“FIJA, PLEASE PUT DOWN THE HAMMER!”

The shouting could be heard outside the door of the Hapless Fox. Motoyuki and I glanced at each other in question. Both of our ears tilting sideways in curiosity and at the loudness of the shout.

“Are we sure we want to go in?” He said, crossing his arms and raising a brow in sarcasm.

“Hm, perhaps not.” A loud booming crash could be heard. “Are all dwarves like this?”

“Yes, very rowdy,” Moto confirmed.

“I see.”

Sighing in unison, we opened the door. Atop the bar was a short woman, pleasantly curved with a long thick plait swinging behind her back. Hoisted above her was a giant hammer, of which currently was being swung at an Eidolon.

“Really, Fija, I don’t know why I tolerate you.” Leo was yawning and dodging the swings as if they were playing a game of tag.

“Leo, you big #$%!”

I did not recognize this curse word; it must have been in dwarven. “I looked at Moto, who leaned against the wall near the door and watched with fascination.

“How many times have I told you that my tools are off limits!!!” She yelled at him some more, leaping across the bar and trying to bring the hammer down upon his head.

“Ooch, you ken I didna mean any harm.” Leo’s accent had kicked up; I noted that he tried to hide it frequently; Freya was polishing glasses behind the counter, looking unperturbed. But Leo leaned forward and caught her swinging braid and yanked hard, bringing the dwarf flat on her face to the floor. “Calm yourself, Fija.”

“Ouchie!” She rubbed her affronted forehead and growled at the Eidolon. “I ought to smash your brains in and scatter you to the four winds!”

“And where would you find entertainment such as I?” He asked with a flourish, “fifty years and ye still have yet ta make another friend other than I.”

“Aye, because you scare em off!” Fija countered. They had moved themselves to the bar stools, drinking mead and sniping at one another.

“Ahem.” I coughed gently.

Both turned; the dwarf’s face was an excellent round shape, with glimmering brown eyes and an adorable nose. Red hair sprang from her brow like rubies, and I pondered if all dwarves were like this. “Well now!” She leaped up, setting her mug down, raced over and picked me up in a bear hug. “Lookit, this fox! Such a pretty thing, best be careful someone doesn’t make a coat of your tail!” She laughed heartily before putting me down. “Come, come now, tell me about yourself!” Dragging me over to the bar, she sat me down and smacked the counter; Aramil slid a mug over for myself and Moto.

“My name is Takara Tsukamotsu,” I said with a slight bow as she pet my tail almost reverently. My ear slanted as I grinned forcibly. ‘Ha, you really like my tail, huh?” I squeaked out as a jolt went up to my spine.

Moto was boiling near me, his ears flat and fangs peeking as he rumbled a low growl.

“Oh, he’s a scary one, inna he?” She mused, still petting me entirely oblivious to doom on the horizon.

Leo came over and whipped her across the head with a flat hand, “stop petting people. It’s weird. Did you not learn last time you pet a Volkier?”

“He turned into a big wolf. What was I supposed to do just sit there?”

“Yes.” Leo sighed.

“Nah, not on yer life.” Fija declared. My tail was whisked away behind me, and Moto promptly wrapped his giant frame about my person resting his chin on my head and spearing the dwarf with a malevolent look.

“Moto, aura.” I chided.

I could hear a low growl that I rolled my eyes at. So touchy. “Can’t blame him, dear,” Aramil said, leaning on the counter, “foxes are territorial by nature, haha.”

Fija was watching Moto and grinning ear to ear, “oh really, now?” She slowly reached towards us, hearing the growling rumble louder before backing off and hearing it drop to nearly a purr. Laughing, she did it again. This time Moto scooted us back a pace. “Really now, hm. Well, she is a cute little thing; if I had the mind, she’d make quite an adorable little wife, wouldn’t she?”

“Ah…” I turned as bright red as I could feel iron bands clutch tighter. “She’s kidding!!” I said, flailing at Moto’s crouched form.

