Finally getting over whatever weird bug I've had for the last couple weeks. Nice to finally be back to normal, especially since work is picking up again. Of course, I thought I'd have a ton of time to write this, since I had an extra day off this week. Naturally, I didn't write at all that day and ended up having just enough time for a single readthrough for editing.
I'm also uploading these chapters on AO3 and have gotten a couple of lovely reviews from readers. Super encouraging to hear from people, especially since they are asking questions about stuff I want people to be thinking about. Tells me I must be doing something right, which is huge, because I rarely know what I'm doing.
Anyways, Adam's been staring at this Grimm for a week now. Let's unpause and see what happens.
Adam had never seen a Grimm before. Well, at least, not in person. Father Bernard had shown him pictures and warned him about the danger they posed. Huge, merciless creatures that existed only to tirelessly hunt and kill humans. The books he'd read on Grimm made them seem like the most terrifying creatures on Remnant.
The books didn't do them justice.
The monster before him lowered itself back onto all fours and stalked forward. Eve tugged on the reins Adam had grabbed onto absentmindedly, snapping Adam back to reality as he stumbled but held on. His first attempt to mount his horse ended with his foot hastily slipping out of the stirrup, leaving him to faceplant against Eve's side. His second attempt proved more successful.
His eyes shot across the gorge, where the Beowulf had reached the edge and appeared to be studying the drop-off. Thankfully, there wouldn't be a convenient point to cross for almost half a mile. Upstream, the current raged too quickly to allow passage. Downstream, the gorge widened before gently sloping down with the river, which then snaked back towards the village. Adam shakily assured himself he'd be okay, as he could get back to the village and warn everyone well before the beast could reach a suitable crossing point.
Adam's confidence fled in an instant.
"Run, Eve!" Adam yelled as his feet kicked against her side, just as the Beowulf kicked off of the opposite ledge. The terrifying leap fell short of Adam's side, but Adam had no interest in waiting to see if the Grimm survived. The growls and grunts from the edge told him all he needed to know as Eve broke into a sprint.
Adam leaned forward, urging Eve on faster and faster. A furious howl chased them as they flew through the clearing, proving their pursuer was very much alive. There was no time to seek the trail, so they made their own. Branches snapped against Adam's face and arms as they sped through the trees. No matter how fast Eve was, Adam knew they had no chance of outrunning a Beowulf. His only hope was to reach the village and pray someone there could help.
"Grimm!" Adam screamed at the top of his lungs. "Grimm!"
No answer came, but Adam kept yelling, hoping that someone would hear his warning and come save him. A terrible crashing sound from behind tore his focus away for a moment to see his worst fears realized as the Beowulf charged through the treeline, rushing after him without wavering.
"Help!"
This time, his cries were answered by the tolling of a bell from his left. One of the few lookouts around the village must have spotted him and sounded the alarm. The warning was soon echoed by a louder bell from the village, alerting those ahead of the approaching danger. Even now, people would be running to the three shelters in town.
Shelters that Adam would never reach in time.
"To me!" came the call from the lookout. "To me!" Adam pulled Eve to the left, angling them toward the lone tower, desperately hoping that the single scout could somehow save him from the looming destruction that grew closer by the second.
A single shot rang out, whizzing by Adam as he begged Eve to go faster. A second shot. A third. Adam raced past the tower before the fourth, but the Beowulf refused to be denied, barely stumbling with each impact. The end of the gunfire heralded the end of Adam's hope of escape.
"Faster, Eve!" he cried, tears streaking from his eyes as he desperately prayed for a miracle. Over the pounding of Eve's hooves and his own heart, he could still hear the approaching growls that promised nothing but destruction.
A panicked glance backward proved a mistake. Glowing, red eyes and gnashing teeth grew closer with each lunge of the Beowulf's powerful legs. Even with Eve running faster than ever before, there was no escaping the monster's pursuit. With his focus firmly on the Beowulf, Adam felt his hand slip. He frantically tried to tighten his grip on Eve's reins, but ended up tugging on them instead, forcing Eve to turn awkwardly, sending Adam sailing forward on his own.
Adam hit the ground hard, tucking his shoulder and rolling with the momentum like Father Bernard had taught him. He came to a rapid stop on his side, body aching from the impact. But that was the least of his concerns, given the triumphant roar of the Beowulf that heralded the end of the chase and his coming demise. He clenched his eyes shut, willing himself to wake from this nightmare - hoping against hope that he'd be delivered from a sudden, brutal end. Another shot rang out ahead as someone tried to buy him more time, but Adam paid it no heed, knowing how little the last guard had been able to accomplish.
