The Eagle and the Vixen (Closed)

[The Selkie]

Hello and welcome to The Eagle and the Vixen!
This is a closed RP between me, the Selkie, and Lillorainen. You are invited to read along, but as mentioned, this RP is closed.

Have fun reading!

---

Cuan, der 30. Juni.

Lieber Chris,
I told you about our old matron Garbh and her current pregnancy, right? She gave birth to four healthy cubs yesterday, our venerable Lady! Mother and children are well and they are currently sleeping. Our Old Lady still has it in her!
Cladhaire got into his typical scrapes again, that lad can not let any fishmonger alone, I tell you, and I had to bail him out again, but this time, it was a real coup de main. I would sign him up with the Rangers by now, if they would take Foxes!

But on to something even better: Remember when I told you about the Fox Breeder Conference in Dumhach, in the Oileánra-Archipelago? Mister Folaíochta and I are going to travel there with a bunch of our lads and lassies, and he told me, that I could invite you, if you want.
The Conference starts on the 14th of July, in Dumhach. I think, that there's a ferry running from Nienhagen to Dumhach. Someone, who you should recognize will be waiting for you. ; )

Mit Liebe,
Cel

P.S.: Pack a swimsuit! ; )

---

Dumhach Ferry Harbour, Dumhach, Oileánra-Archipelago.
It was a beautiful day in the tropical climate of the Oileánra-Archipelago, the sun shining above azure blue oceans, the breeze not too strong, but strong enough to play with the hair and to allow gliding birds to glide easily.
And many of the avians endemic to the Archipelago could be seen making their circles in the sky.
Dumhach itself laid at the end of a small bay, where around two thousand people lived in a small city mostly occupied with fishing, boatbuilding and tourism, the Seaplane Port busy as ever.
The waters, however were even shallower then outside, so the Ferry Harbour for the larger ships was at the mouth of the bay, where they could either take up quarters in hotels near the port or continue there trips by the many means available, from boats to the city to horse-drawn carriage, there was even a small train line going back and forth.
At the quay, there were a few people waiting, from dock workers to hotel people, but most remarkable of them all was a vulpine, grey furred, with black and red highlights, as well as blue eyes shining like the sea before him. He was a Little Black Fox.
By sheer coincidence, his mistress had packed a t-shirt of the guy he was waiting for into her bag when she departed and had given it to him to have his smell - he was to lead his mistress' friend to her. He sat onto a barrel, a white collar around his neck with a small message fitted underneath it.
He, like all of his kind, grinned perpetually, as it seemed, as he watched the ferry ease into the harbour. His mistress' friend would recognize him and his kind, he had been sent quite a few fotographs of them with and without Celina, he knew Pluise the Plush-Fox.
It would be alright.
The game, as they said, was a-paw.

[Lillorainen]

Kerkenich, der 2. Juli.

Liebe Cel,
She still managed to do this at her age? Send her my congratulations and my sincere respect at the next occasion!
I wouldn't have expected anything else from Cladhaire. If he was here, I could try to sign him up as a detection fox at the Federal Police. They are looking for some good four-legged personnel.
I think I did tell you about my cousin Robert? You won't believe it, but he has signed up for the Navy. He has said that he really wants to serve on our proud, old heavy destroyer FLS DD Rathenia. As a non-swimmer! I assume he has listened to the wrong style of music all the time ...

Now, by the time you're reading this, I'm already on the ferry - so yes, count me in. I can't expect to get out of this place with insane prices for a decent whiskey - and to see you again. ; )

Mit ganz viel Liebe,
Chris

P.S. Swimsuit's in ; )

On the way to the ferry
Chris had not lost any time. As soon has he had read Cel's letter, he had immediately ordered a ticket for the ferry to Dumhach. As sneaky as he was, he had already called his car rent service of confidence, ordering a SUV to the ferry port of his home city, which he surely missed - but not as much as he missed Cel.
Chris sighed when he drove his VW Cabrio, with the convertible hood left open, over the highway ramp of the district he currently happened to live in. It seemed as if half the population of this place was about leaving Kerkenich today. Sure, holiday season ... the Pontrath ringroad was even worse. Guessing from the license plates of the cars he had to pass, half the country must have had decided to accompany him on this grey orbital belt around the country's largest city.
Hopefully he wouldn't be late.
When some lorry suddenly stepped out of lane trying to overtake another one, Chris honked at them and flashed his headlights. "Eh, did you drink car paint or something?" - he shouted.
He sighed again when the intersection to the Nienhagen connection came, but this time out of relief. Now it would become less full. He changed for the A53 - his absolute favorite highway.
Now, he floored the accelerator - as if it could have helped him getting to Cel faster.
Installing an additional turbocharger definitely had paid off - 220 km/h ... 240 ... just rushing.
Exit for exit was passing - a new roadsign every few seconds, at least that was what it felt like. Pontrath-Lünnich. Pontrath-Harringen. Leerbroich. Nienhagen-Maschenich.
And there it was again. The smell of his hometown. A reasonable mix of saltwater, fried fish, and fruit cocktails. A full melange of hazes way stronger than those of asphalt and exhaust gases. He slowed down just to enjoy it.
Then, finally, the ferry port came, sensibly with the end of the highway leading into the mouth.
But he turned right first, for the parking lot.
A dark-haired guy, roughly about his age, was waiting in front of the gate.
When Chris stopped next to him, they both grinned synchronously.
"Hey Ralle, long time no see!" - Chris said.
"No way!" Ralle laughed. "Chrisso Riescheid in town again! Already thought Currywurst City has swallowed you completely."
"And I thought you guys have finally ceased to call me Chrisso all the time. But that's not what I'm here for. Look, you know how expensive parking in Kerkenich is, and I'd need to leave my baby here for a couple of weeks. And we've known each other since sandbox age, so I thought ... maybe it would be possible to allow some discount?"
"Care to explain?" - Ralle asked.
"I'm gonna go to Dumhach."
"Dumhach in the Free Lands of the Selkie?"
Chris sighed. "How many cities with that name we've a fix ferry connection with do you know?"
Ralle laughed again. "You're right. We're gonna manage that. Somehow." He opened the gate.
"I hope so. You still owe me a favor, if I recall correctly, anyways." Chris grinned.
"For ... oh yes, let's not talk about this. Enjoy your trip, Chrisso!"
Ralle had looked at Chris like a broken car - twice. Once he came to leave his Cabrio here, and the second time when Chris left the parking lot again with a SUV.

Dumhach Ferry Harbour, Dumhach, Oileánra-Archipelago.
Almost two weeks on the ferry.
Chris had never gotten tired of it, as it was not boring at all - he had enjoyed some good meals and drinks as well as some talking with other passengers. And all this duty-free. Including the talking, of course.
Although he was not really used to the climate of this degree of latitude, he didn't bother the heat at all. He was now standing at the railing, totally amazed by the coastal landscape that came closer and closer right now. It was not like other coasts he had seen. It was the paradise.
According to the shiphorn's signal, they were approaching Dumhach's harbor.
Chris grinned inwardly. He'd done it!

[The Selkie]

Kerkenich, der 2. Juli.

Liebe Cel,
She still managed to do this at her age? Send her my congratulations and my sincere respect at the next occasion!
I wouldn't have expected anything else from Cladhaire. If he was here, I could try to sign him up as a detection fox at the Federal Police. They are looking for some good four-legged personnel.
I think I did tell you about my cousin Robert? You won't believe it, but he has signed up for the Navy. He has said that he really wants to serve on our proud, old heavy destroyer FLS DD Rathenia. As a non-swimmer! I assume he has listened to the wrong style of music all the time ...

