Sorry for the late update. I've been busy and my time to write hasn't been as much as it used to. Hope you still enjoy the chapter!
For now I'm gong to just be focusing on this story until it is finished. It was getting to hard for me to try and do two stories at once. So starting now i am just going to be updating this and keeping Fawns on the backburner.
Ch 9: Road to Healing
After two days Heart was almost fully back to being better. The venom was fully out of her system now and her wound on her wing was almost fully gone. She didn't need the web bandage on it anymore, so she was able to move her wings freely. Her paw was almost healed but needed probably another day before Alastor could heal it the rest of the way.
The deer Lord has been taking care of the hybrid these last two days. Making sure to bring her food. Keep her company. All at the same time he was making sure to do his duties around his territory. Alastor enjoyed the time with her. Learning new things about her.
They talked. They talked a lot. They wanted to know more about each other. Heart found out that Alastor was actually a sinner that fell into hell. He lived a life of murder and mystery with some cannibalism in between all that. It was surprising to her for sure. How a sinner could rise into the ranks of power so fast. To take his own land and be Lord, nonetheless.
Heart knew that Alastor was a mystery but finding out all this stuff was different but honestly it didn't scare her away. She didn't care that he was a murderous person, he mainly did it with reasons. For people that deserved it. That at least made her feel better. When he was alive, he dabbled in voodoo magic as well as shadow and blood magic, he was a strong individual that most didn't want to cross paths with.
His death was one that was caused by canines as law enforcement had finally caught up to him. He died and got sent here. He didn't know that hell would be like a form of reincarnation. Hell was on a different plain of existence and in a way, it was like being reborn. That's why some could still be born, and others can still fall. Although, since everyone was an animal, there was no technology like the world above. It was slower times, simpler times, calmer times. Hell could still be a crazy place with or without. Plus, it was full of magic.
Learning that the deer in front of her used to be a man, was something that was amazing in itself. He was so strong and confident. Then to take the road of becoming a Lord and he did in no time at all. At least within 10 years after he fell, he gained that name. King Lucifer granted him the Lord name. Even so, Alastor always has to fight for his land. To keep it this long is an amazing feat.
Heart enjoyed talking with the deer and learning more about him.
"I've never told any of this to anyone before." He spoke.
Heart's ears went up. "Really?"
The deer nodded. "Yes." He whispered and looked over to her. "You must be something special then if I was ok telling you all this."
The wolf's tail wagged and she put her good paw over top of his hoof. "I'm glad you told me Al. It was nice to learn about you." She took her paw away.
Alastor smiled. "You're welcome, dear. It's honestly been nice being with you these last two days." He nuzzled her muzzle slightly. "So, I told you about me. How about you?"
"Me?" Heart wandered as her ears went up. "Oh well I'm not as interesting as you."
"I'm sure you can tell me something. I'm all ears." Alastor said as she flicked his one ear.
Heart tried to think a moment, she figured since he went to his beginning when he died, she might as well start when she was born.
"I don't know my real mother." She started as her ears went back. "She abandoned me when I was born. She took me to Alpha's pack when I wasn't even a day old and told him to take care of me. Alpha wanted nothing to do with me." Heart paused as she put her head down and away, then gave a small whine.
Alastor was concerned about the way she was acting and just put his hoof over top of her paw then got closer to her side. He just wanted to reassure her as he could tell that she was upset about what she was going to say next. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to."
Heart shook her head. "I'll be fine." She whispered then took a breath. "At first...Alpha wanted to kill me. He wanted nothing to do with me. If my adopted mother never stepped forward to take care of me...I wouldn't be here. I owe my life to Ciel and so much more to her."
Alastor looked at the wolf and took his nose to rub it against her neck. It was a soothing gesture and it calmed her a bit. She took a breath and just let it out slowly as she just enjoyed the touch.
Heart took a breath. "I was his, but he never treated me like a daughter, which was always Lizzy that had his attention. His number one star. I was an outsider. She had better fight training than me. She is the new leader of the pack once Alpha steps down or dies. I never had a chance to be a leader. I've always been lower than low. I ate last, never got to leave the pack, never got to do my own things, I didn't have friends, and no one really liked me."
