FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Little white flakes swirled in the air from the subtlest of breezes only to land without a sound. The snowfall was light in the cold air, and pristinely beautiful. The inch or two of accumulation left the forests at the base of the mountains covered in a scenic white blanket. My hot air would fog like steam if I dared to blow out my breath. The soft crunching of my boots in the snow was the only noise I could hear above the frigid silence. There were no birds flying between branches or chirping noisily as they did during the warm seasons. Squirrels were also tucked away in their arboreal homes. It was a typical winter day for the area.

I followed a winding pathway through the naked trees of the hills beneath the mountain, and towards the nearest cliffs. I took my time and observed the frozen beauty all around me. Tree limbs from thick branches to the tiniest of twigs were covered in snow. An occasional little trail of paw prints from a stray cat or fox were rare compared to those of various birds. I suppose I wasn't the only one walking around.

I normally hated the cold, but loved the snow. The odd combination led me to walk in the wintry weather whenever the chance was given with nothing more than a walking staff in hand. Thankfully, the vast stretch of forest and hills beneath the mountains where I lived gave me a nearly endless paths to enjoy exploring nature by myself.

'I've made it to the first cliff faces.' I thought as the giant rock faces and cliffs several meters tall towered overhead. The pathway led me directly under the sheer wall of stone and rock. However, two recently fallen trees obstructed the once open pathway. The scene was a surprise, but not entirely unexpected.

'That one was half rotten.' I observed the massive base of the first tree where a jagged portion was still sticking up from the snowy ground. The subsequent gnarled mess of broken branches, large and small, made for an unusual obstacle along the forest pathway.

'They could have fallen together from the snow.' The broken branches and fallen trunks were covered with freshly fallen white snow. However, ice and wind may have played their parts as well.

“Or maybe the rotting one knocked over the second one?" I pondered aloud. Clumsily clamoring over one, and then the other, I pushed smaller branches and sticks aside to continue along the pathway. Snow fell to the ground or down my coat, and the occasional snapping of twigs pierced the wintry silence. Rocks crunched under my footsteps along with the fresh snow.

“It will take a lot of work to remove all of this in the spring." I dusted off my coat once I emerged at the other side from the fresh thicket. I liked maintaining the forest pathways to use throughout the year. 'But spring is far away.' I thought whimsically and looked back at the fallen trees. My messy zigzagging path was obvious, but I wanted a way to identify where a detour started and ended. Choosing the path of least resistance, I began clearing away the thinner branches and sticks along the cliff face. Sharp snaps of wood pierced the frosty air as I made my way along the edge of the rock wall.

“What the-?" I blinked and immediately halted. Some of the stone had been dislodged from a small section at the base of the cliff face where a main branch had landed and snapped in half. Rocks were covered in snow along the path with more debris.

'That branch must've knocked away some of the cliff face." I observed, but the rectangular shaped section was unnaturally flat. It almost appeared to be carved into the mountainside itself, but the gaps behind it piqued my curiosity. I walked back and forth and discovered that it was a separate single piece of stone, likely carved out of the mountainside, but never moved.

“Wow, this must've been hidden for a long time!" I discovered more than just a slab of rock. A section with no snow accumulation revealed lines had been carded into the hard grey surface. Using a skinny branch of pine needles from the fallen tree, I swept the stone face to examine the carving more closely. As the light coating of snow fell, unusual patterns gradually became discernible. A figure was carved into the large stone slab.

“It looks like a monster." I found the head more like that of an animal with a long snout despite having an upright position. The arms were human-like, but the legs were digitigrade with paws. Longer wily snake-like appendages originated from the drawing's backside, and resembled wicked tails. I started tracing a finger over a curved line only to quickly retract my hand.

"C-cold!" I shook my hand free of snow and looked at the stone carving with a furrowed brow. It was far colder than the air or snow around me. I looked at my finger, thankful it was still attached.

'Wow, that was… uh-.' I looked back at the stone only to blink in confusion as the lines began to glow in a subtle silvery white color. I blinked several times to reorient myself, thinking I was just 'seeing things' or something. However, the glow grew in intensity.

“Is it the sunlight?" I looked up at the naked canopy and grey sky overcast sky. “The snow?" I couldn't explain why the stone was glittering all of a sudden. A chill ran up my spine as a long shape appeared to push forward and leave the stone altogether. My jaw dropped as I backed away, and nearly tripped over sticks and branches.

“I'm hallucinating." Somewhat regaining my composure, I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes thoroughly. But upon opening them again, none of my senses were lying. The shape continued emerging free from the flat stone. At first it was like a drawing from paper coming to life, but a shape formed with vivid colors of black, orange, and white. Cloaked in a white kimono that covered the entire body save for a pair of black furred paws, black furred hands, and a fox's head with black tipped ears. Long elegant and fluffy white tipped tails emerged alongside the strange toned body.

The fully emerged upright figure stood perfectly still and a pair of vulpine golden eyes slowly opened to see. I kept still only out of shock. I didn't know what to do, and not a single thought formed in my mind. I expected the image to disappear when I blinked, but that never happened.

'Is this real?' I couldn't believe it. I had to be back home, laying in a chair or even in bed having fallen back asleep. This had to be a hallucination! I couldn't begin to explain what had just happened in front of my own eyes! The fox's eyes connected with mine, and a threat on my life suddenly felt very real. My muscles tensed and in an instant I made a decision.

Panicking, I jumped back and turned around. My heart thundered inside my chest as I clamored through the rough clearing I had just made and blindly ran off the pathway into the snowy white forest. I trampled over the fresh snow, ran over saplings, and snapped twigs that were in my way. The cold air chilled my open mouth as I breathed, but the adrenaline numbed the discomfort. My heavy snow boots and clothing made each stride more arduous, but I didn't care. Whatever I had uncovered could easily result in my death.

'What have I done!?' My gaze flickered to the left and right, seeking an opening to run where I had come from. Through the blurs of naked trees, I never thought to look over my shoulder. The mere idea made my legs run even faster. The sudden appearance of a figure in front of me caught my attention.

"AH!" I skidded to a halt by catching the slender trunk of a young tree. My eyes were wide open in shock. The fox woman was standing calmly before me, not having moved a muscle. She appeared like a statue, but the movement of several tails behind her made her very much alive. A fierce piercing golden gaze cut through me like a knife.

