The ride was unpleasant. I think Lady knew exactly what she was doing, hopping from stone to stone, snickering the whole way, but at least it didn't take long. The trickle of the water along the nearby river gave way to the sounds of jubilant activity, masked by something dense. Hu, maybe that's why they called it Jubilife Village. A man's voice rang out as she approached, and I gripped my palms a bit tighter. I was not ready to face them. But I wouldn't have the choice, as Lady dumped me unceremoniously out on the ground. "Oh, you brought... a person? She seems a bit odd." The Sneasler snickered and waved to the man, before bounding off, likely back to Ingo. From my spot on the ground, I could see a hand offered. I accepted, a bit indignant, and looked up. A middle aged man looked down with a half smile. Adorned in a red coat and pants, and an odd cone straw hat, his dress looked nothing like the pale pink robes I'd seen before, and certainly far from Ingo. I'm sure it's just a climate thing, but something nagged at me. I accepted his outstretched hand, dusting myself off. "I take it Lady found you uh... stranded?" I could tell he was equally as confused about my own dress. "Yeah. Ingo told me there was a professor here?" The man gave me a confused, and concerned, stare. "Well... we're pretty hesitant to just allow random people wander in, doubly so if Ingo is involved, but Professor Laventon said to keep an eye out for an oddly dressed person showing up, and you fit the description." I tried to give a smile, but I think it ended up coming across insincere. He waved me in, and I followed closely behind. The folks of the village gave me odd looks as I passed by, each pair of eyes scrutinizing me and my dress, and likely deciding just how much they wanted me gone. Ingo had warned me, but I still wasn't quite ready for the level of disdain I was feeling. One pair in particular caught me off guard. A kid... no, young man? He couldn't have been more than 20, but had clearly been active. He wore a blue jacket, and a red hat. Something about that hat looked familiar, but the memory was nothing more than an echo. But the look he gave was one of... kindness. I gave my best smile back. As we approached the large building near the center of the village, the kid ran up to us. "Hey Ress, headed to see the professor?" There was a brief pause, and I could see a familiar look in the man's eyes. Disdain. Frustration. He didn't like the kid either. "Not now Rei." The kid looked despondent, but kept following. "Oh come on, you know I can help." I could see the man's stress levels grow, and put a hand out. "I... appreciate you trying to help, but I think right now is a bad time." Rei paused, processed what I was suggesting, and smiled. "Oh, okay. Don't let the professor take all your time." and he wandered back off. What an odd person... Inside the building, a man in a shockingly modern looking lab coat and purple hat was ranting at possibly one of the most built men I had ever seen. "We already have 2 examples, both have been extremely helpful. What harm is a third? I'm telling you, we need to mount an expedition as soon as possible." The built man was barely paying attention, shuffling through a stack of papers on a desk. "Professor, I understand that you're trying your best to research this, but I'm not giving up security corp personal for a hunch, and we can't afford to send you or the kid either, and you know exactly why." The professor huffed as a green owl fluttered over to his shoulder. "oooooh, Kamado... I swear you must get joy out of halting my work, what with how often you find the silliest of reasons to do so." The man paused, looking to the professor. His mustache, two massive bushels of wiry hair looking like they had been threaded through is nose, wiggled as he drew in a deep breath. "Professor. You must trust my work, just as I trust yours. I must balance against everyone's safety, not just your curiosity." He looked at me, and I could feel malice radiate off of him, piercing into my very soul. "Besides, I think you have a better answer waiting." When the professor turned around, I was nearly blinded by his excitement. "ooooh, this is wonderful! You managed to make it here. This is excellent. I've been watching since you fell, not that Kamado would do anything." He huffed at the large man, hands on his hips. "oh oh, but you must be wondering why I was looking for you?" It's... one of the many questions I had at the time, so I gave a simple nod. "You see, ever since that rift opened up on the mountain, I've been trying to get more information on what caused it. And you, my dear girl, are perfect for helping! After all, you are from the rift, right?" "The crack from the mountain?" He smiled, giddy as a school girl. "Yes, the very one." It's... possible I did, but I can't be sure. Not yet. "I'm sorry professor, I don't know. Just woke up in the snow. No idea how I got there." I could see his heart sink a bit, "oh. With your cloths and... I had assumed... You don't recall anything?" I gave a firm head