Chapter 23

The days passed by rather quickly as we travelled, everyday would begin with a quick meal usually consisting of bread and cheese, as these foods wouldn’t spoil nearly as fast when compared to other food such as meat. After eating we would take to the air again, headed in the direction of kaito’s clan. During this time I had wanted to see what the red-head had put into my pocket but, I felt as if anyone but me were to see it that something terrible would happen. I wasn’t sure why I felt like this but, I knew my instincts were rather dominant due to my dragonic heritage.

It took us roughly three days to catch sight of the capital of the empire but as soon as we saw it kaito told me to head to west side of the capita. The entire time we flew through the air I couldn’t help it but I kept thinking about the red-head there was just something about her, that felt eerily familiar and similar to myself and my namesake. As we came to a small valley that was lined with trees whose bark seemed to be of a deep violet colour I spotted a rather large camp that seemed to have been there for at least a few months, the camp was made up of a mixture of tents and large wooden caravan like things that seemed to open out into medium sized cabins. I noticed a high concentration of beast kin most of whom where fox’s with a few dog and cat looking ones scattered in there for good measure, one thing I did notice about the female portion of the fox’s was that they all had at least two tails compared to the men who only had one. As we descended from the air I could hear some of the people screaming as if I was going to kill them while most of the others just looked up in wonder, I figured this was because they had never seen a dragon before.

I landed with a large bang leaving an indentation in the ground a group of female kitsunecame towards us, leading them was a rather beautiful one that had dark magenta hair that flowed down past her shoulders, her face was rather sharp but held an innocent look somehow, eyes ever so slightly slanted as if to ward off the dust and debris that was blown around during long travel along the roads. Behind swish five large tails that were tipped with a grey colour.

Kitsune-‘’ greeting master dragon, the nine-tailed mother has asked us to escort you to her abode’’ she said to me as she bowed to me, I could help but feel uneasy as no-one had really bowed to me so I wasn’t sure how to react to what she had did.

Xar-‘’ master dragon?’’ I asked her as I was confused why they would call me master.

Kitsune-‘’ all shall be explained by the nine-tailed mother’’ she said with her head still lowered to me.

Xar-‘’ could you give me a few moments to change to my humanoid form please’’ I asked her as there wasn’t really much space for my dragon form to move past the caravans.

She quickly gave me a nod and stood there waiting for me as the others climbed off my back and onto the ground, Turya pulled out dark red tunic and trousers for me to pull on, as I changed to my humanoid form. It took less than two minutes for me to be fully changed before the kitsune approached us.

Kitsune-‘’ master dragon I shall now escort you to the revered-mother’’ she said before turning around and starting to walk into the camp, we all followed right behind her. As we walked threw the camp we got a good look around the camp. There were many sights that may have been considered exotic to humans due to all the beast kin around. All the different beast kin were using what seemed to be a barter system to trade for goods and services.

It didn’t take to long for the magenta haired kitsune to lead us to the front of a rather large caravan. She stood to the side of the main door and motioned for us to enter, I opened the door revealing a rather spacious room for a caravan, inside of the room was a bed that was hanging from the ceiling and on the floor around it were statues of different types of creatures ranging from a simple rabbit to what seemed to be a phoenix, all of these statues were made from what seemed to be a weird kind of bone, each one in a different colour as if to match the creature it was trying to portray.

In the corner of the room I could see the movement of nine tails each of them swinging forward into something, these tails were dark black in colour but the tips looked to as if they were made of pure snow and seemed to blend in with the low levels of light in the room, each one seemed to have a life of its own as they danced through the air. I couldn’t see who these tails came from as they continuously moved into my line of sight block all of my attempts to see who they belonged to.

Kaito-‘‘ mother we have arrived’’ he said before going onto one knee.

Kitsune-‘’ good boy, you may leave now son your sister has been missing you’’ a slightly strict voice called out after he had informed her of our arrival. Kaito at this point walked straight past us and out the door.

‘’ the females may leave as well, but don’t worry I won’t take him from you’’ she said eliciting a look of shock on both Turya’s and Kelriea’s faces but they still walked out the door before closing it behind them. ‘’come to me youngling’’ the voice called out to me, as one of the tails seemed to beckon me closer.

I slowly walked over not sure what to expect, as I got closer the tails began to sway more and more, their speed increased so much that I could hear the sound of them moving through the air. As I got into touching distance of the tails they suddenly shot out and wrapped around me restricting my movements, I tried to break free but they were able to hold me no matter how much I struggled. Suddenly a face appeared from the darkness, this face was of a woman with slight tapered eyes and a small nose, her lips were dark scarlet in colour as she got closer to me I couldn’t help but be entranced by her eyes that seemed to hold untold amounts of knowledge.

Kitsune-‘’ hmmmmmmm... I wonder if he finally sent me one to fulfil his end of the bargin?’’ she said as she pressed her forehead against mine.

Xar-‘’ eh what are you doing and what do you mean bargin?’’ I asked her as I felt her breath brush along my face. She let out a small laugh as she withdrew from my face.

Kitsune-‘’ I saved your brother’s life a couple hundred years ago when I was still a young pup, he was exhausted after dueling and killing another godling, and a few demons decided to try and kill him, I was out hunting at that time and happened to see them trying to kill him, seeing that he was outnumbered and weak I stepped in and saved his life, after saving him he swore a pledge to me that he would send either his strongest disciple or his next of kin to marry into our clan. You are his next of kin, his younger brother.’’ she said as her tails slowly unwrapped from around me and formed a seat below her.

Xar-‘’ What that doesn’t make sense, I’m only 13 years old plus how do you know who I am or what I am’’ I asked her with an increasingly distressed voice.

Kitsune-‘’ He didn't say when, he only said that he would send a disciple or his kin. You are obviously the second one because you smell almost exactly like him’’. she said as she crossed her legs in front of her while sitting.

Xar-‘’ Still this isn’t normal and I'm already married’’ I quickly responded to her.

Kitsune-‘’ You can take a second wife, that's common amongst gods anyways.’’ she said rather matter of factly.

Xar-‘’ I am not giving up the woman I love’’ I growled at her as my skin slowly changed into scales.

Kitsune-‘’ You don’t have too leave her, all I ask is that you become a part of this clan for now’’ she said as she smiled at seeing my scales appear.

Xar-‘’ you just told me to fling the woman I love to the side of the road, do you really think I want to join your clan, after saying that?’’.I asked her as I tried to hold my anger in check.

Kitsune-‘’ You really care for that elf then, if you want you can have her as your first wife and the kitsune woman that chooses you can be your second wife, is that acceptable?’’ she asked me dodging my question. ‘’ Whether you like it or not you're going to join this clan, even if I have to force you, But I would rather you join peacefully and willingly. I have plans to create a safe haven for all races and I believe you would be instrumental in said plans’’.

Xar-‘’ Why do you need me?’’ I asked her. i couldn’t help but be taken aback by what she said but I could understand where she was coming from.

Kitsune-‘’ It's what I see in you, your demeanour shows that you're quite protective of those you care about, our goals are the same. Now will you join me or shall I force you?’’ She questioned with a serious and hopeful look on her face.

Author's notes

ok here is anthoer chater for you to read and possibly enjoy, thanks to both gooner and bitter(aka ani) for helping my with thischapter in different way, gooner did the pr'ing while nai hellped me flesh out a character, comment are always welcome