The tropical romance tes.., p.9
White Fox in the Forest, page 9
“From the one on the moonstone you carry around your neck?”
Dilah felt his face warm under his fur. “How did you know?”
“I wouldn’t be a very good prophet if I didn’t know that, would I?” Gulev chuckled. “See, the poem on the leather is very old, but this version in the cave is the original. The missing two lines were lost as the legend circulated over the centuries.”
Dilah scanned the unfamiliar lines again.
It all began with a love affair—a fox fell in love with a human being.
It was a sad and beautiful love, one that touched even the patron saint of the Arctic foxes.
“It’s a love story?” Dilah said. “That’s the reason for the moonstone’s very existence?”
Gulev nodded. “Let me tell you the story. More than a thousand years ago, Merla, the first sage, was born in the Arctic fox clan. She was famous for her fiery red fur—unique among the white foxes. Her beauty and intelligence dazzled everyone she met. But that’s not why she became a sage. She saved the foxes from extinction numerous times. She kept our species alive. As she grew increasingly revered among the foxes, the patron saint Ulla granted her the title of sage.
“But Merla had a peculiar habit: Like you, Dilah, she loved human beings.”
Dilah felt his heart beat a little faster.
“She was fond of observing the humans who lived near the fox clan. And there was one in particular she loved to watch—a young hunter. The boy soon discovered that Merla often followed him. He grew very fond of her and treated her kindly. Over time, a special bond formed between them, and they grew up together, and at last, the unthinkable happened: Merla fell in love with this human.
“Merla was determined to marry the hunter, convinced he was her one true love, but she couldn’t do so as a fox. So, she begged the patron saint to help her transform into a human girl. Ulla was enraged by her ridiculous request and refused. But Merla was determined. During the coldest snowstorm of the year, she sat at Ulla’s palace gate for three days and three nights. Finally, Ulla was moved by Merla’s persistence.
“Ulla gave Merla a near-impossible task to prove her commitment to the hunter: She had to search the mountains for a magical material she’d need in order to transform—moonstone. Merla succeeded against all the odds, but by the time she handed the moonstone she’d harvested to Ulla, she was close to death. As she lay dying, Ulla carved a fragment out of the moonstone to create … well, the talisman you now wear around your neck.”
Dilah glanced down at the little package. To think, Ulla had actually touched it!
“As for the rest of the moonstone,” Gulev continued, “Ulla used it to create a secret, powerful treasure, endowing it with the ability to help Merla realize her dream even as she died.”
“Did Merla become human?” Dilah asked, his eyes wide. His story wasn’t a love story, but even so, he felt immediately close to Merla, remembering how he had once watched the human family near his den. He hoped she had a happy ending.
“Of course. But as with all magic, there was a catch.”
Dilah’s heart sank.
“Merla didn’t simply transform into a human of equivalent age to her fox body. Instead, her soul was reborn in the form of a human baby in a small Arctic village. At first, she didn’t remember anything of her previous life—she grew up as an ordinary human girl. But when she turned sixteen, her memories flooded back.
“Of course, it had been sixteen years since Merla and the young hunter had known each other. She returned to his house and watched from the trees as she had once done as a young fox. The hunter was now nearly thirty years old, but as he set out for the forest one frosty morning, Merla realized it didn’t matter—she loved him as she always had, and always would. She stepped out from the trees, heart leaping with joy, determined to reveal herself and the truth … but as she did, a beautiful woman emerged from the hunter’s house, two young children at her side. She kissed the hunter on the lips.”
“No!” Dilah gasped.
“The hunter was happily married, and Merla was heartbroken. As she turned away, the hunter noticed her on the edge of the clearing, and he called out to her. ‘Do I recognize you from somewhere?’ he asked. And when she said he didn’t, that she was simply a lost traveler, he insisted on walking her to the road.
