The cool river water splashed over Moonlight’s black paws, glowing dark purple in the afternoon sun. She dipped her nose into the stream, giggling as a tiny fish ticked her whiskers. Away from the crowded kitsune village, she could finally let her frisky side out.Suddenly, a loud rustling broke out in the bushes behind her.Moonlight froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and her two fluffy tails puffed up to twice their normal size. Are they going to laugh at me? she panicked, her deepest fear kicking in. She hated being judged.Acting on pure instinct, she flicked her purple-tipped ears. She called upon her transformation magic, shifting into a tiny, harmless river stone. She sat completely still under the water, holding her breath.Two older kitsune stepped out of the ferns. "I thought I heard something playing over here," one said, looking around the empty riverbank."Must have been the wind," the other replied, turning back into the forest.Once their footsteps faded, Moonlight popped back into her normal form with a soft poof. She let out a huge sigh of relief, the dark colored flower tucked under her ear shaking slightly. She didn't want to hide forever, but she just wasn't ready to face them yet.Determined to shake off the fright, she leaped out of the water. She swirled her paws, summoning a powerful air gust beneath her. The wind lifted her small body right off the grass. She soared up into the forest canopy, laughing happily as she rode the breeze, completely safe and free up in the sky. The water rippled as Moonlight’s tiny stone form turned back into a black-and-purple kitsune. She shook the river drops from her fur, totally unaware that the two older kitsune hadn't actually left.They had just stepped behind a thick oak tree. Now, they stepped out into the open, their eyes wide with shock."Did you just... change your shape?" the taller one whispered, stepping forward.Moonlight gasped, her two tails pinning flat against her back. The dark purple tips trembled. Her deepest fear was happening right now. They had caught her. And worse, they knew her secret: in their village, transformation magic was strictly forbidden."I-I..." Moonlight stuttered, her voice shrinking. She squeezed her eyes shut, terrified they were going to laugh at her, yell at her, or run to tell the village elders."That's dark magic, Moonlight," the second kitsune said, sounding more worried than angry. "If the elders find out you can do that, you'll be banished from the clan!"Tears pricked the corners of Moonlight's eyes. She didn't use the magic to be evil; she just used it because she was scared and wanted to hide.Knowing she couldn't face their judgment for another second, her perseverance kicked in. She had to get out of there. Moonlight swirled her paws frantically, calling upon her air magic. A massive gust of wind erupted around her, kicking up a wall of blinding river mist and autumn leaves."Wait!" one of them shouted, covering their eyes.By the time the wind cleared, Moonlight was already soaring high up into the forest canopy, riding the air currents as fast as her paws could carry her. She flew deep into the uncharted woods, her heart pounding. She was safe for now, but her secret was out.
