Memory Hunted

by Christopher Kincaid

  "What did I expect, to suddenly remember every detail?" She stroked her tail. "I was too young, and it was too long ago."

  The quiet of the ruins contrasted with the noise of her thoughts. An hour passed without any new memories surfacing.

  "This isn’t worth it. Timothy…." She bit her lip. "You were right, Mom. I wasn’t a hunter."

  Her grandmother shimmered in her mind. The woman’s brown eyes, tanned face, and white-streaked hair looked more solid than the phantoms lingering in the stone walls behind her.

  "Grammie, I…I don’t know what to do," Kit said.

  The memory smiled encouragement.

  "I made it home, but the price was so high. I…I don’t know what I am going to do. My shepherd…."

  "Grammie. Grammie." Kit limped in, all bruises and cuts, her tail bald in places.

  "Kitsune, what happened?"

  She sniffled. "They found out. They are coming again, Grammie."

  A tough hand swatted her bottom. "I told you not to bother those folks." The same hand caressed Kit’s cheek. "A lot worse could have happened to you."

  "Are…we going to have to move now?"

  Her grandmother nodded. "Aye."

  "Why is having a tail so bad?"

  "Someday you will find someone who will love your tail like I do."

  "No, I won’t." Kit crossed her arms. "I am going to be burned like Mom and Dad."

  She found herself on the floor with her cheek burning. Grammie stood over her. "You will not speak that way."

  "But I don’t remember them. I just remember they burned."

  "Your parents were good people. One day you will go home, and you will be with others like you."

  "Why don’t you take me there? Where is it?"

  Grammie looked away. "East. Someday I will. Not now."

  "I had found someone who loved my tail," Kit said.

  "Aye, and it is a fine one."

  Kit jumped and her healing thigh gave out from under her. She fell back onto the stone wall. Gert sat on a jumble of stones a short distance away. Gray smoke floated from his pipe. He held up a hand. "No need to be startled. I’m not after you." He removed his pipe and gestured with it. "I take it Daeric, Tredere, and Jan were killed."

  "Jan was killed by the Inquisitor." Kit sat back. What does it matter if he attacks me. Timothy’s…She couldn’t finish the thought. "Daeric and Tredere are on their way to be tried."

  Gert shook his head. "Tredere was an old fool. Never listened to me. Revenge was all he thought about instead of raising those boys properly. But one man’s murderer is another man’s hero. Tredere never could see that."

  "Did you know Daeric wanted to…breed me?"

  "He had talked about bringing this back." He nodded toward the ruins. "Wouldn’t listen either. So I just kept to my books and tried to keep them alive."

  "If it wasn’t for you, Timothy wouldn’t be—"

  "I kept Jan and Daeric from killing him, you know. Daeric didn’t get his idea of using the boy on his own." He puffed his pipe. "I thought I’d take one last look of this place before I move on. Not much to look at, but ghosts are like that." He touched his template. "They hunt us no matter were we go. You aren’t the last fox. Tell and I are still breathing, but there’s a rub I’m sure you know about."

  "Know what?"

  "Daeric tried to get girls with pups. Most were willing, but some were not. But there’s a rub."

  Kit crossed her arms.

  "It doesn’t work that way. Tell and I won’t be having pups, but you can, I bet."

  Kit blinked. "What are you talking about?"

  "You are a fox woman. You can have pups, but it doesn’t work the other way around. Human women and fox men don’t work."

  Kit frowned.

  Gert pushed from the pile. "For what it’s worth, I am sorry for what they did. I should have done more than talk sense to them."

  "Sis! There you are, Sis." Yuzu slid and fell in the snow. "Come with us."

  "What are you doing out here?" Kit asked. "You should be at the barracks."

  Tell skid beside her and crouched. "Gert! Wh-what are you doing here?"

  "Just taking one last look at home. No need for that. I’m not going to fight you. You should know I never was much good at fighting."

  "Tredere and Daeric are going to be tried and executed," Tell said.

  "So she was telling me. Can’t say I will be happy to lose my old friend and an adopted nephew, but actions breed consequences that can’t be avoided." Gert turned toward Kit. "I hope your lad is well. I enjoyed our too-brief conversation. Maybe sometime we can discuss Luther again." He hefted a knapsack.

