Gait out of Oblivion

As the group followed the nameless fox ever deeper into the forest, Valory was determined to fill up the awkward silence with all kinds of questions, but mostly really, her voice.

Fair to expect, one of those questions was about the creature's name, which it reluctantly did not tell.

Curious, she also asked if it was special or whether all animals could talk and chose not to, or if there was even some sort of rule about talking to people. The fox's first answer was blatantly vague, giving the idea that it was indeed special, although speaking was not what made it so. The second answer supported part of what the bombshell understood from the first one, as it told that all animals could talk, and would do so between themselves the same way humans do. The third answer explained why there aren't any talk shows hosted by cats and dogs...

The fox told that humans cast themselves away from nature's grace long, long ago, and therefore had very little – if any – of its magic left in them. And it was said magic that allowed all creatures to communicate with one another.

It also told them that fairies are essentially the embodiment of nature's will, both feeding off and emanating its magic, thus why they were able to have this conversation... they had been blasted with Ailrees' magic earlier, but even had it not been the case, they were near her long enough for it to rub off on them.

Through the beautifully undisturbed wilderness would not have been a lengthy jaunt for the fox, however, for the unaccustomed party it was guiding, it was quite challenging to keep up with it.

Still, unhindered by the rough terrain, wet ground, nor the pesky bug bites, Valory's desire to learn more was remarkably relentless.

Admirable, were it not annoying.

The fox was slowly – but surely - getting fed up with all the questions the girl kept shooting at it. Nonetheless, it answered them ever so politely – cleverly avoiding the ones which concerned itself -, longing for when they'd finally arrive so it'd be rid of the group.

Most foxes didn't live up to their bad reputation... truthfully, they weren't any more likely to have terrible personalities than other critters, but this fox was it all. Concealed behind the good-mannered facade lay a mischievous, cunning little agent of chaos. Heartless like no other.

The only reason it bothered to care about Ailrees,

was because it was bound to that forest and could not escape the same fate.

Simply put, no forest = no foxy fox...

Thanks to the blonde's curiosity, soon they learned that not everything magic touches is good-natured, even nature can be cruel and merciless at times.

The silver beast brushed lightly on the topic, though.

It explained that there were creatures of the night and of the light, and everything in between was what they were familiar with. It also told them about how the evil-spirited joined together to vanquish Ailrees' people, and the sole reason she survived that gruesome day was the spell her sister cast chanting her last breath. A spell that turned her human.

And conveniently enough, just as there is a greater force impending creatures of the night from wreaking havoc on the day, there is a greater force that states

'no human shall be harmed as long as sunlight reigns'.

Howbeit... the spell on the little fairy was quickly wearing off, hence why they should seek shelter before dusk came.

- We any closer? – Nick asked and sat on a rock to catch his breath.

Many o' feet in front of him on the edge of a shallow but colossally wide and tall waterfall, the fox gazing into the scarlet horizon said

"Yes. And just in the nick of time"

as the sun set behind the waters and forest below.

Valory, who was much closer to the fox and sharing the same view, gulping anxiously, asked "We're not going down there, are we?", frightened by the height, which was strikingly terrifying.

- No. We are going up.

There is a dam not far upstream. – the silver beast said hastily resuming its gait.

Upon their arrival at the dam, it shouldn't have come to their surprise that it wasn't of human build. Instead, the mighty construction holding the river's flow was of a much, much more rustic nature.

Made out of rocks and twigs, logs and mud,

it was a beaver dam.

And, as one would expect, floating on the sizeable lake laid a beaver lodge.

- There! – the fox exclaimed – 'Tis where we part ways. – it added, secretly relieved.

- What? There? – Nick questioned. – That's the safe place? –

- It's about as safe as one can get... - it answered without any bother to explain why.

- Awesome!

And how are we supposed to get there? Swimming?! – Caleb asked sarcastically, worn down from carrying Ailrees the whole way.

- Not my problem, now, is it? – the fox rebutted.

- But...

but I don't swim... - Valory shared concerned.

- Well,

I strongly suggest you do... -

the silver beast said, then melodically added before disappearing into the forest:

- ...for with the night,

come wolves cruel

... and gremlins,

goblins,

and ghouls. –