《The Orphan Fox》Chapter 22: Moon-Light Blessing
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Ugh, waking up with a slight headache, I begin rolling on the bed. I am still drowsy and half-asleep, so I can’t really tell what is going around me, but I don’t care. Running my hand downwards, I search for the blanket before I grab it and pull it up.
While trying to pull up my blanket, I realize that something seems to hold it down, so my hands quickly begin to scan the surroundings. While seeking my tails which might have come in the way, I finally find something warm and fluffy. Somehow it’s different from my tails, yet it still feels comfortable. Did Saria put something inside my bed that smells nice?
Anyway, as I begin hugging said comfortable feeling, I fall asleep once more. I can’t see nor know about it, but the moment I grabbed a hold on the comfortable feeling and fell back asleep, a black scaled dragon who was drinking inside our kitchen, spit out tea in a great volume.
Falling back asleep, I begin dreaming about the occurrences that happened lately.
…
…
While feeling a great warmth from in between my arms and on my whole body, I slowly open my eyes to wake up. My mind is still muddy, so I can’t really make out anything, but there is something black in between my arms.
Looking at it, I try to figure out what it is with half-closed eyes. It seems to be slightly bigger than myself, a body-pillow? I don’t remember having something like this inside my bed. How did I even get here? Did I collapse?
Suddenly swamping myself with questions, I finally take a look at the comfortable thing in between my arms. What steps into my sight shocks me, immediately waking me up and sobering my muddy mind...
What looks back at me is a pair of silver eyes, belonging to the girl I helped train her mana before. Still, as my face starts to become heated, I suddenly let go of her and jump towards the other end of the bed.
“Wh-why? H-how did this...?” (Arin)
Not finding words in my shock, the girl just looks at me with reddened cheeks, slowly speaking...
“W-well, I am not sure. But I woke up here... and you were still asleep when you suddenly... h-hugged me, and fell asleep again, so I thought, I'd leave you be...And b-because you w-were cute, just like a l-little brother…so I, I…” (Black haired girl)
Her whole face becomes crimson, like it would overcook any second. She must also be embarrassed... I couldn’t understand everything she said as she is talking in a very silent voice while stuttering, but I heard at least 'cute' and 'little brother'.
Just as I want to sort out my confused and scattered thoughts, suddenly a smiling black Dragon comes to mind... It was him wasn't it?! Acting upon that thought, I jump from the bed. Maybe I just want to get away from this situation, but I have to verify it.. I mean, a boy and a girl in the same bed? Same room is okay, but same bed?!? Uncle Black, what were you thinking!
Leaving the embarrassed girl behind, I run down the stairs with my bare feet, arriving in the kitchen shortly after while making barely any sound. In the kitchen there are still Uncle Black and Cyan, arguing about something.
“Uncle Black!” (Arin)
Screaming his name from the top of my lungs, Uncle Black tenses up and just looks me in the eyes before he calms down and begins to speak in an amused manner.
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“And? How was your Honeymoon?” (Uncle Black)
Honeymoon? Should that be a joke, because if yes, then I don't get it. What does the moon even have to do with honey? I heard of the Moon who is made of cheese, but honey? Is it this world’s equivalent? Seriously Uncle, since when are you creating new weird words.
Looking at my obviously confused face, Uncle Black only leaks a sigh before shaking his head and talking to me in a calming manner.
“She doesn't have anywhere to go, so I thought about letting her tag along with you, and the two of you were so comfortable around each other, so why not?” (Uncle Black)
Uncle Black doesn't make sense, but what he says is true I guess? I don't really feel uncomfortable around her... wait, that’s not the point.
“Uncle, why was she in my bed?!?” (Arin)
This time yelling in a slightly irritated tone, Uncle Black just giggles and puts his hand on top of my hair, massaging my head. Even though I try to remove it, Uncle Black is still superior in strength and massaging technique. Slowly succumbing to Uncle Black’s comfortable massage, the girl from before suddenly peeks through the door-frame. She is still slightly red in the face, but her complexion is better.
Looking at me and Uncle Black who are ‘fighting’ each other, she only shows an envious smile. I don’t know… wait, didn’t Uncle say that she has nowhere to go?
“Oh, good morning little one. Are you hungry… or do you want a massage as well?” (Uncle Black)
Smiling with a face like a grandfather seeing his grand-kids, Uncle posed a question to her. Well, maybe because she looked at us with envy? Anyway, just as I want to speak with Uncle, her rather silent voice resounds:
“Uhm, I- Can I?” (Girl)
Upon her answer, both me and Uncle Black look at each other. While I am dumbfounded, Uncle only beckoned with his hand, before he then began massaging her head as well. Uncle is definitely protective of us and he gets along with children so well. I thought he lived in that cave for nearly 8000 years, how mysterious.
Making a comfortable face, the girl then suddenly began crying. I didn’t know how to handle this, but neither did Uncle Black. Well, it might be embarrassing, but she is still older, so I guess it’s alright?
Hugging the girl, I tell her that it is alright, making her look at me with astonished eyes. I kind of want to stay hugging her, but I don’t know why? Maybe she is just comfortable.
After the whole group calmed down, Uncle Black, me, Cyan and the girl all eat breakfast. While in the middle of breakfast, Uncle Black began asking her some questions, hoping to maybe find out some things to help her.
Sadly, she refused to talk, so Uncle Black dropped the matter, but he mentioned that should she want to talk that we would always be there. She only nodded with a soft smile, but the atmosphere became lighter and we enjoyed breakfast.
