When the little fox heard Xuanzang agree, she froze for a moment. Then, with tears still clinging to her lashes, she burst into a giggle, turning tears into laughter.
She sprang up from the ground in delight and skipped two merry circles around Xuanzang.
As she circled, her bright, darting eyes suddenly caught sight of A-Hu, who was watching her coldly from one side.
At the sight of this majestic, striped tiger with wings, the little fox showed no fear at all. Instead, her eyes lit up.
Bang!
A faint puff of white smoke flashed past. The girl vanished, turning back into the light-brown little fox with three small Little Copper Horns on her head.
She kicked hard with her hind legs and shot forward with a whoosh, leaping straight onto A-Hu's broad forehead. All four little paws clung tightly to the king-shaped markings there.
"Roar!"
Caught off guard when a little demon climbed onto his head, A-Hu flew into a rage, an indignant growl rumbling in his throat.
He violently shook his massive head, trying to fling off this little creature who knew neither the height of heaven nor the depth of earth.
But the little fox seemed to have grown roots there. She swayed left and right with A-Hu's movements without falling off, making merry, giggling sounds all the while.
Just as A-Hu was about to erupt, a warm, gentle hand settled lightly against the side of his face.
Xuanzang gently stroked A-Hu's fur, a faint smile in his eyes, and said softly:
"A-Hu, don't be angry."
At his master's words, A-Hu still blew two heavy snorts through his broad nostrils, but obediently reined in his temper, helplessly allowing the little fox to lord it over him from atop his head.
The little fox lay smugly on the