The Nine-tailed Fox and the Bounty Hunter (closed for Ravenloft)

[Mairu]

Princess Natasha was annoyed right now and her sharp blue eyes showed it. At 5' 7" with pale skin and long brown hair in a long braid down her back Natasha was a girl every guy wanted and actually indulged in the companies of some, stopping the before they tried to go too far though. Afterall she was a princess. Right now though, she would have let one of those guys do anything to get away from here, because right before her was the Bounty Hunter who had attacked her family just a few days ago. The reason behind it, was unsurprising though. They were supernatural nine-tailed foxes. At least the women where, so people targeted them, thinking of them as evil demons, very few nowadays but still some and now one was to be her present? Were her parents insane? "Natasha dear, for the past few minutes you have said nothing. Do you not like your present?" Natasha snapped out of her thoughts with her mothers words and like the stuck-up princess she was supposed to be answered. "I like it mommy but isn't he the guy who tried to kill us the other day?" At this her mother nodded and said something that Natasha didn't hear, turning and motioning for the guards to bring the man, her normal red fox following her. Natasha didn't hear her mother say anything else and just kept walking, knowing her mother was probably glad she had accepted the gift. Natasha was fawned over and could act out and get anything she wanted and her parents were actually happy. The only thing she could never do except when alone was show warmth. She had learned that at a young age. Soon they were at her bedroom and she motioned for the guards to leave and pushed her "present" inside.

Once inside she called her maid. "Sarah get a bath ready! Quickly!" Sasha then circled the man before changing out of her puffy pink presentation dress and into her soft white dress that clinged to her body. Soon the bath was ready and Natasha led him to it and pointed to it. "Get in, you are hurting my eyes so you are going to be washed." Natasha then turned to the maid. "Wash him then take his measurements, I want clothes made for him. Later I want you to find him a room and come to my room." Natasha's eyes softened for a minute showing she just wanted to talk, this maid being the only person she could be herself around. The maid just nodded smiling and hurried to the man to start washing him. Natasha then walked out, feeding her fox bits of rabbit as she and her fox, Rala, weird name but it had seemed to fit, layed on her bed.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton Emeric the Third, young, brash monster hunter, the newest inductee into the renown and prestigious society of the Slayers Take, hung his head low this day. Caught and stripped of his gear by the very beasts he had been charged to kill. Ninetails, female shape changers as deaday as they were seductive. He looked up at his captors as they led him up to a rather imperious looking young woman. What was this? Was he not marked for death? After all, he would have killed them, had he not been caught. Was he to be paraded around and mocked first?

Present? Did the Queen-mother just call him a present? He shifted his gaze over to the imperious little snot he was to 'belong' to and laughed, receiving a sharp shove and a warning to hold his tongue. He sneered, but knew better than to make another sound. He simply went where he was led. Finding he was led to the princesses bed chambers made him laugh again. Were these people mad? Leaving him alone with their daughter in her bed chambers of all places? Did they think he would do nothing? The fools... wait... a bath? What was her game? Would she bath in front of him, thinking he would become her willing slave? She did not seem to fear him. She was so bold, she changed right in front of him. What sort of game was she playing?

If the bath was not for her, then who? It was made clear soon enough, when she forced him to the steaming waters edge. "Pardon, your highness, but in my clothes? I would disrobe, but as you can see, I am a bit tied up at the moment." He lifted his shackled hands and jingled the chain holding them together. He laughed again as she instructed her maid to wash him. "Do you treat all criminals to such comforts? I seem to be missing something here... I tried to kill your family, why have you not executed me for my crime? Instead, you bath me, dress me, put me into a room of my own?" He tried asking but the princess, as stuck up as she seemed to be, simply walked out, leaving him alone with the maid. "She's a rather stuck up one, isn't she?" He asked the maid with a sly smile. "Careful down there, miss, you wouldn't want to put your eye out around that thing, would you?"