  "Gert," Tell called out.

  Gert turned and raised an eyebrow.

  Tell hestitated, and Gert smiled. "Take care of yourself, Nephew." He strolled away, leaving a trail of gray-blue pipesmoke behind.

  Yuzu grabbed Kit’s hand. "Come on, Sis."

  Kit dug her heels into the snow. "There’s nowhere to go anymore."

  Tell looked at Kit, and his eyes widened. "You have a tail!"

  "I already told you she does, Telly. Come on, Sis. Don’t make me carry you."

  "A tail. She has a tail like mine," Tell said.

  Kit pulled away. "Just leave me."

  Yuzu grabbed Kit’s shoulders. "It’s Timothy. He’s back from the dead."

  Kyle wiped his brow and yawned. "Even heroes need to sleep. You owe me. You don’t know how much trouble you caused me these last few days, Lazarus."

  Timothy wheezed a deep breath. Pain lanced across his chest. "Lazarus?"

  "You died. Several times, I might add. You are sure you’re not a cat? It wouldn’t surprise me at this point." Kyle’s face was pale, and dark bags tugged his eyes. He wiped his mouth. "You are a lousy kisser."

  "How long was I…"

  "Dead? A few moments here and there over the last three days."

  "Kit. Where’s Kit?"

  Kyle shook his head. "Yuzu and Tell went to get her as soon as you woke. You gave your wife a scare. So much that she ran off without noticing you were breathing. She pounded your chest and breathed for you. Since then I’ve had to give you a few man-kisses to keep you breathing like she did."

  "She did that?"

  "Surprised me too. Hard as steel, that one is. To see her run with those tears freezing behind her—" Kyle yawned. "You worried me too, you know. I have to go before you do. I’ve got some years on you. Seriously, you need to get back to your books and stay there. You aren’t cut out to be a hero."

  Timothy felt like he was breathing through wool. Panic threatened, but he forced himself to take steady breaths. "I remember telling you something like that."

  Kyle waved him off. "Bah. What matters is you are back. Did you see Saint Peter on the other side like the Church says?"

  "Saint Peter?" Timothy frowned. What did I see? His memory fogged. "Where am I?"

  "At the barracks. We got them."

  "Daeric?"

  "And the captain. Seems he was calling the shots from here the entire time. Balwar and the boys are taking them back for trial. Balwar gave me leave to stay here with you until you…recovered."

  Timothy didn’t miss Kyle’s hesitation. "Died" was the word you wanted to say. For Kyle to be this rattled, I must have been close.

  "Here. Let me prop you up and give you a drink."

  Timothy tried to help Kyle sit him at an incline. His friend tipped a mug, and alcohol burned the back of Timothy’s throat. Timothy gasped as its warmth fanned through his chest.

  "You know…I don’t…drink."

  "Old soldier’s cure." Kyle yawned again. "Now that I know you won’t die again—and you’d better not—I am going to get a little sleep." He flopped onto a nearby chair and stretched out.

  The warmth of alcohol spread, helping Timothy breathe a little easier. Exhaustion dragged him to sleep.

  Sunlight was streaming through the frosted window when Timothy awoke. Breathing was still a chore, b
ut at least it wasn’t as much of a struggle. He shifted against the pillow. His right chest and shoulder throbbed. Kyle sat in his chair reading. Kyle. Reading.

  "Since when do you like books?" The words scraped his throat.

  Kyle looked up. "Since you decided to sleep for two more days. I worried I would have to give you man-kisses again."

  Timothy grimaced.

  Kyle set the book aside, walked to a stand, and filled a cup from a wooden pitcher. He crossed over and handed it to Timothy. "It’s worse for me. You have sandpaper for lips. I don’t see how your wife can stand that."

  Timothy took the cup and hestitated.

  "It’s just water. You shouldn’t sleep too much longer. I have a job, remember?"

  Timothy took a long pull. He had to come up for air sooner than he’d expected. It felt as if one lung didn’t want to work right.

  "Where’s Kit?" he asked.

  "She’s here, but she won’t see you. Don’t ask me why. I never could understand women."

  Timothy handed Kyle the cup. "Then I will go see her." He forced his arms to work. I feel weaker now than when I was back at Honheim. His shoulder screamed, but he ignored it. He cast aside the sheet and noticed he wore just his smallclothes. He shot Kyle a look.

