It was a snowy night. In the forest, the stench of blood and sweat mingled along with heavy bloodlust. The crunching of snow and the shouts of angry men echoes within the dark night.
"Find him! Find that damned fox!"
A burly man shouted, swinging his sword angrily as he cut through the bushes. A group of furious huntsmen tore through grass and vines with a swing of their weapons. Soon, they disappeared deeper into the woods.
Not too far from where the huntsmen just left, some bushes rustles gently. A furry black head peaked out from within. A black fox with a crescent moon mark on his forehead sneezed with a shiver.
"Tch!" The fox clicked his tongue in annoyance. "So troublesome. Isn't it just the death of a few humans. Do they really have to chase me this far?" The fox grumbled as he licked his injured hind leg. Swinging his three black tails in frustration, he moved to the opposite direction from where the huntsmen left.
An hour later….
Stumbling along the thick snow, his sight slowly blurs with the combination of snowfall and the loss of blood. Missing a step, he accidentally fell down the cliff, losing consciousness as he hit a jagged rock.
—————————
"En…."
Slowly opening his eyes to a straw ceiling, the fox jumped up in alarm. "Where?" He mumbled alertly, sniffing the air for signs of danger while his eyes roaming around the rundown shack.
A simple wooden table and chair. Walls made of straw with windows and a single entrance covered by a thin cloth. The only warmth delivered is by the crackling hearth located at the center of the room. Glowing against the orange light is a red comb lying on the small dressing table near the bed. Next to the comb are ribbons made of coarse cloth and one or two wooden hairpins.
Such small living quarters, the fox thought as he shuffled towards the edge of the bed. He winced in pain at a sudden tug from behind.
Remembering the injuries he sustained, his sight moved onto his hind leg. Blood seeps through his white bandages, the wound has reopened.
With the rediscovery of his injuries, a sudden pang of pain spread all over his body. Mixed with the strong scent of medicinal herbs, it caused him to collapse with dizziness.
Just as he gritted his teeth in an attempt to stand up, a slender hand slowly stretched inside, pushing the entrance flap aside.
Looking ahead with blurry sight, the fox saw a delicate woman in her early teens. Round steady eyes with braided brown hair and small peony-colored lips. The bamboo-green robe compliments her wheat-colored skin.
He struggled to watch as she wobbled towards him. Sniffing the air, the same smell of medicine and earth emits from her clothes. This is the owner of the house, he thought. But-
Seeing her approaching closer, he snarled in warning, don't come near me! His face seems to say.
Just as he was about to pounce on her, the woman flicked a small pill into his mouth.
"Eat." She said emotionlessly.
Swallowing without an ounce of effort, the fox sat there stunned, eyes wide open as he stared at the woman in front of him. You! He thought, as his body fell heavily onto the bed.
Silence fills the room once again.
Standing motionlessly with her back to the hearth, a shadow casts against her skin, covering her eyes. Staring silently at the unconscious fox, the young woman stood beside the bed with a small dagger in hand. Clenching and releasing a few times, her expressionless face twitched for a second, before returning to nothing. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she quietly treated his injuries.
________________________
The next day. The fox slowly opened his eyes, before closing it again due to the light shining from the window. Groaning in pain, he shook his head a few times to clear his foggy mind while trying to recall the event of last night. Suddenly, a soft, gentle hand covers his forehead, rubbing slowly in an attempt to lessen his pain.
"Feeling better?" A voice sounded from above him.
Raising his head in alarm, the fox stares in surprise at the delicate face next to his. It's the woman from yesterday!
Without thinking, he jumped up from the bed. Turning to face her in mid-air, a cloud of white smoke suddenly released from his body. The next second, a young man in his late teens appeared, pressing onto the woman under him.
"Who are you?!" He questioned dangerously. Golden pupils squinting at her as he leans closer, his long black hair cascading over the woman's slim body in an attempt to pressure her.
But his actions have no effect, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened, the woman stares back at him with calm, droopy eyes. Her braided hair became undone from the large movement, fanning out across the bed, entwining with his black ones.
If at this moment, another person was in the room, they would've seen a handsome young man and a graceful young woman. Embracing on top of the bed ambiguously. Black clothes and white skin against green robes and wheat-colored skin. Although the two colors might not necessarily compliment each other, but for the two in front, a rapport is created.
Feeling as though he was ignored, the fox wrapped a hand around her neck. Forehead against forehead, he asked another question. "Do you know who I am?"
There are still hunters chasing after him outside. He needs to make sure, If by chance, this woman is one of them....
His eyes flashes dangerously, hand tightening around her neck.
Ignoring the pressure, her eyes droop as if she'll fall asleep the very next second. The woman yawned, before answering in a low voice. "I know who you are."
As expected, he thought. The sharp nails on his hand slowly start to grow longer. Just as the nails are about to pierce through her skin, the woman opened her mouth again.
"You're my son." She continued.
"Ah?" The moment he heard what she said, the ears on top of his head twitched a little. Retorting quickly, he said, "I'm your father!"
Looking at him tiredly, she repeated, "You're my son."
The veins on his forehead throbbed painfully. "I'm your father!"
"Son."
"Son."
"Son."
"Father!"
"Father!"
"Father!"
"Aye." The woman said, patting his head with a light smile. "Good boy."
Frozen in shock, the fox's mouth opened slightly in bewilderment.
Taking the opportunity, she slipped past him to head towards the door.
Opening the flap, she glanced back for a moment before saying, "you're heavily injured, just stay here for a few days. Don't worry, your father here will take good care of you." Before limping out the door, leaving the still dazed fox to contemplate on what he said wrong.