TRIGGER WARNINGS! Mentions of anxiety/panic attacks, severe depression, semi-graphic descriptions of transformation, and abuse ahead!
Thank you Guest and Thestupidcupid for reviewing last chapter! You both are wonderful! I'd also like to thank the readers who gave this story a chance!
I do hope you enjoy this chapter! I would love any kind of feedback, both positive and not-so-positive (but constructive)! Please don't be shy!
"—yeah, he needs some food, pronto."
"tori— he's walking just fine."
"we didn't know it was there! yeah. yeah. gotcha. see ya soon."
Sans stuffed his phone back into his coat pocket and heaved a sigh. He glanced sideways at Papyrus limping along beside him. True to his word, he was keeping an intense watch on their captive and, combined with concentrating on keeping his injuries from jostling too much, was keeping rather silent. A slight grimace of pain flashed across the tall skeleton's face occasionally. Each one that Sans caught hardened the hate he felt for that beast slung across Undyne's shoulders.
"Ugh, are we almost there?!" Undyne shifted the body on her shoulders slightly to get a better grip on the awkward limbs. "The stink is gonna make me hurl."
"WE SHOULD BE… THERE FAIRLY SOON. SANS, ARE WE?"
"yeah, bro. toriel is waiting with some food for you."
"I HOPE IT'S SPAGHETTI!"
"to forgetti your regretti?"
"OH MY GOD SANS! DID YOU JUST-?"
"yep." Sans flashed him a shit-eating grin. "don't get upsetti about it bro."
"THAT! IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE, ACTUALLY…"
"don't mention it." Sans chuckled lightly and they padded along for a few minutes in silence. They eventually make it into the incomplete town and found an agitated and worried Toriel pacing the road in.
"There you are! Come, let us get you ins—What is that?!"
Toriel stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the lump of dark grey fur slumped on Undyne's shoulders. The fish-woman gave a shrug and shifted the body.
"Dunno. Papyrus wanted to bring it with us."
"Is that… what attacked you..?"
"YES! AND I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T HURT ANYONE ELSE!"
"Oh no you will not." Toriel fixated a glare onto the skeleton. "You will sit down inside and eat. Undyne will watch over… her."
"What! Why me?! I had to carry this stinking furbag all the way here!"
Toriel switched targets and Undyne, despite being the famed former captain of the Royal Guard, cringed under her glare.
"Fine! Where should I put it?"
"In my guest room, please. There is a chair you can use to watch over her."
"wait," Sans cut in, "where will Frisk go? i don't want her within reach of that thing."
Toriel regarded the skeleton with a cool gaze. "Asgore has her. She decided to spend the night with him tonight."
"good." Sans weighed the words in his head, testing his memory for any hint of having this conversation before. Nothing rang a bell and Sans breathed a mental sigh of relief. The kid didn't have any reason to decide to spend the night elsewhere besides for their own desire. So far, so good.
He tuned back into the conversation in time to hear Toriel say, "Now that we have that all sorted out. Come inside."
Sans followed the others, keeping a close eye to the still unmoving beast. He allowed Toriel to show Undyne to the guest room and followed his brother into the kitchen where a steaming bowl of soup was waiting.
"OH GOODIE! I LOVE TORIEL'S SOUP!"
Papyrus shot an encouraging grin to Sans, who shot him a forced one back, and carefully moved it to the table. Sans followed him with his eyes, allowing his grin to slip as he took note of Papyrus's injuries. They looked so much worse in the warm light of the kitchen, revealing the dirt and the fine cracks of fractures in his brother's bones. Anger burned when he saw Papyrus having to feed himself with his left hand, his non dominant hand, and the injuries slowly but surely heal over. However, they were still vivid in Sans's mind long after they were gone.
Undyne sat in the room, bored out of her mind. She was seated on the far side of the room, near the single window that faced east. She'd been in that seat for hours, unwillingly volunteered to watch over the furry stinkbag she'd been forced to carry. The most excitement she'd had since dropping it into the bed was helping Toriel clean and bandage its open wounds.
