Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter 2
David set up his camp as quickly as he could, eyeing the growing darkness warily. He hadn't planned on getting caught out at night, but he'd left later than expected and hadn't made it to the Prairie Outpost before the sun began to set. He'd been forced to stop at Entethina Haven for the night and a glance at the moon made him even more nervous, it wasn't full, not for another two days, but it was close enough to make shifting easier for wolves. He wished Sara was with him, he would love her night vision and better senses all around. Once sure the camp was as secure as he could make it he called her to let her know what was happening before cooking a meal.
He sat in front of the fire, turning the meat, when he heard it and felt his heart race. It was nothing, just his imagination….and then he heard it again, a soft growl in the distance. All was quiet for a while and then he heard a branch break a lot closer to camp. He reached for the rifle he always carried in the car and made sure it was loaded for wolf. If it was a daemon there was no problem since he was safely in the Haven, but the magic didn't stop other creatures entering. Then again, he was close to a hunter outpost and this was Lucis, not Niflheim. The war had hit a bit of a lull as well. There were wolves living peacefully in Lucis, even a pack or two, refugees or the descendants of refugees mostly, some attack survivors. The point was, the odds of this being an unfriendly were very slim, it didn't make the night less creepy though. All was quiet again, so he went back to preparing his meal, eating quickly. He didn't think he'd be getting much sleep and he was still several days form home.
He had almost dozed off beside the fire when he felt a shiver go down his spine. Slowly he opened his eyes to see a shadow in the firelight, scrawling closer….not to him but the left overs, despite them being in a sealed container. That shadow definitely wasn't human and he shifted his hand to grasp the rifle better. He heard a soft whimper in the dark and then in the firelight he spotted a trail of something wet, too dark to be water. He shifted and the shadow froze, dropping even lower. He flicked on his light and there was a warning growl that cut off with a pained whine.
He stared at the animal his light revealed. It was a wolf alright….but no more than a pup. Light golden brown fur was barely visible, matted with debris, dirt and blood. They eyes that stared warily at him were golden, so definitely not an MT which was good. "Where did you come from?" he whispered, the last thing he wanted was for the kid to attack out of pain or confusion and be forced to defend himself. He didn't know if the pup could understand him but from the way it was hunched defensively, he didn't think he or she could. The kid obviously needed the food more than David did, so he would gladly give it, but it was in a sealed container that fangs and claws wouldn't get open. He needed to open it for the pup, but would it let him? ever so slowly he reached for his bag and pulled out a packet of dried jerky.
"Here you go," he murmured, gently tossing some over to the pup who growled before sniffing, shifting to nose at the jerky before downing it in a gulp. "Tastes good?" he asked, relieved the pup had eaten the dried meat. Now, how was he meant to get access to the leftovers without losing a hand or scaring him or her off? The pup whined and shoved the container with his nose. "I can open it," he tried but there was no sign he was understood. He tossed the rest of the jerky over and then dug out the cooking bowl, pouring water in it before carefully pushing it across the stone of the Haven. He watched the wolf sniff suspiciously at it before lapping it up.
David carefully shifted over, snagging the container of food and the wolf snarled as it realised what he'd done but he quickly opened the container and dumped the contents onto his plate, putting it down before moving away. "There you go, all yours," he promised. It was a good thing werewolves could eat anything a human could since the food was a mixed mess of meat, vegetables and bread. Once it was done eating, it eyed him and began backing away, until it stepped back on its hind left leg and cried out in pain, the limb buckling under it. The pup whimpered and whined, trying to get up, dragging itself towards the edge of the Haven and he rose to his knees in alarm. If it left it wouldn't last long out there. "Shh, it's okay…let me help," he called, putting the rifle aside and holding out his hand to the terrified animal. It snarled and snapped at him in warning, sides heaving, and he was worried it was going to throw up the food and water it so desperately needed, he could count its ribs, even through the matted fur. "it's alright, there's a good pup," he soothed, hand outstretched to it. He moved very slowly towards the pup which finally collapsed from exhaustion. "Good…" yep it was a boy he could see now with the way it was lying. "Good boy, I won't hurt you."
