Part 1.3! A small town is on the horizon. What may Anzou find? Perhaps there is someone there who is like him...or at least something to eat.

(Honestly I love this chapter. It's one of those chapters that just kept flowing and ideas just kept coming to me....if only all of the chapters were this easy x.x

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A Fox in Wolves Clothes is a novel length story that I'll be uploading periodically, probably once a week. The original idea came from this short story that I wrote (https://www.sofurry.com/view/1930299) but I expanded the story because I wanted to know more about the characters! It's been sitting in my files for over a year 90% finished and I hope that starting to load it will give me the kick in the tail to actually finish it.

It's divided into 3 parts. Part 1 is about Anzou arriving on the strange shores of Kaugrush. Part 2 is him discovering secrets about himself and others. Part 3 is where it all comes together in a twisty turvey ending.

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He awoke with a dry raspy cough. The sun had risen into the sky to where it bared down on him. He’d slept well through the morning. The little stream continued to trickle next to him and Anzou rolled over. He stuffed his muzzle into the shallow water and lapped greedily. It was divine! Every other thing had tried to kill him or was dying but this, this felt life affirming. His tired body took in the water, savoring every gulp. He didn’t know how long he laid there but he didn’t care, for it was worth it.
The stream was at the very edge of one of the fields, but this ones soil was packed and hard with only weeds sprouting. It hadn’t been used in some time. No sounds came from around him other than a bird singing its song, wind rustling through some trees about forty paces across the stream, and the stream itself. There was no sounds of foot steps, no sounds of work, no conversation on the wind, he was safe for now.
Anzou rose to a sitting position. It was kind of odd, the soft mud he lay in felt similar to the sand. Had that really only been yesterday? It truly felt like a lifetime already. He went back to the water to dip his muzzle in for another drink but froze. He saw something staring back at him. He saw Anzou staring back at him. His yellow eyes stood out like bright flames in a brazier, the brilliant orange of his fur could still be seen through the grime and speckles of red splatter across his face. Yet, the Vulpine staring back was so young. It didn’t make sense! Then an anger began to swell and within the reflection Anzou’s muzzle scrunched and he punched the reflection sending a spray of muddy water back at himself.
The reflection however returned as the little stream continued to bubble along as if nothing had happened. But the face that looked back was different, splotches of mud dirtied his fur even more and then Anzou got an idea. The Vulpine dug his paws into the mud and rubbed his face, covering every inch of brightly colored fur. The mud didn’t exactly stink, more so that it had the aroma of Earth but that wasn’t unpleasant. It would certainly hide any strange scents that may be coming from him. Anzou then carefully washed his face to remove any clumps of mud and leaving only the darker color. It took several layers and and longer than he anticipated but soon when Anzou looked back into the reflection all he saw staring back at him was a light furred emaciated Canine. Well, enough to pass off as one to a second glance.
Anzou’s first priority was to find a way to shut his growling stomach up, food. At first he thought of returning to Baruuk and Tillah’s house, Barruk was most likely back among the fields and Anzou could probably sneak away with something but he thought better of it. Those two felt like giants to him and he had already escaped by the scruff on his neck, which bore all the dull aching of bruising. Instead Anzou began to walk among the fields again only this time keeping an eye out for any crop that may have been missed in the harvest.
He kept as close to the irrigation stream as he could as there wasn’t a way he could carry any of the water. No pouches or containers. But eventually it snaked around, crossed between a field and lead back to the main road. Anzou thought for a moment, going back to the road was dangerous and there was certainly a possibility of seeing other Canines but it also had the chance at making the journey that much easier. Have to try to fit in one way or another. He said to himself and followed the stream back to the road. Stepping onto the wide path felt worrying, like several pairs of eyes were constantly trained on him at all times, judging and waiting for their time to strike. But nothing came and by the time the Sun had passed the high part of the day and into early evening he felt more confidant. His strides became wider and he walked with purpose, examining each and every field for potential food.
Ahead Anzou saw that the road climbed up a shallow hill and disappeared behind it, the top he saw some sort of wooden marker driven into the ground. He quickened. But as he moved up the hill a scent caught him. It was an amalgamation of many unknowns with a few he recognized sprinkled in. The peppery smell of fire, sweet and savory scents of food, the acrid dark scent of Canines. He moved closer to the side of the road, ready to make a run for it into the fields, as he reached the shallow peak of the hill. But once he got there he was met with a sight simultaneously exciting and happy as it was terrifying. The wooden marker at the top said “Eye’s Guard - 1 [Fathom]” and there sitting in the heart of a valley, flanked by the bright blue of the sea on one side and a rushing river and plains on the other was the Canine town of Eye’s Guard.
