[PRP] The Fox and the Stranger [Foxface/Resenting]

[Ruriska]

Foxface was always looking for new kin to sell to.

She had her wares slung across her back, an assortment of items; from luxurious furs to foods she had procured from Rise & Shine, all attached to various vines that she could carry with her as she wandered the swamp.

A regular had just given her a tip, mentioning a strange group that seemed to be moving through the area and she hadn’t given it a second thought before bouncing off in that direction. Whatever ‘strange’ meant, she was ready to discover it! Because whoever they were, surely they’d have a hankering for some dried rabbit's legs. The perfect snack. She’s never had anyone not purchase a few after a taster.

With her spirits high, Foxface navigated the area, leaping over roots and streams as she sang cheerfully and loudly, hoping to get the attention of any strangers nearby.

[cashmeresky]

Resenting was out hunting, her favorite pastime. Any opportunity to come up to the surface was a welcome one. Even with the minor inconvenience of having her eyes readjust to light and shapes and colors, the surface was just so much more exciting. She rotated her ears around while drinking in the air, smiling as she began to pick up the familiar scents of her favorite prey. Little ducks and various little four-legged creatures. Which to go after first?

Before Resenting could make a decision, she heard something that was not her favorite thing: singing. Loud singing. The kind that drives prey back under the roots and into rock crevices and tall grass to hide. Right away, she could tell this was not another Zikwa, she didn't have to see the singer to know that. Ugh. So loud and only getting louder! Resenting didn't know what she wants to do. She really only had interactions with her family, and otherwise kept to herself. Of course, she had seen other kin before on other hunting trips, in passing as they walked by while she remained hidden. Her family had never spoken well of other kin. She could leave the area altogether, but then she would get annoyingly far from the cavern entrance. But if she stayed, this hollering could drive away all the prey in the area.

Maybe she should get a bit closer to whoever this kin was before making an assessment. She carefully picked her way between the roots and the grasses, being sure to stay close to the bubbling stream to mask the sound of her footsteps. As Resenting snuck closer, she started to pick up on a scent. What was that? It smelled familiar, and tasty. In a few moments of distraction, her steps became uncareful. Then she realized it was rabbit, but not any way she was used to consuming it. Her breath tightened for a moment when she realized she had gotten so close in her distracted state she could start to see a vague outline of the kin. How could she be so stupid? She hoped that she remained unnoticed, but she couldn't be sure.

Resenting became extra still, and ducked her glowing markings behind some reeds and grasses. Her eyes narrowed to hide their glow.

[Ruriska]

If Foxface hadn’t already been on the lookout, she never would have noticed. Even then she wasn’t certain if the dark partially glowing shadow she’d seen was a kin or not, even if it had seemed vaguely kin shaped.

Her song trailed off and she came to a halt, ears perking forward as she scanned the area. Normally a kin would be fairly obvious by now, if there was actually one. They generally didn’t just disappear into the bushes. Unless they were a Legendary hanging around as a critter or... maybe they were shy and just hiding?

Deciding to trust her instincts, Foxface did a little bounce on the spot and called, “hello, anyone there?”

[cashmeresky]

Loud. This kin didn’t even need to be singing to be loud. Now that Resenting was a bit closer, she could smell all kinds of scents from the… doe? At least Resenting thought she was a doe. All the scents and her weak vision prevented her from being sure. She smelled rabbit for sure, then various other creatures, their pelts maybe? And a few other smells she couldn’t quite place. The silhouette of the doe was also lumpy with all the things she seemed to be carrying, so it was difficult for Resenting to make out an exact shape and size. Did she just finish hunting or foraging?

And why was she yelling? When Resenting is carrying as much as she can, she tries to be even stealthier to not attract attention. It hasn’t happened to her yet, but it’s always good to be aware of any thieves. Either way, the doe noticed her presence. At this point, if Resenting tried to leave, it would be impossible not to make any noise.

Resenting had never interacted with anyone outside of her cult before other than her mother and maybe her aunt. But she had been very young so it was barely social experience. I will lead with something friendly and practical she thought.

“Hello. You are loud. This is not good. Someone will steal your… things.” Resenting said with moderate volume. She did not move from her hiding spot but she did stand taller so she could be perceived.

[Ruriska]

The shift to stand tall caught her attention and all Foxface’s gaze quickly focused on the Zikwa. The other kin was still cast in shadows and surrounded by reeds and grasses but Foxface had figured from the shape and the glow just what kind of kin she was meeting.

