[h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
The white haired fellow's attempt to get the fox to drop the bag was to command it to do so.  Normally even Novak, someone who was making a fool out of himself to try to talk to a fox, would've found it silly and a bit odd, but there was something strange about his words, something oddly compelling about his command.  Was this some form of magic?  Was it the ability that the goddess had given him, just as she had given to Novak?

It didn't really matter, the fox was unaffected.  It did, however, respond to Novak's offer, except it dropped the fish instead of the bag, then darted through a hole into the building.  It was very clear at this point that this fox was far more intelligent than a regular animal, and its actions were definitely not those of a simple beast seeking sustenance.  What Novak didn't understand was what a fox would want with a leather bag of tools.  Fortunately, with the animal having retreated into the building, it'd be a simple matter to corner it and extract the stolen goods from its maw.

[color=ed1c24]"When we get in there, we need to make sure it has way to escape until we get those tools back,"[/color] Novak advised his companion as he walked up to the door.  He picked up the fish on his way there, intent on giving it back to the villager, assuming they wanted it after being dragged around town in a fox's mouth.

Novak opened the door into the building and stepped inside, intent on getting those tools back.  He was actually a little surprised that the fox didn't bolt out as soon as the door opened.  Much more surprising, however, was the scene that awaited the two inside.  At first glance, it appeared to be a storage shed for the fisherman, lined with nets and smelling strongly of fish.  The fox was nowhere to be found, but residing within the shed was a very strange sight.  A fox woman, similar to Misaki but with black hair was lazing atop some boxes.  Judging by the smell of alcohol emanating from her, she was likely drinking.

For a moment Novak was unsure what was going on, until he noticed the color of her eyes and the white fur on the tip of her tail, same as the fox they were chasing.  Was this fox-woman the fox, having changed form?  He knew almost nothing of what sort of magic existed in this world, but after everything he had witnessed in his flight from the place of their rebirth, shapeshifting didn't seem so impossible.  Or perhaps it was an ability tied to the woman's race.  Either way, this would explain why the fox seemed so much smarter than a typical animal.

When the woman finally spoke, she didn't deny that she was a troublemaker, but insisted that she was not the least bit suspicious, which only made Novak think that she was in fact suspicious.  Her insistence that they not tell anyone about her squatting in here, and her rather specific query as to whether or not they were looking for something, only made her look even more suspicious.  Novak wasn't sure what sort of powers the fox woman possessed, but he was pretty sure that if they [i]did[/i] go inform on her, she'd be gone without a trace as soon as anyone came looking.

[color=ed1c24]"Yes, we are in fact looking for something,"[/color] Novak replied, having opted to play along.  [color=ed1c24]"We're looking for a leather bag of tools that a black fox with a white-tipped tail and green eyes stole and ran in here with.  I don't suppose you know where it might be?"[/color]

[@Cu Chulainn][@Rune_Alchemist]