The deer noticed how down the girl was because of all these things. "Sounds like to me you're living your best life now." He said softly.
Heart looked over towards Alastor with tears that wanted to escape "What? What do you mean?"
Alastor smiled. "Think about it. Think about what has happened after you left your pack."
Heart gave a small sniff and just looked at the deer a moment then down to the floor. She thought for a little bit and wasn't sure what all he meant. Since she left her pack? What has she done? Then it clicked. She has done so much more being a lone wolf than she has ever in a pack.
"I've...hunted on my own." Her ears slowly started to stand up. "I can eat when I want. No one has to tell me what I can and can't do. I can go where I want. When I want. I learned to finally fly." She said excitedly. "I've learned to live on my own. I... I don't need a pack. I can't be fine by myself."
"Packs are important though for wolves are they not?" Alastor asked.
"Yes, but to keep order." Heart answered. "Now though, all I see is that they are just ways to make others miserable and ordering people around isn't fun."
Alastor was nervous to ask his next question and he didn't know why. "Would...would you make your own pack one day?"
"No, probably not. It's not a thing for me. If there was any pack I would want to have it would be a pack for a family and nothing more." She told him.
"Family huh? Do you hope to find a mate one day?" The deer wondered out of curiosity. He felt his heart beating in his chest and he could hear it in his ears. What was the matter with him? Why was he so nervous about these questions and what she would say?
Heart then got nervous about the question as she looked up at the deer demon. "Maybe one day I will." She looked away and felt her ears get hot. "I'd like to have a family of my own, but at the same time I need to find someone who loves me for...this." She said as she pointed a paw to herself and spread out her wings a little bit.
Alastor tilted his head, "Did you mean all of you?"
"Yea." The wolf sighed. "No one in my pack really liked me because I was a hybrid and different. I just always thought I would never have a mate, but I still dream one day that maybe they're out there." She looked up at the den ceiling. "Somewhere."
"Or right beside you." Alastor whispered softly.
Heart's ears went up and looked over towards the deer with wide eyes. "Alastor, what did you say?"
The deer shook his head, cleared his throat then stood up. "Nothing dear, don't worry about it. I need to attend to something quickly. I shall return." He said as he went out of the den.
Heart stood up and hopped over to her entrance as the deer exited. "Al wait." The deer turned around to look at her. "How long will you be gone?"
"I am not sure. Don't worry. I'll be back before nightfall. I'll make sure to bring you something for dinner as well." He told her.
"Thanks Al." She said and then sat down at her entrance.
Heart watched Alastor walk away and when he was gone, she gave a whine and put her head down. This was honestly hurting, and it confused her. Did the deer like her? Or didn't he? She was unsure of what to do. She liked him, that she knew, but she didn't want to tell him that she had feelings for him if the deer didn't feel the same.
The wolf sighed as she pulled herself out of the den, she needed some air. She went to a small spot in the sun and laid down. The warmth of the sun on her pelt felt nice and she gave a sigh of relief. Her injured paw was starting to feel a lot better, but she couldn't put her whole weight on it still. Hopefully it will get better soon, she wanted to go out and run around without being tied down.
She closed her eyes and just tried to get some more rest while laying out in the sun for a little bit. She gave a sigh of relief as she rolled onto her side a little bit. The sun was nice and being out of the den with a slight breeze felt amazing.
After about an hour she was just napping and there was a sound of something rustling that got her attention. Her ears flicked a moment, and she opened her eyes. She ended up on her back, so she flipped over onto her stomach and looked around. The rustling happened again.
She stood up and then started to growl low. "Who's there?"
Before she could react, she was tackled to the ground in a flash of grey and black. Heart couldn't keep her balance and fell to the ground. She got up as quickly as she could, keeping her still injured paw close to her. She lunged forward at her attacker with her jaw wide open. The attacked didn't expect her to retaliate so quickly as Heart grabbed them by the scruff and tossed across the small clearing. They managed to find their footing and come charging back. Heart used her wings and flapped up. Having the attack miss and not able to stop before hitting into a tree.
"Leave this land. You are not welcome as an outsider!" Heart called down to them as she hovered in the air.