"Stupid Papyrus," she grumbled for the hundredth time that night, "Stupid smelly furbag. I hope that Sans gets his hands on you. You freakin' deserve it."
No response. The fish monster snorted and glanced at her phone. Alphys had stayed up to wait for her to get back and was alarmed to hear that Papyrus had been attacked. And that he insisted they bring back his attacker. God, he was such a bleeding heart, Undyne thought. It was a good thing the war had ended before he got a chance to get into the Royal Guard. He'd never make it.
Undyne sighed and summoned a spear, spinning it around and imagining ways to kill that fleabag stinking up Toriel's guest bed. When they woke up, of course. There's no honour in taking a life when they can't put up a decent fight.
She glanced out the window and was somewhat relieved that the sky was starting to lighten. The sun will be up soon and her replacement would take over for her.
Undyne sighed and leaned on the desk, elbow propping up her head. She watched her charge's shallow, pained breaths. The glint of metal beads caught her eye and she eyed the metal necklace the beast wore. Toriel had left it be when they were cleaning her up and Undyne didn't care to mess with the jangling necklace. Her gaze drifted to the white bandages, blindingly bright against its dark fur, and checked for any sign of scarlet. Nothing.
She sighed for the umpteenth time and watched the sky lighten in the east. Though she'd never admit it, she loved to see the sun rise and set, often waking up early ad staying up late just to watch the colours of the sky shift.
A rumble startled her out of her musings and she leapt to her feet. She watched her charge shift in the bed and its facial features clench tightly, as if in pain. Another guttural groan confirmed her suspicion and she moved closer to the door, torn between staying and getting Toriel. Suddenly, the beast's eyes flew wide open, giving her a glimpse of glowing golden eyes, before it emitted the most pained screech she'd heard in a long time. Undyne summoned a spear as she heard a door slam open and heavy footsteps hurry down the hall. It screamed again just as Toriel burst into the room and they both watched as its features seemed to melt.
"Oh my god!" Toriel rushed to its side and jerked the comforter off. She gasped in horror and Undyne got a good look at bones snapping and reforming beneath its now bare brown skin. She shuddered and prangs of sympathy stabbed her heart.
The beast, now a human woman, gave a last tortured groan and blinked open her eyes. Pain still etched her tanned features as she shifted, slowly lifting a hand to blearily examine it.
"Do not try to move, my child," Toriel soothed and the woman jumped, emitting a pained whimper a second after. Her brown eyes found the two monster women and they widened in fear.
"W-who are you?" her voice rasped and she flinched. "Where am I? Oh gods, did I hurt anyone?!"
The desperation and fear in the woman's hoarse voice spoke volumes and Undyne banished her spear. The woman's eyes flickered to her momentarily before refocusing on Toriel, who sat on her heels to make herself a little less intimidating.
"I am called Toriel. My friend here is Undyne. We do not mean any harm. You are in my house in the monster town of New Ebott."
Undyne saw the woman's features scrunch up in confusion before a look of realization washed it away. She watched as the human struggled to sit up, shying away from Toriel's gentle offers of assistance.
"You-you two are… are some of the… monsters on TV! Oh gods, I forgot you guys settled here…"
"Could you tell us your name, my child?"
She looked startled, for whatever reason, and she was cautious when answering. "I'm Lynn. Um… no offense, but why am I here?"
Toriel started to answer, but looked at Undyne, who could answer that honestly. "You don't remember..?"
Lynn's face suddenly went pale, well, paler than she already was. "I-I can't re-remember a-anything when… when I'm… like that…"
Undyne scrutinized her face for any sign that she wasn't being truthful. Everything showed that, either she was really good at acting, or she was truly unaware of her actions. She was going to give this woman the benefit of the doubt and answered bluntly.
"You attacked my friend when we were out last night. You banged him up pretty badly. You're lucky he spared your life and convinced us to bring you here."
A look of absolute horror crossed this woman's face and she dropped her head into her hands. Her frame started to tremble and alarmed the two monsters. They shared a look and refocused on the woman when she started mumbling.
"Oh god. Oh god! I attacked someone! Are they okay?! I didn't k-k-kill them, did I? Or w-worse, b-bite them?!"
