The journey

The Journey

 Throughout the East Asia, folklores have been told of the nine tailed Fox. Ever so slightly different depending on the country but they all share the same desire, a deity wishing to become human. 

 A thousand years ago in China, a female nine tail decided to separate herself into four parts, realizing that four can gather more life beads than one and her dream of being human would be made easier. Even though she was very powerful, living for over 800 years she knew this test will be difficult.

 So her journey begins, her first stop was through the stream, there she tapped on the waters three times and waits for a response. 

 At sunrise the lucky carp appears and wakes her, "Greetings nine tail. Why have you graced me with your beauty?"

"I have come seeking knowledge. Your kindreds are more abundant and can move among the people much easier than I. I was hoping that you heard her tale that can help me divide myself. said the fox.

 The carp pondered, "Division! So you no longer wish to be human? With all due respect, I have difficulties believing that. Being good or evil, It will be easier for me to walk on land than you to change your nature."

"As well it should lucky fish. Dividing myself with allow me to gather more beads. Of course, this may not be necessary if you allow me to place beads within your kind. And at the spring festival I imagine being could replace one of their teeth and I will have more than enough energy." smile the Sly Fox.

 The Lucky Carp spits in her face as she reacts in a fighting stance with her nine tails ablaze. 

The fish replied, "My sacred festival will never be defiled by your twisted desires and the knowledge you seek is unheard of. But as the streams becomes rivers and oceans, I have enchanted you to flow like water as long as you do not defile my festival. Agreed." 

 The nine tail felt his gift added to her owns and used it to quickly maneuver on her journey to the planes. Running and prancing without a care she did not notice her surroundings until she crashed into a pedestal and was instantly buried in gold, silver and jewelry. Unable to free herself she screamed for help, in the darkness she hears two voices but was unable to make out what was said. 

 The sun returns as a chest was returned to its pedestal. Before her stood two winged lions, one having a single antler and a well-grown mane and the other had two antlers studded with rubies and emeralds.

 The female lion study the Ninetales carefully then speaks, "This small creature has power but I cannot determine if it's good or evil but to be on the safe side I shall destroy it."

 The male speaks, "Your wisdom and discernment is only surpassed by your beauty my dear but if she hasn't decided to be good or evil, you may be cutting off the wealth of others who will meet her. Aisatsu, we are Pixiu the winged lions. I'm Tianlu and this is Bixie. "

 The nine tail quickly replied, humbling herself before them, " Aisatsu, Your words bear some truth. I am still young and on a journey of knowledge. I'm in pursuit of a dream which has eluded me so far and if possible your discernment of the Fair Lady along with his compassion may bring me closer to fulfilling it."

 Bixie once again stares the fox down, "Even your honey words are elusive."

 Tianiu touched his companion's shoulder, "Bixie, please. If this small creature is such a distraction to you, we should test her heart. But how? "

The Pixiu discuss many trials I'm on themselves while the Ninetales try to get their attention. When all is failed she flared her tail powers and said.

"Pixiu are supposed to bring wealth to your masters but I see no human here to take claim of what you've already gathered. Why is that? "

 They answered, "Our Master died with no heir. His servants left after they buried him but they didn't know about us. So we set up this pedestal at the end of his property hoping that someone will journey by taking his place."

 The Ninetales looked over her surroundings, "You're in the middle of a vast Forest, was it so when you begin to wait?"

 Bixie did not answer the fox's question, instead, "Foxes are usually shy and wary, why such interest in our predicament. What cutting and deceitful idea is brewing in your head?"

 The fox cautiously replied, "At the edge of this Forest lies a stream where a lucky carp calls home. Once a year during the spring festival his Kendricks are sacrificed for the luck of the citizens that catch them. If you place a treasure within one of their mouths maybe the one who finds it will seek out the rest.

Pixiu pondered her suggestion and the mail reply, that may actually work. But what do you get out of this?

"The only thing I desire is to become like them, to love to live, to join them in their joys and sorrows. Without taking their life force to accomplish that. Being able to look like them is not enough so I seek a way to make that dream true." 

Your nature has changed, that's why you're energy is so elusive.You wish to become mortal? To die like the dozens of masters we served before. That is very odd, one that unfortunately we cannot aid with. But in the mountains there is one that dies but lives forever, he is not native to this land but his legend is well now. 

 The Pixiu kicked rocks and leaves in the ninetail's face and said, "For your thoughtless act, we have bestowed upon you a gift, May the Earth, Forest and mountains aid you in your quest, no matter how bizarre it is."

