Chapter 33: The Chocolate Lover Fox

'Turn'

Dorion's attention turned away by their shocked knights looking again straight ahead at the waterfall scenery scanning it.

'....' (Dorion)

Right there by the waterfall nice polished rocks that served as stepping stones way above the water level instantly caught his attention.

If he placed pieces of chocolate in each stepping rock stone placing that at the very center of the waterfall pond there was no way it could get out without struggling.

Sure it could go back retrieving its steps but how long would that take?

It wouldn't be a fool if to go back that way if the Rainers knights who came out of hiding give any motivation for it to head that way.

And if it tried to go past the last stepping rock stone it would most likely have to swim to the end where the waterfall's high rocks blocked it from escaping it, in other words, a dead end.

Placing his knights in other angles would also discourage it from escaping.

"Yeah at this point he's going to end up attracting a wild beast instead of a defenseless fox" (Evan, whispered)

"Haha, animals are no fools how would that even work if they won't fall for that trap" (Rex, whispering)

"I never heard of a fox liking chocolate I would be more concerned if the Duke didn't kill it with that" (Xer, whispered)

"Yeah, I agree at the end we won't get anything and end up killing it like that poor fox" (Uno, whispered)

"Wait but you guys are getting ahead of yourselves, don't you think any animal would come although it's peaceful you can never underestimate the surroundings, we are not in a safe zone area" (Kelvis, whispered)

"That sounds about right we cannot let our guard down, seeing how the Duke made us stand by I don't see how we won't make a noise and scare it away if something larger approaches" (Orland, whispered)

"It's always precaution with you, there is no way the Duke is thinking straight how does he think catching a fox with chocolate is going to work less any animal in the-" (Evan, whispered)

"Since your so eared to talk go take the lake" (Dorion, said)

Suddenly the teasing knight's conversation stopped immediately like Evan who was insitigating the tease.

Dorion had interrupted him with a side smile as if he was telling Evan to do something a Knight wouldn't do, in other words, get the job done that no one else would do.

"What?" (Evan, asked)

He asked confused and taken aback since he was having good enjoyment before Dorion's words.

"The lake?" (Evan, asked)

'Turn'

'Hand out'

Dorion turned to him and handed him the chocolate bar.

"There has to be someone to place chocolate pieces in each stepping stone then hide behind the waterfall, and you're going to do it" (Dorion, said)

'Dumfound'

Now Evan really had no room to talk.

......

"Grunt" (Evan, grunted)

"I should have kept my mouth shut" (Evan, whispered)

Evan grunted and complained silently as he walked through the cold water feeling the splashing falling water of the waterfall hitting his face.

Luckily the water wasn't that deep, only up to his half chest that's what made it more humiliating at the snickering knights that hid in their positioned spots watching carefully.

And in the midst of the right bushes adorned with fushia pink flowers according to the description that the Shituz foxes would reside he crunched down to watch Evan complain from afar in the water cracking the chocolate and placing it each stepping stone making his way till the last stepping stone.

"Pfftt" (Rainner Knights, laughing)

'Turn'

'Glare'

'Silence'

And here these fools continued to laugh their butts off making Dorion very annoyed turning his attention to them and glaring at them.

Dead silent they went holding in their laugh or they too would be joining Evan.

'Plop'

Evan finally placed the last chocolate piece at the end of the stone and then made his way behind the waterfall to wait there.

For how long you say?

Well to be exact....many many minutes ago.

....20 minutes later...

'Yawn'

Uno yawned from his hiding spot out of boredom along with some other knights who had been contaminated with the yawn.

Some others were unexpectedly struggling to remain crunching down.

They've trained hard so no workout was hell unless they were fighting against Dorion however why were their legs already hurting?

Well, they really couldn't complain if Dorion had been crunching down for twenty minutes straight without complaining, some others like Orland, Rex, and Xer were not complaining especially Evan who was suffering in the cold water being splashed behind the waterfall.

'For how long are we going to stay here? It would have been better to go look for it rather than waiting besides no animal would come for a chocolate' (Orland's inner thoughts)

He wanted to say it out loud so bad but was afraid of Dorion's wrath.

His master truly had some loose screws but you couldn't really say that to his face.

"Sigh" (Orland, sighed)

Orland sighed lowly as giving up while on the other hand, Dorion continued to watch with an unreadable face.

'....' (Dorion)

His knights were right, who in their right mind would lure out an animal with chocolate, especially with chocolate?

Any sane person wouldn't think of that but somehow he had a feeling that was the way he should lure it.

He had stolen a couple of books he shouldn't have but he had to get his hands on them.

In his past life he had stolen and switched fake books that related to the dark magic that the fake empress had used and within those books was the information of the Shituz fox.

In his last life, he had come to this very spot surprisingly his knights had not suspected how he had found the place without staring at the map. However, he was unsuccessful.

No animals had shown up.

The strange thing was that in his past life, there was a feeling that told him he could catch one with chocolate.

But who would do that?

Well he didn't, now he didn't have a Shituz fox.

But in this second life strangely he listened to his intuition, the feeling that told him to bring a chocolate bar.

