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CHAPTER 6-Secrets, Lies, and Shane's Visitor
It was now officially dark out. Fox was about to leave the village to the woods when he saw Krystal enter the village. His eyes went wide with excitement to see her. He immediately rushed to greet her. "Where have you been?"
Krystal looked at Fox and gave a somewhat fake smile. She didn't like to keep secrets, but she didn't want to tell Fox that she was with another fur. "I just went and took a stroll through the woods."
Fox looked into Krystal eyes. He could tell that she was nervous, and therefore, could also see that she was lying. He looked up and saw a figure head back into the woods. Either way he decided to let her get away with it. The thing that was important to him was that she was ok.
Fox went back to the hut and urged for Krystal to come a long. Though he let the lie slide, he didn't let the worry. "Why were you gone so long?" Fox walked into the hut and sat down in a chair. Falco walked out of the other room with two cups of tea and handed one to Fox. He asked Krystal if she wanted any, and she politely declined the offer. Falco had a seat next to Fox and watched as Fox waited for a reply.
Krystal was silent for quite some time before she finally managed. "I must've fallen asleep. Don't worry about me Fox. I'm a big vixen, I can take care of myself."
Fox rested on the chair and nodded. Krystal was strong, and she could take care of herself. That still didn't stop Fox from worrying. "Will you tell me before you leave next time?"
Krystal smiled. "As long as you promise not to follow." She was serious about that but her smile told Fox otherwise.
Fox smiled back at least and nodded. He took a sip of tea and set it down on the table. Falco did the same, only his eyes were glued on Krystal. Falco didn't know what to think. Actually he was wondering if he should tell Fox that Krystal wasn't taking a stroll through the woods but investigating the music.
Krystal stood up. "I think I need to get home." She let out a fake yawn. It was convincing though. Even though Krystal couldn't lie, it just wasn't in her nature, she could fake most anything and get away with it. She left the hut and walked to her home. Fox didn't bother to follow.
***
Late into the night, as Krystal was once again doing the dishes, she heard a knock at her door. She didn't want to answer it at all. It could've been Fox and she didn't want Fox to know that she wasn't really sleeping. She looked through a window just adjacent to the door, the curtains still in the way. The blurry figure through the curtains was blue. Krystal sighed with relief and opened the door to greet Falco.
"You lied to Fox....why?" He said as he stepped inside and closed the door. "Why didn't you tell him where you went? He was worried sick! Tell me Krystal, where were you really? No one spends THAT much time in the woods." Falco knew she went into the woods, but much more than that had to have happened.
"I went and saw Shane." Krystal said. "He's really sweet but he seems to be holding something back from me. I don't know what it is."
"Who is Shane?" Falco sat down on a chair, and Krystal sat across from him.
"Shane is the 'Dark Fox' that roams the woods." She said as she made quotes with her paws.
Falco's eyes went wide. "You had a confrontation with the Dark Fox!? You shouldn't have done that." Falco's voice sounded a little shaky.
"It wasn't a confrontation. It was a friendly get together. He's very sweet and kind. He wouldn't harm anybody. Really Falco, I think all he needs is a good friend."
"And YOU'RE going to be that friend?" Falco leaned forward. "What about what Bill said to everyone?"
"Bill is wrong! I heard the story from Shane himself. He only looked at Bill and then ran away. Shane is harmless!" Krystal began to shout.
Falco looked at her and sighed heavily. "I wouldn't trust someone like that."
"You don't even know him! How can you be so judgmental? You haven't even seen him! How do you know what he's like?"
Falco was confused. Bill NEVER lied before....but that didn't mean he wouldn't overexagerate sometimes. "Then bring Shane to the village someday."
Krystal slumped down in her chair and lowered her ears. She didn't expect that. Would Shane even come into the village? Krystal's first thought was that Shane would just creep around like he usually did. "I can't do that...." she said softly.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't think he wants to do that. Please understand that all he needs Falco is a friend. He lives alone and confined in his own home." Krystal didn't mention that he lived just north of the woods in the most beautiful mansion she'd ever seen. She did this to protect Shane.
Falco stood up and headed for the door. "I won't tell anyone, but you should tell Fox. He was very worried about you." He left and went back to the hut.
Krystal sat up and breathed in softly. 'It just can't be understood.' she thought. Shane probably wouldn't be accepted into the village at all. To everyone else he was the "Dark Fox". To her....he was just Shane. He was just a lonely soul.
***
Falco was a little concerned about Krystal. He knew she meant well. He got back to the hut and Fox was still up. Fox looked up at Falco. "Why did she lie to me?"
