by Robin Roseau
“Fine. If she wins, she wants to keep me until morning, and I have to obey her.”
“Right.”
“If I win, I get to stay with her until morning, and we’ll spend at least some of it cuddling.”
“I do not believe she understands the concept, Violet.”
“She understands the concept just fine.”
“It’s the two of you who don’t understand,” I said. “Violet, if I run into any surprises, I’m going to be unhappy with you.”
“I’m aware.”
“I’m getting what I want. Aventurine, all I want is friendship, which you’re offering. Touches and kisses are nice, too. I presume you intend more of that later. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Excellent. Then I’m getting everything I could possibly ask for.”
They were quiet, then Violet said, “Slow down, Taisha. The first surprise is coming up. See if you can find it. If you go slowly enough, you’ll hear it.”
I slowed to a walk, and then slower still. In took another thirty seconds, but I began to hear a faint buzzing. Five steps later, it was a little louder. I backed off and realized I’d have to be walking at a normal rate, and paying attention, to not run right through it. I approached closer.
“There,” Violet said. “One more step.”
“I don’t see a thing.”
“Back off, then kneel down. You’ll find it.”
I did that, and I found a wire stretched tautly across the path. “I can step over this?”
“Yes.”
“Are they all like this?”
“Yes, for this event.”
“What happens if I run through this.”
“You’ll be slowed down, and you’ll probably make noise. About half of them you will find unpleasant. But if you wander into the forest, they turn a little nasty.”
“Deadly?”
“Of course not. How curious are you?”
“Not curious enough to intentionally trigger one.”
I stood up and carefully stepped over the wire. “How common are these?”
“Common.”
I decided I should walk.
“If you two are done talking?” Aventurine prompted. “I wish to explain something.”
“Explain away,” I said.
“Hunting used to be for food, for life.”
“And now we have supermarkets.”
“My species is even further from subsistence hunting than yours.”
“Given that we still have peoples who are subsistence hunters, you’re absolutely right, but I probably don’t need to go back that many generations.”
“Whereas Kitsune go back millennia.”
“All right. What does this have to do with winning something?”
“In a traditional hunt, the Kitsune wins a meal. If she fails in her hunt too many times, she grows weak and less capable, then eventually may die.”
“And the prey lives or dies with each hunt.”
“Yes. So, while neither of us still need hunts for survival, we both evolved for them. This is why both our species have sporting events, and there are rewards for winning.”
“Unless one is playing professionally, the rewards are fleeting and minor.”
“Yes, and the reward I want tonight is fleeting, but it is less fleeting than, ‘Oh, I won’, and that’s it. It is a poor reward for me if there is no risk from losing, and a poor request if there is nothing you may win, Taisha.”
“This is silly,” I said. “I’m here for the fun. You want intelligent prey, and I’m happy as long as we can talk, and then to spend more time. What more could I possibly want?”
“You don’t want me to obey you?”
“First, no, not really. And second, I don’t think you’d agree.”
She chittered. “True. Help us bribe you.”
“Fine, fine.” I heard buzzing, slowed down, and found the wire. But I sighed. “Anything I can think of is too big.”
“Tell us, and maybe we’ll think of something.”
“Well, this is too big, but a trip to the space station. That’s something I can’t get for myself. Smaller would be a date somewhere exotic, but still on Earth. Dinner at a French restaurant, like Danette had with Oberon, well, if they did it yet.”
“They did, while you were recovering,” Violet said.
“But if you’re asking for something to give me between now and morning, all I want is to spend time with you, Aventurine. I don’t want you to have to obey me, and I don’t mind if I have to obey you. I’m not worried I won’t like how you treat me.”
I thought about it. “If I win,” I said, “I’ll take pampering. Do you know how to give a massage?”
“I do.”
“That’s what I want. A shower, then you dry me and pamper me. I’ll want that shower, regardless, because I’ll be aromatic.”
“I enjoy your scent.”
“You haven’t smelled me after a few hours in the forest.” I negotiated another of the surprises.
“Agreed,” she said, “but these are still not even rewards.”
“So, you think of something,” I said. “In the meantime, let’s talk about something else. Can you compare Earth to your old home, Aventurine?”
We talked. I bypassed a few more traps, then I tripped one, and I realized it just as I blundered through it. And over the next several seconds, the visor brightness returned to what was probably normal, meaning I could barely see a thing.
“I might have enjoyed watching your reaction to one of the others,” Violet said.
“If that’s permanent, I’m not going to do very well from this point.”
“The idea is only to slow you down, but to do so in what is a fairly natural way. It lasts a few minutes.”
“You’re making me behave more like her ancient prey.”
“If you were her natural prey, you’d be sniffing around for things to eat and probably not wandering very much. But yes.”
“I find it interesting that you both grow quiet periodically,” Aventurine said.
“I’m surprised she is keeping you in the dark,” I replied.
