25 Wait... What!?

I nearly stumble over my own feet with his words. I come to a stop and look at him with confusion. "I... uh, I'm not a fox though..." I lamely say. I feel like smacking myself. I'm not a fox?! That's the best thing you have to say!??

Zhen waves me off and begins walking away. I rub the back of my neck and look around with a lost look but I quickly catch up to him. For the next three hours, we walk in silence. I keep looking over to him but he just continues to walk with his hands behind his back.

Did I upset him? I nervously twist my sleeves as I try to think of a way to fix what I said earlier. You're so stupid Nova! The sun was almost completely gone but he continues to walk so I quietly follow. Should I tell him I'm just socially awkward?

Like, I don't know how to accept a person's kindness... it's nothing personal... it's just the way I've always been! Zhen comes to a sudden stop nearly causing me to hit him from behind. He then points in front of himself and says "Get in"

Confused, I look up and feel completely blown away. "Is that a hot spring?" I say in excitement. Zhen nods his head and says "Mmm" I run past him and straight for the hot spring but suddenly I come to a screeching halt. I don't have a change of clothes... but I've been walking for two days...

I slowly look over my shoulder and Zhen quickly says "Go ahead, I won't look!" He then turns around. I feel my smile grow and I quickly begin stripping. "Thank you!" I yell at him and jump into the hot spring. The water was almost too hot but it did wonders on my aching muscles.

"Are you going to come in as well?" I ask swimming to the deepest part. Zhen waves me off but he walks to the very edge of the water. I frown but I shrug it off and begin dipping my hair into the water. It felt so good!

I turn back to Zhen while saying "You're really missing out..." my words quickly die off when I see his right hand. It had snow-white fur and sharp claws! He takes a claw and slowly cuts the palm of his other hand!! I freeze and numbly ask "What are you doing?"

"Liling, I lost all my family... you have no family... this is the perfect answer for both of us," Zhen says lifting his bleeding hand over the hot spring. I watch him with a confused look. What is he talking about... and why is he bleeding into the water!?

I begin swimming to the side, I don't want to swim in bloody water... maybe this is a weird fox thing? I only move a foot before searing pain hits me. It takes my breath away making it impossible to cry out let alone keep my head above water! What was happening!?

Zhen!?? Was he somehow doing this? I try to look at him but he's gone! I struggle to keep my head above water as I try to make it back to the shallow side but nothing I do is enough. Another wave of pain knocks me out cold. Everything is dark.

I slowly wake up to the feel of a soft tongue licking me. I frown and slowly push the offending creature away but it doesn't budge. It then uses its nose to nudge me awake. I slowly open my eyes and I'm immediately blinded by the early morning sun.

"Wake up and get dressed! How long do you plan to lay there naked!?" Zhen says making me jerk awake. I feel my clothes slide down me so I quickly grab them and cover myself back up. Had Zhen covered me up? I turn to look for him but all I see is a white fox standing before me.