Kitsune of the Blue Sun

[Keeno POV]

Waking up the next day, my head was pounding and there was a full ache in my chest where a faint blue light was sparking to life.

 

“…” (Keeno)

 

“Is something wrong, my little one?” (Fafnir)

 

“…Don’t know…had a weird dream…head hurts…chest feels sore.” (Keeno)

 

“Is it your core?  I can see it’s starting to glow, which is surprising seeing as it hasn’t been that long since you’ve begun utilizing it.” (Fafnir)

 

“I…don’t know…just wish it would stop…head pounding…worse than a hangover.” (Keeno)

 

Mum moved closer to me and after untangling me from Pram and Freya’s bad sleeping postures alone me down on her lap before gently patting my head.

 

“I know it won’t help much, but this is all I can do until Pram reawakens.” (Fafnir)

 

I lay there for a while longer until Pram woke up after Freya started unconsciously nibbling her tail. After looking around dazedly for a minute and smiling like a love-struck maiden at Freya, she fully woke up.

 

“Ehehe.” (Pram)

 

Pram started to gently pat Freya’s head as the sleepy wolf girl reacted to her touch and cuddled closer to her.  Mum and I just watched this with warm smiles until Pram noticed out staring.

 

“Something wrong, Keeno?  You look like that one time you got a bad hangover.” (Pram)

 

“Woke up with a bad headache. Has gotten a little better, but not fully gone. Chest also hurt, but that’s better now.” (Keeno)

 

“Hmm.” (Pram)

 

Pram waved her hand and my body shone for a second. My head immediately felt better afterward.

 

“Thank you.” (Keeno)

 

“My pleasure.” (Pram)

 

She then went back to patting and cuddling her sleeping wolf girl.  Mum and I both chuckled as we watched.

 

“Mum, where’s Emma?” (Keeno)

 

“Behind us hugging my tail.” (Fafnir)

 

I sat up a bit and looked behind mum to see that Emma was indeed clinging to mum’s tail like a koala.

 

“Adorable.” (Keeno)

 

“I agree.” (Fafnir)

 

Seeing both Freya and Emma getting to enjoy the tails of their lovers, a feeling of jealousy started to build inside me.

 

“…No fair.” (Keeno)

 

{I agree, Keeno.  It’s no fair.}

 

“Ama, can you descend and let me enjoy your tails?” (Keeno)

 

{Unfortunately, no.  It takes a long time to get descension approval, and the only way around that is something that would endanger the world that only I can fix.}

 

At that, I got an idea and sat up to put said idea into motion.

 

{As much as I would love for you to continue, Keeno, don’t. It’s a bad idea and I’d have to go back the instant the problem is fixed.}

 

“Tch.” (Keeno)

 

“Hehe.” (Pram)

 

“Hehehe.” (Fafnir)

 

“To think the day would finally come where I’m the one jealous of others and even my own wife won’t let me do something that allows me to see her.” (Keeno)

 

{Guh.}

 

“Now, now, Keeno, that’s a low blow. Do you know how long you’ve done the same thing unconsciously?  Since the day I met you.  I say this is your just desserts.” (Pram)

 

“Stop it with your sound logic and stuff, Pram.  Let me complain!” (Keeno)

 

“That’s not how it works, Keeno.  I mean, look at this being of absolute cuteness.  How can anyone ignore her charm and elegance?” (Pram)

 

At that moment Freya curled up even more and started rubbing her cheek on Pram’s tail.

 

“Grrrr.  Annoyingly convincing logic of cute, fluffy things, why does it have to be so convincing?  I can’t feel jealous at this.” (Keeno)

 

Pram smiles as she puffed out her chest in pride.

 

“This sense of fulfillment…no wonder you love to tease people so much.” (Pram)

 

“You say that like we’ve never tag team teased people before.” (Keeno)

 

“Yeah, but I can count the number of times I’ve teased YOU on one hand.” (Pram)

 

“Oh, I’ll know. And I’ll get you back for it one day. Just you wait.” (Keeno)

 

“Hehehe.  I’m glad my little one has such a good friend.” (Fafnir)

 

“Heh.” (Pram)

 

“…Pram, don’t you dare do what you just thought of.” (Keeno)

 

“Miss Fafnir, would you like to hear some stories from when Keeno was little?” (Pram)

 

“Oh.  Do tell.” (Fafnir)

 

“Don’t you do it Pram!” (Keeno)

 

I was about to get up to stop Pram from speaking, but mum held me down by the shoulders. Though she was gentle, there was enough force there to keep me immobile.

 

“So, where we grew up it’s always snowing.” (Pram)

 

“Mm-hmm.” (Fafnir)

 

“There were always large piles of powder snow piled up everywhere, and when we were little Keeno would always end up buried in them headfirst due to an impulse to jump into them. She always shrugged it off as training, but I never really believed that.” (Pram)

 

“It was training!  It was so I could learn to control my heat!” (Keeno)

 

“…” (Pram)

 

“…” (Fafnir)

 

{…}

 

“What?  Why are you all quiet all of a sudden?” (Keeno)

 

{I hate to break it to you, Keeno, but that was just an excuse Fia made up to get you to play.}

 

“Eh?” (Keeno)

 

“I thought you figured that out a long time ago.  I figured it out after getting to know you and all that, and I never said anything because I thought you knew as well.” (Pram)

 

“…” (Keeno)

 

…

 

{Oh dear.  Even her through have completely stopped.}

 

Upon learning this information, it felt like my whole early life was a lie.  What else had I been told was training that was just an excuse to play around like the child I physically was?  I was starting to fall into flustered feelings of doubt when a patting sensation on my head brought me back.

