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Archive 20 / farm-hands-and-fox-tails

NSFW | Including but not limited to mentions of loss of family/friends, farm life, violence, sexually explicit content and general NSFW with SFW vibes

TW: Including but not limited to mentions of loss of family/friends, farm life, violence, sexually explicit content and general NSFW with SFW vibes

Jackson Tiller just as average man, almost as average as most. His day job working at a soulless call center. Each day his routine was cemented: wake up, make the bed, go to work, go to the gym, watch some tv and go to bed. At twenty eight he was single and mostly alone. Lonely nights spent at the bars, unfortunately just like his father. His father and mother divorced early on in his life. What started as a loving fun caring relationship turned sour the more life got in their way. His father Avery, hated the mundane, the boring and stagnant. His hate turning into anger and that anger turning into a broken marriage. Jackson's mother was far too kind hearted and caring. Until the day she passed, she was known to be so. Jackson was easily the most affected by this, his father absent to some fuck off middle of no where small town to not be heard from. His mother being gone changed him. He needed routine, he couldn’t handle more change, he wouldn’t. It was two years since then, a soft rain pitter pattering alongside his windows. The fresh smell of precipitation as he sipped his dark roasted coffee. It was one of the few days where he didn’t need to work, one of the few days he cherished. He sat by his window watching the droplets hit the glass, his mind wandering to another world. A world of excitement and adventure, a world where he wasn’t alone, where he had a sense of purpose. Small sips of his hot drink until it was time for his next step of his routine. His leatherbound journal in his lap and a pen moving softly against the paper as he jotted his thoughts and feelings against it. Every morning was the same breakfast, coffee, daydream and writing. It wasn’t that he had a bad life, in fact he believed he had it better than most, it was one thing… boring His phone vibrated against his lap multiple times. Normally he wouldn’t answer his phone for unknown numbers, but today felt different. His soft voice spoke into his phone. “Hello?” Hello is this Mr. Tiller?

09:51

“This is him.” Hello sir, I am so terribly sorry to notify you. Mr. Avery Tiller passed last night, the cause of death is unknown at this time… We are so incredibly sorry for your loss, but he did leave some things for you. “...” Jacksons hands were shaky and clammy, he had hated his father, he had left them and hadn’t even gone to his mothers funeral. What could he possibly have to give? 1416 North Roselle Road. I believe it is a small cabin that he lived in. That and all the contents within are noted for you in his will. Please take your time to make your decision, if it’s too hard for you we can sell the land and contents and you will receive a check in the mail. “Thank you.” You’re welcome. Again I am very sorry for your loss. click Jackson sat there, staring at his phone for a few moments, unsure what to feel or think. He looked down at his journal. His thoughts to himself, an endless debate of leaving to go there or to just sell it and be done with it. He stared at his phone longer before researching the area. A small town was an understatement. From what he could tell the town was so small there were eighteen people total, one post office, one market and one hospital, if you could even call it that. Still even in such a secluded town the house he was looking for was at least a mile or two away from them. He continued his research, finding moments of people randomly visiting, noting that most of the people were nice and farmers, they would sell what they grew for little profit. For this community it was more so for the escape. His anger grew to the thought of his dad leaving him, leaving his mom for a farm. His stomach knotted and turned. He had to know exactly why he had left him, then he would sell it and close the chapter of his life for good.

09:51

He got up from his perch and moved to his laptop, sending an email to his office about his loss and taking time off. He hadn’t taken time off since his mother passed so he had plenty of time. He asked for two weeks. Two weeks would be plenty of time to see it, and move on. It may even be enough to move out of his little apartment. He grabbed his backpack and neatly packed a few days of clothes inside of it. He wanted to plan for the worst case scenario if needed, even though it would only be a day or two at most. He walked to his fridge grabbing some snacks as he continued reading. A twelve hour drive and then a two hour bus ride to get there. It seemed excessively out of the way, but still the anger drove him to need to know what was so great about it. He needed to leave soon to get there by tomorrow morning, so quickly packing some food for the road and an adult sippy cup filled with coffee before setting out. The drive was long but scenic, each twist and turn in the road Jackson couldn’t help but wonder how beautiful the destination would be. Living in an urban city, he was used to the noises of cars driving and light conversations of people living life. The smells of the city, the noises and the people he had grown accustomed to but the closer he got to his destination the more the silence grew. Twelve long hours passed, his mug had run dry an hour in. A soft yawn left his lips as he pulled into the parking lot. To no one's surprise, it was empty. A small sign read: Please call Pam at 710-1981. If the bus is late. The normal pick up hours are 6am and 6pm.

09:52

Jackson sighed and looked at his phone. He had at least an hour before the bus would arrive. He wanted to be upset but as the cool morning air hit him, so did the sounds of nature. As much as he tried and wanted to be mad at his father for moving here, he couldn’t help himself but feel a sense of peace that the surroundings brought him. His mind was at ease, instead of sitting in his car playing on his phone or trying to check his email with the minimal service there was he found himself sitting on the hood of his car taking it all in. What seemed like mere minutes turned into the quickest hour of his life. The bus slowly pulled into the parking lot greeting Jackson with a wide smiled blonde woman waving him on. As he got on, expecting to be greeted with two hours of small talk turned into who he could only expect to be Pam talking about life, her wants and wishes and a full history of the town. Jackson however, only heard about ten minutes of this before his heavy eyes shut. Soft nudging and poking awoke him at his destination Sir we are here. Thanks for the great conversation! She smiled teasingly He rubbed the back of his head, twisting his hair in small curls nervously. “I’m so sorry.. I guess the drive here took a lot out of me. Would you mind pointing me in the direction of Avery Tillers house?” She smiled and pointed to the right of the two way dirt walkway. About a mile that way and you’ll find it over there. If you need anything a mile in the opposite way and you’ll find comfort and warm food. We are so sorry for your loss honey. We are only a little walk away.

09:52

Jackson smiled and gave a polite nod as he began his walk to the cabin. The warm sun rising told him today would be a hot day. Rock and dirt kicked and crunched under his feet as he walked. The sounds of birds singing and insects calling out to one another, mixed with the pleasant sight of squirrels and chipmunks running along wooden fences and trees, intrigued by the presence of a new face. As he arrived his breath was taken away from him. It was a beautiful disaster. The landscape of overgrown grass, broken down wooden fence and barns and sheds. Two cows and a goat freely roaming as they munched on grass. The cabin itself was small and in good condition but it was clear to Jackson now that if he wanted to make anything off of the land he would need to put some work into it. If it wasn’t for the sound of water dancing through the creeks and river his anger may have gotten the better of him. Yet, it couldn’t, the water flowing into a lake where a horse freely drank from soothed him. This was the first time in a very long time where he thought to himself, he could see why his father had come here. It was all so peaceful, so soothing. He approached the front of the cabin and with a few stern pulls on the door it swung open, revealing a space just barely bigger than the one he had left. He let a soft sigh out.

09:52

“Damn it Dad. This place is a mess, and I doubt anyone would pay more than five bucks for it.” He shook his head and scoffed. He looked around the minimal house only to find a kitchen with two of each utensil and dishware, a dusty fireplace, a bed, a sofa and a table with a journal similar to his resting on it. If he wanted to get anything from this he would have to do a lot of work. Suddenly, his one day trip seemed to be a bit longer. Jackson set his bag down on the couch and walked back outside. If he was going to make this worth any money at all, he would need to start now. Clean and mow the yard, fix the animal pens and fences and god knows what else is wrong with it.

09:53

He made his way to the worn down shed, the roof collapsed and broken. If he was lucky, he would find a lawn mower, but lady luck was not on his side today. Instead of the usual equipment he was accustomed to he was greeted with primal tools, tools that would cause more work and take a longer time. His head hit the wood of the shed in frustration. He didn’t know how to use any of these nor has he ever had to. He looked at his options of tools he thought would be the best, a machete and a sickle. He fastened the blade to his belt around his jeans and gripped the sickle tightly before giving it a few test swings before leaving the shed. The land, while beautiful, was vast and with the sun now beating against him, this may take a while just to see how bad it was. As he walked around he began noticing the more intrigue things. A well that he presumed would be the only way to get fresh water, the broken down outline of animal pens and barns, dirt plots of land that were softer and looser than the rest and an empty chicken coop. He had seen the other animals wandering about freely but as he inspected the worn down coop closer the spread of feathers made it clear that this farm no longer had anything to keep in the enclosure. A small whimper and whip came across his ears.

09:53

Startled he looked around afraid something may be hunting or being hunted and he did not want to be the prey. His eyes slowly scanned the surrounding area until a flash of red caught his eyes. It was a little fox. He hadn’t seen one in person before and his awe and curiosity were quickly pushed to the side when he noticed that its back legs were trapped in steel. It hadn’t even occurred to him as he walked freely before that there could be traps laid about to keep the animals safe from predators, yet his heart yearned and swelled at the thought of an injured animal. With no self preservation he quickly moved himself towards it, slowing his pace as he got closer. He looked at the vulpine creature. His eyes moved back and forth slowly looking for places to put his feet in case there were more traps laid out, and at the predator to be sure that the closer he got the aggression it could show was absent. The only thing he did see when he looked was pain, his heart grew heavier as looked closer, before dropping to his knees in front of it. “Oh no… you poor thing.. I’m so sorry.. Please don’t bite me… I'm here to help, I promise just please don’t eat me..”

09:53

He lowered himself down towards the foxes' trapped legs, nervously shaking hands as he prayed the fox wouldn’t turn their head and bite him. His fingers moved across the steel trap, feeling for the least sharp points as he pulled with as much force as he could muster until finally he heard a click. He watched a second before he noticed that the legs were free but dripping with blood. He slowly and cautiously removed his shirt, his check glistened with perspiration, as he carefully used it to wrap the legs of the creature. He moved it the best he could out of the way from the trap, before tossing a rock against it to set it off again. He held the fox in his arms carrying it towards the well to clean its wounds, hoping it wouldn’t bite. @Fiory

There was a crispness to the early morning air, something so clean and pure about it that heaven itself would blush at the scent. The rolling hills and greenery of the outlying forests butt up against the sky like a living painting as the sun threatened to bathe the valley in its gentle golden glow. Not many were up at this hour, say for the birds that sang out the sun’s arrival or the small squirrels and rodents using the dew drops to wash their faces as they woke. Before dawn there was a peace and a tranquility about the property that wrapped you up in a blanket of calm. The property had fallen into disrepair over the last few months, and lately it had been eerily quiet in the cabin that stood at the front of the land. Not that she minded of course. The hole she’d dug under the porch fit her just fine, though the lack of creaking wood and movement as an alarm clock was a bit troublesome. There was no love for the man that had lived here, so she had barely noticed when he had left to go to the town and hadn’t returned. With tall grass unkempt and the animals having gotten loose to roam freely, she wasn’t about to fix any of it. It wasn’t her job after all, not her problem. She preferred it wild anyway. Let the forest reclaim what was rightfully theirs anyway.

12:14

A mild grumble, one that grew over time was what stirred her this morning. A little earlier than she had normally been getting up to be fair, though pickings were becoming slimmer as the days dragged on. Stubbornness kept her eyes closed, willing herself to go back to sleep, back into the comfort that her quiet darkness gave her. The cracks in the porch above her allowed some of that pestering light to stream down into her face. Just enough to brighten the figure that attempted to sleep in. Just enough to rouse and annoy her enough to wake. Fine.. Breakfast time then.. She grumbled to herself, stretching out in the dirt and chicken feathers that she’d collected underneath her lithe frame. Out from under the porch stretched a pair of dark black paws, small and lithe, suggesting the dexterity of their owner who slid out lazily following them. The fur that followed was auburn red and black in color, sleek and flexible as the body that owned it stretched out in the early morning sunshine. The sky had barely begun to lighten by this point, but it was enough for the vixen to wake and decide to begin her day. Black nostrils twitched in the morning air, gathering the scent of the animals that had already begun to wake and meander around the near abandoned property. Slitted eyes of gold glanced over at the cabin door, still shut tight and the structure itself quiet in the early morning air. Still not back yet? Hm.. I feel like I should be worried but… Whatever I guess… Avery can do what he wants I suppose.

12:15

It wasn’t like she really cared about the man who owned the property. He was just the farm owner, just the one that tended to the animals and the land there. She tended to the health of that land. A guardian in a way, and a pest to the man who lived there. But since his absence, the vixen had had the run of the place. Field mice and voles were easy prey but this morning she was wanting something a bit more satisfying. That old coop had been dilapidated for a while, and the fox couldn’t remember if it still held chickens in it or if she’d taken care of the last one a while back already. With her long bush of a tail swaying gently behind her, the fox plod forward on light stepping paws. Her tall triangular ears were like satellite dishes, gathering the sounds around her so she could best determine who was up and who needed a wake up call. Scampering in trees were squirrels, as well as scratching sounds from the birds too that dwelled in their branches. Too much work this early in the morning. Field mice and voles scampered away in fright down into their holes that she could hear echo under the dirt beneath her paws. While a good snack to be sure, chicken was something the fox was more after. Afterall, there was something cliché and truthful about a fox being after the henhouse. The fence line was broken down and had been for a while. Just further beyond it was an even more broken coop, one that she had been able to break into multiple times now. The scent of the area still stunk of the chickens and ducks that had called this place home, but she noted how her nostrils took in the air that the smell seemed to be a little more stale. A little old. No matter.. I’m sure there’s something here that I can get into. Always the optimist, and since the farmer had been gone a while she had no fear of getting caught and chased away. With small sharp claws, she stepped up the small wooden ladder on the side of the coop and squeezed her thin frame into the opening meant fo

12:15

r the hens to go in and out of the structure. That thick bush of a tail was the last thing seen as she entered.

12:15

Disappointment flooded her sharp face, that long muzzle searching the empty nests laid bare with just a few scattered feathers and nothing more. The reason the air had been stale was because the last of the fowl that lived here had been picked clean or had disappeared into the night. Likely taken by another predator other than her. Her nose to the floorboards as they creaked she sniffed about, thinking maybe an egg had been left at least only to come up empty on that front too. Nothing but strands of hay and feathers, things she certainly couldn’t fill her stomach with. Guess it’s field mice then… A small setback, her head poked out of the henhouse and while she didn’t feel like she had to do this it was best to check her surroundings for danger anyway. Just in case. Avery could come back, even though she was beginning to think this was an impossibility with how derelict the farm had gotten recently. With ears moving in one direction and then the next, slitted gold eyes glittering in the gentle morning’s light it was determined the coast was clear enough. Everything on the farm was still. The few animals that were awake other than her were lazily going about their business without a care in the world. It truly was a peaceful paradise on earth.

12:15

Squeezing herself out, she made herself around towards the side of the coop, wondering if there was a mouse or a vole hole she could inspect instead to find breakfast. Something was better than nothing, and considering Avery tended to let his fowl out when he didn’t have feed for them, she surmised that there might be seeds littered around that the rodents would find tasty. With no chickens or ducks to indulge in them, the little things would have those seeds to themselves, and the fox just hoped she would be able to catch a few of them, unsuspecting her approach. Luck was on her side this morning, the scratching and skittering of a mouse echoed in her ears and she dropped onto her front. Her ears focused on the sound, triangulating the prey’s location in the overgrown grass by the coop. Those eyes were looking desperately for any shift in motion until a blade betrayed the mouse’s location. There was a grace she had, leaping forward to pounce on the rodent in the grass, snapping her jaws on the thing as it ate its morning meal. A mouthful at best for the fox, but something was better than nothing, and she’d gotten spoiled with her pick of chicken and duck lately with Avery noticeably absent. With her head held high after swallowing down the first of what she had decided would be of many rodents to satisfy her grumbling stomach, she strode onward around the coop. Her paws light on the ground as the sun stretched across the farm. It was beautiful here, a peaceful serenity in a calm quiet valley. So it was a bother that it didn’t stay that way as the sound of creaking metal snapping and a loud yelp echoed across the fields. The sound caused a few swallows to take to the air out of the tall grass, but it wasn’t enough to deter the cows or the horse from their morning routine.

12:15

Sharp pain ran up through her limb and the fox immediately collapsed onto her side. She’d known that Avery had put traps out and for so long she’d been careful to keep out of their way. To keep well aware of where they were set and to step lightly as to not trigger them. This morning she had been careless. Hadn’t thought to check her surroundings to see if any traps had been laid by the coop at all. Clumsy. Foolish. Arrogant of her to think that Avery hadn’t put one here. The pain was unbearable, shooting up through her like lightning. Her body writhed, her tail waving around like a thick red and white banner as she pulled and whined to try and free herself. It only seemed to make it worse. Her teeth were sharp and pointed but against the metal of the trap they were all but useless. If she could have, she’d have cried in pain, subjected to whimpers of agony instead.

12:16

”Oh no… you poor thing..” What? Avery?? A panic ran through her. She hadn’t heard someone coming, too busy thrashing about and flopped over trying to get herself free to notice the oncoming footsteps of the man on the property. Her slitted eyes were wide, staring up at him as he got closer. Of all the times that that farmer could return, he chose now when she couldn’t get away. Though upon closer inspection, while he did resemble Avery in a way, this man was different. His scent was foreign and he seemed much younger than the old man had been. ”I’m so sorry.. Please don’t bite me… I’m here to help, I promise just please don’t eat me..” What do I look like, the big bad wolf? She thought, settling at the man’s soothing tone. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, still unsure about all of this and a soft growl played at her quivering muzzle. But he didn’t seem to want to harm her. At least not yet. If he had, he surely would have. She was trapped after all, unable to escape even if she had managed to free her limb from the trap. A stinging pain ran through her and while she very much wanted to run, there would be no quick escape once those jaws were lifted. She was just thankful it didn’t seem broken, even though there surely would be quite the scar from this.

12:16

There was a little fight in her, once she was free but the pain made it hard to move more than just her muzzle to lick at the wound she had. All at once she felt cloth bundle her up, wrapped up in this strange man’s scent and held tight against him. Her ears fell back gently as she felt her body lifted and carried. If he would have been able to see under her coating of auburn fall colored fur, her skin would have been flushed a much brighter red. This wasn’t Avery, even though he sort of smelled like him. It was similar, but not the same. He also didn’t look like Avery either, her tail curling over her midsection while she lay in his arms. She looked up at her savior, the one who’d freed her from the trap and was now carefully carrying her off with a sparkle of intelligence in those gold eyes. She certainly wasn’t going to bite him, he’d just pulled her from a trap, she had no reason to bite him. At least not yet. No, he had sparked her curiosity, and now Felicity Fox wanted to know who exactly this strange man on the farm really was. @Jester

Jacksons stomach was still knotted and twisted with anxiety. This was the first time he had seen an animal injured, let alone one that surely could, and most likely would leave him injured in a hospital bed. It was also the first time he had seen a trap. His movement towards the well mirrored a terrible dance routine, soft bounces on his tippy toes scared of stepping on traps himself. Only realizing at his destination that he, in fact, only has two hands, both of which are filled by the injured creature. He had left his sickle near the spot where he had found the trapped beast in a panic rush to help. None of which mattered at the moment. The well was only a few paces from the cabin and his frazzled mind tried to come up with ways to help. He made his way back to the creaking wooden floor boards of the porch that stretched the length of the cabin. Gently places the canine wrapped in his top down onto the warm wood as his hands moved slowly away from its mouth. His shirt showing red seeped in the fabrics. “Ok, we are ok… you will be ok.. I will be ok…. Just do not move and do not bite me…”

04:05

His hands pushed out his palms towards its face, as if it was a way for him to communicate his words to something that probably couldn’t grasp the sounds leaving his lips. Steadily and slowly he rose up towering above the fox, with creeping movements towards the cabin trying to not startle and force it to put pressure on its injured paws. A push or two against the tightly fixed door, he rushed inside. Frantic and now fearless to let his manic state show since he was away from the wild animal he quickly bundled a bunch of supplies together. He grabbed himself a bowl and cup before rummaging through cabinets and drawers looking for any first aid supplies. Not finding any luck on his side he figured that he was going to do all of this all by himself. He grabbed the sharpest knife he could find in the kitchen, a big bag of beef jerky he had packed for his journey and his fathers lightly dusted journal and stepped back outside. He placed the bowl and glass next to the vulpine. He placed the journal on top of the knife. While, to Jackson the creature lacked the intelligence to understand that a knife was a tool for butchering, he didn’t want to risk it seeing it and stressing more than it had been. He quickly jogged to the well, inspecting its mechanics. A bucket tied with rope.. How does one even get water into it?

04:05

His inspection consisted of grabbing the bucket and dropping it into the water, then pulling the rope until the bucket rose back to the top. His fingers rubbed his brow in frustration. This is IMPOSSIBLE. A soft plop echoed between the stone crater, as he waited and watched the bucket slowly fill and begin sinking due to the weight. A heavy heave and a deep exhale started his careful process of bringing this bucket gulled by the gods. The wavering rope led to tremors throughout the wooden container and water splashing over the sides, until finally he had done it. One bucket half filled with water. Placing it on the side of the well, he released the knotted grip of the rope, carefully carrying back to the porch taking a seat next to the two. “Okay buddy, it will be ok. Don’t worry, I’m here to help.” The reassurance was more so for his sake than the animals, as he pushed the ceramic bowl into the water, slowly scooting it across until it was next to the head of the fox. He filled his glass as well taking a healthy sip. He didn’t want to make the animal overwhelmed too quickly, already testing his luck enough. Instead he watched its stomach rise and drop, the faster it did the more he assumed that he was in trouble, the slower it was the safer he was. Another sip before his green eyes moved to the journal. His fingers brushed alongside the leather binding before opening the pages. Opening it in hopes of a detailed account of how to handle his curious position. Instead, to his surprise it read:

04:06

                                      The Farm Life                      

           

                  My guide and journeys on Fortune's Favor Ranch.




I found myself on an untamed, unsettled and more importantly untainted plot of land. This will be my fresh start. I can already imagine it. Mr. Lewis said he would come by later with Robin and help me build a well and cabin. Until then I will be spending my nights at Mr. Lewis’ house. A small quaint cabin, next to a well, surrounded by pens of animals and plots of freshly grown land. This will be my ‘new’ dream.

Jackson read each word slowly, trying to see it through his fathers eyes. A bite of jerky before gently tossing the remnants of the piece towards the fox. He had know idea what to do but at least the jerky would feed his hungry friend until it starts to trust him more. One piece turned into two which would turn into the entire bag as he continued to read.

04:06

  The Cabin and well have been built. Who would have thought this would be such hard work. Building a well is a false statement, its just diggin. Dig a big ole circle and then dont stop until the water breaks through. Line it up with rocks and concrete and give it a roof. They did say I should install a handle to make it easier to fetch water. Maybe I will sometime but for now I love the feeling of hard work. The cabin is nice, small perfect for me. I am happy I did not have to give up on things I took for granted before, like plumbing. Having a bathroom with running water is amazing. I need to figure out what I want to do with my basement instead of just holding a water heater and plumbing. After a long hard day of cracking rocks and choppin trees its good to take a warm shower. I still havent gotten the courage to bathe in the lake or rivers yet. I have cleared a few trees however and I am very excited to try and build my very first shed.  This is just what I needed…. The hard work keeps the thoughts of my family out of my head…

Jackson closed the book in frustration. Replacing family with a farm, how stupid of an idea, and how insulting. He placed the book next to him and looked over at the fox while tossing small pieces of jerky he had started tearing to help calm his anger.

04:06

“Can you believe that asshole? Ditching his family to move to some piece of shit farm? Then his lazy ass doesn’t make his life easier with the well and builds a shitty shed, cause ‘he likes hard work’. If he liked hard work, he would have stayed with us instead of running away and giving up….” he lets out a soft sigh. “Dad’s… amiright?” He scoffed to himself at the idea that he was talking to a random injured creature, yet still, it made for good company. Who would have thought something that couldn’t reply would be such a good listener. It’s not like they had a choice, their legs were hurt badly enough where they couldn’t move much without causing themself pain. His worries grew as he noticed his shirt was growing redder. “Poor babies…. You didn’t deserve this… You sweet little thing.. Let me help.” He slowly and carefully removed the shirt and turned his back on her. Doing their best to conceal the knife, mutilating the cloth into strips leaving the blood soaked part on the porch. Jackson looked closely at the wounds, using the strips to put pressure on the area, tightly bandaging them. While his heart raced his hands quickly moved to the back of the fox, giving one long strong from its back to the end of its tail.

04:07

“You should be ok…. You’ll be fine.. Stay here as long as you need… I just need to fix this place so.. I don’t know… yelp if you need something…” His hand brushed his face in embarrassment. “I- I am talking to a fox… I must be losing my mind.” He let out a soft sigh and a grunt as he swung himself back to his feet. It was time to get started on fixing the place, if only he had a clue on what to do next. The idea he had was to fix the shed first. While worn and collapsed he needed a place to safely secure the tools. Thankfully there were nails and wooden planks left from whatever his father had built previously. Starting with removing the sunken roof, tearing bits and pieces. Parts were reusable in his eyes but others were tossed to the side, at least they may be able to start a fire tonight. Sounds of wood being slammed by metal filled the ranch as each plank attached to the roof. It was a very slow process, even slower with all of the distractions. Curious cows and horses, warming up to his presence. Figuring out if he was friend or foe. Each time one of them approached him, he glee grew so visibly, petting each one of them just as happily as the previous. Half of the roof was finished before he had had enough. He spent almost as much time building as he did taking breaks. Collecting the sickle and tossing his tools in and closing it for the night. The next few hours were spent looking for traps ensuring that if his fox friend decided to leave they could do so safely. @Fiory

Each small movement that he made back to the cabin sent small zaps of pain through her limbs. Her nerves were screaming, aching at the pain caused by Avery’s trap but more so her pride was damaged at having been so careless. Quiet high pitched whines escaped her muzzle and every so often Felicity would bark out in pain when he moved too suddenly on his way through the fields and overgrown yard. Not that she didn’t appreciate the bouncing dance he was doing to avoid any further nasty surprises that the old man would have left, but the jerking motions were, if anything, painful. As they neared the cabin she couldn’t have been happier hearing the old creaking wood above her little den. By now the sun had come up and she could glance up to get a much better look at the man. There was the resemblance there, but she thanked her lucky stars it wasn’t Avery. He looked too kind, too gentle to be that old man in a younger human suit, and certainly didn’t look like he belonged on a farm like this. What was he doing here? ”Ok, we are ok… you will be ok.. I will be ok….” You don’t sound convinced of that… Felicity thought, a slight whimper escaping that thin muzzle as he set her down onto the warmed boards of the porch. Those large ears flicked back and forth, focusing in on what he was saying but also to what was around her. She had the fleeting thought of perhaps getting herself hidden under the porch where he couldn’t get to her. Where she could feel protected and address the wounds she’d sustained. Instead what she got was a pair of palms in her face that made the vixen tilt her head and pull back a little. Her left ear fell to it’s side while the right remained upward, confused at what he was trying to do.

14:33

”Just do not move and do not bite me.” No promises… She responded, though obviously he wouldn’t have been able to hear her thoughts. Where exactly was she going to go? It wasn’t like she would get far even if she tried. Not like she wasn’t going to try. As he stood up, Felicity sunk low to the floorboards of the porch, her ears flattening against her skull as if she was trying to make herself just that much smaller. But he didn’t do anything, just went inside the musty smelling cabin. Once out of sight, she thought to take her chances. Who knows what he’d come back out with, and Felicity wasn’t too keen to become this man’s new hat or some kind of expensive accessory for a fancy lady caller. As quietly as she could, her limbs struggled with the idea of putting weight on her injured legs. Willing herself to try, she had to at least try an escape, as it might be her only chance at it. As soon as her weight as light as she was even dared to put pressure on her pads, Felicity yelped reflexively at the sharp pains that raced through her damaged nerves. Once more, this time with feeling, and the same result. She’d barely gotten herself part way off his shirt before he came back out of the cabin.

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Winter had come early to the valley, at least to her it had. A frightening chill ran down her spine, her eyes glued to the blade that the man had come back out with. She couldn’t run, doubted how well she could fight given the circumstances, and now she was staring up at a man who held a knife that he was certainly going to use on her. Even if she thought she could fight him off, Felicity highly doubted she’d win that fight. She found herself thinking she’d gone from one trap to another. All for a breakfast she couldn’t even have. Her lips curled in a threatening display, her sharp ivory canines gleaming in the gentle sunshine of the morning. A growl that sounded more like a chittering noise quietly promised what those fangs would do to him if he tried using that knife against her. Felicity would fight as much as she could if that was his intention. It was thankful that it was short lived, the blade quickly placed under a thick leather bound journal. Beside it he had placed a bowl and glass closer to her, which made her expression soften. What was he playing at? Her muzzle calming and her ears pulling forward, Felicity watched as this stranger than moved away towards the well. I don’t get it… I’m not complaining, but I just don’t get it. She thought, watching as he seemed to struggle with the well and the bucket there. Her keen eyes took in the back of him as he pulled and huffed and groaned against the rope, seeming frustrated but heaving anyway to get the water up. One thing she was sure to deduce in the short time of being in this stranger’s presence. This was no farm hand. Felicity had watched Avery, an older man lift that same bucket day in and day out with little complaint. But this new man? Had he never worked a day in his life before? Her head tilted to the side watching him, her ears flopping to one side and her tail curling around her hind legs. When he returned, Felicity just watched him that curiosity returned from when he’d picked her up and carr

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ied her here. Other than bringing out a knife he hadn’t been aggressive yet, so she didn’t feel the need to put that wall back up. At least, not yet.

