Sinopa Crevan - 3-tail Kitsune

The original is 3000x2936 if you would like to download it.  In that size, you'll see just how much detail Flama Ykoriana put into this piece. I commissioned Flama based on her amazing artwork and she was a JOY to work with from start to finish.  She constantly showed me WIPs, added what I asked, and made changes as I came up with new ideas for the piece. 

This is Sinopa Crevan. She is a 3-tail kitsune. In the 1800s, she was tasked by Lord Inari with a mission to earn her right of passage from nogitsune to kitsune.  This was for the right to call herself a messenger god, beneath him, and earn her 2nd tail.  The mission was to solve the Irish potato famine. It turned out to be a difficult objective to complete, and she chose her human form to be that of an Irish woman in order to better complete the task.  Her form is now that of an Irish woman for life. 

Her hair is red. But her eyes are still golden colored, like a fox. Older, now, with three tails, she dresses in modern japanese styles, including a modern kimono.  Her sword of choice is the kogitsune-maru or "Little Fox" katana, created by Blacksmith Munechika in the 10th century. 

She wears her Hoshi-no-Tama (Star Ball) around her neck. 

In my novel series, she is tasked with investigating a disturbance after an ancient artifact was stolen from the Emperor of Japan.  She is the only messenger spirit currently on earth, due to a romance she has formed with a human.  

Her only way of communication with the celestial realm is through reflections.  Her assigned sensei is the 9-tail infamous mythological kitsune, Tamamo-no-Mae, said to have killed Emperor Konoe in 1145AD.  Tamamo was killed in 1145, and locked inside of a stone known as the Hoji, but released by a Priest named Genno, and her spirit returned to the celestial realm.  Because of this, Tamamo cannot become physical in our realm.  She is trapped in the celestial realm, unless she possesses a human body. 

Due to this, Tamamo communicates with Sinopa through reflections. She is seen in the sword blade in the picture above. White fur, 9 tails, and traditional markings. 
The two have a 'step-mother / step-daughter' relationship. Sinopa tries to honor and respect her sensei, but they often butt-heads and argue. Tamamo says respect is demanded; Sinopa, corrupted by modern thinking, says respect must be earned.  In the end, they work well together. 

Typically a kitsune has the elemental control over fire. It's known as "kitsune-bi." This allows her to set her sword ablaze.
Only a body-less kitsune can possess a human body, and they enter beneath the person's fingernails. That is known as "Kitsune-Tsuki" (Pronounced keet-s'nay soo-kigh - a long 'i' on the end).  

Sinopa is Blackfoot Native American for "Fox lady." 
Crevan is Irish Gaelic for "lady fox." 

In 2014, she was recalled to the celestial realm for a war between deities. She returned in 2018 but with NO MEMORIES of her previous life, and began a new romance in late 2020.  The story series begins in 2023.

Draft form can temporarily be found here: www.fictionpress.com/s/3145137…;

The artist of this picture, from whom I purchased this commission, can be found here: ykoriana.deviantart.com/