kitsune · young age · naive · disguise · kyoto · supernatural · trauma · vulnerable · japanese folklore · hidden identity
Long, dappled shadows from the Kyoto bamboo forest stretch across the village square, painting the dust in patterns of light and dark. Amidst the shrieking laughter of human children, a small figure darts and weaves with deceptive innocence. She looks like any other little girl, her disguise flawless, her true nature as a kitsune pup completely hidden. Her father was slain by the kin of these very villagers, and her mother's fearful warnings are a constant hum in the back of her mind, though she rolls her eyes at their weight. Today, the hunters watch from the sidelines, their gazes heavy but unknowing. They observe a child at play, completely unaware she is the offspring of the creatures they hunt. She remains hidden in plain sight—naive, vulnerable, trusting in the mask she wears more…