Frisk wasn't sure what to expect from a monster's house. Whatever it was it sure wasn't this. Light flooded into the apartment through large open windows, closed to keep the heat in, draped with purple curtains whose fabric gathered in pools as they reached the floor boards. There was a couch, a table with a vase of overflowing with bright flowers, an comfy looking arm chair that was tucked away in a corner that was wall to wall book shelves. A sweet smell wafted out from the kitchen filling the entire apartment with a sickly delightful aroma. This didn't just feel like a place to live in...it felt like a home.
"Mom?" Asriel scampered off into the kitchen leaving Frisk alone in the homely apartment. They stood there awkwardly swaying their arms back and forth, afraid to venture further into the apartment in fear of ruining the pristine aura of the room. Frisk glanced down a hallway, realizing this apartment was larger than their own, and spotted three little doors that must have lead to the Dreemurr's bedrooms. "Asriel you know you should not pick up the receiver without informing me first." The words from the kitchen were stern, motherly.
"I know momma. I'm sorry."
"You are smart dear. I know you only had good intentions." Soon there after Asriel returned to Frisk frowning, yet there was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. A taller monster wadded out from the kitchen after him. She shared Asriel's furry white face and kind eyes. Frisk couldn't help but stare at the small horns sticking up from the top of the lady monster's head. They glanced at Asriel and pondered if he to would grow horns one day. No matter how hard they tried to imagine it they could not picture Asriel with such possibly dangerous things growing from his head.
"Ah, you must be out guest." The monster made her way over to where Frisk still stood by the door. Frisk flushed realizing the inconvenience they had set upon these strangers.
"Sorry, Ms. Dreemurr." Asriel scampered back into the kitchen as Ms. Dreemurr crouched down to be at odds with the height of her guest.
"Child," Frisk decided that they liked the sound of this monster's voice. "There is nothing to be sorry about. It has been quite sometime since we last had company." She reached out and offered Frisk a paw...hand...which Frisk took in their own. "Welcome to our home. And please, dear, feel free to call me Toriel."
Toriel. The name filled Frisk with thoughts of summer. "My name is Frisk." Toriel smiled again.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Asriel returned to the room with snacks in hand and before they knew it Frisk was swept up in ample conversation and delicious pie at a small dinning table. Toriel watched them over the top of her book and found herself smiling faintly at her son's new found happiness. Asriel did most of the talking while Frisk sat munching away at their slice of pie. This was an arrangement Frisk found pleasing. Asriel talked about his favorite books, his toys, a bird he saw the other day, basically anything to fill the room with happy noise. "Do you like birds Frisk?"
"Mhm." Frisk nodded.
"I think they are so neat," Asriel stretched his arms out wide. "The way they can just fly up, up, and away. All the way over Mt. Ebott and back." His eyes were as wide as saucers. Frisk stifled a laugh. "No one goes to Mt. Ebott. Not even the birds."
"What do ya mean?" Asriel's arms fell back to his side.
"Nothing that goes to Mt. Ebott ever comes back. That's what I was told. You'd think birds would be told that to." Frisk recalled all the stories their classmates had passed around during lunch. Stories about lost children that ran up to Mt. Ebott and were never seen again. Frisk told them that they were liars. They told Frisk to bud in on their conversation.
"B-but what if they don't know..."
"What?"
The pie was gone now. A small bird flew pass the window. Asriel gasped then leaped off his chair. "Wait!" Frisk bounded off their chair in pursuit. Toriel had placed her book down in her lap and watched as the two children darted across the room in a blur of fur and hair.
In a one quick movement Asriel tossed open the window letting the unwelcome embrace of winter barge its way into the apartment. Toriel rose from her chair, but before she could close the window Asriel leaned outside and cried out to the birds. "Don't go to Mt. Ebott! Oh please don't! Be safe!" Frisk took in the small monster who was so determined to protect birds from the imaginary horrors of Mt. Ebott. A warm emotion bubbled up within the human child. An emotion so strong it was impossible to ignore. Frisk felt...determined. Soon they were side by side with their new friend crying out into the cold winter afternoon. "Stay safe little birds!"
Wind swept through the room causing the curtains to billow up around the children dramatically. Toriel had terminated her attempt to end the children's actions. She just watched as two young beings, full of determination, called out to birds until their voices were hoarse.
Frisk returned home later that evening to find their mother, who had carelessly left the door unlocked, sprawled out across couch, which was a dull shade of gray, with a murky liquid spilled across her chest. As quietly as they could Frisk dragged a blanket from their own room and draped it across their mother. With a sigh the tired child retreated to their room. The walls were bear. The window had no curtains that would billow in a winter breeze. No stray flowers. No smell of pie expect the lingering traces caught on Frisk's breath. There was no trace of home here.
As they laid there head down upon a chilled pillow, the memory of birds flying across a winter sky lulled them to sleep.