Open Vulpinsula & Surroundings The Trenches The Challenge

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Before Madame Lorelei could reply, the door to the shop was thrown open. Silvertongue stumbled in, eyes wide as he saw Swifttail. "O-oh, Madame Lorelei! I thought it was, uh... closing hours. I didn't realize you still had a... customer."

Madame Lorelei glowered at Silvertongue. "He told me everything."

"He did...? YOW!!!!" Silvertongue asked, before he recieved a solid THWAP on the snout as Madame Lorelei dispensed justice with her cane.

"Yes, everything, yew little shite! Why would ye keep secrets like that, I raised you from a babe, you know!"

"Madame- OUCH! Madame, I didn't want to worry you!" He covered his head as she berated him both verbally and physically. "Madame, we have a GUEST!!"

Madame Lorelei stopped smacking Silvertongue silly with her cane. "You're right... we do have a guest. Won't you show him to the back?" She calmed down and wiped some nonexistent dust from her dress. Silvertongue tilted his head at her, and she scoffed. "Don't act like you weren't going to invite him to stay the night. Why else meet here of all places?"

Silvertongue blushed heavily. but he did not deny the accusation, instead just looking towards Swifftail sheepishly. "Well...?"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail blinked as the door burst open, ears flicking tall when Silvertongue stumbled in... only to get smacked across the muzzle with Lorelei’s cane. For the first time in hours, a weak chuckle slipped out of Swift, though it quickly faded as the vixen’s sharp words turned back on him.

Stay the night!?

His throat tightened, tail curling close. He stared down at his paws for a long moment, working through the knot of shame and fear still lodged in his chest. Refusing meant pushing Silvie away. But saying yes meant stepping further into a world that already felt like it was pressing too heavy on him.

At last he lifted his gaze, voice low, rough from fatigue.

“If… if ye don’t mind, Silvie… aye. I’ll stay.” He shifted uneasily in his chair. “But I'm t’be back at the forge by dawn. Clinker’ll not suffer a late worker. My bed upstairs depends on it.”

The words came out flat with weariness, but beneath them was something steadier.Aa quiet determination to meet what tomorrow brought, even if his paws still shook tonight.

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue smiled softly. He walked over and took Swifttail's paw in his own. "Well, I suppose I'll have to see you off to work in the morning then, won't I?" He said, pulling Swifttail to his feet. "Come on... you look like you need some rest."

Silvertongue lead Swifttail into the backroom, which was impressively sized. There was a bed off in the corner, a table and some chairs, a small stove and a rack with spices, and a bookshelf and a dresser.

Madame Lorelei hobbled in after them. "Silvertongue, move my rocking chair out to the front, won't you? I'll sleep out there, give you two some privacy~" She cackled a bit.

"Madame Lorelei- I uhh... I don't know what you think is going to happen between us." Silvertongue raised an eyebrow. "But it most certainly is not going to go down the way you're imagining it."

"Just bring my chair out!" Madame Lorelei turned and walked back out of the room.

Silvertongue looked at Swifttail and shrugged, before grabbing the big rocking chair in the corner and carrying it out, walking back in. "I know it's not much... but it's home for me. For now."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail let himself be tugged up from his chair, ears drooping but a small, weary smile still curled at his muzzle.

“Aye… I’d like that. Thank ye.” His voice was quiet, but genuine.

When his eyes fell on the bed, a huff of tired laughter slipped out. “I feel like I kin sleep fer a season…”

However, Madame Lorelei’s teasing cut in before he could say more. Swift’s ears burned crimson, and he all but buried his face behind the satchel he was shrugging off. Only when she hobbled away did he dare lower it again, the heat still prickling at his fur.

He glanced about the room, curiosity dimmed by exhaustion but still alive in his gaze. The stove, the shelves, the modest comforts, it all felt worlds better than his cramped loft and straw pad bed above the forge.

“It’s better’n what I been rentin’, mate,” he murmured, eyes softening as they returned to Silvertongue. “Always count yer blessings… even if ye’ got such an… interestin’ housemate.”

With that, the weight of the day finally pressed him down. Swift sagged onto the edge of the bed, shoulders slumping, tail limp with exhaustion.