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kits-shrine · 18 days

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How I Met Your Mother: Kitsune Edition

Decided to write how Reynard and Tenko came to be~

Enjoy the Ugly Meet Cute Journey that wound up being 7 pages! X'D

Also Picrew images I made of them forever ago and saved but no longer have the link too.

Enjoy!

“Don’t be a fool boy!” A vendor called after the stranger, who just grinned as he straightened his new clothing to better suit the strange region filled with myths and rumors. “Those mountains take people! It’s not safe! There’s something up there.” Of course it was those myths and rumors that had drawn him in the first place, luring him to travel across the globe once more chasing down fairytales.

Reynard threw the man a grin over his shoulder “I truly hope so my friend!” he laughed as he waved at the dumbstruck man and headed out of the little village and towards the mountain. Hopefully towards something fantastic.

“Ha!” The man let out a laugh as he once again found himself at the base of the mountain where he’d started after hours of steadfastly uphill. Reynard ran a hand through his dark rust brown hair as he grinned. The thick woods and the foggy wisps that clung between the tree trunks making time and direction meaningless, the setting sun was the only thing he could use to gauge how long he’d been walking this time.

He looked back up at the darkening mountain with a determined grin. “Tomorrow’s another day.” The man murmured to himself before proceeded to make camp at the mountain’s base with a modest campfire and sleep roll.

The growing dark was held back by his little fire. The smell of fish caught from a nearby stream searing over its flames as he wrote the events of the day in his journal by the grace of its light. He felt dozens of inhuman eyes watching him and it delighted him. Out the corner of his eye he saw little furry faces peeking under the brush boldly. “Boo.” He called teasingly making them dart away… and a gust sudden wind blew out his fire and he couldn’t help but feel he had made a miss step.

Closing his journal he fumbled towards the embers in an attempt to rekindle the fire, mildly surprised to find his dinner knocked into the ashes. Cursing he fumbled the pair of fish in an attempt to save them, setting them on a rock before returning to fanning the flames. Just as they leapt back up a rustling caught his attention long enough to watch a couple foxes snatch the fish and run back into the dark woods and another gust once more killed his flames. He sat back up on his heels with a chuckle “I think that’s a sign I need to sleep.” With that he tucked into his bed roll, huddling for warmth in the cold wind without the campfire yet he still had a grin on his face. He was on to something he just knew it.

Far above a much larger set of fox eyes glared balefully down at the man who was attempting invade the mountain.

Days went more or less the same for him. He spent his day’s trying to forge his way up the mountain fruitlessly. Sometimes his ventures were short and he found himself back where he started almost immediately then other times he traveled almost the entire day. Reynard had learned to pack proper provisions each time he attempted the journey as when he did he found it impossible to forage or find anything edible whilst he was for lack of a better term lost in the woods.

The nights were a different matter. The first night was merely an amuse-bouche to the main course that was the series of bad luck he had at camp. Fires dying out instantly or refusing to light at all. Foraging slowly grew harder and harder.

Gradually it got worst, it went from unwelcome to outright aggressive. One night his bed roll disappeared. Couple days later it returned… torn to shreds. Unseen briars started to catch at his clothes and skin tearing at both. Rocks and fallen branches tripped him more than once, almost snatching at his ankles cruelly.

But he wasn’t deterred. If anything it only made him more determined. His voiced echoed in the trees throughout the days. “I mean no harm.” “Hello?” “Lovely day isn’t it?” “…I really liked that blanket you know.” But silence was his only answer.

The rivers waters ran cold over his scratch riddled legs as he waded on the streams edge. Rain from previous days made the water flow faster and heavier than before, but he needed to check the little makeshift fish trap. “Come on little fishies. Save me a trip to town.” Reynard muttered as he dunked a hand to retrieve the trap. He cursed when it was not only empty but broken.

A now familiar sound of foxy laughter rang out as he straightened. He looked up in amusement to see as usual to see foxes brazenly drawn near. One fox had ventured out on a newly fallen log over the waters edge to hopefully pilfer fish from his basket. “Nothing today.” He chuckled, foul mood already gone. It chattered at him before turning to walk back to shore. A snap and scared yelp filled the air as the branch it ventured on broken beneath it making it fall into the water and get swept downstream.