Actually approaching was much more difficult than Anzou had imagined. His first thought, and the one he gave the most deference to was to avoid the town all together. It’s what his instincts told him to do and therefore probably the right thing. But when he tried to plan a route from the hill around his nose kept picking up on those sweet and savory scents wafting from the town and his focus kept returning to it. So against his own better judgement and knowing that he’d regret it Anzou decided to take his chances. The town itself looked to contain more people than it normally did and while one think more meant bad, Anzou took it as an opportunity to hide in plain sight. If he kept his hood up as inconspicuously as possible and with his makeshift grey fur dye he’d be ok…probably.
Still, taking those steps into the fenced boundary took quite a bit of courage he felt. A few Canines had already passed him on the path but they either looked at him with worry on their face asking themselves if they should help or did not pay him any mind. In either situation he moved as quickly as he could past them. But at the threshold of the town itself and seeing the crowd of Canines Anzou paused and drew in a deep breath before heading in.
It was not a normal day among the townsfolk, that was for sure. Brightly colored stalls lined the wide central streets with vendors shouting into the gaggle of people hoping to catch their attention. Lanterns were being hung between the old buildings and every Canine in town wore a smile. Nobody, not even the vendors looking to line their pockets took notice of the small cloaked figure moving among them. That is, until Anzou took notice of one himself. The Canine, a meek looking one with his ears too close together and a bad case of fur that wouldn’t stay down, stood behind the small wooden stall not even attempting to shout at those passing by. Instead he let what he was selling do the talking, a strangely honorable thing Anzou thought. But it had drawn him in. Before him, separated by baskets was a collection of absolutely hypnotizing fruits. A green one about the size of his paw, a yellow kind that had three odd things coming off of it and finally a round shiny red fruit that shimmered with shades of yellow.
“See something ya like little one?” The vendor winked. “A meer two pieces a pop!” Anzou didn’t really listen to him and was more focused on the intoxicating sweet scent that was coming from it. His stomach could have reached out itself to grab it, one of his pads tried to reach out but he grabbed it to pull it back, something the vendor noticed. “Where are your folks little one?” He asked and Anzou panicked saying the first thing that came to his mind.
“Down the road, attempting to find a room.” Anzou said and the vendor tweaked his head to the side.
“Strange thing to do in the middle of Progenitor’s Day.” He said before rapping his claws on the wooden table. A worry sprouted in Anzou’s gut but the allure of the fruit proved too much and he stayed put. “From the south?” He asked and without thinking Anzou nodded. “Explains that odd accent you’ve got!” He ducked a little lower to try and see into the hood. “And weird way of dress. Don’t see many like that around here, no no no.” Anzou kept silent, his gaze still on the fruit. He’d picked out the most appealing one, it sat third in the pile, a star like shape of yellow streaking on its side. His muzzle began to water. Behind Anzou another customer approached and the Vendor looked to him, starting his speech on how his fruits were the pride of Eye’s Guard and provided a much needed different option to meal and fish. That’s when Anzou couldn’t take it anymore.
He took a step closer while the Vendor was distracted and as quickly as he could reached out to snatch the fruit. His small paw wrapped around it and he squeezed to secure his prize. But, and quite unexpectedly the entire thing squished and collapsed in his grip, the juice splattering over both the vendor and the customer. Anzou stood frozen for a moment as the Canine’s eyes centered back onto him, it felt like Baruuk’s eyes again.
“You trying to pilfer from me?” The Vendor sneered. Anzou blinked a few times. He had said it loud enough for a few of the crowd to look over at him and others to even stop. Instincts kicked in and Anzou pushed the basket of the weird yellow fruits, they fell back and forced the green one to spill as well, then Anzou booked it. Shouts rang out behind him but he didn’t stop and darted between grungy alleys and leaning buildings. The sounds of the festival died away and he nestled up next to a few empty barrels and looked at his paws. They were trembling, not of his own accord but it also dripped with the juice from the fruit and he eagerly stuffed it into his muzzle, sucking the sweet nectar out of his muddy fur.
“You’re not that good at this are ya.” A voice said as Anzou embarrassingly licked at his paws. He pulled back and shrunk down but the voice was not like other Canines, it was high, nasally and slightly slurred. Like command of the words was not fully within the voices grasp. Anzou kept quiet but raised his covered head. Sitting on one of the barrels like he owned the thing and without a care in the world was someone who looked exactly like him.