 

[Mairu]

The maid gasped at the man's language, wide-eyed but said nothing, hurrying to finish. After the maid was done, having cut his clothes off with scissors ushered him back into the Princess's room and quickly hurried off. After a few minutes Natasha finally looked at the man, getting up and walking over. "I will not bother with formalities with you, hunter. All I will say is this." Natasha brought her face close to his. "Try do anything to me and I will personally kill you." With that Natasha unlocked and took his shackles off him. "You may do what you like in your free time. You will have to attend meals and can't leave the palace and do not try to kill us or escape. I'm more powerful than you can imagine and very skilled at battle." With this Natasha went back to her bed and waited for whatever this man had to say.

 

[Ravenloft]

"I see... am I to be kept naked then? Is this some sort of game? Why do you not simply kill me and be done with me? Why should I break bread with the likes of you and yours?" He scoffed, looking her over. "You don't look so tough, I'm sure I could overpower you, if I wanted to. I would like to wrap my fingers around your pretty little neck and squeeze... that's what I would like." He took a step toward her, flexing his hands. "In fact... I think I just might.... you don't look so tough..."

 

[Mairu]

Natasha was amused by this man. Naked? Hadn't he heard her ask the maid to get his measurements for clothes? Kill him? She wasn't the type. Her parents were though. Overpower her? He wished. Put his hands around her neck and squeeze? He now needed to be taught a lesson. Natasha then calmly got up and walked over to him her eyes like ice. She then grabbed his neck and lifted him. Her eyes now glowing, she changed, growing fox ears and nine tails. Then she spoke. "Look here hunter, I want nothing to do with you. At all. I just thought you may want to live. Try to kill me? Instant death from my parents. Try to flee? Instant death from my parents. Don't eat with us? Starve. Try to steal food cause you won't eat with us? Instant death from my parents. Also I told the maid to get you some clothes." Right then the maid came in and put down a change of clothes and after she left Natasha dropped the hunter. "Do what you will, I don't care unless you intend to harm anyone or anything I care about. Including the foxes. With that Natasha went and grabbed a big bag and left her fox on her heels.

Natasha then went to her private fox nursery and picked up a baby fox and began feeding it from a bottle she got out of the bag. Now Natasha didn't even look the same. Gentle, kind and warm Sasha spent all her free time with her foxes. Playing with them, feeding them, singing them to sleep, sleeping with them. Natasha actually after a few hours fell asleep, a warm smile on her face and baby foxes all cuddled around her, one of her arms protectively over one. Natasha didn't even hear someone at the door, totally defenseless but also herself, a kind and gentle person.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton fell in a heap to the floor coughing and gasping for air. He had not expected such strength from such a small girl.all her warnings fell on deaf ears, she was a dangerous beast, with unnatural powers, she and her family had to be stopped before they wiped out human civilization as he knew it. He reached out and clawed the stack of folded clothes to his body, shivering frome the cold in his nakedness as she left him laying on her bed room floor.

Once she was gone, he collected himself enough to dress and searched her room for something he could use as a weapon.the best he could find was a flimsy little letter opener. It would have to do. He then followed her at a distance to some sort of nursery. He was about to strike when something held him back. She was singing softly to the little foxes. He listened for a long time, hiding around a corner, resting his head against a wall. How could this gentle being be the same one that only minutes ago had him by the throat, threatening to kill him?

He hid the letter opener in his boot and sat and listened to her until she went quiet. Glancing around the corner, he found she had fallen asleep. It would be easy to kill her now, he got up and quietly stalked into the room, careful to pick his way around all the furry little kits. He looked over her and bent to one knee, lifting his flimsy weapon over her. Then he saw the gentle smile on her face... and he just couldn't do it... he got up and rushed out of there, racing back to her room to hide. Hide his shame and his guilt for wanting to kill such a gentle creature.

