The Inari Fox at the Red Gate

At the edge of a quiet forest stood a gate. The gate was red. The reddest red. It was called a torii. Beneath the gate sat a small white fox. Her name was Yuki. Quiet, quiet she sat there. She watched the forest. She watched the path. She watched everyone who passed.

Yuki was a kitsune. That is a fox from Japan. A little forest spirit. She was white as snow. Her ears were pointy. Her tail was long and soft. At dusk her tail glowed a little, a little. Like a tiny lamp. But in the morning she was just a regular white fox. A small guard at the red gate.

The sun came up. It was round and yellow. Yuki blinked. She yawned a tiny yawn. Then she sat up straight. A guard always sits straight. She gave a small wave with her tail. That was her hello to the morning. Good morning, sun. Good morning, gate. Good morning, forest.

Soon someone came down the path. It was a girl. Her name was Hana. Hana had a small bowl of rice. White rice. Warm rice. She walked slowly up the stones. She set the bowl near the gate. She bowed deeply. Quiet, quiet. Then she smiled at Yuki.

'Good morning, little fox,' Hana said softly. Yuki said nothing. Foxes do not speak with words. But she bowed her head. That was her thank-you. Hana laughed a tiny laugh. Then she turned and walked away. Off, off. Between the trees. Yuki looked at the rice. She did not touch it. It was a gift. Gifts may simply rest.

The sun climbed higher. The forest was still. A small wind came. It lifted a few leaves. It lifted Yuki's fur. She closed her eyes for a tiny moment. Not sleeping. Just feeling. The wind smelled of pine. The wind smelled of moss. The wind smelled of warm rice. Quiet, quiet.

Then someone else came. A small boy. His name was Ren. Ren ran a little. He stopped. He ran again. In his hand he held something. A small piece of wood. It was an omamori. A little wooden charm for safekeeping. It had fallen on the path. Ren had found it. Now he was going to bring it back.