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Those golden eyes watched as he filled the bowl and glass, and slid the water closer to her. Her nostrils flared and she gave the air a quiet sniff. She’d had the water from the well before; any time Avery had fed or watered the animals she’d take her drink from it too when she got the chance. That wasn’t what she was investigating, it was more the hand that had slid it over. Black coated ears listened as he tried to reassure her again, though she was starting to think that he was more so trying to reassure himself. It took a moment, just watching his movements before Felicity felt the thirst in her throat dictate what she needed. She hadn’t had anything to drink all morning and the stress of the morning had certainly made her thirsty. And… if he’s offering.. I guess… Slowly, she dipped her muzzle into the cool refreshing water, letting her soft pink tongue loll out of her mouth and lap at the water’s surface in the bowl gently. It was cold and clear and rippled each time the muscle dipped in and scooped out a mouthful of water. All the while she lay quiet and listened to him, watching his movements and trying to determine if he was truly a friend or crafty foe. He seemed to just sit there and read the journal he’d brought out, and Felicity wondered what was written that was so fascinating to him. Every so often she caught a few things he would say, and slowly the puzzle pieces of what had happened to Avery were falling into place. So.. This must be his Son then… That makes sense now… She thought lifting her slender muzzle out of the water once she’d had her fill of its refreshment. It was a good thing she did, seeing him fling a piece of dried meat her way. Having only had a single mouse this morning for breakfast, she wouldn’t say no to a free meal and was quick to snap her jaws around the tough jerky. It had a flavor she wasn’t quite used to, but the little sweeping motion of her tube-like tail was a clear indication that she didn’t mind it. It at least

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kept her mind off of the ache in her legs. Enough so that she was content enough just to watch him slide the shirt she’d been laying and bleeding on out from under her. Felicity sniffed the air and leaned as far forward as she could in an attempt to see around the back of him what he was doing. To no avail, she was too short and small to really see what he was up to. All she could surmise was the sound of tearing cloth.

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While an actual wild animal would have fought back or moved away, Felicity was not actually that wild. She had an intelligence that the other animals didn’t. It was her role, a guardian of sorts for this property and the outlying forests beyond it. She could even become human if she really wanted to, just not while she was in so much pain. That and she was far more comfortable on all fours. When of course all fours were usable. The only indication of discomfort she’d give were soft whines every so often when he applied pressure to the wounds he wrapped. Felicity wouldn’t bite or even threaten it while he worked, and her reward for behaving it seemed was a stroke along her spine once he’d finished. Her fur was sleek and silky, soft to the touch with stiffer guard hairs and shiny against the morning’s sunshine. His gentle touch sent a shiver through her, that just made Felicity want to lay there and never move. It was more comforting than anything else which was new for her, considering that she was used to being on her own or chased away by Avery. For the whole day, Felicity just remained on the porch. Every so often she’d take another drink from the bowl next to her but for the most part she just watched the man work while she put together everything she knew so far. One thing she noted was that he seemed to have a way with animals. The cows and horse were quick to notice and come up to introduce themselves. Even she hadn’t minded his gentle hands either. And while he hadn’t seemed to be very good with his hands or hadn’t done a lot of hard labor before, he certainly had the heart to try. One other thing that Felicity could quite clearly determine, based on what he had muttered to her earlier was quite clear.

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Avery wasn’t coming back. He was gone for good. And this stranger, this Son she knew next to nothing about, was going to be here at least for the foreseeable future. While there was no love lost for the old farmer, Felicity did feel a bit sad about the codger’s disappearance. For any creature or human alike, she hoped at least that he had gone to rest peacefully. Whether she loved or hated the man, no one deserved to be kept from rest. Thankfully there weren’t many traps that Avery had set, and most had been set off when he’d find them. And depending on what he wanted to do with them was completely up to him. When he returned to his cabin at whatever time he did, Felicity would still be there, curled up on the porch with her tail wrapped around the entirety of her body. It almost looked like she was a small dog or a large cat, waiting for their new owner to return from work at the end of the day. Of course this wasn’t the case, Felicity just didn’t feel like moving much despite the excellent work he’d done at wrapping her legs up. It wasn’t like she could go out and hunt at the moment anyway, at least not until she’d healed a bit more. Her large triangle ears were in constant movement, giving her insight to the comings and goings of the creatures and threats that would sound off throughout the day. It wasn’t until she heard the soft crunching of heavier footfalls that she’d lift her head to watch him return to the cabin. In the closing light of the sun glistening off the dusting of perspiration along his body and across his forehead, Felicity could at least admit that a hard day’s work didn’t look too half bad on the guy. It made her curious as to how long he would stay, how long it would last before he called it quits and cut his losses. Farm life was rough and wasn’t for the weak of heart or spirit. Though, now she owed him a debt, and Felicity hated owing anyone anything. So she decided as she watched him put things away and close up for the night, that sh

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e’d stick around and help when she could. She knew this farm inside and out, and if he’d have the advice of a fox, Felicity would happily give it. When able to of course. @Jester

To his surprise his ‘fox friend’ was still right where he had left it. Jackson was no veterinarian, half of his mind assumed that she would have left and gone to do fox things, the other half figured it was probably too injured to move. The small idea of him saving a fox from impending doom only to have it as a pet tickled his brain in a pleasant way only day dreams could fulfill. The sun began to dip down after leaving its mark for the day. He smiled to himself before crouching down in front of it, with a soft tone, his weary physique apparent in his tone “Hey little one… Are you feeling any better?” His smile faded slightly with a soft sigh as he plopped himself on the stoop of the porch in front of her. His eyes wandered up to the darkening sky as he took a deep breath. “I am way over my head with this.It took me all day to halfway build a roof and clear the area of traps. It’ll take weeks, maybe even months to get this place ready to sell.” Unaware of where his body correlated to the foxes he laid his bed back, close to her water bowl and just stared at the sky, his chest rising and falling. His eyes filled with a heavy wetness that he forced himself to not allow to fall. “I- I hope you’re here with me mom, cause I don’t know what I am doing… and dad.. If you’re listening…..” He stopped himself as a tear powered through his hold on it falling down his cheek.

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He brought himself to his feet quickly, having enough of his emotional thoughts. A determined look struck his eyes, his day wasn’t over not yet. He looked back at the unmoved fox and gave a smile before marching to the pile of wood he deemed as firewood. He collected a good portion, making trip after trip, putting a few pieces into the fireplace and tidily stacking the rest close by. He walked around the land once more, petting each of the animals he had seen roam about, giving each a wish of a safe night and of good sleep. The animals had seemed accustomed to their pens. Regardless of being worn down and broken they each found themselves in their rundown pens seemingly preparing for sleep. Once he had given the farm a few ‘good nights’ he made his way back to the porch. His muscles tightened and each step forward heavier than the last. He grabbed the bucket almost empty of water at this point, he looked at her bowl and his glass, both nearly empty. The bucket tilted slowly over her bowl draining it before a slow walk back to the well. If he had read his fathers journal before the fighting with the bucket, he would have known that inside had running water. Today’s mistakes will become tomorrow’s lessons. That’s what his father told him growing up, today it held truer than ever. He started tying a few knots around the handle of the bucket like he had seen earlier. The last thing he needed was to have to climb into the water to save it. He left the wooden container on the side of the well and gave the rock walls two pats, as if his hands were thanking it for water. Jackson was a very weird individual, often thinking as if everything on the earth had feelings, whether it was true or not didn’t matter to him, after all, thanking things never hurt. His heavy footed paces finally made his way back to the porch yet again, seemingly ready to call it a night.

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“What do you say buddy? Ready for bed?... I know I am… I guess you normally sleep outside huh, in the grass staring at the stars. Sounds nice, but I don’t want you to get more hurt, so you’re coming with me.” A huff followed by a swift scooping of her body into his arms, the animal hadn’t bit him before so he felt a bit over confident that it wouldn’t now as he held it close to his chest. As he made his way to the door, using the balls of his feet to apply leverage and nudge it open, he realized how much easier the door opened from the first time. Thoughts filled his head. ‘How long have you been gone dad? Surely, if you had been here recently, the farm wouldn’t have been this bad and the door so tight.’ Jackson placed his new ‘friend’ on the corner of the bed, letting her head rest on the pillow. His mind had already stopped thinking of it as a wild animal and more of a dog, a pet. “Make yourself comfy ok?”

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His eyes practically rolled at himself, still talking to an animal that couldn’t understand a word he was saying. He had officially lost it, his face grew red at just the thought of someone seeing him act so silly. Yet he still found comfort in speaking to something, normally he would use his journal for times like this, but the change of the way he vented was welcome. From his earlier rummaging he had known that a box of matches was laid in one of the drawers and would use entirely too many of them to start a fire tonight. Next to the stone hearth was a box of thin lightwood, he had assumed this was kindle for the fire but had never made one before, his best guess was what he would go with. In his youth, the family would go on camping trips and his father always started the fires that they would use to heat marshmallows and chocolate and talk around. The comfort he found in those moments made him all the more inspired to get his fire working tonight. Using matches, he would mix the tinder with one hand and the rapidly burning match in the other, quickly flicking it into the fireplace before the tips of his finger got burnt. After a few tries the kindling finally caught before it was tossed in. After using a few more pieces a roaring flame rose. The soft crackling and popping of wood catching aflame was a symphony of dopamine and serotonin. He smiled over at the fox seemingly proud of himself before leaving once more to collect the things he had left outside. He carefully put the knife away, throwing his blood ruined shirt in the trash. He turned on the faucet in the kitchen, letting a relief of stress hit him as water followed through the pipes filling his glass twice, after immediately downing the first refill.

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The shuffling of chairs, sounds of wood rubbing against wood until a chair was close to the side of the bed closest to the fox and the ceramic bowl nearby. Jackson wasn’t the best caregiver but he knew that if it wanted water throughout the night it shouldn’t have to move far. Grunts and moans filled the loft as he stretched his sore body. It was a long day and while the area was nice and toasty there was only one thing he cared about at that moment, a hot shower. His clothing dropped to the floor, only staying there for a few seconds before he neatly picked them up and half-hazardly folded them into a neat pile close to the bathroom door. He rummaged through his backpack finding a pair of shorts that he would lay on the table next to his dads journal. The sounds of water rushing through the piping from the basement until pitter pattering of water hitting tile filled the shower. Unfortunately for Jackson, the water tonight would be lukewarm at best. Still the feeling of cool droplets hitting his skin was refreshing. Spending more time than he normally would in the shower cleaning the day's work and stresses from his body, his thoughts were devising a plan of attack for tomorrow. In order of importance, he needed to go into the town, he clearly hadn’t packed enough food, whilst in town he would need to figure out if there was someone to hire to fix the farm. He feared that he already knew the answer, yet it wouldn’t hurt to ask. From there, he figured he may have to figure out how to chop a tree down and get more firewood and kindling, mostly on account that it was a great way for him to settle down after a long day. If he had time he would also plan on finishing the roof of the shed and filling the small hole he had noticed underneath the porch.

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The water slowly came to a halt as the handle was turned down. Wet feet stepped alongside the wood until it reached the cabin’s ‘living room’, if you could even call it that. Droplets of water stuck to his body as he reached for his towel. The heat from the fireplace partially dried his backside as the towel wiped the worries from his face and chest. Slipping into his shorts, he grabbed one of the meals he had packed. Two chicken thighs, rice and spinach with a small container of blueberries. Jackson always had an enjoyment for healthy foods yet he couldn’t help but worry that his vixen friend. He grabbed a plate heating up the food before splitting the contents in half. A whole thigh would go to her as well as half of the rice, a little bit of spinach and a handful of blueberries. He had no clue what foxes ate, they could be omnivores for all he knew, but the buffet and variety would probably be nice. He left her proportions in the tupperware and set it next to her in the bed, making a mental note to talk to someone in town about medicine and care for the fox. He sat down at the table and opened his fathers journal once more. His routine of writing his thoughts while eating was slowly becoming one of reading his, he was curious of it and figured the information inside at the very least would help him figure out what to do next.

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 No one ever told me how much work goes into building a fucking shed. Before now, I just assumed you went to a store, buy the wood and nails and build it yourself. Except out here there is no department store, hell you can’t even pay anyone to build it for you out here. Not unless you have something to trade, which I dont. Its an interesting economy out here, trade chicken eggs for wood, or chickens for ducks. Crops for labor or fish for meat. Money truly means nothing out here, its freeing. I did have a talk with Robin, she is such a sweetheart. She told me if i bring enough supplies she would help be build a bigger cabin, maybe even big enough to call it a house. If I wanted to make it any bigger tho she said she have to take my horse…. I dont think she was joking.

Jackson sighed, his money was no good here? Surely that was an exaggeration right? His eyes looked towards his bed, making sure they were ok. A long deep breath left his lips as he shook his head slightly, it may be harder to give her the care she probably needed then he thought. He continued picking around his food, eating his favorites first, the spinach and blueberries, while spooning rice into his mouth.

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 Future note to self, BE CAREFUL WHEN CHOPPING DOWN TREES. I feel stupid for not thinking about this earlier, but the fall, and the fall anywhere you dont want them to, hell I almost hit my new well today. Remember the tips they gave you, if its small chop it slowly, when its close to a point where it can fall use your saw to finish it and push it in the direction you want it to fall, stand at the side and back up when it moves. For bigger trees, use a ladder start higher and take it down in sections…

This really is so much work, I can’t help but have doubt, the worry that I am not cut out for this. Maybe this was a mistake. I miss my family… or at least what was my family. I just hope that I can turn these trees into a shed and look forward to the future.

Jackson shut the book, his stomach knotted. A sick feeling overcame him, he had the same worries and self doubt his father had, yet his father chose to continue his life without him. Something Jackson wasn’t ready to accept yet. How could he miss his family but still choose this over them, over his son. A bite of his chicken was all he could manage with the tightening feeling he felt in his gut. He tossed the remainder in her tupperware before moving to the other crawling himself into the bed. He laid with his body towards his pets, long slow strokes from her ears down to her tail, this wasn’t for her but for him, to feel safe or at least less anxious.

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“If you need anything… If you’re hurt or need to get down or water… or anything, yelp or paw me… I'll even give you permission to nip me.. Just let me know buddy.” His fingers gently caressed the tip of her ears with small circles until his hands moved slower. His eyes grew heavier and more tired, the motion of his hands slower and slower as he continued petting her. His words grew softer and slower. “It's ok, you’re safe, you’re a good girl.. Good night my fox friend…” *His petting seamlessly stopped in the middle of her back as he drifted asleep, mouth ajar with a bit of drool leaving the corner of his mouth. @Fiory

”Hey little one… Are you feeling any better?” As well as to be expected… The answer given though never said. She just watched with curious eyes as the man came forward, crouched in front of her and then flopped onto the porch step. He has a bit of a dreamy look about him, staring off towards the mountains and the sky as it faded and darkened. Felicity had spent the entire day just remaining where he’d left her, letting her limbs heal and the makeshift bandages to catch any blood that might threaten to spill. By the end of the day, she felt like she could put weight on them, but she likely would have a hard time hunting and that was more the trouble than anything else. Something was better than nothing at this point, and at least the man hadn’t been mean to her. So when he laid down next to her, muttering or praying perhaps up into the ink of sky above, Felicity just watched and listened to him in silent reverence. She was close enough by his shoulder that she could see his chest moving as he breathed, and the tear fall down his cheek. Why are you so sad? She wondered, before he got himself up and she tracked his movements gathering firewood and stacking them up neatly close by. Her ears stood tall and straight watching him then go to each animal and ensure their comfort before returning back to the cabin. Felicity was ready to try and snake her way under the porch. Her stomach still grumbled bitterly as the jerky and mouse wasn’t a lot for the day for her, but she at least had had something. No complaints really. She was about to try, getting herself into a sitting position versus being curled into a tight fluffy red-orange ball of fur, when Jackson returned and declared she wouldn’t be sleeping outside tonight. That she would be joining him in the cabin, and scooping her up appropriately in his arms. Her sharp face swiveled to the door of the cabin, interest with a hint of apprehension in her eyes. She’d never actually been inside the cabin before, always

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chased away when Avery woke or when he was going to sleep. Her body hung loose in his arms until he walked in and set her down on the corner of the bed.

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It was a small place, and there was a heavy dust in the air like it had been stagnant for weeks if not over a month or two. The bed was comfortable, at least more so than the dirt and feathers under the porch had been, and once set down on the old worn quilted comforter and pillow, Felicity gingerly stepped on the bed. The cushion of it made the throbbing sting in her legs a little less, and she stood for a moment on the quilt, her nostrils digging at the fabric to take in the strange smell it had. It was old but had the distinction of warmth and care and comfort. Her rump was first, plopping down with a soft flop on the blankets while she continued to take in her surroundings. First her left, and then her right leg bent in and Felicity winced at the effort just to lay down. This is the worst. I want to run… Damn you Avery… She growled a little, her ears folding back in her own annoyance while her chin rested against the pillow. At least it was comfortable, so she couldn’t complain about being brought inside like some kind of pet dog. The sound had been made more in irritation at herself. She should have been more careful, should have watched where she was moving, where she stepped. Felicity knew there was no love lost for her with Avery, so it would have been well within his character to lay traps everywhere for the sly vixen to catch in. The exhale that escaped her nostrils was clearly a frustrated huff, her ears slowly rising as she heard Jackson begin to strike matches and attempt to get a fire started in the heart. At least your son doesn’t take after you Avery… The thought was a bit of a comfort, her head lifting as the soft glow of the fire filled the room and danced over the walls casting shadows of the furniture along the floor and ceiling. Her gaze moved to the fireplace and caught sight of the man and his smile, kind and clearly proud of what he had achieved.

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Felicity continued to watch on, her long tail swaying against the bed every so often as he continued to shuffle around the cabin. Her ears would only flatten at the screeching sound of the old wood scratching against the floorboards when he moved the chairs and shuffled himself close. Another bowl of water within reach of her if she were to require it, her thin muzzle turning to look at it, before going back to Jackson’s face. He really was different; she was a pest, a predator that ate chickens and ducks and was overall seen as a nuisance on a farm. And yet here he was, pampering and taking care of her. He easily could have just left her in that trap and she wouldn’t have faulted him for it. It’s what any respectable farm hand would have done. It’s what Avery would have done. So why didn’t you? Blinking a little, she watched as Jackson moved away and stretched his body one way and then the other. Her head tilted while she watched him strip in front of her, an intense heat rushing over her face. Sure, she was a fox but she was intelligent enough to understand and appreciate something in its more natural state. And Jackson didn’t look too half bad in her view. The only indication for him that she was watching was the quiet thumping sound of her tail on the bed; a reaction she couldn’t help and wasn’t going to try. What did she have to be embarrassed about? If anything, she saw it as a compliment for him.

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While he was busy in the bathroom, cleaning himself off, Felicity took it upon herself to try and work her limbs a bit. She hated feeling incapacitated, it was so imprisoning. So she forced herself up, and while she didn’t stay up long, she was at least able to take a few steps to the water he’d left for her. That’s a start… We’ll see how bad it is in the morning… She thought, taking stock of the one room cabin now that it was sufficiently lit with the fire in the hearth and she didn’t have to watch Jackson like a threat. Not like he had presented himself that way, she was just being cautious. He soon came back out and busied himself with making dinner. Something that made her nose lift and take in air noisily. Sitting on the bed up by the pillow she couldn’t help the furious motion of her tail at the smell that wafted into her nostrils. She knew that scent, it’s what she had been searching for this morning. Maybe I can sneak a piece when he’s not looking.. Was the initial thought that crossed the vulpine’s mind, only to have her world be shocked again. He placed a separately portioned meal for her, something she hadn’t expected. Looking from the tupperware then back to Jackson, Felicity decided that it was worth the risk. Careful, as she could still feel the steam coming off of it, she dipped her snout into the plastic and tore into the chicken first. Her tail whipped behind her, feeling her stomach finally feeling filled after a day of next to nothing. She even let a soft whine escape her muzzle, enjoying the blueberries as well. She’d nearly finished it when he walked over tossing the remains of his into her plastic dish. The action made her jump a little and look up at him.

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He seemed different. Sad or anxious maybe, Felicity couldn’t quite tell. She remained still, lying in a more lounge type way as he crawled into the bed and slowly began stroking her from head to tail. It was a highly pleasant feeling. One that made Felicity drop her head against the quilt and pillow next to him. The petting strokes he made may not have been for her, but she certainly didn’t mind them. She listened to him in silence as he talked, catching his words even as he faded into unconsciousness. As he slipped further and further until sleep took him, Felicity noticed how his gentle pets slowed more and more until they finally stopped. Poor guy… Guess, he’s been through a lot.. She thought, an ear flicking backwards for a moment before coming back forwards. In the dimming light of the fireplace, her gold slitted eyes glittered, watching him sleep. He was actually peaceful to watch, Felicity just watching his chest rise and fall gently and even how his eyelashes fluttered as if he was in a dream. As quietly as she could, the vixen crawled a little closer, hesitant at first just to be sure he was completely out and wouldn’t suddenly wake and remove her. It was clear he was out of his element here, out of his depth, and Felicity felt like she was just owing him more and more. First the trap, now feeding her and providing a shelter from the night. She was determined now; he needed help, and she’d do everything she could to try and help him. Her muzzle came forward slowly, and in a way for her to say thank you, she gave his cheek a few small fox sized licks of appreciation. When she pulled back, she worried she had disturbed him but was pleasantly surprised to see he was still asleep. Feeling that perhaps it was safe to do so, Felicity yawned and placed her head over her paws, ready for probably one of the most comfortable sleeps she’d had in her life.

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By morning, the birds outside were chirping and the sun was just barely peeking out through the window of the cabin. The fire in the hearth had all but gone out, leaving only small glimmers of glowing red embers behind that still clung to the wood desperate to remain. Stretched out along the comforter, relaxed and enjoying the bed for the first time, Felicity’s nose lightly twitched and her ears swiveled to the bird song outside. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she glanced around the room as the sun began to lighten the walls. At first she wasn’t sure exactly where she was. This didn’t look like her den under the porch, where her chicken feathers and dead grass provided enough of a bed for her. Oh.. That’s right… Avery’s gone… and his son is… Her head swiveled and lifted to look at the sleeping man that snoozed along next to her. His hand still lay over her mid back where it had stopped that night in its idle stroking of her auburn fur. The blanket where his chest was would rise gently while he slept and Felicity paused to just watch him quietly. Not wanting to disturb him too but too antsy to sit still much longer, the vixen flexed her little paws on the bedspread. There was still pain, but at least it had dulled with a good night’s sleep and keeping off of her limbs. Her body lifted a little easier to stand there on the sheets, raising his arm off her back til it slid off and flopped onto the bed with a gentle thud. Her long tail hung over the sheets and her arched in a rounded stretch giving a little shiver at it. Felicity flexed her paws and stretched them out in front of her a moment, testing the strength in her legs and paws to determine what she could try and what she probably shouldn’t. Walking should be easy enough, at least for short distances. Running, pouncing and therefore hunting? Debatable.

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Her eyes looked around the slowly lightening room, realizing one cold truth that hadn’t dawned on her until then. She was trapped again. There was no way she could open that door without Jackson’s assistance. It was just too high and even if she could reach the doorknob, she’d have a hell of a time trying to turn the damn thing, let alone opening the door without too much noise. Guess that means its time to get up big guy… Her muzzle turned back to the sleeping figure beside her. The way the rays of sun made his skin glow was fascinating to watch, and for a moment she just let him be to enjoy the quiet view. Slowly she lifted a paw to step carefully up onto his chest, gingerly moving til all four were crouched down like a large cat on top of him. Her tube of a tail with it’s dipped white end swayed back and forth in a sweeping motion behind her while she crept close to his face. Large triangle ears were forward and at any moment she was ready to leap away if she over stepped but for the moment her curiosity was certainly taking over. Felicity thought about what he had said, that she could paw or yelp or even nip him if she needed something. But she didn’t exactly want to hurt the man who’d been so kind to her. So instead, she pressed her nose against his cheek. Her muzzle would press afterwards, sliding against his cheek similar to how a cat would when demanding attention. If a first pass didn’t work to wake him, a second pass would be done, a soft whine tickling out of her throat. Though if that still didn’t work, Felicity would growl a little louder and go a different approach, plopping a paw on his face with a firm but padded thud to try and wake him. @Jester

Darkness. Heavy eyes falling into deep slumber. His mind and body were seemingly too exhausted to resist the call. As his eyes shut the darkness made its home. His once racing thoughts of the plan for tomorrow faded into nothingness, and that nothingness, much like a butterfly emerging from its shell turned into something more, something beautiful. Twilight, shimmering greens and blues and yellows, dancing like autumn leaves falling from hibernating trees and there stood Jackson, in the middle of it all. The colorful lights shined in words before a bright green shot towards him. He was standing on the farm, the darkness now replaced with the beautiful greenery. A winged creature, petite and small, no bigger than a foot, its iridescent wings flapping in place. It had no eyes, no face or at least not one that Jackson’s brain could make out, yet with a snap of its fingers, the once run down farm was tamed, the grass low and measured, trees tall and healthy even the structures were fixed. The cabin itself was bigger and just as Jackson managed to take it all in a flash of blue rushed through him. The sounds of roaring waters filled the farm. The symphony of fish jumping from the water, the now thriving lake grew in depth, played music to his ears, the sounds and sights were composed by the blue creature that floated next to the green. Yellow fell like a droplet of water from the sky and in a blink the now healthy farm was accompanied by animals. His eyes looked as familiar faces joined his dream. The cows, goat and horse happily grazing the land gated in their fixed pens. The empty coop where he had found the fox was now an assortment of ducks and chickens. The farm was now just as Jackson wanted it. The dreamt image was everything he wanted it to be as the yellow fairy aligned with the rest. The fluttered motions of their wings made no noise yet in his head he heard their call. The land is.. The land is…

11:54

The land is what? He couldn’t understand. A bright flash of red grew as flames coated the beautiful sight. Where there should be a feeling of panic, instead his chest felt pressure. A pressure he couldn’t understand. Not sure if it grew from his nerves or from this dream, yet it felt light, it felt innocent. His face felt cold in parts, he looked up at the emberred sky expecting a drop of rain to hit his face. There was no rain, yet the feeling persisted as he felt warmth, a warm stroke of his face that seemed to have a certain amount of softness to it. His breathing struggled as it rose and fell until a plop hit his face and his eyes shot open. It was just a dream, a lucid dream, but the paw that was dropped against his nose was reassurance that he was safe. His eyes that were now shot open had a desperate look of panic and worry. In the next few moments he would remember where he was. He was used to waking up in the comfort of his studio apartment, yet here he laid, in a dusty cabin, with a fox pawing his face. The confidence of trusting a wild animal to not kill him in his sleep paying forward as an alarm clock. A gentle blowing of air outwards at her paw, followed by a soft and slow turning of his body to move the creature off of him.

11:55

“Sorry little one..” His eyes looked about the cabin, the sun just high enough to give the wood a soft glow. His voice was groggy and soft, a heavy yawn leaving his lips. “I guess I overslept a bit huh?” He put his hands upon the top of her head, gently massaging her triangle ears in small circles. “Wweelll… I guess I need to get stuff done today.. Another busy day” he chuckled to himself before looking at the fox “Feeling any better?” He had come to the agreement with himself that he was just crazy and that talking to animals would be the way he could cope and get some social interactions whilst he was stuck on the farm. His hands reached up towards the sky and pushed as far as he could, his arching back lifted and his toes pointed towards the foot of the bed as he released a soft moan. A big stretch was his motivation to leave his bed. A slow slide of the body before his feet felt the warm wood floor of the cabin. If it wasn’t for the fire his home may have been much colder, so the warmth was a pleasant surprise.

11:55

He picked up the foxes bowl, pouring out whatever remnants of water there was into the sink before filling it again and placing it on the floor of the cabin nearest to the door. He looked inside the fridge looking for something to eat to start his day. He had some yogurt and an apple, that would have to be enough for now. Jackson was a list oriented person, he thrived with checklists and he had already prepared one mentally. Clean the dishes, feed the fox, go to town. It was a simple list but it helped keep his brain focused. The tupperware he had used last night, he deemed to be a food bowl, quickly rinsed it off before putting a few spoonfuls of yogurt and some bits of apples inside. Still completely clueless of what foxes eat, he just wanted to make sure that there was at least something if it needed it. He returned his gaze to his bed. He looked at the fox and back to the floor. It was a drop, and in its condition, most likely a painful one. His hands wrapped around her yet again before gently placing her on the floor. “Ok, listen up little one.” He crouched in front of her with a smile on his face. “I'm going to leave this front door open, ok? Stay here, I’ll be back in a little bit. I just need to go into town, I need to get us some food, and some medicine.” His hands gestured towards the door where he had placed the tupperware and bowl “There is some food and water for you. Just relax, and I will be back hopefully in a few hours.”

11:55

He smiled before walking towards his bag to get a fresh pair of jeans, socks and a white shirt. Quickly dropping his shorts and leaving them on the ground and rushing to dress the rest of himself, hopping one footed while putting his shoes on before falling onto his bed and finishing. With a motivated spring in his step, he opened the door, and propped it with a chair, letting the rising sun fill the cabin. He didn’t assume that the fox would stay with the door wide open but at the very least he considered it would at least help with the cabin. He walked through the wooden door frame and let a big breath in, followed by an ‘ahhhh’. His nose enjoying the smell of the clean air, his ears the sound of wildlife. It truly was one of the best ways to wake up, and certainly one of the most beautiful scenes he had ever woken up to. He started his two mile march towards the town. He had known, from his research back home, that there was one store in town. A small general store that held the majority of the town's needs within. Fresh seeds for each changing season, a small selection of clothes and medicine, tools or materials to make tools, he wasn’t quite sure, regardless, that was where he knew he would need to go. Soon after setting out, his thoughts drifted to things he should look into, to make his what seems to be a longer stay, more pleasurable. He kept his fingers crossed in hopes all the way to Pierre's General Store that they would have a coffee maker.

11:55

The dirt walkway turned into stone as he got closer to the confines of the town. Houses were closer together yet still distanced more than they would be in your average city. In the center of the city, a large fountain made its home, small birds alongside its edges. Well kept grass lining the walkways, it truly was remarkable and seemed like the entire town pitched in to keep it looking so pristine. There his destination was, in the heart of the town, Pierre’s General Store. If it wasn’t for the giant sign hung, it would easily be mistaken for a large house. Most of the houses and buildings were all made of wood and stone, it was truly a town that was lost in time. Everything was old fashioned but more importantly, there was no worries. The people he had seen about in the town all had smiles on their faces and were in no rush to do anything. It felt freeing to even witness. Jackson pulled the store door open, only to see half of the size of the outside being used as a store. There were a few shelves with items sparsely placed, and at the counter by the register an older man, with auburn hair and a pair of glasses.