Heart got a look at her attacker as they turned around. It was another wolf that was grey with black spot like markings and white paws. "I'm only passing through." The outsider growled at her.
"Then why attack me!?" Heart demanded.
"I thought you were prey. I apologize for attacking you." The wolf said.
"Likely story. You thought I could be easy pickings just because I'm injured." She snapped. "Believe me, there is more than just an injured hybrid you have to worry about. The Lord of this land would not be happy to see you if you ran into him." She slanted her eyes at him and bared her teeth.
The wolf put its ears back. "No, no, please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I won't attack you again. I come in peace."
Heart raised an eyebrow but landed and made sure to puff out her fur and keep her wings out so that she looked larger and intimidating. The wolf went and crouched down, putting his ears back and tucking in his tail. A sign of submission. She believed him. Heart closed her wings but kept her fur on end.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Lucien." The wolf replied.
"My name is Heart. It's nice to make your acquaintance." The hybrid greeted.
"Likewise. Sometimes it's not easy being a lone wolf. I'm trying to find a place I can stay." Lucien told her. "I was kicked from my pack."
"I'm a lone wolf as well. I was exiled from my pack. The Lord of this land happily let me stay here and make it my home." Heart told him.
"Do...do you think the Lord will agree to let me stay too?" Lucien asked.
"He had enough trouble having me be able to stay. So, this is not up to me." The hybrid says.
"Well maybe you can put a good word in for me?" Lucien wonders.
"Perhaps." Was all Heart said.
"Maybe we can just chill here and sit a while?" The wolf suggested as he sat down. "I can tell you about the dragon lands."
"The dragons?" Heart wandered with wide eyes.
"Yea! They are scary things. Took me a while to sneak around in that territory." Lucien explained.
"Do you know anything about dragons?" Heart asked a little excitedly. She always wanted to learn about the other side of herself. She knew nothing about dragons and always wanted to.
The wolf shook his head. "Not really. They fly, breathe fire, and are big. What else is there to know?"
"So much more." She said a little disappointed.
Lucien noticed her change of mood. "You, ok?"
"I'm fine. I need my rest. I'm healing from another attack on me." Heart told him. "For now, I think you should be on your way."
"Oh, come on, please. Let me at least stay here with you. I can be pretty charming after all." He says as he strikes a pose, his head held high.
Heart shook her head, "No thank you. I won't allow a stranger to live in my den."
"But I'm no stranger now. We can be friends. Right?" Lucien said with a smile.
"We can, but this isn't the way to do it." Heart said with a small show of her fangs.
"Plus, if you really like me, we can always be mates too." The wolf winked.
Heart showed more of her teeth in a snarl. "Not interested."
"Well, you got to get to know me first."
"My eyes are on someone else. So, the answer is still no."
"Someone else? Who!? You're the only wolf here you said?"
"That's none of your business!"
Lucien bared his teeth at her. He was not happy. He wanted to have that chance of finding a home and finding a mate and she was being stubborn. "Then I guess I have no use for you." The wolf then stood up and started to charge at Heart.
She was surprised by this and was knocked back from his attack. She fell to her side and then Lucien jumped on top of her. Heart was shocked but tried to hold the wolf back with just one paw. It was very hard as he snapped his jaw at her to try and get to her neck. She managed to get her back legs under him and pushed him off her. As he flew off her, Heart got up and jumped into the air with her wings. She then let out a howl, hoping Alastor would hear it.
"Get down here and fight like a wolf you coward!" Lucien growled.
Heart looked down at him angered. "That's the difference between me and you, Lucien. I'm only half wolf." She then shot fire down at him.
The wolf was surprised and ran from the fire. She turned and tried to get him again and missed. She couldn't get that far off the ground and the wolf took that to his advantage and jumped up and managed to clamp down on her tail. Heart let out a yelp in surprise and lost her concentration. They both fell and hit the ground.
Heart landed on her bad paw and she gave a big whine and fell. Lucien went and took advantage of that and jumped on top of the hybrid. He tried to get at her neck again but when and went to try and grab it, he grabbed her collar instead and pulled it. He twisted around and soon enough the collar started to choke her.