“Steal my things?” Foxface replied gleefully. “Oh my! I doubt it! I mean, they can try if they want to.” Maybe Foxface was just lucky but most of the kin she had interacted with were more or less friendly, or at least not inclined to rob her of her goods.

There was no acknowledgement for the ‘loud’ comment.

She began trotting closer, trying to get a better look at her new friend. Hopefully they had an interest in rabbits' legs.

“What a fortuitous meeting this is!” Foxface cried (still very loudly). “I’m actually a wandering trader! Perhaps I can interest you in my wares? Come, come, take a look!” She had stopped not far from the other and swivelled to the side to show what was available strapped to her back.

[cashmeresky]

Resenting was grateful they were on the surface and there were no cavern walls to echo the doe’s loud exclamations. She was talking a lot, and quickly. Try? Try to steal her things? If they want to? Why was she so happy? Is this a trap? Fortuitous meeting? Trade? Next thing she knew, the other doe was quite close to her. Resenting instinctively took a few steps back.

It took a few moments for Resenting to register everything that was said. She had heard about trading before, but had never participated in it herself. Even when she had heard about it, she didn’t see the point? Why wouldn’t one just go out and hunt or forage for themselves and their family? Curiosity got the better of her, and she cautiously stepped forward again and stuck her nose closer to the wares. Her ears pointed directly at the doe in case this was indeed a trap, and she needed to attack. Some things were soft and some things smelled familiar or funny. The rabbit’s legs smelled particularly good. She lingered for a moment longer.

She lifted her head and took a small step back again. “Why trade? Because laziness? What to trade?” Resenting really didn’t have anything to trade anyways. She had just begun her hunt and hadn’t caught anything yet.

[Ruriska]

Oh, she was cute!

Talk, dark, handsome! Foxface’s gaze skittered up and down, investigating every inch of the Zikwa. The fluffy back seemed like an especially good feature. She was certain it would make for a delightfully comfy pillow.

But there was business to be done and Foxface was always keen for a sale.

“Laziness? Not at all! You see I wander all over to trade these! You can’t get these rabbit legs just anywhere! It’s a Rise & Shine tribe special and since most kin can’t or won’t travel all that way, I bring it to them! In return, they offer me something else. A fresh kill, a pelt, something they’ve gathered. As long as you’re not offering a leaf you just plucked from that tree there, I’m always willing to make a deal.”

It was a delight to discover that this Zikwa was clearly new to the concept of trading and thus prime pickings for a crafty trader.

“How about a free sample?” She twisted her body around, neatly plucking away one of the smaller rabbit legs away from the vine it had been wrapped in. “Hereygo.” The words ran together, smothered by the morsel as she offered it towards the other doe. “Donbeshy.”

[cashmeresky]

Resenting was not at all familiar with the terms of barter and trade, nor understood the point of it. Food was food. And things that were not food… what was the point? Trading food for a non-food? Or trading a non-food item for food? Very strange.

Resenting was in the middle of judging this strange idea of trading consumables for non-consumables when the doe offered her the rabbit leg. Free? Sample? She looked at it with a blank expression, but she was very skeptical on the inside. Was this doe trying to lure her in? It was suspiciously similar to how resenting would sometimes fish, dangling some bait into the water before striking.

After a brief assessment of danger, Resenting believed the threat to be low. The other doe was burdened with the weight of her wares. And Resenting was confident in her fighting skills if this doe had bad intentions. Resenting held steady, and maybe uncomfortably, intense eye contact as she leaned forward to take the rabbit leg. The flavor was immediately pleasing, and being so close to the other doe also felt? A kind of way? But back to the leg. Resenting didn’t wish to appear eager and off guard, so she continued to hold her gaze at the doe.

Being so close now, she noticed the doe’s striking blue eyes. This was her first time seeing another kin’s eyes so clearly, besides her mother’s. After all, how often was one nose to nose with another kin?

[Ruriska]

That was some intense eye contact. Foxface was very aware of how unblinking the Zikwa’s red-eyed stare was. It felt very much like a challenge but the Acha remained steady in the face of it. She was unflinching. So utterly certain in her product that she had no reason to look away!

“Mmhm,” Foxface encouraged and slowly let go of her end of the rabbit leg once she was sure the other had it in a good grip. Her tongue darted out, licking away remaining grease. Then she took a step back, giving them both some space.

“Eat up!”

Then she finally looked away, giving the other some space to have a nibble without someone staring at them. With obvious intent, she turned around to fuss with her various vines and furs, adjusting them needlessly, as if she had no care in the world and wasn’t waiting breathlessly to hear if the Zikwa liked the rabbit or not.