A Tail’s Misfortune

Sora jogged after Kari on the somewhat spacious aisle of the floating stadium they were on, her gaze fixed on the wolf girl’s strong back as she took determined strides forward. The grand vista of Avalon Academy loomed all around them, stretching off into what seemed eternity with its magical architecture shifting subtly as they moved.

Her breath quickened, wanting to explore certain amazing areas, like a giant magical tower or an open wooden spire that led into a large black cloud that thundered with sparks of lightning. But she wasn’t about to let Kari outpace her and feel alone.

They reached the nearby ledge between sections, and Sora’s eyes widened as Kari didn’t even hesitate—she just put her hand on that sucker, and jumped.

“Kari, wait!” Sora called out, her voice dying in her throat as her ears flattened against her head and she skidded to a stop at the edge.

She’s going to be alright? Please tell me she didn’t just… We’re so high up!

Peering down in shock. The drop was at least three hundred meters. Kari landed effortlessly on the ground below, causing a growl to rumble in Sora’s throat.

Of course the stupid fenris wolf would be fine. Why did I even bother to worry? Eric freaking was torn apart by Jin and he was all good after a bit of rest…literally growing back arms and stuff. Is she laughing at me or is that just my imagination?

Sora could practically see the smirk on Kari’s face, daring her to follow. Looking around, Sora realized that none of the other students or guardians even batted an eye at Kari’s leap. Although it was Avalon Academy—everyone probably had some way to fly.

Making a hasty decision, Sora took a deep breath and focused on the swirling magic inside her. She envisioned herself floating, her body light as air, and then—she jumped.

The sensation was strange, almost dreamlike, as her descent slowed to a gentle drift. She felt her fur stand on end as her magic swirled around her, lifting her dress as she hovered downward. Grinning, she pushed it back down and experimented with increasing the rate of her descent, feeling a thrill as she floated gracefully toward the ground.

When her feet finally touched the earth beside Kari—magic helping with the trajectory—Sora couldn’t help but puff out her chest a little. “How’s that?” she said, flashing a triumphant smile. “Not bad for a fox, huh?”

Kari didn’t seem impressed, standing with her hip cocked, arms folded, and a mildly impatient expression on her face. With a grunt, she turned on her heel and started to storm off in a random direction, her tail swaying with her movements.

Yeah, she’s bothered by something…

Sora’s smile faltered as she jogged to keep up with Kari’s longer strides. “Hey, you can slow down a bit! It’s not like we’re in a rush or anything,” Sora called out, trying to lighten the mood. “Where are we even going?”

Kari’s amber eyes scanned the extravagant fantasy stone architecture of Avalon Academy, her gaze flickering with a mix of interest and irritation. She growled under her breath, “I don’t know. I just don’t want to sit still anymore. That woman rubbed me the wrong way.”

“Jin?” Sora asked, trying to keep pace. “I mean, she was probably staring at Eyia, not you—just saying!”

Kari rolled her eyes. “The dragon’s annoying, but at least she doesn’t give a shit about me.”

“Sela?” Sora ventured, unsure where Kari’s irritation was directed and now a tad curious as to what had gotten under her skin. “Fen?”.

Kari scratched her twitching left ear, giving Sora a look that said, ‘Stop trying to act cute, because you’re not.’ “No, the damn punishment woman. Rule this, rule that, you can’t go out after dark—bullshit. No one tells me what to do.”

Sora fell silent for a moment, her thoughts racing as she watched Kari take the most confident left turn she’d ever seen, as if the wolf knew exactly where she was going. Maybe she was following her nose; the billion different scents around Avalon Academy were enough to spark Sora’s interest, at least.

“Ah. Okay, yeah, I see where you’re coming from…”

Silence fell between them, yet Kari slowed down a little after glancing back, probably taking pity on her, who was having to jog to keep up. It made Sora smile, though she kept her gaze away from Kari, not wanting to anger the wolf.

Is this really my old bully? Being considerate of others, not wanting to be alone, but still wanting to be independent? She’s way more sensitive than I thought she was.

Sora glanced back at Kari as they continued walking, trying to puzzle out what was really bugging her because Elder Rosewood wasn’t the crux of her hang-up. She’d long known some signs Kari’s body language made as her bully, but now as her budding friend, she was noticing others: her slightly tilted ears, her uncomfortable visual shifts, and agitated swaying tail.

Kari’s not entertaining the idea of coming here for me, I’m sure of that… So why did she come along? Is she really considering enrolling?

