It wasn't long before excitement returned to Tree's steps, and Skadi trekked after him as they trotted through the woods. Finally, they reached an area with worn dirt underfoot, where the trees grew sparser and foxes were toiling. Some lay and chatted in the cozy warmth of dawn, while the light bounced off the shifting field of brown, black and gold. Then there were others arranging strange items in rows behind them.

A few had long stalks with pale and rounded caps––mushrooms, she thought they were called––and were piled together with small bushels of berries, bursting with vivid hues.

"This is the market," Tree explained, allowing her to take in the sights. "Trading is a big part of how our skulk thrives." He walked over to one of the tree-shaded areas where a vixen was sitting before her wares. All of them looked foreign to Skadi––like the curved pieces of bark, or even a weaved bird nest.

"For carrying things." A laugh left his muzzle, and he regarded the vixen who owned the oddities with a nod. Skadi noticed that she didn't glower at the sight of her white pelt. She didn't even bat an eye at Skadi's lack of one. Maybe it was just good business practice, not offending potential customers.

"The bark can be used to hold water, and the nests for berries and other forageables," he explained. Skadi was more concerned with a group of small, wooden chunks, resembling animal-like shapes but crude and rough on the edges. "And those are little carvings. Not much use to them, but they're cool to look at. Oooh!" His eyes locked on a relatively bird-shaped piece, and he glanced up at the vixen. "Can I buy that? I'll bring you something from Mom in just a minute!"

The fox nodded, and Trygve gently picked up the carving with his teeth. Skadi followed him as he moved away from the shaded trading spot and set down the bird in front of her, grinning. "This is called a Guardian," he said. "They're supposed to be crows. They say crows fly solo when the weather is bad." A smile lit up his muzzle. "I want you to have it––I've got one at home. Together, two crows signify fair weather and better days ahead. It's a sort of friendship symbol, no matter how inaccurate the saying is."

His tongue lolled, and Skadi wondered if the sentiment was genuine. They hardly knew each other. He was ready to call them friends? Her stomach rolled at the thought––a reminder that she was only using this naive, innocent fox to save her own hide.

Before she could do anything but awkwardly accept it, Tree was running off again. "Come meet my sister!"

On the other side of the clearing, a blond-furred fox stood, strikingly similar to Tree. She gave Skadi a sly smile. "I've heard you two caused quite the ruckus this morning."

"Blue, this is Skadi. Skadi, Blue––or eh, Abellona. But no one calls her that," Tree interjected, and Skadi was thankful for him being there to break the ice.

True to her name, the vixen had striking blue eyes. Skadi nodded politely, unsure where her voice had gone. She didn't like being the center of talk, grown used to being treated like she didn't exist.

"Nice to meet you," Skadi muttered. She had to try to keep up her public appearance.

"You too," Blue replied, then glanced down at the leafy plants at her paws. "Anything I can interest you in?"

Skadi scrunched her nose, unsure of what anything was. "Leaves?"

Tree laughed a little too. "No, they're herbs. Some with medicinal qualities. They can help with anything from stomach aches to infection, and Blue here knows just what each is for."

She kept herself from humming in thought. Using plants to heal and cure? She wasn't sure that the Shadow Skulk knew about this––that the Leafborn had an asset that might be beneficial to the war.

"Some foxes are better than others at different things," Trygve offered. "We can't all be great hunters like my brother, so some of us are better at sharing knowledge about plants or finding them." He gestured toward the greens before Blue's paws, varying in size and color, then placed his claws on a small bundle. "Where's mom? I owe Idunn something for the Guardian."

An eyebrow shot up, and she seemed to finally take note of the small bird resting at Skadi's paw. "Fine, take that. Mom's at home with the kits, I took over for today."

He beamed her a smile, quickly running back to the vixen with the carvings. When he returned, out of breath from his sprint, he shouted a goodbye to his sister and ushered Skadi onward to another unknown destination.

–❈–

After spending the day on the tod's tail, Skadi was exhausted, and so was the sun. It had already begun its retreat to its den on the horizon. The two of them reached Tree's home, a small wooded space that his family called their own. A couple more males had arrived just as they did, both brown-furred and holding small prey creatures in their muzzles.