For a second I tensed as the pounding of my heart drowned out the silence of the forest. I did not know what she exactly was, but I knew that I couldn't fight her, so I fled once again. I changed directions and bolted to my right, nearly tumbling down a steep slope. I fell face first into the snowy ground. Clamoring to my feet, I jumped up only to find the white robed fox standing directly in front of me again. The thought that she could appear anywhere at will sent a chill down my spine. She took a step towards me.

“Get back!" I swung my walking stick at her, but she countered with impressive speed. A nearly silently thwack erupted in the cold air as a single tail blocked my strike. My mouth opened in shock as the tail tip wrapped around the end of my walking stick and pulled with incredible strength. I fought back as a tug of war ensued, but more tails joined the fray.

“Ah!" I let go as one coiled around my wrist. My staff was dropped into the snowy ground as more tails wrapped around my limbs. I struggled to no avail against their supernatural strength as I was pushed back and pinned to a tree. Out of desperation I screamed, but only silence echoed from my lips. The fox stepped closer to me and my heart pounded within my chest awaiting my fate. I expected her jaws to open wide and devour me, or deliver a fatal bite, but nothing of the sort happened.

A robed arm reached out and a black furred hand gently pressed against the center of my chest. I could faintly feel the warmth of her hand through my winter clothes. An entirely different sensation attached to me, literally. There was a pull, just like the sensation of hauling something heavy up by rope or string. It was almost like she was stealing my strength! My struggles weakened as I lost the energy to fight back at all. The white tipped orange tails adjusted accordingly.

'What's happening?' My legs became weak and my knees buckled. Her tails held me in place as my vision darkened. I couldn't even hold my head up anymore as darkness overcame me.

White sheets, the corner of a pillow and a wall greeted me as my eyes blinked open. I took a deep breath and felt relief.

“I'm in bed..." I gratefully sighed after experiencing the weirdest dream in my entire life. The walk through the cold snowy forest at the base of the mountain paths, and the mystical encounter were simply fantasy after all.

'Thank goodness.' I closed my eyes and relished the warmth under the covers. Although, the warmth around me was tender and far cozier than I remembered. I could've been floating in a warm sunny cloud, and for a second I wasn't sure if I was still in a dream. I shifted an arm only to feel something pull along with it. Peeking an eye open, I glimpsed the color orange causing my brow to furrow in confusion.

'Huh?' The orange wasn't cotton or linen, but fur! Glancing down, I found that it wasn't a single tail, but several long furry appendages wrapped around most of my body. All of them moved as if they had suddenly come to life. Each one coiled and rubbed against my body, as if to soothe my fears.

I remained still, and didn't know what to do. The sensations on the entirety of my body was very pleasant, but I felt more confused than anything. The fluffiness and warmth didn't hurt or restrain me at the moment. A different movement over my side and front caught my attention above the writhing of fur.

I tensed up as a warm leathery palm touched the center of my chest. The next beat of my heart thumped loudly in my eardrums as lingering sleepiness evaporated. The image of the fox standing before me and pressing her hand to my chest flashed before me. I could feel the warm hand and fingers lightly press against my skin as I breathed.

'No…' My heart started beating faster as I realized the fox monster from earlier wasn't a dream. She was laying behind me, keeping me ensnared. A chill ran up my back only to become lost in the body heat pressed snuggly against my backside.

“Don't worry. Just lay still." A female voice whispered into my ear. She was so close to me that I felt her warm breath upon my shoulder and neck!

“What the..." Her hand adjusted and an odd sensation flowed through me. It felt as if air or a very subtle breeze was flowing into my body. It was almost as if the fox lady was touching my heart directly with her palm. I shuddered and felt my muscles tingle only to sense the warmth surrounding my entire body.

“Hmmm." She softly hummed in contemplation over something. Her hand traced away from the center of my chest, and began rubbing my bare side. It was a little too personal for my liking, but I shuddered from the smooth leathery palm and fingertips gracefully touching my skin. Every touch was sensual and pleasurable to feel; but I wanted to struggle and break free.

However, the tails coiled around my body and limbs easily kept me restrained in a warm cozy grip. I huffed and grumbled at my predicament, but I felt her leathery palm return to my heart.

“You have a good heart." She quietly spoke much to my confusion.

"Wh-what?" I frowned only for the sensations on my chest to change. I could only describe it like a key unlocking a lock as a flood of calmness entered my body. My entire body quickly relaxed, and my worrisome thoughts dissipated. I was completely surprised and almost lost from the changes; but there was an unmistakable pull from my chest. I felt something directly over my heart, very similar to what had happened in the snowy forest, but this time it felt pleasurable

“Ungh." I breathily exhaled as I became more tired with every passing second. Her tails completely loosened and laid over me like a furry orange blanket; but I didn't even have the energy to pull away anymore. I managed to grab one of the fluffy white tips close to my hand, but it easily wiggled free as my fingers unclenched. I watched it dance in my palm for a brief moment as if to taunt me.

“What's happening?" My eyes became heavy as sleepiness encroached upon me. Fearing an encroaching death, I tried struggling in vain. The strength in her tails and arms was simply overpowering.

"Shhh." The fox whispered into my ear. "You're tired and need sleep." Her voice oddly soothed my worries as my eyes began to close. As much as I wanted to fight off the sudden onset of tiredness and sleep, I couldn't. It pulled my down like the weight of a heavy cozy blanket even though I had just woken up! All of the wonderful feelings coursing throughout my body put me at ease despite my mind wishing to escape any unknown fate.

I awoke from a pleasant sleep, but my mind hadn't registered what happened. A rush of confusion nearly overwhelmed me. I quickly sat up startled only to find that I was alone, under a sheet and a cover. I stared at the bed as well as my body with wide eyes. The bed was comfortable, a thick pair of blankets with two pillows that was warm from my body heat. A dark green robe wrapped around me was comfortable, but the sensation of fur lingered in my memory. I had no idea whose robe it was, or where my regular clothes had gone.

'None of that was a dream.' I told myself and felt the strange robe covering my body. The memories were fresh. There was no way any of it was my imagination, but why was I alone? I opened up the top of the robe and erratically felt over the center of my chest. The sensations and feelings were no longer there, but neither was the presence of her hand. My chest heaved with a large breath until I exhaled and slumped my shoulders.