 

[Mairu]

About an hour later Natasha's fox woke her and Natasha realized it was almost supper time. Getting herself and out of the room she switched back to stuck-up little princess where the little kits couldn't see her. She then walked back to her room and changed into a red, chinese like dress. After checking that she was presentable she turned to the man and got her letter opener from him and burned it. "Sorry but I can't let a hunter have a weapon now can I?" Natasha said this smugly and then walked out stopping at the door. "If you don't want to starve I suggest you come, it's dinner time." With that Natasha went to the dining room, taking a place opposite of her mother. Being the only child she got to sit on the other side of her father. Soon food was brought out, steaks, cooked. Even one for Rala was brought out and they began to eat, with forks and knives.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton didn't say a word to Natasha as she changed right in front of him again. He just watched her, confused by her difference in personality. Was she only the sweet and gentle women he saw when she was with the young ones? Did she even know about her alternate personality?

Suddenly, she turned and drew the letter opener from his boot, where he had hidden it. "What? How... how did you know?" He stammered, impressed yet confused. She was good, he had to give her that.

Food... food would be good right about now. He nodded and followed after her. "Where do I sit?" He asked, failing to address them as royalty. He got a shove from a guard for his impunity and he tensed, balling a fist up, ready to fight back. "I simply asked." The guard cut him off with a commanding shout. "You will address them as your royal highnesses, dog!"

Daltons lip twitched in anger, but he lowered his head and nodded. "Yes, your royal highnesses..." in his mind he had wanted to say high asses, but didn't dare. He was given a steak, medium rare. He had been expecting slop. Not steak. What was this? What game were they playing with him? It must be drugged or something. He cut a bite off and snuck it to a fox that was begging under the table and waited to see if it keeled over and died.

When it didnt, and only begged for more, Dalton shrugged and tore into the steak with his hands and teeth, he was so hungry.

 

[Mairu]

Natasha saw the man and sighed. Animalistic, and they were supposed to be the animals. Natasha then saw the fox and clucked her tongue, feeding it while she ate as well. While she ate her mother sat horrified at the man while her father payed no attention. Her mother looked like she was ready to call for his death, so Natasha intervened. "Mommy you know it's rude to stare at the barbaric man. He is not worth your time, he is just a worthess man who doesn't even know how to eat properly like us. Just pay him no attention." With that Natasha's mother nodded and went to eating. Once everyone was done Natasha got upand went to the man, who had finished and dragged him by his hair to her room, throwing him down and sighing. "It seems I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on you than I thought. I don't want you dead. You might be useful." With that Natasha went out and got 2 guards and they brought a mattress in and placed it by her bed and quickly left. "You will stay in here, from now on except for meals and you will sleep there" Natasha points to the mattress. "Sarah will get you anything you need, except weapons. Also don't try to kill me in my sleep, it's disrespectful. Actually let's just get this over with now." Natasha went to her drawer and took out a dagger and then went back to him. She then took his hand and placed the handle of the dagger in it and put it to her heart. "Kill me now if you want, then try to get away. It won't be my fault if you die then." Natasha then smiled her gentle, but also lonely smile, her eyes showing sadness and loneliness and she then closed her eyes, waiting for him to push the dagger into her, certain he would.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton slurpped down his goblet of wine, rudely as well and sat back, patting his stomach before belching loudly just as the princess made excuses for his uncouth behavior. He was about to fall asleep in his seat when she came over to him and caught him by a shock of his russet brown hair and dragged him back to her room. "Ow!" He exclaimed, grasping her wrist, trying to pry her fingers from his hair to no avail. She was clearly gifted with supernatural strength. It wasn't until she threw him onto her bed that he managed to right himself. Springing up to his feet, he was off balance and immediately fell back onto her bed, propped up on his elbows. "What is the meaning of this!" He demanded, seething with anger. Anger over the rude awakening and his lack of control over the situation.

"Useful? Useful!? How do you expect me to ever be useful to one as stuck up as you?! Your high ass!" He shot back at her, using the insult he'd dreamed up at dinner. Hoping that it would in cure her wrath and show her for the monster he just knew she and her kind had to be. She seemed unmoved by his rant. It took the fight out of him and he slumped his shoulders, defeated, for the moment. The next thing he knew, she pressed a dagger into his hand and told him to kill her, if he wanted too so badly.