Now, by the time you're reading this, I'm already on the ferry - so yes, count me in. I can't expect to get out of this place with insane prices for a decent whiskey - and to see you again. ; )

Mit ganz viel Liebe,
Chris

P.S. Swimsuit's in ; )

On the way to the ferry
Chris had not lost any time. As soon has he had read Cel's letter, he had immediately ordered a ticket for the ferry to Dumhach. As sneaky as he was, he had already called his car rent service of confidence, ordering a SUV to the ferry port of his home city, which he surely missed - but not as much as he missed Cel.
Chris sighed when he drove his VW Cabrio, with the convertible hood left open, over the highway ramp of the district he currently happened to live in. It seemed as if half the population of this place was about leaving Kerkenich today. Sure, holiday season ... the Pontrath ringroad was even worse. Guessing from the license plates of the cars he had to pass, half the country must have had decided to accompany him on this grey orbital belt around the country's largest city.
Hopefully he wouldn't be late.
When some lorry suddenly stepped out of lane trying to overtake another one, Chris honked at them and flashed his headlights. "Eh, did you drink car paint or something?" - he shouted.
He sighed again when the intersection to the Nienhagen connection came, but this time out of relief. Now it would become less full. He changed for the A53 - his absolute favorite highway.
Now, he floored the accelerator - as if it could have helped him getting to Cel faster.
Installing an additional turbocharger definitely had paid off - 220 km/h ... 240 ... just rushing.
Exit for exit was passing - a new roadsign every few seconds, at least that was what it felt like. Pontrath-Lünnich. Pontrath-Harringen. Leerbroich. Nienhagen-Maschenich.
And there it was again. The smell of his hometown. A reasonable mix of saltwater, fried fish, and fruit cocktails. A full melange of hazes way stronger than those of asphalt and exhaust gases. He slowed down just to enjoy it.
Then, finally, the ferry port came, sensibly with the end of the highway leading into the mouth.
But he turned right first, for the parking lot.
A dark-haired guy, roughly about his age, was waiting in front of the gate.
When Chris stopped next to him, they both grinned synchronously.
"Hey Ralle, long time no see!" - Chris said.
"No way!" Ralle laughed. "Chrisso Riescheid in town again! Already thought Currywurst City has swallowed you completely."
"And I thought you guys have finally ceased to call me Chrisso all the time. But that's not what I'm here for. Look, you know how expensive parking in Kerkenich is, and I'd need to leave my baby here for a couple of weeks. And we've known each other since sandbox age, so I thought ... maybe it would be possible to allow some discount?"
"Care to explain?" - Ralle asked.
"I'm gonna go to Dumhach."
"Dumhach in the Free Lands of the Selkie?"
Chris sighed. "How many cities with that name we've a fix ferry connection with do you know?"
Ralle laughed again. "You're right. We're gonna manage that. Somehow." He opened the gate.
"I hope so. You still owe me a favor, if I recall correctly, anyways." Chris grinned.
"For ... oh yes, let's not talk about this. Enjoy your trip, Chrisso!"
Ralle had looked at Chris like a broken car - twice. Once he came to leave his Cabrio here, and the second time when Chris left the parking lot again with a SUV.

Dumhach Ferry Harbour, Dumhach, Oileánra-Archipelago.
Almost two weeks on the ferry.
Chris had never gotten tired of it, as it was not boring at all - he had enjoyed some good meals and drinks as well as some talking with other passengers. And all this duty-free. Including the talking, of course.
Although he was not really used to the climate of this degree of latitude, he didn't bother the heat at all. He was now standing at the railing, totally amazed by the coastal landscape that came closer and closer right now. It was not like other coasts he had seen. It was the paradise.
According to the shiphorn's signal, they were approaching Dumhach's harbor.
Chris grinned inwardly. He'd done it!

The little fox on the barrel made a face as he heard the ship's horn, but he stood up - that, he felt, must be the ship! A tug helped with docking, like with every larger ship, where it would take too much time, ropes were thrown to and fro to bind the vessel as the anchor was dropped as well.
Dockworkers went to do their job, refuelling and re-equipping soon beginning, as the gangway came. Soon, they would start unloading freight, lugguage and the vehicle deck, which included both a number of cars and a few sail boats, but for now, the little fox craned his neck and concentrated onto what his nose got as passengers disembarked.
He had never seen his mistress so happy, when letters with that particular smell arrived, being giddy for the rest of the day, happy for the week to follow, no matter what happened. She often held onto those letters as uppickers, read them, when there was a moment of silence during hard time, pondered over the reply to send.
When the Old Matron Garbh had been tired during her pregnancy, her eyes faint, Cel had sat besides her, reading her his reply to her latest letter, the old fox managing a smile, her eyes sparkling again, as if seeing the love and adoration of the girl for her boy on distant shores brought back her spirits.
Maybe she was just amused by his Mistress, though.
Where was he, though? His nose nearly refused to work with all the diesel fumes in the air, many different humans there as well... other animals... but the little fox searched for one specific human.
Where was he?

[Lillorainen]

Along with the other passengers (at least those who had brought a vehicle), Chris had left the deck for the parking level and gotten into the black SUV. Luckily, he had been able to get it from the car rental service in Kerkenich instead of having to go to Nienhagen just for this - the service had their offices everywhere. Maximum efficiency, eh?
Although he had only gone a couple of meters with this vehicle, it was something completely different, impossible to compare with his Cabrio. It was quite a nice thing, sitting in an elevated position to oversee the other vehicles better. Why on earth hadn't he just bought one ... oh right, yes, because the last thing you needed in any Lillorainian city traffic was a 'housewife tank' ...
The ferry came to a halt at the dock; a pike opened and a greenish shining arrow pointing upwards indicated that the passengers now could disembark. Over the arrow, a marquee appeared, saying "Willkommen in Dumhach! - Fáilte go dtí Dumhach!"
As it was a commonly known fact that cars were as rare in the Free Lands as decent and affordable whiskey was in the Federation of Lillorainen, not many vehicles were about leaving the ferry - at least not for Lillorainian standards, where the one big ferry connecting the Rathland with Lillöer was usually carrying an entire car pool. At least as long as the A4 highway tunnel was still under construction ...
So, Cel had announced that someone he knew was getting him from here. While juggling the clutch to prevent a collision with the vehicle in front of him, he tried to spot anyone who could be waiting for him. He had spent a good time of the last two weeks to wonder whom Cel could have meant ...
He turned the indicator lights on and trying to manage the vehicle onto a spot at the side to just park it here - which was less of an easy job, considering how narrow this spit of land was.
He got out of the SUV, trying again to spot anyone he might know.

[The Selkie]

Along with the other passengers (at least those who had brought a vehicle), Chris had left the deck for the parking level and gotten into the black SUV. Luckily, he had been able to get it from the car rental service in Kerkenich instead of having to go to Nienhagen just for this - the service had their offices everywhere. Maximum efficiency, eh?
Although he had only gone a couple of meters with this vehicle, it was something completely different, impossible to compare with his Cabrio. It was quite a nice thing, sitting in an elevated position to oversee the other vehicles better. Why on earth hadn't he just bought one ... oh right, yes, because the last thing you needed in any Lillorainian city traffic was a 'housewife tank' ...
The ferry came to a halt at the dock; a pike opened and a greenish shining arrow pointing upwards indicated that the passengers now could disembark. Over the arrow, a marquee appeared, saying "Willkommen in Dumhach! - Fáilte go dtí Dumhach!"
As it was a commonly known fact that cars were as rare in the Free Lands as decent and affordable whiskey was in the Federation of Lillorainen, not many vehicles were about leaving the ferry - at least not for Lillorainian standards, where the one big ferry connecting the Rathland with Lillöer was usually carrying en entire car pool. At least as long as the A4 highway tunnel was still under construction ...
So, Cel had announced that someone he knew was getting him from here. While juggling the clutch to prevent a collision with the vehicle in front of him, he tried to spot anyone who could be waiting for him. He had spent a good time of the last two weeks to wonder whom Cel could have meant ...
He turned the indicator lights on and trying to manage the vehicle onto a spot at the side to just park it here - which was less of an easy job, considering how narrow this spit of land was.
He got out of the SUV, trying again to spot anyone he might know.

As the hubbub of the arriving ferry began, the fox on the barrel looked on with despair - his mistress had told him, that there was someone waiting on him in the harbour, he knew that, so despair began to fill his shining blue eyes, as the first horseless-carriages, cars, passed, a black SUV amongst the first.
He paid little notice, scanning his vision and...
...suddenly something entered his nose.
Something very familiar. A smell he knew and associated with the mate of his mistress. His head whirled around, as if chasing his own tail, as he sought the direction it came from.
The carpool!
A young human male was leaving a horseless carriage in black.
The fox grinned and jumped from the barrel into the fray, running towards the human and his car, between legs and bags, yelps and cries of surprise and squeals of delight following as he dodged falling feet and rumbling trolleys, using some of them even to jump.
Especially for the last stretch, which brought him with one jump up to the car's roof, where he skiddled for a moment (careful to not put any scarches in it), then came to a stop next to the human's head.
He leaned forward, sniffed, then showed a vulpine grin as he, a sound almost like a tittering escaping his muzzle, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked at the human.

