The Fox in the Village

The Signs Ignored

Upon waking up early and making all the preparations we needed, we excitedly rushed towards Lucas' place, then I and Frolly greeted in chorus "Good morning, Lucas," as we opened the door. To our surprise, there were seven men inside. One was Lucas sitting on a bamboo seat looking down at the floor, desolated, while the other six were having a discussion. We did not enter the place right away as we were shocked on what's on our sight, there were six other men having a discussion inside a place which was supposed to be just Lucas'. Aram was one of these men inside, having a discussion, the rest were new to our sight that our attentions' wouldn’t be occupied by them yet there was this old man. This old man is also part of those men having a discussion who caught my attention even if he's not someone I've met yesterday. He's also in white clothes that's more like a dress with fox fur as his coat, a fox head as its hood and wears a necklace the same as the others. After some time, we realized that we actually caught their attention. "May our fox peace and joy be with you two. I am Master Quino. Pardon me if we had to be introduced to each other this way," the old man spoke with a smile and quite a dismayed tone. "What happened?" I asked very eagerly and with the thought out of my mind that I was actually and already talking with the considered master of the tribe or so I say their leader. The master, not bothered by the tone of my voice, politely replied, "Last night, thy friend here was caught using an object not allowed to be brought into the village and it was the Fox's powerful whisper that we were able to catch him and stop him from using it. Unfortunately, just like our culture and traditions here, we took the object and burned it together with our offerings to our dear Lord fox." "We are deeply sorry about this." I replied worriedly and embarrassed. I looked at Lucas in dismay, yet he seemed not to bother as he was still looking down the floor, not moving nor speaking. Before I could ask him to say sorry and offer peace, the old man spoke again, "It's fine. It was already settled. Thy friend, as our golden rule, will not be allowed to speak as long as he's inside of our village. It was the fox's verdict. I'm really sorry about this, but please join me as I partake of the energy-giving food to everyone." We wanted not to, because we wanted to talk to Lucas instead. We want his side, his explanation, maybe, but the old man insisted on us feasting with them as Lucas, according to him, is not in the mood and might choose to stay in his nipa hut. He also insisted that it would be best for us to leave Lucas alone for now. He also assured us that he'd ask the fallen to bring Lucas something to eat and, without waiting for our response, the rest of the men brought us to the feast. I just thought, all of the three of us probably had the same thing in my mind, which is to have our conversation later after this event since it would be rude to turn down the first invitation s***h meeting with the tribe's leader.

One week passed and we kept our goal, writing down notes and observations about the tribe day and night while we tried to fit in like we are part of their place, wearing the same clothes they wear and doing the same routine they do. After that second day incident, we also never had the chance to talk to each other of the things outside of our research, since most of the time during those seven days that have passed, we were often divided into a different group or family of this tribe. We had to mingle with them and observe the day to day living of these different groups of people who keep on barging to our places encouraging us to join them with their so-called "day to day living and not a harmful one activities". It was fun and is really not harmful at all, I guess. We were able to learn and mingle with them, yet we were doing it separate from each other not being able to talk personally during the day and is really tired to discuss it during the night. After that crazy first week, weird as it may seem, but we never had some "so inviting and welcoming" visitors in our nipa hut again that we finally had the time to work together face-to-face. While Lucas continued to go with us on these activities, he kept quiet as if he was really part of those fallen. Since that second day incident, he has never stayed with us for chit-chats or spent any extra time with us except during the target discussions or during research related activities where he only sits and listens. After that second day incident, we also never had the chance to talk to each other of the things outside of our research, because of that so-called "day to day living, not a harmful one activities" of those people we were with on those days of our first week here. Lucas seems to be fine and normal except for those changes in his characteristics that I've mentioned. None of us also had the gutts to talk about what happened after we saw him throw a pit and walked out without saying anything, like he totally lost his tongue when Frolly tried getting any explanation from him. That's also the same day when I started to observe Frolly going out of our nipa hut when everyone seemed to be asleep and when I asked her about it she said it was just because she was taking a pee.

One afternoon, while we were done eating some served food and herbs after our research discussion, I felt nauseous. I asked Frolly if they can continue to work about the research today on their own without me as I felt like I really need to rest. I decided to take take some rest to our nipa hut. I went there alone after getting Frolly's concern with regard to the research and my health. I decided to sleep and leave the rest of the research tasks to Frolly and Lucas that day. While lying on the bed and my eyes almost closed, I saw a shadow, or a not so vivid image, I guess, of a man walking towards me, holding a cane. I wanted to get up but I felt like I was too nauseous. The man keeps on moving closer and closer to me, yet I can't move nor speak to ask who he is or why is he in here and when the man was almost close to me, I heard Aram's voice, then I fell asleep.

The next time I woke up, I didn't realize it was already the morning of the next day. I got up in surprise of the length of sleep I had. I can actually hear busy footsteps and acts outside so I decided to continue to go out and check. Everyone was busy. I think this was the grand feast the rest of the tribe was talking about. They were about to celebrate it this year. For the past few days, I've observed how almost all the villagers totally wear and do the same thing and while I'm delving again into their uncommon behavior, a man named Rafic came and told me I was already being waited in the area I'm assigned to. I was quite hesitant to go but he told me Lucas and Frolly were already there and when I was about to get up, Aram came. "Rafic, can you leave us alone first. I just needed to check if she's wearing the necklace and the rest that she needs to bring."

Aram checked my necklace and then kissed me on my cheek. I thought of slapping him immediately until I felt he put something in my pocket and I heard him whisper, "You and your friends are in danger. Read my note." and before I could speak, he spoke towards Raffic, "I think she's ready Raf."

I went to their feast. In their dancing and gestures towards their master, Quino, he seems to be really important to them, and they seem to be really faithful to him. Except for Aram, I guess. Aram seems to speak and think quite differently from them, yet the master seems not to be bothered. For those days of our stay here, to me, he seemed to be the most liked of the masters. While in some of our short conversations, he doesn't seem to worship him much. After a while of observation, I realized Frolly and Lucas weren't around and I decided to check on Aram's note but before I could, the old man grabbed my arm, pushed me gently towards the bonfire and made me dance together with the rest of the villagers. I felt as if there was a ritual being done, then I saw Lucas' body hanging above the fire. Then Frolly's voice crying, then I passed out again. This was the fourth time after our arrival here. One was when I saw someone coming inside our nipa hut, the rest were usually after some dinner and herbs.