He stared into her big, sad eyes as she closed them, awaiting his stab. It never came, his hand shook and his eyes burned with tears as he dropped the knife at her feet with a clatter of metal on stone. "I cant... damn you... I can't do it!" He whispered through clenched teeth trying to hide his emotion. "Why do you let me live?" He asked, hanging his head low, grasping out for her to hide his tears.

 

[Mairu]

Natasha's eyes opened in surprise as he said he couldn't and then she felt his emotion and as he grasped for her she backed away. For a minute she just looked pale and drained but after a moment she went back to her ice cold look. "Good, now that we have that cleared up I expect you to follow my orders. I don't kill you cause I like to see you miserable, I enjoy playing with you." Natasha knew that what she said would probably make him hate her. It was what she wanted, in truth she just wanted people to live in happiness, but this was reality and things didn't happen like that. "Don't leave this room unless you want to die." With that Natasha left and went to the nursery, crying silently as she took care of the baby foxes, her singing sad and soon after she broke into sobs, not even knowing why before leaving and going to a room full of mirrors and punched one, holding one of the bigger shards in her hand. After about a minute she held her other wrist up and cut it. She knew this was bad, but at least she felt something.

 

[Ravenloft]

"What? ...but..." Dalton couldn't believe her coldness. "You... can't mean that..." he refused to believe her as she left the room. He rubbed the tears from his eyes and quickly snuck out, after her determined to confront her. He distracted the guards with a pebble and rushed past them as they looked the other way. He tracked her to the nursery again but she was already gone from there. Faintly, he heard her crying and went to explore. Finding her, again, in a hall of mirrors, he peeked in, this time, unable to keep his presence secret his breathing was still too ragged from the recent emotional outburst he'd had and he saw her ears perk up knowing she had heard him. He hid behind the corner though, afraid of what she might do to him. She had a shard of glass in her hands, dripping with blood... her own blood. "Dont... don't do that... please?" He called out to her fear, for her, for himself. He had no idea what she was capable of doing next. This was the last thing he'd ever expected though.

 

[Mairu]

Natasha was prepared to make another cut when she heard ragged breathing, her fox ears coming out and she turned her head and narrowed her eyes, standing up. She then heard the hunter and stalked toward him. "I thought I told you to stay in my room, but of course you don't listen." Natasha now stood in front of him and finding his undeshirt ripped off a piece and cleaned her wrist, having dropped the shard of glass. Afterwards she grabbed the hunter's hair and dragged him back to her room, throwing him on the mattress. "Do you really hate us that much? Don't leave this room. GOT IT?!" Natasha growled at him, fuming right now, not knowing how to handle this guy.

 

[Ravenloft]

"I'm bad at following orders. But good at sneaking around... I... I saw you last night... sleeping in that nursery... I could have killed you then, but I didnt. Isnt is obvious yet? I watched you sleeping, you looked so sweet... why are you being such a bitch? I don't get it. I mean, yeah, I get it, I've disobeyed you, but I'm not a monster, you were crying, cutting yourself. Do your parents know what you do in here? Why do you do it? Hide your softer side like that? You might get along better if you didnt." Dalton said in a rush before flinching away, afraid she would attack him for his boldness.

 

[Mairu]

Natasha just stood there listening to him, shocked into total stillness by what he said. She stood that way before launching at him, grabbing his neck and straddling him on the mattress, her eyes glowing. "If you dare tell them what you saw.... I will do everything I can to make your life more of a living hell then it already is! I am a kitsune or nine-tailed fox, I can't be soft. We are the ice creatures, montsers. We have no room for it." Natasha had now repeated what her parents told her before getting up and going to her closet, changing into her soft white nightgown. "Just stay in here and come with me at meals and be respectful and your life will be just fine. Lonely but it's better than the streets. Goodnight." With that Natasha gave him a pillow and a blanket before crawling up into her bed, her back facing him, her fox curling up to her.