“Idiot.” Leo spat, smacking the dwarf again, “you’re not here to woo anyone.”

“Right, right, right.” She said, smacking her lips with mead.

Freya had been in the back but came out during the fiasco and was trying not to laugh at us. “Where are Gaelan and Fauna?”

“Hunting,” Moto said, keeping a wary eye on the dwarf. I was looking back at him, trying to discern if I could move again. I was getting uncomfy.

His right fox ear flicking, he looked down at me, a warm smile breaking across his face, and adjusted his arms for my comfort.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Of course,” the rumbled whispered into my ear at a low frequency buzzed in my head.

“So, Fija was it.” She nodded at me with a grin, lively and sweet-natured, I could tell. “I am the Zenko of the Shrine of Inari, and also a Guardian of this village. Now…I need a blacksmith, as you well know, but it is to create certain things.”

She nodded, “aye, Leo told me you have blueprints?”

“Yes!” I nodded enthusiastically and glanced at Amaril, who had gone to put the Closed sign up. Once I had the go-ahead, I brought the book up.

“Oi! Would you looka that!” She crowed, clapping, “what kinda fan dangled contraption is that?”

“It’s Personal Magic,” I said quickly.

Moto gave me an approved squeezing hug. >

I felt my face go up in flames and coughed abruptly. “S-so, as you can see.” I began to explain what I needed for the pipes, and once Fija touched the book, a flurry of schematics and items came up.

“WE CAN MAKE A DISTILLER?!” My voice reached a high octave of excitement and startled everyone.

“Whas that?” Fija asked.

“I-um, it’s hard to explain.” I waved her off, “another time, another time.” We thumbed through the pages, and upon coming across the pipes, we realized that we required someone who knew how to construct buildings and how to design things. Leo coughed and stepped forward and tapped the book.

CONGRATULATIONS REQUIREMENTS MET!

With a blast of power, the book’s holograph expanded into the surrounding area, where we could see floating images in the Tavern.

“Whoa…” was the collective assessment.

We went through having Leo and Fija argue profusely about the mechanics of these items; they nearly were sidetracked by the plethora of machinery, of which the answer was no not yet. They agreed, too much too fast.

They finally agreed upon getting piping to bring water down from the mountains, and we gathered a large map up and began to work out where things would need to be dug; Fauna, myself, and Moto could easily do this with magic. Fija stated that she would be handling the piping, and it would be done if things went well within a month.

That would mean we would be working in late fall, and I considered this for a moment. I glanced at Moto and inquired about something I remembered his talk with Seichii about.

“What about Hinata?”

“Himari?” Moto groaned.

“That one!?”

I turned in his embrace to look up at him, his face was clenched as if in pain, and he opened one baleful eye. “Must we?” He asked, pained.

“It’s for the betterment of the people!” I cried, putting my ears down and blowing my pupils to my maximum adorableness.

“N-no come on, that isn’t fair, Taka.” He turned his head, “I won’t look- I…”

I was swishing my tail back and forth and leaned into him, “please?”

“Gah!” His head fell backward in defeat as he clapped a hand to his face. “I hate that fox.”

“Well, THAT isn’t very nice.”

“SEICHII!” Moto snarled at the white fox who popped into existence near Aramil. “Hello, old friend.” They embraced and clapped each other on the back.

“Another fox!” Fija shouted and leaped across the bar to dive into his nine tails.

“Oh my, how odd.” Seichii almost bristled, but I growled at him in a warning. A look of long-suffering crossed his face, “very well.” Fluffing his tails out, he swept the dwarf up in them and swished them across her face. “My word, so humiliating. What I do for you, little fox.” He pointed at me as he rested his head on his palm, leaning on the counter.

It made for quite the comical feature, and Moto was attempting not to burst out laughing, burying his face into my neck to stifle the chuckles.

“Very funny, Moto. You know little dwarf, he is quite soft,” Seichii was cut off as I leaned back against the fox behind me, twining my tail with his.