The cub was small, the same size as him. His fur was light, yet more of a dark white than light grey and Anzou couldn’t really tell if it was because of grime like him or if that was its true color. His clothes, or rather, rags, barely covered his body and most of his chest was exposed with only a thread around his shoulder holding them up. A faded red headband wrapped around his head and a smirk plastered over his face. Anzou’s face flushed with embarrassment and he hid his paw under the cloak. The cub smiled though, a genuine one.
“You’re silly!” He chomped and jumped from his barrel. “Trying to steal some Moon Fruit directly in front of ol’ whiskers.” He flicked his own half grown whiskers as he said the name. “Got guts, or are just stupid.” Anzou kept quiet, while the cub looked like him; he stank with the scent of Canine. Then, as if reading his mind the cub leaned in and offered a sniff. “What’s that stench!” He pulled back and covered his nose, Anzou prepared to make a run for it. “Been rolling around in a mud pit?” The cub asked and Anzou couldn’t help it, he chuckled.
“Yeah.” Anzou said and the cub’s eyes flickered with a brightness only known to the very young.
“Now that’s a fun time!” He laughed and then stood up straight and gave a quick nod of his head before relaxing again. “Fen.” Anzou studied Fen for a moment but his instincts didn’t immediately tell him to run.
“A…Anzou.” He said. Fen’s eyes widened like the moon and his muzzle broke in a large smile punctuated by short half sharp fangs.
“Ooooh! Cool name! Is it from the south?” He asked and quickly Anzou lied with a nod. “Where? Timberwharf? Wellspring? Clayterim?” With each name Fen leaned in closer and closer, smile widening at the possibility of hearing about a strange new place. Anzou didn’t know how to respond so he just picked one of the names.
“Wellspring.” Anzou said.
“What’s it like in a City? My Dad told me they talk funny there!” Fen said growing ever closer. Anzou, back against the wall, flattened as much as he could before holding a paw out to keep the young Canine cub at bay. “Where’s your Dad?” He finally asked. Anzou’s heart paused and a vision of the dying Vulpine on the beach returned to his eye. For as much as he didn’t know Anzou was surprised that he understood what people were talking about. He didn’t actually think that the Vulpine, now lying dead on the shore was his father but it didn’t matter.
“He’s…busy.” Anzou said and Fen took it in stride.
“Mine too. All the time spent in that…that tower.” He sneered. Anzou’s ears perked and his eyes shifted.
“Tower?” He asked but Fen batted it down with his paw.
“It’s boring stuff, ya don’t want anything to do with it. Come on!” Fen turned, beckoning with his paw. The sudden change in the Canine’s tone threw Anzou and he stayed put while Fen made it to the end of the alley. He turned. “Ya comin’?” He asked. Anzou’s instinct still told him that Fen was alright, that he wouldn’t lead him into trouble so Anzou slowly made his way to Fen who rolled his eyes at the sluggishness.
“Where are we going?” Anzou asked.
“I’ll introduce ya to the rest of us, and Willow!” He said.
“Willow?” Anzou asked and Fen nodded.
“She’s like you, the only one of us who ain’t from around here.”

Anzou didn’t know what to think as Fen lead him through the back streets and alleys of Eye’s Guard. They passed by adults who were far busier getting to the bottom of bottles than to notice them, yet their faces were full of smiles as well. When they did pass one of them raised a bottle and slurred “Eukithor’s Blessing!” At them. Anzou didn’t know what he meant and Fen just continued on his jaunty way.
He lead Anzou to a more rundown part of town with evidence of a fire etched on some of the buildings walls. A few had been reduced to piles of rubble, just charred remains left over. The scent of flames was nonexistent though as Fen made his way up to one of the damaged buildings. In front were a few boxes that had been moved there and Fen mounted them before climbing up and through the second story window. He tumbled in and Anzou heard a bit of a whine but he poked his head out, smile as big as ever.
“Stairs collapsed! Gotta climb through this way!” He said and Anzou followed Fen’s movements and gracefully slid through the window. “Wow! You’re great at climbing!” Fen said but Anzou said nothing. The Canine then moved up to a door that had a heavy cloth draped over the opening and knocked on the wood next to it with a peculiar rhythm, a voice spoke on the other side.
“What has three eyes in the darkness, sparkles like the water and brings terror to those who see it.” It said.