If in this second life, things had changed starting with his marriage with his unrequited love then why not do it this time?

So he brought the chocolate bar to place it and lure it.

If this was a sign that he had received in his past life and this life he must take it especially after she had asked him.

He had promised her he would get it and he was willing to do so.

He would return to her with a Shitzu fox because that's the promise he made to her.

He'd never break a promise he'd make her.

That day would be the end of himself.

She was his everything so if it meant waiting all day or overthrowing the competition just to get the Shitzu fox he would do it.

'Close'

He closed his eyes slowly just simply remembering her worried face after he left to hunt.

Perhaps the lady was starting to open her heart to him.

Something inside of him felt warm.

'Rustle'

"Ah! Duke it's! It's the fox!" (Orland, whispered)

Suddenly Orland whispered alerted and surprised spotting a very tiny cub-looking  Shituz foxe.

'Open!'

"!" (Dorion)

His intuition was right!

Indeed that was a Shituz fox.

A very small one who walked timidly but curiously sniffing around the grass spotting the chocolate pieces on the stones.

This little small being was going to have a problem.

In fact that was a factor they were not expecting.

For the Shituz fox to be this small.

Now it would have trouble jumping at farther heights to reach the rock stepping stones.

They could easily catch it now if it was small since it wasn't able to reach the rock stepping stones.

It was strange for a baby Shituz fox to be by itself so they waited to see if its mother or its father came but it appeared it was by itself.

Perhaps it was abandoned or lost?

Whatever it was that baby Shituz foxe was going to be easy to catch or at least they thought.

'Singnal'

Dorion had given the knights a signal to come out of hiding and corner it.

"Here little baby fox come here" (Kelvis, said)

"We won't hurt you we promise you" (Rex, said)

"We will treat you well, we're good guys" (Uno, said)

They got out of their hiding positions along with the others like Orland and Dorion.

The knights tried to approach it cornering everywhere only leaving it space to head to the stepping rock stones that he wouldn't be able to reach as they spoke to it in a sweet lurering voice so it wouldn't get scared.

But they were the only fools thinking it was going to fall for their trick.

"!" (Baby Shituz fox)

The baby Shuitzu fox finally noticed them.

But unlike it a tiny animal to be scared of approaching knights calling it with clear intentions, it did not become alert nor did it move.

Rather it stood there letting them get so close to touching it or wanted to make them think it was willingly going to get caught.

"Good little-Ack!"(Rex, said)

The moment Rex was going to reach out to grab the baby Shituz fox while the others had surrounded it from other sides the baby Shituz fox had launched itself up in the air with fuchsia pink magical circles as if it were a trampoline jumping from the fuchsia magic circle to the back of Rex with a very strong force as if the baby Shituz fox had weighed heavy enough to bring down a man like that.

'Thud!'

His body fell to the grass with a hurt back as he was unable to get up.

'Flash'

'Transport'

But the jumping from circles was not just one alone, in fact, it could jump from the magic circles it created from its feet like stepping stones but as surprised as they were to see it the Rainers knights only tried catching it more only to end just like Rex.

They had no chance because the baby Shituz fox had jumped from one fuchsia stepping circle to another then at the back of their bodies, but, heads, and necks.

But that was not all that Shituz Fox had up its sleeve.

"What the..." (Orland, said)

Orland was in shock simply witnessing the scene.

Most of the Rainers knights had been knocked out and injured by one small Shituz fox that seemed to have magic to jump by creating stepping circles and weight magic however this baby Shituz fox had teleported itself.

It was fast for its young age, all you could see was that baby Shituz fox disappearing and appearing at a fuchsia magic circle that had formed next to the other knights that had not been taken down.

A baby Shituz fox with that kind of magic...how the hell were they going to trap it alone, it already had teleported?!

"Argh my back" (Rainer Knights, said)

"Ahh my neck" (Rainer Knights, said)

"Ouch it hurts" (Rainer Knights, said)

'Dust, Dust'

'Thud'

"Miau" (Baby Shuitz fox, noises)

The last of the Rainers knights were down already.

The baby Shituz fox had gotten off Uno's back dusting its paws cutely and classy as if it was proud of its work.

At this point, Orland was left watching it with his mouth wide open.

But the question was...was it going to leave (teleport) now away or what?

'Stare'

No, it was obvious why I didn't leave.

The baby Shituz fox had positively reacted to the chocolate as its attention had turned to the stepping rock stones with chocolate pieces on the top.

'JUMP'

For the distance, it should have used its magical fuchsia jumping circles but it seemed that its natural ability was quite equal considering it took an effortelss jump into the first stepping rock stone.

'Crunch down'

"Miau" (Baby Shituz fox, noises)

Immediately without a second waste, it crunched down the chocolate piece with enjoyment as it moved up the stones getting to the third last stone.

However, there was still one knight in that area that had not been taken down.

'Come out'

"I got you now" (Evan, said)

As if waiting for his moment Evan came out of the back of the waterfall and tried to launch himself to catch the baby Shituz fox but his timing was wrong considering the baby Shituz fox had sensed him waiting for him to come out.

