A couple days later, we were at the gate. "Dad? I will make it a surprise. You too gramps ok? Aries, Keyon, stay here ok?" I went into the village and everyone was looking in shock. They were saying "Neve is back!" Once I got to the door Keelo was waiting for me. "Neve. Lucia. How was it?" Said Keelo. "Where's grandma? I have a surprise for You Keelo and Grandma as well. OH and Frostine. I also have a surprise for the whole village as well. First come to the gate with me. Keelo. Go get grandma. We will wait for you by the door." Keelo came back with grandma and Frostine. Hi grandma and Frostine. Everyone ready?" Everyone nodded yes and headed for the gate.
Just as we were almost to the gate, grandma saw her husband. She ran to the gate and opened it fast and hugged him. "Oh Dimitri. How I've missed you." He embraced her tight. "I missed you too." Then Frostine saw Keyon and Aries. "Aries! Keyon!" "Hi Frostine. We haven't seen you since we were little." said Keyon. "Yeah. Aries you were 4 as I recall." "Yeah now I am Neve's boyfriend." "Aries!" I said embarrassed. "What? Oh is that so." Then dad popped out. "Hello brother." said Keelo. "Hey." Then Keelo and dad brisk walked to each other and hugged. Keelo invited everyone to come in and get warm.
"Oh Yeah. I told you Keelo. I have a surprise for the whole village." "Why don't we rest first." said Keelo. "Uh Keelo. I don't think that's a good Idea. Lets let her show them now. Lets get a gathering going." Said Quinn. Uncle told his friends that there was to be a gathering. "We have news."
Finally everyone gathered. Then Keelo said, "Everyone. I have some news. Neve has returned!" They all cheered. "But wait! She has a few announcements for us." "Thank you uncle. I'm glad to be back home. First I want to bring up some of the people that were with me on the journey. Quinn. Wren, Keyon and Aries. Keyon and Aries are Raiju. They are some of the few that helped me. After I am done making 2 more announcements, Frostine would like to say a word to you all as well. Ok. Aries here is my boyfriend. Keyon and Quinn are together. Now for one of the most surprising things on the journey." I closed my eyes and turned into a fox. When I opened them I was a fox. "Wow. I did it."
"Wow she's so beautiful." Everyone saying how sparkly my fur was. Then I looked at dad and Lucia and willed myself human. "Hey now we got another one for our team." said a neighbor. "Hey Neve? Can we go for a run sometime?" Said a neighbor. "Sure. OK. Now I think Frostine wants so say something." "Would Aries and Keyon like to stay here please?" I went down to join the others.
"Hello Everyone. There was a reason you never saw me in my form. Now that I feel comfortable in it, I will show you." She transformed into her Raiju form. "A Raiju? All this time. We didn't even know." Everyone was whispering. "How awesome is that. Now we have 3 Raiju." Then she turned human again. "I'm sorry I have hid this from you since I came. I hope you can forgive me." "Of course we can forgive you!" said a neighbor. "Yeah." said another. "Raiju's are cool! They may be a little bigger than us, but we are cool with it." She was relived. "Everyone." I said "I would like to go for a run with some of you later if that's ok." "Sure!" said one of the younger foxes. "We would love for you too." "Ok. I got to talk to my dad about some things. I will come by later."
"Hey Dad." "Oh hi Neve. What's up?" "Can I talk to you and Lucia for a bit? Where is Lucia?" I said. "Oh I will go get him. He is playing with foxes his age.?" "I will get him dad. Its fine." So I went out to get my brother. "Lucia! Lucia!" "Coming sis! Be right back." "OK we be waiting." said a Camila. "What sis?" "I need to talk to you and dad about something important. Ok." Lucia followed me back over to dad. "Hey dad. I got Lucia. Lets talk in my room."