 

[Ravenloft]

Now he understood, she had been raised to be hard, this outer exterior full of thorns. He didn't fight her ad she gripped his throat, he didn't even blink. He just nodded, unable to speak. He was terrified of her, but just as drawn to her at the same time. What would it take to break through her icy exterior and reach the gentle, lonely woman beneath? He didn't know, but he sat there, staring at her back, trying to work up the courage to touch her. He reached out slowly, wanting to touch her, but he didn't dare. "Lonely... you said lonely..." he whispered to her. "Why?"

 

[Mairu]

Natasha wasn't surprised by the man's question but sighed. "You are with people who don't care about you at all. No one you can really talk to. How could you not be lonely like that? Now go to sleep." Natasha then fell asleep.

In the morning Natasha woke up early and was careful not to wake the man, changing into her soft white dress and going to the fox nursery until close to breakfast time and then goes back to her room and wakes up the hunter. "Hey. Wake up. breakfast time."

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton was taken aback by her answer. It was true, he was alone amongst these beings, but it was not himself he had been referring to, no, it was her. "No... I meant you..." he whispered, too late for her to hear, as she was already asleep.

Sleep did not come for him easily as he watched her slumber. She was rather fetching, when she wasn't scowling at him or chiding him for his disobedience. Too bad it seemed she would only ever be this way in her sleep. He gave in to the night and let his eyes draw closed some time we'll after the witching hour when the owls called and the bats took flight against the moon that shone through her bed chambers window.

He rolled over to face her, stretching with a yawn, revealing that at some point during the night her fox had curled up next to him for warmth. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes with the palms of his hands and sat up. "Already?" He groused, trying to fend off the morning light with his hands.

 

[Mairu]

Sasha was now annoyed. It seemed her fox had actually curled up to him. Hmph. "Yes already." Sasha threw some new clothes at him. "Put those on, we are going out after breakfast." Sasha then put her face right up to his. "Don't dare think about trying to escape either." Sasha then whirled around and left, her fox following her.

She then waited in the hallway till he came out then led to the dining room, pulling him to the chair next to her, her fox between them on the floor eating as they ate, bacon, eggs and hasbrowns.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dalton rolled over and sat up, still half asleep, not even bothering to catch the cloths, just letting them fall in his lap. "Out? Whadaya mean, out?" He was too muzzy headed to comprehend just yet. He blinked as she got right up in his face and gave her a dopy smile. "Your breath smells nice... like pepermint..." he sighed, completely unmoved by her warning, but she was already out the door by the time he said it.

He got dressed and walked out, nearly bumping into her in the hall. She was being extra stuck up this morning, leading him around and dragging him, in his chair, next to her. "My, what a lovely tea party." He quipped, dryly, looking over the breakfast before giving her a sly grin. The food looked really good to him,but he didn't want her to know that. He ate slowly, this time .finding his manners and showing her he knew proper etiquette.

 

[Mairu]

Natasha tried not to look relieved as the hunter ate respectfully and like a proper human should at breakfast. It was a relief though, her mother probably would have had him killed if he hadn't behaved and been respectful. So she was able to eat like normal, silent and calm, like ice.

After breakfast Natasha sent for a person called Natali, which turned out to be her bodyguard, a dragon girl who had come to them, a princess as well. Then Natasha grabbed the hunters hand and started pulling him, taking him out of the palace, Natali following close behimd. Soon they were at a tailors. "I would like some clothes for this man please." The tailor looked up and then back down. "Name?" Natasha then realized she had never gotten his name and turned to him. "Actually that reminds me I never got your name."

 

[Ravenloft]

"Dalton. Emeric. The third." Dalton said with a flourishing bow. "It's about time you asked, princess." He said with a sly smile and a wink. "Mind if I look around? I've never been in a shop run by monst... er... beings like these. I promise I won't run off, you feed me too good."

 

[Mairu]

Natasha felt like making a huge block of ice crash down on "Dalton" right about then, but she resigned to more civilized ways. Bringing her face right to his she said in a voice as freezing as the coldest ice spoke. "Remember who you are speaking to rat." Natasha then turned back around. "I don't care if you look around, Natali watch him please.

