quite different from one other. The first was clearly something that was similar to a nightmare, and when he mentioned they could be a product of his mind, Isis started to nod. Then he revealed something else, that the delusions could sometimes see things that Kitan himself could not, which caught her interest quite a lot. If his delusions were capable of that, this meant that it was very likely he could train his own illusions to do the same.
"I want you to either start writing all of them down, or come to me and let me write them down for you," she said, and it was clear there was to be no argument from him. "It sounds like they are an extension of yourself. That's a good thing; it means you'll be able to control those extra senses and abilities one day and see things you couldn't see alone.
"Think of it like if I were to shift into a very tall tree. I'd be able to feel the wind in the air in a way I can't right now. Your delusions are very much like tangible illusions, things you can touch, things that are real, but they're not quite whole and you aren't conscious of what they can see and feel. Now imagine if you could hone that." The tone of her voice was light and bouncy, as if she had just discovered a trove filled with priceless treasures. "What power.." Her grin was very wide. She placed one of her hands on her cheek and rested her head on it, looking at Kitan, infatuated.
"I remember all of them anyways," he said, and the vixen rolled her eyes. "Right," she said.
The fox remained silent as Kitan described two delusions, quite different from one other. The first was clearly something that was similar to a nightmare, and when he mentioned they could be a product of his mind, Isis started to nod. Then he revealed something else, that the delusions could sometimes see things that Kitan himself could not, which caught her interest quite a lot. If his delusions were capable of that, this meant that it was very likely he could train his own illusions to do the same.
"I want you to either start writing all of them down, or come to me and let me write them down for you," she said, and it was clear there was to be no argument from him. "It sounds like they are an extension of yourself. That's a good thing; it means you'll be able to control those extra senses and abilities one day and see things you couldn't see alone.
"Think of it like if I were to shift into a very tall tree. I'd be able to feel the wind in the air in a way I can't right now. Your delusions are very much like tangible illusions, things you can touch, things that are real, but they're not quite whole and you aren't conscious of what they can see and feel. Now imagine if you could hone that." The tone of her voice was light and bouncy, as if she had just discovered a trove filled with priceless treasures. "What power.." Her grin was very wide. She placed one of her hands on her cheek and rested her head on it, looking at Kitan, infatuated.
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan groaned like a petulant child being told to do extra work after class, his head rolling upwards into the sky before lolling about every which way. His fox ears rotated downwards, doing their best to point to the ground no matter which way his head turned. Drawing out his first word into a prolonged, distraught statement of its own, he spoke, “Fiiiiiiiiiiine, if you say so.”
He blinked at her explanation of how his delusions might later be harnessed and put to use. Having always treated them as an enemy, it had never occurred to him that they might actually indicate that he had some exceptional talent or strength. His grumpy smile inverted itself as his sense of self importance swelled to still greater heights. Everything he learned from Isis seemed to point to him being somehow special, just like the hero of some story. He was rare, uncommon, and he loved it.
He turned to her, eager to explore the possibilities further, and caught her blatantly adoring look. Words left him and a blush graced his cheeks. He wasn’t quite certain what to do, but the notion that she was in love with his powers rather than person talented enough to wield them never once occurred to him. His eager uncertainty eventually found its outlet in the form of averting his gaze and kicking his foot softly against the ground. Even upon Kitan, the shyness of the action was not lost. He moved to correct by staring up at her and seeing what she would do.
He blinked at her explanation of how his delusions might later be harnessed and put to use. Having always treated them as an enemy, it had never occurred to him that they might actually indicate that he had some exceptional talent or strength. His grumpy smile inverted itself as his sense of self importance swelled to still greater heights. Everything he learned from Isis seemed to point to him being somehow special, just like the hero of some story. He was rare, uncommon, and he loved it.
He turned to her, eager to explore the possibilities further, and caught her blatantly adoring look. Words left him and a blush graced his cheeks. He wasn’t quite certain what to do, but the notion that she was in love with his powers rather than person talented enough to wield them never once occurred to him. His eager uncertainty eventually found its outlet in the form of averting his gaze and kicking his foot softly against the ground. Even upon Kitan, the shyness of the action was not lost. He moved to correct by staring up at her and seeing what she would do.
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Isis furrowed her brow, squinting as Kitan barely agreed to her non-negotiable demands. She sniffed outward, as if exhaling a bad smell. Her long, black fingers ran across one of her ears, and she pushed them through her hair. A vision passed through her mind, one where Kitan obeyed her every command no matter what. She'd have to build his trust over a lifetime for that to happen. How tedious.
Still, his abilities were titillating to her power-hungry nature. If only she could fuse this bond between them. She could help him to grow, to see through that potential and turn him into something so much more than a half-fox boy with a dwarf father and pointless messenger existence. She could see him for what he was: a beautiful, deadly creature. He had more power than most people would ever know. Isis knew that she had the keys to that power, and it was his blind trust in her that would steer it through oblivion and back again.
Kitan averted his gaze, apparently seeing her expression and flooding his cheeks with a brilliant stain. When he looked back at her, she felt her smile widen against her will, and at once remembered the joy that was puppy love. In that moment everything about him seemed perfect. The little tufts of fur on his ears that were out of place, the mop of his red hair, the eagerness and simultaneous caution in his expressions, they were all perfect little pieces. Isis blinked, and realized that she had probably been in this youthful form for a bit too long if she was already enamored with the boy.
"We'll figure this all out," she said, trying to break the silence. "You'll see."