Placing them down on the ground in front of the entrance to their den, another earthen tunnel covered by underbrush, the larger fox called into it. "Euphemia! Food's here!"

But the youngest seemed instantly drawn to a scent in the air, tipping his muzzle to the sky. Only a moment passed before his eyes found them. A snarl filled his throat, and his glare shot to Skadi.

"You really are that stupid, Tree." His hackles raised. "Do you want to bring the war here? I told you to stop trying to help our skulk," he mocked. "So instead you invite an enemy to join us? And even worse, you bring her home to kill us all?"

Tree stepped in front of her with bared teeth. "Back off, Stone. She's not going to hurt you, idiot."

He took another determined step toward Tree. "You expect me to believe that? Just look at her."

Skadi's heart panged, and she turned her muzzle so that she wouldn't have to look at the sharp-tongued male. It wasn't the first time she'd heard it, so it hardly stung. Before Tree could retort, an even louder bark came from behind him. The older male, who she guessed was their father, scowled. "Both of you, stop."

Neither raised a word in objection to his booming voice, and Skadi followed them over to the small pile of prey in the center. Their father met her eyes with a soft smile, a stark contrast to the scowl he sent his sons.

"Word travels fast here, friend of Trygve," he said with a laugh. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Geir."

She dipped her muzzle politely, surprised by such warmth. She'd expected all of them to react as badly as Stone. Skadi regretted being so awkwardly mortified when Trygve told her that she'd be staying the night with his family.

Loud yips erupted from the entrance of the den. Five balls of brown fur tumbled forward, running and biting each other. Geir cleared his throat loudly, and the rowdy kits slowed in their tracks. They looked up at the father with pouting lips, but then they caught sight of Skadi, and their bodies froze. They were on the verge of trembling, but she was a little confused by the sparkle in their eyes. Suddenly, five tails started to wag and they took off toward her.

Skadi started as they swarmed her paws, looking up with curious head-tilts. "Who are you?" a vixen asked in a tiny, awe-filled voice.

A larger kit quickly shoved her out of the way, a tod, and took her place gazing at Skadi with furrowed brows. "Where did your eye go?"

There was a chorus of yips at that, all in agreement. "Yeah! And I want to know how you got all of those cool scars!" another one shouted. "Is it from fighting off evil Flameborn?"

She could only laugh at the innocence of it all, especially as Trygve shooed them away with a mortified expression. "Leave her alone," he snapped. "Don't be rude."

"They're fine," Skadi assured him, surprising even herself with the words. But she couldn't help it––she only wished that every fox she met thought her deformities were cool, and took an interest in them without a judging glare and sneering comments. Maybe Stone could learn a thing or two. "I'm Skadi. And I didn't lose my eye in a fight." She smiled at them, each kit grinning from ear to ear. "I was born without it."

Letting out satisfied gasps at her answer, the five tumbled off across the small circle of foxes. Skadi hadn't seen the mother leave the den, distracted by the kits who now gathered beside her, but she sat opposite to her. The dark-furred vixen watched her with a gentle gaze.

"A pleasure, Skadi," she said. "Mia. Glad to have you here." Then her eyes searched their little circle, landing finally on Tree. "Where's your sister?"

He cocked his head. "I dunno," he said. "Maybe she's at Darby's."

"Wouldn't you know? Dagny didn't say anything?"

Trygve scratched at the ground. "No," he muttered. "But I haven't really talked to her."

"Who cares?" A groan rose from the other side of Tree. Stone rolled his eyes and snorted. "Can't we just eat already?"

"Fine," their father said, and he used his nose to push each of them a small portion. "Go ahead."

It was more than Skadi expected. First, to be welcomed. Second, to be fed. Third, to feel something strange and warm in the bottom of her belly. She glanced up at Trygve's family––remembered the warnings he gave her on the way here. How could he possibly call them Boring? Embarrassing?

They were perfect.

She started eating so they wouldn't notice the tears forming in her eye.