By Lucifers-Law-Inc

Prompt B: 

Tova was not too pleased. He had somehow allowed himself to be talked into delivering some offerings to a local shrine. He had no time for it if he was honest yet here he was doing it anyway. Trotting through the dark night following the path snaking up the mountains. Scarcely illuminated by beautiful lanterns it was at times a serene stroll, but sometimes the terrain would change and it was these steep treacherous stretches which made the pilgrimage quite a dangerous one. There another Tori gate. Number five of the 21 he was supposed to encounter before he reached the actual shrine. 

Suddenly all the lanterns before him flickered. Their flames roaring higher before collapsing into themselves. The previously scarcely lighted path was now completely dark. Tova cursed. How should he manage now. The offering pouch strapped to his back felt awfully heavy now. He did not even have a torch or anything. He did not know the area well enough either to quickly improvise one together either. Tova and his mission suddenly seemed equally doomed. Then a light. Tova could make out a little flickering flame from the corner of his right eye. He turned towards it. Maybe a candle had survived. But no… this flame was moving. Far too quickly for a candle or a carried torch.  

“Who goes there?” Tova bristled as he called out towards the strange light to identify itself should it be sentient. A giggle could be heard. “No light~ No light~ No light~ in the night for the stranger~ What does he bear? Mode so gloomy, mode so dark. Not pleasured to bring gifts. Burdened and unhappy. Why does one come who doesn’t not believe?” 

Tova narrowed his eyes but could not make out the stranger that was mocking him so. “Oh, he is mad now. Displeased growing darker in mode. Grumpy light heart. No light~ Want light? Have cheer stranger.” The little flame flickered some more. “Smile for me stranger.” “I certainly will not.” Tova huffed his eyes still narrowed as he followed the movements of the flame. 

“Who walks in dark shall not find the shrine. Light in heart, light in mind, smiling of cheer in soul and spirit. Only light can find light, dark will claim darkness.” “If you think that antagonizing me will make me into a happy person you are rather mistaken.” Tova drawled. “Have cheer.” The voice chirped again and suddenly a small Reosean lit up in light directly before Tova. The white and blue male reared back in surprise at the little kitsune before him. “Trick.” He exclaimed and snapped his fingers the flickering flame disappeared. 

“Fun is the strangers face. Half a mind to grant a light.” The cheeky little one stuck out his tongue and wiggled his glowing tails. “After blowing them all out in the first place.” “Yes.” The kitsune nodded eagerly looking mightily proud with himself. “The stranger is too grumpy for light. He needs to smile or no light for the stranger. Perhaps a light for a smile? Perhaps a light for a sweet?” 

Tova shook his head. “No. I will not give a child sugar not even a magical one.” “Dark and mean. I smell sugar in the bag.” “That is an offering for the shrine lord.” “I am the shrine lord.” The small Reosean proclaimed. Tova raised an eyebrow. “I doubt a lord would lower himself to play pranks on a stranger that was sent to bring him offerings. You look like a small child to me that has gotten a little too much magic at birth.” “I am grown.” “Prove it.” “Nuhu. Sugar first.” “No.” 

Both of them stared at each other for a moment. Then suddenly the little kitsune darted forward paws reaching for the bag, but Tova was quicker catching the little one in the air and pulling him to his chest. “How about you be my nightlight then since I can’t have a candle?” He drawled. The small fox Reosean wiggled about but could not slip out of the grip easily. “Nuhu.” It protested, but Tova ignored it as he began to walk using the glowing ‘child’ as an impromptu torch. He would go look for its parents later. Who would let their kid roam around out here anyway and let it prank strangers? Tova sighed. 

After a while the Kitsune child settled into the grip and was only occasionally complaining. After passing the 10th Tori gate the lanterns began to illuminate the path once more. “Dying is no fun.” The little one shrugged as Tova looked at him and indeed the path once more tuned into a rather dangerously sloped mountain one. Between gate 10 and 11 there were even two not in the best condition rope bridges to cross. Yes, Tova should have taken sleep rather than this mission. He was just in the middle of the second bridge when the winds seemed to pick up. “Uhuh.” The Kitsune kit noted as the bridge creaked. Just a step later an especially strong gust forced Tova of his feet. He nearly fell down and into the dept below. Desperately clawing at the bridge in an attempt to keep himself and the child on it the bag of offerings was a secondary thought and so it happened to slip free and fall down. “Oh no.” Tova growled softly, but priorities. He quickly got back up and dragged himself and the little kitsune to safe ground once more. Just as he unhanded the little one and the child jumped straight from his paws into the ravine. Tova could do little but cry as he desperately reached for it. But the glowing little tease disappeared in the darkness below. 

“Told you.” Tova turned towards the voice. Behind him the little kitsune lounged on top of the offering bag. A cheeky smile on his face. “This is no way to make me laugh.” Tova cried out trying to settle his nerves. “Sugar for the shrine lord.” The kid purred its paws dipping into the bag. “See it positively no need to walk all the way up there. I will take the stuff now~” Tova gaped at the kitsune. God he disliked gods and their antics.

Words = 1038

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