Mochi wakes up in a warm furry embrace. She is momentarily disorientated, but manages to remember the events of last night. Currently, she is lying within the black wolf's fur, still outside on a warm rock in the sun.
After escaping the cage, the wolf appeared and helped Mochi escape. When she saw how agitated they were at the villagers, she decided to leave before any violence broke out. Of course, she told the wolf she'd meet them at the rock (Or at least did her best with the limited vocabulary of a fox).
What she didn't expect was the wolf to follow without doing anything to the villagers. While she was glad at the lack of an further bloodshed, she was a bit uneasy thinking about how the wolf was far stronger than she initially thought. And for some reason, this wolf followed her. Why do they care so much?
Was force feeding them blueberries and treating their leg so important to the wolf that it'd prioritize staying with Mochi over anything else? Is it because they were friends (or whatever their relationship is)? ...wait, did they think Mochi would get caught again?
Well, Mochi does appreciate the wolf regardless of their reason. And spending time together watching the night sky was nice as well. Even if they can't talk with each other. She wanted to show off her knowledge of star trivia with the wolf, but names are hard to communicate using barks and yips.
And then, after stargazing for a while, she though of going home to sleep. But wolf fur was so much more comfortable and warmer than her normal bed that she ended up falling asleep without going home. Though, knowing how strong the wolf was, she felt pretty safe sleeping with them.
"...pst, Mr. Narrator. If they have a name please tell me."
Mochi whispers to no one in particular, alerting Nikola that she is awake. He sits up and stretches, and Mochi follows suit. Nikola looks around, though it was unnecessary thanks to the wise crow Wisteria's little tantrum. It was mostly just to make Mochi feel safe, if only by a bit.
Mochi, on the other hand, gives Nikola a quick nuzzle as thanks, before walking off for some breakfast! Today was a tomato kind of day, though last time she found tomatoes they were still green. Hopefully a few weeks is enough to ripen.
As Nikola watches her leave, he thinks back to yesterday. He didn't ever expect her to try to visit him in his own territory. Thankfully she had just enough of his scent on her to have the other wolves not attack her. Though, the blueberries definitely made up for the embarrassment of having to explain to the others why a random fox was allowed in his territory.
Then there was Mochi's kidnapping. He should've been watching her. He could've rescued her a lot sooner. And did he make the right choice, to follow Mochi without taking revenge? It would've been easy, but Mochi...
...there was one last issue. Mochi wasn't affected by Wisteria's aurora. He didn't fully know why, but considering how weak Mochi seems, he doubts its due to her level. Maybe she has a passive immunity, or a counteractive skill? Or maybe she's deaf... no, she responded to his howls.
Nikola shakes his head out of the constant questioning, and quickly dives into the shadows to chase after Mochi and keep watch. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her anymore!
Mochi, on the other hand, was planning out a slight expansion to her home while eating tomatoes. She hopes it'll remain stable enough. Worst case scenario, she'll have to move somewhere else. Oh well, she's fine with that anyways.
...
The rest of the day remains uneventful, thanks to Nikola's mere presence discouraging anything within line of sight from approaching (except for crows, who didn't enjoy the tomatoes as much as Mochi hoped). At the end, the two watched the sun set together, sitting silently and enjoying each other's company. Mochi then returns home, and begins digging.
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Incident report for the disappearance of mountain securement vanguard;
Two weeks ago, a vanguard consisting of 317 soldiers were sent ahead to secure a position by the Evansow mountains. Due to common roads being damaged and impassable, an alternative route through the blighted forest was chosen. While it was risky, the large amount of personnel led to confidence that any dangers could be easily overcome, or in a worst case, at least some survivors could escape and provide additional information on the monsters found within the forest.
Soon after entering the forest, all communications were lost with the vanguard. Remote communication skills were ineffective, and messenger pigeons were too vulnerable and did not return after entering the forest. Additional resources for the purpose of re-establishing contact was considered, but denied due to a lack of available personnel. Since then, with a continued lack of response from the vanguard, they have been marked as missing, potentially dead. No further action is to be taken, and repair of roads is to be expedited.