Isis folded her legs and dusted specks of dirt from the skirt of her cream robe. She realized the position was indecent and flicked her eyes around nervously before adjusting herself, moving her legs to the side so as not to reveal anything beneath her clothes. Her fingers tightened the belt of the robe quickly so he might not notice it was loose.
"Your little hunter friends aren't missing you, are they?" She wasn't sure if the beasts would come looking for him in the woods should they notice him gone. Isis was in no mood to meet them today.
Still, his abilities were titillating to her power-hungry nature. If only she could fuse this bond between them. She could help him to grow, to see through that potential and turn him into something so much more than a half-fox boy with a dwarf father and pointless messenger existence. She could see him for what he was: a beautiful, deadly creature. He had more power than most people would ever know. Isis knew that she had the keys to that power, and it was his blind trust in her that would steer it through oblivion and back again.
Kitan averted his gaze, apparently seeing her expression and flooding his cheeks with a brilliant stain. When he looked back at her, she felt her smile widen against her will, and at once remembered the joy that was puppy love. In that moment everything about him seemed perfect. The little tufts of fur on his ears that were out of place, the mop of his red hair, the eagerness and simultaneous caution in his expressions, they were all perfect little pieces. Isis blinked, and realized that she had probably been in this youthful form for a bit too long if she was already enamored with the boy.
"We'll figure this all out," she said, trying to break the silence. "You'll see."
Isis folded her legs and dusted specks of dirt from the skirt of her cream robe. She realized the position was indecent and flicked her eyes around nervously before adjusting herself, moving her legs to the side so as not to reveal anything beneath her clothes. Her fingers tightened the belt of the robe quickly so he might not notice it was loose.
"Your little hunter friends aren't missing you, are they?" She wasn't sure if the beasts would come looking for him in the woods should they notice him gone. Isis was in no mood to meet them today.
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
Kitan blinked. He had completely forgotten about the pair of werewolves and what they might think of his unexplained departure. Clutching his head in his hands and curling into a small ball, he emitted a high pitched whine. He just as quickly stretched back out, pushing his bandaged feet through green moss. His head was set against the tree which he rested against, staring upwards into the sky. “I didn’t warn them ever. Ugh. I dunno, probably. Somebody told me Shade thinks I’m like him if he wasn’t a jerk, and Gia has a really good sense of smell. I mean, Shade probably does too because they’re both werewolves but… oh I don’t know.”
A bird few overhead, circling around for reasons unknown to Kitan. It had unusual, dull red feathers which Kitan didn't recognize. “How long does it take to hunt stuff? And eat the corpse. For wolves, I mean. That’s probably how long we have until they find me by scent.”
The sun started to get in his eyes as a gust of wind blew a protective branch away. He raised a hand, abandoning the bird to it fate. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't certain whether or not he should expect the werewolves to cook their food. “D’you think we should go back to that house? They’re weird but alright.”
A bird few overhead, circling around for reasons unknown to Kitan. It had unusual, dull red feathers which Kitan didn't recognize. “How long does it take to hunt stuff? And eat the corpse. For wolves, I mean. That’s probably how long we have until they find me by scent.”
The sun started to get in his eyes as a gust of wind blew a protective branch away. He raised a hand, abandoning the bird to it fate. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't certain whether or not he should expect the werewolves to cook their food. “D’you think we should go back to that house? They’re weird but alright.”
Re: The Kitsune's Legacy
How long would it take for two werewolves to find, kill, and eat an animal? Isis wasn't sure; hunting was a delicate process, but wolves were hardly delicate creatures. She imagined that they failed more often than they succeeded at such things.
"Hmm," she hummed, wiggling her feet, pondering Kitan's question. If she went back to the house with him, she would need to deal with the werewolves. Isis hated werewolves for a variety of reasons, but there was little that would stop her from making potential connections with those that were easily manipulated. Besides; if she wanted to get into Kitan's mind, she'd have to get o know every tendril of his life, no matter how boring or unpleasant.
"Sure, it might be nice to meet them. But... I don't know if they'll like me. Wolves can be really mean to people who aren't like them," said Isis. She pushed back her hair and drew her long tails around her as if to comfort herself from something scary. Playing the sweet and innocent card was always much more fun and relaxing than taking charge.
"Maybe if I look more like you..?" Isis changed herself to look more human again, leaving only her foxy ears. She pulled out a hair ribbon from what appeared to be nowhere, and tied her sandy hair back to keep it out of the way. The robe was replaced once again with a simplistic, cream-coloured dress. "They're not mean, right?"
"Hmm," she hummed, wiggling her feet, pondering Kitan's question. If she went back to the house with him, she would need to deal with the werewolves. Isis hated werewolves for a variety of reasons, but there was little that would stop her from making potential connections with those that were easily manipulated. Besides; if she wanted to get into Kitan's mind, she'd have to get o know every tendril of his life, no matter how boring or unpleasant.
"Sure, it might be nice to meet them. But... I don't know if they'll like me. Wolves can be really mean to people who aren't like them," said Isis. She pushed back her hair and drew her long tails around her as if to comfort herself from something scary. Playing the sweet and innocent card was always much more fun and relaxing than taking charge.
"Maybe if I look more like you..?" Isis changed herself to look more human again, leaving only her foxy ears. She pulled out a hair ribbon from what appeared to be nowhere, and tied her sandy hair back to keep it out of the way. The robe was replaced once again with a simplistic, cream-coloured dress. "They're not mean, right?"
shaam hai, jaam hai, aur hai nasha