“Oh come on, ya guy’s changed it again?” Fen complained and his body slumped. “I’m terrible at these things.” Anzou thought the whole thing a little strange. He could see the other Canine’s feet behind the cloth as it didn’t fall all the way to the ground, could hear them snickering behind it and above all could have just walked right through.
“Answer it Fen!” It asked. The cub stuttered and turned to Anzou. To him it was pretty obvious, glaringly so but pretended to think by putting his finger to his muzzle before give Fen a nod.
“The night sky.” Anzou said and the cloth opened revealing another Canine, dressed similarly to Fen. He stood a hair taller, had a perfect hole in his right ear and a terrible case of snaggletooth with his fangs. His paws held a fairly weak looking stick.
“Fen! Who’s this?” He asked, narrowing his eyes onto Anzou.
“He was trying to steal from ol’ whiskers, right in front of him!” Fen said. A look flashed across the other Canines face and Anzou wasn’t sure if it was surprise or mocking but then he belted out a laugh.
“Right in front of him? That’s some Tuff Tail shit!” He beckoned and Fen passed through the door, Anzou followed. “Fang.” The makeshift guard said as Anzou passed and he gave the same short nod that Fen had when he introduced himself. Anzou didn’t say anything.
The room he entered wasn’t entirely what Anzou expected, well, not that he expected anything. The flames had spared it but any of the actual furnishings had been removed. Various blankets lay scattered about, hanging from the walls and piled up in an untidy manner. Anything that could be a seat was one, small boxes or crates, a barrel that had been cut in half, a pile of the untidy blankets. A collection of four other Canine cubs sat around a bare part of the floor and were busy dumping small coins into a pile. Fen followed and out turned his pockets revealing a pitiful one coin. The others turned to him, it was obvious that this wasn’t the first time he’d brought in a pitiful share.
“One coin? What have you been up to all day?” One of them asked, raising to his feet and taking a menacing step towards Fen. The cub stood a head taller than him and about twice as wide.
“Oh, well…” Fen shrank. “I just ain’t good at this stuff I guess.” He laughed off the nervousness but the other didn’t back down. A deep growl emanated from the large cub and Anzou started to reach out to Fen to pull him back when another commanding voice spoke.
“Shut it Heel.” It came from the other side of the room, next to another window facing the setting sun. Another cub, no, she was older, the oldest of the room. Her fur was as dark as a moonless sky with a pair of piercing green eyes. She sat sideways on the only actual chair in the room which had blankets hung around it to make it give off a regal impression of a great hall. The clothes she wore were just as tattered as the others but still felt better, cleaner, taken care of, washed. Heel backed away, his growl petering out, both wiskers and tail drooping low.
Willows eyes first looked to Fen and then to Anzou. They rested for a long moment on his face before looking at what he wore. In a fraction of a second, imperceptible to anyone else, a fear flashed through her green eyes before they settled. Anzou took a step forward and repeated what both Fen and Fang had done, a short bow and an offer of his name. Willow adjusted herself and stood in a bit of laughter.
“Certainly not from around here are you?” She asked, approaching close to him. Anzou took a step back.
“He’s from Wellspring! Said his Dad works at the tower too!” Fen offered and Willow’s eyes raised before a sly smirk, almost Vulpine in a way, spread over her face.
“So you want to be part of the Tuff Tails?” She asked. Fen followed the question and looked back to Anzou, paws balled and muzzle gaped with excitement. Anzou didn’t know what to think. His heart had yet to calm down and his mind had been studying the entire room looking for ways to escape if the need arose. But, it wasn’t because he was scared they would do anything, it was more as a precaution. Willow took a step closer. “Attempting to take right from under Ol’ Whiskers is gutsy so I already know you’ve got it.” She said and Anzou unconsciously touched his stomach with his paw.
His muzzle opened and the first thing Anzou wanted to say was No Thanks. He had no intention of joining some cub gang from the looks of it but as the words formed in his throat he stopped. What was the point of refusing? They all seemed to be ok with him, much less comfortable. That was much more than anyone older. From the way things looked all of these Canines seemed to be in the range of around six to ten. Willow stood out, she was older, perhaps early teens, yet still small for a Canine it looked. Anzou slowly nodded twice.
“Sure.” He said and Fen eagerly clapped his paws, tail wagging. Willow smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.
“For future reference, when introducing yourself around here, keep your tail low.” She said. “Come on, the lanterns are being lit.”