Mama Fox

<Zuri>

There was a snake in the grass.

Lying on his side, Zuri idly stared at the wall.

A single question looming overhead.

…Had she always been that twisted?

The answer that came immediately to Zuri was a quick no. He has known Cleodora since she was a kid. She wasn’t twisted. She was the clingy, weird child who couldn’t muster up even the most basic of courage. Dumb and shy, Zuri, for the lack of a better word, often took advantage of her for entertainment. Playing pranks, scaring the easily frightened her, and ordering her around were the daily routine they established.

Looking back, one could say he might’ve been excessively cruel.

But!

In his defence, Zuri hadn’t been the most mentally sound back then. He had still been grieving the loss of his old life. Because, while as magnificent as this life was, Zuri still missed the treasures he had so painstakingly amassed. To die, lose them all, and know he has no chance of getting them back used to fill him with a rage like no other. A rage that found its outlet in messing with Cleodora.

…That was a story for another time, though.

Getting back on track, Cleodora hadn’t seemed twisted back then. At first glance, she appeared perfectly normal—kind, even. But there were moments that didn’t sit right. Zuri would be lying if he said some of her actions hadn’t left him speechless. Like the time he discovered her quietly keeping a collection of his shed fur, or when she broke down sobbing for an entire day because someone joked about him getting married.

“Ek!” (Z)

Zuri’s ruminations crashed to a halt as he felt a tug on his tail.

Throwing off the blankets he was wrapped in, he came face-to-face with a familiar bum.

“You! You know that are sensitive!” (Z)

He hissed out a complaint.

‘Ugh! I thought I locked the doors?’

After Cleodora had disappeared off yesterday to do Gods knows what, Zuri decided to call it a day. It was already evening, and there wasn’t much to do. He locked down the entire house (yes, the front door included) in order to get some peace. Tell him why morning comes and there’s a rat sleeping in his bed?

“How did you get inside?” (Z)

“Your tail is sensitive as ever, hehe?” (C)

Cleodora blatantly ignored Zuri’s question and continued caressing his tail.

The desire to burn her to ash grew, but not only would that be ineffective, it would ruin the sheets for nothing.

Zuri decided to go for the more diplomatic approach.

“I demand you release—Mmm!” (Z)

An abrupt tug caused an electric shock to travel around Zuri’s body.

He swiftly covered his mouth with both hands.

‘…What was that sound?’

It sounded feminine in a way Zuri was not open to.

He didn’t get to ponder the thought long, though, as another tug caused him to give a muffled squeal.

“L-Let go!” (Z)

The already meagre strength Zuri possessed was rapidly fading as Cleodora continued to tug at his tail. She pulled him closer and closer to her while working her way down the tail. Zuri, for his part, didn’t just let this happen. When it became evident that his hands alone weren’t enough to push off her, he resorted to using his legs. Kicking and flailing as much as he could.

“I worked so hard yesterday and came home so late…. It was supposed to be our first night together, and we didn’t even do anything.” (C)

A deep sense of foreboding overtook Zuri the closer he got to Cleodora.

His strength was weakening, and she showed not even the slightest sign of letting go.

Zuri found himself pulled along to the point he was right up against her.

And that’s when it happened.

He felt a hand work its way down from the tip of his tail to its base. Threading along their length with disturbing care and a soft touch. The hand eventually reached the base and then suddenly went… lower. It only lasted for a split second, but that was a second too long for Zuri. He beat away the hand that had dared to grip his rear with strength he didn’t know he had.

He pushed off Cleodora and scrambled to the other side of the bed before falling off entirely due to his haste.

Sitting on the ground, he stared up at her.

“What’s wrong with you!?” (Z)

Cleodora didn’t immediately respond, simply gazing at her hand with a profound look.

She did this for a bit while Zuri got up from the ground and dusted himself off.

It was a damn good thing he usually wore clothes to bed.

“…Erm, I got a little carried away there, hehe.” (C)

The joyful persona that had slipped through her earlier mutterings returned.

“Please come back to bed, my love. I won’t do anything.” (C)

“Hell no!” (Z)

Turning away from the bed, Zuri made a straight beeline to the door.

“W-Wait, my love!” (C)

Seeing him run, Cleodora tried to get off as well, but, tangled up in sheets, she tripped and landed on the ground hard. It was then Zuri noticed something quite peculiar about her pathetic form. Anybody would notice such a thing given how much it stood out, and it is surprising that Zuri had failed to notice this sooner.

The distinct lack of clothing wasn’t something people generally could hide well after all.

‘She really is just a damn pervert!’

Hidden under the sheets was a tent propped up high.

So much for not doing anything to him!

Unlocking the door, Zuri made his great escape.

He needed to find a way to redomesticate this animal!

The morning air was quite refreshing.

This was perhaps the only advantage living deep in the mountains surrounded by forest gave a person.

Walking down the dirt path, Zuri scowled as he watched his lovely, silk-white robe get covered up in grime.

“Please don’t make that face. I’m sorry, really.” (C)

Beside him was, of course, Cleodora, who had been apologising since they left the house. Zuri naturally wasn’t inclined to forgive, but even if he were, he couldn’t be sure the apology itself was genuine. It was just yesterday she was forcing him to kiss her and crossing off whatever was in her little book.

Zuri briefly side-eyed Cleodora.

It was clear something deep about her had changed.

He didn’t know what game she was playing at.

Before he used to have a faint inkling; now he had nothing.

“Can we just forget about this?” (C)

“No.” (Z)

The walk to the village continued in silence.

Given what Cleodora had attempted to do, Zuri’s first impulse should have been to run straight home, report the offence, and dissolve the marriage. Instead of escaping, however, he found himself accompanying the fool to buy food, simply because the cottage was bare. The reason for this absurdity was painfully simple: his family would never believe him. As much as he hated to admit it, his own family held a laughably low opinion of him; a reputation built on childhood antics and his refined enjoyment of the finer things in life. If he, the one openly opposed to the marriage, showed up claiming, ‘The infallible hero tried to make a move on me,’ he’d be shipped back faster than the words could leave his mouth.

“Why the hell were you even in my bed…?” (Z)

“Isn’t it normal for the married to sleep together? You are my wife.” (C)

Cleodora smiled brightly at Zuri as they continued to walk.

Not in the mood to fight the claim, he continued in silence.

…There was also another reason Zuri didn’t try reporting Cleodora.

As much trouble as she currently was, he still felt a path forward. There was no doubt Cleodora had changed, but Zuri was of the belief that no matter how a person changed, they were always still fundamentally the same. He was living proof of this logic after all. It was this same logic that caused him to stay. So, what if she was the hero now? So, what if she was capable of projecting bravery? Zuri knew her fundamental self. He knew her well. A weak crybaby who was scared to be by herself.

Zuri peeked at Cleodora.

It didn’t matter what game she was playing at.

He would win it and turn her back into what she once was.

A loyal, hapless follower.