2 The Farmers

Meanwhile at the house a man set a small plant with a large bulky root on his table and went to bed.

"Was it a rabbit?" His wife asked when he crawled into bed.

"I am not sure what it was, there was nothing in the trap. All I saw where small canine prints and a bite in one of our potato plants." The man sighed looking at the ceiling.

"Maybe a fox got to the rabbit before you did?" The wife mumbled half asleep and without much thought.

"No, there would've been blood or something. And the trap would've held on to some part of the animal." He rambled to a wife who was already falling back to sleep.

"And the animal pulled the potato plant out of the ground like a human, maybe it was a human and a small dog that broke in?"

"Well in that case it was probably a shape shifter," the wife sighed before rolling over and falling back into a deep sleep.

The man on the other hand tossed and turned and slept restlessly. He was bothered about the idea of a shifter breaking into his garden. He didn't trust magical beings very much. His wife could work magic and he loved her dearly. In his eyes though she was the only good magical thing in this world.

At some point in his sleepless night he decided to make plans in the morning to visit the near by village as soon as possible.

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Before daylight the fox returned with a small squirrel in its mouth. She placed it on the flat rock near the fire place, Soinnach then turned back into a human so that she could begin making her dinner.

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"I will just put more traps up and we won't have to worry about it. Besides I am sure the shifter wasn't expecting magic and won't be returning anytime soon." The women said to her husband as she cooked bacon and eggs on a fire heated stove top.

"More traps won't cut it, that thing could've snuck into our house and slight our throats when we were sleeping!" The man grumbled wringing his hands as he sat at the kitchen table.

"I know you aren't over our last dogs death yet, the two of you were close and no dog can replace him. However if we just get a new dog I think you will sleep better." The women said giving the man a look.

"It's not like the barn cats did anything to stop the fox, I bet if we had a new dog it would've chased it right off our property." She said smiling and placing some eggs and bacon on a plate.

"I know," the man grumbled but as soon as he saw his breakfast his eyes lit up. He began shoving as much food into his mouth as he could.

"Listen, why don't we go into the village and buy a puppy or two?" The women said softly sitting across from the man.

"I think," said the man pausing to swallow a bite of food. "That's a great idea," he decide giving his wife a smile.

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After finishing the squirrel soup the red haired woman put out the fire, and went to bed. The women was fast asleep as a small amount of daylight started soaking into the den from the two openings.

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In a few days the farmers wife cast a protective spell on the farm and they headed into the village. They planned on selling some produce in the market first and when it was all sold the farmer made an excuse to his wife and left the market place while she put empty crates in their wagon and began her search for their new puppy.

Meanwhile the farmer stood in a small shop, glowing vials, strange herbs and odd magical objects sat on shelves in the small space collecting dust.

The man behind the counter was covered in a black cloak, his figure was hidden completely except for his face. His straggly beard could was uneven with slightly more hair on his right side, and his beady black eyes peered out from under the cloak. He spoke to the farmer in a hushed voice, and seemed to be putting an effort into creating an ominous vibe. The farmer seems unsure and tense, and when their conversation finished he rushed out the shop.

He left the small stone shop and followed the narrow cobblestone streets to a large court yard. It was filled with tents and stands selling plants, vegetables and animals. Vendors selling small trinkets and clothes tried to get the farmers attention, but he politely declined them. He was looking through the maze of stands when he saw his wife. Smiling he headed towards her and when she saw him she smiled back holding up two small brown puppies.

He took a puppy from her and it squiggled in his hand trying to lick his face. He couldn't help but smile and feel a sense of ease he hasn't felt since his last dog passed away. He embraced his wife and the pair headed back home with their new family members.

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Meanwhile the man in the shop stood at the counter staring down at a map. His eyes looked at the place in the forest where the farmer had mentioned there was probably a shapeshifter. Then he uncovered a crystal ball that was sitting on the counter.

"Let me speak to the keeper" he said speaking into the ball and a dark mist began swirling around in it. Suddenly a slim figure appeared in the darkness of the orb.

"What do you want Sullen?" A woman's voice filled the air, there was nothing feminine about her voice it was cold and harsh. Her voice with thick with annoyance and it seemed to be coming from no where in particular.

The cloaked man named Sullen didn't seemed fazed by the voice. Instead he narrowed his dark eyes and smiled.

"What price would you pay if I delivered you a fox shapeshifter?" At hearing this the figured paused then spoke in a sharp voice.

"Those are rare but what kind? White, grey, red? Male or female?"

At the keepers words Sullen's smile faltered, the farmer who came in only asked him about a fox shapeshifter. He seemed worried that it could harm his animals or wife. He never mentioned anything specific about it.

"It's still a mystery" Sullen finally replied.

"A mystery? So you haven't actually seen the fox? What are you going off of some type of rumor?" The voice boomed in the small shop making some of the things in the shop rattle.

"No, it's true I saw evidence! I just wasn't able to see it myself!" Sullen quickly tried to defend himself.

"Listen if you have the fox in your possession, then we can talk numbers. Until then don't wast my time!" The women yelled before the darkness disappeared from the glass ball and he covered it back up. Sullen realized he needed to find that fox if he ever wanted to be in her good graces.

The keeper was in charge of the local black market that sold people and magical beings. It was highly illegal to do so and if caught the punishment extreme. However, the money to be made is extensive. So people with greedy hearts like Sullen were drawn by the possibility of wealth and power.

Sullen stared at the crystal ball hidden under a black cloth for a while. He felt in the pocket of his cloak and pulled out a small potato plant from his pocket, he examined the small bite marks and smiled. With a simple tracking spell he would be able to use this to find the fox. With renewed strength he prepared to go for a hunt in the forest.