 Once again the ninetail feel the gifts envelop her, and she continues her journey. Moving as swiftly as a leaf in the wind until she came to the foothills of the Great volcano. In between a split flow of lava, she observed a bird unique in every manner preparing what looks like a bed. 

 This bed was made with spices, herbs and the healing plants surrounding Japan.

 The fox approaches as close as she could without burning her fur and yells to the beautiful bird but it barred her no attention. She then used the power of sound given to her by the lucky carp and still the bird paid her no mind. The rivers and the oceans' abilities evaporated instantly in the midst of such heat. The Earth, Forest and mountain abilities were reduced to ashes upon her attempt to cross. 

 Left with only the natural abilities of the nine-tailed, the fox lures her head and retreats. 

 Suddenly the beautiful birds stood in front of her, "Why did you not use your natural abilities which will be more than enough to catch my attention? Plus why do you want to get my intentions?"

 "It is true that I am powerful in my own right, but in 800 years that power could not grant my dream without taking life from others.Your legend is known throughout the world so I seek you out because they said you die and yet live forever without sacrificing anyone but yourself." answered the fox.

 The Phoenix replied, "Yes. In my journey I have heard of your… tales, even the one when you came as a human child answering the parent's prayer but devoured every living thing around you including them. Your words may seem sincere as your actions today but foxes are cunning. 

 To give a creature who sacrifices everything to fulfill her desire the gift of reincarnation will be folly on my part. 

 But I will not turn a blind eye to one who's attempting to change our nature. I will give you the amber's of fire, wind and thunder and leave you with this thought. To achieve your dream you may have to sacrifice it."

 The Phoenix takes off with a gust blowing the Amber's in the ninetails face and resting again in his nest of spices. It dipped his wings in the flow of lava and with an elegant dance,the nest ignited and the flames consumed the bird.

 The fox feels the gift like before but this time she walks away with sorrow. How can she sacrifice her dream to achieve it? On her slow walk back to her den, the stars sprinkled the sky. All the constellations become animated with the cosmic glory which fueled the imaginations of men and guided them to their destinations. 

 This night a new constellation appears and stir the dust and illuminates the footprints of the nine-tailed fox. Lost in thought she did not notice this spectacle until it spoke.

 "Aisatsu, young one. I hope that I pronounced it correctly. I am called Draco and I have followed your journey this day. "

 The fox replied, "I hope I was entertaining to you Great dragon but like your stars, I just found out that my dreams are just as far away. So if you excuse me…"

"Your dreams are far closer than you know little fox. The Phoenix and I are friends and his words can be…misleading, even discouraging if you're not in the right mindset." riddled the dragon.

 The fox stopped as the cosmic dragon spins around her, " Right mindset? But its words were clear."

"Yes to us but yet you are depressed and down trotton which means you're not in the right mindset. You wish to change your nature but the direction you travel didn't produce the fruit you were expecting. Did you plant the wrong seeds?" said the dragon.

The fox continued down her way, " You're wise and I am clever but I'm wise enough not to get into philosophy with you."

"Young fox, patience is another thing that you must learn but take what you have received today and place them around you so that every direction you see is something different. And to help with this task, I will brighten your celestial from darkness and spark the spirit of imagination."

  The dragon words faded as did he and she found herself at the entrance to her Den. She took the dragon words to heart and planted 12 seedling trees around the stone entrance to her home and in front of each tree she used her natural power to create a symbol for the 12 gifts she received on her journey. When this was done she sat on top of her home and released her gifts, her power and her dream into the world and as a result she was turned to stone.

Two hundred years have passed, and the statue of the nine-tailed fox has been visited by countless numbers from all around the world. Some leave offerings from Carp carvings to simple jewelry, others leave gifts and their dreams scribbled on rolled up paper. On the eve of her sacrifice, 12 people kneel around the statue and place the ornament on one of the 12 trees surrounding it. Each of them bore a unique birthmark that looks like a fox head. Six being dark and six light in color scattered across their bodies. Today they rented the area which is now a park to perform this unique ritual. 

 Each did their own dance representing one of the 12 elements and at the end of the final performance, the leaves of the 12 trees glow in unison in the Statue of the nine-tailed fox return to Life once more. She stares at her surroundings and instantly recognizes the energy that has returned to her, then she finally understands the words of the Phoenix and the Dragon.