"Are we almost there yet?" Viktor complains.

"No," I say shortly, trudging through the undergrowth and thick flakes of snow that had begun to fall about a half hour out of my den.

While we wait for him to ask again for the five-thousandth time, how about an internal freaking out monologue?

Let's see. Well, there's the fact that I'm being sent on a quest by a goddess with a human boy that I don't like (no really, I don't), with no directions on how to complete it whatsoever other than "find this hourglass thing then infiltrate a human school. Figure it out from there goodbye!"

I know I rant about this a lot, but seriously who thought it was a good idea! And now we're due for another question about... now.

"How about now?"

"Still the same answer as the last time you asked, about three minutes ago," I say, beginning to get annoyed and it clearly seeping into my voice.

"You... do know where we're going right?" he asks, stumbling over a branch as he asks and latching onto me.

"Yes, of course."

I don't.

"Are you quite sure? I might be able to help?"

"Yes, I'm sure Viktor!"

No, I'm not Viktor!

"But—"

"Be quiet, will you? We need to listen!" I lie, the words twisting themselves out of my mouth.

"Listen for what?" Viktor asks, jogging to keep up with my subconsciously increased pace.

"None of your business! What part of 'be quiet' do you not understand?" I yell in exasperation.

"You don't actually know where we're going." It's a statement, not a question. Viktor stops, so I do as well.

"No, of course I don't! Need I remind you that Dreadea gave us absolutely nothing to go off of and I'm winging it here with an annoying sidekick who just gets in my way!" I scream.

Viktor looks at me with an expression like a wounded puppy. "T-that's what you really think of me?"

"No... no! Of course not! I'm sorry, I just got angry!" I exclaim, trying to fix the crack in our already thin relationship, but it's no use. Words hurt, and even though actions speak louder than words, words are still a powerful thing. You can't erase them, no matter how hard you try. "Viktor..."

He turns away. "If I'm just the annoying sidekick, then I'll leave it to you, Miss superhero. If you don't want me, I won't stay. I bet I could do it better than you anyway, you've been leading us in circles!"

"If you think you're so good, why don't you do it! We'll see who actually comes out on top!" I yell, all sympathy gone.

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Viktor stomps away back through the path we made then veers right, out of sight.

What have I done? I just cast away the only friend I have on this quest over a stupid fight. I sit down on a fallen oak log, breathing rapidly as snow builds up and starts to cover our footprints.

I'm such a fool. A stupid, idiotic fool. I need Viktor, not only for the quest but for comfort. Why, why, why, did I send him away like that?

I bury my head in my knees. Maybe I'll just sit here and wait for the snow to cover me up and Viktor will come back and rescue me. I shouldn't have teased him, and I definitely shouldn't have lost my temper at him like that.

"Deary? Are you all right?"

"Huh— what??" I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of the voice. "Who are you?"

"I'm Shizuka. Who are you, child? What are you doing all alone out here in the snow?" they answer.

I look up and see a stunning older woman with fox ears and eight fox tails looking at me with worry evident in her eyes holding her hand out to me. I take it and she helps me stand up. She grips my hand firmly and doesn't have much trouble helping me up, despite her fragile appearance.

"Now, why are you upset? Is everything all right?" Her tone is soft and grandmotherly, genuinely concerned.

"It's... nothing. I'm fine."

"Oh no, you're not. You're leaking so much negative energy, anyone within ten miles must be able to feel it. And the whole forest heard you and your... companion... yelling. So what's wrong?" She persisted, pulling me closer. She's surprisingly warm, like a small and controlled fire in the snowy landscape.

"Well... I accidentally blew up at my friend because I'm stressed about this quest Dreadea sent me on, so he got mad as well and left. Now I'm pretty much alone and I have no idea where to go or what to do!" By the end I'm nearly crying and I lean against Shizuka, ignoring the fact that she's nearly a total stranger.

"There, there. It'll be alright. Why don't I bring you back to my place? Maybe I can help," she offers, hugging my tightly before stepping back with her hands on my shoulders.

"Ok... but who are you? What are you?" I know I'm being rude, but I don't really care. I gesture toward her ears and tails as I speak.

"I'm a kitsune. My name is Shizuka, and I help travelers and wanderers in these woods. I also have pets that I offer to my guests. Now, why don't you tell me your name as we go? It's a little walk."

•••

We arrive at a small cottage about ten minutes of graceful navigation on her part and trampling after her on my part later. She pushes open the door to reveal the interior of the cottage, dressed up cozily with many creatures inside.

But the decoration and animals aren't what I'm looking at. I'm more focused on the boy sitting at the table.

"Viktor?"

Fangs and Fates, a Wattpad story

Word count, 980