The hybrid was surprised by this and couldn't get out of it nor twist her way out. She couldn't breathe and all her fighting against it was making it worse.
Before she started to really be affected by it, the feeling left. She gasped for air as she landed on the ground to try and catch her breath. She then saw someone stand over her. She thought it was the wolf again and almost panicked. Her vision cleared and soon saw the red and brown fur.
"Alastor?" She breathed out.
The deer lord stood over the hybrid protectively as he glared at the wolf he had just tackled to the ground. He stopped his hoof a moment and snorted with his head down. His antlers had sprouted as well to make them more menacing.
Lucien wasn't expecting the blow and got wind knocked out of him as he tumbled around the ground a few feet. When he looked back up, he saw an angry looking deer glaring at him as he was over top of the hybrid.
Lucien then started to laugh. "Haha! A deer? What the fuck! That isn't scary!" He continued to laugh.
Alastor grew angrier as his form started to shape into something else. Longer, skinnier, his antlers branched out and his eyes hollowed out into nothing. He made a buzzing type noise as he walked forward towards the wolf.
"Such bad meat should be taken care of." Alastor hissed out.
The wolf stopped laughing when he heard that. He looked up and saw the deer now towering over him. His ears went back, and his tail tucked under him. Lucien whined and stepped back a little.
"What...what the fuck are you?" He stuttered.
"Something you wish you didn't meet." Alastor growled. "Leave this land now. If I see you again then I'm going to add you to my personal meat collection."
Lucien didn't have to be told twice as he whined and then started to run off. The wolf heading into a direction just to get away from the demonic deer. You could tell that he was scared now from the deer. Alastor snorted and stopped his hoof again and then put his head up and held it high. You could tell that the deer was very prideful.
Heart managed to stand up and walked up beside Alastor, who was now twice his normal size. She was bold and rubbed her muzzle against his leg. The deer turned to her and made a small bellow that sounded happy. He put the end of his snout to the side of her head and rubbed it.
Heart pulled away from him. "Thank you for coming Al. It was hard for me to fend him off with my injured paw." She said as she looked at him happily.
Alastor soon started to shrink back to his normal size and then stood in front of Heart. "I heard your howl and I knew something was wrong. I tried to come as soon as I could."
"You really scared him off." She said with a small giggle.
"That I did!" He puffed his chest out. "He was not welcome here anyway."
"He was a little weird." The hybrid told him. "Kept saying he wanted to stay with me. Be my mate. Start my own pack. I wasn't having any of that though." She huffed.
Alastor seemed to growl at the words when she spoke. "Well, I'm hoping she learned his lesson. Also learns that not everyone will be interested."
Heart nodded in agreement. "Hopefully. Besides, I told him I was waiting for the right one to come alone and be my mate." She said as she looked at the deer for a moment with a smile. "When that will be...who knows."
Alastor smiled back at her. He couldn't tell her. Not yet. There was no way that he could ask her. He had to wait still. "Come now dear, let's get you back in the den, ok? How is your paw?"
The two turned and headed back to the den.
"It's ok. I landed on it so its sore." She said as they got to the entrance.
"I should be able to heal it within a day or two so you will be good to go." He says as he watched her go inside.
The hybrid turned around and looked at him with a smile. "Thanks Al, for everything."
"You're welcome. Now, stay here and I'll go get dinner. Ok?" He made sure.
She nodded. "I'll be here." She wagged her tail.
The deer nodded and then turned around and took off in a throat through the woods. Heart gave a happy sigh as she went and laid down in her moss bed. She gave a sigh and just settled down. She put her head on her paws and just laid there.
"I'll never be able to tell him. I'm too scared." She whined.
She put a paw over her muzzle and just laid there until Alastor got back. She loves the deer, but she is afraid to tell him so. She didn't know how he felt. He showed it but that doesn't mean he actually cares. That was the thing that worried her the most. She is afraid if she told him then...things wouldn't be the same as they were. She was afraid she would lose this closeness that they had.
Heart sighed, "I can get through this. I'll find the right time. I just...don't want to lose him yet." She said as she closed her eyes and went to take a nap.
Alastor to the rescue again, but now Heart is having some trouble. Poor bean.