[Lillorainen]

[quote="The Selkie";p="34343710"
As the hubbub of the arriving ferry began, the fox on the barrel looked on with despair - his mistress had told him, that there was someone waiting on him in the harbour, he knew that, so despair began to fill his shining blue eyes, as the first horseless-carriages, cars, passed, a black SUV amongst the first.
He paid little notice, scanning his vision and...
...suddenly something entered his nose.
Something very familiar. A smell he knew and associated with the mate of his mistress. His head whirled around, as if chasing his own tail, as he sought the direction it came from.
The carpool!
A young human male was leaving a horseless carriage in black.
The fox grinned and jumped from the barrel into the fray, running towards the human and his car, between legs and bags, yelps and cries of surprise and squeals of delight following as he dodged falling feet and rumbling trolleys, using some of them even to jump.
Especially for the last stretch, which brought him with one jump up to the car's roof, where he skiddled for a moment (careful to not put any scarches in it), then came to a stop next to the human's head.
He leaned forward, sniffed, then showed a vulpine grin as he, a sound almost like a tittering escaping his muzzle, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked at the human.[/quote]

While Chris was still waiting and looking around, he suddenly heard some clatter. Startled a bit, he turned around - seeing a fox that apparently had jumped onto the SUV's car. When he was at the height of Chris' head, they appeared to look at each other.
First, Chris frowned, then laughed. "Hello there. Have you seen someone who might want to pick me up from here, by any chance?" Then he laughed again. "Or are you waiting for some fox lady to come back from vacation?"
The fox was still looking at him. It looked as if he was grinning. Chris had never seen a grinning fox, but it seemed like ...
"Hang on" - he said, "I do know you from somewhere ... Cladhaire?" He raised his eyebrows and grinned back. "Then you were sent here, eh? Damn, then it's true what they commonly say about foxes being that smart ..."

[The Selkie]

While Chris was still waiting and looking around, he suddenly heard some clatter. Startled a bit, he turned around - seeing a fox that apparently had jumped onto the SUV's car. When he was at the height of Chris' head, they appeared to look at each other.
First, Chris frowned, then laughed. "Hello there. Have you seen someone who might want to pick me up from here, by any chance?" Then he laughed again. "Or are you waiting for some fox lady to come back from vacation?"
He fox was still looking at him. It looked as if he was grinning. Chris had never seen a grinning fox, but it seemed like ...
"Hang on" - he said, "I do know you from somewhere ... Cladhaire?" He raised his eyebrows and grinned back. "Then you were sent here, eh? Damn, then it's true what they commonly say about foxes being that smart ..."

The fox, aptly named Cladhaire, tittered again, grining even more as he laid down and offered his neck, or rather the band around it, to Chris. This was the human he was sent to fetch, so much was sure!
Underneath the simple, white leather band, almost hidden in the coarse, grey fur, there was a half-hidden piece of paper, neatly folded and well-protected, sealed by a pair of lips wearing scarlet-red lipstick for the occassion. It was heavy paper, Cel usually wrote her letters on it.
Unfolding it would give only a simple instruction in Celina's handwriting: Folg ihm.
Together with those simple words was another kiss, plus a whiff of a parfume, that smelled an awful lot like the herbal skin lotion, that Cel had used in Purgatio and was still using, as the fox knew.
The fox's eyes sparkled as he smelled the even more familiar parfume, then looked to Chris as if to ask him, whether or not he was ready. Time was of essence here, his eyes said, Cel wasn't too far away.

[Lillorainen]

The fox, aptly named Cladhaire, tittered again, grining even more as he laid down and offered his neck, or rather the band around it, to Chris. This was the human he was sent to fetch, so much was sure!
Underneath the simple, white leather band, almost hidden in the coarse, grey fur, there was a half-hidden piece of paper, neatly folded and well-protected, sealed by a pair of lips wearing scarlet-red lipstick for the occassion. It was heavy paper, Cel usually wrote her letters on it.
Unfolding it would give only a simple instruction in Celina's handwriting: Folg ihm.
Together with those simple words was another kiss, plus a whiff of a parfume, that smelled an awful lot like the herbal skin lotion, that Cel had used in Purgatio and was still using, as the fox knew.
The fox's eyes sparkled as he smelled the even more familiar parfume, then looked to Chris as if to ask him, whether or not he was ready. Time was of essence here, his eyes said, Cel wasn't too far away.

Chris noticed that little peace of paper sticking in the leather band. He took it and carefully unfolded the well-sealed paper.
"Folg ihm" - he read out loudly. "Hm, it's her handwriting, her lip print ..." - he smelled at the paper, "and her lotion, without a doubt. We're not mistaken" - he said to Cladhaire. "Must be our lucky day then."
He grinned. Obviously, Cladhaire didn't exactly have a hard time understanding human language. Noe, he noticed Cladhaire's looking, which he intuitively interpreted right. He locked the SUV's door and signaled Cladhaire that they might go. "Sure, I'm ready! Let's go. I can get my stuff later, I assume."

[The Selkie]

Chris noticed that little peace of paper sticking in the leather band. He took it and carefully unfolded the well-sealed paper.
"Folg ihm" - he read out loudly. "Hm, it's her handwriting, her lip print ..." - he smelled at the paper, "and her lotion, without a doubt. We're not mistaken" - he said to Cladhaire. "Must be our lucky day then."
He grinned. Obviously, Cladhaire didn't exactly have a hard time understanding human language. Noe, he noticed Cladhaire's looking, which he intuitively interpreted right. He locked the SUV's door and signaled Cladhaire that they might go. "Sure, I'm ready! Let's go. I can get my stuff later, I assume."

The fox grinned and jumped off of the SUV and grinned at the far taller human. Male adults barely got taller then half a metre in the wild on average and he was reaching towards the 0.7 metres, but that was counting in the tuft of hair on his head.
He grinned as he stood by the kerb, looking over his shoulder and then beginning to skip forward at a speed only a vulpine could manage, always by the kerb, always plainly visible for Chris. The trick was, that the main stream of people and vehicles had already passed and much of the initial hubbub had died down, so that they had space for themselves. Enough for the fox to stroll a bit in front of the human, watching him over his shoulder, then looking forward again.
Their destination was not too far away... it didn't take even ten minutes, and leaving the main street towards Dumhach itself, walking down a less solid street for five minutes, until the destination came suddenly in sight: It was an old building, built of wood and stone, half-timbered, windows looking out to the sea. It was half-hidden behind a number of tropical palm trees, the forecourt leaving ample space to park, even under a porch.
It was an old structure, not simply sat into the nature, but by now surrounded by it, the nature having grown around it. But it was inhabited, the smoke rising from the chimney said so, a small wooden quay with a small sail boat by the short sandy beach opposite of the building said so, as did the song floating on the wind.

"As they were out a-hunting, one morning in the spring,
Both hounds and horses, ran so well, made the hills and the valleys ring,
But to their great misfortune, no fox there could be found,
The huntsmen cursed and swore, but still no fox moved on the ground!"

The voice, singing in Selkie, should be very familiar to the young man he was leading, Cladhaire thought to himself, a nice voice, not angelic or sweet as honey, but a light voice, gentle as silk and velvet.

"And up spoke the Master Huntsman, the Master of the Chase,
"If only the Abhcan himself came by, we'd give Her such a race!"
And up there sprung like lightning, a fox from out of his hole,
Her fur was the colour of a starless night, and her eyes like water at shore."

The Black Fox's Song, unlike what it sounded like, was not a hymn. It was closer to a drinking song of owners and breeders of Little Black Foxes, about the exploits of one of their animals, which gave a group of huntsmen out for Guarding Fox Pelts the chase of their lifetime.

"And they chased Her over the valley, and they chased Her over the fields,
They chased Her down to a river's bank, but never would She yield.
And She jumped into the water, and She swam to the other side
And the She laughed out loud, the green woods shook, She's turned to the huntsmen and cried:
'Ride on, oh gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen.
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!'"