Which left Adam unprepared for the loud grunt and the crashing sound of the Beowulf being thrown to the side.
A figure rushed past Adam, charging straight at the Beowulf with reckless abandon as the monster recovered its footing. It roared defiantly at the new arrival, leaping forward once more.
"Ha!" The man yelled back, sliding under the beast. The Grimm tried to swing a massive paw downward as it passed overhead, missing the challenger by a hair and landing hard beyond. Before it could rise, the man leveled a large pistol at the Beowulf, unleashing a trio of shots at close range that tore gaping wounds in the creature's side. Even injured, the Beowulf turned and charged, swinging its vicious claws for the man's face.
He danced around the blows, barely avoiding each strike as he pulled a machete from his side. He spun away from a clumsy blow that would have torn his head from his shoulders, using the momentum to bring his blade around and slice clean through the Beowulf's elbow. Still refusing to yield, it dove forward, snapping its massive jaws. The beast's mouth closed on nothing but air as its opponent rolled away, then swung low to take a chunk out of the Beowulf's hind leg. It fell to the side as a second pass left the leg hanging on by a few strands of dark muscle.
"Are you okay?" the man asked between heavy breaths, making Adam realize he was still frozen on the ground as he watched the spectacle. "Are you hurt, boy?"
"N-no," Adam stuttered, wide eyes still locked on the Beowulf behind him as it tried to stand on the broken limb. When that failed, it furiously began to drag itself across the ground, pushing itself forward on its two remaining limbs. "Watch out!" Adam yelled as the Beowulf tried to hurl itself at the man.
The Grimm's jaws closed on the man's machete as the man turned and firmly planted his gun against the side of its skull. A single squeeze of the trigger obliterated half of the Beowulf's head in an instant. The hulking form fell to the ground and began to smoke as Adam's savior yanked his blade free, eyeing the edge for a second before slipping it back through the leather sheath on his side. The large pistol soon found its home on his opposite hip, even as three men ran up behind Adam.
"Morris, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Morris replied, waving away the concern of the trio as he caught his breath. None of them looked like they would fare very well in a fight. Adam doubted they had ever even missed a meal. Their clothes were far too fancy as well, hanging loose and long. Adam knew a merchant when he saw one.
Morris, on the other hand, cut an imposing figure. Despite being shorter than the merchants, the way he carried himself made him stand out. His clothes were a sensible mixture of browns and greens, making him look like a part of the woods themselves. A thick belt held not just his weapons, but also a small canteen and a pair of small pouches. Wavy, dark hair hung down to his shoulders, framing a heavily tanned face that bore a small, deep scar across the right side of his strong jaw.
"And so is the boy, it seems," the lead merchant commented. "Well, better than he could have been, I guess."
Adam's eyes anxiously shot between the four men, who waited patiently for him to speak. "I…I'm okay," Adam finally answered. Physically, he was fine, other than his racing heart. And his sore muscles. And the way he shivered despite the warmth of the day. "I think."
"You'll be fine, boy," Morris assured him. "Come on. Get up." Morris offered him a hand, pulling him to his feet.
"You're lucky we came along when we did," the lead merchant said.
"It seems I was right to set out early this morning," his fellow replied, offering a small cloth for Adam to wipe his face with. "Good thing we didn't let you sleep in…"
"Yes, yes. I'm sure the boy is grateful that nature's call came before the sun today," the lead merchant snarked.
"Laugh all you want, but had I not woken you all up early, then this boy-"
"That's enough of that for now," Morris firmly interrupted, reminding the squabbling trio of the boy in their midst. "That's a fine horse, son. Rides well. She yours?"
"Y-yes," Adam managed, hand instinctively resting on Eve's side. "I've been riding Eve for months now."
"I would've guessed years," Morris laughed, keeping the distraction going. "Your father taught you well."
"Absolutely!" The lead merchant chimed in happily. "Why, you nearly outran that beast. Had it not been for Morris-"
A sharp elbow in the man's side arrived too late to stop him from ruining Morris's ploy. Adam couldn't resist looking for the remains of the Beowulf, but Morris knelt in front of him, blocking his view entirely.
"Ignore him. All that matters is that you're safe." Morris gripped Adam's shoulder, keeping the boy focused on him. "There's no use dwelling on what might have happened. The monster's gone. You're not. Let's leave it at that, okay?" Adam nodded. "Good! Now what's say we get you home?"
"Splendid idea!" The lead merchant interjected, stepping between the two and steering Adam toward the village. "We can let your parents know you're safe! I'm sure they'll be thankful to hear how Morris saved you. Very thankful indeed…"
"There'll be none of that," Morris instructed.