“As they walked, Merla gently asked the hunter questions about his life. She soon discovered that he was not the person she had known sixteen years earlier. She had been so convinced their souls were matched and immutable—but time had changed everything. Now, in truth, his true love was the woman he had married, not Merla. As they parted ways forever, Merla knew she had done the right thing in letting him go. But it didn’t hurt any less.” As Gulev spoke, the drawn-out, plaintive cries of wolves drifted in from outside, as though they too were sad for Merla’s fate.
“What did she do next?” Dilah asked.
“No one knows, young fox. She disappeared into the human world, and so her story is lost. I hope and believe she found happiness at last.” The old fox smiled sadly. “After that, Ulla hid the dangerous treasure somewhere safe, where only the bravest and most determined would find it. He gifted the fragment you hold to the white foxes, Merla’s people, where it was passed down from generation to generation, always guiding the way to its hidden partner. But you know that already. And you know that the secret treasure is still writing its own mythology.”
“So … the bigger part of this moonstone is the treasure I’m seeking?” Dilah asked.
“That’s right. The moonstone treasure has the power to open the Gate of Reincarnation.”
Dilah’s mind was swirling with excitement and questions. Never had he felt so close to the thing he’d been seeking since his mother had died. “Gate of Reincarnation? What’s that?”
“The link between the animal and human realms. All souls of animals who wish to become human must pass through this gate. There are many ways to open it. The spring of reincarnation is one—”
“The spring is real!” Dilah exclaimed. “But we were there. It didn’t work! I mean, not in that way.”
“Not every method works for every animal. The spring of reincarnation is specific to bears. The moonstone is available to every species.”
Dilah nodded slowly, remembering how the bears they’d seen entering the spring had simply disappeared. Now he knew why. But then … “I don’t get it.” Dilah shook his head, confused. “I have to go through a gate—and the moonstone is the key? But didn’t you just say the gate is in the spring of reincarnation?”
The old fox shook his head. “It’s not a physical gate at all. Dilah, the typical law of life carries all creatures from birth to death … but its reverse process carries us from death to life. This is called reincarnation, and it happens naturally at the end of every creature’s life. Do you follow?”
Dilah nodded slowly.
“Good. Now, listen, there is no magic in the world that can simply transform an animal into a human, preserving their original memory, because animals and humans have very different thoughts, behaviors, and instincts. Can you imagine how terrible it would be to force your present awareness into a human body? Why, you might not even be able to walk, let alone talk the way humans do! Remember what I told you about how Merla entered the human world? The catch?”
“She started as a baby …” Dilah whispered, starting to understand.
“Correct. Only by working with the natural method of reincarnation can we transform into human beings. Reincarnation naturally connects two very different species, washes away memories of the previous animal life, removes the animal coat, and cultivates a human self from infancy—and only in this way is there a true transformation into a human being. If you try to avoid reincarnation and force animals to become human … Trust me, it has been attempted, and you’ll create horrible monsters.”
Dilah felt a little dizzy as he started to grasp the truth. “On my journey, I met Makarov, the second elder of the Arctic foxes. He told me the treasure is a bloodthirsty thing, that it’s a cursed, unlucky object, and that all foxes who find it will die. Is that true?”
“He’s partly right. To a fox who doesn’t understand the true magic of the treasure, it must seem cursed. For without death, how can there be rebirth?”
“Without death, how can there be rebirth?” Dilah repeated slowly. “So … basically, we’re all going to die when we find the treasure,” he said in a quieter voice. “Me and all my friends.”
Gulev nodded, his face grave. “The real name of the secret treasure is the Collar of Reincarnation. After the reincarnation magic is activated, all of its owners die within three days, at which point their souls will pass through the Gate of Reincarnation and arrive in the human world as infants.”
Dilah watched as a long string of tiny bubbles gurgled in the rainbow spring below. He was going to die on this quest. He was going to sacrifice everything of himself for the dream of becoming human. Not only him, but the friends who had joined and supported him too. Dilah imagined himself, Ankel, Little Bean, and Tyrone lying on the cold ground like his mother, like Emily, their bodies gradually fading into nonexistence, picked apart by crows and worms. Of course, from the time Dilah had embarked on his quest, he’d been prepared to die. In fact, he’d faced death innumerable times. But all in the hope of surviving—of continuing to fight for the treasure, for the dream of transformation, of changing the world. Now death itself was the destination, and a strange fear ate away at his heart.