Afterwards, Uncle Black spouted the following:
“So, you two should already be a little more familiar with each other, so why don’t you two go to the grasslands near the forest? I heard that the kids usually play there, Cyan can accompany you. Have fun.” (Uncle Black)
Showing a grin I couldn’t understand, me, the girl and Cyan left the mansion. Actually, since the accident, I noticed at breakfast, Cyans aura seems to have gone through some minor changes. His aura contains a bit more confidence while his eyes show more will. Still, he still appears rather more like a scardy-cat. After yesterday’s incident, if I didn’t misunderstand, he found the resolve to protect me, but was still full of fear. Still, even when he feared what might happen, he still took the step forward and protected me.
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So, as a younger brother, I am proud of my big brother. He was actually shocked when I suddenly thanked and hugged him, making him be at a loss for words. Though he did accept my thanks and even returned a rare smile which, for once, wasn’t troubled.
Actually, even his figure changed a bit. On certain places along his body, or so he said, small decoration in a dark-blue color appeared, having the form of scales and magic’s. The most obvious ones are on his forehead, which looks like a weird banner embedded in a crown, while there a some on the back of his hand and wrist resembling shields surrounded by either water, earth or darkness. Those weird tattoos also seem to have appeared after the battle when he finally released the scales growing all over his body.
As I am lost in thought, our group of three arrived in the middle of the grasslands. There were some trees and bushes scattered in the area while not too far away the border of the forest began.
As we all stand on the field, we can make out laughter in the vicinity. If I am not incorrect, then it should originate from over that hill. As I begin walking in said direction, Cyan and the girl just follow me and before long we have an overview over the grasslands where about fifteen kids from different tribes are playing catch with each other. The foxes seem to be winning as they are superior in speed, while the dragon-younglings utilize their wings for quick jumps in the air to boost and catch the fox-kids.
Watching everyone, I also want to join. Back in the orphanage I could only play as long as it didn’t involve running around or great physical activities. So, being given the chance to play around like this with other kids for the first time, slight excitement fills my body. Actually, Cyan stares at me as though I am a weirdo, but I don’t know why. (A.N. You are unaware, but you're overly excited Arin, calm down!)
So, without further ado, I begin running towards the field, joining the fray.
---POV-Change: Aaron---
“This little rascal.” (Aaron)
While having a small smile form on my lips, I watch as Arin, Cyan and the girl leave the mansion. He is a rather obedient boy, but he does some interesting things sometimes. Maybe he is just unaware? Anyway, who knew that this might happen, god, yesterday was weird in many ways, though I did enjoy the night. Haa, getting rid of annoyances feels great.
Anyway, who would have expected the two to have a full-moon tail ceremony?! Thinking back, I remember what occurred after me, Cyan and Luna started transporting Arin and the girl to the mansion. Shortly before we reached the front-gate, Scyrra came over to pick me up for the ‘Hunt’. But who would have guessed the results.
The moment before we tried leaving, I passed the girl to Luna, having her carry both kids on her back while Cyan stabilized them. But in this moment, the moon shone down on them, like a beam, and in the next second, Arin released all his tails before fusing them into one, which then intertwined with the girl’s tail.
Upon seeing the spectacle, Scyrra lost her bearings. I didn’t understand, but Scyrra told us that this only happens when two foxes are truly meant for each other, called the moon-light blessing. The two never awakened, but their hands also intertwined, making it look like a beautiful reunion between loved ones. Actually, all of us could only stare in shock, but then, after several minutes, the two let go of each others hands, but the tails stayed intertwined, causing us to be dumbfounded.
After that, the moon-light dimmed out and the surroundings returned to being a quiet and dark night again with a cool wind blowing. The two perpetrators were calmly breathing, signaling that they are asleep. Seems like they didn’t notice, so I asked Scyrra for advice, but it seems that this ceremony hasn’t happened since the Great Fox-Clan was destroyed. Back then, sometimes even babies could trigger this phenomenon, practically announcing that they are meant for each other.
In other words, even if they are babies, they will be married the instant the Moon-Light Blessing occurred. In simpler terms, my dear Arin is officially married, they grow up so fast.
Actually, I won’t tell them, and I also forbid Cyan and Luna to talk about this, as I don’t want to have him know yet. He might take it the wrong way, but still, I somehow want to tease him about this.
As I pick up my cup again filled with tea, I then reminiscent about the events following that. Actually, both I and Scyrra became super angered at the Fox-Elders because of the blessing, as they tried to destroy something this beautiful. At least, even Scyrra won’t tell anyone before Arin at least reaches the age of fourteen, as he should have reached mental maturity by then. So for now, let them find the truth themselves.
Satisfied with my monologue, I return to the kitchen. The chef, Sarek, seems to have prepared some prototypes for a new dish recommended by Arin. I believe it’s called Pizza, but I am not completely sure, well, let's stea... I mean, go taste a piece.
---POV-Change: Arin---
Arriving on the field where all the other kids play, their attention is suddenly focused on me, stopping most of them in their tracts. Actually, didn't that dragon-kid just crash in the ground, is he alright?
Seeing him stand up shortly afterwards, both me and some other kids sigh in relieve. Anyway, most kids suddenly stop playing and begin swarming around me. Some are just staring at me, making me kind of uncomfortable, while others ask question about yesterday.
I answer what I can, but before I could introduce Cyan and the girl to them, suddenly a loud voice calls out to me from the top of the hill opposite of me. There a figure emerges, one I only know too well by now...
There stands Rune, followed by Feris. Both show a smile I haven't seen them wearing yet, and Rune's disposition seems to be completely different as well. His annoying and savage aura is now much gentler and lighter, showing how much he must have changed. Still, I remain on my guard, even when I know what happened yesterday and about him not being himself, I can't just let pass what happened.
So I wonder, why did he come here?
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