"Sssshhh, calm, child." Thank god for Toriel's soothing skills. They needed them right now. "He is alive and okay. A bit shaken up, but he is fine. Why are you concerned with biting, my child?"
A hysterical, relieved laugh burst from her as she wiped away terrified tears. "I suppose you wouldn't know."
The sudden, bitter tone took them aback. Toriel's brow furrowed in confusion as she asked, "Know what, child?"
"If I… bite… someone when I'm…. like that… then they become like me. One of my kind."
"And what," Undyne asked, "exactly are you?"
A bitter laugh and Lynn looked her straight in the eye. "I'm a werewolf."
Lynn saw the two monsters' faces scrunch in confusion. Of course they didn't know. They'd just made their appearance on the news about three weeks ago. They have no knowledge of human monster lore.
She'd been so stupid! How could she forget that they settled into this forest?! She came in, unwelcome, and attacked one of the monsters here! That was inexcusable!
"What," the motherly goat-person, Toriel, started, "Exactly is a… werewolf..?"
The bubble of bitterness grew again, though aimed not at these creatures but at the memory of her curse. A humourless chuckle escaped her lips and Lynn shook her head.
"The term comes from the words were, which means man, and wolf. Man-wolf. Many cultures have different stories for how we are… made. The one that is the truth is that, if one is bitten by a werewolf, they turn into one. Every full moon after that they turn into that… monstrosity that you encountered…"
"Oh, my child." Lynn flinched at that endearment, spoken so softly and gently. She didn't deserve to be spoken to like that. She deserved harsh words and lashings for what she had done. "You poor thing. How long..?"
This… gentle inquiry was new to her and put her on edge. However, no matter how hard she tried, she could not bring herself to be less than truthful to this gentle creature. "'Bout ten years…"
"Damn." That fish monster whistled and Lynn couldn't help but be slightly reminded of something she read from a webcomic years ago. "That's a long time. So, there's more things like you?"
This one's blunt nature Lynn was more familiar with and put her a little more at ease. She can handle people like this and understand it more than the caring gentleness Toriel had.
"As far as I know, I'm the only one here. In the world, yes. I don't know how many though…"
Undyne, the fish monster, opened her mouth to, presumably, ask more but was stopped by a look Toriel gave her. Toriel turned back to her and gave her a look over. Lynn was suddenly very aware that she was practically nude under the covers, her last transformation shredding what she had on, and blushed in mortification.
"We will get you a change of clothes, my child." Toriel soothed, seeing her embarrassment and giving her a small smile. "I will be back with some food."
"U-um… Thank you but I don't think—"
Toriel fixed a motherly glare onto her and she snapped her jaw shut. "You look famished, my child. You need to eat and regain your strength if you hope to leave anytime soon. And we cannot have a nude monster wandering around, now can we?"
Lynn blushed harder and nodded meekly, pushing the sheets further up her chest and watching the two monsters leave. As soon as the door clicked shut she sighed and covered her eyes with the heels of her hands. Ashamed and confused tears welled around her palms and dripped onto the soft comforter.
Toriel sighed softly as she heard the young woman begin to cry. Her heart ached in sympathy for her plight, despite the fact that she attacked one of her dearest friends. Lynn had seemed so sincere in her remorse and horror over what she did and that spoke volumes to the former monster Queen.
"So, what do we do?" Undyne asked softly, leaning against the wall of the hall.
Toriel bit her lip in indecision. "I think we should give her a chance. However, that is not something I can decide by myself."
Undyne nodded in agreement. "I think… I think she was telling the truth. Unless she's an amazing actor, I think she's truly sorry for what she did to Pap."
"I think so too."
Undyne yawned suddenly, looking exhausted from all the excitement. "Man, I could use some sleep. Need me for anything else, Toriel?"
Toriel hummed an affirmative. "Yes. Do you still have those clothes that are too small for you..?"
"Yeah. I'll get them for her. After that I'm gonna sleep and no one better wake me up!"
There was a smile in Toriel's voice as she replied, "Thank you Undyne."
"Don't mention it."