"What? We pay for your protection. Why shouldn't-"
"That's Bernard's boy there," Morris said, silencing the man's greedy thoughts in an instant. "That man does more than enough for you lot as it is. Besides, you didn't do anything, so it's my decision on who pays. And don't even think of skimping out on your offering when we leave, or you can find yourself a new escort from now on." Satisfied that he'd made his point, Morris led Adam over to Eve, placing her reins in his hand before leading the pair toward the village, giving a parting order over his shoulder. "Take the caravan to the church and see to the horses. We'll meet you there after I let Bernard know his boy's safe."
"Actually, Dad's not-"
"Adam!" A familiar yet frantic voice called out. Adam turned to see Brother Wilde running toward them. "Adam! Are you okay?"
"Calm down, sir," Morris said, placing himself between Adam and the panicked man. "The boy's safe. I'm just taking him back to his father."
"He's not here," Brother Wilde managed, stooping over and panting for air as he came to a stop. It took him a few seconds before he could continue. "I'm watching Adam while Father Bernard is away."
"Not doing a great job of that," Morris pointedly commented. "He tellin' the truth, boy?" Adam nodded. "Alright then," Morris said as he turned back to Brother Wilde. "So if you're watching him, how come I find him out in the fields seconds away from becoming Grimm chow?"
"That…is an excellent question." Brother Wilde leaned to look at Adam. "Why were you out riding while Father Bernard is away?"
And just like that, the hot seat shifted from Brother Wilde to Adam. With both men awaiting an answer, Adam ducked his head guiltily, knowing there was no good answer. "I just took Eve out for a quick ride," Adam lied. It was still disobeying, but there was no reason to mention how far he'd gone. Or how long.
Thankfully, it seemed the chewing out could wait. "Well, I'm glad you're safe, at least. Thank you so much, Mister…"
"Morris Collins," Adam's rescuer answered, shaking Brother Wilde's hand. "But you can drop the mister stuff. That's for better men than me."
"Nonsense, Mister Collins. As far as I'm concerned, there's no one better than a man who would defend another, especially a child." Morris stood a little taller at the praise. "Alan Wilde. I'm a friend of Father Bernard. He asked me to check in on Adam while he's visiting Katai."
"Well, maybe we should find a way to keep a closer eye on the boy for now." While it was clear they wanted to make sure Adam didn't break any more rules, Adam found himself grateful for the idea of company at the moment. The last thing he wanted was to be alone with his thoughts.
Alone with the memory of that monster.
"I couldn't agree more," Brother Wilde replied, turning to Adam as he did. "Let's get Eve back to the church, then we'll head home."
"But that is home," Adam reminded the man.
"I think it'd be best if you stayed with my family for the next few days." Suddenly, Adam felt a lot less enthused. "I'll come back and take care of your chores tonight."
"And don't worry about Eve," Morris continued. "I'll make sure she's taken care of tonight. Least I could do after all the times Bernard's let me use his stable."
As grateful as Adam was sure they assumed he'd be, the last place he wanted to be was the Wilde's house tonight. Being alone at the church all night almost sounded better. Sadly, he had no say in the matter.
Half an hour later, Adam found himself sitting at the table of the Wilde household, pretending not to be listening to the hushed argument of the adults in the hall. Brother Wilde clearly just wanted to make sure Adam was safe and looked after.
Mrs. Wilde, on the other hand…
"Why couldn't he stay at the church? That's his home, after all."
"He was attacked by a Grimm today, dear," Brother Wilde answered. "No one should be alone after something like that."
"What about this Morris character? He saved the boy once. Can't he watch him tonight?"
"And what about tomorrow night?" he countered. "Besides, Mister Collins is going to be patrolling the village tonight to make sure there aren't any more about. He'd still be alone."
"And what am I supposed to do about food? We can't afford to be feeding extra mouths around here. No one's giving us any offerings. Maybe Father Bernard can afford to take in strays, but we can't."
"Honey…" her exacerbated husband came across a lot less forceful than he probably intended. "We have more than enough. Besides, we can always use some of the food from the church that Adam would've eaten anyways. I know Father Bernard wouldn't mind" His wife didn't respond, which in Adam's mind was an improvement. "He can sleep on the couch. I'll take him to the church on my way to work so he can take care of his chores there, then bring him home each night. During the day, he'll be busy with his lessons and such, so you won't even see him most of the time."
"Fine…but I expect him to do some chores here in the evening. It's the least he can do for us putting him up all week."