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Can I help you find anything sir? “Umm… ya.. Sorry sir, I am, I’m at Avery’s farm.. I don’t really know what I am doing…I was hoping you had some food and some maybe medicine or something for a harsh cut.. Maybe something animal friendly?.... But I don’t see anything like that on the shelves…” Oh silly boy, don’t worry about that, our little town does things a bit different. Pierre gestured to Jackson to come to the desk where he pulled out a binder. Each page was put into plastic liners and had a different asking price for it, however it was never money being asked for. It was different resources or foods that they would use as a trading system. Now, we know your lose is affecting ya, and its hard to understand our little way of doing things so let me help. “I would love the help. Thank you so much” He blushed embarrassed by how little he knew and underprepared he was. His clammy hands held the counter nervously, hoping that whatever the price was for supplies, he would be able to pay it. Now, normally for medicine and such, you go to the towns little hospital, but Harvey is a good friend of ours and Im sure he wont mind me taking care of this. Just know, in the future go to Harvey. He’ll take care of you and your animals. He does his work cheap to, I think of it being account of how empathic he is. As far as food goes, we have a butcher. Normally you take him an animal and he’ll teach you how to butcher it yourself, for a cut of the meat of course, or you have him do it and he will just take a bigger portion. But you’re so new and we all know the loss of Avery is hard on you so how about this. I’ll grab you some ointment and some pain killers, and meet you back at your dads cabin with Mr. Gil our butcher. He can show you the ropes and you’ll have plenty of meat for a while. He gave a soft smile towards Jackson, he seemed kind hearted, though he couldn’t discern if it was from pity or not.

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“Th-thank you very much sir… I really appreciate it a lot. Is there anything, I can do to pay you back, or prepare?” That won't be necessary son, just head on back to the Cabin and we will meet you there in a few hours. Jackson smiled, awkwardly turning around and walking back out of the store. In the city, kindness like this was scarce, if not completely gone. People would rarely even stop to say hello or help pick up something that was dropped let alone go out of their way to not only give you food but medicine. His shocked dressed his face with red colors as he closed the door behind him. Thinking to himself, it couldn’t have gone any better if he had wanted it to. Even more so, he will have time to work on the farm before they come over. His sore feet didn’t bother him due to the happiness he felt from things going right for once, that conversation supported the confidence in his head that he could do this. @Fiory

The quiet grumbling he made had her tilt her head, her paw planted firm against his face to try and wake him. C’mon…Get up now would you? She thought, and right on cue, he seemed to stir underneath her. Her ears flicked forward and she looked back and forth as his body turned and she slid off his chest with a quiet flop back onto the bed proper. ”I guess I overslept a bit huh?” Not really… I just can’t open the door like this. Felicity quietly sat back on the bedspread, just watching him stir and wake. Her head tilted appreciatively at the gentle massage he gave to her ears, her eyelids falling halfway a bit at the feeling. He even pulled a soft whine from that muzzle at the sensation. If he wasn’t careful, she’d just make herself right at home if he let her. She was starting to be thankful she’d gotten snared by that metal trap, especially if it meant getting constantly treated like something that wasn’t a pest. ”Feeling any better?” Sure sure… a little more to the left please Was the only thing the vixen thought, shaking her head and letting those large ears flop from side to side once he’d finished with the gentle massaging petting he gave to her. His stretching prompted her to mimic him, leaning her front forward and stretching her front limbs out. Her paws splayed wide and her little claws grasped the bed with her chest low and grazing against it. Her backside high and her tail flopping gently over her face a little before she reversed it and let her back limbs stretch out one and then the other.

09:42

She was feeling better, able at least to move without as much pain, which was a pleasant reprieve. Her quiet gaze watched as he moved around the bed, refilling her water and even giving her some of his breakfast. When he picked her up and placed her on the ground with the food at her disposal as well as the fresh water, Felicity just let her head rest against his chest a moment, still in his arms so she didn’t accidentally squirm out and hurt herself. Once down on the hardwood floor, she glanced at the newly filled tupperware and the contents therein. In quiet confusion at it, Felicity sniffed at the yogurt and ended up dipping her little black nose in it. What the-? She whined, her tongue coming out to clean her nose with a simple swipe. It wriggled a bit and the taste of the yogurt was tangy on her tongue but otherwise easy enough to eat. It wasn’t terrible though, so she took a few more gentle laps at it, her tail swaying back and forth in appreciation of the flavorful substance. Her ears perked when he began to talk again and she quietly looked up at him to listen. For a wild animal, or at least one that appeared that way, Felicity would look quite intelligent, watching him move and paying attention when he spoke. More than just a wary animal being cautious of a threat in their midst or a dog with its owner. Her eyes shone with understanding, and she tilted her head at him.

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When he stood back up and began to get dressed, she watched on as if he was her own personal private show. A soft rolling chittering sound fell from her muzzle, her eyes tracking him as he bounced around the room and moved to pull his jeans and shoes and the rest of his clothes on. If it wasn’t clear enough, she thought he was quite entertaining. Not bad to look at and he does the oddest things… Definitely doesn’t take after Avery… Thank the spirits for that. She thought, sliding herself out of the way and sitting her rump down to watch the show as he fell onto the bed. Her backend made a soft thump noise against the wood, her tail sweeping from side to side as she enjoyed the display. I’m not useless.. I can take care of myself.. She thought, an ear shifting backwards slightly hearing that he wanted her to stay. That he wanted her to just relax until he came back in a few hours. Standing made her legs throb a little, but when he opened that door Felicity was all too ready to go outside into the fresh air. Her lithe frame slipped between his legs and she rubbed slightly against the inside of his shin on her way out. Carefully, she stepped down from the porch, her tail low and her ears forward. Once her pads met with the grass outside, Felicity couldn’t help herself. The dew covered blades felt so good on her paws, the fresh air and the sunshine tickled her nose and caressed her fall colored fur. Her body flopped over on her side, stretching and rubbing and rolling about, enjoying the freedom again of being out of the cabin, as nice as it had been inside there.

09:43

While lying on her back, squirming in the grass and letting her fur catch some of the water from the dew, she forced her head up in order to look at him. He had stepped down the porch and was making his way towards the town. For a moment, Felicity thought she could join him, rolling over onto her side and standing back up. Her paws moved her quietly forward, though as she followed behind the pain that started wasn’t something she thought a two mile hike to town and back would be doable. Her ears flattened a little in irritation, finally sitting at the edge of the property line and watching him get further and further away down the path. I hate this… I hate being like this… She grumbled, more to herself than to anything else. Though at the moment she wasn’t quite sure what exactly to do about it. Her eyes glanced over her shoulder, back at the cabin where she knew she had breakfast waiting for her, which had been sweet of him to leave. Her ears flicked to listen to the waking animals and different bird songs of the farm getting up this morning. The sun was shining brilliantly today, casting its gentle rays over the trees and the backs of the animals as they stirred and began their morning routines. Deciding that sitting around wasn’t going to help her road to recovery, Felicity moved towards one of the fields that could be tilled for crops, and began digging weeds out of it. It wasn’t for her sake that she did this, but really for the man who she owed a bit of a debt to. Her little paws scratched and scraped at the ground, and her teeth grasped the grass blades pulling and depositing the bundles bit by bit away from the field. Her tail swayed and brushed the dirt over the holes as she worked. After an hour, a patch of field was cleared with a small stack of dead weeds and grass off to the side just waiting to be used for materials elsewhere or for tinder for his fire. With filthy paws and dirt in her fur, Felicity shook herself and winced.

09:43

The pain hadn’t left her legs, and while she was feeling better the additional labor she was putting in for his farm was not helping her heal. Alright.. Take a break.. I got it… She thought, walking slowly back to the porch and stepping gingerly up the stoop. She had a little dirt in her nose that she blew out in a huff of an exhale, rubbing her nostrils against her fur to try and clean it of the remaining dirt. Once satisfied, she slipped between the legs of the chair holding the door to the cabin open, her little paws leaving prints as she walked inside. It wasn’t like she meant to dirty the cabin, she’d just been working, doing her part as best she could around the farm and the meal he’d left was surely something welcomed. I’m filthy… I need to get cleaned up I think… She decided, licking her snout of any remaining yogurt and apple bits that could have been left once the tupperware had been thoroughly cleaned. Her auburn fur was darkened with dirt and her black paws were a quiet hue of chocolate. The bandages were certainly dirty too, though Felicity had no way of replacing them at this moment yet. And while she wanted to continue to help, the throbbing her legs gave her desperately needed the break. So once her breakfast was thoroughly consumed, she slipped back out of the cabin.

09:43

This was as much her home as it was Jackson’s. She wasn’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon. Even if Avery had done his best to drive her away. The way Felicity saw it, this land was hers to protect and to guard over. A resident of the forest and a keeper of the land. Her paws were light and left little tracks in their wake as she moved about the property. Much slower than she would have normally with a playful bounce in her step. This time it was more of a slow meander, her ears high and listening for the different bits of life that lived on the overgrown farm. Over the course of the morning, she’d collect sticks or acorns, bringing them back to the cabin and placing them in neat piles next to the weed pile she’d made before. Back and forth, slowly walking in and out of the property. It took the entire time that Jackson was away in town for the piles to show a decent amount of material. A pile of about thirty or so twigs and sticks, about twenty acorns she’d found lying around that were easy enough to pick up, a stack of weeds and grass that could easily double as a bed for her if she so chose to lay in it. All stacked neatly in small piles outside his cabin. It’s something I guess… It’s not like I can cut down any trees for him or really clean up all the weeds and grass, but… I hope it’s somewhat helpful. It had taken her all morning, and exhausted quite a bit of her energy with the moving to and from the cabin, so Felicity did the thing she thought best to do. With the sun rising higher in the sky and the distant sound of feet returning to the property, she slowly slipped under the porch where her chicken feathers and grass made bed was. Her body flopped down as soon as she got most of the way underneath, her legs curling softly under her and her muzzle resting over her paws. The only indication he would see at where she had gone, was the tube tail of auburn red and white that stuck out of the hole she’d dug under the porch. Too worn out it seems to

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even drag it under the porch’s safety with her. Her legs hurt and her paws were a little sore; she wasn’t used to doing manual labor and especially while she was injured or in the state she was in. So the sensation made her whine gently, her ears flattening against her skull to listen for anyone coming back. Felicity just planned a small rest, just enough until Jackson would come back, and then she’d return and continue doing what she could. Whether that was more digging up weeds or bringing home sticks or even finding more seeds for him like the acorns, she was willing to try. At least to do something to show her gratitude for his help and kindness.

09:43

When he’d arrive back on the farm, it wouldn’t be hard to spot the three stacks of materials she’d left for him, and while not a lot in the long run it was the best she could do considering. If he took a moment to look for her, it wouldn’t be hard to spot that bush of a tail laying limp on the ground sticking out from under the porch while the owner of it gently snoozed in the late morning warmth. Every so often, she made a gentle whine or a chitter sound, her ear flicking in relaxation and sleep while she dreamt of chasing mice and rabbits around the Avery farm, now soon to be the Jackson farm. @Jester

Each step after the last felt heavier. Jackson realized that his body physically wasn’t quite yet ready for the physical demands of this lifestyle. His trips to town should be few and far in between. If he needed to go there often, it should be every other day. If he stayed longer than a week, which seemed likely at this point, maybe once a week would be enough. His thoughts trailed on in his head as he trekked home. It had only now dawned on him what he agreed to, in less than a few hours, one of his cows would be dead. The thought alone was enough to send chills throughout his spine and stopped him dead in his tracks. Tears swelled his eyes to the thought of it as his pace quickened. Rushing now towards the dusty cabin, he needed to see them one more time before his company would arrive. Finally, he made it back to where he was calling home. It felt different, his heart sunk in his chest. His hallowed chest was enough to ignore the sight of the hard work that his vulpine friend had done and the tail poking out from the hole beneath the porch. Instead his brain was fixated on his cows. Both of which had been grazing carefree, without a single clue of the devastation that was ahead of them. His slow approach to them was filled with heartache. His hands gently rubbed their backs up to their heads as liquid filled the corner of his eyes. “It- it’ll be ok buddies… it-it's going to be ok.” *His hands stopped at the middle of their backs as droplets of water slid from his cheeks onto the grass between them. His stomach twisted and curdled at the thought of what was going to happen. His brain couldn’t bear to comprehend the fact that it would be by his hands. His hands moved again softly against them. It wasn’t fair, it shouldn’t be like this, but he had two mouths to feed. Until this moment his empathic heart chose to believe that behind every steak, every chicken, every piece of meat that he had purchased from the grocery store had just magically appeared there.

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That none of these beautiful creatures would be hurt to be fed. It was ignorant of him, but it was that blissful ignorance that kept him happy. However, like most things on this farm it was a very rude awakening, one that had driven to tears falling from his eyes like a spring rain.* “You both are so good, and you don’t deserve what’s coming. I- I am so sorry.”

13:40

He slowly walked away from the two, a mixture of not wanting to feel the pain that he had felt and the need to let them enjoy what would be for one of them, their last meal. His way back to the cabin he finally noticed the piles of sticks, weeds and acorns. His red and puffed face couldn’t help but smile. He looked around to see if there was a leprechaun or the fairies from his dreams around, that hid given him these, instead he noticed the poofy tail sticking out from the porch. He grabbed the piles of sticks and weeds, now seeing the grooves in them from her teeth. It was his friend that helped him. He had his very one farm hand. Carefully he put the sticks and weeds into the fireplace, he hadn’t been sure if she was nesting or giving them to him, but he didn’t want these to go to waste and they would certainly make for a great fire in the evening. After spreading them along the ashes and remnants of charcoal from the previous fire he had made his way back outside. He wanted to talk to his foxy farmhand, but he also didn’t want to wake and startle her if she had been sleeping. Instead, he softly whispered, ‘Thank you little one.. You are so sweet.’ as he wiped tears from his cheeks. He slowly made his way to the half fixed shed, grasping a shovel. *He wanted to pay homage to his little helper, show his gratitude in a way that would help her in the future. His foot pushed the spaded metal into the dirt. The ground crumbling and moving at his will. It was important to him, especially with the sacrifice that was needing to be made, that he left this place better than when he had found it. It was personal to him now, those feelings were his fuel, his desire to make it better as he dug three holes. One was near the well, the second a good ten feet next to the cabin and one near where he had thought he had remembered the trap being. In each of those holes, he grabbed the acorns and seedlings, and buried the mixture of them into each before covering them with dirt. He

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had never planted anything before or had even attempted to turn his thumb green, but if by some miracle it worked, in a few seasons or if he was lucky in a year's time three trees would sprout and feed the area. His fox friend would have more insects and birds to chase and the wildlife would have freshly grown leaves to munch on. His heavy heart felt a bit lighter after each planting. The sweat from his brow replaced the tears, and the fulfillment of doing good replaced the hardships that lingered in his mind, that is until he heard a set of 4 feet grumping against gravel. The moment he was dreading had come. It was time.*

13:40

Mr. Gil and Pierre walked towards the cabin's porch and waved Jackson over with a smile and a wave. They were such nice people and they had definitely gone out of their way for him this time. In Pierre’s hands were fresh gause and some bottle, in Mr. Gil’s a bucket with tools. Jacksons stomach flipped inside out as he walked towards them hesitantly. “Good afternoon, you both. Thank you both so much for coming. You have no idea how much you both are helping me” Jackson’s hand reached out to shake both of theirs as his face grew paler with each passing moment.” It’s no worries at all. Mr.Gil this is Jackson Avery’s boy. Pleasure… I’m sorry bout your dad son. *Mr. Gil had a stern look on his face. He had leather clothes that looked like they had seen plenty of use. His boots were firm and worn, and a black cowboy hat that covered portions of his face. Yet underneath the shadows of that hat, Jackson couldn’t help but feel like he had been holding back. Without knowing his personality however, he didn’t have much to go on. Well here is the medication for you, I also brought some fresh bandages just in case. Harvey actually demanded that I bring some, injuries out here are very common, and well… It is better to be prepared than not, even more so with you being so far out here. If you don’t mind I’ll just stick these on the table for you, and catch up with you and Mr. Gil after. Jackson gave him a soft thankful smile and a nod ‘That would be great sir, thank you very much again.” Oh hush it’s no problem at all. Community is important for us folk and well honestly, son you’re one of us now. *Spit hit the dirt next to Mr. Gil as the sound of hocking phlegm reached the back of his throat, as his face wrinkled and creased. It was clear that Mr. Gil was from here. He was older but had a war drawn look on his face that would make even rocks move for him. The bucket filled with tools was roughly pushed into Jackson’s stomach, as he started walking towards the two

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cows* So which one is it? Let’s not take too much time on this, ya hear?

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“I… I was actually thinking…” Well don’t think son, that aint gonna help one bit. Just pick one and lets be done with it. Come on over bessie. “Sir… Mr. Gil… I was.. Well maybe we should just pick the goat.. I am only going to be here a few days and won't be needing an entire cow.” His eyes grew red and puffy again, the thought of ending any one of the animals' lives was tough enough for him. Now listen here and listen good. Y’all city folk are too damn soft. TO DAMN SOFT. His hands grabbed the collar of his shirt. Now I’m here and I’m going to teach you how to do it. But don’t you dare get all touchy feely and cry on me now boy. It’s part of life out here. You do it and you eat, you don’t and you don't eat. Simple as that. Understand? “Ye- yes sir…” Jackson’s nose sniffled and as he wiped his cheeks with his arm. He didn’t feel threatened by the posture and positioning of the man, instead he felt the heartiness of him, the resolve of a man who was molded by this lifestyle. It was clear that he was born in it, molded by it, he had probably never even seen a city until he was a man, and the city streets were nothing more to him than blinding. As they made their way to the goat, he couldn’t help but look at what was in the bucket. It wasn’t much, a knife, a cleaver and two black trash bags. Jackson couldn’t help but feel the sickness in his stomach grow deeper. Mr. Gil slowly approached the goat with empty hands open towards it. Jackson watched as he used rope to secure the animal from fleeing and tied it to a nearby post of wood. Are you ready son? Now watch close.

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*He quickly grabbed the knife and the cleaver from the bucket and set it aside Next he grabbed the trash bag and to Jackson’s surprise used it as a makeshift covering for his body. However he wasn’t prepared for the quick slice of the neck that made gore fill the bucket. As the bucket filled once, he would take it and toss it into the other bag and put it back under the neck. It was a long process that had Jackson’s hands shaking and his body trembling with sorrow. Finally, it had ended, the last bucket poured into a bag before Mr. Gil looked towards him as he finished tying the bag shut. This right here. This is worth a pretty penny out there. Remember that. Sell it, you leave it round here itll stink up the land and worst of all get the attention of animals you dont want. Got it son? Jackson just nodded, in part out of disgust but also realizing that he may need to know this for the future. Now, for teaching you and doin it for ya to be honest. Im keeping it for myself. Call it a dealers cut. But in the future, if you bring me something else Im keeping some meat to. Now pay close attention. This part is where it gets important. Don’t want to miss any of the meat. **Mr. Gil grabbed the knife and started cutting open the chest of the animal. The inners spewing into his bucket. Switching between the knife and the cleaver he start carving out portions. Placing them on top of the bucket. Shit! I knew i forgot something. You got a cooler or something boy?

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Jackson quickly nodded and without hesitation left him to go to the cabin and grab it. He couldn’t take the sight of it anymore and was happy to escape by any means. Curious to him, Pierre hadn’t come back to join them yet. On his way to the cabin, Jackson couldn’t even bear to look towards his fox friend, his eyes full of water, and seeing the hurt animal would only push him closer to the edge that he was teetering on. Instead he focused on looking towards his feet, hitting the ground one step at a time. To his shock Pierre was inside, sweeping and tidying up the dusty cabin. A warm smile welcomes Jackson’s close to breaking emotions. I always hated that, Mr. Gil knows… That’s why I'm in here…. Cleaning away. This life can be hard. Very hard, but don’t let it get to you ok? It’s just nature's course and he knows that better than most of us. I know he had forgotten his wrappings and cooler, so I took some of the newspapers that you father left here and put them in yours. Once you guys are done just make sure to wrap em up and put them in your fridge alright? I’m probably just going to tidy up a bit and head on back. “Thank…. Thank you sir.. For everything….” Before Jackson could let the tears leave the side of his eyes, soft pressure of a hand against his shoulder. It was a soft but overwhelmingly comforting gesture. Enough so for Jackson to crack half of a smile and make his way back to Mr. Gil with the cooler. By the time that he had gotten back, most of the work had been done. Mr. Gil it seemed was a very slow and patient man. It was work that had to be done and he would do it. Together they would spend the next hour wrapping the meat in different papers and placing them into the cooler. The food was more than enough for Jackson and his fox friend to thrive, at least for a week or two.

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Alright son, now the hard part. You and I are gonna carry this ere carcass up the riverbend a bit. Drop it off with this ere bucket. Now when you do this on your own, remember.. As far away from your house as you can. It’s the circle of life ya see? We kill the animal. Take the best for ourselves. The rest we give to wolves and foxes and what not. Then when they are done the remnants go to the fish. One kill may seem harsh and upsetting but this one body will feed hundreds of others. Make sense boy? Jackson smiled and nodded as they carried it up stream almost half a mile away from the cabin and resting it close to the river. For the first time since he had thought about what he had to do, he felt positive about it. Yes, he was missing a goat now, and yes someday he may have to do it to a cow or a chicken, but this wasn’t like the city. There was life here, real life. Life that needed nurturing and support. While the emotions he felt about harming an animal were strong, the feelings he felt about helping countless more brought a clear conscience to him. The walk there was silent, emotional, upsetting. The walk back was silent, peaceful and proud. The dimly lit and dropping sun kissed the ground of the farm softly with the last bits of heat for the day. Mr. Gil gave him a tip of the hat before bringing his tools, bucket and bag back towards the town. Jackson looked around for his trusty farm hand while sitting on the porch. It was quite the day, and yet there was still work to be done. @Fiory

She hadn’t meant to, but with taking her weight off her limbs and sinking into the relative darkness under the porch, it hadn’t taken much else for Felicity to hit the snooze button on the morning’s activities. She’d barely made it under the porch, her tail hanging outside the hole in clear view before she let herself quiet down and relax. Vowing to only relax for a few minutes, just a small while, then she would get back up again and continue doing something around the farm. Anything to help out the man who she owed her care to. Who was nothing like his father it seemed, and who she was glad of it. Instead, Felicity fell fast into a comfortable sleep, the smell of dried grass and chicken feathers tickling her nose with the earthy tones from the dirt she laid upon. At first, it was just a sea of blackness that took her. A dark abyss of peace and quiet without pain and without anguish. An empty void, where all there was to see was nothing at all. Slowly, an image of the farm came to light, overgrown as it was but beautiful in nature’s embrace. The sun was high, and the trees swayed in what looked like a carefree summer breeze. The cabin stood newly painted and fresh and clean, as if it had been made new. The fields where weeds had grown now had stalks of different crops for the season, their heavenly scent filling the air with tantalizing anticipation of their harvest. A soft thudding sound signaled where the man was, fixing a fence that had fallen to ruin and required repair. As the image crisped up and the farm came into focus, Felicity watched in interest as he continued to repair the fence posts. One nail at a time, careful and methodical. It seemed he’d long taken his shirt off to keep himself cool in the warmth of the sun and the exertion of the chore, his skin dusted with perspiration that he even wiped from his brow from time to time as she got closer. Thud thud thud A simple sound, quiet but steadily growing louder the closer she came. Other than the swe

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at of the work he performed, it also seemed dirty too, like he’d been up since sunrise working on the farm and managing it with care. As she approached, he seemed not to notice until she got within a step or two from him. Looking back from the creaking wood of the fence, testing its strength and durability, the new farmer stood in pride at the completed fence before turning to her. It was odd, fences don’t normally creak like that, but Felicity couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the sound should have been instead. Her focus was more on the man coming her way. Without warning but not at all unpleasant despite the state he was in, she felt his arms wrap around her in a gentle embrace. He smelled of the earth and of hard work and of determination. ”Thank you little one.. You are so sweet.”

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The words made her tilt her head, and when he pulled back from the hug he gave, Felicity looked back at him not as a vixen but as a young woman. Hair dark like melted chocolate with honeyed red tones. It fell in gentle waves past her shoulders and framed her lovely face with its soft ringlets. Her eyes were equally an abyss, something deep and rich to drown in, with skin that was fair and soft. She had a piercing look about her, while also being inquisitive and curious. Not entirely tall, but enough that he wasn’t towering too terribly over her, with subtle curves under a comfortable oversized sweater in cream. Her dark blue jeans hugged her hips and clung to her thighs, flaring a little at the knee down to her ankles while covering up the dark brown boots she wore. On closer inspection she was covered in a gentle layer of dirt too, as if she’d been helping around the farm up until that point. Perplexed when he pulled back, the woman’s arm reached out and her delicate fingers lightly fell against the bare wet skin in front of her. They were nimble and soft, even if they had seen work before, her forearms wrapped in what appeared to be the stripped and torn remains of a bloody t-shirt… The creaking of the porch above her was what startled her awake. Fence posts don’t creak on their own, and when the one in her dream had it had been loud enough to stir the fox under the porch out of her midday nap. The gentle footfalls that Jackson made leaving the vixen where she lay and the soft sounds of metal hitting earth stirred the memory of digging and planting for Felicity. Her muzzle opened and stretched into a wide yawn, her pink tongue curling on itself before her jaws snapped closed again. Quietly, she turned herself around, her tail disappearing under the porch in the effort so she could leave her little den and check on her new farm hand. This was her home after all, so while Avery had owned it before, Felicity surely believed it belonged to her and the forests surr

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ounding it. Jackson was merely a caretaker.

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No sooner had she taken a paw out from under the porch, did Felicity immediately shrink back under it. Her nostrils had gotten a whiff of Mr. Gill and Pierre from town. Pierre she didn’t quite mind, but Mr. Gil wasn’t exactly someone she cared for at all. What are they doing here? She wondered, watching carefully from under the porch, hidden in her darkened hiding hole to listen as the men stopped just outside of it. Felicity’s ears folded back flat and she curled herself into a tight auburn and white ball of fluff under the porch to listen. Pleasantries were exchanged between the three, even though a quiet growl escaped her muzzle hearing Gil speak. The man just gave her the chills; she surmised it was because he reminded her of Avery in a way. Nothing against what the man did, a butcher was necessary, but it wasn’t like she had to like it anymore than necessary. From what she heard, Pierre had brought some necessary supplies. Medicine that made her tail thump a little in appreciation. So he had actually gone to town to get medicine? That was kind of him, her slitted gold eyes glancing down at the dirty wraps she now sported on her forelegs. It would probably be best to have them changed, though she was in no hurry to do so. The sound of a thick mucus hitting the dirt alerted her attention back to the three men just outside her den and a low growl threatened against her teeth. The man was gross, she didn’t care for him at all, so once he and Jackson made their way towards the small herd of animals, Felicity was all too glad for it. The sooner that man got off her farm safe haven the better. While Jackson and Gil moved on, likely to butcher one of the farm animals on hand, Felicity’s attention turned to Pierre, who made his way into the cabin. Her curiosity peaked, Felicity slowly made her way out of the hole she’d been in, peering up over the edge of the porch to watch Pierre make his way inside. She watched him for a few minutes, the only visible part of h

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er being her triangle ears and her soft gold eyes at the edge of the porch looking into the door. Before long she determined that Pierre was just staying away due to Gil’s presence. She could understand and respect that at least. Though now her attention turned to where the men had gone off to, and why it seemed they were taking a while to return.

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Slowly, Felicity got herself up and strode out of her little hiding place, glancing down to see that the sticks and weeds and seeds she’d gathered had been taken. I hope he’s able to find a use for them at least.. She thought, letting her strides move her slowly off in the direction that Jackson and Mr. Gil had gone. As she drew near, the unmistakable bleating of the goat on its last breaths echoed in her ears. The fox dropped low to the ground, slinking her way through the tall grass to get a better look at what was going on. Even while injured and on the mend, it didn’t take the vixen long to find herself nestled just out of reach of Gil and Jackson. The conversation they were having as instructional, but all Felicity could focus on was the death in front of her. It wasn’t something new, that was just how the farm worked. Some things died to let others live. In the grand scheme of things, everything was a cycle and at least in that respect she could tolerate Mr. Gil’s practice. He at least understood that much. She watched as Jackson raced back to the house, crouched low to the ground and remaining hidden in the long grass nearby. The smell of blood permeated the area and being a carnivore herself, Felicity couldn’t help the build up of saliva at the thought of what the goat would taste like. Waiting until Jackson had completely disappeared from view, Felicity turned her attention to the butcher. He was methodical in his work, slicing here and removing there. As gruesome as it was, it was mesmerizing to watch. By the time Jackson returned with papers and a cooler, the work had nearly been completed. Her black tipped ear flickered in a snapping motion in the brush listening in. They were taking the carcass to the forest’s edge, for the animals that could utilize what they could not. Circle of life.. Felicity thought, getting to her paws and carefully making her way back to the cabin. She didn’t need to be there to watch the men drag the remains of the goat

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far into the wood and witness them deposit it.

