Welcome to the sequel to Howlingtale! As such it is highly recommended that you read the first story so you know what the hell is going on. Lol.
Sorry for the long wait guys, I was really busy and ill. Hopefully I can keep a decent pace on this, as well as the comic, over the summer. Until my emotional state gets in the way, heh.
This will be less action heavy, though I tweaked original plans to include more action. It may also include slight nsfw scenes in the future… I am still debating. Ultimately it comes down to of it has anything to do with the story.
There will be lots of sensitive issues handled more directly than the previous installment, including but not limited to alcoholic parenting, unhealthy relationships, ect. Though if you got through the last one with enough lewd content to make even a sailor blush you should be gud.
Before we begin, I would also ask you check out the comic on DA! I cannot stress this enough! Flowey a dirt bag:v
Anyways, on with the sequel! Yay!
Thorns of a Rose
Everything was warm and soft and comfy…
It was like Frisk was in a tight wad of blankets and happiness…
Her eyes were too heavy to open…
Frisk pushed her head further into the pillow…
' This is a pretty weird pillow', she vaguely thought. Ridged, hard… almost like a ribcage…
Wait.
Frisk sniffed.
Oh.
That was a ribcage.
Frisk was too tired to sit up.
She wondered why she was in Sans's bed.
Then, memories from the day before slowly trickled back.
Doggo, Asriel, the barrier…
Frisk felt a light excitement in her stomach mixed with slight discomfort. It would… take awhile to get used to everything that had happened and to put it behind her.
Frisk sighed and relaxed, slumping against Sans's torso. She didn't remember any details of last night after they got home. She had been so tired…
She noticed Sans's arm was wrapped around her, keeping her close. She enjoyed the feeling of his ribcage slowly rising and falling against her cheek as he let out growling snores, the sound making the bones vibrate slightly. It felt like it resonated in her core and within seconds she was back into the sweet abyss of sleep.
However, it felt like only a heartbeat later she was awaken by loud thumps downstairs that shook the floor.
"U-Undyne! Please keep quiet! My brother and the human are still sleeping!"
"Still? Are you kidding me! It's 2 pm already! They need to get up and be pumped! We can go to the SURFACE!"
There was a loud crash.
Frisk groaned and tried shutting the noise out…
Her "pillow" had other plans.
Sans shifted and then sat up, and her head fell down to the warm sheets. She rolled on her back as he pulled his arm away.
Frisk voiced her displeasure as Sans stretched and yawned.
He jolted immediately at the sound of her voice.
"Frisk! What are ya- oh. Yeah." Sans let out an awkward cough and looked away with blue cheekbones.
"Sleeeeeeep." Frisk tried not to laugh. Seeing Sans so flustered instead of being his normal laid back self was a treat.
Sans sensed her amusement and grumbled.
"We'll see who's embarrassed in the future, snap pea. So, Undyne decided not to let us recover, eh? Figures."
There were more shaking crashes. Hopefully the TV was still intact.
Frisk couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed at Undyne. After seeing them all die, after reaching the sunset with them… She had grown to appreciate them all that much more.
Sans didn't have to same mindset. He had been pretty grumpy yesterday despite the reason to celebrate. Hopefully he wasn't in the same mood today.
Sans, surprisingly, didn't share her wishes to go back to sleep and got up, huffing.
Frisk made an unhappy sound.
Sans looked down at her.
"You can sleep as long as you want. I'm hungry. And I got to make sure Undyne doesn't break anything."
Frisk sniffed, she wanted her pillow back.
"Eat that bag of cheeto's you have stuffed in your drawer."
"Naw, stale."
"Why don't you get rid of it then?"
"I don't feel like it." Sans, despite having a messy room, was usually good about keeping food out. Probably because getting rid of pests was more work than preventing them.
However, Sans wasn't doing that today.
Frisk sat up, Scratching the back of her ear. The fluffy brown appendages flicked upward in response, feeling warm.
"Sans." Frisk didn't want pests either.