“Kari,” Sora started, hesitating slightly. “You know, you didn’t have to come here if you didn’t want to. I get if the rules are too much. You could’ve just stayed back…but you didn’t.”

The wolf didn’t respond immediately, her eyes still scanning the intricate carvings on the walls and the magical creatures that wandered past them, mostly staff or workers, Sora guessed.

Finally, the black-haired girl sighed, the sound low and heavy. “I’m not here because I want to be, Sora. I’m here because…because I can’t go back to where I was. Look,” she mumbled, ears fluttering slightly and keeping her eyes averted, “there’s nothing left for me where I came from. So… I’m just looking for something else, I guess. Mary said it might be good to try new things, so… I’m trying.”

The admission surprised Sora, but she didn’t press further. “Oh. That makes sense.”

Letting the conversation die, she saw Kari’s agitation start to lessen. They walked in silence for a while, the hum of magic and the distant chatter of other students filling the air around them.

After a few more twists and turns, they found themselves in a quieter part of the academy, which was probably Kari’s intention, now that they were here; it wouldn’t be hard for her to go where she didn’t hear much noise. It seemed like the start of some magical forest, the brush and trees noticeably less structured.

The towering trees and glowing crystals seemed to close in around them, creating a secluded atmosphere. Kari finally stopped, her gaze fixed on something in the distance through the trees that Sora couldn’t quite see.

“What are you thinking?” Sora probed, her voice soft. “Does this…remind you of your home or something?”

Kari didn’t answer right away. She clenched and unclenched her fists, her knuckles white with tension. “I don’t belong here,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t do magic. I don’t care much for rules. I’m…not interested in doing much of anything anymore. But I don’t belong anywhere else, either. What am I doing here?” she asked, rubbing between her eyes in more frustration than sadness.

Sora’s heart ached at the raw honesty Kari always showed when she did open her mouth and it struck a chord with her. Knowing physical touch wasn’t what Kari wanted, Sora grabbed her elbow behind her back, looking up at the mystical canopy high above with its colorful leaves.

“Depression sucks… I felt that way at school for a while—not that I’m trying to compare our circumstances,” she quickly added, yet Kari seemed to be listening since she didn’t interrupt, her eyes fixated on the vibrant green grass. “I, umm…”

Her expression softened when a certain early session with Dr. Mason came to mind, her first psychiatrist who tried to help her before Jenny got to the kind woman. Repeating some of her words, Sora whispered, “Nothing goes as planned, Kari…and everyone breaks down in their own special way, which doesn’t make us weak.”

Kari snorted, giving her a side-long look. “Isn’t that the definition of weak…breaking down, being brittle? I’m a fenris wolf,” she mumbled, possibly reciting what she’d heard over and over again from her brother. “We don’t break…we aren’t weak…but I am. So what does that make me? Not a fenris wolf.”

Instead of discomfort at the hard questions, Sora had the experience of years of therapy to pull from to help guide her. “Even diamonds corrode and are destroyed over time, Kari… Everything will change. Nothing ever stays the same. We have to stand up and be true to ourselves, right? Nobody is perfect—not me, your mom, or you… We’re all to blame for something but we get up again. You’re not alone, Kari. You’ve gotten up. You’re strong. You know you are.”

The girl looked up, her eyes looking a little wet, as if fighting back tears and her chest shook with mournful laughter. “You say that, but some people are to blame for more than others… I’m stupid for letting Jenny blind me. To think humans would want to be friends with a wolf… You know, I met a few of the girls last week, just to see if they somehow remembered me. They didn’t. I don’t know what I expected,” she scoffed, gripping her left arm.

“My family is a mess. The fox I used to bully is now trying to comfort me…and I’d run… I would, like the coward Eric always called me…but I’ve got nowhere to run to. I couldn’t even kill myself,” she whispered, lifting her hands to grip her throat. “I heal too fast.”

Sora’s brows knitted together as she turned to face her, recalling the girl who she’d known just before Jenny’s betrayal, when Kari had been searching, pushing for something more. “You aren’t feeling that way now, right? You don’t want to…”

“No… No, I think I’m over that,” Kari admitted, eyes lost and full of darkness while scanning the forest. “…What does it mean to stay true to myself when I don’t know who I am? Yet…this place does remind me of home—my mom’s realm.” She paused, and a small smile broke through the cloud of darkness. “It took a lot to come here… It helps, Sora.”

