ONE OF TWO. - razor

Chapter Ten

It was midway through his third week with the Forest Watchers and Rangers – he assumed, he wasn't entirely certain of the time that went by – when he caught a whiff of something new in the humid morning air upon heading to Tighnari's hut for his daily check-up. It had rained during the night so his sandals splashed in the shallow puddles that remained in the grooves and dips of the worn wooden planks, regrettably giving away his approach.

He heard a voice before quiet fell once he stopped outside the door, one that tickled at a part of his brain, its owner stowed away in the recesses rendered foggy by time. The tone, the scent – they both tugged at his memory, but while his eyebrows furrowed in thought and his feet remained firmly planted outside the door, it opened and he was torn out of his attempts at recollection by Tighnari's weary smile.

"Good morning, Razor," He greeted politely, his figure blocking the boy's view of inside, "How are you feeling?"

Razor's eyes, attentive, glided over the fox man's appearance to assure he was alright – there was definitely someone else in the hut, he just had to determine if they were a threat or not. But Tighnari's straight cut bob was as immaculate as ever; his outfit, consisting of a navy hoodie layered over a fitted top and draped across and around by colourful sashes, was perfectly in place; his mid-forearm gloves were spotless; the bright yellow flower on his right pectoral was vivid in colour; and his calf-length boots were scuffed from use but freshly cleaned. From what little peeked out between his shoes and short, wide trousers, and from between his left glove and his one short sleeve, his golden skin was free of injury. Even his bushy tail seemed to be just groomed.

So he was safe, Razor decided, yet this didn't sedate his curiosity completely.

Tighnari's head tilted minutely as the boy grew late on his reply, clearly distracted by attempting to peer over the man's shoulders and beyond his figure.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, baffled by the strange behaviour, but Razor was quick to shake his head.

"I, am fine. Is Forest Teacher, also?" Tighnari didn't seem to understand what he was referring to so he made to clarify, stepping closer in a conspiratory manner to quietly speak again, "There is someone new here. Safe?"

A light flickered on within Tighnari's eyes once everything clicked together, an amused chuckle subsequently leaving him as he stepped aside.

"I stood in the way out of habit, I'm sorry I made you worry," He finally spoke, voice still lilted by mirth, "I'm safe. The person I'm with is actually the one you were meant to meet. He came especially to see you, if that's alright."

Razor stilled, his soles flattening upon the ground as he dropped from his tiptoes. His sight remained strained on the man who he'd come to trust, his pulse beginning to speed up as he processed what he was told.

The person he was meant to meet? Someone came to see him specifically?

His jaw tensed but Tighnari was still smiling at him, one hand now urging the boy to enter the hut. Steeling himself, Razor stepped in and the familiar scent was intense enough to unseal the door that stowed away the memory of where and when he'd smelt it before.

"It's nice to see you on your feet and healthy."

Razor startled, belatedly spotting the man who stood beside Tighnari's desk and stepped towards him so silently that Razor doubted he'd have been aware of him had he not spoken.

It was the man who had saved him – the one who'd brought him to Gandharva Ville.

"My name is Cyno," He introduced himself flatly, yet his voice was softer than Razor recalled, almost as though he attempted to sound amicable and pose no threat, "I'm the Junior Lisa wanted you to meet, though fate had us cross paths in a more... roundabout manner."