Now! Now today is interesting!

After our meal, consisting of bread and fish graciously made by Irlen, we played the card game "The Conquest of Ether". It's not my favorite game, but at least it passes the time, and I'm better at it than the one Irlen taught us, but that not the point because today I was able to speak with the vixen! Which I now know her name to be Cynvia, Cynvia Bluseau! Quite a nice name... The more I think about it, the more I think I like Cynv better, true to be told... So I’m going to call her that for now on.

Anyway, enough rambling, time to give the stage to my friend the quill and let him do the rest of our discussion!The vixen was sitting on the couch, looking out, when the fox came to join him. He remained silent for a moment, watching the fire in the fireplace, before he decides to speak.

Oh, come to think of it. Next time, you should play with us, at worst if you can't still talk you can point the card. We will understand what you meant. It's not like the game is very complicated anyway.

She turned her head towards her interlocutor. Still silent as the fox didn’t look at her, thinking that, like always, he will not receive an answered. But this time was different as a good minute later, she finally replied with a low monotone voice.

Thank you for saving me.

The eye of the fox open as much as his maw when he hears her answer. He quickly turns his head to look at her, with his face still in immense surprise.

You… You speak? You finally speak up! Finally! I was starting to wounder is you had some strange permanent damaged that stop you from speaking! I’m so glade that wasn’t the case!
Say the fox with energy

Since I woke up, I've always been able to talk.

Replies the vixen, with the same monotone voice as before

So why didn't you do it before? I tried to talk to you like a hundred time.

The vixen took a moment to answer, turning her head towards the window again to look out.

I had things to think about.

Well... you had me worry about nothing then... but huh, if I may ask. What were you thinking about?

He replied on the spot, causing the vixen to turn her eyes in annoyance.

Something simple, called none of your business.

At this remark, the fox couldn't help but make a little giggle, before he too looked out of the window at the slowly falling snow.

So be it then, miss secret... But anyway, it's my pleasure. After all, I couldn't let you alone in the cold. Especially someone's who didn’t have any chance to survive with such bad clothing.

As quickly as he said it, she grabs her coat by the bottom to remove it. Seeing her eagerness, the fox giggle as he continues speaking.

Oh no no, you can keep it. I wasn't saying that, so you'd give it back to me straight away...
But it didn’t stop her in her action as she finishes removing it, answering to the fox at the same time as she does

I don’t want to own you anything and with that, you are a marble fox. You can't stay in the cold for very long. You'll need it more than I.

The coat now in her hand, she then throws it at the fox's face, which covers him, blocking his vision. Without removing it, or really moving at all. He smirks before answering her in an amused tone.

I imagine you've just realized, in your incomprehensible eagerness to give me my coat back, that you have nothing underneath this previously mentioned coat. Therefore, that your upper body is uncovered. If I were to guess, I would say that you must surely be looking for your old coat and top. They are in my bag. I don't have anything to sew up, and as you don't have a bag to put them in. I put them in mine in the meantime. You can take them if you want, but they still have holes in them. Otherwise, you can have my coat, I don’t need it right now. It's up to you to chose what to do.

The vixen looked at the traveler's bag next to his bed, then at his covered head. She sighed and decide to take the coat and put it back on.

Then I thank you once again for your help, but I will give it back to you on the first occasion. You own me nothing after all.

The fox lets out a small smile.

Yea I know. But you DO own me now. You owe me a life and a coat. That's a lot of money, with the interest, you'll owe me two lives and three coats by tomorrow. Hope you will keep up the rate!

The vixen smiled a little, seeing the fox was not really serious in his talk. She then turns her attention back to the window, silent. Cutting the conversation short. The two stayed in silence for lest then a minute before the fox decide to take speak one again.

But anyway, it's rare that anyone knows my sub-race without asking. Have you ever seen another member of my subspecies?

Yes, there are some in my village. They are often the mixtures of a red fox with a silver one. Although it's rare that the end product is not one of the two parent breeds, but a mixture of the two, like you.

He gives a little smile, looking down.

End product, when you put it that way. It makes me look like a simple commodity ...

