Race for the Morning Sun

Kumiho nearly snickered at Kitsune's startled outburst when the mention of her parents came up. He did have to admit, her father was a pretty intimidating figure when he'd met him, so he could understand her hesitance to do something that might get her in trouble. After all, how many wolves could suffocate a grizzly bear to death? Hattori was a terrifying presence and it was hard to think he had sired such a sweet little girl. "C'mon then, let's get you home undetected," he whispered back to her as if they were having a clandestine meeting. Spy mode, activate! Operation "Get Kitsune Home Undetected" was a go!

Her touch brought his icy eyes down to find her small scarlet and amber paw resting on his. Her touch left warmth in its wake, like she was actually made of living flame. She asked about his degree of safety camping out here on his own, and it was Iho's instinctive reflex to convince her that he'd be fine... but this time he hesitated. They'd both seen what sort of horrors lurked out here in the dark of the night. What if this wasn't a one-off event? What if things only got worse from here? "That's very kind of you, Kit. I think that sounds like a good idea." He smiled and leaned down to boop his nose against the girl's crown in an affectionate show of gratitude. "We'll have to come up with a story of how you know me. Oh, and probably get you a bath before we meet your parents, since we kinda smell like each other."

After spending almost all night cuddled up in shared fright, the two wolves had left more than a faint trace of their scent upon one another. Iho did not want to have to try to explain to Kitsune's father that he was merely protecting the near-yearling and wasn't some sort of deviant predator looking to defile his daughter.

"Speech"