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The minor movement she’d done since Jackson had come home was thankfully not enough to drain her too terribly much, but she didn’t necessarily like the idea of being found by Pierre but especially Mr. Gil at Jackson’s cabin. While she believed it to be her home too, she knew better than to chance a meeting with either of those men; last thing she wanted was to be run off the property or worse. Keeping low to the ground Felicity crept up to the cabin and snuck herself back under the porch with just a flash of orange and white. Her paws brought her into a tight circle once and then twice before she laid down to wait for the pair of strange men to leave. Once Pierre and Mr. Gil had said their goodbyes to Jackson, and she was quite sure they were out of sight from the property line, Felicity slowly emerged from under the porch. Her ears were on high alert, not because of the man sitting on the wooden steps that hid her but to ensure that the pair of men who had visited were well and truly gone. Her nose lifted into the air and quietly she walked out of the hole under the porch, turning a little to gingerly step up onto the wooden deck with him. He smelled of blood and sweat and dirt, not all together terrible scents but ones she could detect at least.

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It gets easier, you know… Her words came out in a quiet chittering sound, her muzzle barely open and knowing that he wouldn’t be able to possibly understand her. It felt nice though to attempt it. Her soft rump made a gentle sound as it hit the wooden floorboards beneath her, her long tube of a tail wrapping around her limbs in a relaxed state. Such an odd pair, a farmer and a fox, sitting on the porch of an old worn cabin that had surely seen better days, watching the sun dip below the horizon. I’ll thank you properly soon… I promise… The same quiet chittering sound, almost a whine escaped her throat again, her ears falling softly on her head giving the vixen a slightly sorrowful look. It wasn’t self pity or anything, she just hated feeling like she wasn’t being useful. That she wasn’t doing her job as a guardian of the land here, that she wasn’t helping the farm to thrive in a way that was best for those that lived here both animal and man alike. It was more out of frustration, wanting so much to be able to do more but the form she had currently was not one that could do much. Without another sound from her muzzle, Felicity just turned her head and quietly let her tongue slide over the back of his hand. It was her attempt to be comforting; it had been a long day, and a hard one for him. Taking a life was never easy, and for Felicity she had the feeling that he’d never done it before. With the way he had moved and how uneasy his voice had been. He tasted of blood and dirt and salt, but the fox didn’t care. It wasn’t about what he tasted of, it was more her trying to show support. Trying to show that he had done well, even if it had been hard. Whether that translated of course was an entirely different matter.

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Felicity would wait for a moment or two, before she got to her paws and turned towards the cabin door. It wasn’t until she’d taken a step in its direction that she realized where she was going. That wasn’t where she belonged. He’d allowed her in there last night, and today, but she couldn’t expect he’d let her in again. The comparison between her dirt and grass bed beneath the deck and the soft plush comforter of the bed inside sent a light whine through her throat. She certainly preferred sleeping next to Jackson on the bed. It was warm in there, and comfortable, and his presence was calming. But she was a wild animal to him, something that should probably not get too comfortable living in the house like some sort of pet, regardless if this was the case or not. Besides that, all her digging today had gotten her paws quite filthy, the bandages he’d made haphazardly were coated in a thick layer of dirt from the digging work she’d done and her auburn coat had a fine layer of it dotting her legs and underbelly. These facts didn’t necessarily matter to Felicity, as she thought a healthy layer of dirt was just the mark of a hard day’s worth of labor. Her tail gave a quiet sway back and forth, thinking over where and what she should do, the end of it lightly thudding against Jackson’s side while she silently contemplated her options. Well… he hadn’t seemed to mind before… and it was far more comfortable that way… She finally thought, coming to a conclusion and moving herself forward again. While she was used to sleeping on chicken down and blades of grass, that quilt had been far superior and Felicity thought she actually liked hearing him ramble about his day, what he needed to do, and how he was figuring things out. It gave her insight into what he was thinking, even if she could only be a rapt listener at the moment for him. He was intriguing and interesting. An anomaly to the farm, that Felicity was all too keen to continue investigating. So without permission

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or his consent, she walked herself inside just as the sun dipped and bid goodnight to the world. It stung a little but not nearly as bad as the day before when she leapt up onto the nearby chair and then stepped carefully onto his bed. Her soft gold eyes watched for him to come in too, her long fluffy tail sweeping and wagging behind her in glee at herself, listening to it make a gentle thwacking sound against the fabric underneath her. Her head lowered onto her front bandaged paws, her nose wriggling a little as the dirt from them dusted against the quilt covering. While there, she wondered if she could have that dream again from earlier in the day, trying to piece it together again in her head and capture the details of the fence and the farm. Of the man fixing it and seemingly proud about it, while standing before the woman who’d come to greet him. One Felicity knew all too well. @Jester

Jackson huffed and let out a sigh as his vulpine friend came towards him. He had wondered where she had gone off to, and what she had done with her day. He had felt that she helped him but couldn’t realize why she would. From his understanding, foxes weren’t pack animals and surely were scared of humans. Yet, there she was crawling out of her porch den and coming towards him. His preconceived ideas of what she wanted or her behaviors were still nothing more than a mystery to him. He wanted to believe that there was more in play than what his eyes could see, that somehow she wanted to stay with him, that she felt safe with him and that's why she crawled back to him. He couldn’t help but feel like if she had seen what he had done, she would have been terrified of him and she surely wouldn’t have come back. His heart was still heavy, all be with the slight release of knowing other life forms would benefit from his actions today. Her whine and gentle licks on his skin brought his attention back towards her. His hand that her muzzle wasn’t caring for moved to the top of her head, his fingertips very gently pinched her ear, massaging the top of it in small circles. “You’re so sweet… I- I am so sorry. I didn’t want to.. But we needed food…” *His voice was broken, soft and filled with sorrow. He watched as she got up. While her licks were comforting and soft, her whimpered noises made him think that she wasn’t trying to comfort him, that instead it was dinner time and she was hungry. He had been feeding her so it made sense in his mind that she would come back for meals. The fox hesitated instead of going inside like he had expected. Animals always did the weirdest things, to Jackson, it felt like she was waiting for a moment as a way to tell him to come in with her. Her day was done and his should be as well. He let a soft sigh out as he pushed on his knees and rose himself up to his feet. He followed her into the cabin, which, thanks to Peirre, was much cleaner; he c

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ould even notice her dirty paw prints leaving a little trail onto the chair that she had jumped on to. A smile crept on his face as his friend made herself comfy on his bed.* His eyes focused on the bandages that she put her muzzle close to. It was about time he properly cleaned them. He had to be careful about what he did, while they were getting used to each other, tonight he figured he would push the boundaries even more. He started grabbing the cuts of meat from the cooler and placing them in the fridge neatly, only putting one of them in a pan to cook. The meat sizzled and seared as he looked at what else he could add to the meal. The lack of fruits and vegetables were worrisome to him. Something that he was going to have to fix, unfortunately that meant having to plow land and plant crops. Something that he knew nothing about. He quickly learned that he knew nothing about this lifestyle and with the condition of the farm, he needed to do so much work. Every issue that he was finding required more and more steps that led to more problems and more steps. His head spun, losing himself into the rabbit hole of work. His head rested against the fridge as he tried to collect himself. “What have I gotten myself into…. How does anyone do this. You need food to have energy but you need to grow your own food. That takes time…. But what are you supposed to do in the time that you have to wait for the food to grow….”

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He looked towards his friend, pondering on how they did it. They don’t even have hands or half the amount of resources he has, yet they do that for years. The thoughts and stress that came over him caused the meat to be slightly overcooked. It would be fine for him, but he didn’t know if his friend would enjoy it cooked this much, and he needed to be on their good side. He grabbed himself a knife and cut very small bite sized pieces for her, placing them into a bowl. Tonight, unfortunately, it would be a feast for carnivores. Jackson wanted to preserve the fruits he had for their breakfast and the little vegetables he had for when he felt he was closer to getting more. Jackson had a master plan to take care of the fox, however he needed to get the fox in the shower for the plan to work. This was the part of the plan that made him the most nervous. He was getting used to handling the wild animal, and sometimes he even felt like it understanded him. He could think back to times where she would lay or sit there and watch him, her tail waving and her eyes fixated on him. Putting an animal in the shower with him however, that was the second biggest risk he had even thought about taking. The first was rescuing the fox, which turned out to be rather successful and gave him the confidence for this plan to succeed as well. She seemed rather comfortable and tired, that being a good sign for his safety. He looked at the fresh gauze and medicine. Clean the injury before applying. Apply a teaspoon of the gel on the affected area. Bandage and apply light pressure. *It all seemed self explanatory and more importantly there was enough for himself when the fox decided that they had enough of him and dug her claws deep in his skin. While those thoughts fluttered in his mind, watching her lay in the bed calmed his intrusive thoughts just enough to act. He grabbed the bowl of cut goat and placed it on the floor of the bathroom before turning the water on to a medium heat. To

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o cold and surely they would flee and too hot and he would probably get bit. He needed a shower himself, but didn’t want to risk the bare skin, or ever worse, his sensitive bits being the part that gets attacked, so instead of stripping himself down, he would just have to get them wet. He scooped her into his arms and started making his way to the bathroom.* “Ok… listen.. You are going to hate this… I’m sorry.. Just please please please…. Dont hurt me.. I just need you cleaned for the medication…..” He mumbled the next under his breath in hopes that she wouldn’t be able to hear him, even though he was pretty sure that she couldn’t understand him. “Plus you’re leaving paw prints everywhere……..” *With her cradled in his arms, he used one hand to check the water. Feeling the warm temperature of it, he took a deep breath and stepped in. His hands held her tighter than normal, expecting her to freak out. Slowly he dropped himself to his knees letting her paws touch the shower floor. “Shhhh… shhh its ok.” His body moved and positioned so that the only way the sly fox could get out is if she took a massive leap over him. His hand fumbled behind him as he reached around for the bowl. The sound of ceramic sliding and moving against the floor, before it was grabbed and moved into his lap. If the food wasn't enticing enough he would have his hands ready to grip the back of her neck like a cat. The other hand slowly moved along the side of her, gently petting and rubbing her body, until he had reached her bandages. Slowly he would slide them off and let the water droplets hit her wound. He was paying close attention to her body language, ready to jump or fall on his back if she got feisty. His hands would slowly rub alongside the fox, carefully getting her clean to the best of his ability for as long as she would let him. If she had stayed until he was satisfied he would move the bowl of food outside of the shower and let her finish her half of it in peace.

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After finishing her cleaning it was finally time for his, his soaked clothes tightly clung to his skin as he yanked them off. His pants, heavy with dirt and water, easily slunk down his legs. Tossing them into a wet bundle, he finally could focus on himself. His eyes closed as the water dripped his stress away. Everything that he had done and dealt with today slowly washed down his chest, the grime and dirt, the sweat and the tears that stained him all gone. It was the end of this day and the start of the day to come. It was about time he made this place his own, since he knew that he would be here longer then he initially wanted. He hung his clothes on the shower to let them dry. Thinking about how he was going to clean them. In the past he had watched documentaries of people who would wash their clothes by hand, they would have a bucket of soapy water and wash them and hang them to dry. Maybe he should try that. In his thoughts, he wandered to the main area, leaving his footprints in the wood lighting the sticks and weeds his friend had given him. As they started catching aflame he added more wood to the fireplace until once again, the roaring fire was warming the interior. The heat and sounds were definitely something he could get used to. He grabbed his half of the goat and sat down in his chair. If he wasn’t alone he would be embarrassed of his display. Like a caveman, he sat with himself fully on display shoving a piece of meat past his lips. His night was nearly complete. All that was left was to give the medicine to his foxy friend and give her new wrappings. *As he finished his meal he couldn’t help but look towards his dads journal, wondering if he had gone through the same thing he had, if he had felt the same way. In his stomach he knew the answer, or at least had made up the answer that was in his head. Avery wasn’t like Jackson, he would have done it himself, and done it with ease. What kind of man did that make Jackson? He couldn’t help but let his

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thoughts of self doubt and lack of self worth sink into his brain, wondering what kind of man cries when he didn’t even do anything. His hands bundled up into a fist, as his knuckles grew white. He would have slammed them in rage if it wasn’t for his companion nearby, the idea of straddling and scaring her was too worrying for him. Instead, he took that anger and grabbed the medicine. He sat down on the floor, and made little clicking noises as if he was calling a horse. The fox was still wet, although the fire was helping and he used this opportunity to apply the medicine and check out the fox thoroughly. He checked the tail for any mites or bugs, as his fingers gently rubbed it. He made sure her paws weren’t muddy and covered in dirt, and if she would let him, he would check her stomach for any scratches or any place that she would need more of the ointment Harvey had given them. Once his inspection was complete, he used the gause and made a light, cast like wrapping around her legs, before shuffling his hands on top of her head.* “See? That wasn’t so bad now was it cutie?” BOOM The sound of a storm breaking through the quiet area made Jackson jump as the hairs on his arms rose. He quickly rose to his feet and grabbed the shorts he deemed as his pajamas and stuck his out of the front door to investigate. As his hand pulled the door open the heavy drops of water slammed against the wood. The smell was clean, fresh, but the quantity of the downpour was enough to make him shut it quickly. For the time being, they both were stuck inside. @Fiory

Like I said.. It’s alright… it gets easier… just a fact of life.. Felicity thought quietly, though she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to portray this information to him. It wasn’t a secret that taking a life was a difficult thing to do. If it wasn’t, then surely there was something wrong with the individual causing such harm. Even for her, hunting little animals like mice and voles or even small birds wasn’t an easy task. It was a necessary means. To feed herself, she had to end the life of another, it was as simple as that. Felicity also knew that the day would come at some point where she too would pass and her body would feed the soil, nourishing the grass and the plants that those same mice and voles would dine on. Everything in balance, everything in order just as it was supposed to be. This didn’t make it simple nor did it make it easy, but at least it was a concept that didn’t frighten or disturb her. While she lay there on his bed, dirty with dust and watching him talk to himself, Felicity just kept her eyes on him. He was so interesting, and he seemed to worry about so many things all at the same time. Her head shifted on the bedspread, tilting a little as she heard him ask how anyone could do this, how he wasn’t sure what he’d gotten himself into, and what he was supposed to do about food later when it needed time to grow. You’re doing well enough, you know. Felicity thought, wanting to convey that he was already doing everything he needed to. There was a saying that Rome was not built in a day. It would take time, and patience, but the farm would yield the crops he needed and the resources to do what needed to be done. It just meant putting in the work to do it, and so far Jackson had been putting in the work and the drive to do what needed doing. The farm would flourish, it just wouldn’t take a single day or even two for it to get that way. Her nostrils twitched as she thought this, smelling the meat he was overcooking on the stove and snorting

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a little at the slightly crisper smell in the air. It didn’t smell burnt, that was at least a relief and eating raw goat wasn’t exactly something she would have turned her nose up at either, so it was at least considerate of him to think of her.

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However, he took the bowl he’d prepared and brought it into the bathroom with him. Slowly her head rose from her paws and she watched him with interest. What…are you doing? She thought. Was she going to be sequestered in the bathroom to have that? Had she made a mess or something before? Her left ear fell backwards while the right remained alert and forward, confused at this odd action Jackson was doing. The water turning on perplexed her further. Was he just going to have it as a snack then while he showered? That seemed rather odd to her too. That curiously inquisitive look remained as he walked close and scooped her up again in his arms. Felicity wasn’t sure what he was doing, hadn’t pieced together exactly what he was planning yet, but she hung limp and relaxed in his arms, looking up at him and listening intently to what he had to say. Her ears slowly fell backward, pinning against her skull as he continued as she listened to him. What was he going on about? What would she hate? Why did he suddenly think that she might hurt him? She hadn’t given any indication that she was vicious or that she’d harm him before. It wasn’t until they entered the bathroom and her head turned to the waiting shower that it clicked. Oh..he wouldn’t. ”Plus you’re leaving paw prints everywhere…..” Hey! I can’t help that! That was from helping you! There was a quiet bark she made, shuffling in his arms as he checked the water and before she could right herself she felt the warmth and wetness douse her. Squirming in his arms was a bit of an understatement. Felicity didn’t have anything against taking a shower or getting herself cleaned up, but it was the principle of the thing. He clearly didn’t know what she was, and thought her just a mindless beast on the farm when that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Try as she might, there was no getting out of his tight grasp, say for the whines and barks of protest until he dropped her down to the shower floor. *”Shhhh

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… shhh its ok.”*

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Easy for you to say! That same chittering noise was all that came out of her muzzle. The sound of the bowl sliding forward made sense now, but how was she expected to eat anything right now? Sure the food smelled good and she considered it for a second before deciding that she’d rather not indulge him as the complacent house pet he thought she was. Her initial instinct was to try and escape, so an attempt was made by trying to crawl back up on top of him, to use him as leverage. It’d still be a pretty big leap but Felicity was sure she could make it. The hand against the back of her neck was what stopped her, betrayed by her own body at the sensation of it. Her back limbs stood her up, while her forelimbs hung. She would squirm a bit more, especially when he began petting and rubbing along her body. If only he could see just how red her face was, soaking wet in the shower. The water ran through her coat, making it stick to her and causing Felicity to weakly shake her head and ears multiple times to try and rid the canals of the tickling droplets. At times her muzzle would open, exposing those sharp white teeth, but she never made any attempt to actually bite him. Slowly as the water doused her and he went about cleaning his farmyard friend, the dirt and dust from her coat slid down the drain in little trails of sandy black rivers. After a while she nearly gave up. She wasn’t getting away from this even though she desperately wanted to. Her ears pinned back as he cleaned her wounds and continued freeing the dirt and grime from her auburn colored coat.

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This is highly inappropriate you know… She thought, squirming again as he moved his hands down her front and sides. Her muzzle opened and a light chittering sound escaped in her struggle. Something she couldn’t really help; She was ticklish, and the sound did come out as something of a laugh as he continued. The red of her coat brightened and the white of her chest and underbelly shone after he was done. She had in fact been a bit filthy it seemed, even her muzzle had more distinct markings of black down the sides that seemed sharper than they were before. By the end of it all, Felicity looked like a drowned cat, red like a fall leaf freshly shed with a dazzling white underside. Her black paws faded as they came up her hocks and elbows and she even had a more distinct separation of white against the orange of her tail. The bath was a necessary one it seemed, even if she’d have preferred doing it herself. Standing outside the shower, dripping wet, Felicity did what any canine in her situation would do. Beginning at her squared off nose she twisted her head back and forth, letting the motion ripple through her body and send the water that coated her thick fur flying through the bathroom. Her spine shivered and her tail whipped back and forth in the action, producing a less drowned cat look, and more of a damp fox instead. Her eyes glared at the bowl he placed in front of her. A bribe. That’s what that was. In protest, she sat down with a light thud on the floor, her muzzle licking at her legs to try and dry herself further.

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Of all the nerve. I could have done this myself. She grumbled in thought, a light whine on her lips as she attempted to dry her coat. Another shake or two given in the interim. Honestly… If you only knew. I’m pretty damn sure you wouldn’t have…tried… Her thoughts trailed off, those slit golden eyes glancing back at the shower where Jackson had remained. She’d heard a distinct thud and a squelching sound as he removed his clothing and began to clean himself off. Well now it was her turn to be inappropriate. Her muzzle turned to look up at him, not being shy about those shimmering sunshine eyes taking the entirety of him in. It was only after a few moments that she realized herself what she was doing. Well…uh.. I said it before, you’re not bad to look at…N-Not like.. You could hear me of course… Felicity thought, before quickly turning her back to him and keeping her head and gaze facing away. It was only polite, at least she thought as much. The image of watching the water slide down his front, collecting the dirt and the sweat and the grime of the day so it could rinse off of him was a sight she wouldn’t soon forget. Her ears remained back as her eyes kept trained to the floorboards in front of her. They perked a little with interest when the water shut off and the sound of his footsteps meant he was finished. A gentle huff rushed from her nostrils, her body turning to grab her little bowl of uneaten goat and drag it out of the bathroom. It wasn’t heavy, just awkward for her little mouth. It took her a while, until after Jackson had gotten the fire going before she was able to take the bowl out to the main room.

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Felicity damn near dropped it when she realized just how comfortable Jackson had made himself in front of the fire. No shame this one.. She thought, putting the bowl down and taking a few of the pieces he’d made for her in earnest. If he was going to give her a show, who was she to stop him? Her eyes were unwavering, not really caring if he seemed not to, though if she could have shown the sly grin on her muzzle she certainly would have. Once her bowl was emptied, she lifted her snout and moved closer to the fire. Her coat shone brilliantly and camouflage perfectly against the orange and red tones that filled the cabin. The warmed was nice and she made a spectacle of herself, flopping on one side on the floor before turning to try and dry the rest. This certainly was better than the porch den she called home. Lying on her back for a moment, her head turned to watch him and she blinked at the expression on his face. What was he so angry for? Hey, it wasn’t my idea to subject me to a bath… if you’re mad about the water in the bathroom, it’s you’re own fault you know. She thought, her ears flicking back when she heard him click for her like a common animal. Her nose twitched in irritation and she huffed loudly at the idea of being considered a common dog, coming when Master calls and all that. Her body turned, facing the fire in the fireplace instead with her back to him. Besides not wanting to appear like some tamed and domesticated dog, she also was trying to give him a bit of privacy. The man was just out there, no clothes or even a towel that she could see. Her protest was short lived, as he’d had to pull her close on his own. Her body slid against the floor until she was right up close to him.

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If she had been human her face would have rivaled a beautifully ripened tomato. Felicity lay as still as she could, glancing up at him from time to time just to quickly move her gaze away. His hands were gentle, checking and inspecting her for other wounds and the like. Her rib cage moved up and down a little faster when he checked her underside and chest, her tail instinctively moving to cover herself as best as she could. Even that wouldn’t escape his scrutiny it seemed as he soon began checking the fluffy appendage that was still rather damp for whatever he was looking for. I don’t have fleas or anything… She growled lightly, having had enough of the body inspection and sitting up in front of him. Her back was elegantly arched, sitting at a slope similar to a cat’s though she was too large to be one. Her tail pulled out of his hands, and she kept her nose pointed towards the floorboards, trying to keep her gaze polite. Her limbs were easy to manipulate, and the ointment he administered had a softly numbing effect that helped with the slight stinging pain she would feel when moving too fast or with too much weight on them. ..Thank you… Felicity wished she could just say the words instead of thinking them, watching him work and taking in how gentle he was being. Meticulous in wrapping her legs back up before quietly petting her for behaving during the whole thing. It felt nice and degrading at the same time. To be praised and comforted was great, but how low had Felicity sunk, subjected to a life as a house pet. I guess it could be worse…

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If he had jumped at the sound of the rolling thunder that crashed over head, Felicity nearly leapt out of her fur in fright. A low whine slipped from her muzzle, her body slinking low to the ground as Jackson got up to investigate. With her legs newly bandaged and an ointment that would help the healing process applied to them, Felicity slunk towards the bed as quietly as her little claws against the floorboards would let her. She didn’t care for thunderstorms, and hearing the rain hammer against the wood outside was just another reason for her to be thankful she was staying in. With a little trouble, she leapt up onto the bed, nosing her way to the edge of the comforter and quilt up by his pillows. Her muzzle dove in once she found it, crawling under the blankets with her tail resting outside of it between the soft downy rectangles. It wouldn’t be hard to find her of course, the large mound under the covers and the quiet growling sound it made. The storm hammered against the roof and beat against the windows angrily, as if frustrated that the storm itself couldn’t soak the occupants of the cabin along with the rest of the world. Felicity was happy to provide that frustration, a flash illuminating the cabin interior for a brief moment before it returned to only being lit up by the fire’s glow in the hearth. A quiet shiver moved the quilt just enough to notice, before she shuffled herself around to stick her nose out of the edge of the blankets. Thunderstorms were loud and painful to her ears, they always meant she was sleeping in wetness and unsure if the gods above would drown her in that rest she’d take. So while grateful that he wasn’t tossing her outside in the rain to deal with the night’s storm, Felicity wasn’t exactly thrilled with the change in the weather. Not that anyone really had anything to do about it.

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Another roll like boulders thundered above and that peeking nose immediately shoved itself under the pillow that she had turned herself around to. While still damp, she at least wasn’t soaking his sheets. As the storm continued on, Felicity couldn’t help the small pathetic whimper that slipped through her muzzle, her ears flat on her head and her nose buried under the pillow while the rest of her hid under the quilt. Through it all, one thought did plague her while she hid in his bed from the sound and sights of the storm outside. The smell that permeated her nose was his, and it was at least in part calming. It remained from the previous night when he’d gone to sleep before, and Felicity rubbed her muzzle against the mattress into it. Anything to help settle her nerves and make it easier to relax. @Jester

The loud pattering of rain continued pelting the wood. His eyes looked over to his friend. He wasn’t sure if she was frightened or uncomfortable by the storm, or if it was the original boom that made him jump as well. Regardless, she at least seemed comfortable in his bed. While the initial start of this storm had made him nervous to the thought of if the cabin would hold up or if there would be any leaks. The hammering of the roof just was more and more relaxing, especially when added with the fire. He grabbed his fathers journal before plopping himself in his bed. He moved his blankets up and snug around himself causing his fox to move and sway her around. The ensemble of emotions from the day made the desire for him to hold something for the night. His hands pulled her closer to him, her muzzle on his chest as he opened the book and began reading. Slowly he continued rubbing his hands against her ears and head as he picked up from where he had left off. ``I’ve learned lesson after lesson and I must say the most important of these I’ve learned is how necessary it is to start early. Plow the land, plant the seeds and nurture them. Allow them time to grow and feed you. Always do your best to have something growing. I have talked to Marnie, and she's told me all of the things I would have to do to get some animals to help me as well. Its important to build pens and barns and coops for all of the animals you want to get. There is an abundance of wildlife nearby and the biggest problem of all of them is the foxes.. These damn foxes are the bane of my existence. I spent two days building a nice chicken coop and before I even had gotten my first egg those damn animals ate both of them. I guess this is why I should have built a fenced in area where they would have been safe. Marnie is such a sweet person. She had given me those chickens just for the leftover wood I had from building the coop. She even showed me how she did things. She has two separate coops. One for e

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ggs and the other with a rooster and hen to breed more chickens. This gives me chicken to eat, eggs and if you're lucky a few extra chickens to trade. But these damn foxes will be the death of me. I'm going to try and get the biggest beasts of burden, like cows and horses.. At least that way I won't have to worry about them getting eaten.`` Jackson couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he was petting that horrid fox next to him. He never thought of him being similar to his dad but this entry just showed how polar opposite they were from each other. “You don’t seem that bad to me… I guess I can see why dad was mad for you eating his chickens, but you're such a cutie… My little one has to eat after all.”

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He chuckled to himself as his fingers played with her sleepy lips as his eyes focused on her teeth for the first time. They could easily injure him. It’s been hard for him to think of who had been acting as a caregiver for as a wild animal. It was more of a pet than anything else, he wasn’t sure but he had figured she had enjoyed it. She would cuddle him in bed, he bathed her, fed her, and was helping to try to heal her injuries. He felt strongly about the animals that made their home on the farm but he couldn’t deny that the one he was sleeping next to was the one that he was growing the biggest bond with. He was happy that she was getting better, it showed with her being able to walk around instead of being carried and the growing independence he had seen. She came into the cabin of her own free will and she was able to hold in and out of bed as she wanted to. A few tears grew in the corner of his eyes to the thought of his friend leaving once she was fully better. Yet, Mr. Gils words stuck with him. It was the circle of life, natures way, waddy-da, he still didn’t like it regardless of the truth that was behind it. The culmination of everything that had happened, he could only feel the disconnect grow bigger and bigger with his father. While reading the things his father did in the past, there were moments where he felt connected to him. Yet, his friend next to him was entirely way too sweet to get the hate he felt from his fathers writings. His hands would continue wandering around her, playing with her paws, or rubbing her belly as he continued to read. ``I know why they say that foxes are sly and cunning… I’ve put down traps and yet that pest is smart enough to not step on them. I know now how Mr. Slade felt in the fox and the hound….. Maybe I should get a dog. A pet would be nice for company, and it would probably scare off that damn fox as well. Maybe when I get more settled in, and get a good groove on this all I will look into it. I would like company,

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it gets lonely out here. I enjoy it most of the time, but at night, sometimes you hear weird noises, or miss your family… `` Jackson scoffed in disgust… Ya.. a dog would replace me, good thought dad… For a second he even wondered why he was reading the journal. It seemed like every time that he read it he felt very little satisfaction. Sure there was the occasional useful information, like Marnie being able to trade with him to get him a few more animals or what he would need to build certain structures, each time he has read it, he felt an empty pit grow in his stomach. A witches brew of emotions, anger, frustration, sorrow and a hint of happiness. Something about reading the struggles and the parallels of the two of them brought a bit of closeness, yet every time he had noted about replacing and missing the family he had abandoned, the negatives grew. He couldn’t wrap his head around his hatred towards his farmhand who was sweetly snuggled next to him. His eyes grew heavier as the leather book found itself on the chair next to the bed. He turned to his side letting his wrist drop over the fox, and as sheep fluttered in his mind he found sleep.

