Friendly Fur: Chapter 1

 The last few days of winter in the Kingdom were brick, though comfortable nonetheless. Our knight, and protector of ukes, Sir Gay-wain, had finished his patrols today, and was bid by his colleague and companion, Sir Night to spend time with Goliath, as the steed had been getting restless of late.

So, 'Wain did as he was bade, and had spent the last couple of hours traversing the meadows and other grounds of the Kingdom alongside his faithful mount. The two of them had only seen one other soul, or actually two, in the entire time that they had been out there, and that was Sir Double and Titan, departing from the grounds to hunt. The knight had always been fascinated by Double's job, to go out and hunt for creatures about the lands, bringing them back to the Kingdom. Many of those animals had been adopted by dizens of the Kindgom, however during many of the times Double had brought back these creatures, Sit Gay-wain was either off on a mission, or in the middle of his year-long period of absence from the Kingdom. The knight had wished to be able to take in one of those magnificent creatures, though besides a passing comment among the Kingdom, he remained to himself as he always did. 

In all truth, Double had really yet to bring back the creature that Gay-wain wished for. The knight had the idea on the surface of his mind that if he took in another to his heart, especailly if it was one of these amazing creatures, it would not only need to be something he could bond with, but a creature that would accept him as someone that would care for it.

Still immersed in his thoughts, the knight led his steed to their usual hilltop, watching vaguely as the percheron lowered itself to lay down. He was about to join in sitting with him, when he spied the huntsman and companion returning from their jaunt, though only with one thing extra to be seen. In Double's arms was what looked to be a small bundle of cloth and fur, though from this distance the knight could not see what exactly it was. A bit intrigued, he watched as Titan and Double seemed to converse between eachother, the large tigerfox eventually trotting off on his own. Double, however, stood surveying the grounds, searching for something, though he stopped when his eyes settled on the knight.

Gay-wain watched curiously as the smiling huntsman approached him. "'Wain, was it?" He approached the other with a greeting, happy in spirit. 

It was recieved by a nod, and a puzzled look to the bundle in the huntsman's arms, of which the knight could still not tell the identity. Double spoke up again, "So, I've heard tale about the kingdom that you've been wanting a little companion of your own. Does that still hold true?" He was all smiles, seeming quite a bit happy with himself.

The knight turned his bright lilac eyes to look from the bundle to the man's face, finally finding his voice. "Well, yes. Yes it does. Though, I don't expect anything, as I figure you must be far to busy, that's why I have not asked-" The knight began his honest, humble bit per usual, but Double cut him off with a shake of his head and a smirk, holding the bundle out to him a bit. 

Quite surprised, Gay-wain reached out hesitantly to lift up a corner of the bundle, only to reveal the sleeping face of a small white fox pup. The knight exhaled his breath in a sort of 'aww' notion, grazing the creature's head with long, nimble fingers. Double just nodded a bit and edged the creature forward, toward the dark-clothed man, urging the knight to pick up the little sleeping life. 

As per usual, Gay-wain did as he was bid, and with steady hands, picked it up to cradle it to himself, in his protective nature.

Double, aparrently satisfied, nodded and mocked a salute to the knight. "Well, she's sure going to be safe with you. My job here is done." And with that, the huntsman bobbed back off in the direction of the castle, whistling some happy tune as he went along.

All a bit stunned, the knight looked from the creature in his arms, to his steed still seated nearby, and finally back at Double's retreating form. An eyebrow raised, the man let loose a warm, hearty laugh, shaking his head. "I'll never understand him, but he sure if one odd little fellow that I'm grateful to have about the Kingdom."