Chapter 3 – The Lumberjack
A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for all the support you gave this little fic. Since I've been writing a lot of angst lately, I thought it was time for more Chester and the survivors fluff.
Enjoy!
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chester hopped through the pine forest, excited as he felt the tug of the eyebone once more.
The sound of someone cutting trees came and he perked up. That must be them. He jumped over a mossy log and stopped when he found him. He was a rather hairy human with an axe slung over his shoulder while the blinking eyebone was poking out of his backpack.
Wiping sweat off his forehead and glancing back upon hearing him, the man blinked and grinned. "Well, aren't you a cute little fella."
Chester's excitement slowly sank. Something felt…off about the human in front of him. There was something beyond that smiling, bearded face that was wild and beastly that he couldn't make sense off. It reminded him of all the creatures and monsters that roamed this world and tried to eat him many times before.
The living chest took a hesitant, guilty step back, but the man kept trying to coax him to come closer.
"Hey now, don't be afraid, little guy. I won't hurt ya!" his owner said reassuringly as he reached out to probably pet him, but Chester didn't budge from his spot, causing the man to sigh. "Alright, then."
Watching his owner go back to work, Chester slumped on the ground. He thought of maybe carrying all that lumber the man got, but his fear kept him back. This was strange. He never had a problem like this with his previous owners who were weird, large or loud, and felt lost on how to behave.
After being satisfied with the lumber he got, his owner spared him another glance before leaving. Chester found himself trailing behind him, keeping a certain distance between them. Even if he was wary of his owner, he still didn't wish to leave him. The human would look back at him every now and then but made no attempt to reach for him or pet him like last time.
When they reached what he assumed to be the human's camp, Chester watched him sit down and eat a handful of berries. Picking one with his two fingers, the man tossed a berry in Chester's direction.
The living chest opened wide and let it disappear within him. The man raised a brow and shrugged.
'So, if it's not food you want, then what?" he said then his eyes darted to his axe. He picked it up and brought it closer to his face. Chester realized the man was listening for something, but the tool remained still and quiet in his hands. "Wait, really?" he mumbled to the axe.
At least that strangeness Chester had grown accustomed to finally reared its head.
"Huh," the man's eyes shifted to his bag and took out the eyebone, holding it out to Chester. "Is this what you were following me for?"
He tossed the eyebone to him and Chester caught in his teeth, chewing on it lightly. The man chuckled and turned to lighting a fire. "Makes sense. You showed up just when I found that thing. Got no use for it, so you can take it."
The man didn't pay much attention to the living chest for the rest of the evening with only the occasional curious look as if surprised to see him still here and having not trotted off.
"I better not wake up to you chewing my foot, eh?" the man warned with a smile before lying down on a worn grass roll.
Chester hoped the wild feeling would fade once his owner was sleeping, but it didn't. He laid down in defeat and decided to sleep away just on the edge of the ring of light. At one point in the night, a sound woke him up, one of distress. He snapped awake and his attention immediately went to his owner. The man was thrashing around and mumbling in his sleep.
Concerned yet nervous, Chester hopped over to the man and licked his cheek. His owner shot up breathing heavily for a moment. As he calmed down, his face softened when he noticed him.
"Did you wake me up, bud?" he said with a tired smile. "Thanks."
This was no scary monster, Chester realized. His owner was afraid, just like how the others were. And if that was the case, then he must stay by his side so he wouldn't be anymore.
Moving closer, Chester snuggled against the man's side. The man appeared surprised, but then he smiled and gently wrapped his arm around him. "Heh, you sure are an odd little fella," he mumbled sleepily, scratching between Chester's horns before yawning and drifting off. "G'night."
Chester slept contentedly by his owner's side. The beastly presence was still there, but his wariness of the human was all forgotten.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Thanks for reading!