"I'm sure that'll be fine," Brother Wilde relented, relieved to finally bring the conversation to a close. After a few seconds, the pair entered the room. Mrs. Wilde's false smile irritated Adam, but he chose to focus on her husband instead - his only real ally in this household. "So, Adam, I made up the couch for you tonight. It's pretty comfy. I've been in the doghouse enough times to know."
Adam forced a small chuckle at the joke, wondering if it might be more accurate than he realized.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you back to the church on the way to work so you can check in on Eve and work on your lessons." As boring as his studies could be, he'd take a full week of math lessons over staying here any longer necessary. "Oh, and in the evenings, do you think I could get your help around the house?"
That part he could easily agree to. Adam hated the thought of being their charity case. But if he did some work around their place, then it was basically like earning his keep, right? He'd owe them nothing afterwards. The last thing he needed was Dorian lording this over him for the next few years.
Speaking of the jerk…
"I'm home!" Dorian announced as he entered, then screeched to a halt on seeing Adam. "What're you doing here?"
Adam felt his grip on the table tighten as he resisted the urge to snap back at Dorian. Luckily, Brother Wilde stepped in before he could say something spiteful.
"Adam had a very rough day," Brother Wilde began, testing his words before apparently deciding to just dive in. "There was a Grimm near the village and it attacked Adam. Thankfully, Mister Collins managed to kill the beast before it could hurt anyone."
"Who?"
"Mister Collins was escorting one of the trade caravans and happened to arrive just in time to help," Brother Wilde answered his son. "If not for him, Adam might not be with us."
Dorian muttered something that had Adam bristling, but his parents either didn't hear or chose not to address it.
"So Adam's gonna stay with us for a few days until Father Bernard gets back."
"I'm not sharing my bed with him."
"You won't have to," Brother Wilde assured his son. "He'll sleep on the couch. After breakfast, I'll take him to the church and bring him back with me in the evening." A sudden moment of inspiration struck Brother Wilde. "Maybe you two could play together in the afternoons."
Adam refused to even acknowledge the idiotic idea. Dorian seemed equally unenthused. "Yeah. Sure."
"Wonderful!" Brother Wilde has to be faking ignorance at this point, Adam thought to himself. Surely no man could be that dense. "Now, let's all sit down for dinner and have a relaxing evening, hm?"
No doubt Brother Wilde hoped he could force peace between the pair, but Adam knew it wouldn't last. All he could hope for was that the rest of the week would go by quickly.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
The next three days proved uneventful, for the most part. Adam woke up early, had breakfast with Brother Wilde (Dorian conveniently chose to sleep in every day), and then walked to the church. He checked on Eve, then tended to the garden before starting his lessons for the day. Adam studied harder than he ever had before. Not out of some desire to improve.
He just needed something to keep his mind occupied.
Memories of his encounter with the Beowulf still haunted his every thought. The creeping feeling of hopelessness threatened to overwhelm him anytime it gained a foothold in his mind, so the best he could do was keep himself too busy to think about it.
Cleaning. Gardening. Even math lessons proved better than letting his mind wander. At night, he barely slept, as those cruel teeth and claws always waited in the dark for him. He did his best to hide that fear around the Wildes, though. Brother Wilde would just fret and make him talk about it. Mrs. Wilde wouldn't care.
Dorian would just make fun of him.
Despite Brother Wilde's hopes, Adam and Dorian didn't magically start getting along. Instead, Adam did his best to just avoid the bully and his friends. Dorian mostly behaved when his parents were watching. He wasn't exactly friendly, but apathetic enough to avoid getting in any trouble. But the moment the adults were busy, Adam became a target once more. Which meant Adam either stayed near Brother Wilde or avoided the boy entirely.
Unfortunately, that was hard to do in the afternoons.
"Whatcha doin' in there, Adam?" Adam tensed as Dorian's voice filled the stable. "Looking for your mommy? Hate to break it to ya, but where do you think we got those burgers from last night?"
Adam ignored the stupidity behind him as he continued cleaning out the stalls, but he knew Dorian wasn't alone. Despite being bigger than Adam, the bully never came without backup. His two lackeys were always with him.
As if to prove that point, a new set of voices joined in. "This is probably his bedroom, right?" Samson offered. "He's just making his bed."
"Making his bed! That's a good one."
Adam took a deep breath, but refused to rise to the bait. As expected, Dorian had brought the two imbeciles with him again. First, there was Samson, the biggest boy in town outside of the handful of teenagers. He was a year older than Dorian, but always hung around the boy, acting as the muscle of the trio. He rarely actually hit anyone, since his intimidating size meant most of the other kids would do whatever it took to appease the brute.
