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[The Ice fae felt the fox’s eyes on him and he turned in its direction.]

Hello, Little One. What are you doing there?

Aw, you're a beautiful boy! Or girl, whatever. You make me miss Bark.

[Curiously, Mari looks back. She calmly stays where she is, and simply finds the sight of the animal to be wonderful.

It's so rare to see foxes, even when jumping between worlds.]

Hello there young one.

[The fox speaks easily bowing its head]

I'm mostly male though I can change that if I want to.

[The fox's voice is soft but firm and it tilts his head.]

[Talking animals haven't been new to the young woman for quite some time, as she smiles toward the friendly fox. He bows his head in greeting. Huh! That, she actually hasn't seen in person before. That's so Disney movie-like... Wait. Young one?]

Hi, Mr. Fox. [She waves a little.] How are you?

Edited 2021-03-22 01:19 (UTC)

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<small.[The fox's tail twitches in pleasure] So polite...I'm well. What is your name?

[Her smile brightened, as she became pleasantly surprised. Wow! Was this fox used to humans? It was surprising to see how kind he was.]

My name's Mari. Mari Broderick. Yourself?

[Do animals in this Earth-like world have first and last names?]

Humans call me Renard...it's French for fox so not that clever.

Normally though my family doesn't bother with names.

[The fox bowed his head always respectful to others as he had been taught by his clan.]

Thinking mostly my Lord. I didn't mean to cross into lands where I might not be welcome.

[The fox's voice is gentle and smooth with none of the slight bite of sass it might have had with a human.]

[She snickers, as she seats herself on a grassy spot.]

I suppose not. Well, it's nice to meet you, Renard.

How many family members do you have?

[It's not every day she's in a stress free environment, let alone interacting with a forest animal that would usually turn away from people. Might as well make the best of this, and learn.]

[The fox chuckles.]

Oh my clan is large....hundreds of members all over this land...each of us with a small piece of territory to oversee.

This forest is mine.

So many foxes in a clan? Whoa.

This Earth surely differs from mine. [How interesting!]

I'm not really trespassing in your forest, am I Renard? Or would you consider me a welcomed visitor, or guest?

[Mari doesn't intend to offend at all!]

Well a fox is just one form I can take....my favorite you might say.

[In the blink of an eye a handsome man is sitting on the grass where the animal was dressed in a loose white shirt and black leather pants.]

My family are shapeshifters....and no you are not trespassing. If you were not kind you would have been lost until you learned your lesson.

[A form? Huh? What does-]

Oh--!

[Well, at least the transformation is quick. Unlike how the morphing process had went with... a friend she hasn't heard from in a long time.

If she isn't so surprised, then she would have been felt a pang of sadness about the Animorph. Wow, just...wow!]

[The man's appearance has her blushing a little. Indeed, he's handsome. The initial shock wears off as a light nervous laugh escapes her.]

I wasn't at all expecting that. [A snicker, as Mari's regained her composure.] I'm glad I don't have to worry. I'm typically nice by default.

Humans rarely do....but then again I am rarely human looking so they tend to just roll with things.

[He flashes a smile.]

Polite too that's rare.

I think you'd make a great model.

[The comment comes out so fast as she feels her face slightly warm up in seeing Renard smiling.]

In my honest opinion, I mean. [A chuckle.]

I guess that would be rare. A portion of human families are very rude and dysfunctional ones.

[She pauses, knowing her parents must still be worrying out of their minds. They don't know where she is, and she has no way of contacting them.]

I've been trying to return to my family. One of two important goals...

Edited 2021-03-22 02:47 (UTC)

[His clan has taught him well. The fae knelt down, nodding at the explanation.]

Ah, I see. Always a worthy endeavor. No harm done. I don't believe we've met. I am known as Sigma. Who might you be?

Well met Lord Sigma...humans call me Renard while my kind does not bother with names most times.

You may call me that if you like.

[The young man grins]

A quest...lovely it's been a while and since you were kind and polite I can help if you like.

It's kind of what my family does.

Really? Helping others?

Our families would be at least somewhat similar. In helping those in need... My dad's been sober for over twenty years. He helps and supports other alcoholics to achieve sobriety, for example.

[Mari considers Renard's offer.]

How could you help? There's quite a lot of searching I have to do... Not just going home, but finding other-world friends I hadn't heard from in over a year.

[He nods}

If you've ready any stories with talking animals helping heroes that's a family member doing that.

So guiding is kind of my thing.

Like in the children's stories? Fairy tales? [She understands.]

I see. I've read the books, and seen some of the movies as a kid.

[Again. So Disney. That turns out to be real. She almost chuckles, and then remembers having so briefly seen Maleficent on her Earth...]

Then, welcome aboard Renard. You may come with me, and do what you can.

I see. I shall call you by that name should I need to call you anything. So, what have you been thinking about?