shake no. "Right, well maybe we can recover your memories. Any information is useful. Perhaps you interacted with the one who fell." Kamado grumbled and cleared his throat. "Professor, I think it's best you let this go. If she doesn't have information, she is of no use to you, and is a drain on resources." That... didn't sound good. I might not be able to help the professor, but this sounded very much like getting thrown back out into the wilderness. "Uh... I can still be helpful. Is there not anything else I can do?" He gruffed, but before he could respond, the professor piped up. "Would you be willing to help me with my other research? Rei has been the only one truly willing, and having a third member again would help greatly." I shrugged, "What kind of research?" being stuck inside all day didn't sound terrible, and if Rei was there, maybe I could get some straight answers. He seemed keen on being around, for some reason. "Oh! The wild creatures outside the village. I'm sure you've seen them?" Ah, so a zoologist. More entertaining, bit more dangerous, but something picked up in my mind at the thought. "Right yes, like the white foxes." He gave me a confused stare, then a smile. "Yes exactly. Seems you already have information we didn't, isn't that right, Kamado?" He glared at me, then nodded. "Yes well that's all and good, but can she actually be helpful? We don't even know her name." Ah... that's gonna be an issue, isn't it. "Oh nonsense. I'm sure she's more than capable, right?" Was I? I think my look of uncertainty tipped the leader off. "You needed help studying one of the pokemon just outside the village. The yellow weasel? Take her with you tomorrow. If she can help you with it, she can stay. No dead weight here, professor." He beamed back at the man, clear confidence that I definitely didn't have. "Oh I'm sure she'll do just fine. Isn't that right... uh.... right, what was your name?" I froze for a moment, a few thoughts flashed through my head before I spat out "Fox." Ah fuck... "Alright then... *Fox*. Help the professor tomorrow. Succeed, and you'll be given a more permanent place to help. Fail, and I have no choice but to toss you back to the wilds." Yeesh, that man really didn't want me around. A few more minutes of exchanges, and the professor lead me back outside, where Rei happened to be waiting. "You ok? Did Kamado tear you apart?" The way he said that, was almost like he'd experienced that himself, more than once. "Said I had to help uh... the professor with something?" There was a moment of hesitation, "Right, one of his tests. Kamado doesn't believe in idleness. Anyone here must be contributing. Everyone here is either helping with security, research, medical, or food. He uh... gave me a test when I got here too." There it was again. That feeling of familiarity. I couldn't fathom what it was, but I felt like I knew him. "Right... guess that makes some sense. I'm uh.... I'm Fox, by the way." Still can't believe I just saddled myself with that name. "Rei. Assistant to Professor Laventon. Guess that's gonna be your job soon too, hu?" I gave a rough smile and a nod. "Long as we don't have to go to the snow again. I am *not* dressed for that." He chuckled, then motioned for me to follow him. "Actually, about that, probably good to get you some new cloths, right? I've got some extra credits I can spare, and getting you the tools to succeed will help both me and Laventon a lot, so let me grab you a new outfit and some food. Sound good?" I felt my face flush a bit, but I nodded, following behind. --- The small clothing hut was cramped, and didn't house much more than materials and a few examples. The lady took my measurements, and Rei and I both picked out some materials that we thought would look good. Before the sun had even set, I walked out with a much nicer outfit. A simple white and red jacket and pants, heavy enough to bundle for the cold, but light enough not to overheat in, and a pair of red sandals. Already I felt fewer eyes on me. "Ah, this is... odd, but much better." He smiled and started walking down the road. "Fresh clothing can really help, so can a good bath and some warm food. Can't help with the bath right now, but Beni's potato mochi is amazing." Food sounded really good right then, and my stomach made its agreement known. "uh... heheh... I guess I am a bit hungry. Berries and a single fish don't quite cut it." He gave a chuckle as we walked. "So... Fox hu? I'm guessing that's not actually your name?" Shit. figured it out that fa- I jumped as I nearly collided head first into a lamp post. "Woah, hey. careful there. Look, it's fine, I just... I know how that goes. You're gonna be fine." There was calmness to his voice, reflected in his smile. "The past... and the future, they're places far from here. Right now, you're Fox, I'm Rei, and we're gonna enjoy some amazing mochi. Mkay?" ... Again, that feeling. Kinship. Recognition. Somewhere, somehow, I already knew him. I... trusted him. "R-right. Thanks. Guess I'm just a bit on edge. Especially after getting in the middle