Star Crossed In Time

The white majestic fox stares back at me without blinking. Did it want to eat me? "What are you staring at?" It says with Zhen's voice. My eyes grow large as my brain suddenly makes the connection. "Zhen?" I ask in a shaky voice.

He gives me a dry look and says "Get dressed! We need to make it to the next town before sundown!" I numbly look down at my clothes and shake my head. What just happened? Zhen turns around as I quickly get dressed but when I see my hair I gasp in horror!

I run over to the water and look in at my reflection. I scream at the top of my lungs and turn to Zhen with a wild look. "What have you done!?" I ask standing on shaky legs and holding my long silver hair. "You're now officially part of the Divine Fox Clan. You now carry my blood. You can call me Grandpa Zhen!"

I hold my silver hair with shaky hands. Grandpa Zhen? Grandpa Zhen!? Hah! I look around with wild eyes... how was I supposed to go unnoticed with hair like this!!?? I turn back to Zhen and quickly begin pointing at my hair and forehead.

"How am I suppose to go around looking like this!?" I say borderline historical. Zhen rolls his eyes and says "Oh calm down Liling. You can just use your powers to hide your hair... the flower on your forehead with remain though... you really can't hide that."

I plop my butt on the ground and take deep calming breaths. "Is this how you get family? You just randomly find someone you take a liking to and change them without asking them!?" I ask with anger. Zhen frowns at me and says "Of course not! Foxes are born like others but you are an exception! I gave up a large mass of my powers to give you my blood!"

"I told you, you were special to me... you remind me of my Granddaughter so I have adopted you. I've given you a gift child!" Zhen says with a glare. I close my eyes and try to calm down. He only wanted to become family... yes, he went about it in the wrong way but he doesn't mean any harm.

If I had to be honest... it's the first time anyone wanted me as family. I feel my heart ache and soon I felt the familiar sting in my eyes. I open my eyes and look at the proud white fox in front of me. When Zhen sees my teary eyes he instantly becomes worried.

"What's wrong child?" Zhen asks stepping closer. I sniff and quickly wipe at my eyes before looking back at him with vulnerability "You really want me as a Granddaughter? I'm clumsy and... well, useless." Zhen looks at me with large eyes before slowly smiling.

"I think you and I will get along quite well Liling... You are now my Granddaughter and nothing will change that. From now on, you and I will become stronger." He nudges the side of my face before giving me a small kiss.

A warm feeling suddenly swells in my chest making me feel insecure and stupid. This is so weird... He was a fox for crying out loud! But... he said he wanted me as a Granddaughter... I push the uncomfortable feelings to the side and quickly ask "How do I hide my new silver hair? Also, why is it silver?"

Zhen smiles and says "I'm actually a little surprised. The color silver is a rare color among us foxes but it's a dead give away for carrying the Divine Fox Blood. Silver usually means stronger Divinity so I can only assume it's the same for you. Our contract is now void... we're just family now."

"How can you just make a contract and make it void whenever you choose to!?" I ask perplexed. Zhen chuckles and turns to walk away as he says "I'm a Nine-tailed Fox, there isn't much I can't do." I sigh and decide to give up... I can't keep up anymore.

"What about the red flower marking on my forehead?" I ask defeated. Zhen stops and turns back to look at me. "It's my blessing..." I narrow my eyes at him in confusion. What is that suppose to mean!?