Then there was Blane. Unlike Samson, Blane was small and wiry. Adam felt confident he could take the boy in a fight, but he stuck to Dorian and Samson like glue. He didn't bring much to the table, physically or mentally. Most of the time, he just agreed with whatever the other two said, his whiny voice mindlessly complimenting the various insults of his companions. Adam would rather be punched by Samson than have to listen to Blane drone on and on all day.
"Well, at least the freak knows where he belongs." Dorian's insult hung in the air, but Adam kept his eyes down and his mouth shut. "Hey, freak! I'm talking to you!"
It seemed ignoring the problem wouldn't make it go away.
"I'm busy Dorian."
"Oh, the beast speaks!" The three boys laughed at Dorian's lame response. "Old Father Barnyard taught you some neat tricks, eh?"
"Father Barnyard! That's hilarious!" Blane's ability to be amused by the same jokes every day was as impressive as it was irritating.
"Leave Dad out of this," Adam growled.
"So how does it work? Did old Barnyard bang a cow to make you? Couldn't find a wife, so he jumped whatever came along, huh?"
Adam practically threw the last bit of manure into the nearby wheelbarrow, tossing the pitchfork against the wall before he was tempted to use it in a far less proper way.
"Is he really from a cow?" Samson asked, clearly confused by the whole affair.
"Nah. He's just some freak that nobody wants." Adam stormed out to grab some more straw for the stall, pushing past Blane as Dorian continued to insult him. "Way I hear it, Father Barnyard found him abandoned on his front porch one night. His own parents didn't even want him."
"Shut up, Dorian!" Adam screamed at the bully. "Just shut up! Or I'll-"
"You'll what, runt?" Adam knew he'd played right into Dorian's trap as all three boys surrounded him, waiting for him to make a move. "Well, c'mon then! If you want a fight, let's fight!"
As tempted as Adam was to lash out, he knew he wouldn't stand a chance. Dorian alone could beat him, and with Samson there too, Adam would be lucky to last more than a few seconds. His hands stung as he balled his fists tighter, but all he could really do was glare his hatred at the boys before releasing a long breath through his nose.
"That's what I thought, pipsqueak."
While Dorian wouldn't shy away from getting physical, he rarely swung first. He seemed to get more joy out of watching his targets give up entirely, lording his superiority over them with a smug grin that Adam wished he could knock off of the boy's face. Instead, he scooped up the hay he had dropped and went back to his chores.
Or, at least, he tried to.
"You're in my way, Dorian."
Dorian had chosen his spot well, blocking Adam's path to the stall. "I didn't hear a please."
"Please get out of my way." Adam dragged out the first word through gritted teeth, hating himself for obeying. With a laugh at his victory, Dorian stepped aside, letting Adam get back to work.
As Adam passed the bully, he tripped over Dorian's extended foot. The pile of hay in his hands softened his fall, but his pride was hurt far more than his body. Thankfully, it seemed the boys had had enough of their fun as they finally left, though not without "accidentally" knocking over the wheelbarrow on their way out, laughing as they went. Adam cursed them under his breath, then went about cleaning up their mess. Hopefully, they'd find someone else to mess with now and he could enjoy the last few hours before Brother Wilde came to collect him again.
A squeal from the pasture had Adam's head snapping in that direction. With all the merchants gone for the day, only one horse was left.
Eve.
Adam's bullies stood along the pasture fence, throwing acorns and small rocks at Adam's prized mare. Eve voiced her displeasure as they continued the barrage, laughing at her reactions as they hurled anything they could find nearby. Dorian called his buddies' attention to himself, holding a rock almost as big as his fist with an evil grin on his face. He reared back to throw…
Dorian fell as Adam crashed into him from behind, tackling the boy through the fence and to the ground. With a scream of hatred, Adam landed on top of the larger boy. Before Dorian could react, Adam began throwing his fists at the boy's face. A flurry of clumsy blows rained down before Dorian brought his arms up to block, but still Adam continued, spitting his rage as he unleashed all of his fury upon the bully.
"Leave Eve alone, you monster!" Adam yelled, snatching the rock Dorian had dropped. He raised it up in both hands, prepared to smash through Dorian's guard.
"Get off me!" Dorian yelled as Samson caught Adam's arm, hauling him away before he could cause any serious damage. Dorian scrambled to his feet, clutching his nose as blood dripped through his fingers. The area around his right eye was bright red, the early signs of a shiner already starting to sneak in. "Hold him still!"
"I hate you! I hate you!" Adam yelled as Samson fought to contain the whirlwind in front of him. Samson gripped both of Adam's arms, but still Adam fought to free himself as Dorian took a second to steady himself.
