Three Twisted Knots

How alike we are, the Faery Queen and me, the Fox Mother. Centuries and continents and worlds divided, and yet we were born from the same desire, the same seeking if you will. We are the longing to explain the ineffable. We are the why the full pot of rice has disappeared without a sound. We are the chiming bell of Fate, though perhaps not Fate Herself.

Perhaps this is why—no, no; it is why—I was so disappointed when I found that Her Majesty the Fae Queen of Awenia had visited one of My Realms, passed through on a day, and departed all without so much as a word to me, or even a note. A postcard like this one would have been lovely, and it might even have been enough, though tea and perhaps a nice stroll through my home together would have been better. She was guided by a young kitsune who has taken a liking to her, from which I surmised that we have another thing in common, and that is a love of animals and animal spirits.

For these reasons, I find myself travelling Realm-far and Rain-wide to the tiny Fae Realm of Awenia. It really is such a small thing, isn’t it?

Unlike Her Majesty, I have brought gifts. It is proper.

I have brought a Torii, for I know she and her Shining Hoarde of Aos Sí perceive, as we do, a transition from the secular to the sacred world. I presumed she would have some sort of spiritual sanctuary in her Realm, and I was not wrong; in fact it was the largest single land mass in the tiny place.

I will of course leave a little note for Her Majesty to let her know I passed by on this day when she seems not to be in residence. I will tell her, this is no ordinary Torii; this is an Inari Torii, and it vibrates with the tones of the forest, of prosperity, of craftsmanship, and sometimes, though I am not a friend to war, of warriors. This is no ordinary Torii, for it was crafted by the great artisan Kadaj Yoshikawa, who calls magic from the air with abilities that, while they may not be magic, they are indistinguishable from it. Some say he is a very lucky kitsune-mochi, and his seventy-five foxes all contribute to his considerable creative inspiration.

So, yes, first a gate, because the way should be marked. And secondly, well. Another gift. Seventy-five little gifts. Look here they are!

My darlings, my darlings, are you all with me?

Yes, Mother, yes, Mother; here are we.

Did you know that when Fox Mother laughs, flowers fall from heaven? Yes, yes; when I see them all here, my darlings, these seventy-five precious foxes, no more and no less, darlings, I feel joy First, we first take stock of the Realm into which we have passed. Seven little islands; you will have to divide yourselves, but the passages through to each look simple. And there are many cats in this forest made of paper. Some islands are larger than others, and I think this one is only for the Realm portal itself and perhaps tea. This sign, Come From Myth. It’s an invitation, I think.

Now we will for the first time move through this gate, and you will all see a Faery meadow for the first time. But be careful! Your tricks and Fae tricks are not unrelated.

Look: here is Her Majesty’s stone temple! Each set of stones is laid out like the numbers on one of their western clock faces. Yes, yes, the incense clock makes your eyes water, my love.

And you! What are you doing?

No, no, my love! These small creatures are treacherous; they will give you food that will turn to ashes in your mouth; their gifts turn to leaves sometimes like ours.

Leaves, schmeaves, leaves schmeaves, foxes love hot dogs, French fries and cheese! Fairy meadow, fairy gold, foxes love pizza and burgers and cold drinks that freeze their brains, freeze their brains, oh!

You must not eat the fairies’ fare; their fingers have bewitched it!

Bewitched, beswitched, beswitched, bewitched, foxes love pizza: it’s their favourite dish! Have a sniff; you’ll understand. Take the pizza from my hand! Lady Mystie, Fairy Hippo, self control meter on zero!

Do not sleep where the faeries go! And careful where the mushrooms grow!

I’ll save you cried the blue kitsune
If I don’t you’ll lie there through May!
Though the month is almost through
I will pounce and rescue you
Oh, but now I’m here, so sleepy
Wait: do I smell something cheesy?

Cheesy, creamy, creamy cheesy, Foxes come and eat: it’s easy! We have burgers, we have fries! We have salve to clear your eyes! Little lovelies, come with us! We’re not evil; you can trust! Just ignore your mother there: too many berries in her hair!

Blue fox pounces, black fox jumps
Red fox nips them on their rumps
Another red fox waiting there
While fur’s flying through the air
Who will get the first hot bite?
Faeries bet there’ll be a fight!

Leave it alone, my loves! ‘Ware the Fae!

Don’t beware us, dare us, share us! Your Fox Mother does not scare us! Look how how high we’ve stacked the bun-up with its flag up to the sun-up! Bread and lettuce, never mind: rarer meat you’ll never find!

Sniffing here and whining there
Blue fox once more catching air
To beat her brothers to the prize
Faery ointment in her eyes
White fox waiting for the surplus
Eat the burger! You will thank us!

