The Unbound Ember

CHAPTER 5

Rain began just after sunset. Not heavy. Just enough to turn the streets silver.

I ducked beneath the awning of a small tea house overlooking the river. The owner brought me a steaming cup without asking.

"Long road?"

"Long week." I sighed.

"I've had a few of those."

I wrapped both hands around the warm clay cup. For the first time since leaving the village...I relaxed.

Something tugged gently at my pack. I frowned. Another tug. I looked down.

A white fox stood beside my bench with half my dried meat hanging triumphantly from its mouth.

For several heartbeats, neither of us moved.

"You..." The fox blinked. "...are incredibly bold." It continued chewing. I sighed again.

"I paid good money for that."

The fox looked almost offended.

Then, with complete dignity, it turned and trotted away.

Not running. Not sneaking. Simply leaving with my dinner as though we'd already agreed it belonged to it.

I stood. "Oh, absolutely not."

The fox glanced over one shoulder. I could have sworn it looked amused. It slipped through the evening crowd with impossible ease.

I followed. Past market stalls, across a narrow bridge, between lantern-lit alleys. Then, it vanished.

Not around a corner. Not beneath a cart. Just gone.

I stopped in the middle of the street. Rain pattered softly around me. "That's impossible." A quiet crunch sounded overhead. I looked up.

The fox sat atop a low stone wall, calmly finishing the last bite of my stolen dinner. Its tail swayed once. Slowly.

I folded my arms. "I hope you appreciate that."

It held my gaze for a long moment. Then, almost ceremoniously, it dipped its head. Not enough to be a bow.

Just enough to feel intentional.

Before I could decide whether I'd imagined that too, it leapt from the wall and disappeared into the rain once more. I stood there longer than I cared to admit. Then I laughed quietly to myself.

"First haunted mirrors." I adjusted my pack. "Now sarcastic foxes."

For reasons I couldn't explain...

The city didn't feel quite so lonely anymore.

Even if my newest traveling companion happened to be a thief.