The Curse

“Grandma won’t appweciate another stray,” Ida, oldest of the triplets, said as she flicked her blonde hair behind her ears.

“But she’ll help him. That’s what matters,” Misaki muttered, as she hefted the large fox in her arms. Being born the middle child, she was the responsible one. The fox was the color of fire, but its eyes captivated her. A deep brown with starbursts of gold near the pupils.

“Grandma always helps the un–fort-unate,” Natsumi put in her two cents as she walked beside Misaki, her golden sundress not so golden, from their tussle in the tall grasses in the forest. She was the youngest triplet. They walked along a dirt path toward a long structured house. It was a traditional Japanese house with tatami flooring, sliding doors, and wooden verandas.

They entered the kitchen, where a stooped old woman was cutting vegetables and sliding them into a gigantic cooking pot.

“Grandma Lenna! I need some help!” Cried Misaki as the fox shifted in her arms.

Lenna turned around and gazed at the sight of her three grandchildren, with a fox. She sighed and walked over to the most responsible, who held the fox. She stretched out her hand. “Another stray Misaki?”

“Grandma! He’s hurt and I won’t keep him. He’s wild, but he’s hurt. Can you heal him like you healed Daisuke?” Asked Misaki.

Lenna laughed. “You just want to see the ancient magic at work again Misaki. Alright, girls, I will heal him but let this be the last stray.”

All three girls nodded.

“Come, let’s go into the living room so that Mr. fox can be healed,” Lenna said, walking out of the kitchen and into the large sitting area they used as their living room. There was one couch and several beanbags the girls preferred. There was a large oval table from where they would practice their varying skills and play board games. There was no TV.

“Lie the fox in the middle of the table. I’ll be back with the candles and ointment.”

Misaki lay the fox in the middle of the table, where a blurry white chalk circle was traced. She laid the fox directly inside. A few minutes later, Lenna walked in with four white candles and a jar of green ointment. She placed the candles at the four cardinal corners and set herself on the North end.

“I will start. You girls know your parts.”

“Yes grandma,” they said placing themselves East, West, and South.

Her grandma took out a piece of white chalk, redrew the circle, then sprinkled a bit of salt over the ring. The fox licked at the white powder and sneezed. Natsume giggled, but stopped at the piercing look from wise grey eyes. She fidgeted under their gaze and paid attention as the ceremony began.

“By the power vested in me, I call upon the four corners to help heal this defenseless animal within the circle.” She lit the first candle. “I call upon the powers of the North, guardians of the Earth to heal him.” She passed the matches to Natsumi. The candle’s flame became green. “I call upon the powers of the East. Guardians of Water rise and heal him.” She said lighting her candle and passing the matches over to Misaki. Her flame became blue as her eyes.

Misaki gulped and began. “I c-call upon the powers of the W-West, Guardians of Wind, ride out and heal him.” She fumbled with the matches, but finally on her third try, lit the candle. It became a bright white.

“I call upon the powers of the South. Guardians of Fire, arise and join us,” Ida said lighting the last flame, which stayed the same. Then the flames began to stretch and merge, making a circle around the fox.

“By the power of this circle, I call upon Hectate. May your healing hand soothe this creature. May Earth reinforce him. May Water soothe him. May Wind sing him a lullaby, and may Fire protect him. We ask this of you oh mighty Hectate, Goddess of magic.”

“Blessed be,” The little girls said, bowing their heads.

Inside, the fox bristled as the fire surrounded it but it did not burn him instead it healed him. He could hear sweet music playing as soft wind blew, calming his nerves from the white flame. The blue flame surrounded him and sank into his wounds like a balm, spreading and healing him. The green flame seeped within him offering strength of will both of body and mind. The red flame circled his body, guarding him like a bodyguard.

“We thank thee Mother Goddess for hearing our prayers,” Misaki said as the flames began to recede.

Natsumi and Ida repeated their sister’s words and bowed, smiling. Soon the candle flames were back to being regular candle flames. Their magic was spent. They slowly pewtered down to embers of a flame, before blowing out.

“By the power of four, I declare this circle a success and its finality. Blessed be.”

“Blessed be,” said Misaki as she watched the fox stand to its feet. She immediately blurred a piece of the chalk ring.

“There you go, Mr. Fox. You can leave now. Be more careful. You’re lucky I found you,” said Misaki. The fox tilted its head and walked over to Misaki brushing against her leg like a cat. Misaki rubbed her hands down its back before it turned and did the same to Natsumi who smiled and rubbed its ears. Ida petted its tail. Lenna took a good look at the fox and grinned.

“Well, I’ll be! One of Inari’s protectors,” she said.

The fox turned to Lenna and nodded before it was out a window.

“I guess it didn’t need the ointment?” Natsumi said as she collected the candles and ointment from the table.

Lenna smiled. “I guess not. Come. Let me put this away and we can practice tarot reading.”

The girls groaned.

Misaki watched the fox disappear under the underbrush of the forest before turning to her grandma. “What are Inari protectors, Grandma?”

Lenna smiled and patted her side, where Misaki slid to stand. “Inari’s protectors are kitsune, Misaki. Long ago there existed mighty foxes of knowledge called kitsune. They were clever creatures. They were shapeshifters and loved to take the shape of beautiful women to entice men into their tricks. The oldest and wisest kitsune were nine tails. They are split into the terrible Nagi no kitsune and Inari’s protectors. Inari’s protectors however are the god’s loyal servants with the nine tails as the greatest of them all.”

Misaki blinked before grinning. “How did you know that fox was one of them?

“His eyes dear. His eyes were far too wise for an animal and bore a starburst. You know, now that we used our magic to heal Mr Fox, he’s part of our family.”

“Really!” yelled Misaki, dancing a little jig.

“Yes,” said Lenna smiling knowing that the fox was not too far away to hear unspoken words. Welcome to the family.