Ruby_Foxgirl

  A sharp gasp escapes Ruby's lips as her eyes snap open. She bolts upright, her heart hammering, breath coming fast. For a moment, she's still trapped in the nightmare-

  The cold cell. The shouting vilgers. Aria's gre.

  But then-it's gone. Repced by warmth. A soft, thick bnket is wrapped around her, far too comfortable for a jail cell. The room around her is bathed in soft light, the scent of polished wood and faint herbs lingering in the air.

  Her ears twitch. This... isn't the forest. Her gaze snaps to the side. Her bag sits on a wooden chair nearby. But... no sign of her bnket. She looks down at herself-and freezes.

  She's wearing something completely different. A deep, uneasy feeling coils in Ruby's stomach. This isn't right.

  She throws the bnkets off herself, fingers gripping at the unfamiliar fabric of her new clothes. Her breathing quickens as she swings her legs off the bed, ready to stand and run if she has to. Then-

  The door creaks open. Ruby jolts, her ears fttening.

  A figure steps inside. They're tall and poised, with tan skin and sharp, pointed ears, their gray-white hair pulled back in loose waves. Their amber eyes lock onto Ruby's fshing with something-surprise? Curiosity?

  Then, they speak-

  A smooth, unfamiliar voice fills the room. "Ti na Kitsune o Vuldran?"

  The words mean nothing to Ruby. She stares, frozen, her tail bristling behind her. Ruby shakes her head, her ears twitching with unease.

  "I... I don't understand," she says, her voice hesitant.

  The stranger tilts their head slightly, studying her. Then, in clear measured words, they reply. "I asked if you are Kitsune or Fox Beastkin."

  They pause, their sharp amber eyes watching Ruby's reaction before continuing. "Though, considering you do not understand the nguage of the Kitsune... that answers that question."

  Ruby's tail flicks behind her as she processes the words. What did that mean.

  Was there a difference between being a Fox Beastkin and a Kitsune? If so, why would this person care?

  The room feels heavier now, like there's more to this conversation than just introductions.

  Ruby's ears twitch at the answer. It didn't really expin why they were asking-at least, not in a way that made immediate sense.

  "What's the difference?" she asks, folding her arms. "Why does it matter?"

  The stranger lets out a slow exhale, as if choosing their words carefully. "There wasn't always a difference," they admit. "Once, Kitsune and Fox beastkin were the same-just different groups, living their lives in different ways. But then, a divide formed."

  The stranger slowly lowers themself onto a finely carved wooden chair, folding their hands together. "Some believed that it was better to embrace their fox nature-to live as foxes, shifting forms as they pleased. Others believed that their humanoid form was more fitting, that it was better to live among others as equals rather than spirits to be revered or feared."

  Their amber eyes flick toward Ruby's tail before returning to her gaze.

  "The divide became more than just a difference in belief. It became a conflict. The Kitsune withdrew, becoming something... more like the fae. The Fox Beastkin became part of the greater world, living among the rest of their kind."

  They pause, as if measuring Ruby's reaction.

  "That is why it matters. You are far north for a Fox Beastkin. And for a Kitsune, being mistaken for their 'astray cousins' is a grave insult."

  Ruby furrows her brows, processing the information.

  So... she wasn't a Kitsune. And apparently, that was a good thing-at least for avoiding insulting the Kitsune. But something about the way that the stranger spoke made Ruby feel... out of pce. Like she didn't belong here.

  The stranger watches Ruby for a long moment before finally pcing a hand on their chest in greeting.

  "I am Eldrin, the vilge elder of Miramar." Their voice is calm, steady, carrying a quiet authority.

  "This is Miramar, a city of the northern reaches of Sylvanyr."

  Ruby tils her head, the name meaning little to her. But then Eldrin adds- "Or, as the rest of the world calls it, the Nalvathen Forest."

  Ruby's breath catches. "Nalvathen...?" she echoes, her mind racing. That was the name of the forest where her vilge had been. But-her vilge was in the southern reaches of Nalvathen. If she was in the northern reaches..

  Ruby's stomach sinks. "That means I was traveling north?" she mutters under her breath. Instead of heading west or southwest, like she should have, she had somehow ended up farther north than she had ever been in her life.

  How?

  She grips the bnket still partially draped over her p, trying to keep herself from shaking. The st thing she remembered before waking up here was-

  Ruby swallows hard, trying to process everything. "How.. how did I get here?" she finally asks, her voice a bit hoarse.

  Eldrin watches her for a moment before answering. "One of our hunters saw you," they say simply. "You were wandering close to Miramar without realizing it. We typically keep an eye on outsiders who stray too near."

  Ruby furrows her brow. "So you just... decided to bring me in?"

