Young Writers Society

Raiden shuffled over to Li, moving around Cornyx and Kyou with hesitant caution.
"It's okay," he said, patting her back, "Think of it this way - at least we don't get to see the blood this time." He smiled warmly.
"In other news, do you perhaps have like, a fox form or something? It just...seems weird to call yourself a fox while you look completely human to me."

"Yeah," replied Li He, glad to have something to take her mind off the overpowering smell of blood. "Well, I guess you can say this isn't my real form. All nine-tailed foxes develop the ability to appear as a beautiful human woman. But I guess I can show you . . ." She closed her eyes and concentrated.

When she opened her eyes again, she had shrunk down and appeared to be a normal red fox - except for her having nine tails instead of just one. She flicked her tails and glanced up to catch Raiden's reaction.

As soon as she had finished her transformation of sorts, Raiden crouched down to pat her head. And he continued doing so for a short while - all along with a content look on his face.
"So cool," he mumbled, still petting Li.

Li He tolerated it for a bit, but she hated being treated like a common animal, so she ducked away from his hands with a soft, warning growl in her throat. She transformed back to her human form and crossed her arms.

"Dude, I'm not a pet. Even though I'm not actually a real human, I'm just as much of a person as you are." Where's respect for the elders these days? I'm over a hundred years old.

Cornyx, whose eyes have turned black once more and appears human as ever, suppresses an amused chuckle and smirk directed at Raiden with a small cough, which is about all he can do to keep his composure. Li He had certainly put him in his place.

Raiden stood up and shook his head.
"Nupe, you were fox and fox is doggo and doggo get pets, therefore you get pets," he said with his finger up and his eyes closed, as if he were talking about something of great importance.

"She is a nine-tailed fox," Cornyx corrects in his soft-yet-firm way. "Therefore, she is no normal fox and no 'doggo' and should get no 'pets'. Though Li He may appear canine she is by no means an animal. Do have the courtesy to treat a lady such as she with the respect and politeness she deserves."

Raiden sighed, defeated. All he wanted to do was pet her soft fur! Was that such a bad thing?
..
Okay maybe his reasoning was whack but still! Soft fur!
"Apologies, Lilly. I have mistreated you, and I feel ashamed. Please accept my apology and grant me your forgiveness," he said, bowing low - his torso was parallel to the ground and perpendicular to his legs. Whether or not it was a sincere apology was left a mystery, for his tone sounded so formal it masked any emotion that would have normally come through.

"I've never met someone like you before," Zion suddenly said. It was the first time they had spoken in quite some time; Kyou, who was in the middle of rubbing the area that had just healed, almost didn't believe they had been the one to speak. "Ari would have been thrilled to meet you - though I have a sneaking suspicion that she would also try petting you."

Kyou gave them a questioning look.

The sentient shadow shrugged. "If it looks soft, Ari will pet it. It's a rule that's nearly gotten her killed on several occasions."

Upon hearing the phrase ragaurding doggos and pets, Jane stood on her tiptoes and petted Thomas's hair.

Thomas pretended not to realize her silent commentary on his werewolf state.

"Hmph," said Li He, but she couldn't help but feel pleased. Cornyx's defense was quite nice as well . . . Perhaps he wasn't the same one as before.

"Well, that's that," she continued. "Shall we move on?"

Cornyx goes to the next door in response, holding it open for the others to pass through.

Kyou quickly followed after Cornyx. He hoped the other guy was feeling better now that he had sucked his blood. While they didn't know each other too well, there was something special about whatever connection they now had - it wasn't everyday that someone would drink your blood, and Kyou didn't know how else to describe the weird kinship he felt with the demon.

Still mourning the loss of the soft fur pats, Raiden solemnly followed Kyou and Cornyx. He kept his gaze down, trained on the heels of the person who walked ahead of him.

Thomas and Jane followed them out. "Ladies first" Prompted Thomas, stepping aside for Jane.

"Age before beauty, werewolf." Jane responded mischievously.

"Touche." He responded, exiting first, while Jane followed close behind.