• Chapter thirteen - The changing of magic

    (Third person)


    "Teach me." Nereza asked of the Snow Fox, crouching in front of the sleek, elegant animal.

    It is very simple, really. She explained, licking her paw. Think about the creature, how they move, how they act. Simple as that.

    Only that? She looked at the fox questionately but shrugged, closing her pale lavender lids. Behind them, a picture of a sleek, elegant fox came into her mind. It's coat was as dark as night, it's eyes violet. The tail was long and the fur stuck out at random ends, the perfect tail. Long, powerful legs made the animal move, and right now the animal was sniffing the air with delecacy and slemdow, it's ears picking up all sounds.

    Magic coursed through her veins, through her body and made her shiver with pleasure. She slowly opened her lids.

    The Snow Fox seemed to be smiling.

    "How do you like it?" The foxette asked in their quiet song. Nereza looked at herself, from a long black nose. The tail at her end was swishing in happiness, her ears twitching as she picked up the sounds from the night.

    "This is... amazing." If she could have cried she would have. She felt free, full of childish happiness. She looked around with her sharpened senses, her nose smelling the running water. The foxette walked to it and lapped it up.

    "What is your name?" Nereza asked her. She walked up to the water, sniffed it a moment, and started drinking it. It was icy cold, running down her throat and awakening her senses. She wanted to jump into it.

    The foxette seemed to ponder the question a moment.

    "Asaranise." She finally said, licking her black nose with her long tongue. "Call me Asara if you fear it is too long."

    "No, I think I can manage." The Princess said with a foxy grinn. "Lead the hunt, Asaranise."

    Both foxes dashed out into the forest behind them, their tails high up, exited.



    He put another log in the fire pit, and sat back down. There was a small silence in the camp site, since she left. They did not worry much, though. She was strong enough, but fear was still in Kilunar's throat.

    He tried to speak to her through their telepathic bond.

    Nereza? He asked.

    Oh, brother! She sounded shocked, as if she was in her own world. I'm coming. I need to show you something this animal taught me!

    He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

    "Nereza is coming." He told the two. Teruko sighed, letting out the breath she had held. "She learned something from an animal, and she wants to show us."

    "I wonder what-"

    All heads turned to where Mosoma was looking. His face was pale.

    "Fox attack?" Kilunar asked.

    There on the fringes of the forest was a pure white Snow Fox, her large tail swishing out behind her. Her eyes were orange, shining dimly with animal knowledge. The other fox was harder to see, a total opposite to the white one. She had a pure black coat, her violet eyes shining with happiness. Her tail was swishing with marvel, as if she was seeing everything with new eyes.

    "Watch out... Wait, Teruko!" Mosoma tried to grasp her wrist as she stood up, but he only grabbed empty air. She walked right to the black fox, and crouched in front of her. She peered into the animals' eyes.

    And then the fox licked her cheek. Teruko bubbled with laughter, hugging her.

    "Look, this is what the animal taught her! She's a fox! Nereza is a fox!" She squealed, hugging her tightly. The two foxes were wagging their tails like dogs.

    "Are you sure?" Mosoma asked.

    The fox rolled her eyes.

    And then a magic light envelopped the black foxes' body. She started to change shape, take on the shape of a woman in Teruko's arms.

    And then they were looking at Nereza. But she was different.

    Her eyes were orange, but had a dark brown circle on the outer and inner edge. They shone like an animals'. She had two orange fox ears sitting atop her head, and a busy fox tail swishing out behind her. For some reason she had this sword on her back. A long, red handle met with a double blade on one end only. The blade was dark blue, and it split down the middle in two, leaving a gaping space between them. It had a gem right under the handle, and the tip of the blade curved inwards, both points touching. (Author's note: It's complex to explain, really. There's one blade, but it splits in half and meets again at the very tip) But her outfit was a little simpler.

    She wore a glove to her elbow on her right arm, black in the moonlight, and a fabric wrapping around her forearm on her left arm. Her shirt went around her neck and the two ends split before meeting again in the front with the corset, and then it hugged her waist to her skin. At the waist it split up into two pieces, and stopped at her calves. It was grey with white trimmings, and elegant white strips decorated it. Her skirt was one of the same design and pattern, and it flowed to her calves as well. She had boots on that went to her knee's, black and plain. She pushed aside a strand of red hair from her eyes, it was tied up behind her head.

    "Isn't it amazing?" She asked, getting to her feet once Teruko let go of her. "Asaranise taught it to me."

    "Who's Arasanise?" Teruko asked.

    "Her." She knelt beside the other fox. "Thank you, Asaranise. I would have never thought it up myself."

    An unspoken word passed through them, and she threw her head back. Her red hair fell from her face as she laughed up to the stars. Her eyes were closed, but you could tell they were smiling.

    "Good luck." She chuckled to the foxette. "And merry met."

    The foxette turned around and walked into the forest. Nereza spun around and looked at each of them in turn.

    "Sorry about that." She apologized. "I fear I have worried you with my absence, I had no notion of time going by."

    "You were only gone an hour or so." Mosoma informed her.

    She stretched out her arms in front of her. "It feels odd, being in a human body. I was really comfortable as I was." She covered her mouth with a yawn. "I guess I'm just tired. I'll be off to sleep now. Good night." She ducked into one of the tents.

    "I'll choke the fire, you can head out to bed." Kilunar told the two. they nodded, both yawned, and went to bed in the tents. Teruko went in the tent for the girls, while Mosoma went into the one for the two boys.

    As he brought the water to the fire, he thought.

    What are you talking about?" He asked of his father. "I have no twin, I'd know." At the time, he didn't know.

    "You do." The King told his son. "Her name is Yumi Nereza Keiko. She was sent by the Goddess herself."

    Kilunar froze, and glanced at the tent she was resting in. The fire was out, the smoke in his eyes, but his mind raced.

    Sent by the Goddess herself...

    Sent by Fayne, The Goddess Of Power.