'That's where the fox's hand rested and made me feel... weird.' I shuddered, unable to comprehend what had truly happened to me. I closed the robe once again, and examined the silent room.

'This must be the fox's dwelling.' I guessed and gazed around the room carefully. The room was very plain and modest but not small. It was also pristine and clean. The wooden floors didn't have a single speck of dust. The walls were a bright and fresh light cream color. One thing was certain; I needed to leave.

I quickly rose to my feet but had to take a few moments to balance myself. I was fully rested, but still physically tired. It was similar to feeling sore after a day's worth of hard work, however, I hadn't worked at all. I looked for a doorway only to discover a sliding door along the wall.

'There's no regular door?' I found it odd, but at least I wasn't trapped in the room. My legs rose as carefully as possible, but several cracks and pops erupted from my joints. I froze after each one, expecting something bad to happen. Yet, the room remained silent after my stiff joints were relieved. Standing upright, I carefully stepped forward. There were no squeaking floorboards as I approached the door. With a silent thought, I bit my lip and touched the frame. Sliding the door open, I peeked through the crack. My eye darted round and found a short hallway that extended to the right.

'Only one way to go.' I thought and stepped outside the room.

"You don't have to sneak around." A female voice spoke firmly, like an omniscient mother. "I know where you are." My eyes were wide open as I scurried back into the room like a frightened cat. I nearly stumbled as I closed the door behind me. My heart was thundering within my chest.

'Where did that come from?' I expected her to be hiding within sight, but I couldn't find anyone in the room. I felt trapped, and searched for another escape route.

'Another door!' I hadn't realized there was one behind the bed. My legs quickly carried me towards it, careful not to make a sound despite the fact that the fox likely knew what I was doing. However, I hesitated when I approached the sliding door.

'It will be cold.' I tensed at the possibility of freezing to death. It would be nearly impossible escaping through the snow with little more than a robe, but I had no idea where my actual clothes were at the moment. I readied myself despite the awaiting winter weather. I slid the door open and prepared to run as fast as I could, but my legs refused to budge. I stared blankly ahead and felt my jaw drop. My mind was completely blank for an untold amount of time as I stared ahead.

'Maybe I am dreaming.' I didn't know how to describe what my eyes were witnessing. The ground before me wasn't covered in snow. Instead, there was green grass covering the ground, and the air was warm against my face. The light sound of rain registered in my ears as droplets landed on the ground. Above and around the house was a thin and subtle clear veil that reminded me of glass. Beyond this nearly invisible barrier was the snow covered forest that I had hiked in starting this morning. I watched as snowflakes reached the barrier and then turned back into a warm drizzling rain as it fell to the ground.

Completely forgetting about the house and kitsune, I was filled with childlike wonder as I stared at the impossible scene before me. I stepped onto the wet grass and clover very slowly, half wondering if I would wake up. It should've been a dream, right? All of it should have. I stopped and reached out with a hesitant hand. The barrier rippled as my fingertip touched it, but I didn't feel any sensation whatsoever. There was no sense of cold on my hand or the air around me. It might as well have been a summer rain!

“This is insane-."

"Don't go through the barrier." A female voice said from behind me. I spun around and looked back towards the house. Standing in the entryway of the same door I had exited was the same fox lady as before. Her rusty orange and snowy white fur, as well as a narrow muzzle and triangular ears were unmistakable. Six fluffy tails gently swayed in the air behind her back, akin to a friendly wave.

“Come back inside." She stepped aside and gestured with a hand. Her demeanor was much softer, and not as threatening as before. She wore a modest robe that only revealed the tops of her animalistic paws, hands, and head. The numerous tails calmly waving behind her reminded me of reeds swaying to a subtle breeze. I counted six white tipped tails in all.

I glanced back at the barrier, and the snowy forest beyond, but I had nowhere to run. Beyond the clear veil was the snowy forest, and I didn't have the clothing to attempt a realistic escape anyway. With reluctance, I walked back across the warm wet grass towards the mysterious fox woman. Goosebumps formed on my skin as I neared her. I hesitated before quickly walking by her and back into the house. A tail slid the door shut behind me.

“Follow me, please." She walked ahead and down the hall. I hugged the wall as the fluffy tails brushed past my side before following her at a short distance. Her paws were nearly silent as opposed to my noisy footsteps. I wasn't sure what to expect as she stopped by a door and slid it open for me. I cautiously walked forward, and peered inside. It was only a small room where tea had been served on a low table. A large and old hand drawn map was hanging on a wall.

“I was going to check on you, and ask if you wanted any tea." She spoke up.

“O-okay." I entered the room and sat down on a comfortable cushion. She calmly sat down across from me, and poured us both a cup. I preferred staring at the steam wafting from the tea, rather than directly meet her gaze. The all-knowing look in her golden vulpine eyes made me feel nervous and safe at the same time. The conflicting emotions were difficult to see clearly through, much like the tea. She was calmly waiting for me to speak up, and I mustered the courage to do so.

“So..." I started to speak quietly. “What should I call you?" I felt nervous asking how to address the magical being seated across from me. Her black tipped triangular ears wiggled in response.

“I know that you're a fox, but I don't know... What I mean is, what are you?" I had no idea how to ask such a question. The kitsune calmly set her tea down before looking directly at me. Her golden gaze held my attention fully.

"I am a kitsune." She explained herself. "That's a special kind of fox." I slowly nodded without a word. It sounded familiar, but I was unaware of what that exactly meant.

“We live for a very long time, and become more powerful with age."

“I've heard tall tales before, but that was… I was a little child and none of this should be real." I tried grasping at the reality before me. It was very unnerving to be sitting with a mythical woman who I thought was nothing more than a legend told throughout the centuries.

“Do you have a name?" I managed to ask.

“Hmm." She grinned. “Humans would simply call me a kitsune or demon fox, but my name is Kosetsu. I am from the Oshobo clan of foxes." The six tailed fox gave a more formal introduction. The name and clan sounded important, but I had no idea if either was significant or not.

“What exactly happened to me?" I hesitantly asked. "When you... held me against the tree, and when I woke up. What was that?"

“I pulled your energy from your body."

“What?"

“It is what gives you strength and life." She explained.

