The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 33

Avani's revenge was the first of the three notable events that week; the second was a bit more... unsettling. A day or so after our little game, I had gone to check on my foxes and grab some more of my reference materials. Avani had a surprisingly good private library, but it was far from complete, at least for my needs.

When I reached my room, the foxes were, as usual, sleeping on my bed. I first went to gather my books and scrolls, placing them carefully in my rucksack. By the time I'd finished, Sano was awake and Uno was getting there. They gazed up at me, and their expressions were so wistful that I felt a pang of guilt. They weren't like pets by any means. They were spirits, for one, not monsters. As such, they didn't require food or drink, though they were capable of consuming either and even enjoyed some flavors—fried tofu was a particular favorite.

Besides not needing food, they also didn't need the other care that animals generally required, such as grooming. They could manipulate their appearance at will, though there were limitations: they were incapable of entirely shedding their foxy appearance, and they couldn't make themselves very much larger or smaller than they were in their natural state—slightly larger than a mundane fox. Sano once tried changing himself into human, and the results were rather amusing. He retained his ears and tails, and he was quite small—he looked for all the world like my son.

On the other hand, they were far more intelligent and intuitive than animals typically were. Therefore, they were easily bored, and craved companionship. And I'd been rather neglecting them lately, between current events and my preoccupation with my delightful lover.

Knowing that the pair liked and admired Avani and that she reciprocated their affection, I decided to bring them with me to the castle, at least for a trial period. They knew that she and I were in a relationship—though they always referred to it simply as mating—so I cautioned them that when they sensed that such activities may be about to take place, they should make themselves scarce until we were finished. They seemed puzzled by my request, and Uno asked, "Why is our absence necessary for you to mate with your companion? We do not understand this."

"Because, unlike monster and animal mating, human relations are normally conducted in privacy. Invading that privacy is a gross violation of human propriety. If you were to do so—if you tried to sneak in and listen or watch—you would at best cause her embarrassment or distress, and at worst provoke her to wrath. I know you both have already fought with her—and she's grown much stronger and more skillful since then. Besides, I know you two goofballs like her and wouldn't want to upset her."

They considered that for a few minutes, then Sano replied, "We still do not understand the need for privacy, but we will respect your wishes in this regard out of consideration for you and your human mate." Relieved that they had promised to obey—they were a mischievous pair, and far too curious for my own good—I set out for the castle with the two of them trotting behind.

Avani not only approved of my decision, but seemed delighted. I still found it inexplicable that she could see them, converse with them, and even touch them, when no one but me should have been able to do so. I had no explanation for it, but as it didn't seem to worry the foxes, I shrugged it off for the time being.

After our evening meal, we sat on the sofa before the fire. Avani snuggled up against me, leaning her head on my shoulder as I put my arm around her. I leaned over to kiss her, but just then, Sano and Uno appeared before us.

"We sense increased levels of the chemicals humans refer to as 'pheromones'. Therefore, we are departing for a time, in accordance with your wishes. We will return when we sense that copulation has concluded." And with that they vanished, just as I was about to throw a cushion at them while Avani burst out laughing.

A few minutes later, still chuckling, Avani stood up and held out her hand to me. Smiling at me, she pulled me up and put her arms around my neck, pulling me closer for a long, slow kiss. She kissed along my jaw line and down my neck, then whispered, "You know, I'd really hate to waste their efforts on our behalf...."

I looked down at her and grinned, then lifted her up in my arms and carried her to the bed. "That would indeed be a shame, My Lady."

Later that night as we lay in bed, Avani curled up next to me with her head on my chest and my arm around her shoulders as she slept, the foxes rematerialized into the room. I was just drifting off when they appeared at the foot of the bed, their eyes glowing blue and red in the darkness. I raised a finger to my lips to signal them to be quiet, and they stealthily crept up and settled against Avani's back for warmth. They curled up with their noses on their paws and sighed in unison as they relaxed. Soon we were all asleep.

************

I don't know how much time had passed, but at some point later, I woke to the sound of muffled sobbing. Lighting the lamp next to the bed, I turned and looked to see what was the matter. Avani had rolled over onto her other side, her back to me now, and she was curled around the foxes as they slept, her arm thrown across Sano's back and her forehead resting against his. Tears trickled from the corners of her tightly-shut eyes, and she shivered in her sleep.

"My Lady?" I called softly, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving her a gentle shake. She mumbled something indiscernible, but she didn't wake. Her sounds became increasingly distressed, and she curled up into a tighter ball, waking the foxes. "My Lady, are you alright?" I shook her shoulder more firmly.

She convulsed, as though leaping or running, and flung out an arm and screamed. Her eyes flew open, her pupils dilated in shock and terror. She sat up, dazed and confused, blinked a few times, then drew her legs up and hugged her knees, sobbing the word "sundara" repeatedly.

Thoroughly alarmed, I put my arms around her and held her tightly. "Avani, My Lady—shhh, it's okay, you're safe here with me," I murmured soothingly. Sano put his forepaws on her leg and licked her face, whining with concern.

Uno looked over at me, his cyan eyes still glowing slightly in the amber lamplight. "Something has disturbed your mate," he commented.

"Thank you, I had noticed that," I replied rather drily.

"I mean that she has dreamed a memory, and this memory distresses her greatly. I do not know more than this." He sat up and put a paw on her knee. "Lady Avani," he addressed her, startling me—they never addressed her by name, indeed never addressed anyone by name other than myself and the Native Dragons. "Do not be distressed by your recollections. The past is an immutable road through the present that vanishes into the malleable future. You need not fear it, as you may yet shape your future to whatever form you desire—you need only have the determination to do so."

She looked at the two foxes, then to my further surprise, she flung her arms around the both of them and hugged them tightly to her, sobbing into Sano's fur. He looked over at me, saying, "It is fortunate that we are spirits and as such do not breathe. A mortal beast would not fare as well."

I put my arm around her again and drew closer to her. "My Lady, do you want to tell me about it? What has shaken you so?"

She remained silent for a moment longer, struggling to control her weeping, then she released the foxes and buried her face in my shoulder, throwing her arms around my neck. "Sundara..." she said again, shivering. "He's... he's dead, and I couldn't save him. I tried, Leo, I tried so hard to save him. But I couldn't... I couldn't...." And she began to cry again. "He killed Sundara, and I couldn't stop him."

"Who killed whom? Who are you talking about?" I asked her.

"I... I don't know. Whoever it was, I was—I am—so terrified of him that I can't even picture him, let alone remember his name. But I saw it all—I saw him push Sundara. And I tried to reach him, to pull him up, but he... I couldn't hold onto him, and he fell. He's dead, and although I can't remember why, somehow I know it's my fault that he's dead."

"Shhh, don't cry. I'm sure whatever happened, you did your best. You mustn't blame yourself." I sat and held her, stroking her hair and gently rocking her. She hesitated a minute, then nodded, though tears still trickled down her cheeks.

"Feeling a little better?" She nodded again, her face still buried against my shoulder. "So who was this Sundara that you say was killed?"

She hunched her shoulders up again, tightening her hold around my neck. "My lover," she whispered.