Feer

Winter - Noon

After quitting from her pondering self, she surveys the surroundings again, as if anything could have changed. Yet it did, the low noise and humming of the city starts anew, kids and parents, old folk and sharply dressed young women as well as men move around in another frenzy. Some are finishing the day, some are starting it now... and some are merely taking a break. 

Her antlers touch the low hanging branches of a willow tree as she jumps down. Some plump dressed kids laugh and play around the park as she walks along the path. They are building a snowmen and, by the look of it, are going all hand on deck with unmatched teamwork. A slightly bigger, that the other kids, girl barks orders as she gathers more snow whilst the other three kids follow them by the letter. 

The fox stops to watch for a short while, yet the high-pitched voice rasps and gnaws at her ears until she is forced to leave.

In another corner of the park, a boy sits on a bench , looking at the other kids playing. He is looking gloom and pondering something. This intrigues the fox to walk closer, to see what this kit is struggling with, in an almost maternal instinct. 

As she comes closer, the boy's face slowly turns from sadness to a puzzled look. Some would describe it as terror, yet he sat there frozen. The fox sits in front of him, almost seeing eye to eye, yet being just a bit short of it.

"What is it, kit?", she whispers tilting her head and scraping the paved stones underneath with the point of the antlers.
"I, I... What... What are you?", he asks trying to overcome the innate fear of this beast in front of him
"I understand, fear not...", she responds swiftly, "Not hurting, I intend", she continues in the same manner
Feeling a bit better, the kid extends his hand to pat this being. With newfound joy he exclaims, still whispering, "Tree puppy! You are so fluffy!". He stands up to get closer.
"You are so big, wowi..", he continues... "Do you want to play? Please say you want to play...", he mutters unable to hold his excitement.

He explains how to play tag to the fox and they start playing around an empty side of the park. He is chasing the fox that moves with grace through the snow, yet noticing he is nowhere near, she slows her pace so he can win after a bit more chasing. "You are so fast, but I got you!", he exclaims as he starts to laugh.
"Very nimble, small kit!", she responds with the same bubbly energy. "My turn?", she continues.

They play a few more rounds, as much as the little legs of the kid can go. And after a good hour, they sit on a bench again. "This was so fun! Thank you! The other kids seem to not want to play with me, yet you did! You are so cool", he says between taking deep breaths. The fox only turns her head and smiles, she is content and while she did temper her speed, she is too out of breath. 

"Will you come come home? We can play more... well... after I do my homework *pouts*" , he asks, facing the fox straight on, putting on the same big eyes a puppy would
"Alas, I will, kit!", she responds, like an aunt that wants to be left alone yet finds great joy in playing with the nieces and nephews
He is overjoyed and hugs the fox by the neck, a bit tightly, yet lets go quickly. They move out of the park and between the great concrete blocks. She walks behind him, with the same gentle steps, as he moves along in his boots.