“Hey!” Reynard yelped before attempting to catch it. The current swept it past him just out of reach and he dove after it. Unlike the panicking fox, he swam with the current instead of against it so he was able to catch up to it quickly. The man grabbed the fox to lift it out of the water, only to find he could no longer touch the creek bed and the water was growing even faster sweeping both he and the distressed fox away.

The breath was knocked out of him as they slammed into some large boulders. Bubbles of air escaped from his mouth as he tried to resurface, sense of direction of up and down addled he couldn’t find his way to the world above. Still he tried. He saw light over head and extended his arm and the fox towards it even as his vision started to darken. A loud splash echoed over the roaring waters and suddenly something large and sharp grabbed his arm. Suddenly he was flung out of the water onto the shore coughing out lung fulls of water.

The fox in his hand wiggled itself free to do the same. “T-thank you.” Reynard wheezed looking for his savior. His breath caught in his chest, not from the water but from the magnificent sight before him. A fox larger than any wolf he had ever seen stood before him with steam rising off its golden white fur, multiple tails swaying behind it.

Silver blue eyes looked at him as the beast walked closer… and a powerful feminine voice rang through his head disdainfully ‘I did not do it to help you, human.’ Her snout came down to nudge the sopping wet fox. It chittered weakly letting out a sigh of relief as steam soon came off its body as well as its fur got dry and fluffy.

“Well… thank you anyway.” Reynard chuckled finally finding his tongue, gingerly sitting up much to the giant fox’s clear displeasure. She stared at him ‘Why? Why did you risk your life to do this?’ He shrugged “It was the right thing to do. I’d want someone to help me if I was in trouble.” The man grinned “For which again I am grateful that you did.”

She snorted shaking her fur protesting again ‘I did not do it for you.’ Her teeth pulled over her very large teeth as she lowered her head level with his face ‘Leave my mountain. Your kind isn’t welcome here.’

Reynard held up his hands beseechingly “Please… my lady fox, I come in peace. I bear no ill will or intent to you or your mountain. I am merely a seeker of adventure and the fantastic. I do not know what humans did to grieve you but I would dearly love to know you and your kind.”

He felt he’d gone too far as her ears flattened and she bite the air next to his head ‘Leave!’ She snarled before her large form disappeared into mist, the foxes all gone.

The man sat knelt on the ground as only the sound of the river filled the air before he let out a joyful woop and threw himself onto his back with a laugh. “I knew it!” Reynard laughed looking up at the sky with his heart bounding, uncaring of the shivering cold and the bruises and nicks littering his body. He was right. Magical creatures did exist!

After that he had had to make the trek back to the nearby village. His appearance did cause quite a stir with the villagers. They whispered about the mad foreigner when he cheerfully told them of his plans to return to the mountain once he’d gotten new supplies. He didn’t share his tales with them just yet. Not willing to share them just yet given the already stressed nature his presence caused to the protector of the mountain he didn’t want to call more attention to himself or it. His journal was riddled with documenting the story of their encounter and sketches of the giant fox creature.

Supplies in hand he headed back out the same day with a smile on his lips and a song in his heart. Once more into the fray.

Disappointment grew with each passing day of silence. Reynard frowned as he stared up into the woods. At first he’d been happy that his new camp wasn’t torn apart and his fires untouched… but it was paired with absolutely nothing else happening. No foxes. No hidden logs and rocks. Were it not for the fact he couldn’t climb the mountain still he would have thought it was a normal mountain. Even those attempts had dulled. No more long trips that lead nowhere, only suddenly finding himself returned over and over to his campsite. “I know you’re there! I can feel you watching me!” he called out loudly. He held his breath hopefully straining to hear something… anything. Only to let it out in a long sigh of disappointment as he was answered with only deafening silence. Giving up Reynard curled up on his bed roll to sleep for the night… only to wake to find a heavy paw on his chest.

