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Rose and the Golden Tree Palace in Green Shade

To say that kitsunes were always literal would be untrue. In fact, kitsunes were well known for their mischievous ways more than anything else- though, that was usually by people who kept little company with kitsunes. But they did find many things funny that others did not.

Take the name of the kitsune city, for example. Green Shade. To say that the entire city seemed green and shady was actually an understatement. The light that shone down through this thickest of canopies was actually tinted green, with no direct sunlight ever shining through. So the entire city was quite literally a green shade.

However, as Rose walked through Green Shade, amongst her most impressive "honor guard"; the Fifth Leaf Den, she did find it quite funny about the name of the Palace that the city boasted of.

This was one of those cases of witty kitsune humor getting the best of the creatures. First, the entire structure, if one could call it that, was either green or silver, not gold. And while it certainly seemed to be made of wood, it was not just one tree. It was actually a living palace, grown of many trees and bushes by caring kitsunes, shaped and molded into an intricate and large structure by artisans. And the word palace didn't seem fitting at all. It looked more like garden meets treehouse. At least, that's what Rose perceived.

But it was the kitsune capitol, and that was for certain. As her honor guard entered sight of the Golden Tree Palace from behind one of many stands of trees, they were met by a contingent of what Rose had to assume were Royal Guards. They looked righteous enough, but there was one huge problem that Rose could see.

"Why on Gaia are they wearing pink and yellow uniforms?" Rose asked of anyone near her, without trying to make her voice much softer than usual.

One of the pink and yellow-clad guards addressed her directly. He seemed to be an officer, as he wore gold studs on his breast.

"Because, canine," the officer spit back, "we honor our Royal Line, and his upcoming Coronation."

Trella growled next to Rose, but Rose was confused. Kitsunes were foxes, which had a closer line to canines than felines... but... was this an insult?

Kyrre stepped forward, standing no less than an inch before a guard to the immediate right of the one who had spoken. Rose noted that this one seemed older, with more gray in his fur.

"This is not the way to speak to in front of, let alone to nobility." Kyrre said thickly, his voice full of an anger that begged to be released.

"Nob-- ?" The officer who had spoken did not even get to phrase his question before he was swiftly kicked by the one Kyrre had spoken to. The officer- obviously not the ranking officer here- went down to his knees. The ranking officer growled stiffly, and the officer on his knees stayed down. The gray-furred officer spoke, and as he did, Kyrre drifted back to his place with his Den.

"Most sincere apologies, Den Master Kyrre. Officer Ludim could not know of any possible noble here, as all are known to us, and are already assembled for the Coronation at sunset."

Rose couldn't help but chance a glance around. She couldn't tell where the sun was, and they'd been in the city for... how long? The sun had been directly overhead when they'd entered. What time was it now? When was sunset! Oh, for the lack of a watch!!!

"I allow that Officer Ludim" -the gray one was still talking- "was acting only out of sincere concern that a Southern Gaian kitsune would not know the colors of his or her soon-to-be King, and took the implied insult as a direct insult to His Majesty."

Sahm had by now made his way to the front, and stood a little apart from Kyrre. His appearance here seemed to confuse the gray one.

No one spoke, but Sahm stared straight ahead at nothing.

Rose opened her mouth and half-turned to look at Trella when she saw the Shaman already shaking her head minutely at her. 'Wait.' Trella mouthed.

Finally, after about a minute, the gray one sighed. The Officer Ludim got back up at the sound of a hand gesture the gray one made, and the whole front line- about twenty guards- stood at attention.

"The Royal Guard of Green Shade recognizes the Speaker, Sahm, and welcomes him back." Officer Ludim said, trying not to sound strained.

"Thank you, Officer. It pleases me to be home. But not as much as it pleases me to present to you..." Sahm paused, and when he resumed, his voice was loud and strong, and carried well into the glades of trees, "Blueaecids Rose, daughter of Arxus, son of Ludan. Crown Princess in Waiting."

Rose blushed furiously. Not only had he just made her seem like... well, like royalty, which she didn't yet feel like she was, but the entirety of the Fifth Leaf Den had gone to one knee and bowed their heads when he announced what she assumed was her title. Crown Princess in Waiting? As in, she was Waiting to be crowned Queen, or Waiting to be a Crown Princess?? And who had ever heard of a Crown Princess anyways? Weren't there only ever Crown Princes? She allowed her mind to wander along the logical incongruities of the situation as the entire Royal Guard hesitated.

Then the gray one flashed one quick hand sign. One kitsune guard near the back, not an officer, it seemed, but a messenger, ran at a breakneck pace across the empty glade and into the Palace.

The rest of the Royal Guard went to one knee, with their left hand clutched to their chest, and their heads bowed.

'Breathe. In. Out. It's okay, they seem to believe you. They're just... acting as if you'll behead them on a whim. Rose couldn't even keep her thoughts straight. Thankfully, Sahm looked up and nodded quickly. Oh ya.

"I demand my right to be Seen and Heard, and my Title be Recognized." Rose said, a little more weakly than she would have liked. She was told this was mostly a formality, but her voice didn't instill any confidence in herself that she had a right to ask this, so what did that say for anyone listening??

The Royal Guard, as a unit, straightened at this, and went back to poses of attention. The gray one replied, his voice much more rough than a moment before.

"Of course. You will be Seen and Heard." He paused. "Will your Honor Guard be at ease, here, Madame?"

At another look from Sahm, one she didn't recognize, she improvised with what she thought would be correct.

"That will be fine. Apart from three that will enter with me." Rose replied. She had to assert herself now, after all, if she was serious. And, with all her doubts, she suddenly realized that she was. She was going to try to become their Queen. After all... who better than to take care of the kitsunes' demon problems permanently than Rose and her... extended family?

A moment later, the majority of Fifth Leaf Den, minus their leader and Shaman, took their ease among the shade of Green Shade, just outside the cast, sprawling garden that was the Golden Tree Palace, as Rose, along with Sahm, Kyrre, and Trella, followed the gray-furred kitsune into the Palace.