By Nathan Veyon
Jane’s stomach tightened as she neared the door. She paused to adjust her glasses. “Sal, are you sure a human is okay at a xaether’s party? I don’t want to mess anything up.”
Sal pulled her through the entryway. “Don’t worry. You’re hardly one to cause a stir. Plus, xaethers are a couple millennia old. They only show up for centennials these days. It’s just a time for wilderfolk to socialize. Plus, there’s free food.”
Jane slowed. Massive pillars sprouted from the floor to form elegantly-arched branches supporting a stained glass cupola. Shimmering blue cascades fell from a multistory fountain, and a wondrous array of wilderfolk wandered among rainbows. Even the air tasted magical and rejuvenating.
“Sal, it’s so…”
“Big? Some weird dimensional manipulation thing the xaether do.” Sal grabbed two goblets.
Jane accepted one. “No, it’s so beautiful.”
“Sure. Hey, I know those guys.” Sal started walking away.
“Sal, wait! I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Easy. Get a drink from the fountain. If you don’t want to talk to someone, explain what it’s like working for the Federal Bureau of Anomalous Occurrences.”
“But…” Sal disappeared. Jane wandered toward the fountain and filled her goblet. She took a drink. Water? The best water she’d ever had, but she was hoping for something a little more magical.
“You have to think of a happy memory.”
Jane turned to see a dashing stranger with fiery red hair. He looked human.
“A… what?” she said.
“Think of something happy before filling up.”
She thought of Christmas as a child and dipped her goblet into the fountain once again. She glanced nervously at the stranger, then took a sip.
Excitement. Joy. It was like tasting pure bliss—with a slight chocolate and marshmallow aftertaste.
“Might I have a taste?”
She had almost forgotten about him. “Sure.”
He took a sip. “Hmm, quite delightful.” He dipped his goblet in the fountain. “Try mine.”
Jane acquiesced. Sweet victory rolled over her tongue, like the satisfaction of a plan working just as intended. “That’s strong.”
He quaffed the rest and smiled. “I suppose it is. My name is Hokk.”
“I’m Jane.”
“That’s a beautiful name.” Hokk turned to the room. “What’s it like being the odd one out?”
Jane blushed. “What do you mean?”
“Why, you’re the only human here.” Drawing her away from the fountain, he continued. “Normally, we wilderfolk are the strangers among humans, but here, you’re the human among strangers. Though… you’re comfortable with us. I’d guess you’re with FBAO.” He stopped at a cluster of ornate tables filled with food and drinks. Wilderfolk talked and laughed while they ate.
Jane felt both flattered and terrified. FBAO was her out. “I am. Is it that obvious?”
“You’re pretty enough to be a water nymph. But you were looking around with such awe, I assumed you were human.”
Jane’s face burned. “Well, I know the general stuff. I’ve mostly just learned from books and reports. Not firsthand like this.”
Hokk nodded toward a group. “See those guys with bushier hair standing together? That’s a werewolf pack. Very friendly and loyal. Just don’t say the word ‘fetch.’ It’s offensive.” Hokk pointed at a different group. “And those are obviously centaurs. They stay near the fringes while in horse form since they can be quite the obstacle.”
Jane tried not to stare. “This is fascinating.”
Hokk led her to a darker area. Bending closer, he whispered, “I’m sure you can guess who the pale skinned group is.”
Jane suppressed a gasp. “Vampires.”
Hokk moved behind her. “Yes. See the red drinks in their goblets?”
“Blood?” She clapped a hand over her mouth.
As one, the vampires looked at her. They did not look friendly.
“I mean… Hokk?” Jane searched for someone to help.
She glimpsed red hair behind the vampires.
Grinning, Hokk exclaimed, “Werewolves must be blind. They couldn’t play catch if they wanted to.”
Jane heard a low growl behind her. “What did you say, vampire?”
Jane froze. There was a tense silence. Then, a table flipped with a crash, and both groups rushed each other. Jane closed her eyes.
She expected to be trampled any second, but someone grabbed her arm and pulled her away. She opened her eyes.
Sal stared down at her. “What did you do?”
“Um, there was this man. Hokk. He’s… I don’t know where he is. But he was telling me about the wilderfolk, and then… I think I insulted the vampires somehow. But they’re drinking blood. And I was so surprised.” She trailed off.
Sal walked over to a table and brought back a goblet filled with a dark red liquid. “Is this it?”
“I think so.”
Sal thrust it at her. “Take a drink.”
“What? No! I…”
But Sal tipped it towards her mouth. It flooded over her lips.
She tasted something tangy and nearly gagged until she realized what it was. “Pomegranate juice!”
“Exactly. Most vampires bond with fruit bats. The whole blood thing is useful theatrics for the human world, but to say it here…” He shook his head. “Was Hokk a redhead?”
“Yes.”
Sal laughed, “Well, congratulations. You survived your first encounter with a kitsune. Tricksters, every one of them. They love orchestrating chaos and sitting back to watch.”
The yells and bellows grew louder.
Sal pulled her past the fountain to the exit. “We should get out of here before the griffins come break it up.”
Outside, Jane kept cleaning her glasses. “Should I apologize?”
Sal looked at her and started laughing.
“Stop that. What’s so funny?”
Sal wiped his eyes. “Little human Jane making a bigger splash than a xaether showing up for her own party. Here, try this.”
Jane warily accepted the cup. “What is it?”
“I grabbed it from the fountain on the way out. It’ll make you feel better”
Jane wet her lips with bubbly, liquid mirth and suddenly wanted to howl with laughter.
“Good way to remember the night.” Sal walked off, chuckling to himself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This one is very fun! Well done.
Fun story! I love kitsune!
Lovely worldbuilding. I’d love to be an observer at this party.
Very funny. I love the emotion descriptions of how the drinks taste.
Haha! That was creative! I blame Sal for the mess, because he left Jane alone. 😁
Haha, nice! I love the worldbuilding (and Hokk is awesome, I’d love to see him in another story!)
Very fun story! I really enjoyed getting to know all the wilderfolk.