Kitsune in the Shadows

Chapter 22 – Pretty Little Thing

Looking down at the dress that Ava had allowed me to use, I couldn’t help but question the motives behind her decision.

Is this some kind of trick?…

…

Why a dress made of feathers?

…

Does she want me to ask her if I can touch her feathers?

…

Is it all to tempt me?!

…

I kept staring at the dress, just thinking in silence.

That must be it.

…

But…

…

No, you have to do this.

Reluctantly, I took off the rags that I had been wearing for the past few years, leaving me with just my bare body. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I’d seen my body just as it was.

What confused me was the lack of any visible scars. Over the last few years, I knew that I had picked up more than a few, but looking down at myself, I saw nothing as if none of it had even happened.

Does that mean?

I reached a hand over my shoulder and ran it across my back, hoping for a miracle. But the distinct groove I felt told me otherwise.

Still there…

…

…

Looking back down at the dress in an attempt to distract myself, I felt a strange resistance to putting it on. It just didn’t feel right to me; it didn’t feel like I deserved it.

…

Don’t forget K-Kierra; it’s for her…

It’s all for her…

I quickly threw the dress over my head, careful not to damage it, as I didn’t know what they might do to me if I did.

However, as soon as I had pulled it down, I noticed a problem. There wasn’t a hole in the back for my tail, so it was pushing up against the skirt.

…

You just have to deal with it.

Thinking on my feet, I wrapped my tail around one of my legs, securing it with my old makeshift scarf. It was uncomfortable, but at least it wasn’t painful.

It’s only for one trip.

Bracing myself, I opened the door to see both Raynelle and Ava waiting patiently in the hallway.

“Now, doesn’t that look so much better, hey?” Raynelle said as she turned towards me, “Although, something does seem a little bit off.”

Isn’t that a good thing?

I don’t want to be recognised.

Ava walked behind me and looked me up and down.

“It seems to be a little bit big on you.” Ava said as she adjusted the back of the dress, “And I can’t imagine your tail is comfortable being covered like that.”

“Ah, that was it! the tail was missing.” Raynelle blurted out, “How did I miss that?”

Can we just go already?

This is important.

My shadow slithered up my body until it coated my hair and tail before I started heading out of the inn, believing that they would just follow me. However, after only two steps, Raynelle lifted me into the air.

“Hold up a bit there, you should probably still put a cloak on before heading out,” Raynelle waved her hand at Ava, “And you don’t even know where we’re going.”

Raynelle then set me back down on my feet, and Ava draped a cloak over my shoulders before fastening it around my neck.

“While I don’t think anyone would recognise you at a glance anymore, you don’t exactly see all that many little girls with fox ears running around here.” Raynelle pulled the hood of the cloak over my ears.

I thought you said this would make me look like a different person?

…

It has to…

I need to be someone… better….

Ava threw a cloak over her wings while Raynelle helped adjust it so she was comfortable.

“Alright then, since we’re all ready, let’s head out,” Raynelle said as she gestured down the hallway.

We all quickly made our way out of the inn and out into the streets. I immediately started walking towards the main shopping street, but Raynelle and Ava didn’t follow me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Raynelle called out.

“…”

But that is where all the shops are.

“Don’t underestimate me, I know a better place.”

Something inside of me was screaming not to follow her, but…

It’s for her…

I-I can do this…

I walked back up to Raynelle and grabbed onto the hem of her shirt. She responded by wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe,” Raynelle started walking before muttering to herself, “I just… wish you would believe me.”

…

We ended up walking in the complete opposite direction of the shopping street for a while until we eventually arrived at what looked like a small market hidden in one of the side alleys.

I couldn’t help but look around at everything. Unlike the main shopping street, everything here was more rustic. It was a pretty small alley, but there were these colourful fabric awnings stretching between the buildings on either side. When the sunlight shone through the awnings, it did so in a myriad of different colours, creating colourful patterns all across the walls.

“So, you like it?” Raynelle asked, “I found this place after my first shopping trip in this city.”

“Yeah, this place is much nicer than that main street,” Ava piped up, “And  the best part is that you don’t have to deal with any of those stuffy nobles waltzing around the place.”

…

It is pretty… But that doesn’t mean anything…

That main shopping street was also pretty…

The first time I saw it, at least…

“Anyway, we’ve arrived,” Ava said, pushing open a door with a sign that showed a reel of thread on it, “Well, go on, get yourself in there already.”