"Of course." Natali went to just about a foot away from him, watching him with a bored expression, her hair in a long braid except hers was back. She also had black clothes and a rod at her waist. Natasha knew that Natali would be able to handle him and went into a back part, facing a transgender guy and smiled. "Hello, I'm back for some new clothes for myself as well as what I just ordered. I suspect you have the last order for his and my clothes I put in?"

"So you are planning to?" The transgender put in, a servant girl bringing out the two sets of clothes.

"It's time, besides, I wasn't born a princess and this is my calling, mind if I change here?" Natasha asked, grinning with almost wild look. "Of course" The transgender smiled and went out, stopping at the curtains for just a second. Just give the dress to Vera there and she will package it for you."

Natasha smiled and then changed, everything fitting perfectly. She then walked out, in no heel white boots that went to almost her knee, white pants that still left mobility and a white snug shirt with short sleeves. and a belt that had a hole, like for a weapon. Natasha then pushed some expensive looking suit to Dalton her wild look gone. "Change in there." Natasha then jerked her head back towards the room she had come out of.

Once Dalton was out of hearing range Natali spoke. "Putting the plan into motion eh?" Natasha chuckled, her wild look back. "Yep I knew he would be useful, it's time anyway and I've been practicing him, how easily I subdued him and picked up on things made it clear it was time and he can act as the bodyguard while you are the sponsor, they did say I needed both. He is strong even if he needs a little work of yet."

 

[Ravenloft]

"Oh, I know who I'm talking to, alright..." he leaned in close as well, grinning. "But I doubt Natali knows the real you..." he wrinkled his nose like the rat she called him, whispering. "Rats squeal you know..."

Returning to his normal voice, he nodded to Natali. "Yes, Natali, please, watch me, I might... do something." He teased, stealing a quick look at Natasha's behind.

While his "owner" did her thing, Dalton looked around, then up at the woman watching him. "You look bored." He observed but she only stared, folding her arms.

When Natasha came out, dressed all in white, he whistled. "Looking good, your highness. What are we celebrating?" He asked as she instructed him to get changed.


"Aaaaalright!" Dalton called out from the back, fully dressed. He came skidding out on his heels, looking rather sharp in this suit. "How do I look? All I need is a cane and I feel like I could pass as a gentleman."

 

[Mairu]

Natali actually showed surprise when he came out his actions actually drawing a response "Wait, cousin, you actually picked this guy? Are you nuts? Oh someone help me. This guy is going to get us killed!" Natasha smilec grabbed Dalton by the hair and started pulling him. "Yes I know I'm probably going to regret it but what choice do I have? I've got to get the plan into motion tomorrow is the deadline for signing up." Natasha then led them to a blacksmith where she got a rod almost like Natali's except white. It had intricate designs and when Natasha picked it up and made a swinging motion it lengthened, coming within an inch of Dalton's cheek then Natasha lifted it to his hair and little blue like shocks went around the space, like electricity. "Good, it really is like I ordered it, now if anyone tries to take it they can be thrown back. It goes through gloves right?" The blacksmith nodded. "Good." With another swinging motion It was at the size of a dagger and Natasha slipped it into the hole then grabbed Dalton again, by the arm this time and they came to a rundown looking place and Natasha smiled at the old looking man. "Natasha, Nine-tailed fox, fighter. This man, is my bodyguard and she is my sponsor." The old man handed her a sheet and she put her name down. "Welcome to the rings. Next week will be the first trial." Natasha got her wild look for a second while answering. "I look forward to it." Natasha then went back to her normal look and started pulling Dalton again, slipping back into the castle without being noticed and changing into her red chinese dress for lunch. She then handed Dalton his other clothes. "Change in my bathroom."

Once he was in the bathroom Natali spoke. "So do you think you can survive? The rings are deadly, all sorts of creatures enter and a fight can start anywhere and not be stopped. Dalton there will almost certainly get you into unnecessary fights and get you killed." Natasha sighed and looked out the window. "It's a chance I'm willing to take Natali. I just hope it doesn't backfire."