This was the nub of the song, the high point, where it was revealed, why one shouldn't chase foxes in the woods, especially not Little Black ones.

"And the men looked up in wonder and the hounds ran back to hide,
For the fox, it changed to Abhcan Herself, where She stood on the other side.
And the men, the hounds, the horses went flying back to town,
And hard on their heels came a Little Black Fox, laughing as She ran."

The song came from the back of the building, where a washtub stood, filled with warm water, a young woman in a string bikini in dark blue, its borders in white, bathing a Little Black Fox, who just rolled with it, not looking too happy as he was cleaned up and freed of his latest escapade in the jungle. She filled her garnment quite nicely, sporting already a slight tan, her black hair long and reaching well past the waist, bound back with the help of a yellow ribbon, a red ornamental flower in her hair.

"'Ride on, oh gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen.
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!
Ride on, my gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen!'"

She smiled widely, like the shining sun above their heads, as the song finished, reaching down to press her lips between the fox's ears.
"See, Gormghlas?", she addressed the fox, "Getting cleaned up is half as bad, now is it?"

[Lillorainen]

The fox grinned and jumped off of the SUV and grinned at the far taller human. Male adults barely got taller then half a metre in the wild on average and he was reaching towards the 0.7 metres, but that was counting in the tuft of hair on his head.
He grinned as he stood by the kerb, looking over his shoulder and then beginning to skip forward at a speed only a vulpine could manage, always by the kerb, always plainly visible for Chris. The trick was, that the main stream of people and vehicles had already passed and much of the initial hubbub had died down, so that they had space for themselves. Enough for the fox to stroll a bit in front of the human, watching him over his shoulder, then looking forward again.
Their destination was not too far away... it didn't take even ten minutes, and leaving the main street towards Dumhach itself, walking down a less solid street for five minutes, until the destination came suddenly in sight: It was an old building, built of wood and stone, half-timbered, windows looking out to the sea. It was half-hidden behind a number of tropical palm trees, the forecourt leaving ample space to park, even under a porch.
It was an old structure, not simply sat into the nature, but by now surrounded by it, the nature having grown around it. But it was inhabited, the smoke rising from the chimney said so, a small wooden quay with a small sail boat by the short sandy beach opposite of the building said so, as did the song floating on the wind.

"As they were out a-hunting, one morning in the spring,
Both hounds and horses, ran so well, made the hills and the valleys ring,
But to their great misfortune, no fox there could be found,
The huntsmen cursed and swore, but still no fox moved on the ground!"

The voice, singing in Selkie, should be very familiar to the young man he was leading, Cladhaire thought to himself, a nice voice, not angelic or sweet as honey, but a light voice, gentle as silk and velvet.

"And up spoke the Master Huntsman, the Master of the Chase,
"If only the Abhcan himself came by, we'd give Her such a race!"
And up there sprung like lightning, a fox from out of his hole,
Her fur was the colour of a starless night, and her eyes like water at shore."

The Black Fox's Song, unlike what it sounded like, was not a hymn. It was closer to a drinking song of owners and breeders of Little Black Foxes, about the exploits of one of their animals, which gave a group of huntsmen out for Guarding Fox Pelts the chase of their lifetime.

"And they chased Her over the valley, and they chased Her over the fields,
They chased Her down to a river's bank, but never would She yield.
And She jumped into the water, and She swam to the other side
And the She laughed out loud, the green woods shook, She's turned to the huntsmen and cried:
'Ride on, oh gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen.
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!'"

This was the nub of the song, the high point, where it was revealed, why one shouldn't chase foxes in the woods, especially not Little Black ones.

"And the men looked up in wonder and the hounds ran back to hide,
For the fox, it changed to Abhcan Herself, where She stood on the other side.
And the men, the hounds, the horses went flying back to town,
And hard on their heels came a Little Black Fox, laughing as She ran."

The song came from the back of the building, where a washtub stood, filled with warm water, a young woman in a string bikini in dark blue, its borders in white, bathing a Little Black Fox, who just rolled with it, not looking too happy as he was cleaned up and freed of his latest escapade in the jungle. She filled her garnment quite nicely, sporting already a slight tan, her black hair long and reaching well past the waist, bound back with the help of a yellow ribbon, a red ornamental flower in her hair.

"'Ride on, oh gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen.
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name,
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!
Ride on, my gallant huntsmen! When shall I come again?
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen!'"

She smiled widely, like the shining sun above their heads, as the song finished, reaching down to press her lips between the fox's ears.
"See, Gormghlas?", she addressed the fox, "Getting cleaned up is half as bad, now is it?"

Considering that the formerly busy road was quite empty now, as most passengers were already gone, it was easy for Chris to follow Cladhaire - also, the fox had looked back every now and then to make sure Chris was following.
Indeed, their destination wasn't far away - it took them less than ten minutes to follow the main road first and another side road, which was not as solidly paved as the main road, afterwards.
These tropical trees and other plants ... they weren't like in the movies, they were better.
Chris also noticed the clean air.
Then, he could hear the song.
That voice ... Chris grinned inwardly. He knew that voice. The girl it belonged to had described it as 'not really angelic' ... well, one could see it either way, but for sure, it was a voice he had missed hearing.
He couldn't really understand a lot of what the voice was singing - apart from a couple of Selkie-language words he had been taught.
The closer they came to the old-style building in front of them, the louder the voice, carried by the wind to them, appeared.
As Cladhaire was still heading to it, Chris assumed they were right here.
Though, Cladhaire didn't run to the building's door, which one might have expected now, but past it. Where the voice came from. Actually quite logical.
The song came to an end.
When Chris passed the last corner, he could see whom the voice belonged to - a black-haired girl bathing a fox in a washtub. She was wearing a bikini, and, what to say, she did have the figure of it. Not that Chris were surprised about this.
'See, Gormghlas? Getting cleaned up is half as bad, now is it?' - she was saying to the fox in the washtub.
"If you are doing it, it surely can't be that bad" - Chris said and grinned.

[The Selkie]

Considering that the formerly busy road was quite empty now, as most passengers were already gone, it was easy for Chris to follow Cladhaire - also, the fox had looked back every now and then to make sure Chris was following.
Indeed, their destination wasn't far away - it took them less than ten minutes to follow the main road first and another side road, which was not as solidly paved as the main road, afterwards.
These tropical trees and other plants ... they weren't like in the movies, they were better.
Chris also noticed the clean air.
Then, he could hear the song.
That voice ... Chris grinned inwardly. He knew that voice. The girl it belonged to had described it as 'not really angelic' ... well, one could see it either way, but for sure, it was a voice he had missed hearing.
He couldn't really understand a lot of what the voice was singing - apart from a couple of Selkie-language words he had been taught.
The closer they came to the old-style building in front of them, the louder the voice, carried by the wind to them, appeared.
As Cladhaire was still heading to it, Chris assumed they were right here.
Though, Cladhaire didn't run to the building's door, which one might have expected now, but past it. Where the voice came from. Actually quite logical.
The song came to an end.
When Chris passed the last corner, he could see whom the voice belonged to - a black-haired girl bathing a fox in a washtub. She was wearing a bikini, and, what to say, she did have the figure of it. Not that Chris were surprised about this.
'See, Gormghlas? Getting cleaned up is half as bad, now is it?' - she was saying to the fox in the washtub.
"If you are doing it, it surely can't be that bad" - Chris said and grinned.

"If you are doing it, it surely can't be that bad!"
At the sound of the voice, I froze for a moment, enough for the fox to slip out of my hands and out of the washtub, shaking himself out with vigor - he would dry naturally, that one... Gormghlas, a spirited chap, but also quite into snuggling with any other Black Fox he came across, including my plushie, but he absolutely hated getting wet.
Still...
I turned to the man standing at the side of the building, Cladhaire having moved to the side in wise precaution, and I wiped a strand of my hair behind my ear. "One could think that, but he had a different opinion.", I told him. When we left each other's side, we had done so with many tears being shed, most if not all, from me, with the promise to stay in touch. We did and now he was here... actually sooner then I expected, the ferry must have made good speed.
I let a few beats pass...
...then I ran, towards him, not caring for anything, jumped the last few metres and into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck, burying my head in his chest.
"It's good to see you again...", I whispered in German, our not-so-secret code-language in Purgatio, as tears, happy tears of joy stained his shirt. I drew back a bit, looking up to him, having to crane my neck a wide smile nearly splitting my face in half. "I promised myself, that I wouldn't cry, but here we are... I'm just so happy to see you!"