  "Hey now, don’t look at me like that. You are not that attractive. You had blood everywhere." Kyle tossed a cloak at Timothy. "Wear this."

  Timothy stood on shaky legs and donned the heavy cloak. It pooled at his feet. He shuffled toward the door. Kyle hovered over his shoulder. "Just what are you doing?" Timothy asked.

  Kyle backed away a step and looked out the window. "You had all of us scared. I wasn’t kidding when I said you died several times. You are like a kid brother to me, you know."

  Timothy swallowed. For Kyle to say that…"I made it, and I promise I will leave the adventuring to you from now on."

  Kyle looked at him and raised a finger. "Heroing. With a wife like yours, each day will be an adventure. I don’t think she is ready to see you yet, but you’d better go try anyway. It’s good to move. Helps you heal faster. At least all the old soldiers tell me that."

  Timothy shuffled through the door with Kyle for a shadow. A fire danced in the hearth, and a desk dominated the room. Yuzu and Tell lounged next to it. On the far side of the room, Kit leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Her fox ears slumped, and her tail drooped.

  "It doesn’t matter that I am older than you, Telly," Yuzu said. She shot to her feet. "Timothy!"

  Kit met Timothy’s gaze. Without a word she turned, opened the door, and left in a swirl of frosted air.

  "Sis…" Yuzu frowned. She stared after the closed door for a moment before facing Timothy. "How are you feeling?"

  Timothy frowned at the door. I expected a punch to my ribs and to my pride, not for her to avoid me. "Tired." The short distance left him wheezing. He shuffled toward Yuzu’s chair. She pushed the chair closer, and he settled into it. "What did I miss?"

  "Jan is dead," Tell said.

  Yuzu planted her hands on her hips. "Don’t say it like that. He was your father!"

  Timothy noticed Tell’s ears. They stood up out of his hair with the same white tufts and red fur as Kit’s ears. "You’re a fox?"

  Kyle sat on the edge of the desk. "All of them are. Daeric. Tredere. I guess the Inquisition wasn’t as thorough as they thought."

  Yuzu smiled and mussed Tell’s right ear. "They are cute, aren’t they? Show him your tail."

  Tell blushed. "I—I don’t think—"

  Timothy held up a hand. "It’s fine." Tell’s a fox.Maybe all this time that was what Kit smelled. "What happened to Daeric and Tredere?"

  "I already told you that." Kyle crossed his arms.

  "Sorry. I still feel stuffed with wool." I hope I won’t always feel like this.

  Concern etched Yuzu’s face. "The Inquisitor and the soldiers took Daeric and Tredere."

  Timothy wheezed a laugh.

  "What’s so funny about that?" Tell asked.

  "History."

  "History? Are you sure you are all right, Timothy?" Kyle asked.

  "The same thing happened with Tahd Valador. We—Kit—faced him, and it took an Inquisitor—Balwar actually— to save us."

  "That seems to be a trend. Sis had to save you from your mother." Yuzu twirled a finger around Tell’s ear. The young man shivered. "All right. Enough of that. I am going to get Sis." Yuzu shot to her feet and darted out the door.

  "So tell me, what’s this business with your mother?" Kyle asked.

  Kit’s breath frosted the air. "Why am I running away like some foolish little girl?" She grimaced. "Stupid."

  But he’s alive. After I saw him lying there, dead, somehow he’s alive. She wrapped her matted tail around her legs and shivered. Once before he got sick because of me and almost died. This time he did die—or as close as you can possibly get. The third time will…She hugged herself. He would be better off without me. I should go. I need to go. For his sake.

  "Sis! Ah, there you are." Yuzu rounded the corner of the building. "Why did you run off? It’s not like Timothy is some kind of ghost. Well, I don’t think he is. Even Kyle isn’t sure."

  Kit turned away. "Leave me be."

  "He wants to see you. He didn’t say so, but it’s obvious enough even Tell will notice."

  "He will be better off if he forgets me." Kit began to walk.

  "You’re his wife. You can’t just walk away."

  "I’m not…that. I never was."

  "What do you mean?"

  Kit rounded on her adopted sister. "It’s all a lie. A story we told to help me avoid attention."

