Troubled dreams fill the nights of the gray-furred Kitsune, Francisco. For the past several nights, he has had numerous nightmares and waking dreams, but one in particular has repeated itself often enough to brand itself on his memory…

Francisco sees a room. A child's room. A human girl's room, presumably, from the world of his birth. A world he has not seen in so long. Perhaps it is in Japan. Perhaps it is in the West. The walls are decorated with posters of some anime princess heroine character, and several toys and accessories are stamped with the likeness of these marketed characters.

His vision of this place is hazy, though. It seems nearly gray, illuminated by a sunbeam dimly wafting in through an open window, spiraling dust-motes dancing in its wake as it alights upon a carefully-made bed.

In the background, there are voices … music. A drum is played at long, slow, irregular intervals. A man's voice laments in Japanese, though Francisco can't pick out the words. It sounds as if it might be from a play. Kabuki, perhaps?

No one can be seen in the room. But in the dream, Francisco's view shifts, so that he can see dolls placed up on a shelf, each one of them in glass display cases. One of them is a porcelain doll of a woman in a kimono. But it is no ordinary woman. It has the face of a golden vixen, and four tails peek out from the back of the silken fabrics.

The room trembles … the case falls off of the shelf. The glass shatters, sending fragments to scatter across the floor. The doll lies sprawled in the debris, arms flayed out, its porcelain, painted face chipped and cracked from the impact with the floor. The robes are torn.

Hands reach out … Francisco's hands? No, they must be someone else's. But it's a dream, so nothing is clear. They pick up the doll … they lift it up and play with it … making it dance and twirl. A child's laughter can be heard … then sobs … then screams.

And the dream ends. Francisco is back 'home' … as much of a home that he ever has here on Sinai.

Francisco awakes with a start, panting and trying to get his breath. He looks around his room and sighs into his bed sheet.

The bandages on the back of the fox's neck feel damp. There's that smell, too. That wound on the back of his neck has opened. Again. It simply refuses to heal.

After a moment, the Kitsune raises his head from the sheet, reaches around to lightly touch his wound, and promptly winces in pain as he fingers the bandage.

You do not look well, Francisco-san.

He opens his eyes, and glances at the slit of a window. Still night outside, and only a very faint glow is ebbing into the room from the sparse lamps outside.

Francisco swings his legs off his cot and just grumbles back to the voice in his head, more busy trying to fumble around in the dimness for a fresh bandage.

The bandages are right where he left them. After all, he's had to go through this routine quite a few times now.

If you are well enough, there is opportunity tonight. Your adversary is away from his guards, in order to rendezvous with one of his … friends. It is a prime opportunity to humiliate him and repay him for his wickedness toward you.

Francisco winces again as he peels the old bandage off, discards it and prepares a new one as his eyes adjust to the lighting. "Oh?"

The cloak should aid you, but – as you have discovered – it does not grant 'invisibility' so perfect as you could with a ritual. Permanently enchanted items rarely compare to raw energies wielded by magicians – or Kitsune. It will help you to blend in … and it dampens your scent as well. It does nothing, however, about any sound you make.

The fox doesn't answer, as he's still busy with the bandage. However, he knows that the voice can tell he heard it.

The staff shall aid you as well. Its powers are many, but suffice it to say that it is good to have near you in case of an emergency. You are a Kitsune, and can benefit from it in ways its makers never intended.

Francisco takes a moment to pause in his application. Why have I got this staff, anyway?

Because you picked it up in the Old Cemetery, Francisco-chan. The 'voice' seems on the verge of giggling.

Sighing at the non-answer, the Kitsune puts the new bandage in place on his neck, and promptly yelps! "Ow! Just what is it with this sore, anyway?" he grumbles out loud.

I have learned many things, but the Sphere of Life is not one of them. Perhaps we should postpone this little … adventure … and let you see a physician instead. How about Chiri? The one who gave you that case of flatulence?

The gray fox considers this for a moment. I was thinking more on the lines of someone with a better bedside manner, really.

Perhaps … but the rat is probably more likely to keep her mouth shut. You lingered in the Old Cemetery just a little too long, Francisco-san. It is best to keep as low a profile as possible. And … besides …

Perhaps you could return the favor to the rat!

A giggle echoes within the gray-furred Kitsune's thoughts.

Francisco tilts his head to one side a little. Just what do you mean by that? he asks.

Among its many other uses, Francisco-san, that staff is capable of giving that Skreek a case of noxious green vapors as severe as what she gave to you. Is that not appropriate for a Kitsune's revenge?

A slight, but wry, grin plays over the fox's muzzle in answer to that.

Besides … you do so look dashing in that new cloak of yours. You should have the proper fashion accessories as well.

Francisco idly fiddles with his makeshift medicine box, containing the other spare bandages. It's just a shame I have to wear it black-side out for the most part. I really don't think black is my color, he replies. Anyway, what 'fashion accessories'?

The staff, Francisco-san. It makes you look like a truly powerful mage … which, of course, is what you are now.

The fox just nods softly. But what about this staff, though? I'm not sure I feel that right, walking around with stolen property plain as day.

Then you can change its appearance, Francisco-san. It is a truly enchanted item. The bearer was not meant to carry about an artifact that bears symbols of Dagh and other powers of the night. Take it in your hand, and you shall find one of its many wonders.

Leaning over, Francisco plucks up the staff from where it's resting against a wall, then holds it flat with both hands, looking at it. "Uh-huh?"

How would the staff of a Kitsune look? Imagine it.

The gray fox closes his eyes and thinks about it. Imagining it, he doesn't think of anything that would be considered too over-the-top, so probably just a very dark polished wood, probably with a few old Japanese symbols carved into it.

Very nice, Francisco-san.

The staff metamorphoses … to resemble a humble staff of very dark polished wood, possessing a simplicity of design, yet an elegance lacking in more garish accouterments. It still has a ruby set into the top, but it seems to blend in with the rest of the staff, rather than being a gaudy decoration latched on to the top for all to see and admire.

Francisco opens an eye warily, and looks at the staff in his hands. Then, he opens the other eye. Hey, not bad…

Very well, then. Get dressed, Francisco-san. We have a doctor's appointment to keep.

Sighing, the Kitsune flops back on the bed. Now? It's still the middle of the night!

Actually, it is just past sundown, Francisco-san. But you are tired. Have your rest, Five-Tail. I will watch over you.

"Sundown?" he gasps. "Oh, man… perhaps that doctor will give me something to help with sleeping, too."