I froze up, but Ava came up behind me and gently pushed me into the building, “Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen to you in there. Even if it did, mom is quite the bodyguard.”

Raynelle came in close behind us. As she closed the door, a woman almost immediately came over and struck up a conversation.

“Oh, hello there, or welcome back, I should say. Are there any updates on your little one?”

Raynelle started by chuckling in response.

“A pretty big one,” Raynelle lifted me into her arms and then pulled my hood down, revealing my ears.

What are you doing?!

I instantly started to struggle, trying to get away from that woman before she had a chance to register what she saw.

“Aw, you didn’t tell me she was such a pretty little thing.”

What?

My body froze up.

“Trust me, I would have if I knew. I myself only found out a little bit ago,” Raynelle continued to chuckle as she spoke, “Anyway, you can probably guess what we’re here for.”

“Oh, of course,” The woman leaned in towards me, “So, do you have something specific in mind?”

“…”

“I think that’s going to be fighting a losing battle,” Raynelle said as she took a step back from the woman, still carrying me in her arms.

“Well then, I guess the next best thing would be… do either of you two have something in mind?”

Both Raynelle and Ava looked at each other in silence for a moment before suddenly starting to mutter to each other.

“I think she would look nice in some brighter colours…” Ava said as she scratched her chin.

“What about white… that would be nice…” Raynelle added.

“No no, that’s a bit too much for her… maybe a green… or a blue…”

“It definitely has to be a dress, although…”

“I think red would be nice, but that’s probably a bit too mature for her…”

Why are you deciding?

…

I wish she could decide for me…

But she’s already given me so much…

…

I knew that if I didn’t come up with anything, I would be stuck with whatever those two came up with. But as I tried to think about what would look good, the only thing that came to mind was my memory of Ovia.

…

Is that a bad thing?…

No.

How could it be?

Before I could change my mind, I hopped out of Raynelle’s arms, but she was too absorbed in her conversation with Ava to notice. Then I walked up to the woman, gently tugging on her skirt to get her attention.

“Hmm, do you have something you want to say?” She squatted down so she was on my level.

I panicked a bit at the question and ended up looking around the room for something that I could point to, but then I realised that I already had exactly what I needed. I carefully tugged on my scarf while also pointing at it, hoping that she would understand me.

“Hmm… Do you… want something in black?”

I nodded.

“So then, what exactly do you want in black? Are you looking for a dress?”

I… don’t know…

I don’t think they suit me…

…

“I think a cute little dress would look very good on you,” The woman said as she flashed a warm smile at me, “You’d be sure to wow whoever saw you. I can personally guarantee it.”

I nodded instantly. I didn’t need to think about it anymore because that’s exactly what I wanted.

Hopefully, she’ll like it.

“Alright, I think I have something in the back that will fit you,” The woman stood up, “Just give me a few minutes to make some adjustments for you.”

“What?!” Both Raynelle and Ava shouted in unison.

“Hmm, what’s the problem?” The woman responded, completely unfazed.

“How did you… do… that?” Raynelle asked.

“What do you mean? I just asked her some questions, and she responded, albeit in her own way,” The woman turned around and walked into the back of the shop, “She’s really not as difficult as you made her out to be.”

“Are we… just that unapproachable?” Raynelle asked Ava.

“I… don’t… think so… I hope…” Ava responded.

Both Raynelle and Ava kept going back and forth like that for a little while before the woman eventually came back out with a black dress draped over one of her arms.

“So, what do you think?” The woman squatted down in front of me just like before and held the dress up in front of me.

It was a black dress, just like I had asked for. The bottom of it was fairly simple, only slightly frilled, with a small white layer sticking out beneath it. Down the body of the dress, there were two rows of decorative buttons that led up to the collar, which had a loose ribbon draped around it.

“And don’t worry,” She turned the dress around, “I added a little flap for your tail to go through.”

I don’t know what to say…

It looks good…

Too good for me…

…

“Do you want to go try it on?”

…

After a brief pause, I nodded.

“Alright then, here you go,” She handed me the dress, “You can use the room just down there. Just make sure to make some noise if you need any help.”

I didn’t respond to her and instead quickly made my way into the room to get changed.