The leaves crunched and rustled under their paws as they walked. Soft footfalls down a rain-sodden path from a storm that just passed through the valley. Far off in the distance the rustle of wildlife could be heard. Jinxi glanced up to Legionaire's tall form.

"Are you sure it's down this road? This doesn't look like it's been used in centuries..." Her voice trailed off, he almost had to lean down to hear her mumble the last few words.

"Of course, I was raised here after all, and I've told you, it's actually a pretty large tower. These trees will only block our view for a short while longer," his husky voice puffed, as he bent an arm down to lift a branch up for the kitsune female to walk under. She smiled up at him nervously, blushing furiously in the process of stepping ahead of him and turning away to look elsewhere.

"Alright, I won't doubt you. I am just really excited to see it is all! The stories you've told me so far sound so interesting. I wonder if I would be able to meet The Master once we get there," she chirped, suddenly overcome with eagerness at his tales of the great creature who taught him as a youngling.

"You can be assured he would love to meet you, and I'm sure he has many stories to tell about me," he chuckled, his wings rustling as they brushed some foliage they were pushing through.

An hour later

"How are we supposed to find this place...Legionaire..." the red kitsune huffed, leaning down into the crook of a tree and yawning. Her legs couldn't take this much exercise in one day, she hadn't ventured out of her home in weeks. She bent her head up to look at the shimmering canopy, small droplets of rain falling onto her nose as she did so.

"Silly girl," he chided, gesturing with his paw for her to grab it as he helped her to her feet. He was greeted again with another innocent blush from her cheeks. He assumed she wasn't showed this kind of politeness before. What a shame.

Before long they came upon a clearing and it opened up to a wider road, which looked more traveled and filled with rain puddles. But something snapped, and from behind the blue male, he heard a quick squealing sound. His head turned to see the kitsune stumbled over a large root, placing itself directly in front (and on top of) her now twisted ankle.

She whimpered, rubbing at the offending root in frustration. Her claws slicing at the offender and rolling her paw smoothly out of the trap.

"Oh my." He stared down at her. She obviously wouldn't be able to walk now.

Before she could protest he was lifting her up onto his back, his wings pushing at her thighs to secure her in place. But before he stood, her voice sounded.

"Oh my GOD!" Her ears pirked up, and her eyes opened wide in awe. The Tower was peeking just over a high cropping of trees, the grand roof system peering out at them with glorious wonder.

"Ah yes. We seem to have arrived," he grinned, taking note of her surprised expression. He pointed with a paw in the direction where the shrubbery was less aggressive. "Let's take that path, now."

---

A little story to go with my gift/fan art for goldeyedwolf @FA!
I hope I didn't mess anything up! Legionaire's backstory is brilliant, and Jinxi was just too curious and ended up wanting to make a visit there.

Jinxi © me
Legionaire© goldeyedwolf @FA