One of my all time favorite bits of world mythology is the nine-tailed fox; commonly referred to in the west as a Kitsune .
It goes by many names:
Kyūbi no Kitsune in Japan, Huli jing in China, (G/K)umiho in Korea...
They are tricksters, first and foremost, and possess many supernatural powers, most notably the ability to shapeshift- a favored form in the stories being a beautiful, if somewhat odd, maiden.
Much like the faery folk of Ireland, they are often encountered deep in the forests, seeking to lure travelers off the trail- sometimes out of loneliness, sometimes just for a little fun at a mortals expense, and sometimes for a snack- mostly depending on what kind of mood you catch them in. This one seems friendly enough, though. I'll leave a trail of breadcrumbs, that always seems to work out well.:XD: