Kitsu shakes Kael more urgently as she asks him, "Please, human, wake up!" She scours through his bag and retrieves a small flask containing water. Kitsu sprinkles some on his face as his eyes struggle to open.
Kael's voice barely reaches a whisper. "Water."
Kitsu quickly hands him the water, tilting the flask to his lips with care as he drinks. "Are you okay, human?"
Kael nods weakly, his eyes focusing laboriously. "Yeah. A little better. Thanks."
A slight, relieved smile dances upon her lips. "Sorry for drinking that much blood," she mutters, guilt creeping into her tone.
Kael chuckles softly, his eyes locking with hers. "Don't worry. I'm better now. Honestly, I didn't even think vampires were real."
She plays with her fingers, looking down coyly. "We're real. I guess. Though I haven't seen any of my kind other than my family."
Kael raises an eyebrow, curiosity fluttering in his tired eyes. "Your family? Don't they have blood stocks? Why didn't you ask them?"
Her smile falters, and she looks down at her hands. "They abandoned me when I was three," she says softly.
Kael winces at her words. "Oh. I'm sorry."
She stops fidgeting and looks to him. "It's fine, human. It was a long time ago."
Kael peers closely at her, his eyes lingering on her ears and tail. "Are you. only a vampire? It's just, I've never seen a vampire with tails or fluffy ears before."
The droplet of water lands on her tail before she can answer. She looks up, lighting up. "It's raining, human!" She points at the sky, her voice jolly.
Kael chuckles at how cute she sounds. "Yes, it is. But you haven't answered my question yet."
She turns back to him with an apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry! I'm not a full vampire. I am a vampire-kitsune hybrid. My mother was a kitsune, and my father was a vampire."
Kael's curiosity deepens further. "That's. unique. But if they're so powerful, why did they abandon you?"
Her face darkens, and her eyes teem with impending tears. "There was a war between species," she says, her voice trembling. "Kitsunes are proud, and they've hated vampires for centuries. When they find out about Mum and Dad's affair, both unite to tear them apart. Eventually, they succeeded. I was three when this happened. My mom hid me in this forest, in some sort of cave. and here I've been.
Kael curses the moment such a painful subject was brought up. Tears streaming down her cheeks, he instinctively pulls her into a hug, letting her bury her face against his chest. "Let it all out. I'm here for you," he whispers, rubbing her back gently.
She cries for a while, the warmth of his comfort soothing her in a way she has not felt in years. After her tears lessen, she looks up at him with soft, golden eyes of gratitude. "Thank you, human."
Kael smiled. "You're welcome. By the way, what's your name?"
"Kitsu," she says, her smile not forgotten. "And yours?"
Suddenly, a heavy rainstorm breaks into their conversation, as if the heavens had suddenly opened their torrents. Kitsu looks thrilled, while Kael's face contorts into concern.
"Quick, get in the tent!" he exclaims, tugging her along.
"But Kael, it's raining!" she says, protesting with a joyful tone.
"Exactly! That's why we need to stay dry," he returns, digging into his bag for clean clothes.
Kitsu cocks her head to one side, regarding him with curiosity. "What are you doing?"
"Finding clothes that aren't soaked," Kael grumbles, still searching.
Curiosity overtaking her, she takes a step closer. "Can I help?"
Before he says anything, Kael finds a dry shirt and turns to face her—only to freeze in place, jaw slack. With a gasp, he looks away, his face reddening. "Kitsu, your breasts! I can see them!''