Falco sighed. "I'll make some tea. There are some things you should know." Even though Falco had said he wouldn't tell Fox, it was important that Fox knew. Falco went to make some tea. He came back with two cups and even put some cream in them to sweeten it up a bit more.
Fox took a sip and put his eyes on Falco. He waited for Falco to explain what Krystal had been doing.
"Krystal went into the woods to see the 'Dark Fox.'" Falco began to explain. Fox was about to interrupt but Falco quickly continued before Fox could do so. "Krystal seems to think the Dark Fox isn't all that dark. In fact, his name is Shane. He lurks the woods north of here. He was the one playing the music I'm sure. She says we shouldn't worry because all Shane is looking for is a friend."
Fox stared at Falco and listened intently. "That’s still no reason for her to lie to me." He spoke softly and took another sip of his tea. "But I suppose it wasn't as bad as it could've been. She could've been hurt." He laid back in his chair setting his tea down. He stared at the ceiling for a moment and sighed. "I'll see her tomorrow. Its actually been a while since I had a good long moment with Krystal."
***
Shane sat in the art room painting a picture of a blue vixen. Of course, this was Krystal. He stared at what he'd done so far for several minutes. The only thing he had left to do were the eyes. He just loved those eyes. He was nearly done, then he suddenly stopped.
It was late now. Shane had never noticed how empty his mansion really was. He'd also never realized just how lonely he really was. Suddenly there was a knock at his mansion door. A visitor? Not likely. Shane thought he was hearing things. The knocking continued. Even down the halls it could still be heard. "Who's knocking at my door." Shane said as he put the paintbrush down.
Shane swiftly made his way to the main hall and answered the door. To his surprise it was the old women who made him the way he was. "What are you doing here!? Haven't you done enough to me?"
The platinum vixen stood in her disguise, an old women. Her name was Mia. She stood in front of Shane. Her hair was gray and her face covered in wrinkles. She had a walking staff with her whenever she traveled as a human. It actually allowed her to blend in with the humans quite well. She knew almost as much as Shane did. She may have even known more than even Shane considering he had no human contact in years.
She looked up at Shane and held up a small crystal ball about the size of Shane's paw. She looked into it and saw what Shane had been doing. "For the past four years I've watched you. Now you're beginning to love." she cackled.
Shane stood there dumbfounded. "Why are you here though?"
"I'm here to see how much you've changed. When I first met you, you were heartless and senseless. Unfriendly towards humans and furs. Now I look at you and your humble. Your sensitive and kind. You've changed within the past four years. Perhaps being lonely has had an impact on you. Its too bad that you can't love Krystal."
Shane stared at her with piercing eyes. "You can't tell me who I can and can't love!"
"But you don't remember the rest do you?" she cackled again. "Do you think Krystal will love you back when you become a human once again?"
Shane forgot about the rest of the curse. Shane then realized that they were still standing in the front door. "Won't you come in?"
Even to Mia that was a shock. She stepped inside and let a white glow surround her body. Within a flash she was no longer a old women covered in rags, but was now a beautiful platinum vixen. It wasn't the first time Shane had seen this.
They went to the den and sat down in two chairs. It was the same den that the painting of Shane's human self hang. Shane had propped another chair by the fire place. There was a small fire roasting as they sat. "Do you really think you're in love with Krystal?" Mia asked rather quickly.
Shane stared at her and then into the fire. "I don't know really."
"She makes you happy though."
Shane curled up in his chair. "She does....but there is another Fox involved. Besides, she wouldn't want me anyway." He began to rock himself back and forth a bit. He was actually nervous. "When she finds out I'm a human...she won't want anything to do with me."
Mia stared at him. "You really are feeling something aren't you? I can see it in your eyes."
Shane didn't look back at Mia. He nodded slowly. He really did feel something, but he didn't want to intrude on what Fox and Krystal had.
"Its too bad that you'll be a human again though. Don't you see Shane? That’s the REAL curse! You can't love a human as a fox, and you can't love a vixen because you'll only become human again. Its to teach you your own lesson."
Shane looked up. "What lesson would that be?"
"You're going to learn that there are those that except you for who you are, and that there are those who were just like your human self. Those are the ones who reject you without knowing anything about you. I promise you that when you truly grow to love Krystal then I'll make it work for the best. But when that time comes, I want you to seek me out."
Shane nodded slowly. "But what if what you do for me doesn't work? Then I'm back to where I once was."
Mia put a paw over Shane’s and gave him a gentle squeeze. "If there is a such thing as 'true love' Shane, it will work."
 Darkfox Soldier · Wed Mar 28, 2007 @ 04:35am · 0 Comments |
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