Getting outfoxed and glad (Camp and MadamVain)

[Campion]

Colin looked up from the gravel path. His elbows and palms were skinned from where he'd been thrown down.

"Alma, I can't believe you. I've slaved for us for three months in the mine so we could make it through the year, and when I get back you've taken another man? What about our promises."

He'd tried to force his way into the home they'd shared only to have Ryker the Blacksmith come out and hit him with a mace. "Nothing personal you little twerp, but she's mine now. I want her and she wants me. You were too much of a wuss. She needs to be kept in her place and I'm the man to do it. Now give me that money!"

"Why, I earned it! It's my money. This is banditry!"

"Colin, you promised her you'd go get money to take care of her. Fulfill your promise!"

Colin snarled. It wasn't fair. She'd made her promise and broken it and he shouldn't owe her a thing. Ryker should have to support her. But if he didn't give him the money, the heavily armed and armored man would beat him and maybe kill him. Colin threw a moneybag over. "There, that's what I was able to make!"

The bag was filled with silver and coppers.
"That's it you lout? She's so much better off with me."

Colin staggered to his feet and cradled his raw hands. "Yeah Ryker. You deserve each other." He stumbled away, and Ryker nodded, then realized it might not be a compliment.

"Colin! If I ever see you again, I'll kill you!"

Colin kept going. Most of his money was sewn into the bottom of his pack. There he had the gold he'd earned, but he was not going to mention that. Instead he went to a roadside temple and washed his hands. He left a gold as they healed his wounds and gave him a little food for travel. Then he hurried on as the sun grew redder in the sky and began to slip below the horizon. He came to an inn, but they were full up, so he exchanged a gold coin and bought provisions, then went into the woods to find a pine grove to sleep under.

Two hours later he had a fat hare roasting with his sling by his side, and he leaned against a cliff face. As he pondered his future, his eyes picked out a pair of glowing eyes. A fox. "Cmere girl. Want a little of this hare? I'll share." Why did he bother, foxes were skittish even when tamed.

So he stretched his 5'6" slim frame out on his pack and blanket and began to count stars in the clear sky.

 

[MadamVain]

In the middle of the woods lived a lone fox witch by the name Flare. She knew the basic spells which are the 4 elements. Fire,Water,Wind, and Thunder. But she still had a very long way to go. Today Flare has conjured up a spell to help her with transportation through the huge and maze like woods. She was able to make some sort of cloud that was able to carry her effortlessly.

"Well this will definitely help when I no longer need to walk upon the ground...but I won't use it just yet."

She memorized the spell to summon the small cloud back for when she was ready to ride. Flare still had ingredients to collect for her studies. She rubbed on the chain around her neck as it glowed a slight orange aura. The chain was there to enable her to switch between her fox form and human form. Her body grew small with the transformation. Within a minute she was a normal tiny fox that no one would look twice at.

Flare took off in bushes off the path since she knew a shortcut to collect more of the herbs and flowers she needed.

"I should only need 2 bunches for today and then I'll-" she became distracted by a familiar but enticing scent. "Mmm...I smell a hare being roasted!"

She followed the trail of the scent but stopped as she peeked her small glowing eyes from the side of a bush only to find a human. He noticed her and it kinda startled her.

"The hare smells so great though mmm!...What should I do?" she contemplated in her head.

The male human then began to offer Flare some of the delicious roasted hare. She cautiously approached him hoping it wasn't some sort of trick.

 

[Campion]

Colin continued to lay there quietly. He didn't want to startle the vixen. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that she had a metal collar that reflected the sunlight. Well, she must be or had been a pet, so was tame.

He was quite glad for the idea of company, and so he took a sharpened forked stick and pulled the hare from the fire. Large leaves were his platters as he tore it open with a small knife and offered her a quarter. It would be a small amount of difference to him, but she looked so hungry, and it should fill her tiny tummy.

"C'mon little cutie. I've no wish to harm such a pretty little girl. I'm lonely and just want some company in the deep woods. As long as you are about, I'll bet there isn't anything nasty near, so you can be alert and warn me. You look like you need some food."

Slowly, he sat up and took a bite from a cooling leg, the juices running down his chin. "Mmmm. I' tho goo!" He chewed and gulped. "But if you don't want it I can eat your share." He slowly started to reach for the portion he'd set aside for her. But instead of reaching palm down, he left it up so she could sniff him if desired.

 

[MadamVain]

She was quite surprised how gentle this human was. Usually humans just shoo her away or try to hunt them for their fur and who knows what else. But...so far he was kind. She also noticed how he took notice of her magical collar.

"Hmm..don't be naive Flare...but it smells so good...just one bite..".
She went towards him and rubbed against his side for a quick second to let him know he has her temporary trust. As he placed the meat down she started to lick it and then took a small nibble.