“Death isn’t something to be afraid of, Dilah,” Gulev gently explained, as if he could read Dilah’s mind. “To become the owner of the Collar of Reincarnation, you must overcome your fear of death. Even the divine phoenix must be burnt in order to be reborn from the ashes.”
Dilah nodded slowly, accepting Gulev’s advice. “But the treasure … Are you sure it’s a good thing?” he asked as new doubts arose in his mind. “It has brought about so much pain.” Dilah thought of Carl, who’d resorted to fighting with Dilah’s father—his former comrade in arms—over the moonstone. Because of the moonstone, his father had ended up dead; Carl had turned cruel; and Dilah’s own brother, Alsace, had been expelled from the fox clan. Because of this treasure, the patriarch Jens and former head elder Gray had been killed, and the second elder Makarov had gone mad and left the Arctic … All these bad things had stemmed from this coveted treasure!
“The treasure itself is neither good nor evil. Power like that is defined by the intent of those who wield it … and only you know what is in your heart, little fox.”
“And what of Makarov’s son, Nicholas?” Dilah asked. “What became of his quest?”
“I met Nicholas here years ago. He was the last before you to seek the treasure,” Gulev said. He sat down, his blind eyes appearing to stare up at shafts of moonlight breaking into the cave. “Nicholas thought the treasure was evil. He had decided to destroy the moonstone and Collar of Reincarnation, eliminating the cause of so much strife among his people.
“After he found the Collar of Reincarnation, he made a bold choice. Holding the moonstone in his mouth and wearing the collar, he leapt from the top of a mountain into an abyss, hoping that these two treasures would disappear from the world with him,” Gulev said, his voice somewhat sad.
“But the moonstone …” Dilah glanced down at the package around his neck. “It’s still here. His plan failed,” he said blankly.
“As I warned him it would. But in failing, Nicholas allowed your dream to live on,” Gulev said. “And now, instead of trying to destroy Ulla’s gift, you have a chance to use it for good.”
Dilah let out a deep breath. Gulev was right. He had to stay true to his path, whatever faced him—a path he’d followed from the very start and that he believed to be good and honest. He had to stare down his fear of death, force his doubts about the treasure out of his mind. What mattered was what was in his heart. Victory was near. He silently renewed his vow to find the Collar of Reincarnation—Ulla’s secret treasure.
“I can see you’re nearly ready to embark on the last leg of your journey, but before you leave this place, I’ll tell you one more thing,” Gulev said. “Not every Arctic fox is fit to become the master of the Collar of Reincarnation.”
“Even if I find it, I could still fail?” Dilah asked, feeling a little deflated.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret, Dilah. In order to become human, you must possess the five human attributes: faith, wisdom, kindness, courage, and love. The Collar of Reincarnation will test you to see whether you possess these attributes before allowing you to pass through the Gate of Reincarnation.”
“But I don’t think I have all of those attributes—maybe one or two …” Dilah said, feeling slightly panicky.
“Don’t forget about your friends. They can help you collect all five attributes. Along the way, you’ve helped one another through thick and thin. Together, could you already have everything you need? Think about it.”
Images of Dilah’s friends flashed through his mind like lightning. Ankel undoubtedly possessed rare wisdom. Little Bean had true kindness. Tyrone … well, he was the newest of Dilah’s friends, but although he was quiet, he was a fierce protector. Perhaps he represented love. Dilah himself … well, he’d had the conviction to travel all alone from the North Pole, sticking to his journey no matter what had stood in his path. Perhaps he was the one with the most faith. That left one attribute …
“If Emily had survived,” Dilah said, bowing his head, “she would have been our courage. But now I’m not sure where we’ll find that.”
