AN: So, here's the fluff chapter. Next chapter will have a bit more before we return to the darkness you folks are so fond of. Which includes me having to introduce some characters you already know, and a few others you do not. I know I said we're almost done, and we are, just have to get through these introductions before another Q&A session. One you folks will have more questions about, as I divulge more about the upcoming projects for Origin Point.
As always, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
__________________________
Upon entering the building, a small bell chimed throughout the whole of the structure just as his fur changed from darkness and shadows to a soft, golden tint. Whereas his eyes, which were once full of hatred and violence, became softer with a more azure hue in the orbs. Of course, this led to a tired, feminine voice to call out with, "Just a moment," as hurried feet, claws, and paws scurried all around his person in the adjoining rooms.
The area he had stepped into was nothing more than a foyer to greet guests and potential parents who desired somewhat grown children for this or that reason. This was nothing more than a spacious waiting room with a few chairs and worn sofas decorating the nearby white walls. Although the outside was covered in the dreams of wishes of the children within, the inside was surprisingly bare of anything. Of which caused the Kitsune to become confused at such a thing, for he desired the entirety of the building to be coated in the dreams and wishes of those bereft of a family.
What is more, it appeared to his eyes that the insides were not as well maintained as he would have like, and set about placing his right paw upon the nearby wall. This allowed his senses to take a much closer look at the structure, to which caused his lips to turn towards a snarl. For the entire building seemed close to being condemned.
Patched holes in the roof, broken tiles scattered throughout their meager kitchen, rotting floorboards. The list went on, which was not at all what he desired for the children to live in. "There are laws pertaining to this, why hasn't anyone taken a closer look and fixed the building?" The query was directed towards a Wolfwoman who stood staring at his backside with widened eyes. Of which became more apparent as he turned to face her as his right paw flexed itself as though being awakened from a tingling numbness.
The female before him had the appearance of an old and tired grandmother who had her grandchildren dumped into her lap as the parents ran off for some reason, never to return. This one was portly, but not outrageously so, and to his eyes it appeared as though she had gained some pains in her joints. This was probably due to the fact that she had been bending down to lift various children throughout her lifetime.
Her fur, though silver and grey, still contained a few strands of red to denote the beauty she commanded whilst younger. The eyes of one such as her, however, was of a sharp black with golden pupils. These seem to hold a fierce will which caused the other to give a mental laugh. Whereas her outer ware was nothing more than a stained, tanned linen dress which came down to her ankles. In her right hand was a simple cane to lean on, whilst her left held a sleeping child with a violet-pink skin tone and a small horn barely protruding from its forehead.
"Well?" His tone was soft, but slightly impatient as his gaze fell upon the elder, "Is there a reason why no one has come by to renovate your establishment?"
"Ah, um," she stuttered, shifting the small child whilst it mewed softly in its sleep, "They stopped coming here nearly twenty-two cycles ago."
"Did they ever give a reason?"
"Lack of money, I think was the chief reason," she winced as her gaze fell upon the golden Kitsune whose face was marred with a torrent of emotions. Each raging from general surprise, to a black rage which seemed to cause the ceiling above to blacken from the gathering of clouds. However, within an instant the scene vanished, leaving her to wonder if what she saw was real.
"I see," voiced the other, "Then do you mind if I renovate the premise?"
The female before him could not understand, and tried to stop him as he walked over to the opposite wall to lie his left paw upon its surface. For a time, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the whole of the building shuddered as a silver mist rolled out from the palm of the being before her. Slowly, it crawled its way across the surfaces whilst the area around the mist trembled and groaned.
There had been a few cracks in the wall before he had appeared, but once the mist rolled past it, the marks were gone and replaced as though it had never been cracked in the first place. Of course, the Wolfwoman was astonished by such simple magicks, which became more apparent as the mist swarmed the entirety of the room in an instant the moment it touched the ceiling and floor. This then led to it vanishing as though it was never there in the first place.
However, shouts and screams soon filled the building, whilst the Kitsune simply stayed glued to his position, controlling the mist so that it fixed and repaired every issue he came across. From the repairs needed to make the building safe for the children to live and play in, to new beds which were obviously over used and worn out. All the way to cleaning and repairing their meager kitchen whilst stocking the pantry full of needed foodstuffs for the growing children.
All of this and more occurred, but more so for the children. For they, at first, feared the mist as one would normally react, but came to enjoy it after such a thing released their bedding with a small gift of sweets atop their new pillows. Yes. They did not eat any of it due to a few believing it to be poison, until one of the less fearful bit into something akin to a "Lollipop" and continued to snack upon it after swallowing a mouthful of saliva flavoured with the sugars.