Toriel watched Undyne shuffle down the hall and out of sight. The sound of weary greetings to the occupants in her living room and the door opening and shutting followed shortly after. The motherly monster took one last glance at the wooden door and followed, smiling softly at the pair of skeleton brothers camped on her couch.
Sans was sleeping against the arm of the couch as Papyrus watched a program on her TV beside him. From the sound of it, it probably was another program starring Mettaton. He smiled brightly at her and waved softly, which she returned.
"Thank you for the soup!" His voice, though still loud was much quieter than his normal voice, "It was delicious! Can you teach me how to make it?!"
Toriel couldn't help but chuckle, relieved that there was no lasting harm. "One day. How are you? You look much better."
"I feel much better! The Great Papyrus will never be down for long!"
She simply smiled at him in answer and busied herself with making some food for her new charge. The monster glanced out the window and gauged the rough time Frisk would be home. The child liked to sleep in whenever there wasn't anything pressing to accomplish and Toriel was more than willing to accommodate that; especially since the poor child had been having the most horrid nightmares.
She wouldn't be home for another few hours. That left Toriel time to start on a snail pie she wanted to serve for dinner. For now, though, Toriel started on making breakfast.
Toriel hummed as she worked, tuning out most other noises other than the ones she was making in the kitchen. She heard Sans wake when she was almost done and smiled when he drug himself into the dining area, eyes still bleary from sleep.
"Good morning," she greeted with a smile, "I will be done pretty soon. I got to take Lynn hers before I sit down with—"
"Who?" Sans asked, confusion on his face before understanding and badly hidden irritation took over. "The beast?"
"She," Toriel stressed, a motherly tone colouring her voice, "Did not mean to attack Papyrus."
"I'd bet every bone in my body that she's lying."
Toriel's lips couldn't help but jump at the pun. However, she remained silent as she served Sans and Papyrus their portions before taking a plate to Lynn. She got there just as Undyne was exiting, nearly spilling the hot food all over the fish monster.
"I'll have to get some of that later," Undyne muttered through a yawn and jerked her head towards the door, "Give her a bit. She insisted on getting dressed on her own."
"Alright. Sleep well Undyne." Undyne waved and retreated, no doubt eager to get home.
Toriel waited another minute before gently knocking and entering. Lynn was leaning against the headboard in a slightly baggy grey t-shirt and too-large ripped jeans. She was playing her metal necklace when the young woman looked up and gave her a small smile.
"Thank you," she whispered sincerely, shaking hands taking the large plate and setting it in her lap. The young woman stared at the food for a bit, making Toriel worry that she'd made something inedible to humans, before looking up at the monster with tears in her eyes.
"Wh-why?" Her voice was so filled with confusion and cracked on the word. "Why are you being so kind to me..?"
Toriel sighed, heart aching, and kneeled at the edge of the bed. She looked into those tortured brown eyes and replied from the bottom of her heart.
"Because, my child, we all have done things we regret. To hold it against you, especially if you were not in complete control of yourself, is being hypocritical. To change, we must be given the chance to change.
"There will be some that will hold it against you. But that is their own decision and there is nothing you can do about that. As for me, you are welcome in my house. I see how sincere and remorseful you are and I appreciate the honesty."
Lynn's confusion was still apparent and Toriel could do nothing more than sigh and pat her knee softly. Toriel smiled at her and got up to leave the woman in peace. She paused when she heard a murmured "Thank you", soul aching at the gratitude in it. The monster quietly shut the door again and sighed for the umpteenth time since she's woken up. She was not looking forward to telling Sans that Papyrus was to take the next shift watching Lynn.
"TORIEL!" Speak of the devil. "SINCE UNDYNE HAS GONE HOME, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL TAKE OVER WATCHING THE NEW MONSTER!"
Well, maybe this will be easier than she thought. "She is eating right now, Papyrus. Are you sure you are up to it?"
"VERY SURE! IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH OVER HER!"
"Alright. Do not… startle her too much. She is a little high-strung right now, Papyrus. Be careful what you talk about with her."
"DON'T WORRY! THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS ALWAYS CAREFUL!"
With that he opened the door and shut it behind him. She could hear his loud introduction through the wall and she had to stifle a giggle. Oh, the poor dear will have to endure for now.