"Frisk."
"Get rid of it."
"No."
"I'll break up with you."
"Fine."
Frisk smirked, liking her new ground over him.
But, with that thought…
Frisk felt a nervous ball in her chest.
Yesterday she had no hesitation, but…
This was weird.
She was dating a monster.
Frisk swallowed. She trusted him wholeheartedly and… maybe loved him? She wasn't completely sure yet. She was affectionate and loved being around him, but was that love? And, the other thing…
Intimacy.
Frisk shuddered.
Not a thought for now.
Not. Now.
"Hey, Snap pea? You good?"
Frisk's head snapped up.
"Huh?"
Sans blinked slowly, a shirt in his hands.
"You were staring off. Are you feeling okay? From… yesterday."
Frisk breathed in.
"Yeah, I told you. I'm not hurt."
"I know. But… emotionally. I…" Sans trailed off.
Frisk was silent.
She didn't want to think about the bad.
To be honest I'm certainly not going to be the same after a day or even a week.
Frisk suppressed the memories of blood and dust and shook herself.
"Are you okay?" Frisk countered, noticing his solemn face.
"Mhm… for the most part… you just scared me… lemme' know if you feel unwell, okay?"
"Yep. Doofus." Frisk yawned. She just wanted to have a peaceful day of laying around and happiness.
She didn't want Sans ruining it with his paranoia…
"Alright, get out."
Frisk's eyes widened.
"Huh?" "Out with ya."
"Why?!" Frisk whined.
Sans grinned at her.
"Well, you can either leave or watch me undress. We are dating, so… maybe it's best you get a peak at the Package?" Sans winked.
"No no no." Frisk leaped out of the bed. Noooooooope.
"Actually, since I've already seen you na-"
"Sans, we don't talk about that."
Frisk shivered. God, that was awful. The bath incident.
She felt more violated now… knowing he had… liked her.
Oh boy.
Sans was giggling.
Frisk threw a pillow at his head before snatching the blanket up and leaving.
Undyne was in the kitchen with Papyrus, yelling about eggs. Storm was curled up on the couch.
He jumped up when he saw her, purring and waving his tail.
Frisk smiled and took him up in her arms, letting him lick her face as she laid on the couch. The poor baby…
His bandana was off, laid out on the floor. He looked so naked without it.
He sniffed her and gave her a wide eyed look, like he was betrayed.
"I'll convince him to let you in one day." Frisk promised.
Baby steps.
"Is that the nerd!?"
Undyne stomped in, egg yolk splattered all over her sweater. Her hair was wild and unkempt.
"IT IS! Sup." She waved.
"Hi." Frisk looked the fish over.
"It's 3-a-fucking clock. I wanted to force you shopping as a celebration!"
"Noooooo…"
"Yes Bitch!"
"I want to rest. And there are other things to worry about. We can't celebrate fully yet." She was happy, but anxious. It wasn't as simple as walking out into society. It could go horribly wrong.
"OH come on! No one is dead, we broke the barrier! Everyone is excited! Actually, the monters were all asking about you." Undyne smiled. "You earned yourself a place as one of us. The vote to keep you alive
passed without a problem. There's going to be a meeting at 1 tomorrow for all of us to go to, so we all
gotta get it all in today!"
"Meeting?"
Undyne ran her fingers through her hair.
"Yeah. Doggo wanted us all to go. He said 'You all have played a valuable part in this movement and such deserve to have a say.' Self absorbed idiot." She stretched her neck as she spoke.
Papyrus came into the room.
"Human! Finally! Are you and Sans feeling okay? The Great Papyrus is preparing a mighty meal that will make you feel even better!"
"Yeah, Papy." Frisk looked him over intently, trying to see any sign of unhappiness or fear or mental scarring.
Nothing but his usual Papyrus self.
"I was scared when I didn't see you on the couch this Morning! But then Sans said where you were and I was very happy!"
"What." Oh no.
Well, not like they could hide it, but…
Already?
