Winter Moon {Completed}

2. Little Silver

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The next day, So-Ra returned, a small clay pot of steaming broth in her hands. "Greetings, proud and princely fox!" She called, peering into the clearing.

The fox was still there, and its ears twitched at her voice.

"Good. You're alive!" She crouched before it, setting the pot down. "I brought you something to eat!"

The fox sniffed the air but didn't move closer.

"Hmph? A picky beggar? Suit yourself." She said, sitting cross-legged. "More for me!" She made a show of pouring some broth into a smaller bowl, then began taking slow, exaggerated sips. "Mmm! Tasty! There's even chicken!"

The fox's ears twitched again, and it sniffed with more interest. It struggled to its paws and inched closer, its pride clearly battling its hunger.

"Heh, so you also know good things?" So-Ra teased, nudging the pot toward it. "Careful, it's hot. Don't accuse me of burning you."

It ate slowly, golden eyes flicking up to meet hers between bites, and So-Ra grinned.

"See? I'm not so bad. Maybe next time, you'll even wag your tail when you see me?"

The fox gave her an unimpressed stare.

"Tch. Ungrateful... Let me tell you, I killed a chicken for you today, but I won't tolerate you entering my yard and killing my chickens...!"

She spent the afternoon rambling on and on, her voice filling the clearing with warmth.

The fox couldn't reply, much the same way the animals she had spoken to in five years couldn't reply...

But for some reason, she didn't mind at all!

"Ah! I should give you a name! Why not..." She looked at him with a mischievous grin.

"Heh! I'll call you 'Jag-Eun'!" It was a play on two words. 'Jageun' meant 'Little', and 'Eun' meant 'Silver'!

The fox grimaced in annoyance, moving some distance away, but So-Ra had a big smile on her face.

And by the time the day was done, she felt happier than she had in years.

"Don't miss me too much!" She teased, as she stood to leave, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll be back tomorrow...!"

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Two weeks passed by in a flurry of snow...

"Eiss... Our pretty Jag-Eun-i, aren't you too wicked?" So-Ra complained as she dropped a pot of fish broth before the fox. "All this time together, and you're still ignoring me?"

The fox merely grunted and began eating.

"Tch." She sat cross-legged in her usual spot. "You're being cold because your fur resembles snow...?!"

And then she proceeded to spend all day rambling at him!

But as she left that night, the fox lifted its head a bit wistfully...

'Tomorrow, huh...?'

The next day, So-Ra arrived with her usual cheer, and her hands full of fresh fish wrapped in leaves.

"Jag-Eun! I've brought fresh fish for you today!" She began, but gasped.

The clearing was empty. Even the black cloak was gone.

So-Ra frowned, setting the fish down. "Jag-Eun!" She called out in disbelief, and after a step or two, she began running round the clearing and the surrounding trees, calling, "Jag-Eun! Jag-Eun-i!"

Surely the heavens were not cruel enough to take her only friend away!

So-Ra searched for the fox for hours, before admitting to herself that it was gone.

She returned to the clearing and sat at her usual spot, a tear running down her face, which was red from the cold.

"How rude..." She muttered after some time. "Ungrateful to the bitter end!"

She rose and dusted her skirts, smiling through her tears. "At least this means you're in good health!"

But as she turned to leave, a deep voice stopped her in her tracks. "You're persistent for a human."

So-Ra spun around, her eyes widening.

Standing at the edge of the trees was a person!

An actual, living, breathing person!!!!

It was a man, tall and strikingly handsome, with silver-white hair cascading over his shoulders, and golden eyes glowing faintly. He wore a pristine flowing white hanbok with a black gat perched atop his head.

But through her joy, So-Ra acknowledged it didn't make any sense for a human to suddenly appear here...

Her grandmother had buried talismans around the mountain which made all humans forget their purpose and go back, even if they approached.

And besides, this man's hair and eyes...

So-Ra gasped and blinked a few times, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Y- y- y- you- you're...!"

"'Jag-Eun'." He spoke the name, but scowled in annoyance. "Distasteful name."

She pointed in disbelief. "J- Jag-Eun-i?! So You're-...!

"A gumiho." He finished, his tone cool and unbothered. "Don't call me Jag-Eun again!"

So-Ra let out a short laugh, more at herself than anything. "Heol! So that tiny little-!"

His brow arched. "Watch your words."

She held up a hand. "Ehehe, sorry, sorry!" But she suddenly straightened. "Ya! I saved your life, and even fed you! You've even eaten at least three of my precious chickens! I'm your saviour, your saviour!"

His lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but his tone remained even. "Your audacity is... something else."

"Grandma said so!" She said with a grin. "My name is So-Ra! What's yours?!"

He tilted his head, studying her as though she were something odd. "Yeon-Ho." He said finally. "Since you insist on names."

"Nice to meet you!" She beamed at him, but then her smile faltered. "You won't vanish again, will you?"

He stared at her for a long moment, then turned on his heel. "Don't follow me." He said over his shoulder, and her heart dropped when he disappeared from sight.

But as she turned to leave, his voice came to her on the wind, saying, "See you tomorrow."

So-Ra's eyes widened with joy, and she let out a laugh. "See you tomorrow!" She shouted in response, and practically raced back home with glee!

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