Outside the Store

       Lilac didn’t know what to do other than to wait, so that’s what she did. Wishing she could make herself of use, she waited outside the large building, she ultimately had nothing to do. She didn’t want to be useless, and not only because she didn’t want to be yelled at by her manager, the feeling of being useless just makes you feel awful. But, really, she didn’t have anything to do.
       Lilac looked around the lot and decided to trot over to the trees that were off to the side. It was hard to tell if the trees were here naturally and part of a bigger forest, or if it was only a couple of trees that were planted there to make the barren cement lot look better. She reached the grass and decided to simply sit there on the ground, after taking a second to look around and appreciate the air and the environment, she put in an earbud and looked down at her phone.
       She opened a new tab and started typing in a web address to visit a forum. The particular forum she was going to was a rather small one, with a little less than 50 registered accounts and even less active users. This forum was made by one of her online friends to be able to more easily connect with their friend group. Despite the no advertising rules on the original Nimphy fan forum they met on, almost everyone who knew the guy, who most refer to as Vix, were on this forum. Admittedly, this has gotten Vix banned from the aforementioned Nimphy forum a few times.
       Lilac browsed the site and clacked her claws along the side of the phone screen to the beat of the music playing in her ears. The music drowned out the slight sound of leaves rustling behind her. The small fox might not have even noticed anything if it wasn’t for a strange feeling she had.
       The fox quickly stood up and looked around to see a large creature lurking in the greenery. More curious than fearful, she stepped forwards and called out. “Heyyyy, who’s there? Is there a cool creature in there? You can come out you know.”
       She felt an intense shock in her head and recoiled. “Hey! What was that?” She yelled at the creature. She felt another shock, it was less intense but made her feel somewhat sad.
       “What is going on...” Lilac whimpered. “I mean you no harm! Please come out and cease the shocks!” She was shocked again. “Ple-aseee...” She got down to her knees and begged.
       “Hhhhrrrymmm.” An odd growl resounded through the air. Lilac was rendered to scared to speak. “Hhhnnnnmm, hhhnnnnna!” The fearful fennec fox looked up to see what was causing all this. She saw two large furry feet with long claws step forwards.
       Lilac looked at the creature in awe. It’s magnificence seemed to take over the world in that moment, the beauty of this creature made Lilac want to cry.
       *Boop.*
       Lilac looked up. The large creature leaned down and had touched the fox’s cheek with it’s wolf-like snout. Lilac felt an intense emotion. Then that emotion doubled. She found herself looking up into that creature’s large black eyes, drowning in it, and loving the otherness of it.
       “I...” She hesitated, unsure if what she was feeling was right. “I love you...”
       An extremely strong shock surged through her entire body. But this shock didn’t feel terrible. She wanted to be closer to the creature.
       Suddenly, the creature stood up and nervously glanced around like a deer. Lilac caught glimpses of it’s back hooves and thick furry tail as it turned around. The creature went down to pick up the small fox with it’s insect-like arms and sprinted away carrying Lilac. This creature had 6 limbs.
       The fennec was in a daze as she was being carried, but she didn’t feel panicked. She was happy. There was a blur of different shades of greens as she looked out. It seemed as though those earlier trees were connected to a forest.
       The creature halted and gently placed the dazed girl on the ground. The faint sound of music could be heard from Lilac’s earbuds in the silence of the forest. The tired fox tried to gather her sensed but was interrupted with an intruding thought, or was it a feeling? There were no exact words to the thought but it was roughly translated to *“my princess.”*
       “No way.” She spoke, astonished. “Are we communicating? Like, through a psychic connection? That’s so cool!” She stepped towards the creature. “What are you saying? Do you understand me? Ah-“ She was interrupted by more thoughts.
       *Those sounds, I don’t understand them. Your feelings/emotions are very organized. You use those sound patterns to think/process in an organized way.* The creature communicated to Lilac, its thoughts weren’t in words but Lilac understood them. *You are beautiful/ worthy of admiration.* These thoughts caused Lilac to feel flustered. The creature felt what Lilac was feeling. The creature responded to Lilac’s happy feelings with it’s own happy feelings, which were felt by Lilac. They were in a happy loop of happy feelings.
       *Do you have a name? Are you a boy or a girl?* Lilac had many questions for this creature.
       *I do not understand “boy” or “girl” or “name.”* The creature responded in loose thoughts.
       *A name is what you are called,* Lilac pointed to the trees as she attempted to think of trees. *Those are called “trees.”*
       *“Trees” is the “name” of trees? *The creature responded.