Addendum from Zerri of Lue University;
Report fails to mention a major astronomical anomaly that occurred soon after the vanguard entered the blighted forest. A type C aurora was visible above the forest for a few minutes, with those nearby falling unconscious. Similar events have been recorded several times in the past, tracing back to 1200 years ago (older records were lost due to a fire). In all cases, all people within the forest when an aurora occurred were either found dead, or never found at all. Therefore, it is safe to assume that the vanguard is dead, not just missing.
I shall say once again, the blighted forest is forbidden territory for a reason. Please stop trying to use it as an alternative route, it has never worked and it won't work anytime soon.
"Zerri, you do know there's evidence that a route through the blighted forest did exist about 1400 years ago-"
"I think that's long enough ago that it doesn't apply. Also, that was before it was blighted."
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After a few weeks of work, Mochi finally expanded her home to be significantly bigger. And just in time for the sunset! She runs to their meeting place, the warm rock with a clear view of the sky. There, already waiting for her, is Nikola.
She takes her position, sitting next to Nikola, before leaning into his fur. It feels just right, as it always does. Maybe it's the warmth, maybe it's the smell, maybe it's hearing a steady heartbeat among the silence. Well, she isn't a scholar anymore, so she doesn't need to worry about why this feels right. It just is.
And then Nikola speaks. The language of the forest, a passive through which all intelligent animals could communicate. And unfortunately, Mochi could not understand it. But she didn't need to, as the language of the forest conveyed more than just words. There was an emotional aspect to it.
And Nikola, the wolf who always acted so cold and apathetic and stoic, spoke full of emotion. There was gratitude, embarrassment, contentment, pride, shame, anxiety, happiness, confusion. And throughout it all, a faint love.
While Mochi didn't know what exactly Nikola was saying, she could tell it was probably important. Especially since he never spoke before. And so Mochi responded with encouraging, happy purring. And Nikola let himself enjoy the sound, caring little if what he said was understood, because he understood that Mochi enjoyed their companionship.
The two then enjoy a moonless night sky together. And as Mochi grew tired, she got up and signaled Nikola to follow. And the two went to Mochi's home, with an expanded entrance big enough to have Nikola enter. Mochi gives a tour of the inside, showing off her admittedly impressive collection of trinkets and nice gifts from the crows. And finally, she showed off her bed.
For Nikola, it had been a while since he slept feeling safe. Even when hidden in his own shadow, there was always a faint fear of being found defenseless. Yet now, with Mochi by his side, he slept his best in a long time. Not because it was safer, but because it was with someone he trusted.
He'd ask about the concerning amount of mana gems tomorrow.
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A rumor was gently spreading. Thanks to the repaired roads, Panace could trade with neighboring villages. Of course, there was talk about the strange aurora. But for Panace, there was something more to it. A fox and a wolf.
It started with mention of a fox caught in a cage, which then mimicked a wolf's howl and caused a wolf to come attack. If it was only that, then maybe it could be called a coincidence, or a made up story. But when the wolf followed the fox, it called for attention.
A wolf who followed and protected a fox. A fox that could call for wolves. Two rumors branched in opposite directions, both of a wolf and fox, but with different focus. In both ways, it was a story of caution.
And then news of the lost soldiers spread and collided with the rumors. It overshadowed the aurora, mixing together into a single event. Details got swapped, mixed, lost, and re-found. And in the future, the story of what happened is significantly different than what the reports say.
"They tried to catch a fox, but it called for wolves to hunt the soldiers instead."
"The soldiers threatened the fox, and so the wolf protecting it fought back."
"The fox's call can create an aurora, which takes the form of a wolf!"
"The fox and wolf? They're one entity, split into two to test people."
"It's the ghost of those lost soldiers!" (No one believes this one ever since ghosts were disproven)
"The fox is simply bait, which the wolves use to hunt with. It lets out a 'call' when caught to signal the wolves."
In any case, no one hunted any foxes for years. The power of rumors even reached the capitals, but the consequence of that is yet to arrive. Normally, a rumor this widespread would beget a title. Yet, no title is given out. The oracles interpret this as the fox having no name. Of course, they are wrong.