As for her, she has a pie to make and an irritable skeleton to endure.
Lynn stared, dumbfounded, at the energetic skeleton that had just come bounding into the room. She'd heard him from outside the door but half expected him to leave her in peace. She'd also seen him on TV and he, admittedly, piqued her curiosity, along with his brother. However, nothing could've prepared her for how energetic he really was.
"—GREAT PAPYRUS WILL BE WATCHING OVER YOU NOW! IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU!"
"Y-you are the one who… brought me here..?"
"WHY, YES!"
Wait… didn't Undyne mention..? Lynn felt a fresh wave of horror wash over her. Her eyes jumped to his frame and she spied dirt staining his bones. The ends of his shirt were torn and stained despite the jacket covering the rest of it.
"Oh god." Tears blurred her vision and she watched his expression stutter in confusion. "Y-you are the one I-I attacked… wasn't it..?"
"ERR…" his hand came up to rub his neck and she flinched at the movement. That served to confuse him more. "A BIG DOG ATTACKED ME, NOT A HUMAN!"
"Oh god, I did!" she buried her head in her hands in newfound shame. She could sense his confusion but she was in no mood to repeat her explanation. "I-I- can't-! How could I-? How-?!"
Her breathing came in desperate gasps and she could feel herself shaking. She didn't deserve to be treated so kindly! How can these people take in the beast that nearly killed one of their own?! Sh-she needed to get out of here before she harmed another!
"H-hey!" His voice, much softer now, said and she felt a weight at the edge of her bed. She didn't dare look up, hot shame preventing her from doing so. "B-breathe! Humans need air to live, y-you know!"
Oh great, he's trying to cheer her up! She doesn't deserve this-this kindness!
"Err… It's going to be okay! I promise that it is! And I, the Great Papyrus always keeps his promises!"
A hysterical laugh burst from her lungs and she gripped the comforter in claw-like fingers. "I-I attacked you! I could've killed you! And you're trying to comfort me?! Why don't you hate me?! You're supposed to hate me for what I did!"
Lynn struggled to regain her emotions but it was like a dam had burst.
"I can't understand how you guys are so—so kind! Why?! I don't deserve to have this kindness! I-I-I'm a-a—"
The rest of her sentence was cut off when she felt Papyrus's bony arms engulf her and squeeze lightly. She stiffened, convinced that he was getting his revenge and was squeezing her to death. When that was not the case and she realized that the pressure meant to be soothing, comforting, her sobs doubled. Unknowingly, her hands came up and clutched at his shirt like a lifeline, fingers twisting the fabric tightly.
"Don't cry, big human! I don't hate you or what you did! I know you didn't mean it. I-I mean… I heard you tell Toriel e-earlier. About you… I don't blame you, human, for what you did!"
Lynn had no words for that. She merely shook and let her emotions ride out. She wasn't completely convinced that she was forgiven but, for now, relief won out in her internal battle.
"O-oh gods," Lynn muttered, sniffling as she pulled away from Papyrus, "I'm sorry about your clothes! I didn't mean-!"
Papyrus glanced down at his soaked jacket and waved her off with a smile. "NO WORRIES! I HAVE MORE CLOTHES TO WEAR! WHAT DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT NOW, BIGISH HUMAN?"
A slightly hysterical giggle burst out of her, startling them both. Papyrus's face lit up and a mischievous light sparkled in his eye… literally.
"I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL TELL YOU STORIES!"
Despite herself and her still churning emotions, Lynn settled herself into the bed and listened (as well as watched) Papyrus tell ridiculous stories about adventures he and his brother, Sans, went on. She was more than content on letting him talk and absorbing the information presented. An unfamiliar warmth rose in her chest as the hours went by and Papyrus was still talking. It was when lunchtime rolled around and Toriel came back in to bring her more food that Lynn finally recognized what these foreign feelings were.
Fondness. Fondness for this energetic skeleton that had gone well out of his way to comfort her and give her a welcome distraction from the agonizing emotions slogging in her chest. Fondness for that caring, motherly monster that so kindly brought her into her home and put faith in her. Lynn recognized that these feeling were dangerous to her, especially for people she was probably never going to see again, but she could not bring herself to care.