“Not the energy." I shook my head. “How you… pulled it." I gulped as I remembered the sensations very clearly.

“I drained your energy at the tree and absorbed it."

"Can you give it back to me? My uh energy?" It was odd saying that aloud. Her ears fell back in an odd animalistic show of guilt.

"It is not easy transferring the energy back, because once I absorb it, your energy becomes part of mine. It's a little dangerous to return it that way."

"Oh." I imagine it was like mixing water with dye. "Will I be okay without it?"

"Yes, you ill be fine." A grin returned to her muzzle as she nodded. "You will only need a little time to fully recover." I was relieved to hear that I would be fine.

"What about when I woke up the first time? Was that the same thing?"

"I drained your energy as well, but I also did something different." She admitted. I searched her vulpine eyes for an answer.

"Well? What was it?"

"I searched through your heart and read your emotions." She plainly told me. "I wanted to see if you had a good heart, and I was happy to see that you do." The kitsune held up her hand to her chest. The lack of privacy bothered me, but I felt happy about the compliment.

"Once I knew you had a good heart, I decided to let you sleep and recover."

"What would you have done if I had a bad heart?" I asked.

"I would have devoured your soul." There was coldness in her eyes as she answered. I stared at her in partial shock. A tightness in my stomach led to my entire body shivering out of fear. I was in the presence of a mystical being who could easily end my life. I felt fortunate to still be alive, but I still didn't understand how or why any of this happened to me of all people.

“H-How did all of this happen?" I asked.

“You freed me." She gratefully spoke and gave a small nod.

“But I didn't do anything to free you." I didn't understand. “I touched the stone."

“Yes. It was the heat from your finger."

“My finger?" My perplexed look amused her.

“Your body heat." She answered with a grin. “It happened when you touched the stone. That is how you broke the seal. I was trapped in that stone slab a long time ago." She explained.

“How?"

“There was a powerful priest sent by a distant village to seal me away. Their lord was plagued by illness from a demon, and they believed sealing me away would cure him. He possessed extreme talent and skill." She admitted her downfall plainly. “I must thank you for freeing me." Her head briefly bowed down to me in gratitude.

“However," the kitsune's foxy face became neutral once again, “I will be sealed away again if I do not consume enough energy to maintain my physical form and presence."

“How much energy do you need?" I worried that she would have to devour me anyway.

"It's not a question of how much per se." She explained. "Some forms are far more powerful than others." I had never been particularly religious, but the sudden thought of having a soul and then having it ripped out made me fearful of whatever she was about to say. The kitsune could read my subtle facial expressions and thoughts as if I had spoke each one in detail.

"I have no intentions of harming you." She reassured me. "Killing you wouldn't help me."

"That's a relief." I sighed. "But what sort of energy do you need from me?"

“The most intimate kind." She stated. I looked at her questioningly.

“What does that mean?"

“I will need you to mate with me." The kitsune clarified. My face burned a bright red as her words registered.

“Um..." I felt my lips purse tightly together. "What did you say?" I played ignorance, wondering if I had misheard the vixen.

"I will need to mate with you." She reiterated firmly. "That is the most intimate form of energy and will help stabilize my presence after being trapped within that stone for so long."

“You're not going to uh…" I glanced around and feared she would jump me.

“This isn't something that I can take forcefully." She told me. "It must be given willingly." She pointed at me with a flawed finger. I stared at her but felt my heart beating within my chest. I felt nervous at the request, and my head even felt a little dizzy. It should have been an easy decision to make, but maybe the whole day's events still left me shaken.

“Can I think about this?" I honestly spoke.

“Of course." She nodded. “I wouldn't want you to make a brash decision without consider everything over." The kitsune's words were diplomatic despite the dire situation she was in.

“How long do you have until you are sealed away again?"

"A few days... at most." She informed me. I sat back and felt overwhelmed from the whole situation I had put myself in.

***

The evening passed without any trouble. I was given a meal in my temporary room, and the vixen let me eat in peace. My nerves allowed me to eat well enough, but by nightfall I felt exhausted and retired to bed. However, sleep couldn't catch me despite laying in a comfortable bed in a quiet room. I was a complete wimp when it came to relaxing and getting enough sleep. I was an anxious person, and lingering thoughts or worries had a habit of keeping me awake. A lot weighed on my mind.

I was stuck in the mountain home of a kitsune who could wield incredible power over me. However, Kosetsu needed my help, but in the most intimate of ways. I wanted a good night's sleep to think of a solution, but all I could do was worry needlessly. I was too nervous about what the fox had suggested to me earlier in the day. How else was I supposed to react? I was inside someone else's home, and I wasn't sure if I would return to my own home anytime soon.

'Would she let me leave if I asked?' I thought to myself. What if I declined assisting her? My eyes shot open for the second time that night, however, only darkness greeted me. I immediately grumbled and tightly shut my eyes. My hands balled up for a moment out of frustration as well.

'Why can't I fall sleep?' I shook my head as I asked myself, despite knowing the answer. After taking a deep sigh, I allowed a peep into the darkness. A sudden dull glow caught my attention and ended my thoughts. I quickly sat up and stared ahead. Along the wall separating the room from the hallway, there was a soft light, like that of a lantern, but blue in color. It was on the other side of the wall, and a faint foxy shadow accompanied the eerie light. The hairs on my arms rose instinctively as the pair slowly moved towards the door, but I kept a steady breath knowing it was the kitsune. The faint flickering of tails seemed to dance behind the shadow. I watched the light move along the wall until it stopped at the door.

"Was I tossing and turning that loud?" I rubbed an eye as the door opened up.

"No, but I can sense your agitation." A female voice calmly explained. She was carrying a bamboo pole in hand with a short strings hanging from the tip, but at the bottom was a blue flame casting a unique light. The soft blue light illuminated the fox lady in her robes like that of a small campfire.

“Yeah, I can't sleep at all." I glanced at the darkness around us.

“Would you like for me to help?" She asked. I hesitated to inquire what she had in mind.

"Can you help?" I questioned. Even with the dull light blue glow, I saw a small grin emerge along the kitsune's muzzle.

"I can." She took a silent step forward. I felt nervous as the six tailed fox approached me.

“I don't know…" I hesitated. “What are you going to do?" I looked at the blue flame at the bottom of the pole's string.