"Hm?" She thought as she saw his hand descend. She licked the back of his hand with cheer as a thanks for the delicious treat. "Mmm...ok maybe a couple of more bites...' She started to tear the meat apart getting in the tender pieces. Its been awhile since she had a fresh cooked meal since she mostly feeds on the fruits and nuts of the woods.

 

[Campion]

Colin smiled over at her softly. "You are so pretty and dainty. Don't worry, I don't want to do anything other than stroke your silky fur and feed you.

Why can't more women be like you. Instinctually doing what they are supposed to, instead of being cruel and faithless.

If you were a girl, I bet you'd be what I want. A best friend. Someone to care for and be cared for by. But it's all silly talk. Stay and be warmed by the fire friend vixen. Tomorrow I'll catch some fish in the stream. I'll be glad to give you the choice bits for your cute company."

Noting that the fire was low and would be embers to last a long time, He placed a dry leafy branch to hand, in case he had to ignite it to scare predators. "Night Miss Fox. Sleep well and I hope there is a Todd out there worthy of your attentions. My name's Colin, by the way."

He might be silly talking to her, but he felt better.

 

[MadamVain]

"He thinks I'm pretty?" She gave a dumb found look. If Flare wasn't in fox form you would be able to see her deep blush. She gave him a lick on the hand as he stroked her."Man that feels good..."

She gave him a glance as he continued to talk to her like she was a human. "It sounds like he's going through a tough time...I wonder." She watched him lay down and went over to under his arm to snuggle with. "He doesn't seem that bad, but if I can cheer him up as a thanks for that great meal then I'll do so...maybe I should reveal to him my other form in the morning.

She licked the tip of her nose and decided to stay the night with the human that called himself Colin. Who knows what could happen? She was getting pretty bored being by herself most of the time anyways.

 

[Campion]

Somehow the presence of his little foxy friend made him feel so comforted.

It had been such a long day, he fell into a deep slumber...so deep that he didn't hear the cracking of branches.

Old scarfoot, the grizzled bear with worn teeth had found that the two legs were easy hunting. He smelled one by a very small yellow burn. The yellow burn was almost out. Coming carelessly from upwind, he approached the small camp.

 

[MadamVain]

She was almost half way asleep but her ears twitched to some branches moving. "Huh?" She sat up and looked around to check out the area. Seeing nothing she laid back down next to Colin. She was more aware though, enough to stay alert if it really was something near by.

"Strange...I'll stay up just to make sure..." She twitched her ears once again but closed her eyes. Instead of keeping her eyes open she figured it would be better if she listened out for any more noise and to look like she was asleep.

 

[Campion]

The scent of the rogue bear, and his slavering hunger now rolled across the camp, giving and alert to the small fox's sensitive nose.

Where this bear went was only death and her human was going to die if he kept sleeping.

 

[MadamVain]

Her scent picked up an animal and it sounded like he wasn't coming just to say hello. "The bear!" She got from under his arms quickly, gave him a headbutt to try and wake him up and stood guard in her tiny form. "I can't do anything like this!" She touched her collar and an orange aura surrounded her as she transformed back to her witch form.

"Colin stay back!" She yelled as she growled and fanged at the bear. In her pouch she took out what looked like a very dark ash with sparkles and blew them towards the bear only for the ashes to turn into a raging flame to stop the bear attacking them.

 

[Campion]

Something smacked into Colin, waking him instantly. He saw his little fox friend backing away and looking at something behind him.

Spinning, he saw the bear and grabbed for the leafy branch, running it down into the coals.

As he raised it and it flamed up something shot by him with a whoosh, and a massive gout of flame slammed into the bear's face, crisping his hair and burning his nose.

The bear opened his eyes to see Colin as the branch went into full immolation and he turned tail, running. He desired no more of this human or fox and would avoid them in future.

Colin turned to check on the safety of his little friend, expecting her to be long gone, but then dropped the branch into the fire as he survey the beautiful feminine foxmorph.

He knelt and bowed his head, sure she was one of the spirit folk. "Lady, thanks are hardly enough for how you have saved me at risk of revealing yourself. I beg you, do me no harm, for I mean you none in this form, that of the vixen, or any other. How may this poor jilted man be of service to you?"

https://static1.e621.net/data/02/b0/02b062baf85b39a56ea423788c832194.jpg
She was amazingly beautiful. with only her pointed furry ears and whiskers giving away her nature.

As he paused, he came up with an idea. "I am single, though you likely do not need a mate, your peoples can not gain citizenship in the human realm on your own. But if you wed a human, the citizenship is extended. Through my ancestry I am a full citizen, and I offer this to you as it might be useful to you to be able to trade in the human realm. I am sorry that other than gold, I have no way to thank you." Slowly he arose to his feet and held his hand palm out in a signal for peace between them.

"How might I call you Lady?"