       Lilac smiled and nodded. *Yes! And my name is “Lilac.” My species is named “fox.”*
       *You have two “name”s?*
       *Kind of.* Lilac thought of foxes, as a large group, and then individuals. She tried applying the name “fox” to all of them. She thought of herself, another “fox” but she also was named “Lilac.”
       *I understand somewhat.* The creature thought. *“Lilac” is a beautiful “fox.”* Lilac felt happy and embarrassed again. The creature felt these feelings.
       *That’s correct! Do you have a name?*
       *No.*
       *Oh.* Lilac thought of how to give this creature a name. *Oh, wait! I should know your “gender” first. My earlier question: are you a “boy” or a “girl?”*
       *I still don’t understand the meaning.*
       *I know. I’m trying to think of how to explain it to you and ask you without it being too embarrassing.*
       *“Embarrassing?”*
       *That word’s not too important right now. Uhhh...* Lilac thought of reproduction and of sex and sexual organs. She thought of sexual dimorphism and how sexual organs determined if someone was a “boy” or a “girl.” How that was treated in society, how some things are thought of as more masculine or feminine. As she explained, connotations to all of these concepts were also explained as the creature could sense what she was feeling the entire time she explained. Lilac felt the creatures emotions in response to her explanation, first pleasure and a feral urge, and then utter fascination.
       Lilac gestured to and thought of herself. *I’m a “girl.”*
       *I could smell that.* The creature responded. The fox felt a wave of embarrassment.
       *I’m a “boy.”*
       More embarrassment from both. A slight feeling of realization from Lilac. The creature looked into her eyes. More emotion.
       “Ah- I-“ Lilac broke the silence and started actually talking. The creature still somewhat understood her though, as long as she spoke her words with meaning. “I need to go, I shouldn’t leave- have left. I’m technically still on duty. For work.” Lilac took a moment to try and briefly explain the concept of work to him.
       She calmed down, and was yet again communicating in thoughts. *Where are we? Can you take me back?*
       *Yes, I can carry you back there. Do you want that?*
       *Yes.*
       The creature picked her up and started galloping back to where they first encountered each other. He stayed in the trees right and put her down. Lilac wandered back out of the greenery.
       *Where can we meet again?* Lilac asked.
       *Here is fine.* The creature responded.
       Lilac tried to explain why it wasn’t the best. She thought of herself working, how most of the time she’s near here she’ll be working. She tried thinking of where her school was and where her dorm was. Tried to explain how she spent most of her time comfortable in her dorm, away from here. This saddened the creature.
       *How do I get there?* He asked.
       Lilac didn’t quite have the best sense of direction but she did know the route she took. It was all along roads though and this creature seemed kind of shy. She pointed in the general direction to where she thought she lived.
       *It’s okay, I’ll figure out how to get there. I’ll smell you.*
       *I can show you. I could even take you there!*
       *It seems you know this already, but I like hiding.*
       *I know. Why?*
       There was no response from the creature except for an unpleasant feeling.
       “Okay, that’s okay.” Lilac talked to the creature in a calming tone. The creature felt a bit better.
       Lilac looked around. There was still no one here and nothing to do.
       *So you don’t have a name?*
       *No.*
       Lilac started thinking. *The name should be something we can both make the sounds of, what kinda of sounds can you make?*
       After confirming that no one was there, the creature made a hissing sound. He continued to make more sounds. “Kkhhsssss, xxtz, grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrrrrhh, hhhhhnnnnnnaaa, hhhhna! Hhna! Sssssiillllll, sli sli sli, sshhhhkkkisssss.”
       “So your vowels are “a” and “i,” your consonants are “k”, “s”, “x”, “h”, “tz”, “gr”, and “l.” You can make a good amount of words with that.”
       *“Words”?*
       *Like a “name” but different.*
       *Okay. What kind of “name” should I have?*
       *I don’t know. I’ll try to think when I get home.*
       *When you get home...* A wave of concern swept over Lilac. *Where will we meet, if not here?*
       *Don’t worry, I know of a few nice places, like parks. We’ll find a place. Can you sense me?*
       *Yes.*
       *Well then, if we’re nearby then we’ll be able to find each other. It’s good, it’s fine.* Lilac looked up at the creature and pet his head. He responded with pleasure and good feelings which Lilac then felt. Everything they did together made them both happy.
       Lilac looked back to the large block that was the store she was supposedly working at. It still seemed like no one was around. She looked back at the creature.
       “It seems that no one will be around for a while, we can hang out together until then.”
       “Hisssssssssss...” *That would be nice.* The creature responded.
       *Alright.* Lilac smiled at him.
       The two sat in happy silence.