By 10animallover10

The following morning after the free class of Stained Glass, Zeddicus continued on his trip to enjoy the Yuletide celebrations. He sought some seclusion from the biggest part of the crowd of fellow Reoseans. The Sea Vayron made his way to a nearby forest to enjoy the scenery. He inhaled deeply, the wintery air filling his lungs. It was however not overly cold. It seemed that in Vitalus, the winters were mild. Something Zed did not mind because he did not particularly like how cold it could get in for example Roenden. As the male made his way further towards the forest, he spotted another Vayron standing at the edge, seemingly either very focused on the woods in front of him, or searching for something. Zed hesitated, would he approach the other male to start a conversation or did this Vayron escape the social gatherings to be by himself on purpose..? Deciding to take a chance, he walked over towards the fellow Runner.

‘Hello Sir, do you need help with something?’ Zed spoke up friendly, not that he knew the way better as a tourist but hey, if he could help, he would help.

Soledad blinked as if he was startled out of a daze.

‘I’m sorry, I did not want to startle you, Sir’ Zeddicus added hastily, regretting he disturbed him. As he was about to leave, Soledad turned towards him fully.

‘Ah no, Sorry. I was lost in thought, communicating with my Bonded’ Soledad explained.

‘Your Bonded?’ Zeddicus mimicked in awe. He had never met a Reosean who was bonded before and it intrigued him. He wanted to ask questions on the matter but courtesy stopped him. The bond between a Reosean and their Bonded was the most intimate in one’s life so he didn’t want to pry. 

‘Yes, she’s elsewhere so she can’t help me physically right now. We’re looking for a specific place in a forest, this forest. A Shrine I want to visit’ Soledad explained.

‘I have heard rumors of such a Shrine’ Zed started, remembering a talk with Stained Glass after his free class. ‘I am also curious to that Shrine’ Zed added and since both males were interested into this place, they decided to team up to look for it together.

The two males wandered into the forested area, intrigued by the surroundings.

‘These forests are so different than those in Warrenfall’ Soledad spoke up and Zed agreed. He might be from Thedale originally, but he spent a lot of time is Warrenfall himself. The forests had this mystic air about it. Something mysterious yet not foreboding. The vibe was just that, different and mystic then they were used too. After about a candlemark of wandering into the direction their gut told them, the two Vayrons ended up in a part of the forest that made them stop in their track.

‘Do you sense that?’ Soledad suddenly said. ‘It seems like the air has shifted or something..’ he added in almost a whisper. Zed felt it too but Soledad beat him to it speaking it out loud. He turned around his axis, taking in a 365 degrees view of their surroundings. He did not spot anything but he felt as if they were being watched..

Between the trees, some of which still bore leaves or even fruit, something lay await. Watching them in silence. Kitsunes amber eyes behind an ivory and gold, tipped in red mask followed the blue and green hued companions. The fox spirit was aware they sensed them but did not make an appearance just yet. First, more information was needed. The anomaly did notice these two males had a certain air around them. Experience? Hardship in their hearts? A pure soul? A visceral longing or need for something? Kitsune did not know for sure what is was with these two but it was intriguing.. Three little yellow will-o-the-wisps floated close-by, seemingly having minds of their own. Kitsune could semi-control them and choose to try something.. Two of the orbs slowly floated away from their side, towards the more open parts of the forests, following the two males out of sight. One of the seven tails moved involuntarily, even more showing the interest Kitsune had in these two travelers. The spirit then changed position, moving towards another hideout, closer to the visitors yet still out of sight.

Zed and Soledad did not detect any danger so they continued on. They took the change in the air as a hint they were going the right way. As they continue don, the forests seemed to bloom and more as they go. ‘Something really is changing here..’ Zed said. It cause both males a mixed feeling or bliss and safety, yet rationally something was wrong. No flora was this bright and alive during winter. Only in rainforests and they were not in Thedales wettest parts or Warrenfalls most tropic climate. 

The pair then noticed two yellow colors, seeming to move around in the trees and brushes. Curious, Zed and Soledad went investigating. The will-o-the-wisps emerged fully now.

‘Do you see what I am seeing?’ Zed asked his companion, not knowing whether to trust his sense of sight. 

‘Well, I have not ingested any weird fruits or mushrooms and I see them too’ Soledad replied.

‘What do they want?’ Zed added. 

‘I have heard of these orbs.. Rhiannon told me about them. It are said to be little spirits’ Soledad explained. He had seen and heard many things from and with his Witch Bonded. She and her sisters knew the unseen world and were teaching him what they knew. Zed had never heard f these creatures. He hadn’t encountered anything mystical before. Wait, that’s not right, he did see something mystical before, a mermaid or Siren, according to stories. So why not will-o-the-wisps? 

‘Maybe we need to follow them’ Soledad opted. Zed agreed, he was curious and they followed the floating spirits. This pleased Kitsune, who was still watching them from the shadows and they followed the pair and their orbs. 

The will-o-the-wisps floated further into the woods, Zed and Soledad close behind. Then the orbs lost speed and eventually stopped moving forward. Soledad and Zeddicus watched them up close, the lights floated above some ferns. The males then saw why they had stopped. In front of them, semi-hidden between the flora, a path was seen. A path with a row of Torii alongside.