Many others who were more adventurous, or simply curious, decided to explore their home. Whilst others chased after the now receding mist in order to retrieve more sweets. All of this occurred whilst the old Wolfwoman stared upon a now moving, golden Kitsune who flexed his paw with a slight annoyed look about his eyes. "Every tenday from this day, hence, someone will come to evaluate the orphanage. They will make sure it is structurally sound, that each child is not abused, your supplies stocked full, and your pantry filled to the brim."
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
"Who-?" Began the female, but was stopped by the other's upraised right paw.
"I've been gone for too long, and have just returned to set things right after my long absence. How bad are the other three orphanages?"
"This is the last one," spoke a melodic voice from a doorway leading further into the building. This one was another Kitsune, but one of red fur shading to orange, had only one tail behind its person, and was a female. Of whom wore only a thin tunic of faded red which served as a makeshift dress, for she was only a few cycles shy of being considered as an adult.
All of this was observed by the Ageless, whose eyes darkened considerably when he heard this new piece of information. "How long ago, and what was their reason for doing so?"
"Before my birth, I think, and their caretakers simply died from old age without anyone to take over," spoke the younger female, which was echoed by the Wolfwoman who now struggled with the child in her arms. This one's eyes had widened greatly upon seeing the anthromorphic, golden fox in front of its eyes, and reached out with its small arms for him.
This caused his lips to turn upwards as his eyes grew softer than ever. "May I?" He asks, gently lifting the horned creature who giggled greatly from being lifted high into the air. Of which was then settled into the crook of his left arm, where he cooed softly at it whilst the other responded with its own sounds as the tiny hands explored his furred muzzle. It even went as far as to shove two stubby fingers into his nostrils, before pulling them out with widened eyes.
Whereas the pair simply stared at the scene before their eyes, unsure of how to proceed. That is, until the door behind the young Kitsune opened up, and in walked a few more children who stared upon the golden furred male before their eyes. Those who were smaller than most, ran past the Fox and Wolfwoman who failed to catch their small bodies, whilst the older ones seemed to be hesitating on how to proceed.
This did not last long, as shouts of, "Fox King! Fox King!" soon echoed the air as more and more children flooded the foyer. So much so, not everyone was able to do so, and whined greatly until they were ushered to the small grassy patch of land behind the orphanage. It was here that the older pair gaped openly at the sight of the nine-tailed, golden Kitsune dancing amongst the children in a manner many would describe as pure joy.
For his fur gave off quite the shine, as little sparks of energy exploded about his body harmlessly whilst he danced and played with those nearest his person. These little sparks are what allowed the children to hold back little to no reservation as they continued to be just as they were. Children. For a time it worked, as the world around them simply disappeared until all that was left was their Fox King and their little selves.
Unfortunately, all things must end, which included their playfulness and dancing. For each belly had become empty, save for the little dragon known solely as "Hunger" afflicted their small bodies. This in turn sent them mewing and demanding to be fed, but caused the older pair's faces to scrunch with sorrow as they began to speak on how empty their cupboards were.
However, they were stopped when the back door to their small patch of grass opened, and out came the delicious scent of something being cooked. Of which caused even their own bellies to growl dangerously. To this end, they each surged into their meager kitchen to find the golden furred Kitsune making some sort of stew in a large copper pot. This led to him shooing most of them away, whilst his form continued to zip around the room, his body a blur as he performed the various tasks necessary to prepare such a great meal.
"Ah, ah, ah," he held up a single claw from his right paw, wagging it from side to side as the Wolfwoman tried to enter the small, cramped space, "Not even you are allowed in here, my dear."
"But," she began, not at all enjoying being treated as one of her charges, as she was gently led away from the space.
"You deserve a short rest for your continued effort, young lady. Now it's my turn. Besides, I'll be coming by often in any case."
"But," she began once more, but was interrupted by the other Kitsune who had returned from sitting the children at a long table which was not there until he came to their establishment.
"Just who are you?" She demanded. Of course, she was grateful for the help, but was as flustered as the Wolfwoman ever since his appearance earlier that turn.
This question caused the male to pause in his stirring of the pot, and slowly stared into the pairs' eyes. "Who am I? Well, I have many names," he slowly stirred the pot full of broth, chopped vegetables, and small chunks of meats, "Many titles, too, but most simply call my person 'Master', 'Lord', 'Lord High God'." The Wolfwoman gasped, as her cane clattered to the ground whilst she clung to a wall for support. All the while the male simply smiled in her general direction before turn to look upon a thoroughly confused Foxwoman.
"To you, my dear, I am simply called whatever you desire, but to those children, I am their Fox King," his shoulders shrugged slowly, as his attention turned back towards the stew, "I do not have a name, per se, but history will tell you what I truly am.
"For I am Ageless, the Lord of Chaotic Mana and Illusions, God King of the Second Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, God of Children and Families, and the rightful ruler of our world called Terra."