"You really aren't that bright, are you, runt?" Dorian punctuated his statement with a punch to Adam's stomach. "You need to learn your place!" Another blow made Adam's knees buckle, but Samson held him up.
Dorian took his time methodically punishing Adam for his defiance. Adam tried to act tough through it all but was betrayed by tears that began to flow freely by the fourth strike. Dorian grabbed Adam by one of his horns, tilting his face up to look at him.
"I'm gonna make you wish that Grimm had finished the job." With that, Dorian's fist struck Adam's face. Unsatisfied, Dorian lifted his face again before striking it away once more.
Through it all, Adam refused to say anything, even as his vision swam. Finally, Samson dropped him to his knees, just in time for Dorian to deliver a kick to his ribs and sprawl him out on the grass.
"You don't belong here, Adam." Dorian spat on his face. "You're an abomination. Everyone can see it as plainly as those horns on your head. You're just some sort of monster that should've never been born."
"You're…you're the…m-monster…" Adam groaned the words out, even if he knew he shouldn't.
"What was that?"
"You're…the monster," Adam managed between pained breaths. "Only a monster would….attack an innocent animal."
"Innocent? You?" Dorian snorted, spraying blood from his likely broken nose. "Don't make me laugh." It took Dorian a few seconds to realize what Adam actually meant. "Oh, you mean that stupid horse of yours? What, is that your girlfriend? Hoping to make another freak like you or something?" Dorian turned to look at Eve, who was anxiously watching nearby. He looked back to Adam with a wicked glint in his eye. "Maybe I should take her for a ride myself…"
"No!" Adam reached out, but winced at the sharp pain in his side. He writhed on the ground, ashamed that he couldn't do anything to stop Dorian.
"Can't be that hard. I mean, if you can figure it out, then it must be easy." Dorian confidently strode up to Eve, calling behind him to his buddies. "Help me get on this thing!"
"You sure, Dorian?" Samson questioned, hesitant to approach the larger creature, especially with how agitated she looked at the moment.
"Course I'm sure!" Dorian proclaimed. "I'll see what all the fuss is about. Maybe I'll make her my horse." Dorian patted Eve's hindquarter firmly. "I'm sure-"
Adam grinned despite the pain as he saw Eve turn suddenly, knowing full well what came next. Samson saw it too. "Dorian! Look out!"
"Huh?"
The warning came too late, as Eve delivered a single kick backwards at Dorian, who just managed to get his arm up in time to shield his chest. The blow still sent him flying, landing on his back several feet away where he screamed in pain.
"Ah! My arm!" Dorian wailed, clutching his right arm desperately. His friends rushed over to help, but Dorian swatted them away as they neared his injured limb. He rolled back and forth, arm wobbling loosely as he cried and gasped for air.
"Go get help!" Samson instructed, shoving Blane away as he hovered around their friend. "What do I do, Dorian?"
"You run home," came the firm response from nearby. Adam was filled with a confusing mix of joy and anxiety at the familiar voice, turning to see Father Bernard as the man quickly dismounted from Abel. "Blane, go find Misses Wilde and tell her to come to the church. Tell her that her boy's been hurt, then go home and stay there."
"Y-yes sir," Blane obediently replied, scurrying away as fast as he could. One look from Father Bernard had Samson running back to the village after his friend.
"Get up, Adam," Father Bernard said as he looked the boy over. Adam stumbled but managed to get his feet under him once more. "Go grab my med kit from the house, and make sure to bring a pillow and some towels, too."
Adam limped away to do as ordered. Everything hurt, but he knew Dorian's injuries were far more severe. Thankfully, Father Bernard had some medical training and would know what to do. He'd tend to Adam afterwards, but right now, Dorian's injuries needed attention.
It took only a couple minutes before Adam came back, a little out of breath as he deposited the items beside Dorian and Father Bernard. The screaming had turned into choked sobs as Father Bernard carefully lifted the boy's head and slid the pillow underneath.
"Looks like she broke your arm," Father Bernard informed the boy. "We'll need to get a splint on it. I won't lie, Dorian. This is gonna hurt. Here, take this." Father Bernard placed two small pills in Dorian's hand, then held out his canteen. "For the pain. Best I can do right now."
Dorian quickly gulped down the pills, wincing as he swallowed. Father Bernard carefully moved his arm to the side and began pressing gently on the boy's chest. Once or twice, Dorian gasped in pain and tried to recoil.
