"I am quite lost, I'm afraid, thrown to the mercy of the woods." She fanned herself some more with quick little motions of her hand.

"You mean, someone just left you here?" Legmender was appalled and outraged by the idea, conveniently forgetting that he had been planning to do the same thing just moments earlier.

"Indeed. My own guide, the scoundrel! I had hired him to take me to Dogonia. But he took my money and then left me here. A thousand devils on his tail!"

Legmender shivered at the thought of being pursued by a thousand devils, remembering the incident of the dimitharns. "That is unconscionable! To leave someone unprotected in the woods!" But it struck the rabbit that the fox looked familiar to him, and he squinted suspiciously at the old vixen, trying to recall if they had indeed met before. "What did this 'guide' look like?"

"Oh, he was big, and he was a brute! Very, very rude!" She waved the fan faster as she gave vent to her indignation. "No manners at all! He just stopped us here, threw my trunk and luggage aside, picked me up and dropped me here – oh! My ancient bones! – and rode away, taking my horse and my money with him!"

"Very unfortunate," murmured Legmender, not wholly satisfied. "And, yet, you seem quite well for such rude handling."

"Well? I am deserted! I do not know these woods, or the roads, and am much too old to walk them alone, or to carry my belongings!"

"We can give you a ride!" Billy chirped up. "We're going to Dogonia, too!"

"Why, that is very generous of you, young man," cooed the old vixen, ignoring the startled sputtering of the rabbit. "Very generous indeed. It's true that the Lep'kufft are wise and kind."

"It's the way of the Lep'Aln!" Billy said brightly, with some pride, flattered by the old lady's compliment. Legmender groaned to himself, knowing he was caught by his own principles and by the boy's innocent honesty.

The fox leaned forward then, her ancient eyes growing wide with surprise as she peered more carefully at the boy. "But, child, you are not Lep'kufft! Are you not Scentar?"

"Sure I'm a Lep'kufft!" the boy protested proudly. "I'm just a skunk, is all.” The fox raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question.

"Billy is my ward," Legmender said quickly. "I've been caring for him. I'm now taking him home, to Scentas."

"It's not my home!" the boy blurted. The resentful scowl returned to his face.

"Scentas!" The fox snapped her fan close and clapped in delight. "Why, I am also traveling to Scentas! Dogonia was but a stop along my way home, where I might find other passage! This is wonderful! I would be most honored to journey with you!"

"Journey with us!" sputtered Legmender.

“Thank you!” said the fox. “I shall!”