He had been afraid that he would be too late, no matter the speed of his small paws, but it had been just barely enough to turn the worm at the last moment and save Rexanna from a slimy, flattened fate.
Of course, that meant that hehad earned the worm's attention, and this one was large enough that he couldn't simply step on it, he had to ride it as it twisted around and tried to dislodge him. He didn't hear Rexanna's initial suggestion as he engaged in a wrestling match he couldn't win, finally breaking free as the worm tried to roll on top of him and dancing back from the big one with a snarl. The mid-sized Magna Vermis finally freed itself and turned back towards Rexanna...
And Jigano decided that, yes, discretion was definitely the better part of valor!
He was wet and muddy and slimed and a sorry sight indeed, but it was the sight of Rexanna limping that had him whining as he backed away from the angry earthworms. He wouldn't leave his friend to face the creatures alone, but as she began her retreat his ears perked forward in relief. He padded along beside her, lagging a little bit behind to snap at the medium worm that tried to wriggle after them and protecting the uncannily beautiful woman as best he good in his bedraggled state.
She watched as she backed away a bit, watched as the worm and Jigano tangled in the mud. Soon, however, the fox broke free and she watched as the large worm started to take aim at her. She moved a bit further, eyes dancing between the fox and the worm to see that the fox had understood her question. And while she felt bad for the fox, for the beautiful pale fur drenched in muck, she moved away from the worms to leave them be with a slight limp in her step.
But it didn’t bother her, they had taken out quite a few regardless. It was an accomplishment! She just hoped she’d never have to tell anyone she had to run from a group of them.
Yet, Rexanna still had a protector of sorts. As she limped away from the waters edge, she disregarded her initial plans for the day in favor of going home for a bath. Inspecting the clothes she wore and their terrible, muddy state, Rexanna glanced to the fox with a roguish look. “We did well all things considered.” She said briefly before pausing and looking down to the fox with an idea that was all too familiar and entertaining in her mind.
She had offered the raven a bath when he had helped her – and now with the pale fox in a muddy state, Rexanna wondered if he’d like one too. “I plan on going home and taking a bath. I’m not sure where you’re heading, but you can come have one too.” She offered the fox, wondering if he’d still follow or if he’d take off on his own. And if he came, she wondered if perhaps there was more to him than just a normal fox.
He glanced to Rex, flicking an appreciative ear at her cheerful encouragement, but kept his attention on the worms that followed them, though they seemed to become less hostile and interested in pursuit the farther the pair got from the Oasis. Even with the beautiful woman hobbling they were soon out of range, and the Magna Vermis turned their attention back to... well, whatever it was they did, when they weren't bullying people away from the water.
Blue eyes looked again at his friend once he was sure they were safe, and he noticed how clean she was, in spite of rolling around in the mud and wrestling with worms. It made him feel even more grubby in comparison, and his sodden brush and ears drooped with embarrassment at the unflattering comparison. He was definitely not turning back into a man until he'd gotten himself cleaned up! the thought of slime in his long hair made him shiver with disgust. But that meant finding some unguarded water - running water, one of the woodland streams, which would be frigid with snowmelt - and a warm fire soon after. Or maybe Rory would take pity on a poor, filthy fox...
His ears perked forward as she spoke again and made her offer. It was a kind one, and his tail wagged slowly in appreciation for a moment. It was not, however, something he would even consider doing. Joining a lady in the bath under false pretenses was unthinkable, though if the Settlement had a public bath and she knew who he was he would have gladly accepted. Alas, neither condition held true, and while he might need to reveal his shapeshifting to her someday...
The day when he was covered in worm guts and mud was definitely not that day!
With a soft whine of farewell he wagged his tail at her again and then turned to trot off into the greening underbrush to seek his own bath, either in private or with the held of a friend who knew what he was getting into with the decidedly male little fox.
She was thankful, in a way, that the worms seemed more content with keeping guard of their puddles than chasing after the two of them. And despite their terrible looking state, and her poorly bruised ankle, Rexanna was happy regardless. She just wouldn’t be going back until the worms were gone. Either way, the fox trotted with her for a few moments as she mused – as she daydreamed of a warm steaming bath and relaxing, taking her boots off to examine the true damage that was hidden beneath the leathers. But the fox didn’t follow her.
She paused in her step as he whined, wagged his tail and took off in his own direction. And she waved kindly to the nice pale fox, uncertain where it was going but hoping it would avoid more worms in the future. And with that, she turned back toward the Settlement and headed straight home.