"Looks like she broke a rib. Maybe bruised one or two as well. Could take a few months for those to fully heal. Same as your arm." Dorian groaned as Father Bernard spoke, pulling out some bandages and tape. "Adam, bring me that big branch over there."
Adam dragged over the downed branch from the large ginkgo tree growing near the pasture. Father Bernard broke off several of the thinner limbs, checking that they were all a similar length before placing three on either side of Dorian's broken arm. He handed a thicker part of the branch to Dorian.
"Bite down on this." Dorian did as he was told, letting out a muffled scream as Father Bernard quickly wrapped his arm, using the sticks as support on either side to ensure the arm couldn't move - something he'd taught Adam how to do a dozen times before. "There we go," he said as he gently laid the fully wrapped arm down. "As soon as your mom gets here we'll-"
"Dorian!" Speak of the banshee. Mrs. Wilde came rushing up, took one look at her injured boy, and immediately turned on Father Bernard. "What happened! What did your little brat do to my sweet boy?!"
Adam stood there dumbfounded, hardly able to believe the woman was so delusional.
"Eve kicked him," Father Bernard advised, "and I'll thank you not to insult my son."
"That horse attacked my baby?" Mrs. Wilde's furious gaze turned to Eve. "That thing's a menace! We can't have it running around attacking our children! I'm sorry, but you either sell it or I'll have the town guard put it down."
"It wasn't Eve's fault!" Adam protested.
"You be quiet, you little-"
"I trained Eve myself," Father Bernard interrupted, stepping between Mrs. Wilde and Adam. "She's one of the gentlest horses I've ever met. She would never attack someone unprovoked."
"What are you trying to say, Father?" The way she spat the term made Adam doubt her reverence. "Are you honestly going to blame my son for getting kicked by a beast?"
"Madam, I found your boy inside the fence and my own son badly injured. And not from a horse, I'll add." Mrs. Wilde clearly caught the accusation, but didn't have a response. "Now, I've done what I can for your boy already, but he's gonna need a lot of rest. He's got a broken arm and at least one broken rib from what I can tell. I've already given him some pain meds," Father Bernard handed Mrs. Wilde a small bottle," but you can give him another two every eight hours if he's still in pain. He's also got a few bruises, a broken nose, and will probably have a black eye for a while. Put some ice on his injuries and have him stay in bed for a bit. I'll come check on him in the morning."
"I think you've done quite enough already," Mrs. Wilde shot back, helping Dorian to his feet. "Just wait until Alan gets home. I'm sure he'll come by to have a word with you." She glared at Eve, then turned her attention to Adam one last time. "And as for you, stay away from Dorian, you hear me?"
"Have a nice day, Misses Wilde," Father Bernard said, far nicer than she deserved. With a huff, the angry woman stormed off, practically dragging Dorian along with her. The moment she was gone, Father Bernard turned to Adam. "So how about we go inside and you tell me what happened."
Adam gulped at the gaze Father Bernard leveled at him. It looked like he wouldn't be getting off easy after all.
"He started it."
"Inside." Father Bernard marched him into the house, pointing him to the office. The two took their usual seats as Adam waited for Father Bernard to begin.
"Alright. Let's have it."
Adam did his best to explain what happened, making sure to emphasize Dorian's actions while skipping some of his own. Through it all, Father Bernard hardly reacted outside of a furrowed brow at some of the insults and shaking his head at the end.
"And when he messed with Eve, she kicked him. It was all his fault. If he hadn't-"
Father Bernard silently raised his hand, cutting Adam off before he could continue throwing all of the blame at Dorian.
"Let me make sure I have everything." Father Bernard took a deep breath. "Dorian and his friends showed up, insulted you, and then beat you up." Adam nodded along. "Completely unprovoked?" Adam hesitated. "I figured I was missing a detail. If Eve had kicked Dorian in the face, he'd have a lot more problems than a black eye and broken nose. Care to explain?"
Adam ducked his head, embarrassed at being found out so easily. "It was his fault."
"Did he attack you first?" Adam didn't answer. "Did he ask you to hit him?" Silence. "So then what would make you attack him like that, Adam? I thought I taught you better."
"They were messing with Eve!"
"Messing with her? Did they hurt her?"
"No, but-"
"You can't just attack someone because you don't like what they're doing," Father Bernard instructed. "You escalated the situation, so I'm not surprised they beat you up. You should have-"
"He was going to hurt her!" Adam shouted, fighting back tears. Father Bernard stopped, letting Adam elaborate. "They started out just annoying her, but he was gonna throw a big rock at her. He could've hurt her really bad! I couldn't just stand by and do nothing!"