‘This looks like the way to a shrine’ Soledad said with a smile. Kitsune by now was very close-by. They could smell them if the males tried. The spirit moved parallel to the Torii gates, enjoying the company while studying the pair even more. Kitsunes became more and more inclined to greet them face to face. Normally, they would stay in the shadows until the offerings were laid or the visitors of the Shrine already left but Kitsune wanted to interact more with these specific two. Up a hill, the road lead the males, light of the golden hour shone through the canopies, bathing the stony path in beams of light. It was a beautiful sight.

A breeze, with for some reason Spring scents, suddenly blew over the hill up a head, right into the faces of Soledad and Zeddicus. Their nostrils flaring, brains registering Spring scents and trying to decipher why it would smell like that in the heart of Winter. Eyes semi-closed opened again and there was a form up ahead of them. A silhouette against the backlight of the form appeared. Three yellow orbs floated around it, multiple tails were seen and the head had a strange form, as if it was some kind of mask. Kitsune had finally appeared in front of the pair. Time stood still as the males just watched in astonishment.. They had heard of a spirit roaming here but never expected to encounter it face to face. Was this the famed fox spirit or just a Reosean in costume. It was a festival after all. Patiently and silently standing still, the males watched the creature, waiting for it to make the next move. The form descended the path of stairs in front of them, one by one slowly, until it emerged out of the backlight so the two Runners could see its appearance fully. Kitsune was bathed in intricate colors and markings. Its fur far from smooth, with reds, creams, blues centered in golden cloaked its form. Not 3 but 7 tails dotted in small dark ribbons emerged from its Chaser physique. A mask on its face where fierce but kind amber eyes stared right at them, almost through them. Kitsune heaved its head slightly, a signal Soledad took as to proceed. Zed followed suit.

‘Greetings mighty spirit of the woods. We seek passage to your Shrine. So we can make offerings. May we proceed?’ Soledad said ceremonially. Zeddicus was impressed. He could not have spoken that well to a spirit he knew nothing about. He was in awe of what he saw, he didn’t fully grasp the fact that Soledad was talking about offerings.  To still pay his respects, Zeddicus bowed his head as Soledad spoke. Kitsune nodded, liking the respect it was shown.

‘You may pass to the Shrine, my visitors’ a voice, neither masculine nor feminine spoke but Kitsunes mouth wasn’t truly moving. The voice was heard inside their heads. Zed was slightly startled, not used to the sensation. Soledad knew however, he had telepathic contact with his Bonded before. But the Sea Runner recovered quickly. Kitsune turned, its tails gracefully floating behind them and the two males preceded to the Shrine itself. 

Torii after Torii they passed and finally, they arrived at the heart of the sacred land. A marble stoned Shrine was erected, pillars on both sides, statues of foxes were seen everywhere showing one or multiple tails. In the middle of the temple, a statue of Kitsune itself stood proudly, a ring of shallow water around it and a platform of various heights showing open spaces for offerings.

Kitsune, in the flesh so to speak, appeared once again seemingly out of thin air this time. The spirit ventured closer to the pair as if almost being able to touch them.

‘You may place your offerings on the available open spaces’ the paranormal voice stated before it threaded silently towards the top of its own statue. 

Soledad opened the small tack he was wearing, taking out his offering and placing it on one of the spaces. ‘For good health and prosperity to everyone I can help as a Medic’ Soledad offered with his brown eyes close. 

Zed needed to think quickly. He actually wanted to explore the Shrine for the sole purpose of exploring and the seclusion of the woods. He did not specifically brought offerings with him beforehand. Feeling anxious, his mind raced. He could not leave without giving the Shrine an offering, especially since the Kitsune spirit itself made an appearance. Not to mention, who knows what it was capable of if insulted.

 Suddenly, he had an idea. Out of his tack, he took the little stained glass vase he made yesterday. The item shimmered deep blue in the golden sun rays. “Azu is not gonna like this..” Zed thought but didn’t have much of a choice, he thought. He placed the blue vase on another open space bowed his head once again.

‘You have shown great honor and consideration in your offerings’ Kitsune spoke. The pair listened intently. ‘Offering a pure, new item even though destined for another in the first place is admirable’ Kitsune spoke, turning its masked face fully towards Zeddicus. Zed was both grateful it pleased the spirit and slightly alarmed it knew the items history. ‘And entering my sacred domain with the utmost respect towards its Keeper shows valor’ The spirit spoke as it turned to Soledad. 

‘However, I sense something in you, young Medic, something good and pure’ Kitsune then continued. Soledad looked confused but not afraid. ‘I sense a yearning in your heart. A heart that seldom thinks of themselves before others. This trait is highly admirable and needs to be spread’ Soledad bowed at the compliment. ‘It is that through your unselfish heart, I want to grand you a gift. A gift I am convinced you’ll treat right and fair. To help you spread your wonderful teachings’ Kitsune concluded.

Another Spring scented breeze blew towards the pair, circling around the Moss Vayron before creating a soft little twister of air, leaves and other forest material around the Soledads feet. The twister disappeared and in its place emerged a small form in green hues, Spring colors. It was a Vayron pup. Soledads eyes widened, tears forming from happiness. Zed smiled at his companions reaction of gratitude.

‘I gift you this infant as I see your heart yearns for parenthood. Treat her well and go in peace. Blessed be..’ Kitsunde spoke, bowed and then disappeared..

(2156 words)

Zeddicus 7053 and Soledad 3799