The newcomer.

"Oh no. I'm sorry!" Tala called after the fox, following it at a somewhat safe distance, "I should have asked first"

the fox whined a from it's hiding spot under a table and some chairs, it tried to take up a defensive stance but it's cast made it trip and fall on its belly.

Tala stifled a giggle as she watched the fox fall over, trying to help the creature hold onto its dignity. "You don't have to do that, I'm not going to hurt you," she said, getting down to eye-level with him.

the fox crawled backwards and cowered little but didn't look as if it would attack if Tala tried to touch it or something.

Tala held out her hand, open palm up, to the fox. "See? I'm not going to hurt you," she said.

The fox slowly and rather reluctantly approached Tala's hand and sniffed it then quickly backed just out of reach, it seemed more scared then scared and violent.

Tala kept her hand still, letting the fox come to her when it was ready.

The fox started to whimper and tried to raise its broken leg off the ground.

At first Tala didn't understand, but then she realized what the fox was trying to say. "I can fix that," she said. Slowly, took her hand back and stood up, trying not to startle him with sudden movements. Then she went off to find the painkillers the vet had given her the day before.

The fox's whining only grew louder as Tala ran off, he soon decided to lay down before he collapsed.

Tala came back in a matter of moments, carrying a bottle of pills with her. She got back down on the ground to look a the fox. "Alright, little guy, I need you to take just a few of these without a struggle and the pain will stop, okay?" she said before taking out two and inching closer in order to reach his mouth.

The fox refused.

"Fine, fine, " Tala grumbled, backing away and going to find a better way to give the pills to the fox.
She came back with two pieces of cheese, neatly folded, and went back to the fox. "you want a treat?" she said as she held out the food to the fox.

Yes, the pills are in the cheese, but mr. Fox doesn't need to know that...

The fox sniffed the cheese and found it unappealing.

"Alright, not a cheese fan I see?" Tala said before leaving. A few seconds later, she was back with a folded up piece of lunch meat. Or something. "This more to your taste?" she asked as she held it out for him.

the fox reluctantly ate the meat and swallowed the hidden pill rather reluctantly, almost in too much pain to consider food then passed out.

"Aww, poor thing," Tala muttered as she felt the fox loose consciousness again. After a minute, she pulled it out from underneath the chair and went over to the couch. Sitting down, she placed the fox in her lap to keep it warm until it woke up again.

about an hour or so later the fox woke up groggily then curled up even more against Tala as he tried to go back to sleep.

Tala smiled and stroked the fox, trying to soothe him so he could sleep better.

The fox decided not to sleep and instead nuzzled Tala's hand

"You like that?" Tala asked as she continued to scratch his ears.

The fox didn't respond but instead seemed to just melt in Tala's hands and at her touch.

And Idk what to do now so she continued to pet the fox.

"I see you two are getting along" Leo said, walking into the living room right when the fox sprawled out on its back in Tala's lap so she could rub its belly. "Well it's obviously a male.." He added before walking off to get breakfast.

"Naw, really? I hadn't noticed," Tala said before rubbing the fox's belly. "So you like your tummy scratched too?" she asked the fox.