Kitsune in the Shadows

Chapter 11 – A Not-So-Quiet Evening

What am I supposed to do now?

Ever since Ava tried to jump at me, she has been sitting in the corner of the room, staying completely silent. She occasionally looked up at me but quickly looked away again. I even got myself back up onto the bed, and she didn’t react at all; she didn’t even try to talk to me.

“…”

“…”

After a while of just sitting in silence, the door suddenly flung open, and Raynelle came into the room with a basket in tow.

“So, you girls miss me?!”

“…”

“…”

“Tough crowd?” Raynelle said, shrugging her shoulders before setting down the basket.

What am I even supposed to say?

“…”

Raynelle then turned towards Ava, but Ava just continued her silence. I don’t know if she even realised that Raynelle had come into the room.

“Wow, you managed to get Ava to shut up somehow,” Raynelle said, sounding genuinely surprised, “I need you to teach me how to do that someday.”

“Now, wait a minute!” Ava finally piped up as she got up off the floor, “It’s not like I talk that much.”

“Sure, I believe you.”

Ava didn’t say anything in response, choosing to just pout instead, probably coming to the conclusion that there wasn’t much point in trying to push back any further.

“Alright then, Ava, can you go and make your way down to the kitchen? I’ve already spoken to staff here, and they are willing to let you use it. I’ve also left the rest of what I bought there ready for you to work your magic.”

“But-”

“Look, you’ve already had all day with Kit, and I’m pretty sure she would really appreciate a warm meal.” Raynelle interrupted, glancing over at me.

Ava let out a sigh.

“Fine.”

Then she left the room, leaving just Raynelle and me.

“Alright, now I have you all to myself for a bit.”

Hearing those words, my body started to pull back instinctively.

“Hey now, don’t worry so much; I’ve just got something I want to give you; you can turn it down if you want, okay?”

“…”

Well, she hasn’t done anything bad… yet…

While I wasn’t entirely convinced of her intentions, I still decided to nod, to which Raynelle simply responded with a smile before turning and grabbing something out of the basket she had brought with her.

“So, I don’t know how exactly you want me to give this to you?”

“…”

“Are you okay with me coming closer?”

“…”

I don’t know…

Raynelle looked into my eyes, clearly expecting something, but I just couldn’t bring myself to respond to her.

I want to say yes…

But…

I just can’t trust you…

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…

“Here, how about this?” Raynelle said as she approached the far end of the bed, “I’ll leave it here, and you can come grab it when I move away again. Good?”

“…”

I nodded, and Raynelle did exactly as she said she would, placing something wrapped in paper at the far end of the bed before moving back.

Slowly, I crawled over to the other side of the bed, keeping my eyes on Raynelle the whole time, just in case. But I managed to grab the package and move back without her doing anything.

Raynelle didn’t say anything once I had retrieved the package but just looked on expectantly.

Carefully, I unfolded the paper wrapping, making sure not to tear it. What was inside was a long black piece of fabric. It was the same colour as my hair when it was covered by my shadow…

Which meant it was also the same colour as…

…

A tear started to well up in my eye.

“Whoa there, it’s just a scarf,” Raynelle blurted out, clearly a little panicked.

But the tears didn’t stop.

You couldn’t understand!

I took off my makeshift scarf before gently wrapping the new one around my neck.

…

It’s warm.

…

Raynelle didn’t try to interrupt after that.

I stayed there, trying to sort out my thoughts, or at least I was, until Ava came back into the room carrying three plates of food.

“Huh?” Ava turned towards Raynelle before blurting out, “What did you do to her?!”

“Just… reign it in Ava, it’s not the time.”

Shockingly, Ava did what she was told without saying anything back. At the same time, Raynelle grabbed one of the plates that Ava had brought with her and took it over to the far end of the bed, just like she did with the scarf.

“Now, I’m sure the cooks here could do a great job, but once you taste Ava’s cooking… just… y’know?”

“…”

“Ahh, you’ll get what I mean when you try some.”

Looking over at the plate of food that had been left on the bed, it was clear that it had been put together by someone very skilled, but that might also just be my hunger affecting my vision.

Everything on the plate looked good, but there was one thing that I couldn’t take my eyes off. A large slab of meat sat in the middle of the plate.

Have I ever had meat?…

Despite my reservations about these people, I quickly approached the food with my eyes locked squarely on whatever meat that was.

