I have been thinking that the character of Tokala, a grey fox character from America, is a bit flat. Up until now. After rereading the scene where he first comes into play, I realized that though he is not as shiny as some other characters, he is a great character in his own right. His arrogance hides the cowardly instincts of a small animal afraid of bigger animals and his strictness a caring heart. I want to share some of his most interesting moments with you.
Now Tiina could hear it too. There was a noise behind the window across the room. Was it a new attack? Tiina went to the window, heart thumping. There were two silvery spots of light outside. No, it was not another witch, it was some kind of animal. Tiina could feel something like Reiko there, so she opened the window. A greyish foxy face appeared. The tiny, silvery-gray fox lifted himself in with paws suitable for climbing. Yes, they were more like cat paws than fox paws. It had six tails. His eyes shone like silver coins, and his tiny muzzle was busy chewing gum.
Reiko’s golden and the stranger's silvery eyes met. Two foxes circled each other, measuring powers. The newcomer gave a contemptuous look at Reiko’s only tail and let his bubble pop with disdain. Reiko, on the other hand, tried to intimidate him with his bigger size. After that, the strange fox quickly changed into a man who had silvery-gray hair and wore an elegant grey suit. Reiko quickly followed his example.
“Hello,“ said the strange fox with a carefree friendliness, popping yet another bubble. The foxes nodded to each other.
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„Yes, I can talk the Estonian language, if necessary. I really have six tails, not like someone else here, announced the American. His words were a bit clumsy and hesitant as if he was trying to repeat a text in some language he has not heard before.“I am Graham Zorro, but to my friends I am Tokala. This name I got from Dakota Indians.“ His skin became brown and he acquired Indian looks. His short hair that was combed over the head grew longer and an eagle feather bonnet appeared. His monocolored gray suit was replaced by a bright-patterned leather outfit.
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It was now that Timo noticed Tokala.“Now that had to be a strong wine! I just started to drink, but there are already Indians in front of me.“ He muttered these words while rubbing his eyes.
„What, don’t you like Indians, or what? Hey man, racism is no good! All right then, if Tokala does not satisfy you, then let it be Graham!“ Indian became a white man again, and this confused poor Timo even more.
„You have probably not seen foxes before,“ smirked Tokala.
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„Thanks, man!“ said Graham in English, while taking Tokala’s form again.“I got as much as it was not racism, otherwise, I would have been pretty angry. Dakota Indians accepted me once into their ranks, though I am not even of the same species. They also gave me my first name.
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„All right then, but no museums! A mummy would be of no use to us, as he will tell us nothing,“ said Tokala.
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„Take some gum. It helps to relax,“ offered Graham.
„Thank you, but it might be a bit impolite to chew the gum while visiting,“ said Tiina, looking at him thoughtfully. If he chew all that gum for sake of his nerves, then this Graham had to be one very nervous fox. Now that’s what was hiding under his fur of confidence…
„Oh yeah,“ made Graham, while keeping on chewing himself.
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Yes, they were cute, yet it was too much to feel all at once the minds of some dozen foxes. The things were not improved by the fact that as foxes sensed the unity too, yet they did not know what it was, they concentrated all their attention on Tiina, as they felt she had that foreign mind that was able to touch theirs.
Tiina had a weird feeling as if she was one of the foxes looking at her, having an external view of herself. She was clinging to the remnants of her consciousness. She was not sure if she was herself or one of the foxes when she heard Tokala snapping something in Japanese. The shamed foxes pulled aside, leaving Tiina some place to find hereself again.
„Is everything OK, Tiina?“ asked Tokala.
„Yes, now it is. Weren’t you too hard with them? They were just curious.“
„I just told them to leave you some air,“ replied Tokala.
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„Less slang please, or my tails will have a headache.“
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Tokala was surrounded by a swarm of screaming kids who everybody wanted to touch the Indian. "Los banditos!" muttered Tokala grumpily, grabbing his headpiece back from an especially brave kid who wanted to try it on himself.
"You know, pups! If you act like this, the Indian will go away," said Tokala resolutely and turned into Graham. He smiled contently and twirled his mustache, watching the confused faces of the kids.
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