The Fox Fire Chronicles

Chapter Six

It is the day of Luna's birthday. Having awoken in the middle of the night by a nightmare and talking with her birth mother until nearly sunrise, she is very tired. She has just learned to leave the body her mother put her into to hide her, and is learning quickly about her new found powers

"Luna."

Amana, Luna's adoptive mother, stands above her daughter. She is asleep in bed, and did not seem to hear her mother's call.

"Luna," her mother shakes her gently. "Luna, you need to get up. You've got to get dressed and ready." Out of frustration and desperation, she raises her voice, "Luna! Wake up!"

"I'm here, mom." Luna's voice comes from below the bed, and Amana is a little surprised when a white-furred fox crawls out from underneath the frame.

"Well, that's new."

"I had a dream that I was killed because I couldn't escape my body, so I asked mom to teach me how to." Luna's kitsune form jumps up onto her human body. Placing her paw onto her host's chest, she begins to shift into an ethereal form, and then into a ball of blue fire, which then moves into her body.

Luna takes a deep breath as she awakens herself. Her senses were different in human form than in fox form. She had trouble readjusting to the feel of bare skin, as her kitsune form, both fox and humanoid, had a full coat of fur. As she fidgets with her nightgown, her mother speaks up, breaking the awkward silence.

"So that's what the nightmare was about. Tell me more."

"Mom, it was just a bad dream." She struggles not to think about it, as she didn't want to remember seeing her best friend betray her over gold. "That's all. Nothing more."

"I don't believe you. But no matter. I won't press you further about it. Come on. Get up." As she urges Luna out of bed, she can't help but wonder at something her adoptive daughter had said. "Why did you call me mom?"

"What? You're my mother. I've always called you mom."

"But since I've told you who your birth mother is, you've not called me that."

"I haven't called you anything, actually. I've been studying my books and learning about my powers. I haven't had much reason to address you."

"You're right. I guess I'm just a bit--"

"Jealous?" A voice speaks up, and both Luna and Amana turn to the doorway, where Amana's husband, Caesar stood. "You feel like Alvula is taking Luna away from you. That's not really fair to her mother."

"Now is not the time, Caesar."

"When is a good time for this conversation?"

"I don't know, but when I need to get ready for my birthday is not a good time," Luna interrupts.

"You're right. I'll head downstairs. Your mother will help you with your dress."

"I don't want to wear the dress. I hate the dress."

"But you've always liked the dress." Amana is a little shocked at this.

"No, mom. I wear it to make you happy. I'll wear it on Sunday, because if I didn't, it would embarrass you in town, but I don't want to wear it when I don't have to."

"Why haven't you told me before?"

"You've never tried to make me wear it on any day but Sunday."

"I see. Well, get your riding pants on, then. You can't go to your party nude."

"Actually, I could. I'm just not skilled enough yet."

"How do you mean?"

"Illusion. It seems to be the form of magic kitsune excel the most at."

"That would explain how easily you learned the light spell I taught you. I know a handful of illusion spells you won't find in a textbook. I can teach them to you, if you like."

"That would be nice. Better than a present, to be sure."

"It could be said that is a present."

"Good point. It would be a gift. Anyway, I'll be looking forward to it. When can you teach me?"

"We can start tonight."

"Sounds good."

"Now, get ready for your party. Everyone will be there."

Luna gets out of bed and walks to her wardrobe. Her collection of clothes was somewhat lacking by some standards. None of her clothes were very colorful, and the most vibrant article of clothing was a pale blue shirt. All of her other shirts were varying shades of gray, brown, white, and green. She only had one dress. It was a very pale blue tint, almost white. It still looked fairly new as it was only worn on Sundays, and she took it off as soon as the morning church service was over.

She looks over her clothes, spotting a pair of brown trousers. She extracts them from her wardrobe, along with a loose white shirt. "I'd rather be comfortable than look good. I can't wait to be able to completely abandon these."

"What would you wear?"

"Whatever was comfortable." Luna had found the sensation of bare fur quite enjoyable, but didn't think her mother would approve. "I wouldn't need to keep a dress. I'd just look like I was wearing one."

"That seems convenient."

"It is."

"Whatever works. Anyway, I'm going to head downstairs. Come down when you're ready, but don't dally too long. You've only got an hour or so. We might be able to get away with starting in two. There's only so many hours in a day, you know."

Amana begins descending down the attic room steps, closing the trapdoor behind her.

"It's not quite that simple, you know."

Luna looks over to see her mother in her ethereal fox form, with her many tails swaying gracefully behind her. "What's not so simple?"

"All magic comes at a price, no matter how small. A light spell might take a bit of energy to cast. A mild conjuration spell might give a wizard a loaf of bread for sustenance, but leave him dazed for a few minutes. The most powerful spells can kill the caster if the caster is unprepared or lacks the proper skills. Your illusory clothes would be no different."

"So what's the cost of such an illusion?"

"Chi. It is the life force within all of us, and the energy of change. It manifests in different ways, but we all have it. You may not know it, but your father's forge has fed you for the past ten years."

"What does that mean? I know his income as a blacksmith is what pays for our food. Other than that, I don't know what you're talking about."

"He has two forges. The one you can see from the road when the fur curtains around the smithy are pulled back, and his Underforge."

"Underforge?" Luna is puzzled, as her father never spoke of another forge.

"The Underforge is under the smithy. A secret passageway leads down to it. It is enchanted. Metal worked with the fires of this forge are imbued with extra strength and durability. The same enchantment keeps the forge burning constantly. The coals never die out."

"And?"

"Fire. One of the more obvious forms of chi. The coals have been the source of chi you need as kitsune for most of your life, and will continue to sustain you. But only if you remain in Gaea. Also, more powerful spells will require the expenditure of more chi. We are creatures of chi, us kitsune. When we have little chi, we are weak. When we have none, we cease to exist."

"We die?"

"Yes. We cannot survive on human food, either. It is dead, and holds no chi. The food you have eaten all your life served only to sustain your human body, not your kitsune spirit."

"So, what would I need to get more chi?"

"There are several ways, but you are too young for most of them. You can absorb energy from flame and running water, though. You could also take it from plants. Be careful, though. If you absorb too much from one thing, it can have obvious effects, such as extinguishing a flame, stilling water that should be flowing, and killing healthy plants. These would raise suspicion, and might lead to your discovery."

"Oh. So, I can't cast magic without doing that?"

"You can, but only small spells. The Underforge will provide enough chi, but only as long as you don't expend too much at once."

"So take it slow?"

"Yes. But I have kept you too long. Come, get dressed. We can't miss your party."

Luna begins to dress herself, and Alvula resumes her hiding place in star ball form, contained in a lamp on the mantle.

Amana, who had been listening from underneath the trapdoor, sheds a tear. Too many secrets, she thinks to herself, too many secrets.