The Black Fox

A sharp gust of wind cut into my already wet bodice, blowing rain into my face. I huddled closer to the bridge's underside, my basket of fabrics tucked behind me. Why I ever thought I could make it back to the palace before the storm hit I don't know. My petite figure shivered in the cold fall weather as I hugged my knees to my chest. 

Suddenly, I heard a yapping sound. It didn't sound like a hunting dog, whose bark was deep and carried through the forests, and I wondered what other type it could be; maybe one of those small dogs that could be carried had jumped out of a lady’s carriage? I peeked my head around the side of the bridge and was immediately smacked in the face with another gust of wind and rain. The trees in the distance creaked and cracked, branches falling and snapping on the wet ground as I stood to get a better look at the road which ran over the bridge I was sheltering under. The waters beside me raged and threatened to spill over the banks just as I saw a black figure further up the river. It was clinging to a branch that was stuck against a rock, and as more debris careened down the foaming waters it yelped again. Then, a big branch, heavier than the one it was clinging to, knocked into the rock and dislodged the animal, sending it spinning down the river towards me. I fell to my knees and tried to reach out and grab the animal, but as it went past, it dipped under the water, just out of my reach. I ran beside the river until the animal resurfaced and grabbed a branch that was stuck against the banks. I tried to fish the animal out that way, but again the river thwarted me and threw the animal towards the opposite side. By now the bridge and my basket of cloth lay forgotten far behind me as the wind whipped my long braid in my face. Thunder boomed, and again I reached for the animal as the current pushed it closer than ever. The animal grabbed the branch with its teeth, and I pulled it towards the bank, still moving with the water to ensure the animal didn’t get swept away again. Slowly, the animal crawled up the bank and collapsed next to my leg. I stared down at it in shock. It was a fox; a black fox.

By now, everyone had heard the stories. Stories about the savage people who could shapeshift into black animals – a sure sign of their evilness. They were accomplished potion-makers and could make you do anything they wanted with the tiniest sip. But the stories also said they had been eradicated under the rule of the late king, Nicholas. Thousands had been executed, in front of a private audience of nobles and landowners, so the general populace wouldn’t think their king a monster, but word got out and the rumours spread. Eventually, the king told the population about the dangers of magic and requested everyone turn their magic in, so the remaining Shifters couldn't use them, as the potions only worked on magic-wielding people. There was a kingdom-wide ban on magic, and the pro-magic kingdoms were out of bounds. But everyone got on with their lives, and the Shifters were forgotten. Until now.

I crouched next to the creature, making sure it was still breathing. It was, but its small body was shaking from shock and cold. I carefully picked it up, cautious to handle it gently. I cradled it in my arms and pulled my thin, wet shall around it, trying to bring some warmth to its fragile body. Hoping against hope that it wouldn’t understand I started to speak gently to it.

“If you can understand me, please move your tail upwards,” I waited, and sure enough, it twitched its tail upwards. I sighed.

“I guess you want to go to the forest?” The little fox nodded and I set off. The trees were only a hundred feet or so down the river, so I followed it until it swerved to enter the forest further away. I knelt down and let the fox step softly off my lap. The fox trotted gingerly off into the woods and looked back once to check I wasn’t following. Once it got deeper into the trees, curiosity overwhelmed me and I crept after it, keeping to the multitudinous shadows, peeking around trees to keep the fox in my sight. I travelled like this for about twenty minutes, until the fox came to a thicket of brambles. I frowned, my thin eyebrows creasing in confusion. Then the bramble curtain opened and I fainted in shock.

♥♥♥

“She can’t stay here, you know that! Silas, I don’t care if she saved you! Besides, YOU didn’t get the sage, so even if it was safe for her to stay, I can’t make a healing potion for her or Claudia! Why did you even let her follow you?” An angry-sounding girl’s voice cut through the darkness, but I didn’t open my eyes. A sigh, followed by a shuffle and a slight draught filled the growing silence.

“So? Are you going to answer? Or am I going to have to ask her before I make her forget about this whole thing?” 

“No,” A boy’s voice followed the outburst and another sigh was issued, “I- I thought maybe she was different. She knew what I was because she talked to me and asked for an answer-” He was then cut off by the angry girl.

“What? You really thought someone who looked like her could what? Save us and let us be brought back to society? Did you think she could help us bring the magic back to the people, so they could see their king is a thief and a fool? Tell me, Silas, what did you think this small-minded, small-bodied, maid could do to help our people?” Silas spoke again, only this time he sounded a little annoyed.

“I will tell you, Attica, if you let me speak. As I was saying, she didn’t turn tail and run once she saw a black fox that could clearly understand her. She rescued me and didn’t throw me back into the river once she realised what I was. She HELPED me, Atti, and I think that makes her different. I almost drowned and she didn’t hesitate to run out in the storm to help me.” I cracked one eye open and saw two tall, dark-haired figures standing next to the bed I was lying on. It looked like they were having a silent battle, until the boy turned and saw me we locked eyes for a moment and then he turned back to the girl.

“She’s awake. And I bet she heard all of that.” He then started towards me and I made a little eep as I sat up and tugged the thin sheets up to my neck. He must’ve seen the fear on my face because he stopped and sighed again. The girl, Attica I presumed, turned and saw me huddled at the far end of the bed. She rolled her eyes and turned towards the woven door.

“I’ll go get her some dry clothes, probably from one of the younger kids.” She opened the door and was gone. Silas sat slowly at the end of the bed. A small smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.

