Kitsune in the Shadows

Chapter 31 – Is That Really It?

[Raynelle POV]

“Come on, Ava, did you really have to do that?”

Ava had just elbowed me in the stomach when I tried to stop Kit from going back into that temple that hurt her.

“I know you’re alright,” Ava retorted with a smirk spread across her face, “You’re plenty strong after all.”

“I think you’ve underestimated just how strong you’ve gotten.”

Ava responded with a chuckle, but it was only brief as her smirk faded, leaving an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“Mom… I think we need to talk about how you’ve been acting lately,” She looked me directly in the eye.

“What do you mean how I’ve been acting? I’ve… just been myself.”

“…”

Ava didn’t say anything and just continued to stare back at me.

“Look, I’m not letting her go in there alone,” I broke eye contact and decided to just walk towards the temple, “I… can’t do that to her.”

“You can’t do what to her?”

For some reason, just hearing those words frustrated me to no end, causing me to immediately stop and turn around to face her again.

“You should have seen her the last time she came out of there! The poor thing was non-responsive, with all those tears streaming down her face,” I took a step towards Ava, “She didn’t even push me away like normal… I-I… don’t want that to happen again.”

…

What am I doing?

I shouldn’t be complaining about this to a child.

While I was busy regretting my outburst, Ava silently came up and hugged me, catching me off guard.

“Mom, I know you mean well, but you need to try and think about it from Kit’s perspective.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing… isn’t it?” I gently pushed Ava away, “She… She’s been hurt by too many people and… I need to stop that from happening again… I… I can do that.”

“No, not like that-”

“Then, like what?!” I shouted, cutting her off, “What do you want me to do?! Just let her get hurt again?!”

“Of course not. I know you just want to help her, just like you did when you first found me,” She came a little closer, “But do you think she knows that?”

“I… That little girl…”

While I didn’t like it, there wasn’t much I could say in response, as I already understood what she was talking about.

I know how scared she is of me…

How couldn’t I know?…

…

But even then…

“I… still can’t let her go in there,” I turned away from Ava and began walking to the temple again, “Even if she doesn’t like it… I’m not letting that kid hurt herself.”

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I can deal with this later.

For now… I just need to keep her safe.

“Why do you think she’s going to hurt herself?” Ava was followed close behind me.

“I already told you-”

“Do you really think she would intentionally let herself get hurt?” She interrupted me, “You know she wouldn’t do that.”

…

I…

…

“What makes you so confident?” My legs stopped moving, “How do you know so much about her when she won’t tell me anything?”

“I think she tells us plenty,” Ava walked in front of me.

Plenty?

She hasn’t even said a word to me.

“What do you mean?!”

Raynelle, stop this…

You’re just shouting at a child.

…

“Just… tell me what you think I’m supposed to do?”

“Come on. You know as well as I do that she’s terrible at hiding what she’s thinking,” Ava put her hands just above her head, just like Kit’s ears, “Just watch her ears and tail, and it’s almost like you can read her mind.”

“I know that, but this and that are two different things.”

“No, they’re not. All you need to know is that she’s not some complicated puzzle you need to try and solve,” Ava continued walking towards the temple, so I started moving as well to keep up with her.

“Then tell me… What do I need to do for her?”

“Not much, just… wait for her.”

“Just wait?” I asked, confused.

That can’t be right…

If it was… something would have changed already…

“Yes, you should just wait for her to come to you instead of trying to force your way in.”

…

Is that really it?

But…

Why would she ever come to me?

…

But you…

The door of the temple was only a few steps away at this point.

“How did you do it?” The question slipped out of my mouth.

“I guess… I just gave her what she wanted when she wanted it,” She said, now smirking again.

But… I don’t know what she wants.

“Wh-”

I was cut off by the sound of the heavy stone doors opening. Standing in the doorway was a man with a familiar face.

“I thought you wouldn’t be far behind,” The black-haired rabbit beastkin gestured into the temple, “Come on in; it will probably be a while before she comes back.”

I just stood there, frozen, while trying to decide what I should do. But before I could come to a decision, Ava began to make her way into the temple.

“Ava?!” I shouted as I ran up and grabbed her by the shoulder.

“What? He invited us in?”

“But he’s-”

“I also… want to talk to you about last time,” The rabbit beastkin turned to face me, “I… didn’t make the best first impression.”

Didn’t make the best first impression?

You wouldn’t let me go help her.

You were the one who held me back.

“Who even are you?” I asked, pulling Ava behind me, “I never got a name from you.”

“I thought I told you last time… although… maybe I forgot… I wasn’t in the best head-space that day,” He sat down on one of the pews, “I’m Benvolio, the Emissary of Darkness… although… I’m normally just called Beni.”

…

“Mom, why are you acting like this?” Ava squirmed out from my grip and made her way over to the pew, “He doesn’t seem that bad.”

“But-”

“I understand… It’s nothing new around here…” He interrupted me, “I’m used to people avoiding me… and this temple… for no real reason…”

“No reason?!” My anger was building, “You wrapped me in those chains. You stopped me from helping that little girl when she had collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face!”

The room fell silent for a few short moments.

“I… sorry about that… but it wasn’t to stop you from helping her… you wouldn’t have found her there anyway…” He looked up at me, “I just… didn’t want you to damage the place… I-… No… I could… probably have just… explained myself better.”

“Why are you being so hard on him?” Ava piped up, “If anything, you should be sitting over her with me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” She threw her hands into the air, “Maybe because he seems to know why Kit wanted to come here?”

…

That’s…

Without saying anything more, I reluctantly went and sat down next to Ava and Benvolio.

“So, what’s going on here?” I asked, “Why does that little girl want to come here after what happened last time?”

“I… don’t think I should tell you… you should probably hear it from her…” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “She’s safe though… the person she’s talking to is very nice…”

“Then… at least tell me who she is talking to.”

“Hmm… You probably already have an idea… though…” He started to sit up again, but before he straightened his back, he leaned forward again, “No… never mind…”

Just like that, we had a back-and-forth for a few hours, with me asking questions and only getting vague reassurances from Benvolio. At least until I heard footsteps coming from the far side of the temple.

Instinctively, I knew exactly who it was and jumped out of my seat, ready to comfort a crying Kit, but to my surprise, that’s not what came out of the darkness.

It was the little girl I was expecting, but there were no tears, although her tail was hanging a little low.

“Kit! Are you alright?” I ran up to her, kneeling down when I got close, “Did anything happen to you?”

“…”

Ava then came up behind me, poking her head out just over my shoulder, “So, did it go well?”

“…”

Kit nodded.

“I guess that means all your effort was worth it then.”

Benvolio then came over himself, although he made sure to keep some distance from us.

“I hope you had a good time with her…”

Once again, Kit nodded.

“Then I’ll be waiting for your next visit… Although you should probably leave the temple soon… The sun has already started to set.”

“That’s something we can agree on,” I said, turning back towards Kit, “Let’s head back to the inn. I’m sure Ava can quickly put something tasty together for dinner.”

“…”

She didn’t respond at all, so I just picked her up and made my way to the exit.

“Come on Ava, let’s get going.”

“Sure, sure,” Ava came up next to me as I stepped out of the temple.

I’ll need to talk to Ava some more when we get back.

I… need to learn how to help Kit… properly this time.

…

I found myself unintentionally looking over at Ava.

I can’t believe I’m getting advice from you now.

Just… when did you grow up so much?