“If Aventurine knew everything, it would be too large an advantage.”
“Ah.”
I moved very carefully. Then I realized I could see a little better, which improved further over the next minute or two.
“Violet, do you ever engage in these activities?”
“Often. We typically make it a family event. We’ll do something big when Yvette visits.”
“Please?”
She snuffled. “Maybe that should have been your reward for winning.”
“But it’s not something that Aventurine can do for me,” I said. I bypassed a trap and came to a small clearing. My visor flashed, “Caution”, and then it advised me my task was to collect an object at the center of the clearing.
There was a second warning: Trap Density High, Warning Sound Low, Triggers Varied.
Oh, my.
“Violet, what does that last part mean?”
“Turn left and crawl,” she ordered. I did what she suggested, following the edge of the clearing. “Stop.” She snuffled. “There is now one route from your current location that doesn’t trigger a trap, and it’s not back the way you came.”
“That’s a dirty trick.”
“It’s not meant to be. You’re well-warned, so if you don’t find a trap without triggering it, you haven’t learned anything.”
“Fine, fine.”
I began by turning around anyway, very carefully. While I did so, I found a trip wire along the edge of the brush; I should have found it while moving forward. Behind me, I felt and heard nothing. I searched around, looking first, then feeling.
Nothing.
I moved back towards the path by a foot, and then another. After all, she hadn’t said I was pinned to one place. I still found nothing, but then the ground felt softer, not soft like moss, but soft like it might collapse if I put my weight on i
t.
I worked my way around until I found a path that didn’t exhibit the same softness.
It took me twenty minutes to reach the middle. I found a stone pillar, and on the top, a simple key. I collected it. Leaving the clearing went faster, as I’d gotten better at finding the route. Once I reached the trail heading north, I breathed a sigh of relief. “If they all take that long, we could be here for days.”
“You’ll get faster.”
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, Violet said, “You should know something.”
“What’s that?”
“Someone has found your back trail.”
“How does she intend to actually catch me?”
“Kitsune are very clever.”
“I have no doubt.”
“I’m sure she has a plan.”
“You’re very helpful. Is she listening?”
“Your visor has an indicator,” she said. “Upper right.”
“I should have figured that out. V for Violet.” Then an A lit up, dimly, but readily visible. “So, Aventurine, do I get a hint how you’ll catch me?”
“I have to find you first.”
“Do you know how close you are?” I reached the second clearing and began working my way through the maze of traps.
“Not far.”
“Seriously,” I said. “Part of this time is getting to know each other. Are you tracking me?”
“Yes. You leave signs.”
“I have no doubt.”
“And my vision is better than yours.”
“Even as augmented by the visor?”
“Yes,” she said. “My hearing is also better than yours, largely although not entirely due to my ability to control the pinna.”
“That’s the visible part of the ear?”
“Yes.” She chittered. “I am speaking your language.”
“It’s not a word we use often,” I said. “Most people just refer to the ears. There are lots of words I don’t know. Are you close enough to hear me?”
“Not yet,” she replied. “But I think I will be very soon. Why did you take such an unexpected path through that clearing?”
“I was looking for things to eat.”
“You were not.”
We talked, and I reached the middle. There was another stone pillar, and on the top, a transparent box with a lock. I opened the lock with the key and withdrew another key. I closed the box and began working my way from the field.
“That was an unexpected sound,” Aventurine said. She sounded pleased.
“Oh?”
“You sound remarkably calm, my lovely prey.”
“I’m having a nice time.”
“You’re being pursued by a predator.”
“I’m being pursued by someone whose company I enjoy. Frankly, the attention is rather nice.”
“You’re very serene prey.”
“We’re normally not as gentle during this event,” Violet said. “We give the mating candidates cause to be a little nervous.”
“Hey!” I complained. “The two of you have been on my back about this.” I came to a stop on the trail, turning back to look down the trail. I didn’t see Aventurine, but I wasn’t sure I would with the games the visor could play. Then I plopped down, right where I was.
“What are you doing?” Violet asked.
“I don’t know what either of you want from me. Aventurine, there are traps everywhere. She must be disabling them after I pass, or you would know that. I’ve been working cautiously because of it. The goal was to slow me down so that your style of hunting will work. Fine. Well, now I’ve slowed down even more.”
“Taisha?” Violet said. “What just happened?”
“I’m just sitting here, so I have no idea. You tell me.”
“I’m guessing you’re angry.”
I thought about it then said, “I'm not sure I’d use that word. Insulted. Yeah, I’d use that word. Frustrated? Yes, definitely. Wonder what the fuck you want from me? Definitely.”
“And at least a little angry.”
“Whatever. I’m sorry I’m such poor prey. I’m sorry all I wanted was to spend time with you, Aventurine, and didn’t want to ask for anything you weren’t freely offering. I’m sorry I’m not scared of you catching me, seeing as how I told you when we started I was looking forward to you catching me.”