Silence claimed the room as Adam waited for another reprimand, both for his actions and for his outburst. He knew all of his father's teachings. Mercy. Kindness. Forgiveness. Adam could practically hear the lectures already.
"Is that so?" Father Bernard finally asked. "So you attacked Dorian and his friends because they might've hurt Eve?"
Adam shrank into his chair, waiting for the inevitable punishment.
"I'm proud of you, Adam."
"Huh?"
"I'm proud of you," Father Bernard repeated, walking around the desk to kneel beside Adam's chair. Adam watched him curiously, unsure what to think.
"But I attacked him-"
"You defended someone in need, risking yourself for another's safety." Father Bernard placed a hand on Adam's shoulder, shaking Adam softly as he smiled proudly at his son. "Violence shouldn't be the first answer, but that doesn't mean it's never the answer…when used properly." Adam still didn't know what to say, so Father Bernard continued. "When the demon led humanity against the God of Light, his Brother came and fought by his side. When bandits attack a village, the guards defend it. Or when a Beowulf chases a young faunus…"
"You heard?"
"Why do you think I came home early?" Adam's eyes widened as he realized Father Bernard had said he'd be gone longer. "Morris told me about what happened when his caravan reached Katai. He agreed to escort me back immediately."
"He's here?" Adam looked around, despite knowing no one else was in the room.
Father Bernard laughed at the sudden excitement. "He wanted to scout the area when we arrived to check for any more signs of Grimm, but he'll be staying the night with us and leaving out early in the morning. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, too." Adam smiled brightly, but winced when he took a deep breath. "Calm down, son. You did good today, but I'm pretty sure you're gonna be hurting for a bit…" Father Bernard looked around real quick, then leaned closer to whisper, "but not as long as Dorian."
Adam laughed, even if it hurt his side. Father Bernard did a quick examination before assuring Adam that the worst he had was a bruised rib. Most of his injuries would heal in the next couple days, but he'd have to take it easy for a few weeks to let his rib heal.
Father Bernard carefully embraced Adam, careful not to put undue pressure on his injured son. "I'm glad you're okay, Adam. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
"You'd have to do all the chores yourself," Adam joked.
"That would be rough on your old man," Father Bernard laughed, "but you know that's not what I mean." Adam knew, but he liked hearing it too. "I love you, son"
"I love you too, Dad." Adam squeezed tight before letting go.
"Now, it's been a long day. Let's go fix that fence and check on the horses, then we could both use a rest."
Fixing the fence didn't take long, but left them both out of breath - Adam from his injuries and Father Bernard from riding non-stop to get home. Soon, the two of them were back inside, settling down for a nap before dinner. Father Bernard let Adam claim half of his own bed before nodding off quickly. Adam laid awake a little longer, listening to the content snoring of his father.
His side ached. His face still burned a bit. His knuckles stung with tiny cuts. But none of that mattered right now. Everything was back the way it should be, but even better than before. Because despite everything that had happened in the last few days, Father Bernard was proud of Adam.
His father was proud of him.
I'm assuming no one expected Adam to die from the Beowulf. Would be a little weird to kill off the main character as a child in chapter 3 when we know he's alive until Volume 6. Still, I hope there was at least a little tension. Then, some harsh bullying and some talk about Adam's origin, which we'll discuss more in the next chapter. Lastly, we see some important life lessons being taught to Adam, laying some of the groundwork for his character development later. All culminating in a sweet scene of Adam and his dad. I'm such a softy sometimes.
As always, I spent way too much time naming random throwaway characters and coming up with random stuff for later in the story. Designing Morris led me down the path of designing an important character much later in the story. Super helpful later, but didn't exactly do much for this chapter. So here's a quick rundown of the names we see here. Morris Collins is named after Bob Morrison (not the songwriter), the executive VP of Taurus International, which produces the Judge handgun. Collins is from the Collins Company, which are the most famous machete manufacturers in Latin America. So Morris Collins is named after a large pistol and a machete, both of which he wields. Clearly, I have problems.
As for the other characters, Dorian's father is Alan, as in Alan Campbell from The Picture of Dorian Gray (sticking with the theme), who is one of the few decent people in that story. Samson and Blane both refer to the color yellow, since the bullies are really cowards and just go along with the ringleader Dorian.
Oh, and I definitely didn't give Adam's dad the name Father Bernard just so I could have someone call him Father Barnyard. That would just be silly.
I feel like I could talk forever in the end notes, but I think that's everything from me this week. Gotta get ready to host a community game night on Twitch tonight and wrap up some work stuff for the week. See you all next Friday!
Next chapter: Adam recovers and gets ready for his big trip to Katai.