A Fox Never Did Good (Tag: Jeri)

Tomoe held the night in his chest, breathing deeply to inhale the newly found scent. He walked passed trees that smelled just like the mutant he was tracking and he wonder if the creature was wounded. He touched the tree with his hand, leaving his scent instead after he left each point of mass scent. He finally cringed his nose, noticing the smell was getting stronger.

A lighting flashed the night sky and lit it up with an array of whites mixed with both tan and yellow. His eyes widened when he noticed the mutant in the clearing. He didn't run though, it was unbecoming. He walked over to the pile of leaves and bent down, pressing his fingers over her neck to check if she was even alive. He rolled the body over and looked down at the creature. She was weak, and perhaps a wolf or bear could finish her nearby if he waited. He wondered if this was a temptation, or a simple observation. He placed his hands carefully under the body, his mouth salivating when he realized how close he was to the sweet tasting liquid that held her mutation.

He swallowed the spit and the thought and held her against his body, wrapping the blanket that had been around his shoulder over her. He then looked into the forest, another lighting strike causing thunder to sound through the trees. He blinked, then moved back into the shadows, following the path back to the familiar scents to whom he had grown to accept.

He came into the camp only a bit later, ignoring the rain that had started pouring and holding the child over his shoulder. He made it into the command tent, his own quarters, then carefully set her upon his bed. He removed her hair from her face and set on the bed beside her. "Such an ugly beast." He commented dryly, not really meaning it as an insult, but more to deter him from eating her. He pulled the wet blanket from her and put the warm ones over her, knowing he wouldn't use them anyway. He wondered if the noise he had made would alert Slade.

Tomoe's eyes widened when the little beast put her hands up. His ears fell back, but he understood her words. He leaned forward and touched his tongue to her hand, licking the top of her knuckles. He then withdrew and pulled his ears forward. "Shutting up would benefit you now, little monster. I will not harm you." He looked away with an annoyed expression and put his hand up with fingers stretched like a fan. He hated it when people stared at him, and he guessed that was what she was doing.

Tomoe put his ears back and reached down, picking her up by her shirt and lifting her back onto the bed. "If you can't stand, it's rather foolish to try." He observed. The fox rose to his feet, "Stay here, little monster." He commanded, then rose to his feet. He walked out of the room and started squeezing his hair to free the water that had collected in it. He went to the entrance to Slade's part of the tent and knocked on the wood beside it. "Master," He called into the entrance, then walked back to his room and leaned against the doorway. " Sleep now, little monster, before my master comes." He whispered, covering his face again and looking away.

Jeri let go of her tensions and slipped into a warm feeling of safety. Jeri listend to the voice and closed her eyes falling asleep to the sound of the wind wipping through the trees and over the tent.

Slade was sitting at a desk in his tent when he heard the call. Slade instantly stood up and walked over to Tomoe's section. Slade always tried to stay within ear shot of Tomoe so he could come to his aid whenever was necessary, He walked into Tomoe's tent with a sense of urgency. "What is it Tomoe?" He noticed the girl lying on his bed and instantly feared the worst. He rushed over to the girl but she was still breathing and moving slightly only drugged. Slade turned to Tomoe and walked over to him. He put a hand on his shoulder and spoke quitely to him. "WHere did she come from?" Slade was glad to see Tomoe had resisted the impulse. Slade knew how hard that must have been and he was very proud of Tomoe for it. "You did good by the way."

Dimitri slapped Tomoe's hand from his mouth. "Don't touch me without warning idiot" he snarled softly. Slade could because Dimitri trusted Slade completely. And Mulan could because same deal. But everyone else had to earn that trust first or just not touch him. It was just his panic and he knew it was irrational. But he was getting better at least. It would just take time. He turned when Slade rushed past him and stared at the little girl on the bed, holding his breath until Slade confirmed she was still alive. Thank goodness. Though Tomoe seemed hurt about them doubting him. But there was nothing to be done about that.


Dimitri went to the little girl and knelt beside her. "Hello dear. Can you tell us anything about yourself?" he asked gently, glancing back at Tomoe by the door. He realy wanted to ask how she ended up in the woods, her name, age and power, but didn't want to overwhelm her and his first question sort of covered all the others. "It's alright, you're safe here"

Tomoe held himself tighter, "I'm not just some problem you can fix Slade." He put plainly, looking away from his mentor. There may have been many things they held in common, but Tomoe knew deep down they were very different. "Tend to your dogs, master Slade, and leave the fox in peace." He suggested, looking down and letting go of himself. "You don't know me." He whispered between his teeth.

The sound of the little girl caught his attention and he looked over. He noticed Dimitri by her bed and sighed, realizing that was the way it had always been. Slade would trust this mutant who had absolutely no reason to trust others, and who was highly unpredictable in his book, before he would trust a fox.

Tomoe held his fan over his face.