Mama Fox

<Nori>

She was really holding out well.

Staring at her sweet little sister who was sitting across the room, Nori smiled. Currently, the cute soon-to-be mother was focused on reading a book. Pretending not to notice Nori’s presence within the room. Her relaxed posture, neutral expression and straight shoulders would’ve convinced just about anyone she was calm… if not for the fact she kept subtly stealing glances at Nori, she, herself, might’ve believed that as well. Zuzu had been on that same page for the last twenty minutes of reading.

‘Should I go for that next?’

That would be quite funny.

A simple reason like potential paper cuts would be enough to justify taking the book.

Nori fell into thought.

‘…I guess I could let her have this’

She already banned Zuzu from doing everything else.

Taking this away would be a little too mean considering it won’t substantially change the situation.

Zuzu wasn’t likely to take the bait from that alone.

'She's finally starting to mature’

There was a notable difference in behaviour. From the chores she willingly took on and did to the increased tolerance of skinship—dramatic even by Cleo’s standards—there was a visible positive change in Zuzu’s behaviour. Her world-famous anger was slower to ignite, and even when it did, it didn’t burn with quite the same intensity as in the past. If Nori had treated Zuzu the way she was currently but a short year ago, the house would have burnt down a long time ago.

…The change was a bit sad to witness, although inevitable.

Zuzu was young, incredibly young. She was yet to even develop her second tail or journey the world in self-discovery. It wasn’t but a short minute ago that Nori was changing her diapers and teaching her the ways of the world. All that to say, given how young Zuzu was, her rapid change was to be expected as she experienced more life. A good thing, going by the present maturity she was demonstrating. Zuzu was without a doubt going to need that moving forward.

…Honestly speaking, Nori hadn’t expected her to get pregnant so quickly. The small gift she bequeathed Cleo was supposed to be a small joke to fluster her. To think it may have been a contributing factor was a bit… crazy. Kitsune rarely got pregnant, and most that did were at least three tails old. As it stood right now, Zuzu was most likely the youngest Kitsune alive to have gotten pregnant. So young, in fact, that she would be considered in the same cohort as her children. All developing their new tails at around the same time.

Nori continued to stare at her little sister, still pretending to read on the couch.

Her eyes narrowing at her midsection.

Perhaps due to the fact they were three, Zuzu’s pregnancy was already noticeable.

Even with the loose clothes covering her, a faint bulge was visible on a small frame.

Time was running out.

The children part of the next generation of royals were going to be born soon.

A familiar desire welled up at that thought.

‘I need to take her home before it’s too late’

The children simply could not be born here. It went without saying, but this village was wholly unfit. Everything important that one would need for a pregnancy were not available. The only healer present wasn’t knowledgeable in Kitsune pregnancies and completely unable to attend all hours of the day. Most importantly, the security in place was severely lacking. Sure, Cleo was here to look after Zuzu, but even she wasn’t able to do it all hours of the day—often taking off to work in the morning and arriving in the afternoon. And that was only accounting for the external threats. Nori may have purposely gone overboard this week, but her concerns weren’t all a ruse. Threats of tripping, falling or accidental injury were very real.

She may have cooled her reaction to the news of the pregnancy in order not to overwhelm Zuzu, but don’t be fooled.

Nori was extremely worried, as much as she was excited for it.

Never before had there been triplets in the Royal family.

A pregnancy this precious, this unique, needed to be protected.

Something Zuzu doesn’t seem to really grasp.

Nori sighed.

She still didn’t know exactly why Zuzu was being so stubborn about heading back.

Given how much noise she made when informed she’d be living here, you’d think she’d be excited to go back.

“Zuzu!” (N)

“…What?” (Z)

Seeing Zuzu finally look and make direct eye contact, Nori’s smile widened.

“Don’t you know the hungry fox doesn't consult the poultry? They simply dine.” (N)

A moment of silence passed as Zuzu looked on dumbfounded.

“Huh?” (Z)

“You shouldn’t be so cold to Cleo.” (N)

Nori proceeded to make an exaggerated kissing gesture.

One that instantly set Zuzu off.

“I-I will never partake in such a lascivious act!” (Z)

Her face reddened as she quickly got up and dashed into the bedroom.

…Yeah, Nori may not know exactly why Zuzu refused to leave, but she did have an idea.

Private time with your lover wasn’t a thing during a pregnancy in tradition.

