forum Love & Fellowship, Misery & Abandonment | o/o with Orion

Started Apr 16 by @Tired-but-passionate

tune

The creature tensed when it heard movement and footsteps. When it saw someone coming toward them, they scrambled back. Then, it stopped. A woman came into their line of sight, and the creature heard the voice. It gasped softly. Oh no. It was the daughter who lived in the house they had stowed away in for some time now. And she had weapons. The creature tried to get on their feet, but they stumbled again and winced in pain. It felt themself trembling slightly.
“D— don’t hurt me,” it said in a rushed mumble.

“What? Hurt you?! Why would I ever do that? Wait, are you going to hurt me? Because I don’t think I’d like that, but otherwise we’re both on good terms.” Agatha said, looking the strange monster in the eyes, those strange, mystical eyes that seemed to contain hideous yet wonderful secrets. “Look, I was just out hunting deer and squirrels and the like, I wasn’t going to kill any human. Do you need help getting home? I haven’t seen you around here.” she said. “Or if you got lost, I know a place we can stay for the night.”

The monster met the woman’s gaze, and was quickly overwhelmed. They looked away, staring at the crushed honeysuckles around them. “I… I’m not going to hurt you,” it said. It couldn’t even if it wanted to. Their injuries prevented them from doing much. Its breath came out in soft exhales.
Slowly, it tried standing up again. They shook their head. “I don’t need help.” They rested a hand on a tree to keep itself upright. “But… thank you.”

She tilted her head, confused. “Are you sure? I’d be happy to let you come to my home for the night. It’s just me and my father, my brother is out with someone else tonight so you’ll have a bed… although you might be a bit big for it.” she said as the stranger stood, leaning up against a tree. “You look pretty badly injured, I should see if my brother couldn’t help you. He’s a doctor, a very kind man too. I don’t see why you don’t deserve a helping hand.” Agatha added, moving forward and setting her weapons away. She offered a hand, she hoped the stranger would take it.

The creature flinched, glancing down at the woman’s outstretched hand with wide, discolored eyes. “N— no, no, I know how to take care of myself,” it said quickly. Although she had put the weapons out of sight, the woman’s mention of her family still frightened them. No matter what she said, they didn’t trust her brother would be so kind to someone like it.

“Oh, if you insist. But I’m assuming you’re probably horribly lost, at least let me help you find your way to the nearest town so you don’t die of starvation. No offense, someone who messes with a beehive probably doesn’t have the skill to hunt for their own food.” she said, smiling as if to say ‘please feel safe around me, I swear I’m not a crazy person’. Agatha kept her hand out, not at all aware of how insane she looked trying to persuade some giant monstrosity to come home for tea and a chit-chat.

Unfortunately, the creature took offense. They looked down. A chunk of honeycomb dripped in their hand. “Not lost,” it mumbled. “I have my own food.” Its voice became softer and softer until they stopped speaking entirely. They retreated into themself, and sat down on the ground. It didn’t look at the woman as it brought the honeycomb to its mouth and took a bite. They refused to make any movement towards her.

Agatha shrugged. This stranger was unpersuadable, and she wasn’t going to waste more time hunting down approval when she could be hunting down dinner. “Alright then, suit yourself. What’s your name though, if I may ask? Mine is Agatha.” she said, smiling a bit before looking at the stranger invitingly, warmly even.

They let out a sigh, the sweet honey reaching their throat. It swallowed and glanced at the woman. Agatha. “My name? Oh…” it hummed, thinking. “Just call me Monster. Everyone calls me that.” They glanced back down to the ground. It took another bite of the honeycomb.

Agatha cocked her head at the stranger. “Monster? I mean, sure you’re a little tall, but you look more man than beast to me.” she said. “Look, I’ll leave you alone. But please, don’t hesitate to come to the village. Ask for Felix, tell them Agatha sent you. If you ever need anything, my brother can provide it.” she smiled, then turned to leave.