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Mochi was having trouble. As summer was nearing its end, the available food options was also changing. And so, she has to recompile the imaginary map of every breakfast spot nearby. Well, at least for Nikola the blueberries are still around for a little while longer.
While it isn't a big problem right now, Mochi does dread the eventual winter. It'll be her first winter as a fox, and her current hunting skills definitely wouldn't be sufficient if she was alone. And relying on Nikola made her feel bad.
Just because they were good friends, didn't mean she was fine with Nikola doing all the hard work for her. Even if hunting isn't hard at all for someone as strong as Nikola. There was a limit to the help Mochi was fine with receiving!
Of course, Nikola does not think of it as Mochi taking advantage of him, especially considering how minor it is for him.
After noting down yet another berry bush that isn't available anymore, Mochi runs with Nikola to the next one. Nikola wants to offer to carry Mochi to the next location, but he's too embarrassed by the idea. Though, for Mochi, running together was a lot more fun.
Nikola thinks about what he's seen so far of Mochi, and the concerning signs that she isn't a normal fox at all. First is that, while undeniably intelligent, she can't seem to understand what he says. She doesn't seem to have the language of the forest yet. Another problem is that she's unaffected by his shadows; He can't bring her into his shadow, which made him quite sad at the time, nor can his shadows move her. But most importantly, his shadowy attacks also ignore her.
Nikola has a theory that Mochi has some form of immunity to magical skills. It'd also explain why Wisteria's aurora had no effect either. But then, why doesn't 'Analysis' work either? It isn't magic as much as it's a basic function of the system.
In a way, while Nikola trusts Mochi and would do anything for her, he is also cautious of what she is. But until it causes any problems, Nikola chooses to ignore it for now.
"Alright, little fox. Which bush is next?"
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Wisteria shakes her feathers again, the discomforting feeling still remaining. It was a sign that she'd fall asleep soon. She used too much power last time, and now her false form was blighted. The white feathers have tiny spots of green, vaguely itchy and never going away.
Well, even if she did have to go to sleep soon, it'd be fine. No additional soldiers meant they learnt their lesson, as they always do. And the small fox is now being guarded by the prime wolf, of all people. Fate always brought together the strangest pairs.
Her next problem was the rituals, but her daughters should be more than capable of doing it themselves. Laurel will take care of the oclid tree while she's gone as well. Now, was she forgetting anything else...?
Nothing comes to mind, but it doesn't relieve Wisteria. She always manages to forget something important at the worst moments. Well, if an emergency occurs, the crows can wake her up easily enough. She just hopes that cute fox will be alright.
...Actually, she might as well go and meet them before going to sleep. Maybe only a quick look. Of course, she won't even say anything so as not to scare them. The prime wolf might be a bit frightened though, ironically.
With a slight chuckle, Wisteria flies up and goes towards the duo. The wolf notices her first, and looks up with an alarmed look. He immediately takes a defensive stance, before shifting to deference instead. Of course, he'd stand no chance in a fight.
The fox, on the other hand, looks up and tilts their head. There is an odd flash of... recognition? Wisteria flies past, wondering if she misread their emotion. In any case, she returns back to her tree and shakes her feathers again. Some fall out easily, decaying away into mana.
How ironic, her false form being weak to her own blight. Maybe she could improve it next time. That's what she promises herself every time. And of course, she never does it. After all, there's so much to be distracted by.
Like a certain fox, who can't be targeted by 'Wisdom'.
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Mochi recognized the skeletal bird. It had three eyes, though one was closed. The true form of the Wise Crow. The patron of the holy forest. So that's where she is! The holy forest, a large and plentiful forest on the southern continent, surrounded by lush plains and cold mountains.
She had only heard of it through legends and stories from adventurers. To think that she gets to experience it herself! Oh, maybe she can one day ask the wise crow some questions as well! Maybe she can-
Her thoughts are interrupted by Nikola picking her up and running back home. He didn't know why she was out, and he wasn't going to risk anything!