Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the almost blinding light reflected from the snow. Crisp firn smelled of the cold and she shivered just a little bit. Fresh out of her den that smelled of animal life, she stretched her small body out for a moment and looked around at the ever snowy surroundings of the mountain she lived on. Wandering around with an ache in her stomach, she started making her way to the forest below.
On her way, she looked at the perfect flurries surrounding her and felt the urge to play. With this cheery mindset, Agota jumped into a snowbank face first, plopping into the snow with a satisfying muted thump. She dug further into the bank and looped around. The snow fell unevenly in icy little gusts. It looked like neverending grey stretched in all directions.
She walked down for hours, and replacing the fresh scent of snow was the earthy smell of mud and dirt and plants. Her nose was still a bit wet from the cold and she sneezed. Pollen assaulted her nose making it itch just a bit. She almost missed the snow and it's beautiful whites and greys and blacks.
The difference was like night and day. There was a gentle dewy scent to the air, and patches of snow still sat under bushes and in the shadows of rocks. Wildflowers were blooming, adding to the dewy scent. Her padded feet made contact with the slightly squishy ground, damp as it drank the benefits of the last winter that had blanketed the land before.
The dull pain of hunger pinched at her lower abdomen again as she went out in search of food. Her light, groggy footsteps made little taps when they made contact with the scarcely grassy forest floor. She could smell a hare. It wasn't exactly pleasant, but it would do well for her intentions. As she smelled her way to the fluffy rodent, it wasn't suspecting predators.
It took light sips from a nearby stream, and she crouched low. Her heart pounded in her ears. No matter how many times she did this, it always made her feel alive. Her tail swished lightly as she jumped from her hiding spot in the reeds and bit down on the small creatures neck.
It kicked and struggled as she bit down harder, heart pounding in her ears and adrenaline fierce in her jaws. A gush of blood in her mouth, then a small crack was heard, and her prey ceased to live. She let go and looked around, making sure another creature wouldn't take her food, or prey on her. When she was satisfied with her safety she licked the bloody edges of her muzzle.
She lay down on the cool and damp grass near the stream, placing her paws on either side of her mouth at its ribs and pulling little bits of bloody flesh from the dead hare. The scene wasn't unpleasant, as she continued the circle of life in the tall waterside grass. The sun beamed through the ruffling grass as a warm spring breeze picked up. The fur in her mouth was an unpleasant texture. She swallowed and bent down for another warm bite.
She ate about half of the creature before standing up. She took her surroundings in again cautiously before jumping enthusiastically into the water, splashing through it like a pup. It was ice cold, but it made her feel so alive. Agota played for a while, got a drink, then climbed out.
Her thick and luxurious fur was matted down and soggy. Her extremely thin frame showed her physical state. She shook herself out as much as she could and made her way through the lush grass again.
She surfaced into the empty forest. There were many trees scattered and the brightness of day scattered about the green and brown floor. Her tail swished mischievously as she saw a small group of ducks. She crouched down playfully and slowly approached the little waddling creatures.
When she was close, she dragged her small pink tongue across the bright yellow side of the smallest one. It made a cute, angry chirp and it's mother charged in to protect her child from the playful fox. The mother was rewarded with lots of teasing and licks. She swished her tail again, narrowly avoiding the ducks ferocious beak.
She ran away just before she was bitten, now mostly dried. She could practically laugh to herself in that moment. She didn't like to use her voice much, though. She continued to wander the forest when she felt predatory eyes on her. She tensed and there was a voice calling a dog upon her. She used a spell and turned him and his animal companions into stone.
She then ran away and holed up in her fox hole under a large tree for the night. The next day she ran through the forest, feeling the cool spring breeze on her body. It was as if she were riding again on her horse, Midnight. She could practically hear her younger brother shouting her name and her father laughing at their antics.
A light pang of sadness whisper through her body and she calmed down in a few seconds. She was sipping from a stream, panting from her lively run, when another voice called out. She dodged a large dog, with it's teeth bared and it's maws open, ready to bite. She again used her spell to turn the person and his companions to stone.
She then felt that she would need to be alert the next day. She looked around and noticed she was in the same place as before, with both sets of people turned to interesting stones. She felt it seemed a bit ironic that she would go to the same place and be attacked the same way twice. Agota swished her tail a bit smugly and walked up to the campfire with a bit of fresh meat sitting cooked by the fireside.
She would spite these rude humans and eat their food. She ate the meat, that was well salted, in less than an hour. It was a surprising sight for her, because she usually are fairly slowly. Maybe she just hadn't eaten salt in long enough that she missed it. Her eyes wandered to the sky, and it was barely midday. She continued looking around her forest again.