 

“Don’t think too much about it, my little one. Did you enjoy yourself then?” (Fafnir)

 

I nodded.

 

“Then does it matter if it was training or playing?  It helped you in the end, and you had fun.” (Fafnir)

 

“Is today beat Keeno with sound logic day or something?” (Keeno)

 

“No, but we should totally make a day for that some time.” (Pram)

 

At that moment, the two troublemakers poked their heads out of my tails.

 

“*sigh*” (Keeno)

 

They hopped out of my tails and looked between all of us before zeroing in on the still sleeping Freya and Emma.  They glanced at one another than opened their beaks. Just before they let out a sound, I flopped two of my tails onto them.

 

“Why do these two feather heads have a death wish?  I’m not in the business of granting wishes.” (Keeno)

 

“You’re the one who raised them, so they probably learned from you.” (Pram)

 

“I take no responsibility for their pranks.” (Keeno)

 

I was about to defend my decisions in regard to raising Huginn and Muninn when I felt a small sting in one of my tails and fell silent.

 

“…” (Keeno)

 

“Freya, get up now!” (Pram)

 

“Uwah!!” (Freya)

 

Pram hopped up while dragging Freya with her and moved to a safe spot behind a large rock.

 

“Fafnir, move!” (Pram)

 

Not taking a second to think, mum hopped up and joined Pram behind her rock, Emma still clinging to her tail.

 

“What is happening?” (Freya)

 

“One of the birds made a grave error and now Keeno is pissed.” (Pram)

 

I lifted one tail to reveal Huginn looking at me in annoyance only to start hopping back in fear when it saw my expression.

 

“Huginn dear, mind explaining what in the name of all that is divine gave you the bright idea to BITE MY TAIL!!!!?” (Keeno)

 

I quickly grabbed the little birdie and pulled it closer, so we were eye to eye.

 

“Listen here, NEVER do that again, and I’m willing to let it slide this one time.  If you ignore this warning, then you’ll be flapping around with no feathers and smelling like a delicious lunch. I’ll never kill you; I love the two of you too much to do that, but even I have a tolerance limit to your antics. Do. You. Understand?” (Keeno)

 

Huginn did its best to nod in bird and I let it go. It dazedly hopped around until it buried itself in my third tail.  I lifted the tail that was on Muninn and looked it in the eye.

 

“He’s my warning as well, Muninn.” (Keeno)

 

It moved its wing in a mock salute, or at least it tried before burying itself in my tail again.

 

“Um, the fire horns are new.” (Pram)

 

“The what?” (Keeno)

 

“Oh, they’re gone.” (Pram)

 

“The what now!?” (Keeno)

 

“It seems that when your emotions grow uncontrolled a crown of horns, similar to mine, made of flames appear. Though in my opinion they add to your charm, but enough about this, we’ve dallied too long, and we need to take to the sky if we wish to keep to our schedule.” (Fafnir)

 

She then moved her tail in front of her and kissed Emma.  This made her wake up immediately and wrap her arms around mum’s neck.  It looked like they were about to lose themselves, so we had to interrupt them.

 

“Mum, you said we are running late.” (Keeno)

 

This poured metaphorical cold water on them as they broke apart. Mum looking slightly disappointed while Emma was refreshed.  I also noticed that Pram and Freya were eyeing each other’s lips.

 

“Do you want a repeat of our earlier interaction, or are we going to get ready now?” (Keeno)

 

Freya and Emma looked at me with confusion while mum and Pram sighed and stood up.  Mum moved to the open space in front of us and returned to her normal form, her scales shining in the sunlight.  I took another scale out of my ring and carved another rune into it before handing it to Pram. She tucked it away in one of her pockets and we climbed onto mum’s back.  She then took to the air. I watched Pram the whole time, and it seemed the rune was working as intended.  In fact, she had a bored expression on her face.

 

‘Well, it’s better than being completely terrified.’ (Keeno)

 

{Yes.}

 

‘By the way, where is Fia?’ (Keeno)

 

{She had some errands to run, so she set off late last night. She should be back in a few days.}

 

‘Alright.’ (Keeno)

 

With the end of that conversation I spent the next two days enjoying the flight out of that accursed country.

 

Chaos Realm:

 

*While Payto and Order show off pictures of Astraea*

Fia: …

Alex: We meet again.

Fia: Did I come at a bad time?  It seems like I’m interrupting something.

Alex: Nah.  It’s just a get together those two put together at the last minute.

Fia: I see.  Anyway, I’m glad you are here.  I have the things we discussed.  Do you think the cloak will be finished before Keeno’s birthday?

Alex: Of course.  I’m a Goddess of Crafts of the highest degree, so any commission I take on will be done before the deadline.  Do you have the measurements I need?

Fia: Yes.  Here.

Alex: Hmm.  Perfect.  I’ll get started on it after this party is over.

Fia: Thank you.

Alex: It’s my pleasure.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I would also like to see what everyone is fawning over, over there.

Fia: I’ll be going too; I need to get back.

Alex: Give my greetings to Lady Amaterasu.

Fia: I will…Oh, she did ask me to thank you again for the rings, she and Keeno are very, VERY happy with them and she said that if you ever need anything from her, she’ll happily help within reason.

Alex: I will gladly accept her help when I need it.

*Fia leaves and Alex joins the group of Astraea admirers. *