Blinding white light greeted Violet as she entered the Ash Tree portal and was forced to close her eyes. She blindly walked while her hands are tightly holding Renji's afraid she might get lost in this sea of light.
"You can open them now," Renji whispered in her ear.
It was ticklish and left an unexplainable feeling to Violet, but she didn't mind for now. Slowly and carefully, she opened her eyes and gasped.
A whole village, even bigger than the village below his grandfather's mountain, greeted her.
Sturdy houses made of stone are around where kitsunes of different ages walk in and out. It is just like a normal village, only this time, it is not humans who are dwelling, but fox spirits. There are plants to harvest and campfires to cook meat in groups, young foxes playing with a bouncy ball made of leaves and vines, and foxes around elementary age already practicing and learning the basics of combat.
"This is..." Violet was about to say 'amazing' when she was cut off mid-sentence by someone behind her. And it is not Renji.
"Insane," a male fox finished.
Violet and Renji turned around. A tall kitsune with long, black hair, bushy brown tail, long claws, and scars on his bare, muscled upper body, and wearing long pants stood before them.
"Uncle," Renji muttered.
"What is the meaning of this, Renji? You brought a human on our premises... again!" Renji's uncle said.
"She means no harm," Renji said. "Just like what I told you before."
Violet became slightly confused. "Again?" she thought. "Renji brought a human in here before? What happened to that person?"
Violet then realized that Renji's uncle has been studying her, looking her from her head to toe then toe to head. Violet thinks that this is really rude and wants to order him to stop, but she chose to shut her mouth and let this one slide.
"I don't think I have anything to defend myself against a spirit," she told herself.
"My goodness! Could this be..." Renji's uncle gasped.
"Yes, uncle. She is," Renji said sternly.
"Wait... what?" Violet whispered, clearly lost on what they are talking about.
Renji's uncle grunted, then bowed to show respect and said, "The name's Chou."
"Violet," she answered in all politeness. Violet didn't want to offend a spirit. Greeting one politely would put her in a good stepping stone.
But Chou frowned in confusion, "Violet? Did I hear that right?" He turned to Renji, "Boy, are you sure this is the right girl?"
"I would never be wrong in that situation, Uncle," Renji answered.
"But I thought the girl's name is-"
"That topic is better discussed later, Uncle Chou," Renji said. "She will have a hard time believing. She needs to see it for herself using the crystal."
"You need permission to use the crystal, boy," Chou said in a stern voice.
"And I am asking for it," Renji said. "May I use the crystal, Head Fox Chief Chou?"
Violet's mouth fell open. Renji's uncle is the leader of the Fox Clan? Then the one she has been showing a spiky attitude is a blue-blooded fox spirit all along?! Did he bring her here to trap her and give her punishment? What could be the punishment for what she did? Stoning? Starvation? A curse for her entire family and the next generations of hers?
Renji flicked her on her forehead. "You are thinking nonsense things again," he said.
"How would you know?!" Violet asked in an irritated tone, then quickly regretted it.
"It is clear by the look on your face. You are all worried and scared," Renji said. "What is there to be afraid of in the Fox Clan? You are safe here."
"I don't know about that," Chou said and looked ahead.