"Are you sure you do not need anyone to walk you back?"
It was late evening and Lynn, Toriel, and Papyrus stood on the edge of the small town. Lynn forced a smile onto her face, still very awkward with Toriel's concern, and nodded firmly.
"Yeah. I'm the scariest thing in this forest. It's just down the path, right?"
"Yes." Toriel still looked concerned. She placed a large hand on Lynn's shoulder and squeezed softly. "Remember that you are always welcome in my house, Lynn. I wish you the best of health."
"LYNN! YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND VISIT!" Lynn's smile became genuine when she looked up at Papyrus's grinning face. "I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SHOW YOU! LIKE HOW TO COOK SPAGHETTI! AND EAT NICE CREAM! AND-!"
"Papyrus!" she interrupted, humour in her voice, "I promise to come back! I don't know when I can, but it will be before next month."
"That sounds wonderful, my child."
"SEE YOU SOON THEN!"
Lynn waved as she started down the path. Before she knew it she rounded a bend and she was utterly alone for the first time in twenty-four hours. With a dejected sigh, she pulled up her too-big jeans and continued on. Unwanted thoughts threatened to resurface and she barely kept them at bay with carefully examining her surroundings and listening to her borrowed shoes crunch on the dirt. After a while she got the feeling that she was being watched and had a suspicion she knew who it was.
Lynn paused at the edge of the cabin's clearing and took a moment to look around in the waning light. She noticed how the dirt seemed churned up at the rear of the cabin and her heart sunk. With a deep breath, she tore her eyes away and steeled herself for the coming confrontation.
"I-I know you're there." She called, hating the waver in her voice. Nothing. "Come out. I know you need to get something off your chest."
There was a beat of weighty silence before a soft rustling to her left alerted her to his presence. She half turned and saw a figure, a little shorter than her, emerge from the tree trunks. Behind him was the churned up dirt and she flinched before looking into his dark eyesockets.
"you've heard about me, huh?" the skeleton chuckled humorlessly. Lynn waited on bated breath, chills of warning going down her spine. "'course you have. you spent the day talking with my brother."
Lynn's face screwed up in emotion at the mention of Papyrus. Guilt and shame still batted at her heart, even after Papyrus assured her that he had forgiven her. His expression changed subtly and white pinpricks of pupils sparked in his eyes.
"i'm sure I don't need to reiterate, but you're lucky to be alive right now." That she knew. She still felt she doesn't deserve a second chance. "I can see you know that. heh. if papyrus didn't ask to spare you, you would've bee d."
She didn't bother to hide her shiver. Lynn had a bad feeling about this guy and she didn't want to push him. Sans stared at her and she felt like he was looking into her very soul and judging what was etched there. They stayed like that for several minutes, Lynn not daring to move, barely daring to breathe. That seemed to amuse Sans, if his wider grin was anything to go by.
"if you know what's good for you, don't come back."
Sans held her gaze for another moment before turning to retreat back into the forest.
"Y-you're right." Lynn called out and she heard Sans pause. "I-I don't deserve the others' kindness, especially for hurting Papyrus. He is a wonderful person, too good to be around me. To be quite honest with you, I fully expected to be dead right now. Your hate is refreshingly un-confusing and I have to thank you for that.
"As for destroying me on the spot, I expect you to follow through with that if we meet on bad terms again. Quite frankly, I deserve it. I deserve your hate and I deserve to be killed in the most painful way possible. At least I would pay for all the wrong I have done. You are in the right and I, truly, am sorry for hurting Papyrus the way I did…"
There was a weighty silence and, for a moment, she thought he'd left in the middle of her rambling. The young woman was relieved to hear the crunching of leaves after a moment or two. She picked up her pack from where she dropped it and clambered into her truck. Sighing around the dread gripping her heart, she started up her truck and carefully pulled out of the clearing.
Perhaps he should have killed me. Lynn thought in bitter amusement as she turned onto the dark road. It'd be a lot less painful than what's waiting for me.