  Yuzu raised an eyebrow. "Doesn’t look like a lie to me. Go see him."

  Kit whipped around and stalked away. I can’t. I can’t endanger him anymore.

  It was time to leave.

  Chapter 10

  Timothy managed to shuffle a little farther each day. Gradually, the feeling of suffocation lessened. Cold stole his breath whenever he ventured outside. He took to wearing a scarf Yuzu found over his nose and mouth. Kyle found a thick, warm shirt from a chest a soldier had left behind. Timothy’s right arm refused to lift high enough to don the shirt properly, so he wore it on one arm, with the other sleeve empty. He had Yuzu bring him sticks of charcoal from the hearth and worked at lettering on a thin slab of stone. He used more of his shoulder to write than he would normally, but he refused to let it lock up. It seemed to help. Each day his shoulder loosened a little more.

  Kit remained elusive. Whenever he would catch her eye, she would dart away like a spooked lamb.

  On the eighth day, he asked Yuzu about Kit.

  "She’s being stupid." Yuzu thrust a bowl of stew at him. "Eat, and don’t worry about her. I will bring her around."

  Kyle spent most of his time with Timothy. When Kyle left, Timothy’s throat was dry from all the talking. Kyle wanted to hear about every adventure they’d had after the events with Treblin. When Timothy told Kyle about Big Al, Kyle vowed to meet the man. Yet for all his usual antics, Kyle was worried. He hovered and asked if Timothy needed anything. He egged Timothy on—to walk farther, to push a little harder.

  Snow clung to Timothy’s scarf. He leaned against the palisade after making two circuits. Kyle had left to pack. He needed to leave before he was considered a deserter. The thought of Kyle’s eventual departure slumped Timothy’s mood.

  Timothy caught a flash of red in the corner of his gaze.

  "Kit?"

  Tell appeared and shook his head. "It’s me. I…Yuzu and I were talking."

  Timothy pushed away from the wall. "Let’s walk. What were you talking about?"

  Tell’s tail wagged. He noticed Timothy watching, and his tail froze."My tail doesn’t bother you does it? Jan never liked me showing it."

  "It’s not that. I had thought Kit was the only fox left. To discover there are others is a little unsettling. But in a good way."

  "Daeric spent a lot of time talking about how f
ew of us there are," Tell said. "I couldn’t imagine an entire town of people like me." He paused. "It would be hard to think you were the last one of your people."

  Timothy nodded. How does Kit feel about this? It has to be a relief to know she isn’t the only fox left.

  They walked for a time before Tell spoke again. "Yuzu and I…she is talking to your wife right now."

  Timothy waited.

  "We…we want to come with you. Both of us." Tell blushed.

  "I don’t even know where we are going."

  Tell hesitated.

  "I think, perhaps, you and Yuzu are meant for a different path." Not to mention Kit may be tired of having Yuzu around. "You know, it would give you and Yuzu some time alone."

  Tell blushed to his hairline.

  "Besides, Kit and I still have to go to Belafonte."

  "She’s been there already. We found her there."

  "She went without me." Timothy frowned.

  Tell nodded.

  They neared Timothy’s building. Timothy’s sour mood deepened. "You tell Kit she’s not getting off so easily. I didn’t come all this way just to turn back. Tell her if she doesn’t take me to Belafonte I will track her down and swat her rump for being a child."

  The young man’s eyes widened. "I am to tell her that?"

  "Word for word." Timothy opened the door. Welcome warmth rushed out. "Tell her I will wait until tonight. After that, I am coming after her." Timothy closed the door in Tell’s face and settled in to wait. Avoid me, will she? I won’t play that game again.

  The door opened not long after he began to practice his writing. Kit shuffled in with her arms crossed. Anger and an expression Timothy didn’t recognize warred on her face. On anyone else he would say she looked shy, but not on Kit. She was anything but shy.

  He pretended to ignore her and practiced while he watched her from the corner of his eye.

  Kit’s ears quivered and slumped. Her tail was still tangled. That isn’t like her, he thought. Especially now that she doesn’t have to hide her tail.

  Kit opened her mouth and closed it. She turned toward the door and put her hand on the handle.

  "You went to Belafonte without me." Timothy set his nib aside and folded his hands on the desk.