The Kitsune's Timeless Call

Cory was walking down the street when he noticed a small, white figure running along the sidewalk towards him. It was hard to see with his glasses on and the sun shining brightly.

"Can you help me?" asked the figure as it ran up to Cory.

"Uh sure," said Cory. "Do you need directions or something?" He took off his glasses and wiped them clean. The figure was still just a white blur to him.

"I'm hungry and I don't have any money," said the creature, "can you buy me food?"

Cory looked left and right down the deserted street. "Well, yeah," he said, "but I'm not sure what shop is open this late." He checked his watch, it was 12:15 AM. "Any ideas?"

"The McDonalds is open 24/7," said the creature. "This way."

"Ok, let's go." Cory followed the little creature across the street, trying not to step in anything gross. He put his glasses back on and realized that he must have been looking at a small fox wearing a bright red scarf when he first saw it because that's what it looked like now. "You're a kitsune!" He exclaimed, smiling. "I've never seen one outside of Japan before."

"Oh?" asked the Kitsune, tilting its head to the side in confusion. "And where are you from?" The kitsune began to sprint down an alleyway between two shops and disappeared from sight.

Cory hurried after her into the narrow alleyway and found himself standing in an open-air market place bathed in moonlight. There were people selling all kinds of things everywhere he looked: fruits and vegetables, souvenirs, clothes and shoes, even some toys for children. Many of them were speaking Japanese but most everyone seemed to be dressed in 18th century clothing except for a few men who were dressed like they were from ancient Rome or Greece.