And given how they both kept to themselves this week, it may be the sole thing on their minds.

Regardless, that wasn’t reason enough not to do things correctly.

Nori rested her on the dining table.

Zuzu going back to the Palace wasn’t an outcome she was willing to leave to chance.

She was going to make it happen no matter what.

A change of strategy was needed.

Nori’s current plan would take a few more valuable weeks to bear fruit. An unexpected consequence of Zuzu's increasingly tolerant nature. In order to cut that time down, she would need to do something a little drastic. Attack a critical point to swiftly end this farce. Luckily for Nori, if there was one thing Zuzu was, it was full of weaknesses. The biggest of which would follow her words to the tee. Zuzu may now be able to tolerate a lot, but this would no doubt irritate enough to make her concede her loss.

Nori chuckled at the thought.

However will her dear sister respond?

“We need to get rid of her, now!” (Z)

A dreadful foreboding had taken Zuri the entire day.

It was late in the night, and still unable to shake it, he quietly paid a visit to Cleodora.

"She's plotting something. I just know it!” (Z)

That evil, sinister smile his sister wore was still transfixed in his mind.

What plan was so great that she would have the confidence to repeatedly laugh in his face!?

“…Aren’t you being a bit too harsh?” (C)

A short, soft whisper answered.

Incredulous at her response, Zuri pressed forward.

“I’m most certainly not! You know very well what she’s like.” (Z)

Eyeing Cleodora with suspicion, he posed a simple question.

“Don’t tell me you’ve already fallen for her ploy so easily?” (Z)

“I haven’t… It’s just that she hasn’t done anything wrong.” (C)

Another soft whisper was given in response, albeit a lot more earnest sounding than before.

“…Is that so?” (Z)

“She’s only trying to help.” (C)

Cleodora raised her hands in mock defence.

“You call what she’s doing ‘help’?” (Z)

Sure, if observed in a vacuum, what she was doing could be seen as helping. Preparing meals, cleaning around and generally taking care of the chores wasn’t unhelpful. Unfortunately, they weren’t in a vacuum! Nori wasn’t merely doing this out of the goodness of her heart. She was doing this, along with Fox guarding him, all in order to pressure Zuri into going back to the Palace. It was clear as day! And now that that didn’t work, she was angling from some other crude way.

Zuri looked at Cleodora.

It was hard to explain all that in a way that didn’t come off like conspiracy talk.

Zuri’s family had a super positive opinion regarding Cleodora, and Cleodora, conversely, had a super positive opinion of them. If Zuri wanted her help in taking his sister out, he would have to explain it in a way Cleodora would care about. For, as much as he wished it not to be true, there was no way he could realistically beat his Nori alone.

He needed to point out the negatives that matter most to Cleodora.

He needed to make her want to act.

…So, he did.

“We haven’t gone on a single date since she arrived.” (Z)

He pointed at all the negatives.

“Nor have a proper conversation by ourselves.” (Z)

Every last one of them.

“It’s… It’s been an entire week since you’ve had some proper relief.” (Z)

The conversation hit a long lull after Zuri spoke in the last one.

Finally resuming after he managed to shed all the built-up embarrassment.

“If this continues, we’ll find ourselves back at the Palace. Do you want that?” (Z)

“…No.” (C)

Cleodora looked up at him.

Any semblance of her usual bravado melted away.

She gripped her nightgown and then posed a question while throwing her gaze to the side.

“Zuri… do you want to go back to the Palace?” (C)

Zuri paused.

There, in the pitch darkness of the night, he felt a familiar emotion take hold. Stirred by the pathetic image laid before his eyes, he felt his mind slow. The sweet, tantalising scent he had been trying his damndest to ignore suddenly felt overwhelming. Zuri’s vision started dancing as an odd question came to mind: Did that fool always wear such little clothing when going to sleep?

Why was her neck exposed?

“…Zuri?” (C)

A voice called, muffled but strong enough to break the trance.

“No, obviously not! Why would I want to go back there?” (Z)

Turning his face away, Zuri cursed at himself.

He had lost himself… again.

To her of all people.

‘Tch’

Also, what kind of question was that!?

Given what was in store, there was a worse version of here that would be the equivalent of signing off on his death.

As Zuri was about to emphasise this with a few choice words, Cleodora spoke.

A bright smile donned on her face.

“I’ll handle this.” (C)