He then raises his head again, looking at the vixen to continue his conversation

But you. You are white as snow, a polar fox I guess. A mix?

She shakes her head negatively

No, purebred, both my parents are arctic like me.

Oh, I see, and I guess they live in a village near. It can't be very far from here. There aren't a lot of villages in the northern region

Outside, the sound of the wind was slowly growing as a snowfall was about to happen.

Indeed, I come from the village of Icywind. Do you know it?

Only by name, I think it's a very small fishing or hunting village in the north, if I remember correctly.

She answered in the affirmative with a shake of her head.

Right, we're a fishing village, we live mostly from selling our catch to the multiple coastal villages in exchange for some gold or resource that we can't find in the tundra. Our biggest client is the Abastram Port, but we are still a very little village.

So, if you have a ship. What were you doing in the middle of the tundra?

She raises an eyebrow, puzzled, as she looks at him.

What a strange conclusion you had for the thing I just I said. What makes you think I have a ship?

Well, you had a captain's outfit, and you live in a fishing village that sell fish to the biggest port in the north... Either you're a very strange person who walks around wounded in the tundra with a torn captain's outfit, or you're a captain who was unlucky. I just guess the second scenario had the most chance of being true.

She gives him a good look, from head to toe, in total silence. Evaluating him before, she let out a long, bored sigh.

You're smarter than you look, you know... Well... I HAD a ship, so I’m not a captain anymore.

Oh, I see. What happens to it?

She didn’t answer for a long time as the fox wounder if he should change the subject or not, but as he was about to do it. She finally answered.

The mirrored sea can be a dangerous place. I didn’t calculate the storm trajectory as I didn’t think it would hit us, but it did. I lost my cargo, my crew and my ship. Everything else is blurry. I only remember the wave and the ice floe I was stranded on. Then a long walk. I must have made another mistake and gone the wrong way if you did find me in the snow and not at home.

Ohh, that must have been horrible! I'm sorry you had to go through all that! Being shipwreck… It must be horrible…

No need to be sorry, what's done is done.

But still that horrible! You shouldn’t have lived that! It was only a little mistake after all!

She didn’t answer that time, leaving him in silence until he spoke again.

... At least that explains your wounds, too. They are numerous and severe, but they should heal over time with little or no permanent effect on you. You got very lucky on that one

She runs her paw over a gash in her right arm.

Yea, indeed... Lucky

With your strength back, you should be back at sea really quick! Oh, I just thought. Where my manner... I'm Vix by the way.

I know, you told me the day before yesterday.

Vix laughs slightly, a bit uncomfortable.

Oh yes, that's right... True be told, I didn't really know how to ask you your name discreetly, so I kinda improvised... Now I just look dumb

She rolls her eyes before answering him.

Cynvia, Cynvia Bluseau.

She says, looking at him carefully, as if she was expecting a reaction from him.

Oh, that's a nice name. Especially for a ship's captain. Fit you well.

She blows out her nostrils, putting her attention back out once again as she falls into silence.

You're always looking out. Are you planning to leave soon?

No, there's going to be a storm very soon, I don't want to be stuck outside during that time. So I'll wait for it to pass before I go to the port of Abastam.

Ah? I’m also going there after this little mission here. I could accompany you to the port if you want. Travelling in a group is always better and safer than alone, after all.

No, thanks, I don't need an escort.

Hum... You know, you could also return my coat there, so no “own me” thing after that.

She remains silent, thoughtful, for a moment before sighing.

Fine, how many days until you leave?

He smiles broadly.

A little less than a week, I'd say. Probably four or five days.

Then I'll wait for you to leave. Should also let the storm pass.

Great! A new travelling companion!

She rolls her eyes before falling silent again. They stay like that for a couple of a minute before the fox spoke again.

Well, on that note, I bid you good night. I'm going to get some close eye time. Rest well, Cynv.

Cynvia… And good night, Vix.

A little time writing this and making sure the fire would stay lit for the rest of the night was enough to prepare me for sleep. Looking forward to the chance to learn more about this strange captain tomorrow, but today was enough packed for my liking.