Stop, my darlings! Stop! These little creatures are dangerous! Or… this is your home now, after all. Perhaps you should make friends. Imagine the tricks you can do together! What a delightful little crepe plate! Thank you, Mistress Moynihan. No, no; I don’t need your fairy ointment to see you all. What a lovely sparkly dress you have. Here, let me give you something in return. No, no; it’s just a talisman. If you hold it, you can come and visit me in my Realm.

Shakes and burgers, fries and steaks! See how long this blue fox takes! Willow fairy’s so bored now: Aren’t milkshakes kitsune chow?

Turquoise kitty bets a dollar
Chipmunk laughs and tries to top her
In for a penny, in for a pound
Hustle-Kitty stands her ground
Chipmunk pokes Fox with a French fry
That’s not gonna work: hey, let’s try
Putting whipped cream on his nose!
Foxes are fun when their brains are froze!

Soon, Willow Fairy got distracted
Cat, chipmunk and Foxxie chatted
Til Willow found the fiddlers
To entertain their visitors
With vats of mead, they danced ’til dawn
Then slept it off on the Fae Queen’s lawn.

Awenia by night, so lovely: now I know the way
You’ll be seeing more of me, Queen Gwyneth of the Fae.

To: Her Majesty Queen Gwyneth
Dreamydale Castle
Awenia

My Dear Queen Gwyneth,
How sorry I was not to meet you when you visited Kintsugi these few weeks back. I hope you enjoyed this beautiful part of My Realm. I have come to repay you the favour of your kind visit, but it seems you are not at home. No matter: I have left you some gifts, and I hope you will receive them with joy and find them a treasure always. They are in your Sacred Meadow. Please do make arrangements to meet me for tea should you chance to visit again.
Kindly look after these gifts for me: they are priceless tokens of my esteem for you.
Please, take good care, and give my regards to all your little meadow Fae; they are delightful creatures.

Fox Mother
<paw print>

Notes & Credits:
Enchantment’s Kitsune Tales Round Closes today, 31 May, 2020! If you need beautiful kimonos, fox masks, enticing footwear, kitsune-inspired jewellery, fox makeup, a fluffy tail, or perhaps seventy-five spirit foxes of your very own, you have only a few more hours to go and visit Enchantment before it closes!

The Cast:
Fox Mother: The Author
—Fox Mother’s Costume, including hair, skin, headpiece, kimono: irrISIStible, Japanese Kitsune Outfit Available at Enchantment for today only!
—Necklace: Supernatural, Kitsune Necklace Available at Enchantment for today only!
—Eyes: Anatomy, Fading Eyes
—Body: Maitreya
—Head: Lelutka Evolution Lake
Lady Mystie: Myst Edenflower
Turquoise Kitty Cat: Dyisi
Chester The Chipmunk: himself
Seventy-Five Spirit Foxes: Jinx Fox Gacha, Pounce, Sitting, Snoozy, Stretch, Companion, and Shoulder Rider (cuddle pup is great too but not pictured here!) Available at Enchantment for today only!
Two Larger And More Imposing But Still Seriously Into Junk Food Foxes: Harshlands, Spirit Fox, idle, feeding — Available at Enchantment for today only!
Whimsical, blameless demifae: Titans: The Lunafae Fairy, Animesh NPC

The Setting:
Location: Awenia Faerie (not open to visitors at the moment, sorry!)
Inari Torii: Harshlands, Inari Torii Available at Enchantment for today only!
Stone Circle: HEXtraordinary, Druid’s Temple Ruins
Twinkly Grass: Keke, Dotty Grass, Summer
Green Grass: The Looking Glass, The Shrine Tree Grass Clumps
Bridges With Lanterns: The Looking Glass, The Shrine Tree Bridges
Portal Clock: RH Design House, Cafe In The Park, Music Clock
Prominent Tower on its own island: Death Row Designs, Boho Princess
Come From Myth Sign Frame: Figure 8, Vintage Theatre Frame Blue (original sign texture by Gwen Enchanted)
Leafy Tree Woman: Harshlands, The Summer Guardian
Fairy Mushroom Circle: The Looking Glass, Lunafae Sleepy Fae Mushroom Circle, Large
Ginormous Tree With Lanterns: The Looking Glass, The Shrine Tree (not available for sale)
Big Treehouse Visible In Night Shot: LAQ, Serene Tree And Widmill Home

THE FOOD!
All from Vespertine, Comfort Food Gacha, including: Baked Pizza, Choco Milkshake, French Fries, Hamburger, Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, and Triple Hamburger

Invaluable Resources:
Fourth Wall: Quick Credits HUD (It’s at their main store. You want it. I mean it.)
LumiPro: Don’t leave your skybox without it!

If you are curious about anything else, just ping me: I am very nice!