Chapter 3: The Warmth of a Stranger
The room was bathed in soft golden light.
The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the buttery aroma of toasted bread.
The fire had dimmed to a gentle glow, casting long shadows across the wooden floor.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(blinking groggily) …Ngh…
Her body throbbed with a dull ache, her paw wrapped tightly, her ribs sore.
Her eyes flicked around the unfamiliar room.
A couch. A shelf stacked with books. A photo frame. A pair of old slippers near the fireplace.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(confused, thoughts scattered) Where…?
Izzy / FL Fox Form
This isn’t the forest… not the alley… not… death.
Something smelled... delicious.
In the nearby kitchen, a pan sizzled. A kettle whistled gently. Footsteps approached.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(panicked) Someone’s coming—!
Her ears flattened. Instinct surged through her like lightning.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(entering the living room) Oh! You’re awake...
The moment their eyes met, Izzy’s body tensed.
She yelped, scrambling away, her bandaged paw dragging slightly as she dove for cover under the couch.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(trembling, breathing fast, scared thought) No—no, don’t touch me, don’t trick me again—
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(stunned, gentle) Hey.. no, no, it’s okay.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
I’m not going to hurt you.
He knelt by the couch, peering under it.
Her orange-golden eyes stared back, wide and wild.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(softly) You’re safe now. I promise. I just… I want to help.
Izzy curled herself into a ball, but her limbs ached too much to stay still.
A pained whimper escaped her throat.
She remembered them.. the men with grins too wide, words too sweet.
They tricked her, took her magical bracelet. And Kai…
She flinched when the man’s hand reached beneath the couch.
But he didn’t grab her roughly, he didn’t shout.
His hand was warm. His touch slow. Careful.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(voice low and steady) You must be terrified.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
But I swear, I won’t hurt you. You’re not alone anymore.
His fingers gently slipped under her belly, cradling her with practiced ease.
She tensed, tried to squirm, but couldn’t summon the strength.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(weak thought) Why… does he feel… safe?
He lifted her close to his chest. His heartbeat was steady. His scent.. so different from the others.
Not cruel. Not rotten.. but warm.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(stroking her head) There you go. That’s better. You’re okay.
He noticed her breathing slow.
Her muscles, once rigid, now melted against him like a trembling leaf finding shelter.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(murmuring) You understand me… don’t you?
She blinked up at him, her orange-golden eyes shimmering like honey in the light.
Michael set her carefully on a soft folded towel atop the kitchen counter.
She sat there, weak but alert, as he placed a shallow bowl of warm water and a small plate of shredded chicken in front of her.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(smiling) Hope you’re a chicken girl.
Izzy hesitated. Then hunger took over.
She dipped her nose and began to eat.. slowly at first, then faster, greedily.
The water followed, cool and soothing against her parched throat.
Michael watched with a small smile, then knelt beside her again.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(checking her bandage) You’re healing okay. Good girl.
She didn’t pull away this time.
She watched him instead. Her fox eyes studying the man who rescued her.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(silent thought) You’re not like the others… Are you?
After breakfast, Michael brought her back to the little pillow nest near the fireplace.
He gently placed her down and brushed her fur with his fingers.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(softly) I’ll be back soon.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
I’m going to get you some proper food… maybe a little bed. You need to rest.
Izzy yawned, a small sound escaping her snout. Her tail curled close to her body.
Izzy / FL Fox Form
(eyelids heavy, thoughts hazy) He’s… kind… Maybe… I can trust… just a little…
Michael stood and grabbed his keys, giving her one last glance before heading for the door.
Dr Michael Ren / ML
(smiling faintly) Don’t run off, okay?
Dr Michael Ren / ML
You’ve got someone watching over you now.
As the door closes, silence returns.
Izzy lay there, the fire’s warmth licking her fur, eyes drifting shut.
For the first time since the forest, since the hunters, since losing Kai..
But safety never lasts long.
And somewhere in the city, a familiar magical bracelet changed hands under a dealer’s table.
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