Winter Vixen

Ever since she had been a little girl, Nix loved the snow. She loved to transform into her animal self and rub her nose in it, roll in it, and dig burrows in it. She knew she was unlike the other kits, because they would rather sleep in their dens all winter long than play in the beautiful glittery snow. She knew she was different, the fact her fur was white and not russet red was the most obvious one. Her eyes were blue instead of brown, and her hair was beautiful silver, unlike the brown and black of other tods and vixens. "Nix, honey, we have to get ready." She was pulled out of her daydream as her mother beckoned her over to the worn-down vanity. Her white ears drooped with a pout, her bushy tail hanging behind her. "I hate this. I will always hate doing this," Nix grumbled. She sat down in her mother's vanity chair, a simple desk and mirror to accommodate the set. The mirror was losing its luster, the wood was cracked and creaking in places, and the chair looked like it might give out any day. They didn’t have much, being slaves to the wolves, but with Nix's unique fur and ability to entertain, they had it better than the other slaves. "I know, but the King has other royalty coming. So please, be on your very best behavior. Remember honey-" “It’s a privilege, I know." Nix sighed, and her heart sank when she saw how her mother's lips pursed together. "I'm sorry mom. I just hate performing. There's so much more I could be doing." She flattened her ears down so her mother could reach strands of hair as she put it up in a beautiful braid. "Theres got to be more to life than performing for the royal family for eternity." "We just have to do what we can my love," her mother spoke softly, finishing up Nix's hair. "This was the hand we got dealt, now we make the best of it." Nix looked at herself in the old mirror, remembering how it all even started. It was spring, finally a day she could go out and play, since her mother had started restricting her from the winter snow. Nix often played alone; the other kits too superstitious of her unusual fur. She had found a ribbon caught in a bush, and for whatever reason, she felt like dancing around with it. She did it the same way she had seen a gypsy dance when the travelers had come through the kingdom. The pink ribbon was mesmerizing as it flowed and whipped through the air, controlled by her movements. Then the young wolf prince pointed her out and she had been dancing in the castle ever since. Whether the prince was pointing to her fur or noticed her dancing, she never did find out. All she knew was that she'd rather be out exploring, but instead lived in the castle, beckoned with a snap of the Kings fingers. Nix's mother finished getting her outfit ready, a slender dress that flowed about her, making it easier to move as she danced. It was white, with sparkles glimmering white and blue in the light, shining against her pale, porcelain skin as she twirled in it. Her favorite part were the thin sleeves that hugged her arms, also covered in the white-blue glitter. "Mom, it’s beautiful!" Nix exclaimed excitedly. "Wait, how did you get a dress like this?" "It was actually sent, by our Majesty Queen," her mother purred, clasping her hands together. If there was anyone in the castle they adored the most, it was Queen Flora. "How the King ever got her to marry him, I'll never know," Nix snorted, which earned her a glare. "We do not speak that way about our King! He took us in when we had little to nothing. You should be grateful for his generosity." Her mother's dark red ears were flattened to her head, her copper brown eyes sad. Nix watched as she turned away, her mother's tail curled around her waist so she could fidget with her fur. They both knew if Nix was caught speaking that way, the madman would have her head. "I'm sorry mother, you know how I feel about all this,” she pleaded softly, but she hated how right her mother was, and how wrong their situation was. “I'll be more careful about what I say." She walked over and gave her mother a gentle hug. "Are we ready?" "Yes, let's get going.” ~♤~ Nix was fidgeting with her tail as she waited behind a heavy, gold velvet curtain. She listened to the King address his people. "It is an honor to have the Kingdom of Caelum grace our halls. The mountain wolves are strong allies, and I have never been prouder to strengthen our alliance with a marriage between my only son, Prince Liam, and Princess Cora of Caelum." The wolves in the hall cheered and clapped, howls echoing off the high stone ceiling. Nix peered through a small gap in the curtains to see the Princess. She had beautiful sandy brown hair that was pinned up on her head in curls to help hold her dainty crown, which was gold filigree dotted with little diamonds. Princess Cora was wearing an elegant dress, in a color that looked like the ocean when it crashes onto the shore. She watched as the Princess curtsied to her future husband, and one day king. Prince Liam bowed in return, and kissed her hand. His black hair fell in the way of his golden eyes, and Nix knew just about every girl in the hall nearly swooned to the floor. She herself though he was handsome, but not in a way that made her heart flutter. Nix figured it was part resentment that kept any feelings like that from surfacing, as the prince was the one who got her into this mess. Performing for the court, she snorted to herself. Nix listened to the King speak, blessing the wedding that would take place in a few weeks. As everyone settled down to wait on their food, Nix knew she needed to center herself. She looped her fingers in her pale blue ribbons, and took a deep breath. She had no trouble performing in front of the wolves, but with the special occasion, she knew she better be spectacular. As the drums beat, she waited until she heard the flute and violin wail out hauntingly beautiful notes before she launched herself out into the open space, creating her dramatic entrance. For a slow second, her hands were reached out before her, the ribbons rippling in the air on either side, her body arched in the shape of the crescent moon. The lights in the hall caught the glitter on her dress, making her light up even more while casting tiny blue and white star lights around her. Nix landed on her hands and launched herself again in a backflip, using the ribbons to entice the crowd. She let her body move, sometimes seductively, other times more sweet and graceful, all the while twirling the silk ribbons around her. She loved these particular ribbons most because they were thicker in width, and were more dramatic. When she was done with her performance, she had ended her dance so that the silk ribbon covered her nose and lips, her piercing blue eyes gazing over the royalty. The wolven crowd erupted with cheers and clapping. The King and Queen both clapped, and she was relieved her performance was to their liking. She stood up and bowed down to her own monarchs before bowing to the King and Queen of Caelum. She bowed in acknowledgment to the new couple as they sat together. Another man, however, caught her breath in her throat, and she almost forgot to bow. He sat next to the monarchs of Caelum, so he had to be Princess Cora's brother. His steel grey eyes were on her, his sandy blond hair slicked back in the middle, shaved down on the sides. His crown was dark titanium, with three spikes protruding from the center, the middle spike being the tallest of them. Nestled in the base of the middle spike was a large onyx, glittering darkly. He smiled at her as he clapped, not quite showing his teeth, but the way he smiled made her stomach turn to mush. Suddenly she found it hard to breath, and realized she hadn't been breathing at all. Nix made herself bow once more before trotting back to the safety of the curtain. What in the holy hell, Nix? She scolded herself. You almost blew it. "That was incredible, my darling, like always," her mother cooed. "I still don't know why you dislike it so much, you're a fantastic dancer." Nix hugged her mother, who was changed into a simple yet pretty, deep emerald gown, her hair braided. She shrugged at her mother. "I just feel more like an object for entertainment than a person sometimes, that's all." "Nonsense, the way you dance is beautiful. In my eyes, it's a privilege," she praised, whispering the last part. She hooked her daughters’ arm in hers and led her down a short hallway and into a side room. "Now, let's get you changed, so we can join the others for dinner."