~ Christmas at the Vaight Cottage 2031~

They didn't really need to mind Darius for he seemed to be in his own world. He took Daisy out of his pocket and deemed it safe to put him in the car seat.

"I am not exactly sure. What else did the fox say anyway?"

Darien shrugged. "Kept talking about a boot, that hit his mother or something."

He gave a bark of laughter. "Perhaps we should watch out for a giant animated boot."

"Darien..." Diana said quieter still. "I think the shop-owner's kicks the animals with his boot."

"Ah." Darien's face coloured slightly. Now he felt bad.

"So, we'd best put him in his place as well." He attempted a grin.

"Darien no," Diana said with a sour face. "I'm pretty sure there are laws against that. We can have Nick take-care of it."

Darien pouted. "He gets all the fun. Fine. So we just steal the elder fox, do we?"

"Well, Nick's a lawyer. He isn't gonna kick the man into a bloody pulp." Then Diana thought about it. "Actually he just might. Animal torture's always been a bit of a touchy subject for him."

"Oh... well... I was thinking about buying her." Diana blushed. Honestly she hadn't thought that part out yet.

Darien grunted in response. Nick wasn't his favourite topic of conversation.

"Oh." He considered. "Yes. That might be better. Less messy. Wouldn't want Darius to think thieving's alright, would we?"

Diana nodded. "I think we're almost there." She said looking over the arrow, which started to change colour to a bright green.

Darien grinned. "Excellent." As the arrow tilted to the left, he drove the car calmly into a lay-by. "We're here...Somewhere."

He unlatched his seat belt, and hopped out of the car. "Hope they're open, eh?"

Daisy recognised the sign. Yay! Mummy!

Darius unbuckled his seat belt as well.

"Umm... Darius hon, why don't you say in the car with Daisy?" Diana suggested wondering what kind of place the store would be if boots were involved.

"But..." Darius began.

"Daddy and I will get Daisy's Mummy." Diana said unbuckling her seat.

Darius frowned and then pouted but he gave in. "Alright."

Diana smiled. "I'll see you in a bit." She hopped out of the car putting an alarming spell on it that would indicate to her if Darius anything remotely dangerous. She didn't think he would, but couldn't be too careful. Besides it would alarm as well if Darius was in any danger.

Daisy watched avidly, snuggling against Darius and sniffing. Mummy...soon I'll see Mummy...

----

Darien pushed the door of the shop, which swung inwards easily.

They were greeted by a tall man, built like the side of a house.

"Um...hello." Darien attempted to be friendly. It was odd as hell that the shop was open, but he was more glad than suspicious.

The hulking man glared. He had been expecting his partner in crime with the latest shipment of less legal mythical creatures. But custom was custom.

"What do you need?" His voice was gruff.

Darien coughed. "A flying fox actually."

"Only got one left. An adult." The man didn't move, arms folded across his chest. "Pups are all gone."

"We'll take it." Diana said nervously looking around. Very peculiar place. How did Reginald come here?

The proprietor grunted. "'S female. Had pups. No use to me now anyway." Bloody thing refused to mate with any other, save one. He was sick to death of keeping the animal around.

"How much?" Darien asked casually.

The hulking man shrugged. "50galleons? She's not that young, but you can breed from her. And they're rare things."

"Could we have a look at her?" Darien watched the man carefully as he gave a theatrical sigh and ducked into the back, returning with a large black fox with red-tipped wings. It was about 3m in length, and heavily sedated. Couldn't have her snapping at everyone. After she'd had to give up her first pup, she'd been rather grumpy.

Darien's eyes widened.

"Don't worry, ya can put her in'th cage-an extra 30-but it's easily carried. Shrinking charm."

Darien glanced at Diana. It sure as hell looked a lot like Daisy's mother.

...No! My little lamb won't know where to find me...Curse this drug...I hope he doesn't come back and put himself in danger, my little pup... The fox glanced around blearily.

Darius had been petting Daisy but now he wondered if Daisy was hungry. He went to the compartment and took a pack of beef jerky. Ripping the packet open he took one and broke it to into a smaller piece and gave it to Daisy.

"I'm not sure what you eat but... these are good." Darius said to the little fox.

_________

Diana was pretty sure it was.

"50 galleons?" Diana muttered. "How about 10? You said so yourself, you've no use for the creature anyway."

Daisy peered at it carefully. Eh, alright. I am rather hungry...

He sniffed and darted to take a bite. Hm...not bad.

-------------------------

"I can still get more than 10 galleons for her. She's rare, she is." He jerked her back slightly as she began to sniff towards the two people.

Darien nodded. "15 including the cage?" He glanced across at Diana.

The man laughed. "No way. 30."

Darius smiled slightly as Daisy started to sniff at it.

____

"So we have an accordance then, 30 for both the cage and the animal." Diana said.

Daisy snuffled his hands for more grub.

Yum yum yum...

------

The man grunted. Darien dug out money and handed it over. "Alright."

He tossed the animal into the cage, and it shrunk down to size. He held it out to Diana.

Darien resisted the urge to glare. He was a boot alright.

"Thank you." Diana said relatively pleased. She took the cage from him.

"Well we best be going now." Diana said turning around - heading back to the car.

Darien nodded, and followed her.

"What a..." Darien hissed as the door swung shut behind him.

He paused by the back of the car and grinned at Darius. "We got her!"

"They're back!" Darius exclaimed as he saw his mother and father come out of the store.

Diana unlocked the door and got in the car holding out the cage.

"Look Daisy! It's Mummy!" Darius said taking the cage from Diana.

"Careful Darius," Diana warned. "I wouldn't open it just yet. Wait until we've put some distance between the store and us."

Darien slipped back into the car and turned on the engine. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

Mummy! Is that you?

My pup!

The moving family moment was somewhat obstructed by the cage, but Daisy stuck his muzzle through the bars to nuzzle his mother. Mumma.

"Can I open the cage now?" Darius asked wanting Daisy and his mother to have a proper reunion.

"Umm..." Diana looked at Darien uncertainly. It was a fully grown winged fox. Daisy was a baby, but his mother was another story.

"Not yet Darius." Darien quickly interjected. "She's a bit big for the car. Wait til we get home."

The mother fix nestled as much as she could next to her pup. She'd thought she'd never see her youngling again.

Or his father, for that matter.

"Alright." Darius pouted.