“It will be the same as when you first woke up here." She told me. “Lay down and roll onto your side."

“Okay." I laid back down and rolled onto my side as she requested. I blinked and the blue light vanished behind me. I listened through the darkness as she set aside the pole followed by a smooth ruffling sound. The covers shifted as she joined me. I felt my back arch reflexively as her front touched me.

“You don't need to feel nervous." She whispered.

“I can't help it." I admitted much to my own disappointment. Her tails began preening curiously along my clothes and snaking around me. A shudder ran up my spine as all six fluffy tails ignored all modestly while seeking to cover as much of my bare skin as possible.

"Close your eyes and think about a place you would want to visit, or any happy memory." She rubbed my chest before placing her hand directly over my heart. A smooth warmth spread from her palm and fingertips as I felt my heart beat against her hand. I nodded and closed my eyes, knowing what she was going to do. Although, it was difficult to think about anything else when all of her tails were brushing over me. If anything, she was farm warmer and cozier than any bed I had ever slept in.

Once the tails had finished weaving securely around me; I felt the sensation of a thread being pulled from my chest. Slowly and gradually, I felt my breathing slow down to a steady rhythm. Another sensation, almost a surge, like an other warm tail enveloping over me, passed through my entire body. Every muscle relaxed as calmness replaced my anxious fear. I expected the kitsune to continue draining my energy, but the sensation of a thread being pulled from my heart quickly stopped and. The hand on my chest mover away and simply rested on my shoulder instead.

“Mmm." A soft hum briefly broke the silence as whiskers graced my bare skin. I laid still for a moment. The half dozen tails were wrapped loosely around me for comfort, but they didn't restrain me. The body heat pressed against my back felt lovely, combined with the softness of fur. I managed to fall asleep with ease in her warm entwining embrace.

Bright morning sunshine greeted me as my eyes blinked wide awake. I felt completely rejuvenated from the best night of sleep that I ever had. The sensation wasn't easy to describe; but the warmth of her body and fur was wonderful. Knowing that it was freezing outside, and possibly still snowing, made me savor the moment. I lifted an arm and felt a tail loosely hang on as I rubbed my face. I grabbed onto one of the mischievous tails and held it. I grinned as the white tipped tail wiggled in my gentle grasp.

“I see that you are entertained." A voice hummed beside me. I immediately let go and the tail tip danced out of my hand.

“Y-you're awake?" I was a little surprised. There was a soft rustling noise.

"Mmhm. Yes, I have been awake for a while." She softly spoke. "Before you started playing with one of my tails."

"Oh." I gulped out of embarrassment. "Sorry."

“It's fine." She hummed contently, but my bashfulness got the better of me. I sat up and found a few tails draped over me, but just as many were woven inside my robe.

'I look like a puffball.' It was funny seeing my robe appear stuffed with fur while I was still wearing it. Glancing over at the fox laying beside me, I wasn't surprised to find her robe folded perfectly on the floor nearby. Despite not wearing anything her fur coat improvised very well. The whites and fiery oranges hugged her feminine figure nicely, and gave a soft appearance to her otherwise natural beauty.

The kitsune was very beautiful. Her breasts were modest, but well rounded with two pink buds of flesh poking freely from the snowy white fur. Her foxy face was pretty with little black whiskers faintly visible behind her black nose. Her golden eyes gazed up at me with a little grin.

“Did you sleep well?" She asked.

"Yes. I slept without a problem." I felt great just saying that.

“I did too." The fox sat up and yawned revealing jaws full of predatory teeth. However, the animalistic image faded as she stretched her arms gracefully into the air just like any person would do. A faint smile lingered on her pointy face even as she relaxed beside me.

“When you were stuck in that stone, could you move at all?" I wondered aloud.

“It isn't easy to describe or explain." Her golden eyes blinked awake as she stared ahead. “I was stuck and unable to move, but I could see and perceive everything around me." She told me. I shuddered at the thought of being stuck in a stone block for so long, if that was even possible.

“Wait. Does that mean you've seen me walk along that path these past years?" I realized.

“That's correct." She nodded. “Although, I never would've expected you to free me."

“Yeah. Funny how all of that happened." I quietly spoke and looked away. I stared at a light screened wall that likely also acted as a doorway, but allowed plenty of sunlight through its translucent surface.

“Where exactly are we? On the mountain?" I guessed

“That's correct." She nodded. “My old shrine once existed on this mountain, but it has since disappeared over the centuries."

“Centuries?" I blinked, and looked at the kitsune. “How old are you?" My question made her tails move and curl in the air.

“Well," Kosetsu wiggled her nose before speaking, “humans live by the seasons or years. Foxes do as well, but we also use centuries." She explained. I realized that the kitsune was much older than I would've guessed.

“A fox will grow a new tail every one hundred years until they reach nine."

“So you're more than five hundred years old?" I looked at the tails still on my lap and the ones behind her.

“Yes, but I was sealed inside that stone for a very long time." She reminded me. “I'm much older than that." It was a little difficult to comprehend anyone, even a magical fox, living for up to a millennium or longer, but there she was sitting beside me. Then again, she could've spent half that time being sealed inside a rock along a lonely mountain trail.

“Sorry for freaking out and running away once you were freed." I felt like an idiot after knowing she wasn't going to harm me.

“That's fine. You did what came natural to you, and I wasn't sure if you meant me any harm at first."

“Yeah, sorry about that too." I remembered swinging my walking stick at her out of desperation.

“We should get up." Kosetsu hummed and stood up beside the bed. “The sun rose more than an hour ago." She continued. Most of her tails slipped away from me, but one lingered along my side like an attentive pet. I saw her beautiful fiery orange and white furred body in its full naked glory for a moment before she picked up her folded robe and dressed.

“Ready?" She offered a hand. I blinked and looked at the odd animalistic, yet human hand with claws and fur. I accepted and she helped pull me to my feet.

“Thank you." I refastened my robes and tightened the sash after her tails had loosened everything last night.

“You can ask me anything else if you'd like." She kindly offered and walked with me to the door leading out to the hall. Where to start? I wanted to ask if I could return home, but how many chances would I get to talk to a mythical being like herself?

“I don't know what to ask." I mumbled and joined her in the hallway. There was just enough room between the kitsune and her tails to stand in the narrow entryway.

