A/N: Second chapter posted today. Both are fairly short, so I thought it would be fair.
Rating: T For gore/blood, ghoul and/or Zombie funliness.
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever owned Hellsing. But god do I ever wish? Sorry, just had the mental image of me on a beach with Young-Walter or something.
Keeping Faith
Chapter Four: Forest
By: Tamuril Telrunye A.K.A Bamvivirie
Trees.
Dark, large and foreboding. An indescribable path between that would take her to and unknown destination. Undaunted Faith moved forward, socked feet feeling gummy on the forest floor. She paused once more, tearing off her troublesome socks and hurling them into the darkness. No one would mourn there loss, decaying in a forest of shadows.
Fine dirt and moss tickling her toes, as she moved onwards distant sounds echoing through the darkened wood. Her Hound followed at her heels, tromping off now and again to sniff something or paw at the ground. Almost as though he really were nothing but a normal dog.
But she couldn't forget her first sight of her companion. Wouldn't forget it. One could forgive, but never forget her mind whispered.
Before too long she was well and truly lost along the path that led through the forest, and a strange forest it seemed to be. Save for the moss and rare bush, the forest itself seemed to have almost no ground cover. The trees were strange as well; almost all of them were oak or maple. Not an Evergreen in the bunch. Which also seemed to ring odd in her mind, she felt that she was use to something far different when it came to forests.
Greener and sharper, and more erratic.
A shuffling in the distance made her pause, a drawn out moan and another shuffle following it. In the distance, two eyes glowing red. Like yet unlike those of her Hound, they gleamed dully in the forest before her.
Despite the darkness, Faith could make out the features of the thing coming towards her, and despite the fear she might have felt had she encountered this creature before. She could feel none for it now.
No, instead she felt pity.
Pity for this half creature that knew only hunger.
It could never know love, or hate again. For it was beyond all emotion, nestled in the deep caress of death, it existed only as the puppet of another. Another that she sensed was not far off, and growing closer; curious as to what creature had caught the attention of its puppets.
A growl, and her Hound was creeping towards the unsuspecting ghouls. He fed on the body's of the dead, whether or not it was moving made no difference to him. A leap, a snap and the ghoul was down severed head clamped tightly in her Hounds strong jaws.
But as quickly as a snake her Hound was back at her side, edging her away from the slowly approaching presence. A clear warning in her mind, as she stumbled and skittered forward in the darkness. Unsure at first, but knowing that she could not come in contact with it, whatever it happened to be.
'Better to be safe than sorry' the dark voice said in the back of her mind.
At first Faith only walked forward, but then she began jogging, then running. Dread in the pit of her stomach, adrenaline in her veins pushing her forward. Her Hound followed loyally, keeping up easily with her pace.
Her legs grew tired, and soon she was short of breath.
A rustle in the bushes, a shuffle not far off and she knew that she couldn't possibly outrun the master of this forest. Whoever or whatever resided in this place, was not willing to let her go. And while she was sure it was not strong, it had the numbers to keep her.
And she did not wish to be 'Kept', she was a person. Not a pet.
'Oh?' drawled the dark voice in the back of her head, 'Are you so sure of that?'
Dread once more took up residence in her stomach, and she wrapped her arms around a nearby tree. Well, if that truly was the way of it then she would choose her master. She wouldn't be caged like some delinquent animal, unable to decide for herself.
To have someone hold the reigns in her life? Could she really settle for that, settle for someone else being in control? Faith didn't know.
Her hand found the surprisingly soft fur of Her Hound, and she sighed.
"I don't suppose that you could explain this whole master, pet thing?"
Her Hound looked at her before licking her hand, but no answer was forthcoming. And so they trudged onwards, dark forest around them. Ahead Faith could make out a clearing, moonlight cutting through so brightly that her eyes could not make out anything beyond the swath of light.
She sensed something, something in that clearing that made her stop. Her Hound, paid no heed trotting off and away.
Something waited in that place- that place beyond the moonlight. A creature of shadow, and blood.