[Lillorainen]

"If you are doing it, it surely can't be that bad!"
At the sound of the voice, I froze for a moment, enough for the fox to slip out of my hands and out of the washtub, shaking himself out with vigor - he would dry naturally, that one... Gormghlas, a spirited chap, but also quite into snuggling with any other Black Fox he came across, including my plushie, but he absolutely hated getting wet.
Still...
I turned to the man standing at the side of the building, Cladhaire having moved to the side in wise precaution, and I wiped a strand of my hair behind my ear. "One could think that, but he had a different opinion.", I told him. When we left each other's side, we had done so with many tears being shed, most if not all, from me, with the promise to stay in touch. We did and now he was here... actually sooner then I expected, the ferry must have made good speed.
I let a few beats pass...
...then I ran, towards him, not caring for anything, jumped the last few metres and into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck, burying my head in his chest.
"It's good to see you again...", I whispered in German, our not-so-secret code-language in Purgatio, as tears, happy tears of joy stained his shirt. I drew back a bit, looking up to him, having to crane my neck a wide smile nearly splitting my face in half. "I promised myself, that I wouldn't cry, but here we are... I'm just so happy to see you!"

Chris could not help it, but snorted when Cel accidentally dropped her obviously hydrophobic vulpine in the washtub. Gormghlas' face reminded Chris of his cousin Robert again. He still could not believe that he was seriously intending to serve on the Rathenia.
The ferry indeed had made a good speed - which had been quite a surprise, as it had been a leftover ship taken out of use by another Lillorainian shipping line. Even the discarded ones were still good ... well, it had also been helpful that the seas had happened to be calm all the time.
Cladhaire had moved to the side. That fox really knows what's going on - Chris thought.
All of a sudden, Cel started running towards him. Chris quickly checked his watch - clearly a speed record.
When she jumped into his arms, Chris reflexively stabilized himself by stepping back half a meter with one foot. She was crying out of joy, which Chris wasn't exactly far away from, either.
"I'm happy to see you too!" - he replied in German, softly petting her black hair. "Damn, I can't even tell how awesome it is too see you again ... how are you doing?"

[The Selkie]

"If you are doing it, it surely can't be that bad!"
At the sound of the voice, I froze for a moment, enough for the fox to slip out of my hands and out of the washtub, shaking himself out with vigor - he would dry naturally, that one... Gormghlas, a spirited chap, but also quite into snuggling with any other Black Fox he came across, including my plushie, but he absolutely hated getting wet.
Still...
I turned to the man standing at the side of the building, Cladhaire having moved to the side in wise precaution, and I wiped a strand of my hair behind my ear. "One could think that, but he had a different opinion.", I told him. When we left each other's side, we had done so with many tears being shed, most if not all, from me, with the promise to stay in touch. We did and now he was here... actually sooner then I expected, the ferry must have made good speed.
I let a few beats pass...
...then I ran, towards him, not caring for anything, jumped the last few metres and into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck, burying my head in his chest.
"It's good to see you again...", I whispered in German, our not-so-secret code-language in Purgatio, as tears, happy tears of joy stained his shirt. I drew back a bit, looking up to him, having to crane my neck a wide smile nearly splitting my face in half. "I promised myself, that I wouldn't cry, but here we are... I'm just so happy to see you!"

Chris could not help it, but snorted when Cel accidentally dropped her obviously hydrophobic vulpine in the washtub. Gormghlas' face reminded Chris of his cousin Robert again. He still could not believe that he was seriously intending to serve on the Rathenia.
The ferry indeed had made a good speed - which had been quite a surprise, as it had been a leftover ship taken out of use by another Lillorainian shipping line. Even the discarded ones were still good ... well, it had also been helpful that the seas had happened to be calm all the time.
Cladhaire had moved to the side. That fox really knows what's going on - Chris thought.
All of a sudden, Cel started running towards him. Chris quickly checked his watch - clearly a speed record.
When she jumped into his arms, Chris reflexively stabilized himself by stepping back half a meter with one foot. She was crying out of joy, which Chris wasn't exactly far away from, either.
"I'm happy to see you too!" - he replied in German, softly petting her black hair. "Damn, I can't even tell how awesome it is too see you again ... how are you doing?"

I saw, that he was really happy to see me again... and aware enough to have braced himself against falling, when I jumped into his embrace.
"Quite good.", I replied to his question, still with a few tears running down my face, before I listed myself onto the tips of my toes, kissing him softly. Much like our goodbye-kiss in Purgatio, there was little tongue involved, but it felt so... right. It still let fireworks go off inside of my head and heart. I felt, that he had shaved recently, most likely just this morning, his face clear of any stubbles. When the kiss ended, I smiled at him, looking into his eyes. It was a bit of two ends of the book, the book of my Chris-less time, not exactly uneventful, there were a few things I had to tell him, but still... a time without Chris. The tears had stopped as I lowered myself onto even ground again. "Better now. I missed you a whole lot... our jokes, our singing, sleeping by your side... and you."
But now you are here., I added in my thoughts, but I was sure, that it showed in my smile.

[Lillorainen]

I saw, that he was really happy to see me again... and aware enough to have braced himself against falling, when I jumped into his embrace.
"Quite good.", I replied to his question, still with a few tears running down my face, before I listed myself onto the tips of my toes, kissing him softly. Much like our goodbye-kiss in Purgatio, there was little tongue involved, but it felt so... right. It still let fireworks go off inside of my head and heart. I felt, that he had shaved recently, most likely just this morning, his face clear of any stubbles. When the kiss ended, I smiled at him, looking into his eyes. It was a bit of two ends of the book, the book of my Chris-less time, not exactly uneventful, there were a few things I had to tell him, but still... a time without Chris. The tears had stopped as I lowered myself onto even ground again. "Better now. I missed you a whole lot... our jokes, our singing, sleeping by your side... and you."
But now you are here., I added in my thoughts, but I was sure, that it showed in my smile.

One more time, Chris realized how wonderful kissing her felt. Wherever she had learned this - one could debate whether or not her singing was anywhere close to angelic, but her kissing definitely was. There was also nothing feeling wrong about involving little tongue - she was surely thinking the same; unbeknownst to him, she indeed was.
This time without Cel had felt like ... ages. Chris somehoe wished this kiss would never end ... but it had to, of course.
"I've missed you, too" - he said. "I couldn't expect too see you again, really ... you know" - he smiled, "I've even floored my car and broke my speed record on the highway to the ferryport, just because it gave me a feeling of getting faster to you. And I gave the ferry's captain 20 Marks thanking him for getting me here this fast."
He deeply looked into her blue eyes.
Then he laughed and tickled her back.

[The Selkie]

One more time, Chris realized how wonderful kissing her felt. Wherever she had learned this - one could debate whether or not her singing was anywhere close to angelic, but her kissing definitely was. There was also nothing feeling wrong about involving little tongue - she was surely thinking the same; unbeknownst to him, she indeed was.
This time without Cel had felt like ... ages. Chris somehoe wished this kiss would never end ... but it had to, of course.
"I've missed you, too" - he said. "I couldn't expect too see you again, really ... you know" - he smiled, "I've even floored my car and broke my speed record on the highway to the ferryport, just because it gave me a feeling of getting faster to you. And I gave the ferry's captain 20 Marks thanking him for getting me here this fast."
He deeply looked into her blue eyes.
Then he laughed and tickled her back.

