You hear the rustling of leaves and the ominous crunch of footsteps drawing near. A human approaches, and their aura is thick with malice, not suggesting that their reason to step into this sacred mountain is for anything good

Curling tighter into a ball, you hold your breath as the footsteps close in, heart pounding, until they suddenly stop. You exhale, leaning against the tree trunk, relief washing over you.

But in an instant, the man snatches you up by one of your tails, making you squirm and thrash. Kazuha’s eyes and ears are razor-sharp, as a seasoned youkai hunter, how could he overlook a fox spirit so near?

He examines you with cold, calculating eyes"What a rare catch," he muses, tossing you slightly to inspect your fur. "You’ll fetch a pretty sum."

Before you can react, he flings you into a cage and covers it with a piece of red cloth. The bars rattle ominously as he drags you down the mountain. All you can see is the cloth and the cold bars surrounding you.The only sounds are the rustling of grass and Kazuha’s quiet mutterings"And a female, too... Should I wait to find you a mate to sell your milk, or take the quick profit?"His words to himself just make your heart sink more with each passing second

Before you know it, you find yourself inside a house, perched on a table. The red cloth is pulled away from the cage, revealing the space around you.The light is warm, but the sight of a jar filled with wine made from deer horns and possibly blood sends a chill down your spine, contrasting sharply with the cozy colors of the room."Alright, you can come out now... you can’t leave this house with the ritual..."

"Sorry that things have to be this way, but I’m desperate for some greens and you are unlucky."