Exposed

Trust Issues

"Joey?" Ki thought.

"I knew you'd be able to hear me! Where are you? Jae and the others returned without you."

"I don't know. I'm somewhere with other kitsune."

"Other kitsune? Why? How'd you get there and why'd they leave you behind?"

"They didn't leave me behind. I can't talk about this right now Joey. Tell Jae that I'm alright and to keep working to keep the pack safe."

Joey tried to keep the conversation, but gave up when Ki stopped answering. With a sigh, Joey searched through the cave for Jae. Making eye contact with him, Jae moved towards Joey.

"Did it work?"

"Yes, she can hear me. She said to tell you that she's fine and that we should focus on the pack," Joey spoke carefully, as Jae had been on edge since he returned.

"Ki is part of the pack. We need to focus on finding her."

"Jae, that's not what she wants...and I think you know that."

"I know, but I need her to be here! This won't work unless she's here," Jae yelled, drawing attention to them.

"What won't work unless she's here?"

"That's not for you to know."

"We can find another way, whatever it is."

"Just drop it, Joey. Try to get ahold of her again and find out where she is."

Joey nodded, and backed away from Jae who was fuming.

"We will find Ki," Mason said, walking up behind Jae, " but for now we should focus on making sure everyone here is safe and secure. Once everything is more stable, we can make larger search teams."

"You don't understand. She's the last one. Depending on what she does all of this will be over. I can't let her end me."

"What are you talking about?"

"All you need to know for now is that we need her here."

Walking over to the tunnel they had started making, Jae asked everyone to take a break. He walked down to the end of it and shifted. He dug his claws into the earth and pushed his paws down further. His paws felt cool from the dirt as he pulled it from its resting place. His muscles flexed as he began to pick up speed, throwing dirt behind him. He couldn't believe he had been overpowered so easily. He hated himself for letting Ki go without a real fight. A low growl came from his throat as his anger was really starting to come out now. The dirt flew around him, the tunnel getting closer to the surface. He could remember her as a newborn. A little kit, just for him to protect. His little sister, who he was to teach and care for. Who he was supposed to be loyal to above all others. Her smiling face filled his head. The joy he brought her almost all of her life. Their precious moments together were priceless and irreplaceable. Then, came the look of horror and tears running down her face. Jae whimpered at the memories. He screwed up and he knew it. He was basically the runt of the litter and could never do anything right. Even now, he had lost Ki and his plan was in ruins. 

His paws rested on the earth with a thud. Jae panted, upset and frustrated. He turned around to find a pile of displaced dirt blocking his way. The swiped it out of his path and walked back through into the large cave. He shook dirt off of his coat and went to find Mason.

                                                      「」「」「」

"How's your reading coming along?" Helena interrupted Ki's thoughts.

"Really well, actually. Who knew I wrote this much," Ki spoke slowly, still reading the page.

"Well, everyone," Helena chuckled, "Most of the books in here are just your journals. Your experiences and knowledge. Ready to be passed down."

"I can't remember writing these, or that I've ever been so articulate."

"Oh trust me, you are. You're an incredible writer, except some of us do need the assistance of a dictionary every so often."

"There's so much about our abilities," Ki said looking up from her book.

"Well, sort of. Most of it is about your abilities. Being a river kitsune and all that. Everyone craves information about that."

"You mentioned something about that before to. That I had a connection to the water and everyone looking up to me for it."

"Yeah, the river kitsune were wiped out a long time ago."

"How?" Ki turned her chair to face Helena.

"No one knows the full story; we're still trying to find all the information. It's along the lines of challenging the gods and them not being so thrilled about it."

"They killed us all because we challenged them?" Ki asked in disbelief.

"Water is the source of life, and the kistunes' control over it was frightening to them. Some of the river kistune tried to use it as leverage over the gods, but instead it just got them murdered. And had the gods working hard to make sure another was never born or reborn."

"Then-"

"How were you born?"

"Yes."

"Suijin made it happen."

"What? I thought you said he was the bad guy," Ki's eyes squinted as she became skeptical.

"I told you we don't have all the information. All I know is that one day you were just a kitsune and then you met Suijin. Now, you're the only known river kitsune still alive."

"I'm going to continue reading. Thank you for checking on me, Helena."

Ki turned back around and heard Helena slip out. Looking back down on the page she felt another headache coming on.

I will put this in simple terms for the oncoming future. The water will heal you. It will wash away the impurities and leave you with the truth. Do not let them fool you. You've lost all contact with the spirit world. The gods cannot be trusted. Andre cannot be trusted; he will not reveal to you his secrets. Until he does, be wary of him. The den is your only safe space, but do not get too comfortable with these foxes. They are still foxes. The end is near. Decide the path you will take and go forth without hesitation. 

Ki let out a sigh and closed her eyes. A warning note was not what she was looking for, but at least she had some answers. She couldn't really trust anyone. She was alone.

"Ki? Please, don't ignore me. Jae and everyone is really worried about you."

At the sound of Joey's voice a weight was lifted off of Ki's chest. She wasn't alone. There was no warning against Joey. Maybe he's the key to getting through this.