Chapter Text
My feet ached with each step, blisters raw and rubbing along the inside of my boots. The forrest gave me no comfort, animals hiding and watching me—an intruder—as I walked.
I’d walked all night. There was no part of me that cared about the damage I might endure trying to get where I was going. It was funny though, I imagined the night chill would have been what got under my skin and caved me in. Yet, as dawn rose and brought with it a taste of warmth, I concluded nothing was worse than the blisters. Absolutely nothing.
I needed food. Water. Shelter. All three at the same time, preferably. However, the woods offered me nothing. I did not know how to hunt. Nor how to start a fire. If I found water and it was stagnant, I’d likely drink it anyway and fall ill. So I settled for alleviating one of my needs: to sit.
The lumpy bark of a fallen tree was not comfortable beneath me, but it would suffice. I untied my boots and slipped them off, wincing as I did so. My feet had undoubtably seen better days. The blisters were red, angry wounds that hissed as the light breeze touched them. Perhaps I could stuff my shoe with leaves and maybe that would ease some of the friction. It might also give me an infection. I groaned with frustration, disappointed in myself for not thinking ahead. For not grabbing something as important as socks before I fled.
A snap of twigs to my right had me jerking my head towards the sound. At first I saw nothing, a collection of branches and leaves swaying gently. But I could swear something was there. It was more of a feeling than a truth, that it was watching me.
“Come on out and kill me, then.” I taunted to the nothingness behind the leaves. When I headed into the woods I knew my chances of survival were slim enough. All manner of creatures and Fae roamed. With the wall down there was nothing stopping them from parading into human lands. Still, I took my chances. Anything was better than staying where I was.
There was a flicker and suddenly a form took shape. A great beast, much worse than any my imagination could have conjured, stood beyond the branches where I’d heard the noise. It prowled out of hiding towards me, an amalgamation of creatures all designed to hunt and kill. One swipe of it’s yellow claws would rip out my entrails. It’s teeth could likely sever my head from my body. They eyes however, did not match the wolf-like face. There was something almost human about them and it made the thing even more terrifying.
The creature’s steps were slow, sauntering toward it’s next meal, no doubt. My breath caught in my throat and I froze, knowing there was no way I’d outrun it. The best I could hope for would be for it to kill me swiftly.
“Is that why you’re here alone?” The rumbling voice that came from it sent chills down my spine. “Looking for death?”
My mouth gaped, hands clutching the wooden log beneath me. “No.” I responded, hoping the answer might cause it to spare me. “I’m looking for shelter.”
It blinked, taking in the sight of me. My ruined boots and even further ruined feet. “There’s none for miles.”
I’d suspected as much, but the reality of it still made something in my stomach sink. “But there is a place, somewhere out there.” I stood, deciding it would be easier to run without my boots.
The beast circled, taking in my scent. “You plan to wander these woods until you find it?”
“Yes.” I held my ground. “If I carry on north, I’ll hit it eventually.”
The creature’s giant head twisted in question. “Where is it you plan to go?”
“There’s a manor.” I replied, only answering it’s questions until I could put enough distance between us to run. It would catch me, but I had to try. “An abandoned one. I plan to make it my home.”
The sound that left the beast vaguely resembled laughter. “Who told you this?”
Letty had. In her final moments with me. It was only a rumor, but would simply have to do. “It doesn’t matter. Please, just let me go there in peace.” The creature stared, teeth baring in an alarming smile. I added, “I wouldn’t taste good.”
A low rumble came from it’s chest. “I’d be the judge of that.”
Finally I knew, there was no walking out of the forrest alive. At least I wouldn’t die in the house I’d run away from. That was all that mattered. All I could cling to before it pounced and ended me.
The beast stalked closer until it stood before me, fangs glistening. It’s earthen eyes peered deep into mine before it spoke again. “Shall I show you the way?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You…what?”
“There are wards around it. Even if you approached, you’d never see it with your human eyes.” The creature pawed at one of my boots, knocking it over. “I’ll even give you a ride, if you like.”
One moment I was facing certain death. The next, the beast was offering to be my chaperone. It left me speechless.
“I won’t force you.” There was a hint of sadness buried in its voice. “But if it’s refuge you seek, I will take you there.”
