Agathe asked Shaye to go scout the surrounding area a little and he
took off. "He'll be back in a little while. For now we could grab
some stuff for a little fire."
"Sounds good to me. I brought spare string to tie a bundle
together. Keep it from scratching our arms up." The gorgon began
searching for any dry kindling or logs they could use.
"That was a smart idea." Agathe said with a smile as she started
feeling around for the dry wood. Soon enough Shaye returned and
Agathe stood to meet him and let him land on her arm. "Really?
Nothing? Okay, that's not a big deal. We can just make one. Thank
you Shaye. Did you see any other animals on your way?" The bird
chirped and fluttered his wings a little. "You found a fox? Think
you could lead them here?" Shaye chirped once more and flew off.
"He's bringing a fox over?" Sasha asked, wide eyed and curious.
Foxes always looked so cute and fluffy! She had gathered a rather
nice looking pile of wood and was tying the rope around it. "Too
cute!! Shaye is majestic but foxes are down right adorable!"
"Apparently. Foxes and I don't usually get along... They take
advantage of me since I can't see. The myths and legends about them
being tricksters aren't that far off." Agathe tilted her head as
she heard the wood being moved and the sound of the rope moving
against the wood, and she tried to listen for the flap of Shaye's
wings, or the gentle padding of paws against the leaves and sticks
on the ground.
Sasha chuckled, picking up the bundle after she tied it. "Oh no. I
should have seen that one coming. I still find them
adorable...hopefully that doesn't change and this one doesn't try
to trick is."
Agathe shrugged and nodded. "I wouldn't know about adorable, but I
hope that this one doesn't try to trick us..." Soon enough she
picked up on the flapping of Shaye's wings. "I doubt it would with
you being here." Shaye alighted on Agathe's outstretched arm, and a
rather handsome fox trotted into the clearing behind him. He sat
down and made a giggling sound. "It's a pleasure to meet you,
Titian. My name is Agathe, this is Shaye, and this is Sasha." She
motioned to each as she spoke their name. "We were wondering if you
knew of a natural shelter somewhere near here? We're only staying
for the night." The fox looked up at Sasha and his golden brown
eyes were studying her hair and her facial structure, and he stared
for a little before looking back to Agathe and making a barking
sound. "R-really? You'd let us do that?" The fox barked once more
and his tail wagged a little, sweeping a small area behind him.
Sasha squirmed a bit under his inspection, worried she was doing
something wrong or that she had somehow become known among thw
wildlife of the island. Not in a favorable light. She moved a bit
closer to Agathe, hoping being closer to the woman would help calm
her heart. Was not afraid of Titian and wanted badly to reach out
and scoop him into her arms. She couldn't help it. He was just so
soft and cuddly looking. The gorgon was pretty sure he would not
appreciate the gesture and held herself in check. "You sounds a bit
surprised and shocked. What did he say?" She asked softly.
Agathe tilted her head and blinked a couple times. "If what he's
saying is the truth, he would let us stay the night with him. He
made a home for himself in a hillside... There should be enough
room for all of us..." Titian huffed a couple times and barked once
more. "The only thing he asks in return is that he may visit the
white stone house, the temple, during the stormy season..." Agathe
chuckled slightly. "I mean no disrespect Titian, but I must say
you're very well spoken and quite well mannered." The fox seemingly
bowed his head at this and he replied with a series of huffs and
barks, causing a blush to spread across Agathe's face.
Have this handsome, seemingly nice and respectful fox stay at the
temple to stay out of the rain? Sasha couldn't say yes fast enough!
"Of course he can. It'll be warmer and definitely less wet up
there. I am sure his home is lovely, but rain tends to not care
where boundaries lie and makes it's way into a lot. What's he
saying now?" She asked, moving forward a little bit.
"He was just making a comment about how I spoke..." Agathe chuckled
slightly as the red began to fade, the obvious lack of complements
in her life evident in how easily she blushed. "Thank you Titian,
Sasha said that you are welcome in her home when the rain comes. It
will likely be warmer and less wet for you." The fox yapped a
couple times as he stood up and walked over to Sasha slowly never
breaking eye contact. "He is asking permission to get a closer look
at your tail."
Sasha nodded, holding out her hand as well, so he could sniff it if
he'd like. "Yeah. Go ahead, Titian, I don't mind. Do you think I
could let you? For lack of a better term."
Agathe laughed, having figured that she would ask that sooner or
later. "She said that you have her permission. Titian, can Sasha
feel your fur? With her scales, she is unused to the texture." The
fox daintily sniffed at her hand before lifting his head into her
palm showing that she had his permission.
"Too cute," Sasha breathed, carefully and gently stroking his fur a
few times before letting him do as he pleased. "Okay, this is
amazing and I am really, really happy right now!" She told Agathe,
a grin spread over her features.
"Titian, have you eaten recently or do you need to hunt?" Shaye
chirped and Titian snorted before barking and yipping a reply.
"Shaye, come now, he will be taking us in, no need to insult. Thank
you Titian for not taking that to heart. Perhaps Shaye would like
to demonstrate the proper way to hunt?" The hawk spread his wings
and cawed before taking off into the skies leaving the party in the
hands of the fox. "Again, I'm sorry Titian, you know the raptors...
A very proud race..." Titian rubbed his head once more against
Sasha's hand before barking once more and trotting back along the
way he came. "He'll lead us to his home while Shaye is hunting."
"Uh oh...tension between them? Think something happened?" Sasha
asked, sliding after Titian but staying close to Agathe to help
guide her every now and then like Shaye did.
"Oh just species issues. You know, like cats and dogs. The raptors
are a proud race and think they are the masters of hunting. The
foxes hunt, yes, but they also scavenge, but they're not overly
proud," Agathe said softly following in Titian's footsteps decently
well, and he didn't go too fast so it was easy to keep up.
"Oh, I see. Watch, in a couple months, when they are seeking
shelter from the storms, they'll become friends," Sasha predicted.
Wiggling along, she watched their surroundings. She enjoyed being
out in nature. Just being at peace and feeling normal.
"You know, I hadn't thought of that. I really hope you're right,
otherwise there's gonna be a big mess." Agathe chuckled and walked
beside Sasha. Soon enough they came to a rise in the earth with a
large tree resting atop it. In the side was a decent sized hole,
one big enough for both the human and the gorgon to get through,
though not at the same time. Titian glanced up at the two following
him before he flicked his tail and entered.