"You remember where the key is, right Willow?"

A smaller fox with wings bounced her way to the rug. Pulling the key from under it as she showed it off towards jesper.

"Yes papa!"

She smiled brightly. The wolf cringed at her enthusiasm.

"I'm not your papa."

His gruffy voice huffed. Willow looked saddened by this, but quickly shifted her expression and gave a firm nod.

"Oh...sorry...ah...yeah, I do remember Jesper."

She slid the key back under the rug. As he came up and gently ruffled her head. Her ears flicking as her grey tail sways gently.

"Good kid."

~Willows POV~

The trees sway in the gentle breeze of the forest. The air smelled like home. Of oil and blood. As I walked up the porch steps, they sagged and creaked under my significant weight. It felt wet...moldy. How long has it really been since I've been home?...

I pick up the rug infront of the doorway. A fling of dust and dirt as I roughly coughed from it. There it was...sitting perfectly how Jesper left it. A shiney silver key. I gently picked it up and read what was engraved in it.

Fuck off

Ah...he was so creative. I slide the key inside the wooden lock, as it took a moment for me to get it right. The knob finally turned and opened up the creaky door. I stood still for a moment to look inside. It looked abandoned. But for how long?...what happened?

I didn't remember to duck while walking inside. My head bumping the top of the doorway quite hard as I let out an agitated 'ouch'. Each step I took made me nervous as it would sag and creak. The inside was only a little more different than I remember...

"Hey! Don't touch that."

The wolf quickly grabbed what was about to hit the ground. As willow flicked her ears and gently tilted her head.

"Why not?"

Her curious tone made him agitated.

"Its...ah...I just said so!"

He set the rifle back in its place. Willow stuttered as she reached out once more.

"But-"

"Willow."

She flinched and retracted her hand quickly. As jesper gave a not so happy look her way. She stayed silent.

The livingroom was the same. He always kept a rifle leaning against the cobbled fireplace. The top of the walls holding mounts of his bounty trophies he was allowed to keep. Some heads, others like trinkets and such. I step over to the bookshelf, blowing off the access dust. My favorite book was still there. Barely holding onto itself as I've read it so many times.

"I can't believe he never tossed this thing..."

I spoke aloud to myself, shaking my head with a gentle smile on my face. Seems the old man did care. I make my way towards the kitchen by the stairs up. There were dishes with flies around them inside the sink. My nose wrinkled at the smell, just because I've smelled death doesn't mean I like it. I look inside the fridge. Rotten food...absolutely mushed and degraded.
I immediately closed it back up as I gagged for better air. I made my way towards the hallway, abruptly stopping as my claw broke inside the floor. I quickly pulled it out and calmed my panicked heart.

"This house shouldn't be this bad...was there a flood or something?"

I sighed. This house didn't deserve this harsh treatment. But the old man didn't tell me anything so...how was I supposed to do anything? I ventured down the smaller hallway beside the stairs. There were three doors. Two across from eachother and one at the end of the hall. I peeked in the bathroom. It wasn't any different...just extremely dusty. A few bugs buzzed their noises as I quickly shut the door.

"Ew..."

I open the door behind me. Grunting a bit as the space was limited due to my own size being much larger. As I opened it, the knob broke as I was a little more rough than I'd like with it.

"Damn it- sorry Jesper..."

I flicked my ears, a guilty look on my face before I glanced around at the room. He kept it exactly how I'd have left it four years ago...the blue bed, the rug. The books and desktop. My closet was halfway open with clothes leftover. I make my way towards it, and grabbed a shirt I used to love wearing. How did I miss this while packing and leaving? It was half my current size...gosh I'd gotten big. I slipped on the rug, my arms flailed as I land roughly ontop of my bed.

"Oh shit-fuck-NO-"

CRASH! The bed broke as I slipped onto it. It was so fragile and small. The wooden floor creaked in defiance. I crawled out of the doorway and looked towards the door at the end of the hall. Jespers room. I stared at it worriedly. Was it...okay to look inside? My hand was already turning the knob as my mind fought with my morals. As the smell of death hit my nostrils. Oh...no.

"...no."

I stared in horror as my dear guardian was rotten in a mangled corpse pose. Guts strewn and the place an absolute mess. I cupped my maw in disbelief. My guardian, my mentor...absolutely mauled. It didn't look like an animal did it although. I come closer to it and inspect the body. It was too far gone for me to identify any important details...fuck.

"I'm sorry...I wish I was here sooner...you didn't deserve this...I'm surprised the village didn't notice anything suspicious here."

I caught my own breath. Looking at the wall beside his bloodied bed was a broken window...and a wall. Of course I was too shocked in the moment at hand to even realize what my surroundings were. I poke my head out of the wall. My back touched the broken piece sticking out. My wings twitch from the feeling of the wet wooden ceiling. I glance back at the bed and at my beloved mentor...

"Willow. Why are you in my room?"

The storm thundered loudly as lightning strikes all around. Strong winds howled as the door shuts gently behind the small fox.

"I'm sorry jesper...I couldn't sleep. The storm is just so loud and-"

She jumped slightly at the noises. Whimpering softly. She looked towards jesper in hope of comfort. He was about to shoo her out, but his gaze softened and a gentle sway of his wolf lile tail starts. His hand pats the bed beside him.

"Hush...come here."

Willow looked surprised.

"Are...you sure?"

"Do it before I change my mind."

"...okay."

She climbed onto the bed beside him. As he moved his tail around her legs and his arm moves her close to his body. He pets her head as her body begins to relax from shaking so much. Almost falling asleep next to him.

"...you're safe with me Willow. Always."

"...thanks jesper..."

Well shit. I set a finger on my cheek. A tear was streaming down my face. I quickly sniffed and wiped it away. Leaving the room and shutting the door abruptly. It was hard to stay in that room any longer. I'll pillage it later...I make my way towards the front door. If I broke through the floor now, I'll definitely fall through the attic. I grunted getting out, as the doorway was tight on my larger body. Finally locking and shutting the door to my childhood home.

"...Goodbye. For a second time..."

I solemnly look at the old door. My ears lowered a bit to my head. Before shaking my head and taking to the sky with my wings. A couple flaps and I was easily in the air above the home. I take one final glance. He always kept this place well hidden...so it doesn't make sense why whatever did the damage here found it. Unless an outside source had info I wasn't aware of. I began making my way towards Mythox. Perhaps things won't be so wonky there either. Surely nothing noticeable has changed for how long I've been gone...right?