“It is pretty,” Sora nodded, breathing a sigh of relief at her admission while glancing around and trying to figure out how else to get through these final walls Kari had up. “What parts remind you—ouch! Hey!”

Turning back to Kari, she was met by two pointed fingers that jabbed her in the forehead, making her stubble back; she hadn’t even sensed it, which meant there was no ill-will behind it. She rubbed the sore spot, glaring at the dull-faced wolf.

“What was that for? I thought we were having a moment…”

Kari snorted and had the nerve to look away to stare up at the sparkling canopy. “I’m not talking about the forest helping me, Sora… You, always yanking on my tail to tag along or following after me… You won’t stop trying. That fox that never gives up, always pushing, always hungry to grow. Hmm. There really is something familiar I smell here…but I can’t place what it is.”

She showed a small smile while turning to her—and really looking for what seemed the first time as a person instead of a pesky fox. “Thank you, Sora. I don’t know where to go from here…I don’t. But now that I’m here, there is something that is pulling me here.”

Sora’s scowl lightened at the blunt words, feeling a narrow but sturdy bridge now built between them. Kari was saying she didn’t feel alone anymore, and that was huge. Now, she just had to help her build up a house on her little isolated island she could be proud of—a house that represented her new, healing self to live in. She was seeing Kari from before Jenny’s betrayal came back.

“We have a ton of free time here, despite the curfew. I’d love to help you find whatever you’re smelling…uh, sensing—is it a smell?”

Kari shook her head, glancing at various brush and trees. “I don’t know, Sora. It’s more of a vibe, to be honest. It’s not even about this place right now. That’s just a distraction. There is something…familiar. But that’s not the point.”

Her confused eyes looked onto hers, swimming with a bit of fear and curiosity. “And I don’t expect to be the good guy. Wendy can hate me—I deserve it. Eyia can not trust me… I wouldn’t trust me. But…somehow, you do, and I can’t say why…but I think it’s genuine.”

“You don’t say!” Sora giggled. “What do you see when I’m looking at you, huh? The stubborn wolf that won’t back down from being the bad guy? Because you totally are trying to be that, you know!”

Kari slid right by her comment, staring down at her with a puzzled expression. “I can’t see any value in myself, Sora… I can’t. I’m not useful to anyone, least of all myself. I’m a drain on Aiden. A disappointment to Eric. But…you seem to think there is something of worth in me… I want to see what that is. If anything, to prove you wrong.”

“And there she is!” Sora threw her arms in the air, rolling her eyes and storming off a little before doing a 180 and returning. “No, it has to be a competition with you and Eyia—every time,” she laughed, putting her hands on her hips to give the wolf a challenging glare. “If that’s the way it is, then I accept that challenge.”

Recalling the words Kari spoke to her in what felt like years ago, she asked, “Tell me this… The wolf on the hill is never as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill. The hardest walk you can make is the walk you make alone…”

Kari’s eyes widened at the reference as she completed it. “…But that is the walk that makes you the strongest…that builds your character the most. Stay strong…keep going.”

“Stay strong, keep going,” Sora firmly repeated. “This walk is hard—I get that, I really do…but don’t the hardest walks lead to the greatest destinations? And I’m not talking about tough climbs that lead to the best views.”

Kari’s throat constricted, no doubt reawakening everything she’d heard from the motivational videos that had sparked a change in her—a change that had freed Sora of Jenny’s cycle. “It will be worth it in the end,” she said as almost a question.

“I think so,” Sora nodded. “And I’ll show you that you are a girl with just as much worth as me. If you can’t trust yourself but can trust in me, then that’s enough for now, I think. Does that mean we’re past the acquaintance phase? Depression friends?” she asked, extending her hand, her voice softened.

Kari’s left eye creased while staring at her open palm, a somewhat forced grin illuminating her face as she struggled to accept. “If you can commit one day a week to doing something sporty with me as ‘depression friends’ then…I suppose I could make that sacrifice.”

“Ooh! What a counter, but I’m not about to back down because I suck at sports. If you can commit to half of that day being spent shopping or hanging out with me exploring new places to eat or have fun, like I enjoy doing.”

Hissing, the wolf rubbed the back of her neck as if it was a hard sell. “I really couldn’t care less how I look, Sora, and food mostly tastes bland to me, in general. It has for a while.”

