Kitsuna’s ears were flat against her skull and her face changed from one of cheer to a standoffish, distant look as she did not meet Ren’s eyes. Her claws dug small grooves into the soft earth as the silence between them dragged on.

“So can you read minds as well as control shadows?” Her voice was lofty. “If you wanted to know I did have a vague notion of heading into the town, yes for curiosities sake but also to see if I could find any information regarding the people who used you and the others.” She paused to gently lick a paw. “You know I am not powerless nor without any forms of defence. You indeed should know this.” Again she paused to lick the other paw as her face softened and her eyes found his. “You’re not the only one who has someone they care for and want to protect and help. And don’t mistake me, I appreciate your care but … but I don’t think you can survive this … or him … alone.”

She stood and walked over to him circling him quickly at a trot then sitting down in front of him, her white coat catching the starlight. “Plus this is not the form I would have taken to go into the town, I am no fool, I have been caught by humans in this shape before remember, the first time we met.”

With a small poof and a puff of smoke Kitsuna suddenly disappeared and in here place stood a woman who looked no more than 18. She was small and slim like the wolf; her hair was of palest blonde, eyes of brightest blue. She was clothed simply in a dress of deep blue which was covered in patterns like her coat. Looking down at herself Kitsuna smiled at the perfection of her change, ten fingers, ten toes and no tail … that part was new, her old transformations had been imperfect and she had retained some vestiges of the wolf including tails and sometimes ears.

In another moment there was another poof and she was back to her normal form, standing as she had been in front of Ren.

“That is a lot easier to do now.” She said with a smile.