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*He found himself looking at his farm yet again, the fairies he had seen the other night missing, and the dream of the farm thriving was just that, a dream. The farm was exactly as he left it, run down, broken and abused. The overwhelming feeling he had felt each time he had thought of what he needed to do, filled his gut. The rain leaked into his dream, as the wetness dripped on the farm land. The fences were broken and worn down and in this state, he had had enough of it. Jackson started working through the rain. Hours felt like seconds and in this state nothing was impossible. Moments flashed by like a montage. Soon the farm was completely fixed. Fresh crops grew, the animals were thriving, it was what he had wished it would look like. His stomach rumbled and the desire for food consumed him. A blink of time and he was in his kitchen, searching his fridge for food.Empty. His brain scattered, he knew for a fact he had an abundance of it, yet it was all missing. Running outside, the rain that once poured onto the farm, was now red and rich of iron. The lake and rivers flooded with the same scarlet colors. The animals nearby that once were contently grazing the land now laid on the side, lifeless and cold. Panic grew inside of him as he frantically searched for any living animal, just one that he could possibly save. His companion was nowhere to be found. The pools of red grew deeper and deeper, before long he was submerged. His chest was covered by the water as he reached out for help. He looked for his mother, then his father but found neither. Instead he saw the shadow, an outline of a woman slowly approaching him. As it got closer and closer with a reaching hand to pull him from the nightmare, so did the rising sun and Jackson found himself back in his bed. Cold sweat covered his stressed muscles. Was it just bad dreams, or was his stressed mind and hurt soul the cause of his nightmares? He couldn’t be sure, the only thing he was sure of now, was that he was saf

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e. The rain dropped slower and calmer than the night before. Still even with the settling weather it would still be a muddy day.*

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His eyes still sprinkled with sand as he rubbed them slowly open. Half asleep he moved himself out of bed at such a pace that would give paint drying a run for its money. Normally, on a rainy day like today, he would take his time, write in his journal and relax. Today would not be one of those days. There was just simply too much to do and far too little time. He grabbed the remainder of the blueberries he had, and started popping them into his mouth as he dressed for the day. It wasn’t until only half remained that he had what he would consider a genius idea. He took a few of the berries and set them on the counter before putting the rest in what was deemed his foxes food bowl. It wasn’t a hefty breakfast for him or her, but he figured if she was overwhelmingly hungry, she was a fox, and foxes hunt, surely it would be good for her to get used to doing those things again. A part of his brain did feel like he was betraying her in a way, but Jackson thought he would have to start rationing some food, until more grew. A few moments passed as he grabbed his sweatshirt and put his heartiest pair of boots on. The realization hit him like a truck, nothing was growing, nothing was planted. His once slow and quieter movements turned into a loud zoom as he searched through the drawers and cupboards of the cabin until finally finding in the bottom most drawer, a few seed packets. Potatoes, spinach, lettuce and oats. It was an interesting mixture, and he had no clues on how to properly plant or take care of them. In fact he was so clueless on the matter, he hadn’t even considered that they may not grow in the current season. Nonetheless, he packed all of the bags of seeds into his pockets before grabbing his blueberries and heading out into the rain. *The first and most important thing on his list was the blueberries. He gently put them on the ground next to the hole in the porch that his friend used to call home. He walked to his shed before realizing just how badly he sho

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uld have spent more time fixing it. The tools sat in a small pool of water that rushed out when he opened the door. His disappointment in himself grew a little bit but he couldn’t allow himself to linger on it. Today would be his productive day, regardless of weather. He grabbed the shovel and hoe and made his way back to the porch. The soil was soft, rich and easy to manipulate thanks to the rain and this is something he was desperate to take advantage of. First, he dug a hole and lightly covered his berries before looking at the hole his friend had dug. His mind fought with his heart as he considered filling it. Surely, he would have to if he wanted to sell the cabin for the best price, but what if his friend was attached to that home, what if that was where she felt safe and secure. He stood in the rain, thinking about what to do next, his eyes drifting to both of his tools, one to fill the hole the other to plant seeds for both of them to live off of.* @Fiory

Felicity merely growled lightly, her face pressed deep into the mattress with her paws lightly covering the sides of it. It wasn’t that thunderstorms necessarily frightened her, they were just loud and painful at times to her ears. Especially when they decided to erupt right over the cabin she called home. Thankfully it was much more muffled inside the cabin then it would have been under the porch. The dip the bed made and the light rocking of the mattress signaled that Jackson had joined her under the blankets, but she made no move to get away or acknowledge it. It was his bed after all, if he wanted her out he’d have to move her himself. She had made herself quite cozy hiding her face with her paws and ears in the mattress, and Felicity wasn’t about to move if she didn’t have to. Gently, she felt his arm pull her close and she quietly lifted her muzzle to look up at him in the action. He was getting awful friendly with her, considering she was a wild animal. First aid, tending to, feeding, even bathing, and now he had her snuggled up against him like a loving pet. Her large ears moved to listen to him when he spoke, a huff exhaling through her small black nose. ”You don’t seem that bad to me… I guess I can see why dad was mad for you eating his chickens, but you’re such a cutie… My little one has to eat after all.” It was his own fault…He left the doors open and there wasn’t a fence. Did Avery expect me to just sit outside and watch while my stomach rumbled? Felicity thought, her ear flicking a little at the touch and rubbing he made. It was easy to settle here next to him. He made it very easy. There was warmth and comfort here whereas outside was wet, cold and hard. The gentle strokes were slowly putting her to sleep though, the rain pounding angrily outside beginning to dull and fade into the background with the crackling in the hearth. Her eyes closed softly, enjoying the comfort he gave even though she thought it odd of him to give it so freely. Her

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paws tucked under her body for additional warmth, her muzzle finding a comfortable section of his chest to relax on. The lifting of her lips to examine her fangs was ignored. In a way, Felicity thought it might be a good idea for him to register. She was not tame, and perhaps the threat of being bitten would keep him cautious. Not that she ever would, she had no reason to bite the man who had been keeping her fed, watered and cared for after his father had injured her in that trap.

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As she began to slip into a comfortable sleep, her muzzle slid gently over his chest rubbing her eyes and cheeks a bit as she got herself cozy. If he was going to have her snuggled up against him, she at least would make sure she was comfortable enough to enjoy it. He had continued to read for a little while, before shifting in the bed. Her head raised and drowsy gold eyes opened to watch him turn and drape his wrist over her gently curled body frame. Her muzzle opened wide and she let out a quiet whine, yawning deeply at the warmth under the blankets and next to the man at her side. Her mind swam with the events of the last couple days, and she wondered why he was so kind to her. He didn’t need to be. He could have just left her there, let her flail and starve and eventually die even in that trap. But, he hadn’t. Maybe that was why she felt so comfortable now, because she didn’t think he would hurt her. Since, he hadn’t yet. Or even made an attempt to. Felicity definitely felt he was different, and maybe that was what warranted so much of her curiosity. She watched him carefully, just for a few moments while he slipped into sleep before she laid her head back down and curled close next to him. The gentle sound of his heartbeat as he slept drowned out the rain and the wind in her ears. It lulled her easily into a fast and comfortable sleep, her tail wrapping around the outside of his hand almost like she held it while he was holding on to her. It didn’t take her long to slip into a dream of her own, filled with dappling sunshine and warmth on her fur. She was able to run and jump and hunt again in the fields, letting the warmth at her back caress and encourage movement. A light whine escaped her muzzle as she played with the butterflies and birds that fluttered and teased the air around her. At one point the vixen stopped, inspecting the stalks of wheat and corn and barley. Her nose twitched as a breeze fluttered the tall strands in her face. Where a fox had st

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ood before, she now stood taller, her hair long and wavy, with delicate fingers that inspected the growth and buds and seeds of the plants with earnest. Dark chocolate eyes examined carefully, and a quiet smile rose on the woman’s face. A sense of pride bubbled up within her chest, thinking of how well he’d done in his first year. Her eyes glanced back to the cabin that had previously been made whole and well kept, now made her pause in her steps. The cabin was still put together and solid, freshly painted and lovely, but the farmer with whom she had grown accustomed to seeing and being with on this farm was not the one standing on the porch. Instead it was a faceless man and his equally faceless wife, standing and looking out at the farm with pride. Neither were recognizable to her, and she slunk into the shadows of the field, unsure and confused. Where was Jackson? Didn’t he work hard for this? Didn’t he do all this himself? The sight of a pair of kids that were the spitting image of the faceless owners frightened her more. This was a family that had moved in. Had trespassed on her farm, and moved into her home. Into her and Jackson’s cabin.

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The bed shifted and it made Felicity wake drowsily, watching as he got himself up out of bed, dressed and began fussing around the cabin. The gentle pattering of rain above told her it would be a wet day today, which only made the fox want to remain in the cabin, snuggled in the warmth of the blankets and the dull embers in the fireplace. Hearing him move around, stepping here and creaking the floorboards as he went, only made Felicity more curious as to what he was exactly planning to do on such a drizzling dreary day. Slowly, her little nose poked out from under the blankets so she could look over and watch him in his movements. He seemed determined, ready to take on the day and whatever might come with it. Felicity however, would rather stay inside where it was warm and dry. She didn’t often get a warm or dry place to rest, so she instead just watched him deposit the blueberries into her bowl and then step outside into the early morning rain. Waiting until he’d gone, she curled herself into the blankets, making her own little nest out of them to try and return to sleep. Rainy days were miserable ones for her. Most of the vermin that she hunted would hide away from the rain and keep to themselves. Less game out and about meant that it took more energy to flush them out with little to gain from it. After a few minutes and realizing that she was thoroughly awake and unable to go back to sleep, Felicity uncurled herself and stretched under the blankets. The lump on the bed snaked it’s way to the edge until her nose popped out from the hemline of the quilt. Her muzzle slid out next and then her ears one by one followed. Once down on the ground, slithering out of the blankets and stretching on the hardwood floor, Felicity made her way to that bowl and gleefully picked at the blueberries there. Hmm… Not a lot this time… She thought, her nose sniffing around the bowl curiously, wondering where perhaps the rest was. Her tail flicked back and forth, a fluffy tube

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of auburn and ivory, while her nose tilted in and around the bowl. Her paw even came up and tipped it over in an attempt to see if any had fallen perhaps under it or around it. No dice. Well, some breakfast is better than no breakfast I guess… She thought with a light shrug, her attention turning to the door of the cabin. Jackson had left it cracked open, which meant she was free to leave if she wanted. Testing out her legs a little more each day, Felicity found that she was getting better and better. She was sure that hunting wouldn’t be too big a problem for her now, if not for the rain and mud outside. Her frame squeezed through the door, and into the quiet rain that fell on the porch.

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What are you doing? She thought, watching Jackson debate on whether or not to fill in the hole under the porch. The home she’d made for herself and the one she had been living in before Jackson came to the farm and invited her into his cabin properly. Though for her, if he wanted to fill it in so badly, she supposed she couldn’t stop him on it. Besides that, she had a mission to complete today. She’d decided on it while she was inside and now seeing him struggling as he was, Felicity was determined to see this plan into action. Without a bark or yip, or a word of any sort, the vixen made her way down the steps and into the pouring rain. Her gold slitted eyes glanced up at him for a moment, trying to convey that he needn’t worry about her, and that she would be back shortly, though she wasn’t quite sure if the message came across. It was harder to tell with the rain, so Felicity had to hurry to make sure she caught them on time. Her lithe frame bounced into the tall grass heading south out of the farm. She knew where she was going, and even if she only had a vague idea, her nose could guide her well enough. Her paws were light and quiet even with the squelching mud underneath her. For a moment, she paused at the chicken coop that was sitting empty a look of determination on her face as her pace quickened past it. Righting a wrong it seemed, was on her mind. Felicity continued on through a dense set of trees until her nose picked up the distinct smell of cattle, horse and fowl. Ah, Marnie’s. She thought, her body crouching low to the ground upon her approach. Marnie had lots of different animals, and considering Jackson had just butchered his only goat, Felicity was keen to replace it, or at least attempt to. She kept herself to the shadows of the fence line, peering in at the animals that had dared come outside into the gentle spring rain. The only animals that seemed to be enjoying the water, were the water fowl that splashed and quacked in the puddles an

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d pools of water for them. They weren’t replacement chickens, but a duck was beneficial right? It laid eggs the same as a chicken, right? Though there was a problem with her plan. How was she supposed to bring a whole bird back to the farm all by herself? And without biting it too hard that she killed the thing, or kept it too loose that it could get away or cause a ruckus. Under the brush by the fence, Felicity lay down, mostly covered from the rain as she thought of the best way to go about this.

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Just when she was feeling like there was no way she’d be able to grab one of the squawking ducks that would have been so easy to take, the sounds of footsteps broke her concentration and made her turn her head. Her ears flattened and she stayed as low as she could, watching a tall stocky man with short hair walking around the coops nearby. Shane lived with Marnie, and it looked like he was the one collecting eggs this time around. Felicity watched him closely as he made his way into one of the coops and heard the chickens inside making their usually busy noise. Shane loved the chickens on the farm, and often took his time with them when collecting their eggs. Perfect. Felicity thought gleefully, crawling out of the brush and making her way towards the coop where Shane had slipped into. He had had two baskets in his hands, and left one outside while the other was used to gather the eggs inside the coop. Without wasting too much time, Felicity nosed her way into the side of the basket, smelling the warmth of the eggs inside it. There was a smell to them that made her pause, and looking in, she wondered if these were future chickens and not just eggs to consume. Her ears flicked and she dove down under the coop to hide, hearing Shane’s footsteps coming out with a fresh basket of eggs. She watched as he made his way to the next coop, entering it gently and leaving the basket outside again on the ground while he collected what was inside. There was no way she’d be able to take the whole damn basket, but an egg or two in a handkerchief, that she might be able to do. With as much caution as she could muster, Felicity crept towards the unguarded basket, and stuck her nose in quickly. Her jaw opened and as gently as she could, she grabbed one of the large eggs into her mouth. She had to be extremely careful not to hold it too hard, lest she crack the shell with her sharp teeth. There was one other coop Shane had to visit, so the fox quickly moved under the coop he was

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currently in, leaving the egg in the dry dirt while she went to fetch a second. She had just deposited a third when she heard him stirring in the coop above her, his footsteps signaling he was on his way out. From under the coop, she watched his feet fall into the mud and his hand pick up the basket she’d stolen the eggs from. Her ears picked up a soft grumbling sound, but for the most part he just moved on to the last coop on the farm. Now all she needed was a handkerchief of some kind. She certainly didn’t want to make too many trips under the chicken coop for these three eggs. Unsure if they were consumable or not, Felicity curled herself around the little bundled clutch she’d stolen in order to keep them warm while she thought and tried to figure out a plan. Marnie’s voice rang out soon after, and Shane appeared in the last coop, before making his way towards the front of the barn. The fox waited and waited, before deciding the coast was assuredly clear and making her way towards the barn itself. There had to be a rag or something in there that she could take, her nose pushing at the edge of the barn sliding door to slip inside.

15:45

Looking around and finding it deserted for the most part, Felicity made her way quickly to the tack room, slipping inside and finding exactly what she was looking for. An old rag that no one would miss, left haphazardly on the floor. Likely by Shane earlier in the day. Without wasting further time, the fox picked it up and dashed for the door, slipping outside and sliding underneath the coop again. The rain continued to douse the ground and was slowly seeping under the coop, making it quite muddy as she nosed the eggs into the rag. Carefully, she picked it back up by the corners, carrying the little bundle of eggs inside the makeshift pouch she’d taken. Caution was her friend and Felicity was sure to keep it close to her on the way back, checking behind her and at all sides until she had cleared away from Marnie’s farm. It’d taken her most of the day away from the farm for the small things she was able to grab, but she hoped at least that her farmer appreciated the effort. By the time she got back to the farm proper and made her way towards the cabin, Felicity was soaking wet and covered in thick dark brown mud. The rag she held was wet despite her trying to keep it dry. She had had to move slowly back to keep the eggs from knocking into one another too much and cracking on the way back to the farm. It surprisingly had taken a bit out of her, her head hung a little lower as she nosed her way into the cabin. Looking at the mud she tracked in and the way her body was coated in it, Felicity was sure this would warrant another bath if she wasn’t careful. I’ll take care of it myself… before he gets back inside.. she thought, depositing the bundle on the chair carefully and waiting to make sure the eggs wouldn’t roll off and onto the floor. Secured that they were fine where they were, Felicity marched herself into the bathroom, the door closing and the sound of the water turning on shortly afterwards… @Jester

Her slitted looking up at him were only fuel for him to not fill the hole. While in his mind, the creature could live in this house with him, he still hadn’t planned to stay in this cabin and he couldn’t bring himself to destroy her home. Instead he left it where it was, it was more important to use the rain to prepare for the future. The rain beating against the ground was the ample opportunity to begin the work he wanted to do for the day. A determined smile creaked past his face, if his furry friend would spend the day out, so would he. With a decent pace he walked towards the plot of land previously tilled. It was overgrown regardless of the help that the fox had given in the previous day. It was a long and tedious process, plucking each weed from the dirt until finally an area big each for his first planting. This first patch would be potatoes. He grabbed his hoe and pushed it into the dirt. A hearty hove pulled and pushed the dirt in lines. While this was the first time he had ever planted anything, he assumed it would be easy enough to figure out the process. As seen on TV, clear an area of all vegetation, make little rows, plant the seeds and profit. A simple four step process. What he hadn’t accounted for was the time it would take for each one. What started as a simple plan, started turning more complex the long he worked. After finishing tilling the first row, the grass nearby started to annoy him. Making another trip to the flooded shed. He grabbed the soaked sickle and made his way back to the area he had been working on. *Carefully, he sliced through the untamed grass around the area. Cutting its height down as close to the ground as he could. Starting at the corner of the cabin and working his way just past the area where he had chosen to plant all of his crops. After two hours of work, he finally had finished clearing the untamed vegetation. The piles of grass were high and heavy, he scooped them carefully into his arms before walking them over to

09:02

wards his beasts of labor. While his intentions were to fill the feeding troughs for the cows and horse, the water had already decided to take their place. Carefully he placed them underneath the shelter in which they hid from the sky beneath. They seemed tethered, while normally found about grazing instead they were laid, hiding away from the troubles of the day, still they seemed welcome to the idea of a fresh snack delivered directly to them. As he left the animals to their lunch he took a second to take it in. Water dripped down on his face, washing his sweat away from his brow. It wasn’t much but it was a start, and this start already seemed promising. He moved back to his original task, creating four plots of land fresh for the seeds. He started again with the line that he had started with, until finally he had made an eight by eight square. The dirt pushed into a loose mound where he gingerly buried each of the potato seeds. They were gently pushed down and covered, yet still something was missing. A way to remember what he had planted and where.*

09:02

Jackson would carefully walk around the farming looking for four straightened sticks. Driving the emptied bag of seed through the stick like a stake, he pushed it into the ground. A haphazard but effective way of marking what was what. The majority of the day was spent like this. Plowing the dirt, and planting seeds. If the rain hadn’t washed away his hard work, surely it would have been noticed. Instead his clothing was a mixed concoction of the two. With the four plots finished Jackson took a second to sit on the porch and take it all in. His body was tired and sore, but the pride that filled him was enough to make it more than worth it. He had originally set out to sell this cabin but yet here he was fixing it, making it get better each day and that brought him joy. Whether that inspiration was driven by money or by pride was to still be decided. All he knew was that it felt good what he was doing. *He looked around this farm. The past days were certainly interesting and he hadn’t expected any of what had happened to happen. It was made to be a simple trip, yet he had saved a fox. Not even in his dreams would he have thought of himself doing that. It sounded crazier and crazier the more he took it in. The odds of a creature stuck in a trap for him to save seemed outlandish at best. Then there was his fathers journal, a day by day of the going ons of him, the emotions that filled him each time he read an entry. There was also the addition of all the towns people that he had met, the overwhelming support and kindness of them all, even Mr. Gil, albeit, in his own weird way. He had learned quite a bit in the short time he had been here, and he could only assume he would learn more as the time he was here. While sitting there taking it all in, he couldn’t help and wonder where his friend had wandered off to. They had left with intentions today, not one that he could understand, if anything, he assumed she had gone to find food, considering his subpar breakfast he p

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rovided to her. He had felt bad about it, but the food that they had needed to be rationed, at least for now. He had considered the options that Pierre had given him before. He could always trade the horse for more food, to not have to worry about any sort of shortcomings in the future. Growing fruits and vegetables required knowledge and finesse, a green thumb but above all else, it required time. While he certainly could wait for it, trading seemed like the best of options. A soft sigh left his lips, while the break was nice and most certainly welcome there was much more to do. Although the bulk of his day was used to prepare for the future, he still wanted to be prepared more for tomorrow.*

09:02

If the weather permitted so, he planned to finish the shed tomorrow, as well as work on the pens. While there was a little bit of wood that he could use to work on these projects, he would surely need more wood. That meant, unfortunately, a few of these trees had to go. He grabbed the ax after putting the two tools he had used back. With every intention of trying to fix it, it seemed for the best it would need to dry out. With a heavy swing of his arms against the bark of a tree he let out a gruffled huff. The vibrations rang through his hands as he dropped the ax. “Fuck…… I thought it would be easier than this..” Picking it back he swung again undeterred, a huff and grunt. The harshness of each swing affected his hands as the inertia of each hit against it. Little by little, with each swing the impact against the wood grew more visible, a tight groove forming. His body grew more tired with each one of the swings, sweat mistaken for droplets of rain as they fell from his brow. His hands grew red from the tightness of his grip as his pure desperation to just finish the job took over. The groove that he had made grew bigger with each swing. His wearing body moved the angle in which he chopped. The grains and fibers of the tree moved with the swings, what could only have seemed like hours of hard work until the tree even looked visibly ready to move. With one last brunting blow of the ax and a shove the wood cracked. The creaking noises followed with crackling sounds of wood filled the space as the tree fell from its stumping perch. As it fell, crumbling against the ground Jackson's arm caught against the wood, cutting and tearing the skin. A choice word left his mouth with a yelp as he gripped his arm. While the cut was not as deep as he worried it would be, the pain was enough to worry him. Blood softly leaked from the injury leaving his palm stained in iron.

09:03

“Stupid fucking tree.. Fucking busllshit ass…” A gentle kick of his feet collided with the trunk resting on the ground. His ax left in the damped soil as he walked towards the cabin. Jackson was filled with anger and frustration, but more so at himself for being so careless. While the injury was minor, he still felt the need to clean and wrap it, perhaps even using a bit of the ointment Pierre had brought from Harvey. It would at the very least help it heal so that he could continue the work he had been doing along the farm. Regardless of how he felt at this moment, he needed to finish what he had started. As he made his way towards the cabin, he couldn’t help but notice the small prints leading back to the cabin, his pet must have already come home without him noticing. The idea of her going out and exploring was more than enough to make him smile. Her healing had come a long way to allow her to walk, let alone go on an adventure. Despite all of that she chose to come back to the cabin. That alone filled Jackson with a joy he hadn’t known. In his head they were in this together, she felt safe, secure and wanted to be there with him. The muddy prints of her paw pads left a trail in the cabin. As he stepped closer and closer to the cabin door, the sound of rain grew louder. The door opened, creaking on the hinges until I became clear to him that it was not the sound of rain, but instead the sound of the shower running. Someone was in his cabin. As Jackson entered the cabin, his footsteps became lighter, carefully attempting to make as little noise as possible. While he crept forward, his fight or flight instincts kicked in completely forgetting about the injury to his arm. The stinging sensation overtaken by the beating of his chest, the unknown of whom it may be or what their intentions were. The thought of someone homeless, thinking this cabin was abandoned, or teenagers doing some satanic ritual. His shaking palms pushed the door open….

09:03

@Fiory

With the door sufficiently closed and a little more secure, Felicity strode forward, glancing down at herself as she moved and the dirt that caked her body. Even when she wasn’t covered in auburn colored fur, she still looked filthy. What she did for a few eggs, made her lightly roll her dark chocolate colored eyes. It wasn’t even a lot, not even half a dozen, but it was all that she had had the ability to carry at the time. Standing in the middle of the bathroom, she glanced up at the mirror in front of her, finally tall enough to be able to catch her reflection above the sink vanity. Reflected back at the vixen wasn’t a fox at all but a young woman. She had dark wavy hair that looked earthy and smelled of freshly tilled soil. Her skin was fair in complexion underneath the layer of dirt and mud that caked her limbs and chest. Strikingly were her dark eyes, brown in color like a deep oak tree with glints of emerald flecks that hugged her irises. “I’m quite the mess…” Felicity said quietly, shaking her head as she took a look at herself, turning a moment to see just how filthy she’d gotten under the chicken coops at Marnie’s farm. It was a good thing she felt well enough to change; she hadn’t been confident that she could yet. Quietly, she turned towards the knobs of the shower, reaching out and wincing immediately at the pain in her arms. The sudden change from a small fluffy fox to a fully grown woman in the bathroom hadn’t diminished or gotten rid of the pain from the trap she had been caught in a few days ago.

17:49

“Damn Avery…” She murmured, a bit of a growl in her voice as she tested the water's temperature before stepping inside herself. Unlike the first time that she had been subjected to a bath or a shower here, this one she voluntarily went in. It had been accidental, tracking in the mud and dirt from outside, but she hadn’t wanted to continue it. For a while, Felicity just stood in the stream of the shower, letting the water rinse and cleanse her body slowly of the mud that had clung to her. Her face turned sour as the dirt and grime fell from her arms and wrists. Her head tilted slowly to look down at her arms as the bites of the traps came into view. They had been elongated with her change, but nevertheless were still very much present. Her bandages had been pulled and snapped off, much too small to remain on her arms while she changed from a fox to a woman. Her hands moved carefully over the wounds, jagged and horrible to look at. Jackson had done a good job wrapping her up and caring for her the last few days. Turning her arms over to ensure all the dirt and grime and mud rinsed completely from the open wounds that were just becoming healed enough to bear, Felicity sat herself down in the shower. Her legs folded so her knees would come up closer to her chest, and she watched intently as the droplets of water from the shower ran down her skin and took little pieces of muck with it. As the wounds cleaned and she got a real solid look at them, Felicity just shook her head. No matter which form she decided to take, those would become scars without a doubt. The sharp lines that stretched over her forearms and across her wrists looked like some savage beast had bitten and sunk its jagged and thick teeth in hard to her. Honestly she was lucky that the trap hadn’t broken bones.

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Carefully, her fingers traced over the divots of her skin, the new imperfections that she was gifted thanks to the previous farm owner and her own carelessness. Her face grimaced a little and she sucked air through her teeth in pain at the slight sting that the water inflicted. It needed to be done, even though she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. It took a few minutes, before she finally was satisfied, moving on to the rest of her filth covered body. Felicity decided to remain seated in the shower, feeling a little shaky on her legs at having only had a handful of blueberries for food today and nothing else. “Once I’m clean, I’m changing back…” she decided, knowing that she used far less energy as a fox than as a human. She certainly would feel much less lightheaded and would be able to move easier. Felicity at least needed to clean herself off first before she could do that. Gently, she rinsed her legs and knees, letting the mud form little black rivers in the shower and down the drain like before. Her hands came together and cupped some of the water in her palms, lightly pouring it over her chest and abdomen. Even ensuring between her legs and along her thighs were wiped clean. This was far easier and nicer than a stream outside. And considering it continued to rain all day, any stream was likely too rapid for her to have dealt with as a fox.

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Her hands slowly came around her legs, hugging her knees gently as the water traveled down her body and slid over her face softly. Felicity let her chin rest on her knees while she contemplated her position currently and what she should do about it. At the moment, she certainly liked Avery’s son enough to trust him. She’d even slept beside him twice now, which was far more comfortable than her den beneath the porch. He was diligent and fed her, even if this morning’s breakfast was a little lacking. That likely isn’t his fault… I have no idea if he knows how to hunt or if he knows how to find food… he hasn’t grown anything yet at least… She thought in quiet contemplation, letting her deep eyes close as she continued to think about everything. Images of Jackson crossed her mind, watching him working on the shed and petting his animal companions in the field. How he looked reading that book in bed and how calm he seemed every time he stroked her fur. Her spine tingled a little at the thought of that; it had felt rather nice for her too. Felicity gently rubbed at her elbows a little, continuing to think of her current situation. It wasn’t like she had to stay on the farm. She was free to leave whenever she wanted to. Though, as much as she thought herself a wild animal it wasn’t necessarily true. She was more considered a wild spirit, one that was a guardian of the land and of the forests beyond it. Her presence helped the soil remain fertile, helped the streams stay clear, and the trees to grow tall. It was her tending to the land while Avery was away that kept it grown and allowed nature to claim it in the way that it had. With Jackson here seeming to take up the reins he would soon find that the yield of his crops would be better with her around. That his tools would last longer and that eventually the food grown would taste better than others. Felicity wasn’t like the sprites that would visit and grant their one time little blessings in the town or on the far

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m or even in the forests and caves beyond it. If she left the farm, it would lose the blessing of a mountain spirit more than anything else.

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Not that Felicity herself thought that she was that important anyway. It just had always been like that. With Avery, he could have had the benefits that Felicity offered, had he not treated her like a pest and a nuisance. It wasn’t like Felicity could blame the old man for that, she was a fox after all. But the cruelty he had shown had certainly not endeared her to want to help the old man. She had even come to him as a human, asked him outright how long he had planned on living on the farm if he seemed to hate it so much and seemed so lonesome. The memory brought a light smile to her face, remembering the answer he had given and that it had just irritated Felicity more than anything else. She just wanted her land back, her farm. For what it was worth, she found the farm to be her territory. It was hers to tend to, hers to live on and her’s to protect. Shaking her head a little and sending a few droplets of water splashing against the side of the shower, Felicity let herself reminisce further on other things. Avery she didn’t care for, but his son was something else. He had shown nothing but kindness to the vixen, even though he certainly hadn’t needed to. For humans, foxes were pests not pets. And yet here was Jackson, caring for her wounds, keeping her in his cabin, warming her by the fire. He had gone out of his way in town to come back with medicine that had indeed helped to speed up the healing process of her wounds. These were all things he didn’t need to do, and yet he did. Without knowing what she truly was. To him, she was just a vixen that lived under the porch of his late father’s old farm cabin, that was stupid enough to get caught in a trap that had been set and he was nursing her back to health.

17:49

“I think that settles it then…” she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else who might have been able to hear. “Unless he wants me to leave, then I’ll stick around… help him out with things as best as I can… show him the ropes I guess…” A light creak, barely audible, caught her attention. Her head sprang up from her knees, looking towards the door of the bathroom where the sound had come from. Someone was inside the cabin. It was likely that it was Jackson. Felicity shrank low in the shower, sitting quietly as she tried to determine where he was or how close he was getting. Unfortunately she was human, and their ears weren’t quite as sharp as a fox’s would be. It was this unfortunate reality that was determining exactly how in trouble she would be. This wasn’t her home necessarily, but she had just wandered herself in. Taken a shower in his shower and was currently enjoying the warmth that the water was bringing to her skin. Recognizing the creak was not the floorboards but instead the sound of the old hinges starting to move at the bathroom door. Panic ran through her, and as quickly as she could she shut off the water on the tap. The pipes whined a little with their sudden halt in flow, but Felicity paid it no mind. It was bad enough before when he’d bathed her, she didn’t exactly need him to see her like this in his shower quite yet. Her legs shook horribly, having barely the energy to stand as she snatched a nearby towel and wrapped it around her torso. I need to change back. I need to be a fox here. He… he won’t understand if he just sees me like this! she thought, tying the towel up at her chest just under her arm. It fell just low enough to keep her decent, if only just. The edge of the towel came to just above her knee, like a terry cloth mini skirt. Which was all well and good but she was well and thoroughly trapped now in his bathroom with the only exit being the one that he was currently pushing open.