I smiled when he told me about his speed record being broken, just to get to me faster, thanking the Captain by the ways of donation, and when I was about to reply, he looking deeply into my eyes...
...he used arcane knowledge and secrets against me, attacking me in the vilest manner possible, misusing my trust and confidence in him.
In other words, he tickled me.
And not in the sides, where I was relatively okay with it, but along my backbone and back, where I was especially sensible, which caused me to loose all coherent thought as he assaulted my weakspot with his fingers, causing me to guffaw, uncontrollably.
I took a moment, before my brain rebooted, tears streaming from my eyes again, this time of laughter, while he continued his relentless assault, me nearly curling up against him - but I had to make him stop, somehow. And I was a Selkie.
So, as a daughter of proud horsepeople, there was only one way: Forward.
Every ounce of willpower was mobilized, under constant assault from the relentless hands, which felt so good, tickling me. Gods, I had missed him so much...
...and with that thought, I started the counter-offensive, using my smaler stature to my advantage, tensing my legs and jumping up, wrapping my legs around his waist, my face now a small bit higher then before, my arms on his shoulders, giving me a better hold.
And, to continue my counter-offensive, I was kissing him again, for the second time in as many minutes, and this time, there was tongue, assaulting the positions inside of his mouth, a relentless assault, which soon softened by itself.
I was enjoying the kiss, pouring more then just my will for revenge for the tickling assault into it, something far more valuable to me and my heart: I poured my love into this kiss, using it to tell Chris, how much he meant to me.
The world. More then that.
I wished, hoped, prayed, that he felt similar...

[Lillorainen]

I smiled when he told me about his speed record being broken, just to get to me faster, thanking the Captain by the ways of donation, and when I was about to reply, he looking deeply into my eyes...
...he used arcane knowledge and secrets against me, attacking me in the vilest manner possible, misusing my trust and confidence in him.
In other words, he tickled me.
And not in the sides, where I was relatively okay with it, but along my backbone and back, where I was especially sensible, which caused me to loose all coherent thought as he assaulted my weakspot with his fingers, causing me to guffaw, uncontrollably.
I took a moment, before my brain rebooted, tears streaming from my eyes again, this time of laughter, while he continued his relentless assault, me nearly curling up against him - but I had to make him stop, somehow. And I was a Selkie.
So, as a daughter of proud horsepeople, there was only one way: Forward.
Every ounce of willpower was mobilized, under constant assault from the relentless hands, which felt so good, tickling me. Gods, I had missed him so much...
...and with that thought, I started the counter-offensive, using my smaler stature to my advantage, tensing my legs and jumping up, wrapping my legs around his waist, my face now a small bit higher then before, my arms on his shoulders, giving me a better hold.
And, to continue my counter-offensive, I was kissing him again, for the second time in as many minutes, and this time, there was tongue, assaulting the positions inside of his mouth, a relentless assault, which soon softened by itself.
I was enjoying the kiss, pouring more then just my will for revenge for the tickling assault into it, something far more valuable to me and my heart: I poured my love into this kiss, using it to tell Chris, how much he meant to me.
The world. More then that.
I wished, hoped, prayed, that he felt similar...

Chris was fully aware that she would not take this one without letting any revenge follow - thus, he was prepared for any counter-offensive, which, indeed, instantly followed. He reflexively grabbed her legs to hold them when she wrapped them around his waist. Also, he was still make sure he would keep standing on the ground.
He kept a short moment thinking about what Cladhaire might be thinking. Probably something like, 'What strange conduct human beings sometimes tend to engage in when they love each other ... gladly, we vulpines are civilized beings!'
The second kiss followed. This time with way more tongue. Cel seemed to by trying to assault him at sensible points in his mouth. But he rather enjoyed it.
The kiss ended.
Chris laughed. "Searching for meat rests in my mouth, honey? Try again next time."
Possible not the best moment for another joke, but Cel knew what he was like, after all. Also, they both knew there was no action without reaction, and no action without counter-reaction, and no count... well, you get the idea.
She might have been the daughter of Selkie horsepeople, but she had reckoned without her host - who, in this case, was the descendant of Lillo cavalry units.
Then, he pretended, yet in an obvious way, to be struggling, and let himself fall back - having his hands, which he had just been holding her legs with, sliding up to her waist, pulling it to make sure she would land on him. After the fall, he had to pull her upper arms a bit, so their faces would be at the same level again. He grinned.
Then kissed her again - this time making sure their tongue tips wouldn't miss each other. He closed his eyes to fully enjoy it.
Yes, they indeed felt alike, and he hoped that it would get clear to her now. Going on the A53 with almost FTS speed, spending almost two weeks on a ferry, renting and bringing that battlecruiser that went beyond any of Chris' definitions of a 'car', redeeming a favor owed by Ralle ... all these were things he did for someone special. Very special. Someone who definitely was worth all this. And more. Anything, actually. Anything one could imagine and anything one couldn't imagine. The world. The universe. Forty-two.
This third kiss, sadly, came to and end, too. He opened his eyes again and looked into hers.
"Celina Treoraí of the Tribe of Louth" - he said, slowly, to make sure he wouldn't mess up the pronunciation of her name in this one of all moments. "Nothing better than you could ever have happened to me."

[The Selkie]

Chris was fully aware that she would not take this one without letting any revenge follow - thus, he was prepared for any counter-offensive, which, indeed, instantly followed. He reflexively grabbed her legs to hold them when she wrapped them around his waist. Also, he was still make sure he would keep standing on the ground.
He kept a short moment thinking about what Cladhaire might be thinking. Probably something like, 'What strange conduct human beings sometimes tend to engage in when they love each other ... gladly, we vulpines are civilized beings!'
The second kiss followed. This time with way more tongue. Cel seemed to by trying to assault him at sensible points in his mouth. But he rather enjoyed it.
The kiss ended.
Chris laughed. "Searching for meat rests in my mouth, honey? Try again next time."
Possible not the best moment for another joke, but Cel knew what he was like, after all. Also, they both knew there was no action without reaction, and no action without counter-reaction, and no count... well, you get the idea.
She might have been the daughter of Selkie horsepeople, but she had reckoned without her host - who, in this case, was the descendant of Lillo cavalry units.
Then, he pretended, yet in an obvious way, to be struggling, and let himself fall back - having his hands, which he had just been holding her legs with, sliding up to her waist, pulling it to make sure she would land on him. After the fall, he had to pull her upper arms a bit, so their faces would be at the same level again. He grinned.
Then kissed her again - this time making sure their tongue tips wouldn't miss each other. He closed his eyes to fully enjoy it.
Yes, they indeed felt alike, and he hoped that it would get clear to her now. Going on the A53 with almost FTS speed, spending almost two weeks on a ferry, renting and bringing that battlecruiser that went beyond any of Chris' definitions of a 'car', redeeming a favor owed by Ralle ... all these were things he did for someone special. Very special. Someone who definitely was worth all this. And more. Anything, actually. Anything one could imagine and anything one couldn't imagine. The world. The universe. Forty-two.
This third kiss, sadly, came to and end, too. He opened his eyes again and looked into hers.
"Celina Treoraí of the Tribe of Louth" - he said, slowly, to make sure he wouldn't mess up the pronunciation of her name in this one of all moments. "Nothing better than you could ever have happened to me."

He made sure, that we remained standing when I assaulted him, very much as planned.
He enjoyed it, which was all according to my plan as well... cracking a joke as we were finished, which was so much like him, that I loved it about him.
I grinned as he and I locked eyes, but I did not fear, when he was starting to stumble, for he was a pretending, I saw that - and even if not, I trusted him to keep us both safe. Just as he could trust me to keep us both safe.
When the dust settled, our lips were locked again, the most fantastic kiss I ever had, my eyes closed as I leaned into it, our tongues entwining and touching and... all too soon, it ended, me still sitting on him as our lips parted (and quite enjoying my position, if I were honest) and I looked into his eyes.
I saw it in his eyes.
My feelings were returned.
He loved me. I meant the world to him, more then that, just like he meant more then the world for me. He had protected me from going insane and doing something incredibly stupid in that place, he had kept me safe during the nights, from the demons haunting my dreams... and in turn, I would like to think, that I gave him warmth, comfort - and while that was going on, I fell for him, for his voice, his laughs, his jokes, his smell, simply... him.
And I liked falling.
"Celina Treoraí of the Tribe of Louth...", he carefully said, careful to say my name right, which he did, "Nothing better than you could ever have happened to me."
I was, for a moment, speechless, but when I found my voice again, I missed the words. I saw, from the corner of my eyes, the foxes watching the two of us, all in all half a dozen, which we took with us to the conference.
When they finally came to me, I whispered them: "Christopher Riescheid, Son of Distant Shores... My heart burns, when you are not with me... Yet... for a long time, I did not know, what I felt, but with you now here with me... our lips celebrating our reunion..." I blushed at that, a small bit. "...I know, what I feel."
And then I whispered the three fateful words: "I love you."