"I am very happy for you two!" Papyrus jumped around with glee. "I need to throw a big party! And make sure he treats you correctly." Papyrus lost enthusiasm at the last part, instead frowning.
"You already know." Frisk wanted to curl up into a ball. "Wait, WHAT?"
F. U. C. K.
UNDYNE.
Frisk face palmed.
Joy.
"Did you just say what I thought you did?"
"Oh yes, Undyne! I forgot to tell you Before! Frisk and my brother are fi-" "Papyrus, please." Frisk shot up, begging. Her tail swished back and forth, fluffed out.
Storm mewed in concern.
"What's wrong human?"
"Papyrus, TELL ME!" Undyne grabbed the taller skeleton by the shirt and shook him, fins fanned out.
"My brother finally asked the human out!"
"HOLY FUCK!"
Frisk groaned and curled in on herself, plopping back down on the couch.
Her cheeks burned red.
How could you do this to me Papyrus how
"Fucking finally! Everyone saw this coming, it's not like it's a surprise."
"Huh?"
"Nerd, even Papyrus knew Sans had it on for you. Seems everyone but you knew, actually. 'Cause you're an idiot. So… still a virgin?"
"Undyne! Inappropriate!" Papyrus scolded.
"YES! What the hell! We literally got together yesterday!" Frisk also looked at Papyrus with the concern of how he knew what virginity was.
"So? It's Sans."
"Sans respects boundaries." Frisk said dryly. Something new she learned about him that despite his… perverted nature, he was extremely paranoid about pushing her too far and was nervous about the whole intimacy thing just as she was. It was reassuring.
"And I would like if you would please respect our privacy all the same." Frisk added.
"Awww, c'mon! We're besties! You should tell me everything about everything!" Undyne wrapped her arm around Frisk's neck despite her squeak of protest and grounding her fist against her skull, flattening her ears.
"Leave her alone, fishpaste."
Sans thumped down the stairs, and Frisk caught a glimpse of his black sweater and blue sweatpants from her spot of being held against Undyne's chest.
Undyne let her prisoner go, smiling at Sans.
"Ya scored, huh?"
"Sure. And that means you keep your lesbian hands off my girl."
"No, we're in a polygamy now."
"Hippidy hoppidy let go of my property." Sans pointed at a faded frog on his sweater.
It's black eyes stared into her soul.
Such pain behind its gaze..
Undyne sat down and moved over to give him room. To her relief, there seemed to be no more tension between them. Actually, it was more relaxed than it had ever been between them.
Sans limped over and plopped on the couch, sitting next to her.
Storm stared at him wide-eyed.
Frisk got an uneasy feeling from the glaring cat and looked away.
"Brother, I am preparing a meal! Is there something you would like?" for once Papyrus wasn't scolding Sans for sleeping late. Once in a blue moon.
"The Grillby's bag in the fridge. Don't even heat it up, just bring it in."
"Ew! Sans, I refuse! You need a better meal than cold 3 day old greasy cheeseburgers and fries!"
"I'll eat other stuff, I'm just really hungry bro."
Frisk looked down at her stomach. She had a slight empty feeling, though not bad at all. Chances were she'd only eat a bite or two before being pressured by Sans to eat more.
"Lady Toriel is coming over soon to help. You can wait."
"but I'm even getting Hangry. I'm all skin and bones over here." Sans winked.
Frisk playfully slapped him before Undyne did.
Knucklehead.
…
After lunch with both Undyne and Toriel, Frisk dragged Sans out to the library.
She was tired, but she wanted to return an overdue book. She had forgotten about it and it was a week overdue.
She was a bit flustered when all the townspeople stopped her and thanked her, asked her if she was okay, even gave her gifts. The librarian treated her the same.
The green lizard greeted her excitedly, asking about the barrier, if she was excited. He also tried talking to Sans, but Sans hung back. Sans didn't like the library for some reason, she had come to conclude.