17:50

“Uhh… Just a minute…” She called, wondering if saying something would do anything and already readying herself to not be surprised if it didn’t. She’d heard that saying something like that might help but when it didn’t Felicity just chalked it up to another myth that humans told themselves. Standing just outside his shower, he’d see the nude figure of Felicity, wrapped in one of his towels to keep herself decent, with her long dark hair pulled to one side of her shoulder. Her hands fidgeted a little at her wet hair, twirling it a little around her long thin fingers. Well now what do I do… She thought, biting her lower lip gently in thought, staring at the man in the doorway who was likely thinking the same thing she was. How exactly was she to explain that the vixen he’d been taking care of the last few days, was actually her? Who would believe that? Before she could come up with any kind of explanation, her deep eyes traveled down to his hand, and the blood that had pooled there. He’d hurt himself, likely doing something on the farm while she was trying to tidy herself up. “You’re… you’re hurt…” Her voice was gentle with a light bite to it. Honey sweet but it had the potential to sting if you weren’t careful. Slowly, as cautious as she could, Felicity took a step and then another towards him, reaching for his hand in order to clean it in the sink. The light of the bathroom fell gently on the wound over her forearm as she reached out for his hand, a light and apologetic smile on her face. In her attempt to keep his home clean, she had inadvertently tracked mud anyway into the home and she was just now recognizing it. You could almost see the sheepish grin of a fox on her face, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth a moment before she spoke to him again. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to track mud into your house again…” @Jester

The sound of creaking pipes and water slowly dripping to a halt. Jackson knew that whomever was inside had been alluding to his presence. While he was unsure of what or who would be inside until he heard a voice. A female voice. One he was unfamiliar with. His thoughts were filled with the idea of possibilities, a homeless woman breaking in from the rain from a shower. Surely he couldn’t deny them something as simple and basic as an escape from the weather. It would just be simply too cruel to do that, but where would they stay? If it was someone who was needing a place to stay, a place to sleep, where he would let them sleep? In his bed, maybe, but he was not fond of the idea of sleeping on the hardwood floor. However, if they didn’t have the luxury of a home and a shower, maybe it would be kinder for him to allow them to stay a night in his bed. He hadn’t seen anyone who seemed homeless in the town, in the little time that he had spent there but it surely was a possibility. It would also make sense on how they found themselves at his cabin, ashamed and scared of the judgment of the townspeople. Yet, they somehow seemed too kind to allow someone at their village to go hungry and without shelter, and as he thought of it more he quickly assumed the worst. This was a prank. There were loads of kind people in the town he had visited, and while the town was quiet and peaceful Jackson knew that this is how people grew bored, especially young adults. A female voice coming from the bathroom asking for a moment was all too suspicious for him, even more of the fact that they only said something as the door started opening. This is how he would get caught “in the act of their plans. The idea of being the talk of the town, the town pervert was enough to make him consider even opening the door more. The last thing he wanted to be was a story that would be told for years about Avery’s son, the man who walked in on people showering.

20:41

As the door opened he wasn’t prepared for the sight that fell upon him. All the worries of what could have happened were suddenly just a thing of the past and in the present moment he was ensnared. Where he had expected a prank or a threat, he had found a woman more beautiful than he realized was possible. In his eyes he could only see perfection, an unmatched beauty. His chest fluttered as if millions of butterflies had just emerged from their cocoons, a feeling he had only felt before once. The feeling he felt in his gut was similar to how he felt when he first arrived at the cabin. The wooden bark of the trees, and evergreen leaves that would eventually fall from the was matched by her eyes. The untamed vegetation, the greenery surrounded the cabin reflected in her wavy hair that wrapped her finger nervously. The dark brown hair leaked with hints of amber as droplets of water fell onto the towel that dressed her skin. Her skin was like the sky that surrounded him on his first day arriving, smooth but yet concerning, while most of her was covered by a dampened dress, her shoulders lead to an area unknown to him, an area of which in this moment he wanted to explore. Just as quickly as those thoughts of exploring her beauty came, they quickly perished as his eyes fixated at her arm. It looked as if she had gotten on the losing end of a fight with a bear, but still stood there strong. The steam of the room rushing to leave eclipsed her beauty, she was just as radiant as the area around her. The purity of what he was seeing was overwhelming. Not even his dreams could he imagine a woman so pure, so beautiful and yet he was stunned and speechless towards her. His eyes looked towards her lip as her teeth pressed against them while looking at him

20:41

Thankfully for Jackson, she was the first to break the silence stare that had arisen between them. In a way that wasn’t expected by him, as she approached him with what he would believe is a concerned look in her eyes. He had almost forgotten about his injury due to the thoughts of an intruder breaking in until she had brought it back to his attention. The stinging sensation that he had felt before returned from the numbness of his adrenaline. Her voice was sweet and soft just like the skin of her hand that reached out to him. With each step that she drew closer to him, his heart beat raised more, still giving her his hand regardless. Jackson was a kind soul that had always tried to see the best in the people around him. This is what led him to trusting the stranger in his cabin with his injury. He let himself be led to the bathroom sink with her. Her words haunted his brain. She was sorry for tracking mud into his home… again? He was so fixated on the presence of another human in his father’s cabin that he didn’t even bother to look at the mud tracks leading to the room. It probably would have given a better idea of what he was dealing with. His silence still held as his eyes slowly moved to the wood, the only tracks of mud that he could see was his own. While he had been busy at work, he had gotten quite filthy and the tracks of dirt and dripped gore showed it, he couldn’t see any other messes besides the ones he assumed were made from his fox friend. He wasn’t able to tell if they were from the previous night or today, all he knew was that he watched his friend leave the house in the morning and hadn’t seen her since and the injury wasn’t helping his memory on the matter. The cold rush of water against his wound made his eyes quickly shoot back to his arm. The sink was colored in pink from the tainted water that was running over his cut as his lips let a scream of profanity leave.

20:41

“Fucking bitch tits!! ow!” The sting of the words leaving his lips were enough to show that this was the biggest injury he probably had had in his life, and his bark was far more scary than his bite. He quickly shot his arm to his chest holding it in place. It was at this moment he had to decide what he was going to do. He could use his pain which heightened his emotions and act irrationally or he could take a second and think. He looked up at her in her eyes, she didn’t look as if she was harmful nor that she had any ill intent yet he knew what needed to be done. “I-I am sorry…. I didn’t mean to yell… Look I don’t know who you are or why and how you got in here, but. Can you just leave? You can start a fire in the fireplace, and sit in the chair or bed out there, but I think I need to get this cleaned and all this dirt off of me.” Just as quickly as the situation escalated, it dropped. With his arm secured to his chest he opened the door for the woman and let her leave the room. For a split second he wondered what she would do, while he couldn’t deny that she was beautiful, she was still a stranger who broke into someone’s home. He reached his arm out to the shower, letting the temperature of the water warm as he watched to see what she would do next. He left the door slightly ajar, in an attempt to look out and see if she would attempt to take any of his food or things, but after a few seconds of feeling like a peeping tom, he moved away from the crevasse. There was nothing of value that she could take, sure the food he had left would be a loss for him, but if they were hungry enough to steal it, they needed it more then him.

20:42

He slowly used one arm to shimmy and shake his pants off before settling on the floor of the shower. The grime of the day fell pelted by the warm water slowly started washing down his body. His head hit the back of the wall as he let out a grunt of frustration. How could he injure himself like this, how could he be so stupid. Even more so, how many people would he try to help? He should have kicked her out, but with the way the weather was, it seemed excessively rude. So this is just going to be his life now, some woman sleeping on his bed while he and his fox slept on the floor. THE FOX He hadn’t even thought about her! She was probably scared out of her mind, hiding underneath his bed. The poor thing, he needed to finish this as quickly as possible and make sure she was ok. Jackson let out a heavy grunt as he attempted to lift the shirt that clung so tightly to his body. Carefully maneuvering it around his wound. The water continued splashing against his skin as he stared at his arm. It felt worse than it looked, or at least that’s what he would tell himself to justify continuing his work on the property. He didn’t want to stay here much longer than necessary even more so now that he hurt himself. He just couldn’t shake the idea from his mind that he was not cut out for this lifestyle. *Jackson let a soft sigh out as he stood up from the floor. He couldn’t just sit there and think, not with everything going on. He continued washing the day's work away before turning his back to the water. Jackson inspected his arm closer, his teeth clenched in pain as he moved his fingers closer to the wound's opening. His eyes rolled, leave it to him to get a similar injury as his pet, now he would have to wrap both of their wounds and both use medicine. His head softly hit the walls of the shower in disappointment in himself. How would he take care of everything when he could barely take care of himself? The pipes creaked as the liquid halted its movements throughout

20:42

the bathroom. His frustration grew even more when he stepped out of the shower. How would he be able to take care of anyone when he couldn’t even check to see if there were more towels in the bathroom. He had had one in there, which his intruder had occupied and now he sat in the room, wondering what to do next.* “Umm.. ma’am.” He looked through the crack of the door to see if she had made herself more comfortable than just a towel. His heart raced with embarrassment. “I- I need help….” @Fiory

It seemed like he was stunned or perhaps in shock at first. Not like she could really blame him. Felicity could imagine that it must be odd for him to walk in and see a woman in his bathroom instead of the plucky little fox he’d seen the last few days. Gently, she touched his wrist and surprisingly to her, he allowed her to bring it towards the sink in the bathroom. Her words though seemed to fall on deaf ears, because he said nothing in return. No statement or question or even a comment. Her soft eyes watched him carefully, feeling a bit of a quiver fly down her spine at just how quiet he was being. With one hand she turned the faucet on, letting the cool water run and sticking his hand underneath it to clean the wound. ”Fucking bitch tits!! ow!” The shout startled her like no other. She’d never heard him yell before and goodness it was painful to her ears. Her hands immediately released his, allowing him to recoil the injured hand and hold it close to his chest. A curl of hair fell down the center of Felicity’s face and her hands held over her ears tightly until the echo in the room quieted.

20:12

“Sheesh! I’m sorry! You’re supposed to clean it!” She whined a little, lifting her hands off her ears and folding her arms over her chest irritably. Honestly, it wasn’t like he was injured that terribly, at least, not from what Felicity could see and deduce. Not like she was a doctor either though. To her, it just looked like a normal injury one would get on a farm, something to expect, not something to belly ache over. At first she made to take his hand again before his words came out and stopped her. He apologized for shouting, and then asked her to leave. “O-oh…Alright I suppose… I was only trying to help.” She said quietly. Felicity had gotten used to the idea that he wanted to have her around. Perhaps he only liked her around as a fox, and that’s what he meant. She did find her human form a little odd, though she really didn’t have a choice in the matter. This was just how she was made, nothing more or less. Slowly she made her way out of the bathroom, sliding by Jackson and holding the towel around her chest to keep it up. Her gaze moved towards the fireplace, but she’d never actually started a fire before. Felicity understood how it worked, understood the concept behind it. You needed dry tinder and wood, but as far as actually lighting one, she’d never tried. There weren’t many fireplaces under the porch where she normally stayed after all. “Um… maybe I’ll just sit and wait…” She thought, her limbs feeling a bit shaky the longer she stood in one place. As if they had been coiled for so long and hadn’t had the chance to really stretch out and enjoy the strides they normally had. Light on the balls of her feet, Felicity strode across the room to the bed, taking care to miss her own pawprints in mud on the floor and what Jackson had tracked in himself. Her hands came forward and she gingerly climbed up onto the old cotton quilt and sheets. Her legs slid out from underneath her to the side and bent at a soft angle while she let herself flop over onto her

20:12

side to wait. He hadn’t minded her on the bed before, and at least this time she was far cleaner that she was previously. After a few minutes, Felicity perked her head up hearing the shower turn on and the water sprinkling inside.

20:13

“So he wanted to shower? I mean he could have just said that… that would have been alright…” Felicity sighed, putting her head back down and staring up at the ceiling of the cabin. She was trying to figure out the best way to explain this to him, wondering exactly how to tell him that the fox he had been treating the last three days, the vixen who’d been injured in that trap, was actually her. The thought of it made her giggle sweetly to herself, scoffing at the notion that it would be that simple. Humans were not very trusting creatures in her opinion. She hadn’t met one she could really trust in her lifetime. Not a single one. Well, that’s not true… He was trustworthy…Or... seems to be “Suppose that’s true… just how do I bring it up?” She wondered aloud, agreeing with herself that Jackson could potentially be trusted. He hadn’t shooed her out of the house and had fed, washed and cared for her after all. Though finding out that the little pet fox you had snuggled with the last few nights was actually a woman sent a brilliant flush across her cheeks and over her nose. The idea that she’d slept up close with him, cozied up beside him in bed was a bit embarrassing for her. Sure, she had had a full coat of fur, and he hadn’t known what she was, but it was the principle of the thing. Felicity swallowed a little, wondering how exactly she was going to traverse this now.

20:13

“Well, I just need to go back to being a fox… I probably should anyway… less energy usage..” She said gently, just talking out loud for her to contemplate what to do next. Sitting up, Felicity closed her eyes and concentrated on the form she wanted to be. The way the limbs moved and the length of her tail. The shape of those triangular ears and how sharp and thin her muzzle was. ”Umm..ma’am.” Felicity opened her eyes, having not changed a single hair with Jackson’s ill timed interruption. Her head swiveled to the bathroom door and she listened intently to hear what exactly he needed. When his voice rang out again, he required help. Felicity tilted her head to one side, her long dark hair gently sliding off her shoulder in a reaction to his. How was she supposed to help him? He had shouted at her before, nearly making her deaf with the volume of it and that was her helping previously. Quietly, she looked down at her arms, crossing them over her chest before she realized she still had his towel. It was wrapped snugly over her chest and draped down her body. Is that what he needed? Her ears nearly moved listening to the pipes as the water shut itself off in the bathroom and giving a firm nod, Felicity surmised that this was the best course of action.

20:13

“Um.. Okay. Gimme just a sec.” She called out towards the door, looking around to see if there was anything else she could put on. Felicity was mostly dry at this point, but she still wanted something to cover her human body with. While fur was perfectly fine to show off to the world, she understood the oddness of not wearing clothing while wandering around town as a human. She had tried it once, and the townsfolk had nearly all been shocked to death at the sight of her. Felicity hadn’t thought that she was ugly or disgusting in some way, even going around and asking people why they all hid their faces and seemed so angry towards her. It wasn’t until later that she realized it was just because she had been nudge. Humans are fickle things like that she surmised, thinking back on it while she searched for something to wear. Her eyes soon spied his bag, and the green flecks in her eyes glittered with delight. He had to have clothes in there right? And he was bigger then her, so maybe something would fit alright. Her fingers opened the bag quietly, sifting through the clothes he’d brought until she found a t-shirt. Carefully, wincing a little at the sensitive cuts on her arms, Felicity took the towel off and draped it over the end of the bed. At first she was a little confused by it, figuring out the tag direction and slipping the thing on over her head. “There, that’s probably better. I’m sure he won’t get mad now that I’m not in the towel anymore.” She thought, grinning down at her own cleverness, before taking the towel with her and walking towards the bathroom door. The shirt was actually too big for her, hitting right about her mid thigh and loose on her shoulders. It was still a little awkward to walk, having not been human in such a long time, but she was managing as time went on. It just was an adjustment, something she hadn’t done in quite a while and needed to get used to. Timidly, she pressed the door open and peeked her head inside.

20:13

“You… said you needed help?” She asked, glancing in his direction and but letting her eyes fall to the wall and the floor in turn. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him naked in the shower before, or lounging about on the cabin floor, but she at least understood the need for privacy in this respect. Slowly, and keeping her eyes away as much as she dared, Felicity stepped into the bathroom and held the towel out for him to take. Every so often she couldn’t help her curious nature, those soft forest floor eyes peering over and sneaking a peek at him. This only made the flush on her cheeks intensify but Felicity couldn’t help it. It was the first time she was his size, or at least tall enough that she wasn’t looking up at him from the floor. Felicity would wait until he took the towel or instructed her that he needed something else. She was sure this was what he wanted, as she was the one who’d nicked it from the bathroom. Checking to be sure he was indeed decent if that was enough to do so, Felicity turned to face him a little easier, a finger coming up and scratching the top of her nose idly.

20:13

“Look.. um… “ She started a little nervousness edging her honey sweet voice. Her hands fell to the hemline of the t-shirt she wore, fidgeting with it a little while she tried to articulate what she wanted to say. What she felt like needed to be said. “I..uh.. Well I appreciate all the help you gave me…the last couple days… It.. it was really kind of you… Avery never would have done that for me…” She wasn’t even sure if he would understand or if she really had to spell the whole thing out for him. To her, she hadn’t thought it a big deal, talking about her vixen self as easily as talking about the weather. A hand gently ran over the marks on her counterpart’s forearm. It still stung and she winced slightly at it, but it at least was healing. “Uh… Anything I can help with? To.. To try and pay you back?” She asked, letting her gaze come back up to his. A hand gently came to the wavy dark curls of her hair and tucked a piece behind her ear sweetly so she could listen. Felicity just hoped that he wouldn’t start shouting at her again. @Jester

Jackson had only realized he hadn’t given her much instruction at all with his needs. His cheeks grew warm and pink with the worries that she would think of him as some sort of pervert. In his worries he deduced that the best course of action would have been if she had left. Instead of finding that peaceful silence, the hair on his arms rose as goosebumps grew along his skin. Her soft voice replied to his call. His head rested against the slightly ajar door as his body was hidden behind it. It had been quite the day and it seemed like it was only just getting started. The warm wood of the door, slightly painted with the steam of the shower, was comforting, nurturing almost, like a mother checking their sons temperature with the back of their hand. His anxiety of the moment was being soothed, until her footsteps got closer. His heart beat rose with anticipation, he still hadn’t even said what he had needed help with, yet her voice beckoned him again. The door shifted as did Jackson, his face grew red as she stepped into the threshold of the bathroom. The stirring of his stomach grew more intense as he moved back from the door allowing her entrance. He wasn’t sure if she was bold or just unaware, he hadn’t given her much to go off of, or really anything at all. Her arm reached out holding the towel and the tornado of his stomach reached its apex. The nervous raged as he gently took it, he would have attempted to speak and thank her for helping him, if he hadn’t been sure that opening his mouth would unleash his turning stomach onto the floor. Still he was grateful, she had given him the towel covering her to dry himself off.

21:54

His hands moved in the fabric until they were parallel with each other about the width of his face as he slowly lifted it to his neck, rubbing it up his face to his hair letting the fabric linger as he used his hands to leverage more of the still damp towel towards his hair. He would normally care that this towel was used by another person, but the situation was dire and beggars couldn’t be choosers. It wasn’t until the towel was making small bath and forth motions in his hair that he even realized she had given him her towel. The only thing that was covering her. His hands motioned back and forth more quickly as if he was trying to get the mental images of what she wasn’t wearing out of his head. No matter how hard he tried to bring the thoughts out of his head through drying his hair, his body betrayed him, as a slight pop of excitement sprung from himself. His body was shaking in part to the weather affecting the temperature of the cabin mixing with the escaping heat from the bathroom and from the embarrassment of the entire situation. While she wasn’t fully inside of the bathroom when he swiped the towel from her hands, when he covered his face to start drying himself, it felt to him like her presence was still there lingering over him. It was that sense that he felt glooming over him that made him more nervous by the second. He didn’t want her to think that he was some creep or trying to take advantage of her helping him for some sexual gain. As his hands moved down and his eyes opened after freeing his face from the towels grasp the first thing that he had noticed was her shift, the turn of her head in his direction.

21:54

His thoughts provoked him more; was she going to look at him? What was her plan here? If it was to embarrass him, she had completely succeeded as his cheeks were as red as an apple. His hands quickly shifted the towel towards his chest, letting it drape over himself. The sound of her voice only raised more panic. She was going to talk to him?! Now?! He quickly used the towel as a kilt, wrapping it around his abdomen and tucking the corner in. His eyes looked at the woman for the first time since she had left the bathroom, and took in what he was seeing. She seemed nervous, maybe even scared. His first concern was that she was on the run, maybe from an ex or from her family, the way she cutely fidgeted with the shirt was enough for him to acknowledge what she was going to say was important. He had focused on listening to what was going to leave her mouth; he hadn't even realized that she was wearing his shirt.

21:54

I..uh.. Well I appreciate all the help you gave me He smiled in the relief of knowing that tonight wasn’t going to be the disaster that he expected it to be, there was no prank afoot, and it wasn’t part of an elaborate ruse to kidnap or steal his things. The knots that were tightly forming in his stomach slowly started unwinding as a part of the relief. the last couple days… It.. it was really kind of you The last couple of days? He hadn’t taken care of anyone since he had gotten her, hell he could barely take care of himself. His thoughts started trailing as he wondered if he had done anything to unintentionally help her? He hadn’t left any food or water or clothing for anyone. His brain started processing slower as it filled with confusion. How could he have helped someone that he had never seen before? Avery never would have done that for me…

21:55

A hole formed in his stomach as all of the knots that had been tightly wound inside of him suddenly dropped and sank past his gut. She knew his father? Who the fuck was this woman? He had a few thoughts of her being his fathers new flavor of the month but she looked far too young for that. In his head it was way more likely that she was the daughter of whomever he came out here with to replace his mother and she, she was his. Maybe, he thought, they were out of town for a while and came back when they had heard his father had gone missing. It would make sense, if she was also looking for Avery then of course she would come here, she must have been just as shocked and confused by the turn of events of the night as he was. He needed to know more, maybe she knew what had happened to his father. How he died, or what he was doing beforehand. His mind was like a hailstorm of questions pelting his brain, as each question he could ask her landed on the ground a new one was on the cusps of falling. His excitement of the possibilities of answers, of not having to sell the cabin, but just giving it to her, and her family was reaching its peak, ignoring the question that she had asked to help him, before he noticed her arms once more. He had gotten so caught up in the moment of things that he hadn’t really thought of his injury. Now being a good enough time as any he thought to take care of it.

21:55

Jackson cupped her hands in his and brought her to the table in the living room. His excitement was only matched by the pace in which he stepped. He rushed to get the medicine before sitting down at the table. He dabbed his fingers inside scooping a bit of the ointment before taking a deep breath. As the cold medicine rubbed against his skin his teeth grinded together, not of pain but of discomfort. He needed to do this, and do it quickly so he could freely speak his mind. His fingers slowly brushed against the wound, his eyes closed, as his body tightened against his own movements. Finally he let a few words leave his lips. “Give me your arm……So… how do you know my father-Avery?” He wiped the slick fingers against the towel clinging to his thigh as he waited to see if she would let him tend to her as well. If she wouldn’t he would slide the bottle towards her allowing her to do it herself. If she did his hands gently rubbed against the skin surrounding the cut, intently watching her reactions to see how much pain she was in. Then his fingers would dip into the bottle, getting a small amount of ointment, softly caressing the area closest to it before moving in closer, applying it as light fingered as he possibly could. This thumb gingerly massaged the area away from her, in hopes that if he did give her any pain that she would realize that it was not intentional. “This should help, I got it from Pierre for my friend.. She seems to be doing better…. So much so…” His eyes started looking around the room for his furry friend. He hadn’t seen her all night, and normally she was not this shy. Every time he had sat in the house she had been nearby or at least close enough where he had noticed. Although the only places he had really seen her was when she was eating food or stealing his bed. “...that I don’t know where she went…. Little fox where are you? Are you hungry?” @Fiory

It wasn’t like this wasn’t the first time that Felicity had seen the man naked before. He graced her with that image just the other day. Twice. The first time in the shower where he had finished bathing her and then proceeded to clean himself with her trapped in the bathroom until he made his way out, and then again when he decided to sit in the buff in front of his fireplace. The soft rosey flush on her cheeks grew just a bit brighter recalling the details a little more vividly in her head, while she waited for him to take the towel that Felicity assumed he needed. She really didn’t know if that was what he wanted. To her, she’d stolen it from him, so it only seemed like the right thing to return it. In her nervousness of the situation as awkward as it was, Felicity just let herself talk. It had been so long since she’d actually talked to someone before. Normally the woman paraded around as a vixen, and people didn’t really talk her language like that. But everything she was saying seemed to go over Jackson’s head. Wasn’t she speaking plainly enough? Was what she saying that strange? It didn’t occur to Felicity that he didn’t know who she was, or didn’t connect the dots that she was the vixen who had stayed with him the last couple nights.

20:36

“Uh.. What’re you doing?” She asked, feeling his hands take hers and lead her out of the bathroom and into the cabin proper. Why did he want to hold her hand all of a sudden? She glanced down at the hand that grasped hers in a firm but warm grip. Hers fit inside it fairly easily, delicate and lithe in shape in comparison to the slightly rougher and larger of the new farmhand. Her limbs attempted to keep up as best as she could, until he showed her to the chair at the table. She nearly had to leap after him with the pace he took with her. What had had him so excited all of a sudden was beyond her, but Felicity was sure that she wouldn’t mind continued conversation with him. It was far nicer than just talking to herself after all. Quietly, Felicity took a seat at the table and waited for Jackson to come back with the medicine he’d used before. She couldn’t help sitting a little oddly, pulling her legs close to her chest on that chair and tucking that t-shirt around her so everything was sufficiently covered. Her arms came forward to hold her knees, and she leaned forward on them to relax, watching Jackson as he moved around the cabin. There was a gentle tilt to her head, those soft wet curls of earthy and auburn hair dangling off her shoulder and swaying in the air. He was fascinating to watch, and she found she enjoyed watching him. He was at least interesting, and he didn’t under normal circumstances shoo her away or shout at her. That was something she didn’t miss at all with Avery. How someone who was so kind and so gentle was the offspring of someone who was such a grouch was the most perplexing thing to the vixen.

20:36

Soon enough Jackson made his way back to the table, putting the medicine bottle onto the wood with a gentle and quiet thud of the glass against the grain. Those deep eyes flicked from Jackson to the bottle and then back again. That was a good idea she supposed, his cut had looked pretty bad and it would be a good idea to apply some kind of medicinal ointment to it so it could begin healing. Her eyes glittered with emerald lights watching as he seemed discomforted by the chill touch of the medicine when he applied it to his hand. The little face he made and the quiet intake of breath. He seemed to hate the fact that he was doing this, but the way he worked at it was understandable that he just wanted it to be done quickly. Why he was in a hurry with it, Felicity wasn’t sure. Did he just want to be done with it? Or did it sting that badly that he wanted the pain to be finished sooner? For her, she knew that sting well enough and her brows quietly furrowed as he finished tending to himself and then turned his eyes her way. ”Give me your arm……So…how do you know my father - Avery?” “He was the farmer who lived here before you.” Felicity said simply, raising a brow at him as she slid her arm across the table for him to inspect. She wasn’t opposed to tending to herself, though if he was going to offer to tend to her wounds again, Felicity wasn’t about to tell him not to. She actually didn’t mind the way he tended to it before; he’d done so quickly and efficiently. It hadn’t hurt as badly when he’d done it, and to be honest Felicity wasn’t practiced in using anything other than natural and herbal remedies. Human medicines were foreign to her, though she could see the benefit of them.

20:36

“He was a mean man… always chasing me around and throwing stones at me.” Felicity said quietly, leaning her head on her knees so her chin rested in between where they held together. Those hazel eyes watched as he dipped his fingers into the ointment and she grimaced as the cool touch of it felt like ice on her more exposed arm. It stung more so without the fur as a barrier than it had before. “Ow…It didn’t hurt as bad last time..” She murmured, a gentle whine in that honeyed voice as she glared at the offensive bottle of deceptive medical treatment. It was supposed to make her feel better, so why did it have to hurt so much first? That made no sense to her at all. Humans are so strange.. She thought bitterly, though she didn’t pull her arms away nor did she snap or shout or otherwise get angry at the situation with Jackson. Felicity was more happy that she had someone to talk to. Someone who could understand her, and he was better at applying this then she thought she would be. ”I got it from Pierre for my friend.. She seems to be doing better… so much so… that I don’t know where she went…”

20:36

Felicity tilted her head a little further at him. He considered her a friend? That was kind of him, she hadn’t realized she had had such an impact on the man. Thinking on it for the slight second she was given to, Felicity realized she could probably count him as a friend too. He certainly wasn’t her enemy and she did owe him for the treatment he had been giving her the last couple days. And tonight as well. ”Little fox, where are you? Are you hungry?” Her brows raised high on her face and without meaning to, Felicity let a soft giggle escape her pretty face. That was a first, she hadn’t earned a name like that before. It was a little too on the nose for her taste, but it was sweet that he at least had some way to identify her. I should probably correct him though… there’s lots of foxes in the area, wouldn’t want him to get me confused with someone else…One who’s not so pleasant.

20:36

“My name’s Felicity actually..” She said through a small fit of giggles, pulling her arm away once he’d finished treating the trap wound and examining the way he had tended to her. She held it up to the dim light in the cabin and turned her forearm this way and that, examining just how well he’d done and trailing her fingers over the ointment that he’d left on her skin that hadn’t quite been rubbed completely in yet. A small droplet of it stuck to the pad of her index finger and she pulled it away to examine it further. Her index met the pad of her thumb a few times, playing with the medicine there and creating small strings of it between her fingers. It looked so odd, she wondered how Humans came up with something so versatile to heal wounds like this. “And actually, now that you mention it… I am actually a little hungry…” She continued, wiping the sticky goo off on the edge of the t-shirt she wore that hung along her thighs. Her stomach perfectly timed a quiet gurgling sound that made her wince a little in pain. That probably was the problem with her too; not enough energy to change back yet. Stuck like this then… at least til after dinner… oh! That reminds me! She thought, her eyes brightening as she peered across the table at Jackson, a look of glee on her face.