“Hi,” He said tentatively, “You’ll get used to Attica, she's got a tough skin, but a soft inside.” He suddenly noticed that I was shivering.

“Oh, um, do you want some tea? I can make some for you quickly if you want?” He got up when I nodded and headed for the back of the room. There was a little bronze kettle on top of a small stovetop. There were various containers on the counter where the kettle and stove were resting, and Silas opened some of them and tipped different amounts into a small ceramic mug. When the kettle had boiled, he poured a little water into a mug and then reached under the counter for what looked like milk. A quiet drip in the corner opposite my bed filled the not-quite-so-comfortable silence of two strangers who had only just met as Silas poured the thick, milk-like substance into the mug and brought it over. He sat on the edge of the bed again and offered me the cup silently. I took it and cupped my freezing hands around the warm ceramic, gazing into the creamy liquid. I could feel Silas studying me, and I looked up, only for his gaze to lock onto mine. We sat there like that for a minute, each looking at the other for no apparent reason. Silas was the one to break the eye contact first and he looked down at his hands.

“I guess you don’t want to drink it because I made it for you. It’s okay, I get it, don’t eat or drink anything a Shifter gives you,” He glanced at me, misreading my expression for fear, “ I really do get it, but I’m only trying to help. If you don’t want to drink it, that’s fine.”

“No,” I said, savouring the warmth of the cup as he moved his hand towards mine in an attempt to take the cup from me, “I’ll drink it, I’m just trying to warm my hands. See?” I lifted the mug to my lips, the warm liquid going down like butter sliding down a warm pan. It tasted faintly like cherries and chocolate, both of which I had only ever had once.

“What is this?” I asked looking into the mug, trying to find some indication of what spices he had used.

“It’s just a tea that’s supposed to warm you up, and it looks like it worked.” He gave a little laugh at the shocked expression on my face, and for the first time, I noticed how green his eyes were. They were like the pieces of bottles that washed up on the shore, like the leaves in mid-summer. Then I heard a voice outside.

“No! I told him that, but he’s sure she’s different.” The door to the little room I was in opened and Attica swept in, tossing her pencil-straight, black hair over her shoulder. She chucked the bundle of fabric in her hands at me and I clumsily caught them, one stocking falling to the floor. As I leaned over to grab it, Silas also leaned over and we banged heads as we came up. Silas grinned at me and offered me the stocking, as he had gotten to it first. I offered him a small smile as I took it from him. Our hands brushed for a second and fireworks went off in my fingers. I quickly pulled my hand back and looked through the clothing, determined to not look at him again in case I blushed. There was a boy’s tunic that was at least twice the size I needed and some tight-fitting trousers. I looked up at Attica.

“I can’t wear these, I’m a girl,” I said as if she didn’t know, “Besides, this shirt is too big, it’ll reach my knees.”

“That’s the point. I knew you wouldn’t want to wear just a shirt like me,” She gestured to the tunic that she wore. It stopped at her waist and she wore leather leggings on her bottom half. “And here, we don't wear dresses, so you’ll have to get used to it.” She gave me a sarcastic smile and then tossed me a belt as an afterthought.

“Here use this.” She said as the belt smacked me in the face. I glared at her and stepped out of bed.

“Where can I change?” I asked looking to Silas this time, not bothering with Attica.

“Oh, um, we can leave.” He said, getting up quickly and grabbing Attica on the way out.

“Call us when you’re ready!” He shouted as the door banged closed.

♥♥♥

When Attica and Silas returned, I was dressed in the stupidly long shirt with the belt around my middle and the trousers on. Silas ran a hand through his raven-black hair, making it stand up.

“Uh, so we need your help,” He said sheepishly. I frowned.

“Why? How- how could I help? I’m just a seamstress in the palace. I’ve got no magic and no money.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got the one thing we don’t: anonymity. And access to the palace. So, can you help us?” Attica raised one eyebrow as if daring me to say no.

“Help you with what?” Silas put one hand out in front of Attica stopping her from taking a second step forwards.

“Let me handle this,” He said quietly, “You’ve heard of Adelaide the Glorius, right? Well, have you heard of her husband? He was a Shifter, and together they went on a journey to find her magic. When they came back, they showed all the Parvians how to do it as well, because before that, everyone had just gotten on without it. But it was all thanks to a Shifter that your society changed. Then, 80 years later, Nicholas, came to power, and for some reason, he didn’t like us, so he decided to kill us all. So the remaining Shifters went into hiding, and here we are. So, we want you to help get the people’s magic back, so they be themselves. Otherwise, it's like their imagination is gone, or as if they couldn't do anything for themselves. That’s how the king has been able to control everyone so easily, part of them is missing.

“I still don't understand how this concerns me, I mean, you don’t even know my name and you’re willing to trust me with this kind of task?” Attica rolled her eyes as if I was stupid.

“Genius here thinks you must be the one we’ve been waiting for, as the prophecy says. Although I have told him that we don't know your name he’s certain it's supposed to be you.” She gestured to Silas as if inviting him to speak.

“Well, it would help if we knew your name, but if you don’t want us to know, my sister and I will be fine with that.” He gave Attica a pointed look and then smiled gently at me.

“Well, if it means that much to you to know my name then it’s Adela.” I said looking at both of them.

“Wait, Adela?” Silas’s face broke into a grin. Attica rolled her eyes again and put her hand to her face.

“I am NEVER going to hear the end of this am I?” Came her slightly muffled comment.

“Nope!” Silas said still grinning at me.