Tale 64- The Girl and the Fox

 As night fell and the Traveler proceeded further down the path, the forest had become desolate and lonesome. She grew wary, flinching visibly at every noise and wishing Sarafelle was there to protect her, like a prince from the stories she read as a child. Proceeding onwards, a mist covered the scenery and obscured her vision, the Traveler contemplating turning back but knowing it wasn’t an option at all. As she continued, she began to forget the way she came, the fog hiding any familiar trees or landmarks she could use to find her way. She began to get turned around, the wind ripping through her small form and snow mercilessly pelting her thin clothes. Gritting her teeth, she tried to find her way but tripped on a rock and fell down into a snowbank, feeling herself grow colder and colder. The woods were dangerous enough in the day, but they could be horrific at night, so she knew she had to find her way to a clearing at the very least. A bright light suddenly startled her, a silhouette approaching with a candle in their grasp. Worried it could be Marcielle, the shivering girl hid herself behind a tree, before a different voice called out. It was masculine, yes, but had a softness and gentleness that Marcielle’s sinister demeanour lacked. Approaching her, the man offered a hand, the Traveler still slightly nervous but accepting. Due to the candle, she got a good look at his features, he was quite a bit older than herself or even Marcielle, and then another voice rang out, that of his wife. Glancing past him, the fog began to slowly clear up, revealing a large caravan the two were living in, pulled by a beautiful brown horse. So, they too were travelling. Inviting her in, the woman served her tea, offering to let her stay until the fog cleared up. Explaining she was moving to the next village, she was pleased to hear that they were heading the same way, so the couple would take her and save her the walk. The woman offered to tell her a tale to make teatime more enjoyable, the Traveler agreeing and pulling out her book and a quill, ready to write the tale of ‘the Girl and the Fox.’

‘A long time ago, in a deep forest, there was a young girl living with her family. Their home was isolated and small, so the girl had no friends and would often spend her days outdoors, picking flowers or climbing trees. Though her parents loved her adventurous spirit, they were deeply worried about her social skills and began searching for options to help her make friends. One strange day, however, the girl was picking some beautiful flowers and weaving them into a crown, when she heard something rustling about in the grass. Frightened it was a bandit or thief, she almost ran away, before a beautiful orange tail poked out from the blades of grass, revealing an elegant little fox. He approached her and sniffed her, before plucking the crown off her head and beginning to run away with it, as sly and playful as foxes were told to be. Day after day the two would play, spending hours together and exploring every inch of the forest and meeting numerous other animal friends together. However, the girl’s parents soon found what they believed to be a solution, and announced they were sending her away to a prestigious school. Distraught, the girl ran to her friend for advice, the fox advising her to see the good in the opportunity and promising to be there when she came back. Many years passed, and the girl became a competent painter and created incredible depictions of her childhood friend, dreaming of the day she could return to him and make a flower crown for both of them this time.’

The Traveler finished writing the tale when the caravan suddenly jolted, the girl steadying herself. The woman helped her keep her balance as they trundled along, before passing her a blanket and offering her to sleep, as they would reach the village in the morning. The Traveler drifted into a dreamless, calm sleep, one which gave her strength to continue this quest at all costs, and the caravan was filled with candlelight and warmth that soothed her aches and pains. As the moon watched over her, the Traveler savoured the comfort and was at peace, away from all the pain of the world.