‘I told you to leave my mountain.’ The fox growled. Despite the situation he was in the man grinned happily up at her “I know. And I’m sorry but I couldn’t stay away.” Claws and weight pressed into him harder unamused. “Ok, ok, ok. I understand but I mean it. But hear me out. Please!” he wheezed. She cocked her head but didn’t remove her paw ‘I’m listening…’ her claws flexed against him and he knew that if he answered wrong it might be the last thing he did.

“My only desire is to learn more of the world. I knew the fables and myths we hear are rooted in truth.” She snorted ‘Even if it gets you killed? Did it not occur to you that perhaps we don’t want to be found?’ His hand came up to hold her paw with no small amount of wonder etched on his face “Some things are worth the risk. This is definitely one of them.”

The large fox pulled back her paw none too gently ‘Foolish human.’

“Reynard.” He corrected as he sat up slowly.

Large ears twitched as sharp eyes flicked towards him ‘What?’

The man smiled cheekily from his grassy seat “My name is Reynard. Not human.” he eyed her as her many tails swished behind her, doing what he did best and forging forward fearlessly “Can I know your name too? Or shall I stick to Lady Fox?”

It was hard to tell in the moonlight but he swore he almost saw and amused look on her foxy muzzle as she turned to walk away ‘I do not care what you call me so long as you leave my mountain… human.’ He had to muffle a snort at her stubborn tone watching in fascination as she once again vanished from sight.

The following days progressed more or less the same. The days would be pretty dull though some of the foxes had returned to watch him. Nights were a different matter. At some point she would come to tell him to leave. Sometimes before he fell asleep and other times it would be when he’d wake up in the middle of the night to her presence. She didn’t pin him anymore, but he could feel her eyes on him even in his sleep. Every night he would try to speak with her, but after her warning she would leave.

One night he woke just before the dawn, but instead of her eyes on him they were turned to the pinking horizon watching the sun rise laying with her front paws crossed delicately in front of her. Reynard stayed his tongue, content to just watch her fur light up with the light of day. Eventually her eyes slid back towards him only to widen on surprise ‘You’re awake…’

“And you’re beautiful.” He shot back as a knee jerk remark smiling when she let out a laugh “What? I just thought we were stating the obvious.” Reynard’s smile faded as she moved to stand sitting up quickly “Wait, wait, wait, don’t go. You’re enjoying the sunrise right? I can be quiet.”

Her head tilted ‘Somehow I greatly doubt that.’ But her feet settled back in place just the same pointedly turning her head to the ever brightening sky and they sat in peaceful silence until the day had truly begun. He wasn’t surprised when she rose, disappointed but not surprised. “Farewell Lady Fox. I hope you have a good day.” She cast him a look over her shoulder before disappearing into the woods without her customary message to leave her mountain and he grinned.

“Ok I’m not leaving for good but if I’m going to survive out here long term I need more than just a sleeping sack.” Reynard called to the woods as he stored said bag safely in a hollow tree. “I’ll be back soon.” His promise lingered in the air as he waited, hoping for an answer from more than just the chittering foxes that had come to be around the man almost fearlessly. Reynard chuckled lowly once more disappointed but not surprised has he had many times in the last few weeks.

Smiling he hefted his now significantly lighter pack and headed into town. His appearance once more set whispers ablaze in the village. No one had ventured out to the mountain side as much as he, let alone stay there. But the foreigner was chipper and happy to give his remaining gold on a tent and more winter gear. Reynard smiled and traded some things for little wooden figures he’d carved in the woods, highly detailed animals of all kinds: bears, birds, turtles and of course foxes. Many, many foxes.

Of course both they and he got a surprise when he opened his pack to store his new gear and a fuzzy head popped out. They gasped as he laughed recognizing his river rescue plucking the familiar fox out of the bag “Hey now, what’re you doing little stow away? I was coming back.” He said placing the fox on his shoulders and finished packing his bags to the shock and aw of the on lookers. The fox curled closely around his neck, wary of all the humans but curious none the less.

