The Fox, Red

037 - The Departure of Uncle Thomas

I roll over in my bed getting a bit too close to the wall. I smack my knee against it hard enough to wake me up. It doesn't hurt, just enough to startle me awake. Rolling over to my back, I stare at the dark ceiling with a little light coming through the window. It's snowed over now. That light dusting sure turned into a full-on snowstorm. Uncle Thomas still better be leaving. I'll drag him through the snow if needed. Now my mind is active.

Sitting up I feel the cold floor under me. The whole place feels chilly actually. The fire went out a long while ago to where it's not just ash and a few orange spots. I don't want to get up but it looks like I'll have to. Anne doesn't seem to be anywhere around. She better be asleep in her bed for once. I'm tired of her spending her time here when she could be sleeping comfortably. Not that I mind her helping me. Just doesn't have to dedicate her entire time to me.

A few new logs were thrown on the fire and a quick puff of flame to get them going sheds a little more light in the room as well. A nice glow that relaxes the heart and eases the mind. That should provide some heat until morning. Makes me wonder just how much it has snowed. To check now would ruin the surprise come sunrise though. Oh what to do?

I stand up once I know the fire took to the fuel nudging into something behind and beside me. "Oh hell!" I reach out grabbing my chair to steady myself. Except I had to stretch out fully to reach the chair. What did I bump into?

My first instinct is to look. Yet I feel that may not be the wisest decision. A small range ping goes through the cabin and there's a full-sized body behind me. Who though? And how did they get in without me hearing them? I can't stall now that I know. I stand turning around to look at the familiar face looking back at me. He's got that stupid smile and those wide eyes just locked on. Something is very off about him. "Uncle Thomas, please leave my cabin."

He doesn't move. He doesn't shake. He just stands there in the flickering light looking at me, "But Red, I just want to see how you are doing. I!"

"Leave! Now! Get your things and walk if you have to!"

He's crossed a line now. His face is washed with disappointment. "Don't you like me Red? We're family! With my mind and your power we could... We could do anything!" There it is again. He keeps letting his desire loose. It's no longer just a want anymore though. It's an obsession. He reaches out getting his smile back, "I just want to help you Red!"

"No! No, you do not!"

"Then let me try at least! We can have..."

"We have nothing! You have a problem! You need to leave! Now!"

He stutters out some random syllables as he goes through a range of emotions on his face. "I just wanted to have power. I just wanted to feel important."

"Then go home, be a good father and husband. You are not welcome here anymore."

"Red! You don't understand! The power of the nine-tailed fox is the desire of our entire family! There isn't anyone who wouldn't want their son or daughter to have that ability."

I know for a fact that's not true. "I watched my dad try not to cry. He knew the burden of this and I've already gotten to see what it brings. And now there's you who thinks they can have it for themselves. If I could, Reed would have this! But as it stands I can't do that." That seemed to break through to him a bit. I have to shatter this broken grasp on reality for him to see that what he's trying to do is asinine. "I just... I just want..."

"We don't always get what we want. I want to be home right now but here I am a thousand miles away. I shouldn't be the one to tell you that you need to grow up."