“Depression can do that,” Sora whispered, reflecting on her own experiences with that. “But maybe a little exploration can bring a little something more back into your life… I’m just saying it’s worth a try. I want to get to know Kari, the girl—you. Not whatever mask you try to put on as a front to protect yourself from the hellspawn that is Eric… I want to care for you as a friend, Kari. Are you open to doing the same for me?”

An unwilling shiver seemed to run down Kari’s spine to her stiff tail as she reflected on her words for a few seconds, staring at her extended hand, and a light broke through the darkness in her guarded eyes. Looking up at her, a tear slid down her cheek that she brushed away, making Sora’s chest hurt at the emotion rolling through the wolf. Taking a few deep breaths, Kari reached out and took her hand.

“I think…you’re the first person who has ever asked me to be their friend, Sora… Everyone else just gathered around me to use my strength. You’re the first person who asked to…to know me… I don’t know who I am. What if I’m not someone worth being friends with?”

Sora’s face softened, feeling heat rise up her own nose as she let a few tears fall at the gap that had bridged between them. “Isn’t that something for the friend to determine? I’m still learning more about myself every day, too, Kari.”

She couldn’t hold back her weepy laughter as she repeated what the wolf had told her on a bench that struck her. “You’re not a lone wolf anymore, Kari… You’ve walked alone enough. The right people have come into your life. I’m here. Your friend. I promise it will be worth it, in the end.”

A change came over Kari’s demeanor as she sniffed back her tears and strengthened her grip. A firm resolve and fire lit in her eyes that scared Sora a little as the wolf’s focus sharpened.

“I lost my appetite for a while…but I think I’ve found it again. I’m more than just a wolf, but I am a wolf. Hungry for more…always more. To be that wolf climbing the hill. Thank you, Sora… My first real friend. What does that mean again?”

Laughing, Sora felt a giant weight lift off her shoulders, seeing the light return to Kari’s face. “It means we’re a pack, fluff brain. It means you’ve found your pack…”

Kari swallowed a lump in her throat before moving closer, and Sora smiled while accepting the hug with a gentle chuckle.

“I thought you weren’t a hugger?”

“…Just this once, I guess it isn’t terrible.”

Says the girl who initiated it, she internally chuckled. Finally, she’s healing. Now, adventures and dangers ahead in Avalon. The horrifying enemy called homework!

* — * — *

Diane stepped through the transit gates of Avalon Academy, the familiar pulse of ancient magic tingling in her veins like an old melody she’d long forgotten. It had been centuries since she last walked these paths, and yet, the resonance of this place had never truly left her.

The towering spires of the grand library loomed ahead, a monument to knowledge that had withstood the test of time the Foundation couldn’t match. She could almost hear the whispers of the tomes within, beckoning her closer to explore their mysteries.

Her pace was steady, but her mind raced with the memories of her time here. The nights spent poring over manuscripts, the debates with true magical scholars who were likely still around, the intoxicating allure of secrets that only Avalon could offer. But, perhaps most importantly, the teasing comments and insights she’d received from her true teacher—The Mórrígan.

The Foundation had provided her with the needed tools, but Avalon had the key to unlock the mysteries of the universe she’d sought after but was barred from due to being human.

It’s a shame it took me this long to get to this point, she mused, that The Darkness would cast a block in front of me and diverge our races so drastically. Such feeble minds for progress. The racism toward humans due to our past is exhausting. Millions of years, and still it persists, blocking me left and right.

She smiled curtly at the scowls the many instructors gave her in passing, many no doubt remembering her when she was young, ambitious, and a pusher of progress into the unknown. Thankfully, Sora gave her a perfect cover with her high position in the magical arts amidst the Foundation. She had every excuse needed to further her research.

The entrance to the grand library was as imposing as she remembered, its doors fashioned from enchanted wood, alive and ever-shifting. As she approached, the doors parted silently, welcoming her back into the fold, or so she saw it.

Diane stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of parchment, aged leather, and magical preservation spells. A faint smile touched her lips.

I’m home.

Behind the desk sat an elf, her posture rigid, and young by the slant of her ear, possibly less than several centuries old. Her green eyes were sharp with suspicion. Diane knew that look well; it was the gaze of someone who trusted too little and had seen too much suffering, suffering they believed caused by humans. Diane could respect it when not aimed at her.