Acting as though everything was perfectly normal Reynard finished his provision shopping and made his way out of the village. He’d barely made it out of the village when there was a fox suddenly sitting in the middle of his path. It was very different in appearance from the large fox that had repeatedly tried scare him from the mountain. By every other persons eyes it was just a pretty golden hued fox, creamy chest and flecks of brown in the ears and tail. But he’d know those eyes anywhere. “Worried I wasn’t coming back?” he teased grinning at the bland flick of her tail. ‘Hardly.’ She looked pointedly to the young one on his shoulders. She fell in step with him as he continued up the path and she mentally chided his stowaway.

Reynard glanced down as her surprisingly small (at least compared to her other form) self, “Would you like a ride? I have two shoulders you know.” The little fox on his shoulder made a laughing chitter moving to fully rest on one shoulder, daring her to take the other perch. Icy blue eyes narrowed before leaping up effortlessly to match with kit on the other side. ‘This means nothing.’ She declared as he grinned “Of course not Lady Fox. Merely a little walk.”

Weeks had past and he lay in his tent shivering curled up in his blankets trying to find sleep that was not coming easy. Were it not for the rain outside he would have huddled next to a warm fire. The wind blew shaking his tent and he opened his eyes in the dark enclosed space sensing he wasn’t alone anymore. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’

“N-no where else I-I rather be.” The chattering of his teeth broke the glibness of his voice. “Besides I-I know you like me here.”

‘Snow is coming. You will freeze.’ The fox’s voice continued frustrated in the dark. Was that a worried note he heard?

Reynard chuckled curling up tighter “I-I’m tougher than I look, Lady Fox. Besides-“ he cut her protest off “-even if I-I wanted to leave, t-there’s no way I could make it to the village t-this late in the rain. I would freeze f-for sure. D-don’t worry. I-I’ll be fine.”

There was a low grow in the dark that grew closer and the next thing he knew heavy paws were stepping around him before a large warm furry body laid on top of him ‘Foolish human. This is the last time I will save your life. Tomorrow you will leave this mountain.’ The man was too busy soaking in her warmth to protest and passing out soon as his muscles relaxed.

She felt nothing but disbelief when the next day brought not his absence but a new set up of his campsite. Somehow he had situated himself under a rock face, the tent repurposed to protect him the sides not the mountain side but allow him to have a fire within. An opening at the top under the rocks to allow the smoke to flow out but keep snow or rain from coming in. ‘What are you doing?!’ she demanded as he worked on storing what dry or semi dry wood he could find in the alcove he’d made to have within easy reach. Reynard looked up at her with a smile “You were right. I had a poor set up before. I shouldn’t need any more rescuing so you don’t have to worry.”

‘You were supposed to leave Reynard.’ The many tailed vixen stressed looking at him disapprovingly. “You know, it’s still not fair that you know my name but refuse to tell me your own.” His smile faded as she snarled a truly terrifying sound. ‘You will die! From stupidity!’ she paced on the frosty ground steam coming off her as she continued ‘I don’t know why I am surprised. Stupid foolish human!’

“Hey now-“ her teeth clicked as she snapped her maw shut ‘Fine! Freeze. I warned you and I warned you. But you just wouldn’t listen. Idiot!’ with the last word she vanished in a flash of flames. He stared that wide eyed “Well… that was new.” Guilt ate at him a little as his now nearly constant foxy companion joined him. He gave it a crooked smile “Think she’ll forgive me when I make it to spring?” The fox chattered sinking into the warmth of the new cave like tent. “Guess we’ll find out then huh…”

It seemed he had really and truly been written off by her. The large fox did not come to him during the days nor the nights to come. The days he ventured out for food or wood were the warmest. He would on occasion still try to scale the mountain side to see if that would goad her into revealing herself again but he only found himself back in the same loops as he had before albeit much shorter ones. He did however slowly get more and more foxes in his tent at night, seeking shelter from the frigid cold. So at least he never got lonely, though he did start to miss actual conversations.

One snowy day he went to forage for food and wood and loud crunching snow had him looking up with a frown catching sight of two men with looking about as shocked to see him as he was them. They had arrows strapped to their back with bows in hand. One had a line of game strung on a rope draped on his back. Reynard’s eyes jumped to the line of rabbits and squirrels there with a little relief before frowning at them. “You’re alive!” one said dumbfounded looking at the foreigner that all were sure had long died.