  "Not at first." Eldrin's expression darkens slightly. "But then you ate from a Wraithvine Bush."

  Ruby blinks. "A what?"

  "A Wraithvine Bush." Eldrin folds their arms. "A highly toxic pnt. Causes severe hallucinations before shutting down the body entirely. You were unconscious before you even knew what was happening."

  A cold chill runs through Ruby's body. She had no idea. She had just grabbed berries, thinking she could forage by just taking berries-and she could have died for it.

  "We don't often interfere with outsiders," Eldrin continues, "but we don't make a habit of letting people die on our doorstep either. So, our hunter carried you here."

  Ruby grips her arms, looking away. She had been so sure she could handle herself. She had survived alone before. But this? This was a reminder that she was out of her depth.

  Ruby lets out a breath, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in her chest. "Well... I guess I owe your hunter a 'thank you' for stopping me from kicking the bucket." She gives a lopsided grin, trying to py it off. "And you too, I guess for letting me stay here."

  Eldrin raises an eyebrow, surprised at how casually she's taking it.

  Ruby stretches her arms over her head, then tilts her head at them. "So... what now?" she asks curiosity creeping into her voice. "You guys pnning to kick me out, or do I get to stick around a bit?"

  Eldrin watches folds his arms, watching Ruby carefully. "You are fortunate that our hunter found you before the Wraithvine took it's toll." they say, their voice calm, but firm. "However, Miramar is not a pce for outsiders to linger."

  Ruby shrugs, unfazed. "Didn't really pn on sticking around," she says. "Just needed to know where I ended up."

  Eldrin studies her for a moment before nodding. "If you wish to leave, we will not stop you. However, the forest is not kind to the unprepared. My people will provide you with supplies... and an escort to guide you out of Nalvathen safely."

  Ruby grins. "Nice! Appreciate it. Not looking to get lost in some magic elf woods and end up eating more death berries."

  Eldrin shakes their head slightly, exhaling through their nose. "A very wise choice."

  Eldrin turns toward the doorway and calls out, "Lyari, enter."

  A moment ter, a tall, lean elven hunter steps into the room. His long, dark green cloak is draped over his shoulders, and a bow rests at their back. His expression is neutral-maybe even a little unimpressed-as his sharp gaze flickers over Ruby.

  "This is Lyari," Eldrin says, "He will escort you beyond Nalvathen's borders."

  Ruby tilts her head, studying the hunter. "So, you're my guide? Hope you're a better navigator than I am," she says with a lopsided grin.

  Lyari raises an eyebrow. "That would not be difficult."

  Eldrin sighs. "Try not to make this more troublesome than it needs to be."

  Ruby gnces around the room once more before fixing her eyes on Eldrin. "Before we go... my stuff?"

  Eldrin nods and gestures toward a nearby chest. Inside, Ruby finds her clothes neatly folded. However, something is missing.

  "Where's my bnket?" she asks.

  Eldrin sighs, rubbing their temple. "It had an unpleasant odor, so it was washed and is drying outside. You may retrieve it before you leave."

  Ruby grins sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "Right... yeah, that tracks."

  Eldrin and Lyari leave the room, allowing Ruby to change into her normal clothing.

  Once Ruby is dressed in her adventuring gear again, and has retrieved her now-clean bnket, she steps outside to where Lyari is already waiting. The hunter stands near the vilge, arms crossed, looking at Ruby with mild impatience.

  "Took you long enough," Lyari mutters.

  Ruby shrugs. "Had to make sure I look my best for our little trip together."

  Lyari rolls his eyes before turning toward the dense trees beyond Miramar. "Let's move. The sooner we get you out of here, the better."

  Ruby trails behind Lyari as the two descend the wooden ramps and bridges winding through Miamar's elevated walkways. The houses, shaped from polished logs and intertwined branches, nestle high in the trees, suspended by sturdy ropes of woven pnt fiber and weather-worn leather straps.

  The canopy glows with soft light as sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the moss-covered pnks beneath their feet. Ruby can't help but gawk, her eyes catching on every hanging ntern, every carved totem embedded in the wood.

  In the center of the vilge rises the Great Tree-an enormous, ancient tree whose trunk is so wide it supports multiple homes and rope bridges all on its own. Its bark glows faintly, etched with old glyphs that shimmer gold in the morning light.

  "That tree is amazing," Ruby murmurs.

  Lyari doesn't stop walking. "It's older than your grandmother's grandmother. Keep moving."

  As they reach the final ptform, a winding staircase of vines and wood leads them down to the forest floor. A few quiet vilgers gnce their way, curious but not unfriendly.

  And just like that, Ruby and Lyari step out from the elevated beauty of Miramar and into the thick overgrowth of Nalvathen Forest, the tall trees closing in around them.