“Hmm. I'll show you this room." She walked down and slid another door open for me. It was small and modest, but there were unique decorations hanging on the wall ranging from beautifully painted fans to artwork painted on silk. Some looked like masterpieces that belonged in museums, or at the very least valuable antiques. A low table had a dark blue glass ball resting in a stand beside a few books and scrolls. An old large wooden block rested by a wall with two wooden bowls resting atop its gridded surface.

“Have you traveled a lot over the years?" I wondered aloud.

“I have." She curtly nodded. “Although I did most of my traveling when I was much younger."

“Were you born in this area?" It was a basic question, but I didn't know what to expect.

“Yes. I was born at a shrine in a small town not far from these mountains." She explained. “It was long ago, but I was very childish and mischievous when I had only one tail." She grinned. “I never seriously harmed anyone, but I thought it was very fun to play tricks on people."

“What would you do?"

“Scare anyone that I could." She admitted. “I was horrible at disguising myself, so I would keep myself hidden in tall grass or a rooftop at night. I would give a few foxy barks at night or move things while people slept." She sounded embarrassed mentioning it.

“I matured a lot when I had grown my second tail, and traveled to another city. I believe it was called Lin'an at the time." She paused to think it over.

“How does a kitsune like yourself travel somewhere?" I couldn't imagine a fox freely walking around an urban area.

“In disguise, of course." She curtly nodded and in the blink of an eye her entire head changed to that of a beautiful young woman's with long black hair. Her eyes remained a powerful golden color though. My jaw dropped and I stepped back, bumping into the wall.

“Oh my…" I couldn't find the words while she smiled at me so naturally as a human.

“But I had to be careful about dogs smelling me, and sunlight casting shadows of my true form behind me." She spoke normally as her head transformed back to that of a fox's.

“Yeah." I barely made sense of what I had just seen. “That would… catch anyone's eyes."

“Mmhm. But despite the risks, I loved traveling and living there. I had never seen so many people in one place before, or such a large city in my life at that point." She remarked wistfully. “The west lake was beautiful to look at from the walled houses, especially when the sun rose and set. There were canals where you could take small boats for travel, and the roads were paved."

“That does sound scenic."

“Mmhm." Kosetsu stepped forward and revealed a small wooden chest that was tucked away underneath the table. She opened up the small chest and showed me its contents.

“What are those?" I looked at several round spins with square holes in each center.

“Iron coins. These were almost worthless when I first acquired them, but I wanted to keep them as mementos for my stay in the city." She told me and revealed several paper notes written in a foreign script that I couldn't read.

“These were paper notes used to finance state activities. No one liked using them."

“They're probably worth a lot now. Although, if this paper is hundreds of years old, then it wouldn't make sense for these to be so well preserved." I stated.

“I find it funny that humans value something, anything, if it becomes old enough." She smiled before putting the small wooden chest away. “I enjoyed partaking in festivals when I could disguise myself more property. At the end of summer there was a special day where people would dress up and wear robes and any figure that resembled birds and butterflies."

“Oh…" I watched her hold up a hand as a white silken robe emerged from the wall like a ghost. She then revealed a piece of paper that had been colored to resemble a butterfly.

“Festivals were the perfect way for me to interact more in human spaces, but I didn't trust humans very much at first." She admitted before hanging up the robe and paper butterfly. “Some were kind, but others, deceitful. I kept my distance and enjoyed staying in Lin'an. However, I didn't stay in the city very long, and returned to this area for the most part after I grew my third tail. That's when I started inhabiting an old shrine for the next three hundred years or so." She spoke as if it had happened only a few weeks ago at most.

“What was that like?"

“Living at a shrine is peaceful and it gave me plenty of time to practice my magic. Villagers and the occasional traveler would pay respects to me, and I would help protect them from evil spirits wandering through the area."

“So you were like a guardian of this forest and the lowland area?"

“Yes, you could phrase it that way." She gave a nod.

“Did you simply stay here the entire time?"

“Oh, I still traveled on occasion." She mentioned. “But I had this house built as well once I resided here more often. I spent most of my time here though. The nearby villages would slowly grow and change very little. From what I understand… the world has changed so much since I was trapped in that stone." She folded her arms and stared off into the distance. She was a fox who possessed magical power, but the feeling of sadness was apparent.

“Yeah, a lot has developed in the world the past two hundred or so years." I acknowledged. Even though she could still perceive the world around her while trapped in stone, it sounded like the kitsune entirely missed out on the development of the modern world.

“Can we look outside again?" I changed the subject. “I've never been able to experience warm weather like that during the middle of winter."

“Of course." A small grin returned to her foxy face. We walked down the hallway and out the side door I had tried escaping from yesterday. Brushing past her tails, I was greeted by the same incredible sight.

“Wow…" I was still in awe at the sight of warm green grass surrounding the home to the barrier. The sunshine was bright and reflected off the snow outside the barrier. There were birds pecking at the ground as if spring had arrived. Yet, just a few steps away, there was fresh snow on the ground. It was incredible and at the same time peaceful to watch.

“Can people walk through that barrier?" I turned and looked at her. “What would happen?"

“Wildlife can see and pass through the barrier." She explained. “But humans cannot. They will simply move through as if nothing is here."

“So no one will see this home, or walk into it?" I imagined an invisible house would be noticed somehow."

“No," she shook her head, “if you cannot see my home or the barrier, then the best way to think of it is that none of it exists." The fox told me. It was an odd concept to wrap my head around, but then again, she was a magical fox. It didn't have to make sense to me.

My gaze returned to the birds hopping along the green grass. I thought over her dilemma, as weird as it was, and felt sympathetic to her. Being trapped in a stone for hundreds of years sounded terrible, even if you were a mythical creature capable of living for over a millennium. And even when I freed her, she still needed something more to stay alive.

“So… I'm uh." I felt nervous even speaking about her need for 'intimate' energy. “Uh, why does it have to be mating?" I asked. The fox's ears dialed around from my question as her tails gently flicked behind her.

“It is the most pure energy that exists." She simply stated. “I'm not sure if explaining it any other way will help."

“Will everything be alright once you… absorb that energy?" I felt my face blush as I spoke.

