Kitsune in the Shadows

Chapter 7 – Hope Only Lasts So Long

“Seven years… and what do I have to show for it?!”

…

As I watched the sun set over the city of Casgolau once again, I couldn’t help but look back on all the time I’d spent suffering here.

Crouching down, I reached over to my stash and pulled out what was probably a plum, at least before the mould got to it.

Good enough.

I cut out the rotten parts using a chipped knife that someone dropped in the alleys at some point. Once it looked like only the edible parts remained, I brought the mangled fruit up to my mouth and took a bite.

…

“Weren’t these sweet at some point…”

…

Where did things go wrong?

…

I took another bite out of the plum before leaning my back against the wall of the black stone temple.

All this time, and nothing has changed.

…

Looking down at the half-eaten plum with chunks haphazardly cut out of it, a different realisation dawned on me.

Well, that isn’t true… Unfortunately.

At some point, the shopkeepers collectively decided it was a good idea to start putting out any rotten fruit they had for sale at a discount. It’s clear they had decided to make use of my food runs just to move unsold fruit.

My only saving grace was that some people still bought fresh fruit to throw at me because they wanted it to hurt more, even if it cost them a bit extra.

Never thought I’d be happy people were so cruel…

Trying to push the thought out of my mind, I took another bite out of the plum. But this time, my mouth was filled with an astringent bitter taste, causing me to spit it out.

“Must’ve missed a bit.”

…

That wasn’t all that changed; that bulbous pig never gave up on trying to find me. He had started to send out daily patrols around when the lunch rush started, although he stopped coming here himself at some point.

Luckily, I’d never been caught like I did the first time. However, there were a few times when I was spotted, but it was easy enough to get away, thanks to my shadow.

…

I’m pretty sure he died recently.

About a month ago, the patrols just stopped. At least they did until a new kid showed up around here calling himself the Baron and cursing me out for cursing his oh-so-majestic father.

I would complain that he got off easy, but I’m not sure if that’s true, considering how he looked the last few times I saw him.

…

Still wish I got a jab in myself though…

…

“Why have I held on so long?…”

Slumping down even lower, I took the final bite of the plum before spitting the stone out into my hand.

I looked down at the plum seed in my palm, focusing on the shadow that was being cast due to the sunset. It was subtly pulsing and writhing just like it did on that day all those years ago.

“Oh yeah, that’s why…”

I instinctively looked over to the pillar on my right with the mural of a nine-tailed fox.

“Why won’t you respond to me anymore?”

…

A single tear ran down my face as I recalled the joy that came over me on the day I spoke to the fox, but it dried up quickly as the rest of that day came to mind. My hand reached over my right shoulder to the scar that was left behind.

…

I should just leave…

I’d held out all this time, hoping to speak to that fox from my dreams again, but after seven years…

…

“I could just go tonight.”

…

I tried to come up with a reason for me not to leave, but nothing came to mind. There just wasn’t a good reason to stay here anymore.

Hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel can only get you so far.

Reluctantly, I lifted myself up off the floor just as the last glimmer from the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city into darkness.

My shadow coated my hair and tail, and I started to leave, but before getting too far away, I stopped and looked back at the black stone temple.

“This place really kept me safe all this time… I just… wish I could’ve thanked you…”

…

Deciding that it would be better just to get it over with, I pulled my hood up over my head and lifted my makeshift scarf over my mouth before heading for the city gates.

Getting to the gates was rather uneventful, as the patrols who were looking for me knew it would be a waste of time to continue trying when it got dark. Fortunately for me, the gate was still open when I got there, although I didn’t know how long it would stay that way.

There were two guards standing by the gate, but neither looked all that interested in actually doing their job, which works out better for me.

I made my way up to the gate, hoping that the two guards would just ignore me and let me on my way. But as I’ve already learned by now, things rarely go my way.

“Oi! Are you sure you want to be going out right now?”

Turning around, I saw that the younger-looking of the two guards was walking up to me, so I just nodded and tried to go through the gate anyway, but when he realised that I had no intention of stopping, he started to run instead. He quickly caught up to me and grabbed my shoulder to stop me from leaving.

“Hey, come on, a kid like you shouldn’t even be out by themselves at this hour, let alone trying to leave the city.”

I just stared at him blankly.

Is that… genuine concern?…

No, I know better than that…

I tried to shake myself free from the guard’s grip, but he didn’t budge. Instead, it seemed like my struggle just got the older guard to come over and see what the problem was.

“Ah, come on, just deal with the kid so we can close up.”

“Just close up then. I’m not going to let a kid go and get themselves killed.”

Hearing that, I started to struggle again, but this time, I must’ve caught him a bit off guard as his hand slipped off my shoulder, and I started to run for the gates.

Seeing this, the older guard lurched over to stop me. His hand managed to latch onto my hood, abruptly stopping me while also exposing my ears.

“Fox ears?…” The younger guard muttered.

“Ahh, wasn’t that new Baron or something going on about wanting to catch one of these foxes? He wanted one with black hair or white hair, right?” The older guard asked.

Not now!

I tried to remove my cloak, but the older guard clearly learnt from seeing me slip out of the other guard’s grip. He yanked me closer before kneeing me in the stomach, winding me.

“Tie it up. It must be the right one if it’s trying to escape at night like this.”

“But…” The younger guard looked down at me, crumpled on the ground and clutching my stomach, “…Sorry… but… I’ve got a family to feed.”

Why do I have to be right about people?

Even though I was winded, my struggle continued until, eventually, the tattered cloak tore, freeing me once again.

“Oi! Grab it!” The older guard shouted at the younger guard, tripping on the torn cloak in the process.

Not happening!

Sprinting into the alleys, my shadow expanded to cover my whole body.

It was difficult to run, but I should have been able to make it back to the temple before passing out, although my vision was already starting to get a bit blurry, so it would be a close call.

“Did they really have to wind me like that?”

I looked back to see if the guards were still following me, but…

*Thud*

I ran into something?

Trying to stop myself from falling, I clumsily stumbled backwards, but my legs ended up giving out anyway, sending me to the floor.

Did I run into a brick wall?

But I know these alleys better than anyway! There shouldn’t be a wall here!

Looking up, it was just about possible to make out a large figure wearing armour; they were clearly much larger than either of the guards that were after me.

Another one?!

Even though they were shrouded in darkness, I could see their vivid purple hair whenever it caught a ray of moonlight, but that wasn’t all that was revealed by the pale light. It also revealed a sword, pointed directly at me.

Get up!

But no amount of internal screaming would help me; there was just no energy left in my body to call upon this time.

Not like this!

Not after all this time!

The last thing I could make out as my vision was fading was my shadow melting out of my hair.

Is this how it ends?…

…