“NO.” The loud word escaped me, and I slapped a hand to my mouth, feeling startled. Oh my…so…was this bonding? I tried to collect my feelings and emotions; they were a tangle of anger and something else, something white-hot and willing to urge me to tear that little dwarf apart if she leaped into my fox’s tails.

Wait…My…oh boy.

The fox in question was brimming with mirth. Motoyuki had snuggled me closer, winding his tails across me for comfort.

“Oh my, I do believe this is the beginning of love here.” Aramil laughed.

Moto’s smug face looked at Seichii from where he was buried against my shoulder, fangs gleaming in a predatory leer.

Seichii sniffed, “lucky.” He growled. "Little dwarf, why not go fluff the red fox? He is much softer than I."

Fija smiled, “oh no, I am no dumb enough to touch her fox. Takara will have my guts on bread.”

I watched as the dwarf was still burying her face against Seichii’s white fur, obviously happy.

Seichii was merely tolerating her as one would a child. I paused, though I supposed to a fox as old as he is, everyone is like a child.

“Yes, they are.” Seichii said bored and flicking dust off the counter.

I glared at him, “DON’T READ MY MIND WITHOUT ASKING!” I snapped.

But then what Fija said hit me.

“Wait…” she said HER fox.

I couldn’t help but feel a little thrill light through me, and quickly squashed it down. I was not about to become possessive. I was NOT jealous. Nope. Not at all!

I glanced back at Moto, who looked at me with a raised brow. “Jealous one, aren’t you?” He teased.

I poofed into a red beet of embarrassment. “Shut up!” I smacked him. “POT MEET KETTLE!”

“Why would a pot meet a kettle?” Leo asked, turning to us; I had nearly forgotten he was there as he had been so quietly studying the schematics.

“I-it’s a saying…just…never mind.”

“I already requested Himari come.” Seichii said with a grin, “she will be quite excited to see you, Moto!”

“W-why?” I had a horrible feeling about this.

“MOTOYUKI!” A feminine cry echoed before out of thin air above us dropped, a very tiny fox, she was dressed traditionally in a silk kimono and zori, floral patterns smattered the garment, and her blond hair was tied up in a beautiful pair of hair sticks. She landed right on top of us.

“Hey! What are you doing with this other fox?” She cried as we had to catch her in our arms. “Did you forget all about me?”

With a look of disdain, Moto grabbed my arms and forced us to drop her flat on her five tails.

“Ouchie!” She yelped and sat up, “ugh, you’re so mean!” She growled at us from her position on the floor. Standing up and brushing herself off, we looked at each other. I didn’t realize, but I was bristled and snarling, ears flattened back as she looked at me, almost bored.

“A single tail?” She scoffed, “really Motoyuki, can’t you do better than—“

“I wouldn’t continue if I were you, Himari,” Seichii said, looking at Moto, who now matched my expression.

“Wait…” Himari’s eyes went wide. “W-wait, you two.” She frowned and glared at me.

She came up to about my chest; her five tails were short yet fluffy in volume. She sort of reminded me of a fennec fox. Tan tattoo-like markings about her eyes accented the golden gaze. “Well.” She said. “At least she’s pretty.”

I gulped, “s-so are you.” I said, shuffling.

A 180 in temperament, she grinned wide with fangs, “I think I’ll just have to share you both!”

“Wait, what!?”

With a leap, she had us both embraced despite her small arms, “Himari, what are we going to do with you?” Seichii sighed.

We had two small females who apparently were fox crazy.

“I am the Blacksmith of the Fox Clan!” Himari said once we pried her off of us. With a bow, she grinned at Fija, “you look to be very strong; are you the one I shall be assisting?”

Fija nodded, having extricated herself from Seichii’s tails. They stood side by side, assessing each other; Himari’s willowy frame was slight in comparison to Fija’s hourglass. Circling each other like a pair of dogs meeting, they finally stopped almost nose to nose.

“Let’s BE FRIENDS!” Both cried and embraced, bouncing up and down.

“We are doomed.” Leo groaned for all of us.