Kitsu shakes Kael gently, her voice tinged with urgency. "Please, human, wake up!" She rummages through his bag and finds a small flask of water. Splashing a little on his face, she watches anxiously as his eyes flutter open.
Kael's voice is barely a whisper. "Water..."
Kitsu quickly helps him drink, tilting the flask to his lips with care. "Are you okay, human?"
Kael nods weakly, his eyes slowly focusing. "Yeah... A little better. Thanks."
A small, relieved smile graces her lips. "Sorry for drinking that much blood," she murmurs, guilt evident in her tone.
Kael chuckles softly, his gaze meeting hers. "Don't worry. I'm better now. Honestly, I didn't even think vampires were real."
She fidgets with her fingers, looking down shyly. "We're real... I guess. Though I haven't seen any of my kind other than my family."
Kael raises an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his tired eyes. "Your family? Don't they have blood stocks? Why didn't you ask them?"
Her smile fades, and her gaze drops to her hands. "They abandoned me when I was three," she says quietly.
Kael winces at her words. "Oh... I'm sorry."
She stops fidgeting and meets his gaze. "It's fine, human. It was a long time ago."
Kael studies her closely, 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."
Before she can answer, a droplet of water lands on her tail. She looks up, her expression lighting up. "It's raining, human!" She points to the sky, her tone joyful.
Kael chuckles, finding her reaction endearing. "Yeah, it is. But you haven't answered my question yet."
She turns back to him, smiling apologetically. "Oh, sorry! I'm not completely a vampire. I'm a vampire-kitsune hybrid. My mother was a kitsune, and my father was a vampire."
Kael's curiosity deepens. "That's... unique. But if they're such strong creatures, why did they abandon you?"
Her expression darkens, tears welling up in her eyes. "There was a war between species," she begins, her voice trembling. "Kitsunes are proud, and they've hated vampires for centuries. When they found out about my parents' affair, both sides united to tear them apart. In the end, they succeeded. I was three when it happened. My mother hid me in a cave in this forest... and I've been living here ever since."
Kael curses himself for bringing up such a painful subject. As tears stream 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 sobs quietly for a while, the comfort of his embrace soothing her in a way she hadn't felt in years. When her tears subside, she looks up at him, her golden eyes soft with gratitude. "Thank you, human."
Kael smiles. "You're welcome. By the way, what's your name?"
"Kitsu," she replies, her smile returning. "And yours?"
"Kael."
A sudden downpour interrupts their exchange, the rain coming in torrents now. Kitsu seems delighted, but Kael's expression shifts to concern.
"Quick, get in the tent!" he says, pulling her along.
"But Kael, it's raining!" she protests, her joy evident.
"Exactly! That's why we need to stay dry," he replies, rummaging through his bag for clean clothes.
Kitsu tilts her head, watching him curiously. "What are you doing?"
"Finding clothes that aren't soaked," Kael mutters, still searching.
She steps closer, intrigued. "Can I help?"
Before he can respond, Kael finds a dry shirt and turns to face her—only to freeze in place, his jaw dropping. He quickly averts his eyes, his face flushing. "Kitsu... your breasts! I can see them!"