Page 142 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
“Not much choice. It’s an Amaranthine thing.”
“Well?” Argent filled a tray and carried it to the kitchen table, indicating a seat.
Gingko shuffled over and slouched into a chair. “I took off for a while.”
“I had noticed.”
“I wanted to show Kel my tail.”
Argent paused, then poured. “And who might that be?”
“My friend in the wolf pack.” Gingko wrapped his hands around a steaming cup, shoulders hunched, ears flat. “I figured he’d appreciate my attainment, since … well, you know.”
“Wolves do take unusual pride in their tails.”
“Exactly.” His son smiled wanly. “So I went to show Kel.”
“At great personal risk and against all advisement.”
“Well, maybe. But listen for a minute!”
Argent inclined his head. “You have my full attention.”
If possible, his son’s ears sank lower. “Right. So, this pack. They’ve been good to me. Gave me a place. Made me an honorary packmate. Said I’d always be welcome.”
“Yet you always return here.”
Gingko rolled his eyes. “I might run with wolves once in a while, but I’m a fox.”
Argent took a slow sip of tea, but he made no effort to hide his approval. “Your den is here.”
With a nod, he continued. “So I went, and he was impressed. And there was a feast, which was excellent, except that his mom was there and wanted to meet me. And I didn’t have much choice.”
“Refusal would have been rude in the extreme.”
“So was skimping on my name.” He squirmed again. “I’ve always been Gingko. Just Gingko. They’re not stupid. The pack understands what I am and why I might want to keep personal stuff a secret. Kel and his brothers never pushed before.”
“But this time was different.”
“Roo-nii wouldn’t let it go.” Gingko began scratching the tabletop, creating a narrow gouge. “He works with humans in some kind of criminal investigation unit as a tracker. So he’s kind of relentless when he’s on a trail. And this time I was his quarry.”
Argent shut his eyes. “So that is what he meant,” he murmured.
“Dad?”
“By ‘big brother Roo,’ do you perhaps mean Naroo-soh?”
Gingko’s ears snapped forward.
“As in the eldest son of Adoona-soh Elderbough, one of the inimitable Five?”
His son offered a shaky laugh. “Small world, huh?”
“Did you declare yourself?”
Color rose in his cheeks. “I mostly panicked and ran.”
“You ran here. From a pack full of trackers?”