Hovering behind her were two Prismatic Fairies, their glittering wings shimmering with a faint iridescence, a silent reminder of the security that Avalon’s High Royalty demanded of the Foundation. Either one could turn her to dust with a snap of their fingers

Diane approached the desk with the confidence of someone who belonged, though she could sense the elf’s wariness. “Good day,” she began, her voice smooth as silk. “I am here on behalf of the Foundation, conducting an inspection of the records related to vulpes studies. I’m also touring the campus to ensure everything is up to standard with our protocols regarding teaching arrangements for our young fox Founder.”

The elf’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded upon getting the signal from the Fairies, requesting to see Diane’s badge. With a practiced motion, Diane produced it from her coat, the symbol of the Foundation glinting in the low light with the High King’s seal on it. The elf examined it closely before grunting, seemingly satisfied, though the distrust lingered in her gaze.

The Fairies fluttered behind her, silent but watchful. Diane offered them a polite smile that felt foreign to her before turning her attention back to the elf.

“The Foundation’s methods, as you know, are rooted in science and practicality. However, I find that there is much to be gained from revisiting the teachings of Avalon, particularly those that delve into the arcane and mystical arts, which Sora will do.”

The elf raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her expression carefully neutral. Diane took that as her cue to continue. “If you don’t mind, I’ll proceed to the records section. There are a few texts I need to review regarding certain standards that were active when I was a student.”

The elf silently moved to guide her toward one of the gateways lining the sides. Each portal led to a different section, a labyrinthine network that housed knowledge from before humanity had even dreamed of its first cities. It took someone with excellent memory to be a guide in this place.

As she stepped through, she felt the familiar shift in the air, the subtle change that indicated she had moved not just in space, but in time—a reminder of Avalon's unique relationship with reality.

A five minute delay, is it? I suppose it’s a security measure to redirect anyone if needed, keeping them in temporal lock until approved. Things have gotten a lot stricter since my decades learning here. I might as well pick up a few books that can relate to this Darkness, as well. It’s good to be informed.

The records section was vast, shelves stretching endlessly in every direction. Diane walked purposefully, her fingers brushing the spines of ancient tomes, some of which she had studied in her youth.This particular area was revered and at the front for a reason. She selected a few books, carefully chosen for their relevance to her current research, yet she paused when she reached for one specific volume she most desperately needed.

It’s gone? How…out of all the texts. It can’t be a coincidence. Why this obscure, thin volume out of every other hundred thousand lectures she’d given?

Her brow furrowed slightly as she turned toward her guide. “Excuse me,” she said, trying to keep her tone measured. “I was looking for the Eternal Round, an Interview with The Mórrígan. There are teachings in there that I need to reference to ensure they are still a part of the curriculum for Sora’s benefit and needed to brush up on them.”

The elf regarded her with a cool gaze before opening a thick ledger, its pages turning on their own accord until they settled on the desired entry.

“The text is currently checked out by one of the newer staff members,” the elf replied, her voice devoid of inflection. “It is scheduled for return in six months. It appears…it was checked out once before.” Her gaze lifted to meet hers, filled with suspicion. “By you, just over three centuries ago.”

Diane chuckled, a sound that echoed softly in the empty space; she suspected few came to revisit things taught by the Fae Founder after the incident and didn’t expect her teachings to be still in public circulation.

“Ah, yes, back when humans were still permitted here. How times have changed.” She waved off the elf’s remark with a light hand. “If that’s the case, could you tell me who has it currently? Perhaps I can arrange a meeting with the staff member.”

The elf’s vision flickered with a hint of surprise as she consulted the ledger once more. “Professor Kurosaki, of the Vulpes Curriculum Zone.”

Diane’s eyes widened, a spark of genuine curiosity lighting within them as she remembered the fox at school, having an excellent memory herself. Last she’d seen, he’d had four tails.

“He not only graduated, but managed to become an instructor? For Seedlings, no doubt. Well, isn’t that interesting considering his…failings.” Her voice trailed off as she considered the implications. “And I hear Fen has been taken on as a student instructor. Perfect.”

With that, she checked out the books she had selected, her mind already spinning with possibilities. There was much to plan now that the doors of Avalon were open again—not just for the Foundation, but for her personal goals as well.

Diane exited the library, the weight of the tomes in her arms a comforting reminder of the knowledge she would soon wield—the breakthroughs. The path ahead was clear, and she intended to walk it with the same determination that had brought her here centuries ago.

Perhaps that escaped nine-tailed Kumiho could be of help; she’s certainly powerful enough for what I require. It’s obvious that she slipped into Avalon since the Foundation hasn’t been able to discover her on Earth yet. Hmm. I will regain everything that was taken from me…