A potential mate came by, and dissappointed her greatly. She forced him off of her turf and looked to the sky again. She had wandered for hours, and it took around an hour to interact with the potential mate. She decided to go back and sleep again. The next morning was especially beautiful. There were birds calling out and the world seemed to be covered in a warm and gentle haze.
She thought that nobody would be about, as the forest had an auspicious aura. She decided to go back to the river by the camp and play in it again. Her days were fairly simple and childish since she accepted her fate. She would play all day, and if she were lucky, there would be food in her reach. Usually though, she would only eat every few days at most.
She sipped from the water around her and splashed. When she took high steps, they would make a satisfying little "sploosh" sound that made her feel good. She walked around in that silly way for a while longer so she could hear the sounds it made. When she was done, but not really done making the noise, she walked out of the water in that silly way.
As the water shallowed the sounds changed. She was a little dissappointed but she could deal with it. She felt eyes on her again, and waited for the loud sounds once more, but they never came. She looked up to meet a pair of clear grey eyes and clean fluffy hair in a gentle brown. He was smiling at her in amusement, and spoke to her as if she wouldn't understand,
"Was that amusing enough for you? I found it rather delightful, so I guess I can share some of my food to you for your show."
Agota had pride, but there wasn't much of it. Rather, food was a precious asset to her, so she looked at him cautiously as she picked up her food he had put on a clean space for her and carried it away, where he was still in sights with his dog and horse. She picked at her food cautiously and cleanly. It took her a while to finish the large chunk of meat in her possession.
She finished it, and felt the amused eyes watching her as she did. It was a bit of an annoyance to her, but she didn't mind her fairly upset state of being. She rather looked up at him, trying to convey greatful thoughts. She then cautiously approached him, and he still remained calm and focused.
She looked up to him and spoke in a fairly gentle androgynous tone, "Thank you for your kindness. Because of this, I will help you find your bird."
His eyes widened and his brows raised. The fox was talking to him. He hadn't eaten anything toxic, had he? Animals shouldn't talk. A slew of thoughts crossed his mind, but all he could say was, "You... Talk."
"Yes, I talk, and your bird isn't here, it's in the Red King's land."
"... Oh..." The young man was still greatly shocked and could barely communicate verbally. She changed into an androgynous body, looking scholarly and young. She stood there, in magic leaf clothes, and the prince stared for a moment before fainting.
She grabbed him and placed his bedding out nicely. She then struggled for a while and placed him under his blankets. After he was tucked in nicely she climbed the tree and lay down on a thick branch. She fell asleep in no time. The next morning she reheated the meat he had cooked the night before and woke him with the scent.
He was staring at the androgynous person who wore trousers and vests so well that they must be a man. It wasn't a dream, he accepted. "Young... Fox, what is your name?"
Agota didn't know what name to give him, so she smiled at him and didn't answer. She remembered going through her family's town, surrounding the Duchy, and memorising every name. She inherited it when her brother was born, the first prince. She became a well known young woman in their kingdom, who made the trade market expand for their people.
She remembered in her free time, painting in her parlor, having tea parties with her friends and family, making sweets and learning all she could about the world. It was a peaceful life, and comfortable. She had been so proud of herself for being one of the first to make chocolate deserts, and having figured out alchemy that would better the people's lives.
She was snapped back to reality, as these thoughts had only lasted a short while while they ate. The prince was curious, "My father's bird isn't here?"
"No."
"It's in the Red King's land?"
"Yes."
"... How do you know about that?"
"..." She wasn't about to admit that she went through his brothers memories to find why they were there. She again smiled and didn't answer.
"How do you know it's in the Red King's land?"
"It's in his palace, I've been there before."
"Why?"
"..." This prince sure asked a lot of questions. His shining grey eyes looked to her as if she were some well of knowledge. She looked a lot like her Tibetan counterpart at that moment. This was a bit ridiculous, he was much too innocent and trusting. She frowned and brought him to an unused trail, "This is a shortcut."
His almost long hair swayed as he nodded and she wanted to pat it. It probably wasn't a good idea to offend the young man who she was repaying for kindness. This helpless idiot wouldn't make it past the border without her, let alone through the rest of the forest, so she decided she would kindly accompany him.
The helpless prince was unaware of her ridiculing thoughts and looked at the scenery with a cheerful and dimpled smile. She glanced at the boyish grin and felt her face lift as well, in the slightest manner. They were on their way to the Red King's garden to steal his magical bird. She decided to watch and protect, but do nothing further, it would be bad of she became too involved.