And so, for the past few days, the fox lived at the woman's house. From eating, sleeping, bathing(in animal form), to changing medicine, the woman is always there to help.
"Damn it!" The fox said as he gnawed angrily on a stalk of grass. Due to his injuries, he is unable to transform again other than that one time a few days ago. Basking in the cold winter sun, his eyes stealthily follow after the woman in front of him. Her slender fingers meticulously arrange the medicinal herbs. While daylight shines on her face, giving her a healthy glow as she works quietly.
The woman in front of him is called Cui Lian, the daughter of a wandering doctor. Her father spends most of his time traveling from place to place in order to heal patients. Leaving her at home to grow medical herbs for a living. On that snowy day, Cui Lian was looking for a specific plant that grows in the snow. When he fell from above, landing a few yards from her. Thus, that was how he ended up at her dwelling.
Although everything she said makes a lot of sense, there is an odd feeling he gets occasionally, when she stares silently at him. It cannot be sure whether she meant him harm or not, but at the very least, right now, she has no intentions to.
Seeing her finishing with the arrangement, he walks up to her. Lifting up the heavy box of herbs with his two front paws, he started to head inside.
"Little fox." She said in surprise. "I can take it."
Sweeping his sight on her limping leg, he turned away quickly, ignoring her words, "Hmph."
With a swish of his three tails, entered the house.
Left standing in the middle of the courtyard, Cui Lian looked dazedly at the direction the fox had left. Eyes flashing with complicated emotions, part sadness, one part anger, one part confusion, and another emotion she can't describe. Finally, sighing silently, she followed after him.
Somehow, a month quickly passed.
One night, the moon glows brightly in the sky. Opening his eyes groggily, the fox notices the empty spot next to him. Sniffing the air, he turned his head towards the door.
A figure sits in the middle of the courtyard, her shadow stretches from the light given by the moon. The calm, steady woman he sees in the day is no more. Instead, a sense of melancholy radiates from her fragile back. Slowly, this lonely silhouette engraves itself into his eyes.
_______________________
Cui Lian stares silently at the bright moon, thoughts wandering without end. Suddenly, she felt a presence next to her. "Little fox." She said while smiling lightly, eyes not leaving the moon for a second.
The fox didn't answer. Instead, he moved closer to her, his long tails gently wrap around her body, in an attempt to warm her shivering frame.
Her eyes reddened slightly as she felt the soft touch of fur. How long has it been? She thought, how long has it been since she received any forms of concern. Since young, her father has left her to fend for herself in this small courtyard. Only returning a few times each month to replenish herbs. She thought she has gotten used to this type of lifestyle, only to be proven wrong with the appearance of this small fox. At first, she picked this fox up only on a whim. Who would've thought, in a single month, she grew so attached.
"Little fox." She whispered. "Your wounds have healed. You can leave whenever you wish." She paused a bit before continuing, "you haven't had a proper conversation with me beside the first day. I don't even know your name…."
Cui Lian turned to face him, eyes unexpectedly encountering his golden pupils. Large shining eyes observe her closely, moving from her hair down to her eyes, nose, and pausing at her lips. Flicking his ears slightly, he moved his eyes away to look up at the moon.
Following his actions, Cui Lian also began to admire the moon again, this time with a different mood. "The moon sure is beautiful tonight."
____________________
Another two months have passed, snow melts and Cui Lian welcomes her first spring with the fox.
"Little Fox!" Cui Lian shouted as she tried to push the box of herbs outside. Abruptly feeling her hands lighten, she laughed happily as she witnessed a small black figure carrying the case of herbs towards the living quarters. Limping behind him in a slow gait, she asked, "is there anything you like to eat tonight? How about fish? I set some traps yesterday, want to go check with me in a little?"
Glancing at her sideways, he nodded briefly before disappearing inside. The soft sound of an object being placed down sounded before he came back out. Taking the lead, he went into the forest with Cui Lian following behind.
At the river, Cui Lian leisurely checked the traps while the fox wandered around the area, clearing the surrounding space in case of danger. Suddenly, a bush to his right rustles violently, a burly man pounced at him with a knife. Rolling to avoid the attack he quickly flipped his body over to claw at the man. Instantly, the scent of blood fills the air.
Jumping away, the fox looked up as he catches his breath, surprised to see the face in front of him. It's one of the hunters from that day, they have found him.
Wiping the blood carelessly from his face, the hunter laughed menacingly. "I finally found you fox! How dare you. How dare you try to run!" He shouted as he lunged once again at him, knife raised high.
I have no time for this, he thought, as his eyes flitted towards the other side of the woods. Towards Cui Lian's direction.
The temperature in his eyes lowers as his tails grow longer, immediately wrapping around the attacker. Sounds of cracking bones echoes across the silent forest as his tails constrict tighter, until….
"Crack!"
The neck of the hunter twisted unnaturally, large amounts of blood seeps from his seven orifices. Throwing the body carelessly to the side, the fox looks up to see a green figure standing at the edge of the forest. Staring with wide eyes at him, shock written all over her face.
Cui Lian? He thought, frozen in confusion. Why are you here? He wanted to ask, but as he took a step forward, Cui Lian's body trembled before fleeing from sight.
Leaving him behind.
Leaving him, who's standing in the puddle of blood behind.