"When we are moving to the surface, we may need to get rid of some books. Copies, extras. I couldn't think of a better person to take them but you." The librarian monster smiled warmly. "After all, you have helped us so much before."
Frisk blinked in surprise.
"Are you sure? I could always help you m-"
"No, no. We want you to have them. As a thank you."
So they ended up carrying back two boxes of books on top of everything else.
Sans was grumbling the whole way, about how he didn't like being an idol or carrying books or anything.
Part of Frisk wished he could be friendly as he was when she first met him. But, she was also happy he wasn't hiding his emotions.
As they walked, feet crunching through the snow, enjoying the warmer air and brightness, a familiar face showed up in front of them. Hands in his pockets, eyes gleaming.
Treyco?
Sans stopped and growled, glaring the cat monster down. Treyco caught sight of them and snarled slightly, though his eyes showed slight fear.
He pulled the earbuds from his ears.
"… Don't expect a congratulations from me." He said quietly.
"I didn't." Frisk kept a straight face. She didn't feel like making enemies anymore…
She put down the box of books in the snow.
"Look, I understand we had a rough beginning. But… I don't want enemies. So I'll forgive you, and we can put everything in the past, deal? And don't worry about Grump back there." Frisk shot him a look as she extended her hand.
Treyco looked down at it before shaking his head.
"NO. Forgiveness isn't worth anything in this world. Neither is friendship. The world doesn't play fair and it isn't sunshine and rainbows where humans and monsters and whatever the fuck you are can just prance through fields of happy little flowers." Treyco spat. He put his hands in his pockets again.
Frisk out her arm out in front of Sans before he got any ideas. The skeleton snarled, his fangs showing.
Treyco began walking away.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
As he walked away, his words echoed in her head. "Whatever the fuck you are"
Frisk's heart sped up.
He had a point…
Was she even human anymore? With her ears and tail and fangs…
Would she even be accepted back into the human world herself?
Sans huffed.
"I swear to God if you weren't here I'd kick his ass. We don't need this." He turned to her.
"Don't worry bout him snap pea. Just a salty lowlife."
Frisk nodded reluctantly and picked the box back up, leading the way back to the house.
Sans muttered something behind her and caught up, his shoulder touching hers.
Frisk… felt oddly disturbed. No longer happy, the memories of the past and anxiety of the future creeped up on her.
Frisk closed her eyes.
It'll be fine. Everything will be fine.
Don't worry about it.
…
Asriel lay on his knees, blood pooling below him and staining his green shirt red. His eyes, wide and glossy, unseeing yet all seeing.
They stared straight at her, full of pain.
"we'll never be free."
Frisk tired to speak, tried to move. The air was so cold, and her body felt like ice. She heard a faint noise like TV static, a sound that crept into her mind and drove her closer to insanity every second.
The sound grew stronger and stronger, Asriel's body twitching lightly.
"You left me behind. You left us behind Frisk."
"Frisk."
"Ey, c'mon."
Frisk's eyes shot open, her breath catching in her throat.
She was on the couch, staring at a static TV. The room was dark, and she was slumped up against Sans.
She didn't dare to move. Her eyes locked on the screen and her heart pounced in her chest.
"Hey, Frisky. Are you alright? Snap pea?" Sans shook her.
Frisk jolted and looked over at him.
His brow bones were furrowed with concern.
"What's wrong, nightmare?" Frisk pointed at the TV with a shaking finger.
Sans followed her finger, then looked back at her. "Are you kidding me. Is the TV spooking you."
Frisk whined.
"Okay, okay, I'm rewinding it." Sans grabbed the remote and hit the back arrow, and the tape began to rewind.
Frisk watched the humans move backwards through the desert and rocks.
It was funny, but not enough to soothe her fear.
She noticed she was shivering ever so slightly.
Sans clicked play in the middle of the movie and looked back down at her.
"Bad dream?"
Frisk looked away.
"Mhm."
"Figures. Wanna talk?"
"No…"
The thing with Asriel… he didn't know. Maybe in time she would explain, but she just wanted it to go away.