Gulev smiled kindly. “If you seek a glimpse of the future, I think I can do you a small favor, child. This is no ordinary spring.” He signaled with his nose down into the rainbow waters below the half bridge on which they stood. “The powerful magic of time flows within it. Past, present, and future all lie in its waters—it’s how I guide the animals who visit me for help. So, gaze into the spring and concentrate on your question. We will find some answers there.”
Dilah walked to the very edge of the bridge and peered over the spring, startled to see his magnified reflection. The Arctic fox in the water gave him a strange feeling. He was no longer the scrawny little cub who’d left the North Pole—he was now a big, strong Arctic fox. He looked like his father. Like Alsace. Only he was even bigger, after his swim in the enchanted spring.
Following Gulev’s instructions, Dilah gazed intently at the water, focusing on the fifth attribute: courage. Where would he find it? As he watched, holding the question in his mind, large bubbles sprang up through the spring; the water was boiling and gurgling! The rainbow light grew intense, and multicolored beams surged wildly throughout the cave. Dilah stepped backward, alarmed.
Then, all of a sudden, the myriad colors converged into a sky blue glow, the cave dimmed, and the bubbles died down.
Dilah stepped closer to the spring again—except now it was more like a long, calm pool—a mirror carved out of sapphire, emitting a faint blue light. Dilah’s reflection slowly faded away. He gasped, but was rooted to the spot. In the glassy surface of the water, he saw a roiling pitch-black sea, the sky covered in dark clouds, lightning flashing, wind and rain whipping against the surface of the waves. Dilah could practically hear the thunder and feel the cold vapor from the sea.
What was this vast, churning ocean? What did it mean? He’d find courage in the sea?
Now the image of the ocean had faded, and the surface of the water was boiling again, bubbles rising from the blue mouth of the spring. The water turned gold and glowed brightly. For a few moments, Dilah and Gulev were bathed in warm light. When the water calmed, Dilah was surprised to see nine big bushy tails briefly flash across the golden mirror, vanishing into his own reflection as the rainbow colors returned. He blinked. Had he imagined that?
He turned to Gulev. “I saw the sea,” Dilah said, puzzled. “A big, stormy sea. But I’m not sure what it means.”
“It’s simple. You’ll encounter a friend with the fifth attribute at sea,” Gulev said.
“Really?” Dilah was confused but, for now, set his doubts aside. “I—I also saw something else, but I’m not sure if I was mistaken …”
“What was it?” Gulev quietly asked, his blind eyes closed.
“I think I saw nine fox tails flash by in the water. I could be wrong, though. It was so quick.”
“Anubis? How could it be him?” Gulev was obviously shocked, his voice tinged with grave concern. “Dilah, please listen. If you see a nine-tailed fox on your travels, you must tread carefully indeed. Anubis is an ancient white fox sage. If he’s the one guarding the Collar of Reincarnation …” He shook his head.
“Will I have to fight him to get the collar?”
“He has nine lives, Dilah. He won’t be cowed by force. Instead, you’ll have to use reason, little fox,” Gulev said, his grave face blooming into a friendly smile. Dilah couldn’t help but grin back.
“I understand. Thank you very much for your advice.” Dilah was extremely grateful to the wise fox, whom he respected from the bottom of his heart.
“All right, child. It’s getting late. Get back to bed! You and your friends will be setting off early tomorrow morning, I’m sure.”
After saying goodbye, Dilah found his way back by tracking his own scent through the moonlit caves. He gazed fondly at his friends for a moment—each one of them sound asleep in the straw—and at last he crept into their midst, curled his long fluffy tail around him, and fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Dilah woke up to a crunching noise. His eyes fluttered open. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the circular skylight overhead. Ankel and Little Bean sat next to the pile of food in the corner, chomping happily. Tyrone lay on the straw with his eyes open, clutching the bamboo hat on his belly with one paw. Dilah stood up and shook the straw out of his coat.
“Let’s set off as soon as we’ve eaten,” he said brightly.