I weighed my options for a few moments before deciding to go along with the beast. It could have killed me by now. Had ample opportunities. Maybe it just wasn’t hungry yet and planned to keep me around until it was. I was already deep enough in the woods that without food, water, or shelter I’d die anyways. So I went.
I picked up my boots and decided to trek barefoot. The beast eyed my blistered feet but did not comment, simply sauntering off between the trees. I followed, noticing how it kept its pace slow enough to remain by my side. It must have been agonizing considering the creature could clearly bound faster than lightening if it wanted to, yet it kept me company as we walked.
The sounds of the birds and leaves crunching beneath us was all that filled the air for some time. Occasionally the beast would step close enough that it’s soft fur brushed my arm. I could actually feel the heat radiating off it beside me.
An hour passed and while my blisters were no longer rubbing against the inside of my boot, the pad and soles of my feet felt like nails were being rammed into them with each step I took. I winced as I stepped on a particularly sharp branch upon the forrest floor. It pressed into the already tender tissue in such a way that sent a hint of moisture to my eyes.
The beast paused, turning to look at me. “My offer still stands.”
“To…ride you?” My eyes took in the giant torso and muscled legs that probably wouldn’t even notice if I climbed atop.
An air of mirth flashed over the creature’s eyes and was gone in an instant. “Yes.”
I stared down at my blackened feet knowing I couldn’t take another step anyway. “Alright, fine. Just don’t drop me.”
Its chest rumbled in response before lowering a back leg enough that I could climb up. The warmth of the beast seeped through the fabric of my pants and palms as I placed them on either side of its spine. It rose back to full height and I let out a small squeak as I thought I might fall off.
“Hold on to my mane,” it said. I obeyed, grabbing two fistfuls of the thick golden hair that cascaded around its neck. “And I wouldn’t sit upright if I were you.”
I assumed that was because I might get whipped in the face by oncoming branches, but as the creature started to take off I quickly understood it was because the force of wind would send me flying.
The beast bounded, powerful legs pulling us through the forrest. I leaned down, pressing as flush as I could to it and hugged with every part of me in an effort not to slip. With the speed at which I was being carried, one wrong move and I’d be splattered against a tree. It was a graceful creature though, maneuvering as if these woods belonged to it.
What would have taken me a day to trek at the speed I was going, took less than an hour. I could feel the beast’s heartbeat thundering away within it as we came to a slow before the edge of the trees.
The creature had not lied. It brought us to the manor.
It was similar to what I imagined. What I dreamed. In those frantic moments when I planned my escape, I saw this place. The alabaster statues and ivory walls covered in greedy vines. However, it was also different than I pictured. Even though I knew the place was abandoned, my imagination painted it differently. Showed sparkling water pouring from the fountains. Bright, colorful roses blooming in aesthetic rows. Bushes trimmed to the shapes of animals. Birds merrily dancing between the trees.
That was not reality. It stood desolate; the shell of a home. There hadn’t been warmth inside for years, perhaps. Some of the windows were shattered, the paint chipped. Vines crawled along it not in an effort to compliment, but to strangle.
“Not what you expected?” The beast asked as it lowered to allow me to slide off.
My feet ached where they hit the grass, but were thankful for the brief reprieve. “It’s…it’ll do.”
I decided not to question as it followed me up the battered staircase to the front door. It was unlocked—though I could have easily climbed through one of the broken windows to get inside anyway. I beheld the checkered floor and frowned mildly. The place was a mess. Whoever lived there previously must have also hosted a war within in it. All the furniture was in pieces, though at least swept to the sides of the hallway to make a small path. A giant marble table in the middle of the entryway had a large crack right down the middle of it. I curiously carried on, eyes passing over a sitting room and dining room in much of the same condition. There were small corners where someone could eat or sit if they chose to, but overall it was a disaster. It’d take many, many hours to clean it up and make the place livable.
I heard the beast follow me inside and wondered if it was finally ready to make me its dinner. I turned on my swollen heels and my breath caught when I was met with not a beast, but a man.
Some of the beastly features remained, the golden cascading hair and forrest green eyes. The muscle, as well. But other than that it was simply a man. Or rather, a High Fae, judging by the pointed tips of his ears and features that were just a little too perfect.
He stood at least a foot taller than me, though his shoulders were hunched forward slightly within his loose white tunic.
I swallowed my surprise, taking only a small step backward.
He held open his hands at the mess of a foyer, no hint of a smile upon his features.
“Welcome to my home.”