Traning with the fox

The silence of the house was unbearable, and I was done waiting around. I stared at the little black fox sprawled lazily in front of the hearth, his fur gleaming in the firelight. He looked smug, as usual, like he had the world figured out.

"Well," I said, standing and dusting my hands on my skirt, "if Thalindra isn't back yet, I might as well do something productive."

The fox lifted his head and gave me a look that was somewhere between a yawn and an eye-roll.

"You're coming with me," I declared, pointing at him.

He tilted his head as if to say, Really?

"Yes, really. You're my training partner today," I insisted.

The fox stretched dramatically, then sat up, his tail curling neatly around his paws. His eyes glinted mischievously, and I immediately regretted my decision.

But I wasn't backing down. If Thalindra could survive in the wilderness with her black fire magic, then I could learn a thing or two.