I shrugged out of my little backpack, found my water bottle and drank from it. Neither of them spoke for a minute, so I decided they were talking behind my back. At that point, as frustrated as I was, if I thought I could exit without Aventurine catching me, I would have. But that didn’t seem like an option. Neither did running faster than she could catch me.
But I was going to sit here, ignore them, and try to get in a good mood before she got here.
I didn’t think that was going to happen.
Finally, Aventurine spoke. “Taisha, I am sorry I made you feel like I wasn’t enjoying myself.”
“Well, I’m clearly poor prey. You had something different in mind, and I’m a disappointment.”
“You’re not a disappointment.” And then she appeared from beside the trail, almost right next to me, and sat down, facing me.
“I want to say something,” Violet said, her tone subdued. “First, I believe this event was proceeding well. If there were any shortcomings, they would have been mine, not yours, Taisha.”
“Whatever. Aventurine, if you want someone in your life who is afraid of you, find someone else.”
“That isn’t what she was trying to say. Taisha, have you ever done something that got your adrenaline running?”
“Of course, I have, but not when I’m working slowly to find your traps. I get it; you had to slow me down. I had to take my time. I’m a freaking engineer, Violet. My response to something like this is first and foremost, remain calm and clear-headed.”
“I know,” she said.
“Besides, you said yourself; she’s a slow stalking predator. That means she catches her prey entirely by surprise. They’re going to be calmly hanging out, completely unaware until the last instant, when she pounces. Right? Why is my emotional state an issue?”
I shook my head. “Do you want to know a better event? Put me in a small area and give me tasks to do. You wouldn’t need to slow me down. But if your ‘incentive’ is too harsh, I’m not going to willingly play again.”
“That was what my comment was, Taisha,” Violet said. “With mating candidates, they don’t necessarily have a choice of coming back the next time.”
“I thought you would like a walk through the forest,” Aventurine said.
“I’d enjoy it more at your side, but I get that this isn’t something you get much chance to do. I’m sorry I’m not very good at it.”
“We can blame Violet.”
“For choosing me?”
“Your event is a better idea,” Aventurine replied. “But you should still feel an element of danger at the end.”
“So, you have the thrill of capturing prey,” I said.
“It seems petty.”
“It’s not petty,” I replied. “This is why you wanted me to find something I really wanted, so I would be disappointed when you caught me.”
“Yes.”
“Aventurine, the problem is simple. The only reason I’d be sorry that you caught me was if it meant I didn’t get to spend time with you.”
She moved a little closer, so our knees were touching. “Are you still mad?”
“No, but I feel like I ruined the event for you. You still deserve your capture. And I still don’t know how you intended to do it.”
“Taisha,” Violet said. “What do you want, right now? If you could have anything?”
“I presume you mean from the set of choices involving this arena, the three of us, and logical conclusions from the current situation.”
“I suppose I do.”
“I don’t know how to give Aventurine a satisfying conclusion.”
“I do.�
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“Without getting on my case?”
“Yes, but do you understand the implications, Taisha?”
“You’re going to scare me.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I’m not ready to answer that until we have an agreement.”
“So, I’m not going to like it.”
“No.”
I looked at the Kitsune. She was watching me. “I want Aventurine to have a satisfying conclusion.”
“What about what you want?” she asked.
“Um. I want you to have a satisfying conclusion.”
She chittered. “That’s for me, but two of us matter here, Taisha.”
“My satisfying conclusion comes from spending time with you. But I bet we can do other events you would find fun, too, next time. Laser tag in the arena would be fun.”
“I think so, too.”
“Maybe you can organize your coworkers for an event, and invite some of your human friends.”
“I think that’s a lovely idea.”
“I’ll commit, Violet, but I don’t want to be out here all night, and I don’t want to start over.”
“You won’t. An hour at the most.”
“All right.”
“Good. I’ve disabled all the traps. Proceed to your next location. I’ve dropped off a puzzle for you to work on.”
“That keeps me in one place.”
“I now consider you committed,” she said. “Look down the trail.”
I shifted my gaze past the Kitsune in time to see a rather large shape emerge from the forest. I stood and then asked, “What the fuck is that?”
“You know what it is.”
“Spiders can’t grow that big. Oh. It’s one of Bay’s.” I stared. “I bet that thing has scared a few mating candidates.”
“Even the ones who aren’t afraid of spiders freak out.”
“What are you going to do with that?” I asked.
“There are several of Bay’s creations in these woods,” Violet said. “I told you the forest would be unpleasant.”
“Yes, and?”
“And, periodically, one of those is going to try to catch you. If you make good progress on the puzzle I left you, they will move more slowly. If one gets close enough, it will catch you, and I promise you won’t like it.”
“It’s not like it’s really going to eat me.”
“Do you really think I can’t scare the crap out of you, Taisha?”