20:37

“That reminds me! I wasn’t able to carry very many but I got a couple eggs for you.” She turned and pointed to the chair, where the rag had been cradling the three eggs she’d swiped from Marnie’s farm. Her hand came up to her jaw and gently held it, rubbing her fingers along it as a bit of a massage. “They’re heavier than they look… but I figured if you can’t hatch them to replace the one’s I took.. Then you’ve at least got breakfast for a day or so…” She continued, that hand moving to the back of her head and light holding her neck a little embarrassed. “Not like it’s all my fault… Avery was the one who didn’t have a gate or anything. Feathered flock was just begging to be pilfered.” Felicity said with a sheepish sounding chuckle, a quiet smile on her face when she turned her face back to Jackson to gauge his response. “What’s that saying you people have? Don’t let a fox in the hen house? Well… Avery didn’t exactly stop me… so…” @Jester

Jackson’s eyes moved from the floor back towards the table until finally matching hers. He figured his friend would come out when they were ready. He had so much more to focus on, this woman knew his father and he wanted to know everything. His lingering fingers came to a halt as his understanding of the world came crashing to a stop. He watched as her arm moved away from him as her lips moved from words to soft giggling and back. His pupils dilated as the words left her mouth. Instead of her voice, he only heard ringing. Unable to comprehend the implications of the situation his mind did what it needed to. It gave him silence, silence and time to process. He became tunnel visioned until there was nothing to be seen and the images he once saw grew dark. It’s moments like this where Jackson wished he thrived, the imagination and wonder of the world being brought to his attention in full blast. Yet, here is where his mind put him, in a dark room, sitting by himself. The peace and quiet of a mind palace seemed so romanticized in the movies but having to connect the pieces on his own was much different. When he rushed to the conclusion of everything being a coincidence or misunderstanding too quickly he felt the back of his head hurt, as if his brain was telling him to take it slowly and try again. He focused, his breathing slowing pace, he had all the pieces to make the image, he just didn’t know that he was solving a puzzle. His thoughts came back to the cabin, thinking about the last moment he had, this dark secluded room now had the table he was sitting at appear. On the table was the medicine just where he left it and the chairs around it were empty. He needed the bigger picture still. Next he thought of the woman, and where she sat. Just like before she appeared sitting in the same chair with her arm out ready for him to apply medicine.

21:00

Jackson slowly walked around the woman stuck in time, he inspected her closely, yet the only thing that didn’t seem blurry was her face. She had such a beautiful face but when he focused too much on it, again he got the same warning sign from his brain. Clearly she wasn’t the piece he was looking for. He needed to see the bigger picture. In a moment of frustration he thought of every person he had seen since his time here, and just like that, next to the woman sitting at the table was a line of familiar faces. Mr. Gil was the first in that line and Jackson felt pretty confident that he had nothing to do with it, and thus his portrait vanished like smoke. Pierre soon followed in Mr. Gil’s footsteps, considering he was only there to help. Next was his father, Avery, silently standing there watching. This had something to do with him, it had to, this woman sitting next to him knew him. The swelling against his mind grew harsher as Jackson watched his father too, turn to smoke and vanish. His hands reached out for the smoke as the image of his father left him. Jackson let out a soft cry for help ‘Dad, why are you leaving again, I need to know what is happening!’

21:00

Jacksons ankle felt a sharp pain as a loud snapping of metal came to his ears. A sound he had heard before, the first day he arrived on the farm. He looked down at his feet only to see that he was caught in the trap. The pain he felt was only second the anxiety that pulsed through his body. He was stuck in this place, his own mental hell, and this trap would be what is keeping him here. As his panic rose more and more, he watched as his little fox friend gingerly trotted towards him, stepping on the trap and releasing his foot. He looked down, and there was no blood, at least not on him. The fox that freed him however did. He looked at the fox and remembered how he had felt that day, seeing her injured and scared just like he was. He watched as she jumped onto the table sitting in front of the woman whose arms were still out pointing towards the medicine. His eyes fixated on the foxes injuries, and just like a speed up powerpoint presentation images of his time this far on the farm started flashing before him. Everything he had seen, experienced all in front of him until he arrived at the memories of tonight, and with that the woman wasn’t foggy anymore, her arms that reached towards him had the scars that he hadn’t paid much mind to. Scars that matched the foxes. *As if no time had passed at all. Color quickly came back into his vision seeing her in full view. His eyes watched as his call to the pet he had been acting as a caretaker for was answered by this woman. He read her lips ‘name’s Felicity…I am a little hungry…’ before sounds came rushing back to his ears. * That reminds me! I wasn’t able to carry very many but I got a couple eggs for you. They’re heavier than they look… but I figured if you can’t hatch them to replace the one’s I took.. Then you’ve at least got breakfast for a day or so…

21:00

His face grew pale as he tried to focus on what she was saying, the thought of the fox and her being one of the same still in the back of his mind. When she turned and pointed towards the chair where she had put the eggs, Jackson’s head dipped below the table. He looked under the bed first to see if, like he had originally thought, the fox would be hiding underneath, however when he didn’t see her, his focus changed. Just like she had said, there were three brown eggs that sat in a damp rag. What’s that saying you people have? Don’t let a fox in the hen house? His head moved quickly up to meet hers, as the final string in the web of mysteries finally attached to the rest of the clues…. Or at least it would have if the back of Jackson’s head didn’t meet the corner of the table. A loud thud boomed across the cabin as the table softly lifted from the floor for a few seconds. His hand quickly moved to the back of his head as he firmly grabbed the hairs near the area. His urge to scream profanities was subsided by the soft rubbing that he did against himself as he slowly scooted off of his chair, sitting a little too openly on the floor. “You are…” He paused for a split second trying to figure out how to say the words that were in his head “You’re.. You are my fox friend?” His body shifted by the stress of the situation until he felt the cool wood floor against his back. His knees were pointed towards the table that hovered over them as he feet were planted firmly on the ground. His eyes looked towards the roof of the cabin that was still being hit with drops of water. He closed his eyes tightly, in hopes that he would wake up in the morning with only the memory of the most eccentric dream he had ever had. Yet, when his eyes opened it was still the same, the cabin roof and the beating pain the table had caused.

21:00

“Ok.. it makes sense.. This is fine…. You’re a fox…. You’re also a person… people can change.. It only makes sense… why does it make sense though? None of this makes any sense… Ok- ok - ok..” His hands clapped together with each new point that he was making. “You are Felicity. Felicity has scars. I have a fox that lives with me. That fox has scars. Felicity is a fox. I live with a fox.” His chest shot back up, now sitting fully upright and alert. “I BATHED YOU AND CUDDLED YOU! YOU’VE SEEN ME NAKED!” His cheeks grew redder and hot enough where anyone nearby may not even need the warmth of a fireplace. “This can’t be real… wait…” Jackson carefully this time, rose to his feet and paced towards the kitchen. He opened the fridge, pulled out enough meat to feed two people. “Ok, if you are a fox, then you can change back and forth.” He looked towards Felicity as he put a pan on the stove and started cooking the meat. “You are hungry, I get that.. I am too. So, there is only one solution here. One way to prove I am either insane…. or the world is…. If you are a fox, then change back into the fox. If you do, I will admit the world is crazy and you can have as much food as you want. HOWEVER, if you can’t change, then that means you are not the fox, that means I’m crazy. SO. If I am crazy, I will admit that, I will give you the food, BUT you will have to tell me everything you know about my dad and how you found this cabin. If you’re honest, I will let you sleep on the bed, if I don’t think you’re being honest, then you have to take the floor. Deal? “ @Fiory

The way that he was looking at her, made Felicity shrink a little in her chair. Had she said something strange? Something weird or odd to make him go so blank like that? The woman honestly couldn’t say. She’d just spoken truthfully, telling him what he asked about and talking to him like a normal person would. For a moment he seemed frozen in time, as if he was lost within his own mind before he quickly moved to look under the table. Blinking at him in confusion, Felicity tilted herself to do the same, looking under the table as if trying to help him find whatever must be under there. No sooner had she tilted her gaze at him under the table did he rise up and meet the underside of the piece of furniture with his head. She winced at his action, not understanding why he would pummel himself like that, and looking down at him from her chair as he sat down on the floor holding his head. Felicity was about to ask if he was alright, wondering if he’d hurt himself with his own actions, when she heard him speak up finally and closed her mouth to listen. ”You are….You’re… You are my fox friend?” A small smile spread across her face. He considered her a friend? That was new. She thought about it for a moment before deciding that that was the correct word for her to use as well to describe him. He hadn’t hurt her, and he’d taken such good care of her. ‘Friend’ just seemed like the right word.

10:18

“Yes. My name’s Felicity.” She repeated, watching as he laid down on the floor and recognizing the shock that he was in. The woman was cautious looking down at him as he began to go over everything that she had said. She watched him close his eyes tight and then open again mumbling to himself little things that she caught and tilting her head a little at them. ”Ok.. It makes sense.. This is fine… You’re a fox… You’re also a person… people can change.. It only makes sense… why does it make sense though? None of this makes any sense… Ok… ok ok…” She wasn’t quite sure if he was talking to himself or if he was talking to her, so Felicity opted to remain quiet, just watching him carefully to see what he would do. Slowly, she shifted in that chair, adjusting her seating position so she was sitting cross legged instead of with her knees up to her chest. Her hands came down to his shirt and made sure to tuck it in between her legs just to keep herself decent while he continued with his ramblings. When he finally did seem to want to engage with her, she was quick to respond back with each little statement he made. “You are Felicity.” “Yes. That’s correct.” ”Felicity has scars.” “Unfortunately” ”I have a fox that lives with me. That fox has scars.” “Currently, yes.” ”Felicity is a Fox.” “Yes I am…” ”I live with a fox.” “Figured that all out on your own didja?” Though as playful as she wanted to be with him, his sudden movement and shout startled the poor vixen and she nearly fell backward in that chair. Her hands immediately went to her ears and she winced painfully at the noise.

10:18

“No need to shout! And it wasn’t on purpose!” She nearly barked at him. Yes, she’d seen him naked and for her, she’d been nude too. In a way, as she’d only been covered in fur. Her own face flushed scarlet recalling the bath he’d given her and her subsequent attempt to give him a bit of privacy while he was meandering around in the buff. Rubbing her ears a little she lowered her hands slowly so they could rest on her thighs. “I did like the petting though… that felt nice..” She said a little more gently as if she was trying to find some kind of positive regarding the situation. Felicity had never revealed herself like this to anyone before, but she felt like he could be trusted. He’d acted so differently than any other person she’d known that it wasn’t hard to trust the guy. Now however, she was becoming a little wary of him, and how he seemed to be panicked over the revelation he was given. Not that she could really blame him; it’s not every day you meet a fox that can change into a person and back again. She watched him with interest as he slowly got up from the floor and moved towards the kitchen. Her long hair fell off her shoulder a moment and she quietly ran her fingers through it nervously. Felicity apprehensively watched where his hands were going, and the drawers he would decide to open. There were knives in a kitchen, and with his erratic behavior so far, she wasn’t one hundred percent confident that she wouldn’t need to high tail it quickly if he decided she needed to leave. However, what came out of his mouth instead had her raising a brow at him.

10:18

“Okay… let me get this straight…” She said quietly after listening to his request. Her hands came out in front of her a little, her palms up as she tried to have him pause a moment so she could gather her thoughts and reiterate exactly the ask that he had for her. “You’re telling me, to basically perform a trick to prove I am what I am? What do I look like, some circus act to you?” Her brows furrowed a little in irritation and she rolled her eyes at the request, letting her own questions to him hang in the air before she sucked in a deep breath and sighed heavily. “I mean… if I do, I can’t promise I can change back right away… it takes a lot of energy to change my shape like this…” Felicity explained, thinking over the proposition he made carefully. Her elbow bent and was placed on the table, her chin leaning forward to rest on her fist quietly in thought. She contemplated what he was asking, closing her eyes a moment to go over it all. He wanted to know more about Avery? That she didn’t understand. Mostly because she only knew Avery as the old farmer that had been here struggling before. That had chased her around the property and had set traps to scare her off. She wasn’t necessarily sure exactly what he wanted to know or if any of what she had to say would be relevant to him. Not that she wasn’t opposed to sharing it but she certainly couldn’t do that as a fox.

10:18

“If you’re sure…” She said quietly after a few minutes of allowing him settle while he was cooking, her nose lightly lifting a little to take in the smell of the meat that was beginning to sizzle in the pan. A soft grumbling sound came from her stomach and quietly Felicity waited to hear what he would have to say. If he still wanted her to change back to the vixen that he knew, then Felicity would oblige him. She’d close her eyes and concentrate on the form she knew. The red orange fur, the bushy tail, the lithe dexterous paws and the large triangle ears. It wouldn’t take much, a few blinks and instead of where Felicity the woman had sat before on that chair, the vixen took her place, draped in his t-shirt that was far too large for her now with her head poking out of the neckhole. If he changed his mind, then she’d remain sitting there, ready for questions about Avery if he had any. She’d do her best to answer them as best she could, not knowing exactly what he would ask. @Jester

His heartbeat climbed as her words stung him. ‘You’re telling me, to basically perform a trick to prove I am what I am? What do I look like, some circus act to you?’ He hadn’t even considered her feelings on the matter. In his confusion of the situation he hadn’t even thought that this person was in fact a person. He hadn’t meant to act as the puppet master to her forms. His eyes blinked as he realized how silly he had acted. He thought back to his words, treating her like an animal, using food, a necessity of life against her for his own gain. His stomach twirled in respect to his actions. Jackson turned his body away from her, facing the food as he flipped the meat ensuring that it was properly made. Instead of leaving it bland as he did in the past for her, he now added salt and pepper to both of them, being the only spices that he had in his possession. The culmination of the past few days now hitting him with the harsh reality that he treated her as an animal. He hadn’t given her much attention or much care at all. In his defense, he had no way of knowing that she was in fact a person, yet the thoughts still plagued him as he listened to her next words. I mean… if I do, I can’t promise I can change back right away… it takes a lot of energy to change my shape like this…

22:02

. While he hadn’t even considered the logistics of changing from one form to another it made sense. It even sounded exhausting, changing forms from an animal to a person. His head started spinning again as he started losing himself to the ideas of how it's even possible. The decision felt weighted with implications that he hadn’t fully thought of. Her words broken with slight pauses to him felt like hesitation. That hesitation could mean that she didn’t want to be a fox at the moment. It made sense to him, if she was tired of it she would change and then there was the fact of energy. Energy was always a hard resource to come by. Jackson himself felt himself lacking it with all the work he had been doing on the farm, and for her he would be surprised if it was any different. Even though she hadn’t done what he would call excessive work with him, she did state how hard it was for her to carry those eggs back to the cabin and with that logic getting those sticks and weeds would have taken just as much work. All of that not even considering the fact that she was battling through an injury. If you’re sure…” Was he sure? The anxiety now settled in with the fact that he wasn’t sure. As a matter of fact he was so unsure with the choice that his body became a fit of panic as his hands started waving quickly back and forth. “WAIT- WAIT- WAIT- WAIT!” He hadn’t thought of any of the things that may come with her changing back or if she stayed in her human form. He realized that he needed to buy time and make sure she didn’t do anything before he had a chance to figure out what would be best, not only for her but for him.

22:02

. “Please wait… I. I need to think.” He turned off the stove and grabbed two plates. “W-will you just eat this and let me figure this out?” Jackson grabbed a steak from the pan placing it on the plate before moving over to the fridge and rummaging through it. “So… is it.. Painful? Changing back and forth?” He had a bunch of questions to ask, to help him decide what to choose. This was a choice he wasn’t taking lightly either. He tried to gather his thoughts as he looked for anything he could add to the plate of food for her. Unfortunately, after a few seconds of looking, the realization that meat was the only thing on the menu for now set in. His eyes slanted slightly as the corner of his lips lowered in disappointment as he grabbed the bare looking white plate. He ‘filled’ his plate next and brought both of them to the table. “I-Does….I..” His indecision to choose his words caused his posture to drop as the plate was put in front of her with a fork and knife. Instead of sitting himself he walked to the chair where the eggs had been placed and picked them up. He had thought it would be best to try and hatch them to have some more chickens, however he had no idea how to do so.

22:03

. “Do you know how to hatch these? Ya know….. Being part animal and all..” His face cringed a bit as he let those words leave his lips. It sounded worse than he intended it. Not like all animals knew how other animals worked or even if she knew how animals worked, with her being partly one. His face grew red as he put them on top of the table before replacing their spot with his rear as his hands moved into his face, rubbing his skin up and down in embarrassment. “I.. I don’t know what I’m saying or what I am doing. This is all just a lot you know?” His head gently fell against the table, in part to hide himself in shame but the cool wood also felt nice against him. His lips moved as the words leaving them became muffled. “It is all just insane. My dad who wanted nothing to do with me dies and leaves me this place…. Which, let's be honest, needs all the work in the world.” He was mostly talking to himself at this point, letting the thoughts clouding his mind become released. His hands moved to the back of his head gripping his hair throughout the mental breakdown. “And then you get trapped in.. well a trap… and turns out that I have had this pretty girl sleeping next to me every night… except you're not a woman you’re a fox. And THE only food we have is meat from an animal that I watched get killed cause you have to grow food and food takes time to grow and its just…. Its just a lot….” By the time that he had gotten his last words out his teary eyes covered by the wood started to let each teardrop fall individually onto the table. It was almost too overwhelming for him to handle at this point and he knew he needed as much help as he could get. He still was not sure on whether it was what she wanted or not, but still he felt the need to ask. He looked up at Felicity with his cheeks puffy and red as he softly spoke.

22:03

. “I… I don’t know what you want. And.. I can’t imagine what you want to do or need to do.. I just.. I feel lost. Like I am in this hole and I don’t know how to get out of it. And… and if you want to be a fox and do fox things that’s ok… but.. If you don’t.. And you want to stay as a person.. Well.. Maybe.. Maybe could you help me… please?” @Fiory

”WAIT - WAIT - WAIT - WAIT!” “O-Okay! I’m Waiting!” Felicity said incredulously. Her brow raised at the man who just seemed like he had two modes. He was either calm and sweet, caring towards her even or he was shouting. When he’d settled and asked her to wait again, that he needed to think, Felicity just shrugged her shoulders a little and leaned back in the chair. Her hands went to her ankles in her lap and she almost rocked back and forth sweetly waiting for whatever new question he might have next that was causing her to delay. ”So…is it… Painful? Changing back and forth?” Felicity tilted her head to the side, her long dark hair falling off her shoulders with the action. Painful? She hadn’t really thought about it. It came so naturally to her that it wasn’t something she considered. With that in mind she shook her head, watching as he began plating what smelled and looked like steak. Her stomach audibly rolled which made her shift a little in her chair to try and quiet the noise.

12:24

“No.. it’s like changing your shirt I guess.” She finally answered after thinking on it for a moment or two. “I just kind of… have to concentrate on what I’m doing to be able to do it. Happens pretty quick unless I get interrupted or distracted.” The way Felicity talked about it very much gave the impression that she thought this was the most normal thing she could do. Like changing a pair of shoes or in her example, your shirt. One moment you were wearing a white shirt, and the next wearing a red one. Or in her case she was human looking at one point and a fox the next. No one had ever bothered to ask her how it all worked or if it was something that was unpleasant so it actually took her a moment to consider it. Her eyes lit up however when he slid that plate over. She was at least grateful that he wasn’t so shocked from her that he didn’t want her around. Going out and finding her own dinner would have been a pain considering all the trouble she went through to get herself cleaned up so she wouldn’t cause a mess in his cabin home. For Felicity, she thought she was being considerate. Though as he slid the plate and silverware over to her to use, he still seemed troubled. Was he worried that she was in pain changing herself still? I already said it doesn’t hurt.. ”Do you know how to hatch these? Ya know…. Being part animal and all…” Felicity couldn’t help the laugh that came out at that question. But especially with how he looked like he likely had just offended her. While being considered part animal wasn’t exactly true, she could see how he would think that. It wasn’t untrue either, so she’d have a hard time explaining it really. Felicity just was who she was. There was nothing else to it.

12:24

“Well I’m not a bird..” She said after a good minute or so laugh. “But I think there’s a way to check to see if there’s a chick inside. You put a flashlight to it and then you can see. I didn’t have one, so I couldn’t check. But if it’s full, then you keep it warm and you get a chick. If not… “ Felicity shrugged a little. “Then it’s breakfast.” She understood the concept of how to check an egg to see if it was fertilized or not, had seen Marnie do it multiple times and she tried to be sure she only took the eggs that didn’t have anything in them. The less baby chicks she took, meant the more chicks that could hatch and would be full grown hens later. It was a balance thing. Leave the young, to replace the old. After her explanation though, she grew quiet, watching as he seemed troubled still despite her not being offended at how he had addressed her. As he went on, not fully sure of himself or what he was doing or what he was asking, Felicity just remained quiet and watched him carefully. He seemed so upset, so lost and it almost hurt the vixen to watch. Had she said something cruel or insensitive? It hadn’t been her intention to, she was just speaking plainly, or as plainly as she could. He continued on about how the place was left to him by Avery after his death, and how the place needed work. The woman just nodded a little understanding that this was all true, the place was in need of care. More care than she could give it alone if she was well and truly honest. ”And then you get trapped in..well a trap… and turns out that I have had this pretty girl sleeping next to me every night…”

12:25

While he was talking more to himself than he was to Felicity, she couldn’t help how her face began to heat up at his words. He thought she was pretty? She’d never really given it much thought. She was who she was, there was no other way to describe herself. Though she couldn’t help the bubbling of appreciation that she felt like butterflies in her chest hearing the compliment. Quietly, she turned her gaze away from him while he broke down on the table, not wanting to stare or make him any more uncomfortable than he already was. Her fingers gently played with the waves of her hair, twirling the ends around her index and middle finger only to uncurl them and repeat the motion. ”Except you’re not a woman, you’re a fox.” “Well… those two things are not mutually exclusive..” She muttered, but not necessarily in a way that she was trying to answer him. It was clear he was upset, that he was overwhelmed by everything and that her being her normal sassy self might not be the best route to take. Instead she took her fork and knife to the food he’d made, and began cutting small bite sized pieces off of the steak. While hungry, she wasn’t actually looking to have any herself. Food always made her feel better, and if he was as upset as he was perhaps it would make him feel better too. ”Maybe.. Maybe could you help me… please?” She didn’t answer him immediately, instead taking that fork and skewering a small piece of the steak he had made. Careful and slow she scooted her chair a little closer to him, laying her head down against the table so that she could look at him without looking over him or above him. She wanted to be on equal ground in a way. She was neither above nor below him in this aspect, and this was the best way that she thought of to show that.

12:25

“Well… this is my home.” She started, trying to find the best words as she picked up the fork from the plate and held it out for him. “So I’ll help you as long as you need me to. I just…. I don’t want to lose my home… I’ll help you, if… if I can stay… Deal?” She asked, holding out that fork as if it was her contract and taking the food would be signing it. She had a cozy place here, and she didn’t want to have to leave it. This was where she felt she belonged, despite being chased off by Avery at every turn when he was here. While she waited for him to take the food from her, Felicity reached forward with her other hand and lightly placed it on his back. He’d done something similar for her, so she imagined that he wouldn’t mind it. That he might actually like it. So Felicity let her hand quietly rub up and down his back, falling just to his mid back before coming up to his shoulders and the back of his neck. Gentle strokes, like the ones he gave her before falling asleep in bed before and in a way Felicity hoped they would calm and comfort the teary eyed man at his table. @Jester

The hairs that covered the back of his neck rose as her chair scooted closer to him. He was weak, or at least that's how he had felt. Whether it was the culmination of everything that had happened in this moment or in his past it was all too much for him. He wanted nothing more than to be this strong image of a man that so many people admired and strived to have. An emotional rock, one that could be hit with anything and still stand strong with a smile on their face, yet in this moment that seemed like a far off dream. Instead he kept his head laid on the wooden table, letting the table catch the tears that dropped from his eyes. Then there was Felicity. Someone who until today had been a shining light in his endeavors, someone who brought him so much joy to take care of and start and end his day with, was now the cause of his stresses. Still, even with that thought process that ran through his head she was there, next to him. The inching of her chair and her body moving closer to him brought a certain panic to him. Not like his usual panicking of the world, this was more so of fear. Fear that she would see him for what he was, a mess. Yet there she was, softer than he ever thought she would be. Where he thought that he would find sass and judgment he was met with a careful display from her, where to him the intentions behind it felt caring. Her head now on the table next to his, not looking down at his poor state, instead looking at him in a more understanding tone. Her words struck him in a way that he never had thought of. This was her home, it was more so her home than his. While he had every intention of selling it after he had fixed it up, it seemed that it would be much more simple than that. He used his shoulder to wipe his face and nose as he let his eyes peek over his arm to meet her look. So I’ll help you as long as you need me to. I just…. I don’t want to lose my home… I’ll help you, if… if I can stay… Deal?

19:36

- It seemed so weird to him, that she was making a deal with him. It was her home, yet it almost seemed like she was scared she was going to lose it. The thought of it brought a crooked smile to curl on his lips. His eyes looked towards hers as he sniffled. He thought to himself for a few seconds, she was such an oxymoron. She could be this bubbly fox that he considered his pet, but in a blink of an eye she could be a sassy brat who would let you know that you’re being stupid, then when you think you’ve seen it all, she has a soft and tender side. Most importantly, she had no issue showing whichever one she wanted at a time. Still, he smiled at the fact that he knew he didn’t have to be here anymore. He could go home tonight and put this all behind him. The thought of just saying, this home is hers taking his dads journal and leaving crossed his mind, ready to stick itself inside until he felt her hand against his back. Jackson took a hearty deep breath, trying his best to not show how unexpected it was for him. It wasn’t bad by any means, it was just different, he never assumed that she would be the type to rub his back when he was down, instead he imagined her as a person who would watch from the corner uncomfortably. His face grew red in part of embarrassment and part from the breakdown that he just had. He finally forced his head up from the table. He looked at the plates while sniffling. “You should eat…. You’ll need the energy. You can have mine as well… I lost my appetite….”

19:36

- He quietly sat there, staring at her for a few moments. The overwhelming stress on his mind left a blank stare into her. It was calming to him, giving him a moment of silence and peace. He carefully scooted his chair backwards and stood up walking away from the table making his way towards the fireplace. Jackson bent down, starting to get the fire going like he had done every night. Attempting to take small steps in his emotional state to try to bring him back to normal. Once the fire grew and the warmth started filling the cabin he stood up and looked towards Felicity. “You can stay.. Stay as long as you’d like…” His one track mind started shuffling through his bag, finding a pair of shorts that he could finally put on. He quietly started gathering his other things, putting a pile of dirty clothes on one side of the bag and then his dads journal on the floor nearby, trying to decide if he should pack them and leave tonight or if he should stay. “I’m sorry, just try and eat, enjoy it. I am just gonna get changed and get comfy….” As he walked into the bathroom he looked back at her. He slowly walked towards her, his stomach turned from side to side after each step that he got closer to her. He quietly leaned down when he reached her, gently placing a soft kiss against her forehead. “Thank you for being here…” His cheeks were pink as he turned away and walked back to the bathroom. “I’ll take the floor tonight, you can have the bed.” He quickly walked the rest of the way inside and closed the door behind him. His back pressed against the back off the door as he slid down to the floor, the back of his head resting against it while he took a deep breath. “What am I doing?...” @Fiory

Something about his face made hers frown a little further. He seemed so distraught and try as she might to help, Felicity wasn’t quite sure if she was doing any good at it. The way that his face curled into a crooked smile and he sniffled on that table was troubling to the woman. Was her deal really that hard to say yes to? She didn’t mind helping him out on the farm, she certainly couldn’t do it herself. All she had asked, was that he wasn’t going to chase her away. That she didn’t have to find somewhere else to rest her head at night that was safe and secure. It’d taken her so long to find this place after wandering in the woods that she really didn’t want to have to uproot herself again. Her hand lowered that fork a little, seeing that perhaps he wasn’t hungry and the cure for what ailed him wouldn’t be the food he’d just spent time making. For a long while Felicity just remained quiet, watching him carefully. He was a conundrum of sorts, sweet and kind to her when in all honesty he hadn’t needed to be. And then freaking out as soon as he saw she was more than what she had appeared to be. Her hand rubbed his back gently in an idle movement, her other hand with the fork coming to her own mouth and depositing the piece she had offered to him there instead. If he wasn’t going to eat it, then she might as well. It would certainly be horrible to let it go to waste.

10:19

When he moved to force his way up from the table, Felicity retracted her hand and stuck it in her lap, looking at him curiously until he spoke. ”You should eat… You’ll need the energy. You can have mine as well… I lost my appetite…” “Did… Did I say something wrong?” Felicity asked the question without holding it back, her voice quiet and concerned. She hadn’t thought she’d said something too offensive, though it was a possibility if she really thought about it. One thing was for certain she hadn’t meant to if she did. Before long while she sat contemplating what exactly to do, he got up and moved towards the fireplace. Felicity swiveled in that chair, her fingers draping over the back of it while her head nestled quietly on her knuckles watching him. He’d done this every night before, and as the gentle orange glow began to fill the cabin the light played across her face. The shadows it made could easily be mistaken for that of a fox as they danced on the wall behind her.