"So dad. Here's the thing. I want to try to find the Nue village." "Umm....Neve?" "Let me finish dad. I don't care what they think of me. Even if I am a fox, I am half Nue. I promise I will go straight to the elder. I need to know some things." "I understand." said Dad. "What I was going to say is to be careful. That village can be dangerous. Anyone who is with a Nue can find it. Without being next to a Nue or being one yourself there is no way anyone would find it. I have never been myself, but I am sure it will be dangerous for me. If you go straight there you can go. I'm sure the elder can help you." Thank you dad. Also when I find out what I want to know, I was going to find out more about the curse. I want to free you and your family from the curse dad." "Oh Neve. Its ok. No need to worry about that." "I know dad. Your family I want to. I want to try to make it to where the ones that want to stay a fox stay. The others that want to stay human stay. Just don't hurt yourself ok?" "I will try not to." "Uh sis?" "I going too?" "That's what I was going to ask you and dad. Dad. I want to know what you think. If I find mom, I want Lucia to be there. If not...I just don't want to get his hopes up. Here is what I am thinking dad. I will go by myself first, if its safe maybe next time you and Lucia can come." "I think that's a good idea. What do you think Lucia?" "Yeah. I have fun with my friends." "Yeah good idea. Your safer at home. You just got here. When are you planning on leaving Neve?" "In about a week. I want to relax at home a bit. Hey where is Zee? I better ask Keelo. Ok well that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Lucia you can go back out and play if you want." "OK. Bye bye." I went to talk to uncle.
"Hey uncle. I haven't seen Zee or Lycan in awhile. Are they ok?" "Yeah they are fine. They will be back soon. They had to go somewhere." "Oh ok. Where is that boyfriend of mine?" "Oh Aries? He is out hanging with some of the guy foxes near the frozen stream." "OK thanks uncle. For everything." I gave uncle a hug and ran off to find Aries.
I finally got to the frozen stream, and found Aries in his Raiju form. "Aries! Aries!" "Oh Neve." "Its ok. You can stay in your form. Here I will use my form." I turned into my fox form then said, "Zee and Lycan are gone and my brother is playing with some other kids. When you get the chance, I need to talk to you alone about something." "Sure ok." "Can I hang out with you boys?" "Yeah sure." "Ok cool. What are you guys doing?" "Oh we were talking about you actually. Which one is faster. You or Aries. Now that you have a fox form." said Wren. "Oh yeah. We really haven't tested it out have we Aries?" "Why don't we do that now? You up for it Neve?" I nodded yes. We lined up, Quinn and wren were hanging out as well. Wren was the referee. "OK. So you will run to the tree with the heart on it. Aries do you know where that is?" "I think so. One of the other guys showed me." "OK. That is where you will run too. Then come back." "OK. On your mark....Get set....Go!" I was the first one to take off. 'Woah. She's good.' said Aries in his head. He wasn't far behind her.
'Almost there.' I said to myself. Then Aries was catching up. 'No. I can do this. I can beat him.' "Yes! I made it to the heart tree before you." Then Aries made it not long after. "Wow. Your fast." said Aries. We were both panting. "Ha...ha...ha...you...ok Neve." "Yeah...I would...ask you...Same thing." "I'm fine. Lets... sit here...and rest..." Said Aries. "Are you...kidding me? Hell no. Bye." I was off and Aries followed. We both ran and were were neck and neck all the way down to the finish line. "The winner is....A Tie?! Woah its a tie." We both fell down from being tired. "Ha ha ha." We were both panting and laughing. "Hahaha." "Hehehe. I'm tired." I said. "I think I'm going to take a nap right here." "Ok Neve. I will stay here with you." said Aries. The others left to give them some privacy.
Once she closed her eyes, Aries transformed to his human self. He petted her pretty shimmery icy blue and purple fur. "Oh Neve. Poor girl. You have been through a lot in your life. You had to grow up quicker and take care your brother. I just wish you could go and be a teenager like you are supposed to. Hang out with girls your age. Maybe that can happen now that your dad is alive and Keelo is here now. Yeah that's it. I will talk to your uncle." He smiled and kissed her fox forehead. "Hmm." "Oh I hope I didn't wake her." "Aries is that you?" "Yes Neve. Its me. Are you ok?" "Yeah I'm fine. Lets go back inside. I think I can rest easier in the house."
"Hey Keelo." Said Aries. "Oh hey Aries. Neve. What's up?" said Keelo. "Oh Neve was tired. Wanted to rest." "Sure." "Umm...Neve?" Said Aries. "Are you going to stay in your fox form?" "Oh yeah. I was so tired I forgot." I closed my eyes and turned human. "There. I think I'm getting the hang of this thing. I'm going to lay down a bit uncle." "OK. Sleep well." "Hey uncle? can Aries sit beside me?" Uncle nodded yes. "Oh after your nap Zee and Lycan should be here." So I went in to take a nap.
Lucia came in the house and said, "Where is big sis?" "Oh big sis and Aries are taking a nap." " Zee is here." "Oh ok. Thanks Lucia." Lucia sat on the couch to relax.