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Nocturne Fuwa breathed in the pungent scent of autumn’s chill—it smelled of crackling campfires and fallen leaves—and if he could’ve bottled that scent up as a cologne and wear it year round, he would. The cream-pelted fox trotted through the fields he’d been calling home, roughing it like a nomad, taking a dive into a brand new adventure. He didn’t mind the gypsy life as much as he’d thought; being alone could be nice, all that wonderful silence, but…sometimes he got lonely and wished for someone to call his. Or maybe he was just a hopeless romantic. He grinned at the thought.

Pausing, his fluff of a tail bobbing behind him, his ears keened to the rushing sound of water. A river and he realized that his mouth was dry so he set off with new resolve—only to stumble across a muddy, sopping mess of a fox…were those nine tails? He paused, pale eyes taking her in, before he crept a little closer. Was she still alive? Goddess, what would he do if he stumbled over a dead noodle? Ears pinned back, he crept another foot closer to realize she was shivering and he relaxed; not dead then.

Reaching out, he placed a paw on her damp shoulder, giving a little nudge. “Hey. Chick, you okay?” He frowned and sat down. It was cold out and she was soaking wet and she was going to catch a cold. He wished he could bring her a cup of hot cocoa or herbal tea; but that was Nox, ever-the-gentleman.

He waited, poised silent and still, watching her, unaware that she found him creepy. He was trying to do the right thing—he didn’t want something mean to come up and eat her or something. And if he could prevent her from getting sick, he would. That was just the kinda guy he was, putting everyone else before himself. So he sat, his ears folded back, taking relief in the way she breathed. Well at least she wasn’t dying or dead, so that was a plus.

He couldn’t get over her tails—nine tails, a kitsune from legends he’d only ever heard about. He had no idea that she was a Pokemon—he’d never heard of them before—so he settled on the fact that maybe she was part goddess or something. –Or kumiho—his mind taunted him, but he shoved the darker thoughts away; Kumiho were fox-girls who would seduce you and feast on your heart.

His suspicions were confirmed as she opened a crimson eye at him, looking thoroughly annoyed, and asked him what he wanted. Had she been a kumiho, wouldn’t she have been all over the damsel-in-distress routine? “Heyyy there,” he said softly, tipping his head to the side at her question. “Er, no. I’m going to say you look like a hot mess. But you already knew that part so…” He offered a tiny smile, though it slipped away at her next question. “What do you mean, what do I want? I want to make sure you’re okay and not dying or something equally bad.” His ears folded back, then pricked again. “Do you… Would you like help?”

He could tell she wasn’t sure about him—from the way the energies around her crackled, both annoyed and huffy with his presence even though he wasn’t sure WHY. He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong or bad. Maybe she’d just had a crappy day. He could understand that. But he didn’t judge her and he didn’t pity her, he just wanted to help her find a happier, warmer place to be. She looked so…discontent and it made him sad. Maybe that was because he was empathic, picking up on other’s emotions just by being near them. It was both a gift and a curse, but for some reason, the Goddess had brought him here and there was always a reason for it.

Seeing the bug skittering along in her fur and her sudden shock and panic at seeing the bug, he reached out and with a deft paw, plucked it out. “There we go. One time when I was a kit, a spider decided to take up residence in my ear… The most terrifying thing I’ve ever gone through,” he admitted with a slightly sheepish grin; he hated spiders over all other bugs—their eight legs and multiple eyes gave him the heebie jeebies!

She seemed confused to why a perfect stranger would want to help her and it confused him. Who wouldn’t stop to help a fox in need? Nocturne felt that it was something all people should do—be caring and helpful when they could be. “Yeah,” he said, his smile softening. “Why? Is that a bad thing? Should I not want to help you?” He blinked and flicked his tail, then looked down at his feet feeling a rush of nerves jump on his heart like fleas. “You can come back to my place to clean up and maybe you could stay for a cup of something warm. I don’t want you to catch a cold…”

He laughed, soft. “Yeaaah it wasn’t even a big spider, but I freaked out and ran around until it fell off, then I got the heck out of there. And…it died, but I didn’t land the killing blow. Spider guts between my toes sounds so…ugh.” A shiver wormed down his spine at the thought and he shook his head to rid himself the thoughts of it. “But the main point is--it died and I was able to eventually fall asleep again.” Not without his stuffed husky “Guard Dog” but that wasn’t exactly pertinent information you told a pretty--albeit mud-coated--girl with nine beautiful tails. Not that he was interested.

Okay, maybe a little interested. Shut up brain, he thought, cracking another silly grin as if he was afraid the other fox could hear what he was thinking and he was embarrassed about it. He straightened up at her question. Siblings. “I have two, actually. A sister and a brother, both of them younger than me--they inherited Father’s wings so they look like giant bats. Pretty cool if you ask me.” At that, his angelic wings spread milky feathers and he gave them a fluff. “I don’t live with them at the moment, but we’re close and I love them.” He tilted his head, curiosity getting the better of him. “What about you? Do you have siblings?”

As she agreed to come back with him to his little place--which wasn’t much but she could at least get warm--he nodded in the direction towards the field. “Come along, then. I’ve been told my hot cocoa is pretty good,” he admitted. And then he paused, realizing he was missing something vital. Puffing his chest out, he offered a paw. “Oh! I’m Nocturne, by the way. Most everyone calls me Nox.”

