Unkind: A Short Story

By Ravyn Karasu

True love has the power to overcome any difference; Understanding has the power to build any confidence.

Kida is the youngest princess of Foxhill and Mateyo is the reluctant young king of Harewillows. Both feel they are unprepared for their royal roles and responsibilities. To cope, they often slip into a naive mindset of acceptance and romantic notions. When Kida and Mateyo meet each other, they finally begin to grow a new confidence in themselves and their royal opinions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravyn Karasu
• Release date: Jul 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393031161

Book preview

©2019 Ravyn Karasu

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The day was much cooler in the forest that it was in the open lands of Foxhill. There was shade, a canopy of leaves to block out that hot sun and enhancement of the little breeze that wafted through. Kida had travelled a long way to be here where the world smelled clean, fresh, and free. She could hear the birds, the trickle of the river in the distance, and the rustle of the foliage.

In the north was the hunting party. There, they’d practice military tactics with a sense of ease while they stalked and shot their arrows at quails and pheasants or sharpening thick sticks for spearing the fish in the river. However, in the here, eastward of the hunting party, Kida enjoyed her sanctuary. This was no place for her—technically. She wasn’t a hunter like her brother nor a capable fighter like her sister. She was young, naïve, and sheltered from the cruelties of her world. Unlike the rest of her people, she was a rarity—in many ways. She wore a sundress instead of the tribal-like wear and she had no markings on her fur of the swirls and Foxmen runes like the other adults. She had the whitest fur with black ears and the signature mitten and stocking marks of the red fox clan, despite her leucistic brightness and glowing blue eyes. She inhaled through her nose to take in the sweetness of the blooming honeysuckles and let out a long, satisfied sigh. She then twitched her ear as a sound rose from through a line of shrubs that separated the kingdom of Foxhill from the kingdom of Harewillows. There was a beautiful glen on the other side of the shrubs, surrounded by willow trees with dangling flowers of all colours.

There was music playing over there—and a gathering. Hare-men citizens, it seemed—many of them. They were dressed so well in nice shirts, dresses, vests, and a few with monocles as well. One was dressed in a long robe. What was this? A wedding? Yes! There stood the groom in a top hat, a white shirt and a tailcoat with a boutonniere. Coming up the aisle made for her was the bride in a yellow lace dress and a large bouquet in her hands. Kida was mesmerized. Oh, she was so beautiful. The dress complimented her brown fur and her ears were tucked back shyly or submissively. Kida couldn’t leave now. She found herself a spot she could comfortably sit and watch into the glen