'Jump'

"Huck!'" (Evan)

The instant he launched himself the baby Shituz fox jumped on him adding weight on his back causing Evan's stomach to hit the rock taking out his breath at the hard landing.

'Splash'

Sliding down the rock into the water full of pain.

"Miau" (Baby  Shituz fox, noises)

It didn't even bother to turn to look at Evan who had submerged in the water.

'Jump'

'Crunch down'

'Jump'

'Crunch down'

Jumping down to the final rock stepping stone finishing the last remaining piece of chocolate.

'Jump, Jump, Jump, Jump'

'Thud'

Making its way back to the grass with a satisfied look.

'Stare'

"...." (Orland)

Making eye contact with Orland or at least he thought.

"Haha, you don't happen to have an extra chocolate bar your Highness?" (Orland, whispered)

Orland knew the eyes of a hungry beast, it most likely wanted more or he'd end up like all of them.

Why would he be scared of such a cute defensive thing at least it appeared like it now that he had seen it knock all of them out he wouldn't be any exception.

'Glance'

'Notice'

"I'll catch it for you, it won't refuse to chocolate strangely" (Orland, said)

He glanced at Dorion who appeared to be holding another complete unopened chocolate bar.

Orland took it with precaution acting as if he had a better chance or rather be the brave one to face this baby Shituz fox.

Dorion didn't even say anything he only stared at the baby Shituz fox with an unreadable expression.

'If I knew chocolate drived the animals nuts... they are terrifying' (Orland's inner thoughts)

'Step, Step'

'Halt'

'Wave, Wave'

Orland walked slowly and cautiously waving the chocolate bar that he had opened so the baby Shituz fox would see it.

"I have an untouched chocolate bar all for you, come here I promise we won't-Ah!" (Orland, said)

'Glimmer!'

'Jump!'

'Duck'

'Cover'

So much for the bravery as soon as the baby Shituz fox's eyes glimmered and sparked attentive he knew it that instant.

"No don't hurt me wahhh!" (Orland, yelled)

Orland ducked and covered himself from the head dropping the chocolate as soon as he saw that the baby Shituz fox had launched itself towards him.

Well not really.

He thought that the baby Shituz fox was going for him and the chocolate, however.

"Miau!" (Baby Shituz fox, noises)

"Purrr" (Baby Shituz fox, purring)

'Cuddle'

'Wag, Wag'

'Cute cuddly atmosphere'

Because this cuteness had jumped not at Orland who was most likely going to get beaten up but toward Dorion who had been staring at it intimidatingly.

Landing on his chest and making cute sounds while rubbing itself on his chest now purring and wagging its fluffy tail happily trying to cuddle as Dorion's arms unconsciously embraced it.

"..." (Dorion)

'Dumfounded'

"?!" (Orland and the knights)

Making Orland who had been ducking, the down-injured knights, and Evan who had risen up from the water holding onto one of the rock stepping stones become dumbfounded.

What the hell was this situation?

'Did he have more?!' (Orland's inner thoughts)

Orland's only explanation was that Dorion must had more chocolate drawing the greedy baby Shituz fox towards Dorion.

Or perhaps was it because the chocolate had been sitting for a while in Dorion's clothing so it must have smelled of strong chocolate.

If not why was it reacting so happily as if it recognized him or missed him?

"D-Don't tell me this was your long-lost pet?" (Evan, asked)

Evan in the distance did not miss a beat in asking what everyone thought just looking at those two.

'Stare'

'Wag, Wag'

"Purrr" (Baby Shituz fox, purring)

'Open'

Dorion stared at it in silence letting it cuddle up, purr, and wag its fluffy tail as his lips were beginning to part to say something but suddenly.

'BOOM!'

'SPREAD!'

A loud explosion sound sounded as a large wave of golden divine light spread around all the premises as if it were an explosion spreading.

"Ah my...it doesn't hurt anyone more?!" (Rainers knights, said)

"Wow I feel lighter?!" (Rainers Knights, said)

"What is this?!" (Rainers knights, said)

"Huh? Look at the sky!" (Rainers knights, said)

Their injuries and scars were cured in an instant as the divine light that had spread had magically cured them.

Up in the sky at some distance in the forest, there was a golden illuminating divine light that stood up shooting at the sky going up as far where there could be no end to it passing the beautiful white clouds.

'WIDEN!'

"!!" (Dorion)

'Alert!'

This light, no one knew.

But he knew.

Dorion knew it too well.

This light was the exact light that had flashed in his past life as he held Aurora who had died.

Just as he became alert this little baby Shituz fox became alert as if it knew something.

'Badump'

Instantly his heart felt as it dropped while his blood turned cold.

'NOT AGAIN DAM IT!!' (Dorion's inner thoughts)

His worst fear had come true once again.

'Grab'

"Miau" (Baby Shituz fox, noises)

'RUN!'

'JUMP'

'Grip'

"Neigh!"

Horse noises.

"Your Highness where are you-" (Orland, yelled)

'DASH!!'

Dorion grabbed the baby Shituz fox tightly without hurting it jumping on top of his horse and gripping the reins only dashing away leaving Orland yelling confused by his actions.

He had to go.

He had to make sure that it didn't come true.

Not this time.

He pleaded!