“Yes." She nodded. “That will help stabilize my life force after being sealed. It will be enough to break the pull that the seal still has on me." She looked at me expectantly but said nothing more. I looked away at the green grass and foraging birds. I felt somewhat nervous as I thought it all over again.

“If it helps…" I slowly began. “I'll mate with you." The kitsune's golden eyes blinked in surprise only to slowly close with a look of relief.

“Thank you." She graciously spoke with relief evident in her voice as she gave a small bow of appreciation.

***

Kosetstu gave me time to prepare, and I was thankful for it. Mating was fairly straightforward, but I felt intimidated over the entire situation. There was a lot at stake for her, and I still had a lingering doubt if any of this was real.

“I guess this is happening." I whispered to myself as I stood in the hallway, and stared at a door. Knowing that she was behind it made me feel jittery despite everything I had been through so far.

'What if mating with a kitsune is really… strange?' I asked myself despite reaching forward. Would she transform into a human, a four legged fox, or remain the same? I pushed the concern away as I touched the handle. I slid the door open and found the kitsune was sitting on her bed completely naked, albeit in her bare fur. I barely noticed the walls were painted beautifully to resemble forested mountains with cherry blossoms in full bloom. Her human-like body with vulpine features was very different and unusual, but it was impossible to deny her beauty.

Her white furred front resembled untouched snow, fluffy and white. Both breasts appeared like little hills covered in snow. Her black socked hands were planted by her sides revealing her white furred front in it entirety. Her legs were also parted and stretched out towards me, but the downy fluff of white fur was difficult to see through. The six mischievous long tails were spread around on the bed, as if sleeping soundly. Her beautiful golden eyes gazed at me all the while with a soft smile across her vulpine muzzle.

“Are you ready?" She calmly asked.

“Y-yeah." My mouth felt dry as I spoke. My heart started beating wildly within my chest as I stepped forward. The fox laid back onto her elbows, and I knelt down before her. However, my nerves caught up to me and I froze in place.

“I can sense that you're nervous." The fox spoke up.

“Well, I've never Uh-you know… done this before." I shamefully admitted.

“Do not worry." Her voice soothed my concerns. “Do what comes naturally." Her advice sounded obvious, but cryptic to my inexperience. I edged closer until I was between her ankles. I could clearly see the gentle rise and fall of her front as she breathed.

Her numerous tails came to life and wiggled in the air before reaching out towards me to help. I remained still despite feeling a little nervous. The fluffy white tips made contact and began curling and coiling around me, gradually enveloping me in a comfortable softness within my robe. The soft fur and subtle warmth from each tail felt wonderful, and coaxed me closer to her.

The tails were dexterous enough to untie the robe I was wearing all on their own. The garment unraveled, and I felt a pulse of embarrassment as my manhood was brought into full view. I was almost completely flaccid, but she wasn't bothered at all. Instead, I was surprised and tensed up as a few tails snaked between my thighs. The fluffy white tips brushed against sensitive skin, eliciting a pent up sigh from me. My member disappeared for some time into the fluff, but I was enjoying the soft teases bringing my manhood to life.

“Nggh." I let a grunt escape as my underside was lovingly teased until I was standing proudly, throbbing in time to my excited heartbeat. Her tails parted and resumed coiling around my legs and back. A pair even wove around my forearms. It felt like I was wearing a fur coat!

Driven forward from my own arousal, I edged closer, almost pulled by her numerous strong tails. My length bobbed ahead, as if pointing exactly where it needed to go. Two black furred fingers helped part the downy white fur, giving me a clearer view of her womanhood. I looked into her golden eyes eagerly desiring me to press forward. Positioning myself at her entrance, she helped guide me forward. My whole length penetrated her down to the base, and my entire body shuddered pleasurably in reaction.

“You're-." I cut myself off with a hum. “Ugh-hot!" I shuddered as the heat seemed to radiate from my groin into the rest of my body.

“Mmm." She softly hummed and breathed. The vixen's tails shifted and coiled around my midsection, keeping us almost bound together. I briefly wondered if I would be able to pull back even an inch. Once I pulled more than halfway out, her tails tightened and restricted me from moving back any further. Pushing back in, I could feel the same pulling sensation, but instead of my heart, it pulled along my entire length. It was more pleasurable than anything I had felt in my entire life. She wanted my seed, and I was going to fulfill her wish.

The tips of her tails wiggled happily in reaction when I was buried back inside her hot sex. All of the fluffy warmth wrapped around most of my body encouraged me to keep going. I planted my hands wrapped in the fox's tails by her sides. Looming over the magical fox, partially supported by her fluffy orange appendages, I started slowly thrusting. I felt my length throb inside her hot womanhood. Each little thrust resolved with our bodies subtly bumping together, and it felt unbearably good.

“Aaahhh." Her head tilted to the side as she softly moaned. I started bucking more, causing her body to shift in time with my thrusts. Her small breasts bounced with fervor as all six tails held onto me tightly. Claws gripped the sheets tightly and her melodic moans sang out beautifully. The pressure was building within us both. Her back arched as a sharp gasp escaped her lips.

"Yesss!" She groaned in ecstasy and hugged me tightly with only her arms. I came with a final thrust and spilled my seed inside her quivering sex. I felt overheated and tingly from the passionate moment as my pulsations gradually ceased. Her tails went limp, and I barely managed to avoid collapsing on top of her. The pleasured look across her face was completely satisfied and mirrored my own feelings. My body was jittery and tired, yet unbelievably content from it all. I had no words to describe it.

“Wow…" I exhaled. Her golden eyes looked up at me with a brilliant radiance. She silently took ahold of my hand with her black socked hands. Both felt soft and delicate. The kitsune placed my hand between both of her breasts, directly over her heart. My eyes widened as I felt a subtle beat against my palm.

I suddenly felt the exact sensations and emotions she was experiencing. All of the warmth, coziness, pleasure, and happiness coursing through her body, like mine. Our hands and hearts created a circular loop sharing our emotions and physical sensations to one another. I stared into her eyes, but no words were needed. We understood each other perfectly, as if reading the other's thoughts as they were formed.

'This feels…' I thought.

'Wonderful?' Her voice echoed in my mind.