The bread they gave me wasn’t bad…

But what if?…

But meat…

My hands unconsciously moved towards the meat, picking it up and bringing it up to my mouth.

I know I shouldn’t… but…

I took a bite.

…

It’s good.

…

It’s so good.

…

Why have I never had this before?!

…

My mind was filled with those thoughts as the meat quickly vanished, along with everything else that came with it. It was almost like I had blacked out, as it was there one second and gone the next.

“You alright there?” Raynelle asked, laughing slightly, “I get that we have Ava to patch you up, but we can’t have you getting sick cause you’re eating like that.”

“…”

Is there more? I want more.

All of a sudden, Raynelle let out a sigh before getting up and placing her own plate down in front of me.

“Go ahead. I had something to eat on the way back.” Raynelle said, gesturing towards the plate of food, “Just take it a bit slower this time. Nobody is going to take it away from you.”

Can you read my mind?

She then just smiled at me before going over to and opening the door.

“Ava, can you please look over Kit? I’ve got something I need to do quickly.”

Ava responded by giving a thumbs up, her mouth still full of food. Seeing that, Raynelle left the room.

Not wanting to be ungrateful, I dug into the second plate of food.

She gave it to me, so she can’t complain later.

Once again, the food just seemed to vanish. When I came back to my senses, I could see the sun setting outside the window.

This food is powerful…

…

While I was still in awe of the food, the door opened again. Raynelle had come back into the room, although this time, she looked a bit different.

As soon as Ava laid eyes on her, she burst out laughing. I myself was somehow more speechless than before; even my thoughts completely stopped for a second.

“You can’t be serious!” Ava blurted out between her laughter.

“What?” Raynelle responded, blushing slightly, “I thought it would help Kit open up to me.”

Raynelle had come back into the room sporting a new pair of purple cat ears on top of her head.

“…”

Why would that change anything?

“Why would that change anything?” Ava asked, still laughing.

Huh! Are they both psychic?

“I thought she had some bad experiences with humans and, y’know didn’t want to talk to me cause, well, I am one.”

“Why would that work? She didn’t talk to me either, and I’m not human.”

“Umm… because I’m cuter?” Raynelle responded, attempting to strike a pose.

…

Something started to well up in my throat watching this exchange. At least it did until I couldn’t hold it in anymore, and a small laugh escaped my lips. I quickly brought my hands up to my mouth to hide it… although I was clearly unsuccessful…

“Huh!” The two exclaimed in unison.

“…”

“See! I told you!” Raynelle shouted.

“No! That wasn’t her talking to you.” Ava argued, “She was just laughing at how stupid you look.”

“That’s good enough for me!”

Just like that, what little of the day was left turned into a blur. Eventually, the little light that came from the sunset disappeared, casting the city into darkness once again.

“Alright then, It’s been a long day,” Raynelle said, “I guess we’ll call it a night here. The two of us will head back to our room so you can get some sleep.”

“Sure, that sounds good,” Ava mumbled as she started to yawn.

“…”

Raynelle started to get up off the floor, but before fully standing up, she paused.

“Hmm?”

I looked down and saw my hand latched onto the hem of her shirt.

What?

My mind instantly started to spiral out of control, trying to figure out what had just happened.

It was an accident!

But I still haven’t let go!

I shouldn’t be doing this!

But I… don’t want to be alone…

Not again…

Raynelle looked down at my hand and then to my face before silently gesturing for Ava to come over. She tried whispering to her, but thanks to my ears, I could still clearly make out what she was saying.

“Ava, go grab me a blanket… and some bread too.”

…

You know you didn’t have to give me your plate…

Ava left the room and quickly came back in with a blanket, which I assumed had been wrapped around a loaf of bread, so I couldn’t see it.

“I guess I’ll just stay right here tonight.” Raynelle said, settling in on the floor next to the bed, “Ava, just go back to our room, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sure, sure,” Ava said, waving her hand as she left the room, clearly quite tired herself.

Raynelle didn’t say anything further and just wrapped the blanket around herself.

I got myself into the bed, pulling the covers over me before hugging my tail.

…

I’m just doing this because of the food.

…

“Sleep well now,” Raynelle quietly whispered, “I’ll keep you company for as long as you need.”

…

Yeah, it’s just for the food…