[Lillorainen]

He made sure, that we remained standing when I assaulted him, very much as planned.
He enjoyed it, which was all according to my plan as well... cracking a joke as we were finished, which was so much like him, that I loved it about him.
I grinned as he and I locked eyes, but I did not fear, when he was starting to stumble, for he was a pretending, I saw that - and even if not, I trusted him to keep us both safe. Just as he could trust me to keep us both safe.
When the dust settled, our lips were locked again, the most fantastic kiss I ever had, my eyes closed as I leaned into it, our tongues entwining and touching and... all too soon, it ended, me still sitting on him as our lips parted (and quite enjoying my position, if I were honest) and I looked into his eyes.
I saw it in his eyes.
My feelings were returned.
He loved me. I meant the world to him, more then that, just like he meant more then the world for me. He had protected me from going insane and doing something incredibly stupid in that place, he had kept me safe during the nights, from the demons haunting my dreams... and in turn, I would like to think, that I gave him warmth, comfort - and while that was going on, I fell for him, for his voice, his laughs, his jokes, his smell, simply... him.
And I liked falling.
"Celina Treoraí of the Tribe of Louth...", he carefully said, careful to say my name right, which he did, "Nothing better than you could ever have happened to me."
I was, for a moment, speechless, but when I found my voice again, I missed the words. I saw, from the corner of my eyes, the foxes watching the two of us, all in all half a dozen, which we took with us to the conference.
When they finally came to me, I whispered them: "Christopher Riescheid, Son of Distant Shores... My heart burns, when you are not with me... Yet... for a long time, I did not know, what I felt, but with you now here with me... our lips celebrating our reunion..." I blushed at that, a small bit. "...I know, what I feel."
And then I whispered the three fateful words: "I love you."

Chris noticed that she was speechless for a moment. It looked as if she was thinking about what he had said and getting sure about something she had thought about all time.
And he was right.
Those three words, those three most arcane, magical, enchanting words ... I love you ... ich liebe dich ... jeg elsker dig ... ja volim te ... aishiteru wa ...
Those words were not used very often in the place Chris was from - his dialect didn't even have them; what came closest to it was 'Ich han dich jään' - which could also just be translated as 'I like you' ... it did not have the same power - which he now noticed was a pity. Actually it was the first time he ever thought about this, although he had been in relationships before. But none of these were anywhere close to this ... he had never met a girl like her - not in Nienhagen, not in Kerkenich, and surely not in that hellhole named Jillich, which he unfortunately had been supposed to spend some time in ...
This one was different. Everything was different. She was different.
And that was what he loved about her. He had not been sure for a long time, either, but now he was.
"I love you too" - he whispered back.

[The Selkie]

Chris noticed that she was speechless for a moment. It looked as if she was thinking about what he had said and getting sure about something she had thought about all time.
And he was right.
Those three words, those three most arcane, magical, enchanting words ... I love you ... ich liebe dich ... jeg elsker dig ... ja volim te ... aishiteru wa ...
Those words were not used very often in the place Chris was from - his dialect didn't even have them; what came closest to it was 'Ich han dich jään' - which could also just be translated as 'I like you' ... it did not have the same power - which he now noticed was a pity. Actually it was the first time he ever thought about this, although he had been in relationships before. But none of these were anywhere close to this ... he had never met a girl like her - not in Nienhagen, not in Kerkenich, and surely not in that hellhole named Jillich, which he unfortunately had been suppose to spend some time in ...
This one was different. Everything was different. She was different.
And that was what he loved about her. He had not been sure for a long time, either, but now he was.
"I love you too" - he whispered back.

I heard these words often myself, people telling me, that they loved me...
...when in truth, the only thing they loved was my body. Let's just leave it at me not being inexperienced.
I was always hesitant to speak those words myself, though. But when I spoke them to Chris, it felt right, and hearing them back, that he loved me, too, it made me feel even righter. His eyes, his words, they all spoke, that he loved me for being me, not for anything else.
He and I... we fit together.
One could not say it in any other way. And as I sat on him, exchanging words in hushed, heartfelt whispers, inaudible to any human safe us, I felt how well we fit together.
I bowed down once more, looking deep into his eyes, I whispered: "Searc and Cion, Great Lovers, give, that we never part..." My question to the Lovers, to the Gods of Love, was followed by me reuniting our lips softly, this time without tongue, but softly, lovingly - longingly.
And midway through, I became acutely aware of our audience...
...our yipping, yapping, giggling, grinning, vulpine audience, that cheered for us. I hadn't been happier ever before then in those moments.

[Lillorainen]

I heard these words often myself, people telling me, that they loved me...
...when in truth, the only thing they loved was my body. Let's just leave it at me not being inexperienced.
I was always hesitant to speak those words myself, though. But when I spoke them to Chris, it felt right, and hearing them back, that he loved me, too, it made me feel even righter. His eyes, his words, they all spoke, that he loved me for being me, not for anything else.
He and I... we fit together.
One could not say it in any other way. And as I sat on him, exchanging words in hushed, heartfelt whispers, inaudible to any human safe us, I felt how well we fit together.
I bowed down once more, looking deep into his eyes, I whispered: "Searc and Cion, Great Lovers, give, that we never part..." My question to the Lovers, to the Gods of Love, was followed by me reuniting our lips softly, this time without tongue, but softly, lovingly - longingly.
And midway through, I became acutely aware of our audience...
...our yipping, yapping, giggling, grinning, vulpine audience, that cheered for us. I hadn't been happier ever before then in those moments.

There was a common saying in Chris' mother tongue that every pot will find its cap. Chris had always laughed about this, noting that there would only be one pot not having its right cap and the system would get messed up for everyone - and honestly, everyone knew some pot with the wrong cap. Now, he would have to seriously reconsider his opinion on this. He had found his cap, and it was fitting, like no other cap was ever going to fit. Funny enough that this cap was literally sitting on him right now - reuniting their lips one more time.
And obviously, the foxes shared this opinion. Chris felt he could virtually hear them cheering - Cladhaire cheering loudest and telling the others something like, 'See? I told you it would work!'
"We shalt never part again - so be it" - Chris said. "How did you guys put it in here? 'One never knows where Lodan Lir's rivers take one.' - Must be wise rivers taking me to you again. They're doing a good job."

[The Selkie]

There was a common saying in Chris' mother tongue that every pot will find its cap. Chris had always laughed about this, noting that there would only be one pot not having its right cap and the system would get messed up for everyone - and honestly, everyone knew some pot with the wrong cap. Now, he would have to seriously reconsider his opinion on this. He had found his cap, and it was fitting, like no other cap was ever going to fit. Funny enough that this cap was literally sitting on him right now - reuniting their lips one more time.
And obviously, the foxes shared this opinion. Chris felt he could virtually hear them cheering - Cladhaire cheering loudest and telling the others something like, 'See? I told you it would work!'
"We shalt never part again - so be it" - Chris said. "How did you guys put it in here? 'One never knows where Lodan Lir's rivers take one.' - Must be wise rivers taking me to you again. They're doing a good job."

I smiled at the cheering foxes, my... for the lack of a better term 'extended family' seemed to be happy. And that was a good start.
Cladhaire and Gormghlas, the latter still a bit wet, led the cheering, dancing and happy, much like I was, only more jubilant in expressing it. Getting them to sit still for the rest of the day would be fun... but if it would be a problem, that we could both tackle.
As he mentioned Lodan Lir, I smiled, the old proverb indeed applicable.
"He's a nice chap, isn't he?", I replied resting my head on his chest. My hometown, Cuan, was home to His Cult and held the most important temples of it, was Seat of His High Priestess, and a pious town in general, but that never stopped me from being more a followed of Abhcan, Goddess of Dance and Music and patron of all foxes (amongst other things). Being a follower of one Cult did not hinder anyone from praying to another God as well.
I rested there for a moment, closed my eyes and enjoyed his scent.
At least for a few moments, I wanted to... until a muzzle poked me in my still bikini-clad, read un-clad, side. I looked down to see a pair of light blue eyes looking at me with mischief and adoration, the young vulpine they belonged to looking first at me, then at Chris.
"I think, there are a few people, who want to get to know you.", I told Chris with a smile as I sat up, kissing him a small kiss before I swang myself off of him and parking my rear end next to him. Well, all good things can come to an end - plus, we could continue during the night...