of..." no, nono. I have no idea how the pink hoods relate to these people, and I'm not about to spoil that. Thankfully, before he could question further, an older gentleman waved to us. --- The mochi was great. Normally nothing to write home about, but given how famished I was, it tasted divine. Eventually, as the plate neared empty, he started questioning me again. "So... mmm... assuming you *did* pick your name, where'd ya get it? Certainly a nice name." I swallowed my mouth full of mochi and paused. A few thoughts were running through my head at the time, but there was one that kept coming forward. "You know those white and red foxes?" The bench creaked as he leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Mmmmm... white and red foxes... do they have really wild manes?" I nodded excitedly. "Yes, exactly, those! I uh... ended up helping one out. got it patched up and back home to it's family." I could hear his jaw drop, even before I saw it. On the floor, absolutely flabbergasted. "You... you got near one?! You helped it? That's... that's insane. Those things... you don't know about them, do you?" Whatever he was on about, I did not know. "Pearl Clan talks about how they're the returned spirits of pokemon forced into the wilderness by humans. They couldn't survive in the ice wastelands, and when they returned, their hatred for humans burned so hot it came out as the wispy fur. Each of those big wounds? Self inflicted as they try to cut down their foes with nothing but burning hot malice." That... was a spooky thought. "They certainly seemed strong, but I don't think they hated me? If anything... they kinda helped out." If his jaw was on the ground before, now it was burred deep into the earth. "Wow. Ok, well then I suppose Fox is a very appropriate name for you, hehe." He finished the last of the mochi, sliding out from the bench. "Actually, I might have something for you then." I was curious. "Oh? Like what?" He gave a smile, "You'll see." and headed off. I followed him back to what was presumably his place, and after rummaging through his chest, he came back to the door holding an odd mask. It was made of wood, carved into the shape of a fox, and painted with white and red, very similar to the creatures I had met before. "Irida said they called them Baneful Foxes. Supposedly this mask kept them at bay, but if they actually can be friendly, I suspect all it really did was confused them." He placed the mask in my hands and nodded to me. "Given your interaction, it might be worth seeing how they react specifically to you? Or at the very least it can remind you of the fact that not everything out here is hateful... despite what the town might try to tell you." He gave a general glare in the direction of the largest building. The mask was solid, well carved, and strangely beautiful, almost hauntingly so. "C-can I try it on?" Rei smiled and gave a shrug. "Sure. It's yours now, though I doubt it will fit. They're carved to fit exactly. Means it can be worn without a strap." Hu... well, despite the fact it probably wouldn't work, I placed the mask over my face. It would be interesting to see what I looked like, even just holding it up. The wood was cold, and I could feel the small worn crevices from where the wood was slowly chipped away. Each curve of the mask landed gently on my face, and I could have sworn it would just... stay there. But it wasn't made for me, and I didn't want it broken, so I just held it there. "How do I look?" He responded with a gentle laugh. "Terrifying. Absolutely... baneful." That got a smile out of me, and I pulled the mask away to laugh with him. It felt natural. That feeling didn't go away either. Not the feeling of kinship in the evening, nor the odd sensation of the mask resting on my face. Even as I found myself in my new temporary quarters, I rotated the mask in my hands, staring at it. It was beautiful. Walking over to the mirror, I put it on my face once again. Everything felt... perfect. I hesitated, and for just a moment, I pulled my hand away, quickly returning. The mask... didn't feel like it budged, so I repeated it, for a bit longer. Still no movement. I held my hand just an inch from it's surface, looking carefully at myself in the reflection. It remained in place. I dropped my hand and just stared. Slowly turning from side to side, it was weirdly mesmerizing. Almost... natural. I smiled, the mask shifted a bit, but remained in place, my smile barely visible from behind it. I frowned, it stayed put. I yawned... that one wasn't intentional. I suppose it was late. Removing the mask and setting it aside, I felt weirdly incomplete. It was a lovely gift. Perhaps it could become a more permanent part of my wardrobe. I'd have to thank Rei again, he's already done so much for me. Odd, given how the rest of the town reacted. Placing my new cloths aside, I stretched out on the small mat and curled up. The sounds of the nearby hearth fire, mixed with the trickle of the stream outside, lulled me to sleep. -- [Prev](./Chapter%203.md?v) | [Next](./Chapter%205.md?v)