silent eida.

bread.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the shock and remember that I wasn't a complete loser. "uhm..Hey," I said, my voice sounding softer than I intended. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you."

She flinched at my words, her ears twitching nervously, and I felt my heart twist. It was the same look I had seen too many times in the mirror—fearful, unsure, like she expected the worst. I crouched down, making myself smaller, hoping it would help her feel less scared.

"Are you lost?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The rain had lessened, but the world felt heavy with silence. She didn't respond, just stared at me. It felt like she was searching for something in my face, something I wasn't sure I could give.

I couldn't let her sit out here. "Come inside," I offered, gesturing back toward the house. "It's cold out here."

Her eyes flicked toward the house, then back to me. I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind. Finally, she nodded, a hesitant gesture, and slowly stood up. I could see her shivering, her thin arms wrapped tightly around herself.

I turned, leading the way back to the house, and she followed me closely, her tiny feet making almost no sound on the wet grass. I felt a strange mixture of curiosity and protectiveness wash over me. What was I even doing? I didn't have the first clue about taking care of anyone, let alone a fox girl.

Once we were inside, I quickly shut the door behind us. The warmth of the house enveloped us, but she still looked uneasy, glancing around as if she didn't belong here.

"Do you want a towel or something?" I asked, motioning to the closet by the door. She hesitated but nodded, her ears drooping slightly.

I grabbed a towel and handed it to her, trying not to stare too much at the way her ears perked up as she took it. She began to dry off, and I noticed the way her fingers delicately handled the fabric, almost as if it were something precious.

"Um, I'm Levi," I said, trying to break the ice. "What's your name?" I waited for a response, but she looked at me blankly, like she was trying to process the words.

She said something in a strange language, her voice soft but filled with emotion. It was beautiful in a way, but it only confused me more. I felt stupid, like a toddler trying to talk to a foreign traveler.

"well..- Okay... I guess I'll just call you Fox for now," I said, trying to lighten the mood. She blinked at me, her head tilting slightly, and then she smiled. It was a small, timid smile, but it lit up her face in a way I hadn't expected.

I motioned for her to follow me into the kitchen, where the smell of something cooking still lingered from last night. "Do you want something to eat? I can make a sandwich or something," I offered, my stomach growling as a reminder that I hadn't eaten all day.

She looked at me curiously, her ears perking up again. I rummaged through the fridge, pulling out some bread and cheese. "Um, it's not fancy, but it's food."

As I prepared the sandwich, I glanced back at her. She was watching me.

"Why were you outside?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop myself. Her smile faded, and I instantly regretted asking.

But she didn't look angry or hurt; she just seemed... sad. Her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head, as if she couldn't find the words to explain.

I took a deep breath, suddenly aware of the heavy silence that surrounded us. "You don't have to tell me. I get it—life can suck sometimes," I said, handing her half of the sandwich.

She took it hesitantly, inspecting it like it was a foreign object. I couldn't help but chuckle a little. "It's food. You can eat it," I said, and she took a small bite, her eyes lighting up as the flavors hit her tongue.

"Do you want to stay here for a bit?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself. "I mean, it's better than sitting outside in the rain."

She looked up at me, her golden eyes wide. It was like she was searching for reassurance in my face.

"Seriously, it's fine," I added, feeling a rush of determination. "You can hang out here as long as you want. Just... don't let my mom find you. She'll freak out."