“Cute,” he echoed, a smile toying at his lips. “Well thanks.” He wasn’t antisocial, not by a long-shot, but he tended to be alone more than he wanted to be…and sometimes that loneliness wedged itself into his heart and made him feel like he was the only person in the big, wide world. He found himself smiling at her, hoping he didn’t look like a giant creeper, but damn, she was cute and interesting and…he kind of wanted to know her. If she would let him, that is. So he’d start with a cup of cocoa and some light conversation and if it lead into something like friendship? He wasn’t against that.

When she spoke of his siblings, and then hers, she felt distant, far off and away from him. He looked at her, his smile slipping away into a look of solemnity. “I’m sorry about that,” he said. “But sometimes family isn’t all about blood, you know? Like…” Damnit, he was bumbling over his words! He tried to compose himself… “Sometimes, the people you need and love most in life, aren’t your real family at all…but yet they are. You know? And someday—not to be forward or anything—you’re gonna find the perfect guy and fall head over heels and he’ll become your everything, your reason for life…and then who knows? Maybe you’ll have true family.” He smiled, glancing down at his hands and then back up at her. “So. Cocoa. This way.” With a flick of his tail, he took off towards his little cabin.

“Emmeline?” He liked it, it had a musical ring to it. “I’m pleased to meet your acquaintance.” They walked for a little while before a small cabin came into view, rustic and old from years of lack of upkeep before he got ahold of it, but it was home and he loved it. He held the door open for her, welcoming her inside, which was warm and smelled of the bean soup he’d put on the crockpot. “Make yourself at home,” he told her, gathering ingredients to make his famous cocoa. When he’d finished, he poured her a steaming cup and pressed it into her hands, then grabbed a towel out of the bathroom. “You’re welcome to take a shower; bathroom’s down the hall.”

The warmth of his cabin surrounded him, like a friend wrapping their arms around his shoulders and welcoming him home. The idea of someone growing up in a home where they weren’t loved, where their siblings weren’t that close…it made his heart ache. His family might not’ve been the cuddliest, sweetest family? But they loved him and his siblings and hey, that was enough. And to know that someday, yes--he would “grow up” and find a girl and fall in love and make her his mate, and they would have beautiful kits…the idea warmed him with hope and with love. He wanted to give this, his home and his heart, to a family.

Someday. He was still young, he didn’t have to run out and start a family right now and while he knew this…sometimes he wished he could prod time to hurry up. He was a happy Noodle, always had been, but he had the feeling that the love he could give a girl and the love he would receive in return, would make his life perfect.

Emmeline wasn’t the only one who could be lost in her own thoughts and when she thanked him for holding the door open, he just smiled. That was the thing with Nocturne--he saw the good in people, even if they were prickly and covered in grime. But edges could be softened, grime would be washed away...

He leaned back against the counter and sipped his cocoa while she scurried off to shower and soon the sound of the running water going through the pipes filled the house with a gentle hum and despite the fact that this was a girl he’d picked up, quite literally, out of the muck…he was a bit nervous. Not like this was a date, or anything close to that, but… Nope. He wasn’t going to be a bashful kit and bumble over his words. He felt, from just talking with her, that she was lonely…and perhaps she needed a friend, not someone who would chase tail. Not that chasing tail was his game. Now even his thoughts were nervous!

But as she came from the bathroom, her creamy fur clean and shower-damp, Nocturne could only stand and stare. God… She was like a goddess from a different world entirely and he was…a peasant. He blinked, shaking his head before a sheepish smile and the faintness of a blush rose up. “Oh. Here? Well I found this place, it was pretty run down. And…I just fell in love with the aged, rustic look to it. So…I figured out who owned it, saved my pennies to buy it dirt cheap, and fixed it up and now it’s home.” He spread his arms, motioning to the cabin. His head tipped to the side. “Where do you call home?”

Damnit, Nox, he growled inwardly at himself. He'd gazed at her a moment too long and as she looked away, almost bashful, he quickly averted his gaze. Lovely--making girls feel like I'm a creeper, so he made the mental note not to stare at her for too long. Little peeks were okay...as long as he wasn't caught, right? A sheepish grin stole over his face and he ran a hand through his flop of cream hair, giving a little chuckle. "Well thanks," he said, completely honest. "I love the place and hey, it's home."

But as she spoke of home--or rather, her lack of home--that rattled him to the core. A drifter, a vagabond. Was she always alone? Did she like being alone--he didn't, but he was a social creature by nature, even more than the rest of his family. He liked his small group of friends, liked hosting video game sessions and marathons of The Walking Dead. How could she...give up those things? Had she never had them? There went his mind, drifting again. Concerned for the pretty vixen he'd picked up, and it wasn't until she spoke again--asked him a question--that he lifted his head.

"Well. Dad's kind of a rockstar. Mom's kind of a goddess. I don't see my siblings much...around the holidays and such, you know? We get together, or we try to, and it's a little strange sometimes, but it's nice. But, you know. Life happens to get in the way. You know how that goes. But it doesn't mean we're not family." He shrugged, glancing up to catch her eye. "So...forgive me, I'm terribly nosy. Horrible trait, I know, but...do you like living on the road? Like...doesn't it get lonely?"