“Yeah." I whispered aloud and she nodded in agreement. Kosetsu used her tails to help move me so that I was laying down facing her. They curled snugly around us like a furry cocoon. The warmth and heat radiating off her body felt like bright sunshine on my skin. My body shuddered briefly in reaction form the enveloping heat before completely relaxing. I felt secure even from a blistering blizzard.

The pleasant sensations suddenly ceased between us as pain emerged. A look of discomfort befell her face, and our contact broke off as she sat up.

“Ughh." She garbled out in discomfort.

“What's wrong?" I suddenly felt worried and touched her back. The fox whined and her triangular ears fell back.

“My back-no! My tails-!" She gasped and leaned forward. All of her tails became limp as her entire body shook. She breathed sharply and I worried without knowing what to do. I looked down her lower orange furred backside to where the bases of her six tails emerged. A glimmer of light appeared as a seventh appendage quickly grew and fully emerged right before my eyes.

“Y-You grew another tail!" I exclaimed and rubbed her back. Her breathing calmed down as she gradually sat up with her hands resting on her knees. Now seven white tipped fiery orange tails swayed behind her.

“I-I did." She was a little surprised herself. I wasn't sure what to expect next, but I was surprised as a few reached out towards me and brushed around my back and side.

“Your tails are wonderfully soft." I touched one as it wrapped loosely around my arm. A hand rested atop my own, and my gaze returned to her golden eyes.

“Thank you for this." She whispered and leaned closer before kissing my cheek. “I don't have to worry about being sealed away anymore." She spoke as I was enveloped into a fluffy hug.

“You're very welco-." Her tails drew us closer and her other hand touched my side. The grin on her face turned a little seductive as I found myself in her arms and numerous tails. It was an embrace I found myself not wanting to wriggle free from!

***

A little later in the day I found myself fully dressed and standing inside the entrance to the fox's home. The fox knew how eager I had been to return home. My clothes had been returned to me, but I now carried the robe she had given me to wear as well. The kitsune stood before me, fully dressed in a white colored robe now. It was a little funny how proper we appeared now after laying in bed together.

“In exchange for giving me your energy so selflessly, you will always be welcome in my home." She handed me a fist sized bell with a white and red rope attached to it. I looked at the odd gift curiously.

"What is this for?"

"If you are ever in any danger or simply wish to see me, then ring the bell loudly." She instructed.

“Just ring it?" I shook the rope. The bell's chime was deep and soft, producing a lovely sounding tune.

“Yes." She nodded. “I will hear it no matter how softly you ring it."

“Thank you. That's very nice of you." I was very grateful for the gift. “ but I have one question."

“What is it?"

“How do I return home from here?" I had no idea where her home exactly was in the mountains.

“Just follow the slope straight ahead. You won't find yourself lost, I promise." She grinned. I mustered a smile for her. It was bittersweet telling her goodbye, even if I could see her once again. She gave a small bow before I stepped outside. My body felt warm as I walked across the green grass fully dressed in my winter clothes. However, I could see the snowy forest just beyond the barrier.

'I'm stepping through.' I instinctively held me breath in anticipation. I passed through the barrier without any resistance, as if walking from one room to another; and the cold air outside immediately chilled my face. It was surreal hearing the snow crunch beneath my steps once again. However, when I turned and looked back, nothing was behind me. I blinked in disbelief at the snowy forest surrounding me unobstructed. There was no barrier or house or green grass anymore. It was simply an empty space covered in snow. Creepily enough, my footprints began in the middle of the path, originating from where the barrier had ended.

'Wow, that's insane.' I couldn't explain it, but it was beyond my comprehension. I stared for several moments where the fox's house stood, surrounded by the barrier, yet none of it was there anymore. Remembering what she had said, I gave a brief smile before walking down the little pathway of snow. My steps quietly crunched in near silence as I descended the gentle slopes.

'I hope I don't get lost.' I looked around the forest of mostly bare trees covered in snow. I didn't want to ring the bell after only leaving her home mere minutes ago. Following straight down and passing by the occasional boulder and steep incline, the lay of the land became a little more familiar.

'I'm not far off the original path I had taken!' I saw the actual path I normally took not too far ahead, downhill. I felt a good sense of familiarity once I followed the route I had trekked many times before. I soon arrived at the place causing all of the ensuing havoc. The fallen trees were exactly as I had last seen them. Mangled branches and thick trunks obstructed the main route, but the little pathway I had made remained accessible.

The smooth stone face no longer had any carvings. All of the lines had disappeared entirely. A chill ran up my back at the vivid image of the fox first emerging from the stone. And it all happened because I touched the uncovered stone.

'I wonder if…' I looked off the pathway, remembering where I had run from the fox. Due to the following snowfall, my footprints were hidden, but I could follow them. I meandered and followed my uneven trail until I reached a sturdy tree, the same one she had pinned me up against. I touched my chest, and felt my heart beating within. The memory of her pulling my energy by simply placing a palm over my heart was still fresh in my mind.

As I resumed walking down the path and out of the snowy forest, the feelings I felt were unmistakable. The whole experience was bizarre, and yet it had ended far too quickly. Was it proper to have feelings for a mythical kitsune? She was hundreds of years older than me, and not even human!

“Maybe it was all a wonderful dream." I said as if in a wild trance. That was the only way to make sense of it all. My house looked exactly the same as I emerged from the forest. Was it all really just my imagination?

I opened the back door and stepped inside. Walking into the small kitchen, a sense of normalcy befell me. It was like returning from watching a long movie with friends. Everything was surreal and calm. Only the soft ticking of the wall clock disturbed the silence.

“It's like I never left home-." Glancing at the clockface, however, told a different tale.

'I've been gone for almost two full days!' I was surprised to see the date had indeed changed. I hung up my coat, but something odd caught my eye along the counter by the window.

“What in the world-?“ I picked up a little figurine of an orange fox with a white tipped tail. Beautifully carved, the surface was smooth and the face was cute, yet lifelike. Underneath was a small paper note written in pretty handwriting.

'Please also accept this small token of my appreciation.' It read in beautifully written red ink.

“When did she come here?" I wondered if the fox had managed to come to my house and leave before I could even return. I looked outside the window and spotted a small orange furred figure running through the snow.

'A fox in daylight?' I was surprised, but had a feeling the fox's presence wasn't a coincidence. I happily watched as the fox resumed running uphill to the mountainous forest where she lived.