“I am.” He replied calmly before pointing back towards the village “I think you come out a bit further than you meant to. You should go back.”

They both gave him a look of annoyed superiority “We know the mountains limits better than you do stranger. Some of us have families to feed. Anything this far out is more than fair game.”

Which is what had Reynard worried given many of the foxes had taken to trailing him on his foraging exploits. He gave a respectful nod just the same “I’ll leave you too it then.” His eyes widened as the younger of the two caught sight of a thick furry red coated fox, his friend from the river, and immediately nocked an arrow into his bow “Don’t!”

Everything happened in a blur of movement. It ended with the two villagers fleeing back to their home and a trail of red dotting the snow back to the man’s tent. “Stop… fussing… it’s barely a scratch.” Reynard grimaced pressing a hand to his shoulder where the arrow had lodged itself when he dove in it’s path. His little friend chittering and chattering excitedly at his feet as he stumbled to his small camp fire stoking it back to life and thrusting a pair of knives into it. “Ok fine. It’s a hole not a scratch. But as soon as that’s hot enough, I’ll take out the stick poking me and that’ll close it.” Sweat beaded his brow at the pain willing the metal to turn red before he lost consciousness. Talking to his furry friend helped keep him focused. Soon the metal glowed and he gritted his teeth. Grateful it was on the more fleshy arm part of his shoulder he broke the shaft with a shout and pulled it out quickly. Breath coming in rapidly he wrapped his hand in cloth so he could grab the first knife and press it to the exit of the wound over his shoulder. The fox let out a shriek with his before fleeing the tent. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he dropped the now cooled blade and reaching to the other with a shaking hand. Black was dancing at the edges of his sight but he had to stop the bleeding before he inevitably passed out.

Steeling himself he pressed it to the hole on the front, wailing out as the smell of his burnt skin filled the area. The last thing he heard was the clatter of steel on stone as the knife dropped from his now numb finger tips as he slowly collapsed to the ground.

When he woke he was surprised that the rocks felt like giant pillows beneath him. His gray blue eyes cracked open to see wooden rafters over head and not his tent. Reynard cursed under his breath. Not for the pain in his shoulder but that clearly the two idiots must have come back to get him. He had a feeling being indebted to them would not go well for his Lady Fox. “I cannot make up my mind if you are brave or just stupid.” His head whipped up at the sound of a familiar voice even if it sounded different. His mouth moved like a fish’s mouth out of water as he saw not a giant multitailed fox nor even the little golden fox she on occasion became… no instead there was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and icy blue eyes. If the voice wasn’t enough of a tell, her ears and well tails were.

She advanced into the room kneeling to place a hand on his hot forehead. “It’s you!” he babbled as her eyes flicked to meet his. “It is.”

“You can change into a woman?!” he all but yelled in excitement “And disappear into flame! What else? Please, please Lady Fox. Tell this poor stupid idiot more.” Her ears flicked a little in guilt as he used her words and she found it distasteful. He broke her from her thoughts as he clutched at her hands “No wait! Before that, please, your name. I can’t die in peace without knowing your name.”

“You are not going to die.” The vixen immediate chided wiping his brow with a wet cloth before focusing what healing magic she knew into his burnt shoulder with a frown.

Reynard sighed “I know, but I thought it would be my only chance seeing how I’ve forced you to save me once again.” At that she let out a little chuckle “Well I could not let you let you die. Remi would not allow it. He was very upset.” She glanced over at the little fox that was watching him anxiously from the side.

“Remi huh?” Reynard murmured as he reached out with his good hand to scratch Remi’s furry head.

“That is his name yes.” She replied with a pause before adding “And mine is Tenko Miyara.” When he looked at her in surprise she smiled softly “You earned it.”

And the rest…. is a story for another time.

#Tenko #Reynard #my writing #meet cute gone wrong #boy this got bigger than I meant XD #Blood #injuries #warning?#That went from 0-100 fast #haha #my ocs #some monoke vibes up in here #no betas we die like men

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