Quest of the Kitsune

The morning sun bleached the night with its blood-red light. I raised my face to the brightness, silver eyes shimmering as they turned to flame with the reflection of dawn. 1

My black fur rippled smoothly over hidden muscles, my strange tail waved along behind me.2

I was a kitsune. 3

Yet I was not.4

I had but a signal tail, it split in three at the middle.5

My muzzle, sharp and strait, quivered as I sniffed the breeze. 6

I could smell human. 7

And death.8

I padded deeper into my forest, following the scent. 9

The breeze billowed through the trees, blowing into my eyes and sweeping over my fur, ruffling the soft coat.10

Then I saw it.11

A kitsune like myself, leaned against a tree, nine powerful tails stirring the fallen leaves around it. 12

Two glaring scarlet eyes watched me. 13

The beast raised its head, baring yellowed fangs. 14

It was hurt.15

I peered closer at the stranger.16

It was a male, huge with a waving golden pelt, his nine tails trashing in challenge as I approached.17

He could tell I was not a true kitsune.18

"Stay away from me!!" He hissed the words like some feral cat, fury swarming in his clouding eyes.19

"Why should I? You are in my territory after all."20

He snarled at my insolent tone, a heavy tail thudding hard against the earth.21

"You are no kitsune, I smell the scent of a common fox in you!!"22

I dipped my head in a quick movement, knowing it was no use to lie to the enraged creature.23

"I am part kitsune. My father was a fox, my mother was kitsune."24

He growled, head swinging from side to side.25

"So you are the one. I have heard there was such a beast, but never thought I should find one. I am Truisdoun. I do not follow any rules but my own. Ha. I am no regular kitsune. I destroy innocent, and I kill mortals who get in my way. You are just a flea, a pest. Why don't I give you a taste of death?"26

He leaped forward, his emotionless voice hard and slick as ice. 27

Then he realized I wasn't there.28

He fell to the ground, paws scrabbling in the loam of the forest floor, ears flicking back and forth, searching for sound.29

I smiled, grinning to myself as I watched him.30

My ears were tall, curving inward like the crescent moon, they could hear even the chatter of the ants as they marched by.31

They were better then this Truisdoun's, by far. He wouldn't find me.32

I perched on the branch of a high elm, my strange tail curled over my nimble black paws.33

There was not a beast that could match my speed, I far exceeded everything in terms of fleetness.34

Truisdoun swung his head upward. 35

My eyes met his. 36

He had found me.37

"How did you get there?"38

His voice sounded surprised. I shrugged, running my paw over the bush of one tail. 39

"I don't know. Maybe I grew wings and flew."40

He snorted at my teasing.41

"Get down here and face me. Only a coward would hide in a tree."42

I shook my head.43

"Ah, but only an idiot would face a beast ten times their size and power, when, in fact, there is a nice welcoming branch above they can sit on."44

He blinked his smoldering eyes.45

The red was leaving them, his eyes were going white.46

"Had I not been injured by that human village, I would have destroyed you."47

"So, that's why I smelled human."48

I shuffled my paws, sending several leaves floating down toward the ground.49

"Got yourself hurt by mortals, did you?"50

He glowered at my words.51

"If it had been you, you wouldn't be breathing by now. I am strong, so I have made it this long."52

I leapt down from the branch.53

"Are you saying I'm weak?"54

I paced around Truisdoun, wrinkling my nose at the harsh smell of death that poured off him in waves.55

He followed me with his snowing eyes, nose twitching as he sniffed the air.56

"I am stronger. Why do you sound so indignant?"57

I stopped. 58

My black fur bristled, and I drew back from the kitsune with distaste bubbling in my throat. 59

"You smell horrid." I growled.60

"You would too."61

He replied.62

"Why wont you die?"63

My question hissed between clenched fangs.64

"My spirit is too strong. I can not die."65

I shuddered. 66

This was no usual creature I'd find in the forest, this was a beast that prowled the open lands where humans spun legends and tales of evil foxes with many tails.67

He was dangerous.68

"Your eyes are misting over, yet you say you can not die."69

I said the words slowly, my voice almost pleading.70

"I can not. My soul will not allow it. Why do you stand there, do you not fear me?"71

I glanced at the shimmering sky.72

"I feel no fear, only the heat of the sun on my back and the vileness of death you torment these woods with."73

He sighed, lowering himself onto his stomach.74

"You are the first I have known, who does not fear me. I am the greatest of the kitsune, I rule over the tribes that prowl the human lands, and you do not quake before me as mortals and tribe-beasts would. Why?"75

I turned away, walking off into my forest's dark shadows, while calling over my shoulder, 76

"I am Quest, the Nights Arrow, and I quake before none. I rule this wood, all the animals here respect me as the leader. I do not rule by fear as you do, I rule by compassion and understanding."77

I heard him shift his position, the swishing of his tails disturbing the fallen leaves.78

"I care not that you are a great kitsune, but I do care that you have trespassed upon my territory. Should you be here by night, I will have no choice but to fight. So leave afore the shadows of day lengthen. I shall return at nightfall."79

Without glancing back at Truisdoun, I padded off, knowing that when night fell, he would be there, rested and waiting, to see if I truly could keep my word. 80

I always did.81