The Dark Mage

Chapter 30: Fluffy

   When it came time for Natalia and Buck to get some rest, Natalia noticed she wasn't able to fall asleep while both Buck and Titania slept like a rock with Buck in the comfy recliner and Titania in bed. She was also hungry and went into Vixie's kitchen to get something to eat. And that's when Natalia noticed that Vixie wasn't sleeping well either and woke up in the middle of the night. And because Vixie had quite a round face and soft curves on her body, Natalia thought Vixie was chubby but didn't want to say it out loud. After all, there was an unwritten rule she knew not to ask a woman how much she weighed. And in a culture such as the Kitsune clan where fat shaming was common, calling someone fat was very insulting.

      Vixie then asked out of the blue, "Do you think it's time for me to get a fur trim?"

     Natalia answered awkwardly, "Um... I don't know. Do you need one?"

     Vixie stretched out her arm. "Alright, stick your hand in my floof, and tell me if you think there's too much."

     Natalia felt weird as if she were about to touch a blob of fat when her hand got completely buried in Vixie's fur. But to her surprise, when her hand touched Vixie's skin, Vixie was quite solid. Natalia then asked, "How do you have so much floof?"

     Vixie sat down on the couch with Natalia while keeping her voice down as to not wake everyone up, "I'm an arctic fox where we naturally have thick fur. And I'll take your answer as a sign I need to get a fur trim. Because like the Tanukis say, 'I'm not fat. I'm fluffy.' Say, I don't have to see my boss Inari tomorrow nor have any work to do, so why don't you, me, Titania, and Dixie have a girl's day out after I get my fur trimmed? I also don't mind if you want to fluff my floof before I cut it off. Titania seemed to be enjoy it quite a bit earlier."

      "Well, you sure are fluffy. It must get hot in the summer time with all that floof. But besides that, how are you so comfortable with letting strangers into your house?"

     Vixie tapped the side of her head with one of her claws. "I have a limited clairvoyance, so I can partially see what's on your mind and in your heart. My boss Inari has me use it to screen candidates for high positions of authority after they pass all civil examinations with flying colors which she has dubbed the 'Vixie test'. And you seem trustworthy, even with the best illusion magic of any Tanuki I've ever seen. I've rarely seen a Tanuki make an impeccable disguise beyond just the visuals without using a leaf. Had you used a leaf, you might have completely fooled me. Also, my mentor, Fr. Victor as you know him, knows you quite well and has talked a lot about you to me. He says you saved his life multiple times and showed yourself to be a very selfless person. So, we're not complete strangers. Plus, I have so much floof I don't turn the heater on at night, and I don't want you to get cold. So I left the heater at a higher temperature tonight and just opened my window while I let my husband snuggle my floof. Which reminds me... I should get back to bed before my husband gets cold. Goodnight Natalia."

     "Goodnight Mrs. Reddington."

     "You can just call me Vixie. And if you're having trouble sleeping, I can brush my tails across your head and put a sleeping spell on you, so you're well rested in the morning."

     "Alright Vixie. Please do. Otherwise, I probably won't fall asleep until 3am."