10:20

Every movement he made seemed to be filled with uncertainty and despair. Felicity just didn’t understand. She had been truthful with him, she’d tell him whatever he wanted to know. There was no reason for her to hide anything from him, and yet he was all but dismissing her. It was almost like he didn’t want her there, or perhaps he didn’t want to be there himself. That he would rather be anywhere but there. Felicity wasn’t quite sure, remaining silent as he said little sentences back to her while gathering his things. Stating she could stay, as long as she wanted to. And then apologizing to her when he seemed to want to walk away and get himself changed. He was so confusing and interesting to watch. Though what was most intriguing was when he moved instead towards her. Felicity tilted her head to watch him in his approach of her, wondering exactly what he wanted. Perhaps he’d sit again? They could talk some more? It had been quite a while since she had had anyone to talk with, so she didn’t mind the idea of chatting. However what he did instead had her still and quiet, her mind running blank. It had only been a soft thing, small and barely lingering on her skin but the kiss he gave to her forehead made her flush a brilliant shade of rouge. The color spread over her cheeks and across her nose in a quiet intensity. What… was that for? She thought, hearing his quiet thanks to her for being here and barely having the cognitive function in order to respond back to him. “Y-you’re welcome…” The miniscule volume of her voice made it barely audible, his action quite literally shocking her into a stunned near silent state. Felicity let her head tilt to one side again, watching him walk towards the bathroom and then going inside after telling her to take the bed. It wasn’t like she hadn’t planned on that already but the idea of him sleeping on the floor didn’t exactly sound like the best idea either.

10:20

Once the door was closed, Felicity sat there a few minutes longer just staring at the door. It was only after her eyes burned a little and began to water that she realized she hadn’t blinked in an extended period of time. Slowly, she turned herself back around deciding to tuck into the meal he had made for her. Her mind raced with interest and confusion. The meat actually did hit the spot, but it only brought more confusion to her. Why did he look so sad now? Her head came to rest on the heel of her palm while she chewed on another piece, thinking and contemplating what to do next. Felicity managed to finish off her own plate, but there wasn’t enough room for her to finish his too. She stepped down off that chair and lightly walked herself over to the bed. The woman felt both exhausted with the day and far too awake to let herself go to sleep though. Especially with the idea that he wanted to take the floor on the hard cold wood surface. Her eyes glanced at the bed as she sat down on the end of it. Why couldn’t he just stay there? There was plenty of space, she wasn’t that large now was she? “Maybe… he just doesn’t want me to stay like this… prefers me as a fox…” She thought aloud, realizing that there certainly would be more room if she was smaller than she was. Feeling full and certainly capable of shifting back, Felicity contemplated it. Wondering if that would make him smile again. While she thought about it, she realized one crucial thing that she hadn’t before. She didn’t know his name. Now though while he was locked away in the bathroom Felicity wasn’t sure if he’d give it. He knew her name at least, and she wanted to be able to call him something.

10:20

“Hey um…” She called gently towards the door of the bathroom, her fingers playing at her chin in thought and anxiety. “Will.. Will you stay too? I.. I mean… I can’t take care of this place all by myself…” Her words were wondering though she honestly didn’t know if he would answer her or not. He seemed so lost, and Felicity couldn’t help feeling a little guilty about it. Even though she knew it wasn’t something that she could have helped. “I really did just… want to keep your house clean…” she mumbled, crossing her arms in front of her while she sat there. Her gaze turned to the floor and then to his bag that he had begun to pack back up. She glared at it for a moment before she saw the journal laying on the floor of the cabin, illuminated just barely by the light of the fireplace. Gingerly Felicity moved to pick up the little book, her curiosity getting the better of her as she opened it and flicked the pages one way and then the other. She turned the book over in her hands and examined it thoroughly, recognizing that it seemed to be important to him. Felicity didn’t read anything from the book but she decided that perhaps he wanted to read it like he had before in bed. So quietly, Felicity propped the book up on the pillow so it was available for him when he was ready for bed. Once it was securely propped up, Felicity then curled in on herself, tucking her legs and knees close to her body and flopping over onto her side on the bed. Her long wavy hair splayed out over the comforter while her arms came to tuck into her chest. Her hands rested just under her chin while her fingers curled into soft fists and got herself comfortable there. She barely took up a quarter of the bed like this, hoping perhaps that would convince him that sleeping on the floor was a bad idea. It certainly wouldn’t be comfortable for him. So like that she’d wait, her eyes watching the door of the bathroom for when he would eventually emerge. @Jester

Jackson slumped himself down as he took a few moments to breathe. He wanted to throw something across the bathroom but he knew she would be able to hear it. Instead he begrudgingly slipped into a pair of shorts and a shirt. For a few moments he thought about just spending the night in the bathroom. Even though she was still in the cabin, it felt easier here. The part that frustrated him the most was that she had done nothing wrong. It wasn’t her fault things were confusing and it sure as hell wasn’t her fault for kissing her forehead. He still didn't even know why he did it. He thought that maybe he was just a glutton for punishment, that with everything that he had felt and all of the overwhelming things that he was feeling was just making him crazy. Maybe it was hormones, she was beautiful and genuinely felt like she wanted to help and that was his way of trying to thank her. However, each excuse that he could come up with just felt like bullshit. He was just as unsure on why he did as she probably was. He felt like he did back when he was in school, telling his crush that he liked her and then running and hiding away. Only this was different, it was more complicated and it surely wasn’t something he was going to figure out tonight. Just as he was attempting to make his mind up about sleeping in the bathroom or not he heard her voice. It was softer than before and something about it made his stomach swirl with anxiety. Hey um…Will.. Will you stay too? I.. I mean… I can’t take care of this place all by myself… His fingers ran up his cheeks into his hair. His hands tossed his hair with soft twists and twirls. He had honestly considered his option of just leaving the house and letting her have it as her own home but her soft plea was enough to make him reconsider. He believed her emotions in the way she spoke, that while he may feel extremely overwhelmed, it would be almost nothing compared to how she would feel if he left her there.

00:05

. I really did just… want to keep your house clean… His head moved from the door into his cupped hands slowly rubbing his fingers from his brown to his eyes and back up again. He hated this feeling. Not only the feeling of being useless and lost but also the idea of hurting someone else. His intentions were never to hurt anyone but intentions were never any good for being cashed in on. He sat there for a few moments, his elbows against his thighs as he used his hands to hold his head up. “It’s ok… you didn’t do anything wrong….” His voice spoke softly as he looked up towards the ceiling. “I won’t go anywhere…” For some reason it felt easier for him to speak to her this way, hidden behind a closed door. The pressure of not looking like a man or being a mess in front of another person was lifted from his shoulders as he continued to speak into the void. “I won’t leave you. It.. it was just a lot you know? Before it was easier to say what was going on because you weren’t a person to me. You were a pet. I know it shouldn’t change anything but it kinda did. It’s easy talking to a cow or a chicken or fox about anything, cause you know that they won’t judge you or think anything of you…. Or at least if they did, you’d have no way of knowing. But when its a person, it makes it so much harder…” He let out a soft sigh as his fingers started circling his hair for a moment before dropping them towards the towel he had been wearing and fidgeting with the corner of it as spoke. “That doesn’t mean I would prefer you as a fox over a human ok? It just complicated things a little bit and things were already pretty damn complicated so I just lost it…. But at the end of the day who you are or what you look like is your choice. I’ll adjust and get used to it… These things just take time…”

00:06

. He sat there in silence for a few long moments, seriously contemplating spending the night there. While it wasn’t comfortable for his body, it made saying everything that he was thinking flow easily off of his shoulders and into the universe. Still as time passed with him still hidden away, the calmer he felt and the more secure he felt about leaving the room. His hands moved onto the floor as he pushed himself up to a point where he could stand. Jackson took a deep breath out and slowly opened the door to see her in the bed with his fathers journal propped on the pillow next to her. He felt the same urge that he had felt before when he kissed her forehead, something about her was urging him to hold her, to kiss her, to show that he was thankful for her. He hadn’t done anything to help her at all, if anything he alienated her. Yet there she was in the bed trying to take up as little space as she physically could, regardless if her hair had anything else on its mind. Even more so, she had studied him, she was next to him every time that he had read his fathers words, and each time she was on the receiving end of head scratches and pets. He slowly approached the bed, sitting down next to the journal with his back towards her. “The reason I’m here is because of my dad. He… he left this place and this book to me. That’s why I want to know what happened to him. And I have no clue….” He moved the book off of the pillow before laying down on the bed with one of his legs dangling off of the side.

00:06

. “Do you want to read it with me? I know you’re probably not my dads biggest fan…. Believe me I am not either… But maybe at least this way you can learn with me, where he was coming from… Why he did the things he did… “ He scooted himself closer towards her, leaving enough room where if she wanted to, she could take up more of the bed or put her head closer to his chest. His head was firmly planted against the pillow and his feet were planted on the comforter using his knees to hold up the book to read. Jackson made his best effort to take up as close to only half of the bed in hopes that she would allow herself to become more comfortable with the extra room. If she brought her head close enough to him, his hand would slowly move towards her hair, giving an attempt to give her the same rubbing motion that he had given her before, this time just running his hands slowly through her hair. Starting from the very first page and reading it in silence next to her, after each page that he read looking towards her to see if she had finished the page before moving to the next. After they caught up to where he had finished reading he could continue laying there, gently caressing her hair until she fell asleep. @Fiory

”It’s ok… you didn’t do anything wrong…” Felicity perked her head up a little from where she was laying on the bed, listening intently to the quiet voice behind the door, only just slightly louder than the crackling firewood in the hearth across the room. Well.. I know I didn’t do anything wrong… She thought, a brow rising on her face as she listened to him. She was in the camp of having done her best; how could that have been wrong? ”I won’t go anywhere…” While normally a bit sassy when she did speak or sweet depending on the situation, this time Felicity remained as silent as the grave. He wouldn’t leave? He’d stay? It wasn’t that Felicity couldn’t handle the farm on her own. She probably could if she were to try hard enough. It meant long days and hours, toiling over the soil and plants and animals here. And while she had the work ethic to do her best in that respect, it was a lot to take on by yourself. It’s why she’d never attempted to when Avery didn’t return. She’d stayed a vixen as it was much easier that way to fend for herself. No one else had wanted her around, least of all Avery, so it had been easier to hide and steal scraps and look after herself as a fox than it was as a person. But now this new man on the farm had decided to stay? That he wouldn’t go anywhere? The prospect of not only having a place to belong for once but also not being alone made the Felicity let out a heavy shattered sigh. Almost like she was letting some of the weight that she’d carried fall from her shoulders. It was comforting to know, that her time in solitude might just be coming to an end. Even if she didn’t overtly admit to it.

16:25

Felicity continued to listen as he explained from behind the confines of the bathroom door how he was feeling. How he had seen her as a pet and that all of this was just a lot. She could understand where he was coming from and lightly she fidgeted with her slender fingers in front of her while she contemplated what she wanted to say. “I did say I’d go back to being a fox if that was easier…and to be fair, you’re the one who walked in on me.” There was a slight tease in her voice, a playful sound laced with a bubbling giggle at the thought. “I mean… I had every intention of going back to the fox you knew after I got myself cleaned up from the mud under Marnie’s coop… but.. I just didn’t have the chance to.” She wasn’t sure necessarily if her playful tone was loud enough for him to hear, though she wasn’t necessarily being quiet about it either. There was the sense in her words that she wanted to try and cheer him up, make light of the situation as she couldn’t understand why he was so upset. It didn’t occur to her that people don’t just change at will like she could, and that it might be a bit odd for him to experience. Her expression changed to a slight surprise hearing the soft click of the bathroom door and the creak of it’s hinges as he came back out into the room. The light danced off her frame curled up on the bed as tight as she could make herself as small as possible without actually shifting herself back into that vulpine shape. The orange and yellow from the firelight flickered and enhanced the soft green flecks in her otherwise dark eyes watching him move close and then sit with his back to her on the bed. Felicity twisted her back so her shoulders lay flush on the quilt and her hips remained to the side. It was just easier this way to see him and show she was paying attention to what he was saying.

16:25

“Because of Avery?” she repeated quietly, her gaze moving away from the back of him to stare at the ceiling. To be fair, Felicity didn’t know what happened to Avery. He just wandered towards town, mentioning something about needing to see the doctor and then hadn’t come back. She imagined that something had complicated things, and that he unfortunately passed away that way now that she had a moment to really think about it, but the details were something that she wasn’t privy to. It wasn’t like she was close with Avery and followed him around like a pet. Not like she did with his son at least. ”Do you want to read it with me? I know you’re probably not my dad’s biggest fan… Believe me I am not either… But maybe at least this way you can learn with me, where he was coming from… why he did the things he did…” Felicity rolled herself over, sitting up for a moment to watch him scoot closer onto the bed. He didn’t seem scared of her anymore, or perhaps he was coming to the conclusion that she wasn’t some hallucination or diabolical monstrous thing that had invaded his shower. So when he offered to let her read it too, she lifted her shoulders a little and let them fall a moment afterwards. “I don’t mind if you read it. I doubt I’ll find anything interesting in that little book for me.” She said quietly. Unashamed and unhindered, Felicity carefully plopped herself back down so that she was facing him with her front instead of with her back. The large t-shirt she wore did well enough to keep her decent while her legs stretched out along the side of him. Her hands tucked up under her chin between the side of his ribs and the center of her chest, her fingers curled sweetly in on her palms. Without a word or asking or even checking if it would be acceptable, Felicity let her head rest against his chest, something she’d done as a vixen before. The sound of his heartbeat fluttering against her ear had been soothing and it seemed that before he had liked this kind of c

16:25

uddling behavior that she showed. At least, as a fox he did.

16:26

“I never got your name… you never told me.” She said quietly, feeling his fingers snake into her hair and lightly tug through it in gentle calming strokes. The soft and subdued motion was an effective sedative for the woman, her chest rising and lowering a little slower for as long as he continued. Her hair he would find was soft and thick, silky smooth and curled lightly around his fingers in what seemed like endless auburn and brown waves. Her breath came out in soft warm waves against the shirt that he wore, becoming more shallow as time wore on and those attentive strokes continued. “Thank you… for staying… by the way..” Felicity whispered, her voice quiet and tired, the events of the day and the exertion she’d used finally catching up with the woman. “It’s boring… being alone all the… time…” The spell that his fingers cast with their gentle and steady movements had was slow and soothing. It was easily lulling her into a quiet passive sleep and before he’d gotten too far reading into his book, she’d drifted off.

16:26

Her dreams were different when she was a human then when she was a fox. It was always the same, always confusing and never made sense. It was more a memory then an actual dream, and it always plagued her mind every time she slept. The night of the forest and the smell of the soft oak and pinewood trees invaded her senses. In the dark of the brush on the edge of the forest she could see the stones of a tower in the distance silhouetted by a sharp round moon high above. The world around her peripheral vision was always fuzzy, like her only focus was on the stones of that tower and the stairs that she came across. There were always little trinkets, objects she couldn’t quite place but knew they had some kind of value as they shone brilliantly in the moonlight, but every time her hand reached out to take one, she was always interrupted by a sharp flash of red and the world shrinking around her. It was the same dream over and over again, every night as a human. Which was probably another reason that she preferred being a vixen. At least then she had some variety. @Jester

Jackson had his eyes glued to the journal. Felicity had told him that she wasn’t interested in whatever was written and that didn’t bug him. He didn’t assume she would want to know but there was a part of him that thought she would want to read it. Curiosity they said killed the fox and while he wasn’t sure what she wanted or even if she was going to take a look he wanted to keep that opportunity open for her. He wasn’t ready for what she had done next. The feeling of her warmth pressing against him, her legs alongside his and her head gently resting against his chest. His heart paced itself quicker and quicker as it found itself becoming the new home for her head. It was almost as if his own instinct kicked in as the calming mechanism he had used in the past was becoming an urge that had to be used. In that moment she wasn’t the beautiful woman next to him, she was the fox that he had spent time doing the same motion towards. It was just like every other instance in technique, his fingers gliding through her hair letting his fingertips move freely throughout her. It was the calm recovery after a harsh storm. I never got your name… you never told me. He hadn’t told her but he knew that. It was interesting to a point where he assumed she would probably have known it. Her time around it surely someone had said his name around him or he had spoken to himself using his name as a way to psych himself into a better spot mentally. Things that he would normally not be surprised about if had done even though it was seemingly that he hadn’t.

22:01

. “Hmmmm… I guess I hadn’t.. I am sorry, I guess for some reason I thought you knew….” His voice was softer and gentler. It was tempered as her hair filled the gaps between his fingers. Where there was once hurt and pain and confusion that overwhelmed him to his core was now a sanctuary of calmness and peace. Everything felt simpler this way, soft pets throughout her hair while reading the last piece of property his father had given him. It was something intimate for him, something he wouldn’t want most people to see, thankfully for him she already had. It was this sanctuary that allowed his voice to stop from cracking and breaking and become smoother and more stoic regardless of the lack of volume. “My name is, Jackson. Jackson Tiller.” Once the words left his mouth there was nothing more for him to say. He had a moment of time where he thought of asking her questions about herself or where she had come from but the words weren’t able to leave his mouth. Instead of forcing pointless small talk and unneeded niceties he decided to stay quiet. He would lay there, reading in the silence with Felicity, listening to the crackling of the wood that burned brightly in the fireplace. Still the words that she said after the fact fly around his mind like a gnat that bugged his brain. As if he was doing some all mighty dead staying around. He hadn’t and he knew he hadn’t. Yet it felt like to her he had. Sure he had helped her until this point but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t have done by herself. Still she found ways to make him feel important but it was important to him that he gained some perspective. Instead of reading further into his fathers journal, Jackson reread the previous sections, he wanted to understand why he left, why he didn’t like Felicity and most importantly if he had missed something.

22:01

. To Jackson this was all very new and while he knew that, the realization of all of this being new to his father as well hit him. Sure there were differences, Avery didn’t have to deal with the shapeshifting fox person that likes to cuddle but he had his own fair share of problems. He had nobody, everything that he did, he did alone. Sure it was by his own choice and he wasn’t the best father, husband or person in Jackson’s eyes but still he was completely alone and that couldn’t have been easy. Jackson on the other hand, was overwhelmed, confused and clueless but he wasn’t alone, he never was. He had Pierre and Mr. Gil, and he had Felicity. No matter how much he wanted to hate his father he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about how much worse it was for him. The thoughts that flooded his mind were the type that made him look down at the beautiful woman sleeping against him with a tear in the corner of his eye desperate to fall. “Thank you….. For being here….” He thanked her in a whisper, in hopes it wouldn’t wake her. He didn’t want to hurt her, and he knew that if she woke up with what he was about to do, it may. He carefully slid off the side of the bed, making sure that her body stayed cozy and in place. Letting the pillow replace himself and the warm bedding hold her tightly throughout the night. He knew he could have stayed in that spot the entire night, and he would hold her and let her sleep blissfully unaware that his mind was rushing too quickly to let him get any rest, but he needed to do something, anything. Instead he quietly grabbed a pair of shoes and shorts and left the cabin. His movement was careful, as if he was a ninja on the world’s stealthiest mission, the mission only to keep Felicity asleep. Soft tiptoes and slow movements of the door until he had made it to the porch.

22:01

. His eyes looked up to the stars and the moon that were no longer covered by the clouds, just bright enough to light the area around him. His bare back pressed against the cold wet wood of the porch as he looked into the sky. It was one stunning image, something that for a moment he understood, he could see himself leaving the city and job and his apartment for that view. The peaceful quiet only broken with soft howls of the nightlife that partied across the woods. This nightlife was cleaner, safer, more steady. Every sound was a call out to the other creatures awake and Jackson interpreted it as a check in. In the city people passed by with a single glance of those around them, every so often giving a soft hello or how is your day but out here, out here things were different. The bats called out to each other with a soft cry of food they found, the howls of wolves were a call out that they were not alone, that they were together. Crickets chirped at the hooting of owls onlooking the fields. Then there was the foxes, who yipped softly to the other foxes that he imagined pranced around the grass together, looking for mice and squirrels or whatever else they could find. It was the opposite of the city, the city was chaos, it was manic and while there was chaos in the woods, it wasn’t without purpose, it was like a symphony, a well conducted orchestra that the noises of which brought Jackson’s mind to peace. The stop of the storm that rushed into his brain and lulled him to sleep.

22:02

. The sun rose and fell but the moon, the moon never moved. Jackson’s body stopped in time watching the moon. The light ever changing, day in and day out his body was glued to the floor, only able to watch the moon. As the sun rose high the moon stayed higher, and as it fell the moon grew brighter. He watched this happen over and over for what he could only assume was weeks, maybe months. As each day passed the only thing he could feel was the warmth in his body, regardless of where the sun or moon was, his body felt warm. His body felt full regardless of not eating, his throat never growing moist without a single drink. It was magic, or it was the land providing for him. He didn’t need to move to feel, to eat, to drink. Where he was, it was enough for him. His body stayed in place longer than what was comfortable, like the world's nicest night terror. Until finally the moon was the only thing in the sky once more. The sounds of footprints leading to the porch sprang towards his ears, and as every nerve in his body wanted to move more and more, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to. The wood creaked louder as he listened to a grunt before feeling the wood shift as if a man was sitting right next to him. Jackson tried to turn his head, to move his eyes to the side, to see who was near him, but he saw nothing.Instead he just heard a soft voice, a familiar voice, Avery’s voice. ”You’ll be alright son, you’ll be ok” His chest felt a hand against it, with a soft ‘good job sport’ tap against it. There was so much he still had to ask, that he had to know but his mouth wouldn’t move. Yet it didn’t matter, not at this moment. It was just as he said, he would be ok. With that feeling above his chest his eyes closed.

22:02

. The sounds of songbirds chirping, the farm animals moving to eat and calling out to the rest of the woods and the sun, slowly climbing its way into the surface of the sky. Morning had come on the ranch and as if the ranch knew what Jackson needed, it provided a soothing alarm clock. It was time to get up, time to get to work. Jackson sat up as his back cracked from the sleep against the rough wood. One would think that sleep like that would be the cause of sluggishness and uneasy muscles, but for Jackson, he felt a renewed sense of inspiration. He climbed to his feet and took a deep breath. It was time for him to get serious, to get to work. @Fiory

1

”Jackson…Jackson Tiller.” Hm… Jackson… That’s a nice name… She had meant to actually say the words aloud, let him know that she had actually acknowledged learning what to call him other than Avery’s Son or ‘That guy’. Instead her lips remained quietly closed and her eyes stayed pleasantly shut. Whether he thought he did or not, he was quite warm to snuggle up to and the soft petting motions he made through her hair were easy to lull her into that sleep. Felicity barely registered much else that he said, her body exhausted from changing and only really being human for a short while. It had been quite a long time since she’d taken this particular shape again, mostly because it expended a lot of her energy to keep it. So when Jackson moved and quietly slipped away off the side of the bed, Felicity remained in that dreaming unconsciousness. There was only a fleeting moment when she stirred but didn’t wake, remaining blissfully unaware that the warm body she had nestled up to had been replaced by a down pillow instead. The long waves of auburn in her hair curled over her face a little as she buried it into the soft fabric and plush filling. Even human, she could tell Jackson had used it, or laid with or on it perhaps. It held a little of that residual warmth and light earthy scent she recognized as him. It was comforting to have something familiar tickle her nose while in her head all she was doing was reliving the same thing over and over again without end. Please… I just don’t understand… Her own subconscious thoughts seemed to permeate the dream tonight, that tower in the distance coming into view and that bright flash of red halting any progress she ever made. There was something terrifying about this dream, more because it was eerie and unending, but that it would always repeat. The same thing, over and over again. Like her mind was trying to tell her something but she couldn’t recall the right words or understand the message. It was frustrating as well

08:06

as frightening, and while Jackson had gone outside in the cool evening air, Felicity remained trapped in her nightmare. With the lack of contact there to prevent it, Felicity ended up curling her legs up to her chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of the pillowcase and her brows twitching in uncertainty.

08:06

Just as it always had before, that red flash came at the end of her nightmare and with it came the brightening of the day. Her eyelids opened slowly and took in the fluffy white cloud that she had curled herself around during the night. It was slightly damp, her fingers carefully moving to her cheek and then the rest of her face to try and rub the sleep and the tear stains off of her. Songbirds outside were making their morning melodies, chirping sweetly to ring in a new day. The gentle orange glow of dawn was slowly making its way through the window of the cabin, but Felicity just laid there trying to get her bearings. The effort required to sit up seemed daunting, her body was heavy and still sleep laden refusing to believe that another day had come so quickly on the farm. “He didn’t stay…” Her voice was quiet, barely above a whisper just speaking to herself since it didn’t seem that anyone else was in the cabin with her. The space was eerily quiet to her, and Felicity slowly worked out the events of the previous evening. She’d taken a shower, just to make sure she didn’t track more mud and muck through his home. He’d walked in on her as she’d finished, and had freaked out about finding her there. He made dinner, but then refused to eat most of it, refused to settle and calm until she tried to reassure him. At one point he’d locked himself away in the bathroom and Felicity had waited on the bed, wondering if perhaps he’d ever come out. So when he had, and he’d even allowed her to use him as a bit of a pillow it had given her a soothing respite from the loneliness she had grown accustomed to. The last thing she recalled was falling asleep next to him, feeling his fingers thread through her hair and learning his name. “Jackson…” She repeated, her body quietly forcing itself upright. Her back stretched and arched, popping here and there from being so still throughout most of the night. Her legs bent under her a little, that t-shirt she wore keeping her only ju

08:06

st barely modest. Especially when her arms raised above her head and pulled high towards the ceiling in a stretch. This is no good… I can’t walk around like this… She thought, recognizing that it wasn’t exactly the correct way to go about things as people tended to frown upon being pantsless in public. She needed some real clothes, not just a borrowed t-shirt from Jackson. While she thought about where she could pilfer some clothing items for herself, Felicity let her fingers run through her hair a little, bending and twisting the locks of auburn and brown absentmindedly. It made her think of how he had done something similar last night, petting her gently until it had lulled her into sleep.

08:07

The fact remained though as she continued to wake to the reality of her situation, was that despite her best efforts to try and help him be comfortable. To ask him to stay and even hoping that she wouldn’t be alone anymore, the cold glaring truth was staring her right in the face on that empty side of the bed. He hadn’t stayed. He’d left her utterly alone, and by the feeling of how cool the blankets were where he had once been, it hadn’t been long into the night when he had taken his leave of her. It was cruel how cold the cabin felt now with this knowledge, and all Felicity could really do was sigh dejectedly. “I’m not sure what I expected…” She said quietly to herself, her legs slipping out over the side of the bed so she could stand and move towards the restroom. “I mean… I was hoping he wouldn’t leave… but… that’s just what people do I guess.. They just leave…” There was a hint of sadness in her assertion of the events, though she didn’t show it more than a melancholy expression on her face. It was the same no matter where she went it seemed. People disappointed her, left her alone, and Felicity was used to the rejection. Part of her thought that Jackson might be different. That he might stick around. He had done well so far in his work on the farm, and he certainly could use the help that she was happy to oblige with. But perhaps she had gotten it wrong, perhaps she had been lured into a false sense of friendship and he had left in the night to leave her on her own. Looking up at herself in the mirror, Felicity turned her head one way and then the other, glancing at her face and her stunning forest filled eyes. The soft auburn that gleamed and hinted of the vixen that hid beneath the surface of her skin playing in the light of her hair. Even to the slender elegance that her fingers, neck and body had. While she might think herself a little biased in this respect, Felicity didn’t think she was that bad looking. Was she really that hideous that no one wa

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nted to be around her? That everyone just left?

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“If I’m going to stay human.. I need to find my own clothes…” She decided, walking back out of the bathroom and looking around the cabin for something she could use. Life was easier as a fox. It as simpler, and less to worry about. Glancing out the window she noticed how it seemed the storm had passed through the night and today would be a beautifully glorious day. Warm and sunny with even the hint of a cool breeze too. I wonder if anyone has done laundry that I can steal… She thought making her way towards the front door. Felicity was sure she would have to try and not be seen if she went to make her way into town. Especially looking the way she did. People tended not to like foxes but they got seriously upset at someone walking around partially nude. Her fingers grasped the door knob, and her heart sank a little, glancing back at the bed for a moment and grimacing at just how empty it looked. She wondered where he had gone, how far he had run or where he would be now. How was he waking up this morning? Did he care about the farm at all, or even remotely think about it? Probably not.. Felicity thought quietly, giving a gentle sigh before she turned the knob and opened the door to welcome the day. So it was to her surprise when she found Jackson standing and stretching on the porch. She hadn’t expected him to still be there, more likely to be halfway across the country perhaps and as far away as he could possibly be. Seeing him standing there, stretching and welcoming the morning just like she was made her wonder if she was still dreaming. “Good… Good morning..” Her words were quiet, almost as if she wasn’t sure if he was actually there and making too much noise might dissipate the illusion of Jackson in front of her. When he didn’t immediately disappear as fast as she could blink, Felicity took a step or two out onto the porch, her hands quietly held behind her back to try and appear as non-threatening as she could. Though how threatening could a woman i

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n a large t-shirt be was more a mystery to her than anything else. Still, she didn’t want to frighten or startle the man, especially since he looked like he was just waking up for the day.

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“Did… Did you sleep out here? Alone?” Why had he done that? Felicity hated the empty loneliness she felt being on her own all the time. Had craved the comfort and the presence of someone, anyone who she thought she might be able to trust. So to have him actively look for solitude, was a bit odd for her. So her question was more to understand why being solitary was more preferable than at least staying inside the cabin. If he was going to sleep on the hard wood floor than he at least could have done in the warmth of the coals in the hearth inside. It couldn’t have been too warm sleeping outdoors like this. Felicity would know, considering she only really started sleeping in a bed indoors recently. “Where are we starting today?” The question was asked after he would speak if at all to her. She wanted to know as best as he would answer her, where they would begin work today. Her mind raced with the different tasks that the farm required, and how she could help him. That she had been serious about last night, that she would help him on the farm since it seemed to give him a little relief. Though, she was also thinking of paying a visit to the home of Emily and Haley. The pair of them were roughly her size, and Felicity was sure that she could find clothing that they wouldn’t miss hanging on a clothesline nearby. @Jester

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