Sans slowly put his arm around her waist hesitantly. She could tell he was still treading carefully… She herself wasn't as nervous about touch. Appropriate. It was freeing, actually.
Frisk sighed and rested her head against his shoulder again, trying to calm down.
"You sure? I could hear your heartbeat." Sans's eye lights glowed in the darkness.
"Yes. I want to forget it." Frisk grabbed the blanket and hugged it.
Storm yawned and kneaded her side, purring.
She patted his soft fur.
"Ugh. Now I'm upset. You made me upset Frisk." Sans made a pouty face and looked away.
"Stop it ya goof." "You made me cri." He said, whiny.
"You made me cri." Frisk rebutted.
"I want ice cream." Sans looked at the kitchen.
"Sooo…"
"I don't want to get up."
"You want me to get it."
"NO."
Sans pulled her down, right up against him.
"You are destined to be lazy with me for all eternity."
"Nooooo….I have to pee anyways." Frisk struggled. Now that she was calmer she actually had to.
"Fiiiinnnneee. Go pee, I'll go get ice cream."
Sans stood up and went to the kitchen, and Frisk slowly went up the stairs.
Storm followed, but meowed as he was locked out of the bathroom.
Frisk sighed and did her business before looking in the mirror. Her glowing green eyes stared back, pupils like shards of coal. Her hair was frizzy as always and her ear fur was spiked.
Frisk bumped her head lightly against the mirror, her breath fogging the glass.
The surface didn't seem exciting anymore…
Its okay. She kept telling herself. No need to be scared. It'll work out.
It wasn't your fault.
It still wasn't fair…
They were going up to the surface, while Asriel was down here.
Forever stuck in an eternal prison.
Dead.
The sound of Storm scratching at the door distracted her from her thoughts.
Frisk pulled herself away, picking the kitten up before going down the stairs with a pit in her stomach.
Sans was eating out of the tub of ice cream. Typical Sans.
Frisk sat next to him and waited for him to give her a spoon.
"Frisk, are you sure you're okay? M' serious now. No more hiding shit. You want me to be open with you, you gotta be open with me."
Frisk stared at the spoon, suddenly not wanting to eat the ice cream.
After a few moments of silence, Sans let out a grunt.
"Okay, if this encourages you at all, I'll tell you how I feel. I don't like the idea of going to the surface just yet. Like… it feels right, but… I don't trust humans. I don't think I'm ready to be around them, especially after… you know."
Frisk nodded.
"yeah… I guess I'm scared too… I'm scared it'll go wrong and you guys will get hurt… I'll have to go back to my mom and not everyone will accept us... I don't want any fighting." Frisk shuddered at the thought of her mom. Her and her sister's reaction to this new race was a shot in the dark.
She felt Sans's hand reach for her back and slumped slightly as he began to stroke it. Her tail wagged slightly.
"It's understandable. I'm not gonna say I'm sure it'll be fine, cause that would be a lie. But if worse comes to worse we could go back here. It isn't going to get colder. And you're officially safe, heh. We'll all be fine." Sans pressed his mouth against the side of her head in his version of a kiss. Frisk thought it was adorable.
Frisk couldn't help but smile, feeling that light giddy feeling in her chest.
"yeah."
We will all turn out fine.
Ugh. My first time writing an actual romantic couple. I hope after such a long gone break I didn't lose any quality from my writing :'D
Anyways I plan on updating every Wednesday. As a warning there will be (obviously) Frans and Asgoriel.
Anyways, before I go, I'd like to state that I have a new beta reader! She will be reading over chapters before they come out! Why don't ya introduce yourself ;D
*Hallu! I'm IluvFanfic, or CatCrazie!.. I shall be the ghost of this story! Muahaha-*koff*
She'll be fine.. I think.
Anyways, a big BIG thank you to all of you who review and to Cat! See ya next Wednesday (hopefully)
From the wolf in the mountains,
Comycat~
*And CatCrazie!*