[Lillorainen]

I smiled at the cheering foxes, my... for the lack of a better term 'extended family' seemed to be happy. And that was a good start.
Cladhaire and Gormghlas, the latter still a bit wet, led the cheering, dancing and happy, much like I was, only more jubilant in expressing it. Getting them to sit still for the rest of the day would be fun... but if it would be a problem, that we could both tackle.
As he mentioned Lodan Lir, I smiled, the old proverb indeed applicable.
"He's a nice chap, isn't he?", I replied resting my head on his chest. My hometown, Cuan, was home to His Cult and held the most important temples of it, was Seat of His High Priestess, and a pious town in general, but that never stopped me from being more a followed of Abhcan, Goddess of Dance and Music and patron of all foxes (amongst other things). Being a follower of one Cult did not hinder anyone from praying to another God as well.
I rested there for a moment, closed my eyes and enjoyed his scent.
At least for a few moments, I wanted to... until a muzzle poked me in my still bikini-clad, read un-clad, side. I looked down to see a pair of light blue eyes looking at me with mischief and adoration, the young vulpine they belonged to looking first at me, then at Chris.
"I think, there are a few people, who want to get to know you.", I told Chris with a smile as I sat up, kissing him a small kiss before I swang myself off of him and parking my rear end next to him. Well, all good things can come to an end - plus, we could continue during the night...

"He's quite a chap who knows what he's doing - a rarity these days" - Chris said.
He knew about Lodan Lir's Cult - Cel had told him much about the Selkie deities and their functions. Some of them had also their equivalents in Nordic paganism, which was the most prevalent faith in Lillorainen, especially in its Eastern parts. Searc and Cion's equivalent was Freyja, Lodan Lir's Nordic counterpart was Aegir, Carman Fea had pretty much her counterpart in Odin, and so on.
Suddenly, some vulpine was poking Cel. 'I think, there are a few people, who want to get to know you' - she said and went off him, giving him a lass kiss, sitting next to him now.
Chris laughed. "Either that, or someone's being jealous" - he said, grinning. Then, he turned to the vulpines, saying, "So you lads are Cel's family, right? Now, as you've already figured, I'm Chris - nice to meet you."

[The Selkie]

"He's quite a chap who knows what he's doing - a rarity these days" - Chris said.
He knew about Lodan Lir's Cult - Cel had told him much about the Selkie deities and their functions. Some of them had also their equivalents in Nordic paganism, which was the most prevalent faith in Lillorainen, especially in its Eastern parts. Searc and Cion's equivalent was Freya, Lodan Lir's Nordic counterpart was Aegir, Carman Fea had pretty much her counterpart in Odin, and so on.
Suddenly, some vulpine was poking Cel. 'I think, there are a few people, who want to get to know you' - she said and went off him, giving him a lass kiss, sitting next to him now.
Chris laughed. "Either that, or someone's being jealous" - he said, grinning. Then, he turned to the vulpines, saying, "So you lads are Cel's family, right? Now, as you've already figured, I'm Chris - nice to meet you."

Cladhaire gave a yipp at Chris' introduction, also solving an ancient mystery, while the one, who had poked me retreated into my lap.
"Definately jealous.", I commented with a grin, softly stroking the young black fox in my lap, his rough fur pleasant to my touch. "This is Soiprigh." The Black Fox in my lap looked up, first to me, then to Chris, before he buried his head in my lap, as if he was hiding. I smiled at Chris. "He's still young and afraid of his own shadow."
Then I looked to the other five - but counted only four.
Number five, Cladhaire, was already at Chris's side, rolling up next to him... and between the two of us. Intelligent lad...
"You already know Cladhaire.", I said with a smile, the fox cracking an eye open, grinning, before he looked to the others. A slightly damp fox was coming slowly over, his deep-blue eyes with a bit of hesitation and doubt. Aroung half a metre away, he raised his head to meet Chris' eyes. "That's Gormghlas, the most adventurous one. Offer him your hand to smell!"

[Lillorainen]

Cladhaire gave a yipp at Chris' introduction, also solving an ancient mystery, while the one, who had poked me retreated into my lap.
"Definately jealous.", I commented with a grin, softly stroking the young black fox in my lap, his rough fur pleasant to my touch. "This is Soiprigh." The Black Fox in my lap looked up, first to me, then to Chris, before he buried his head in my lap, as if he was hiding. I smiled at Chris. "He's still young and afraid of his own shadow."
Then I looked to the other five - but counted only four.
Number five, Cladhaire, was already at Chris's side, rolling up next to him... and between the two of us. Intelligent lad...
"You already know Cladhaire.", I said with a smile, the fox cracking an eye open, grinning, before he looked to the others. A slightly damp fox was coming slowly over, his deep-blue eyes with a bit of hesitation and doubt. Aroung half a metre away, he raised his head to meet Chris' eyes. "That's Gormghlas, the most adventurous one. Offer him your hand to smell!"

Chris listened to Cel's introduction to her vulpine family, trying to keep their names in mind.
Soiprigh indeed looked very young. He would surely learn what the world was like soon - especially that his own shadow wasn't dangerous at all.
Cladhaire was rolling up between him and Cel. He surely was quite intelligent. It felt as if he was saying, *Chris, you might be a good lad, but you need to learn where your place is - don't take that personally, though.'
When Cel introduced Gormghlas, the hydrophobic fox, to him, he followed her prompt to offer his hands to him to smell. He held it high in front of the vulpine as if for a high-five. "Na minge Sportsfrönn, allet roger?" - he said in his homeland's dialect while grinning. "No need to look at me like this, I don't bite."

[The Selkie]

Cladhaire gave a yipp at Chris' introduction, also solving an ancient mystery, while the one, who had poked me retreated into my lap.
"Definately jealous.", I commented with a grin, softly stroking the young black fox in my lap, his rough fur pleasant to my touch. "This is Soiprigh." The Black Fox in my lap looked up, first to me, then to Chris, before he buried his head in my lap, as if he was hiding. I smiled at Chris. "He's still young and afraid of his own shadow."
Then I looked to the other five - but counted only four.
Number five, Cladhaire, was already at Chris's side, rolling up next to him... and between the two of us. Intelligent lad...
"You already know Cladhaire.", I said with a smile, the fox cracking an eye open, grinning, before he looked to the others. A slightly damp fox was coming slowly over, his deep-blue eyes with a bit of hesitation and doubt. Aroung half a metre away, he raised his head to meet Chris' eyes. "That's Gormghlas, the most adventurous one. Offer him your hand to smell!"

Chris listened to Cel's introduction to her vulpine family, trying to keep their names in mind.
Soiprigh indeed looked very young. He would surely learn what the world was like soon - especially that his own shadow wasn't dangerous at all.
Cladhaire was rolling up between him and Cel. He surely was quite intelligent. It felt as if he was saying, *Chris, you might be a good lad, but you need to learn where your place is - don't take that personally, though.'
When Cel introduced Gormghlas, the hydrophobic fox, to him, he followed her prompt to offer his hands to him to smell. He held it high in front of the vulpine as if for a high-five. "Na minge Sportsfrönn, allet roger?" - he said in his homeland's dialect while grinning. "No need to look at me like this, I don't bite."

Soiprigh, I saw when Chris spoke up, had his ears raised - usually, he would have them folded against his head, which made me smile, unbeknowst to me thinking the same as Chris: He would soon discover the beauty and beauties the world had to offer.
Cladhaire, my rogue, watched with rapt interest, as did I, as Gormghlas' turn was there, the high-five-like gesture not causing the vulpine to retreat, but to wait for a moment, then to grin - with one mighty jump, he catapulted himself upwards and that high enough to attack Chris' hand.
For a moment, I feared.
Then Cladhaire licked his hand, still in the air and came down a bit closer to Chris, grinning as he made the last two steps closer and sniffed at the young man's knee, still grinning up at him, before he offered his head.
"I believe, he wants to say 'You may now commence the petting!'", I provided as a translation with grin on my face, the Little Black Fox's eyes sparkling.