He moved ever so slowly in trying to get close to the boy and the sun was just beginning to rise when he finally reached out and touched, course, matted fur only for it to begin to recede, leaving a naked child somewhere between five and ten years old lying on the cold stone, unconscious. He'd had the classes in school, and they all told him that what he was seeing was impossible, the shift should have healed the kids injuries, but it hadn't. David scooped him up and carried him closer to the fire, able to feel every bone, his mind racing for an explanation over the boys condition. An attack survivor kicked out for becoming a wolf? Part of a pack who got separated? It didn't matter, what mattered was helping him, even if Sara would tell him off for doing so.
Three hours later he was pretty sure the kid wasn't going to die on him, but it left him with a dilemma. He couldn't just leave the kid at the outpost, not with how most hunters though, and any vampires among them would surely pick up the boys scent. Could he take him to Insomnia? If the boy had no family….they'd been trying for children for years with no results. That was pretty common for mixed species marriages. He had a cousin in Tenebrae….could he pass the boy off as her son? Sent to them to raise and keep safe far from Niflheim. There was some very vague similarities, though the kids colouring was a lot lighter. Seemed to him, the boy was either a refugee or the kid of some. He wouldn't have an easy life anywhere in Lucis.
He really didn't know what to do but he bundled the boy up and into the backseat of his car before getting back on the road, he didn't want to worry Sara by being too many days overdue.
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Prompto woke up very slowly, he hurt…but not as bad as he should. He vaguely remembered a daemon attacking…shifting….where was he? He was moving, warm…
"You with me?" a voice asked, and he flinched. "Easy kiddo, you're alright."
Prompto forced his eyes open to find he was in a car, buried under blankets. Kiddo…he'd been called that before…had he? He looked up to find a man driving, glancing back at him in the mirror.
"How do you feel?"
How had he gotten in a car? He tried to sit up, but he couldn't, body too weak, and he whined softly. He felt the car stop and then the door at his feet opened to give him a better look at the Lucian, not a soldier, unarmed, he should be able to take him.
"Do you remember last night? I've heard it varies as to what you remember."
Prompto bit his lip, what had happened? Usually he remembered…he was just so tired.
"It's alright, my name is David. You came into my camp last night looking for food. I promise, you didn't do anything wrong."
He had a nice voice…soothing…nothing like those at the facility. He jolted as a hand touched his cheek, eyes wide.
"Can you understand me? Can you talk?" the man…David asked and Prompto swallowed. "Water?" he asked and Prompto dared a tiny nod, getting a smile in return. Soon a bottle was being pressed to his lips even as the man helped him lift his head with his other hand. "Drink slowly, you don't want to make yourself sick. You were badly enough hurt the shift back didn't heal you. I patched you up as best I could, but I'm no doctor."
"Th..anks," he rasped out.
"So you can talk. Got a name?" He asked as he dug around for something and then he was offering a packet of something to him, food?
"Prompto," he whispered. Were all Lucians this nice? He knew he was a wolf, not what he was meant to have been. Surely he'd realised he was too big as a wolf? Unless he'd never seen one before? he fumbled with the packet and David leaned over to open it for him, letting him inhale the scent of dried meat. He hungrily began eating it, knowing better than to eat too quickly.
"Do you have family or a pack? Anywhere I can take you where you'll be safe?"
He looked away, nervous. He didn't know how to answer that. He couldn't tell him about the facility.
"Hey, it's okay," the man offered, reaching out slowly and Prompto froze, blinking as the hand petted through his filthy hair, it felt…nice, and he couldn't help the small noise that came from his throat at the sensation. "There's a bit of a lake nearby, let's stop there and get you cleaned up. As far as I know you're as immune to infection as a vampire, but let's not push it by keeping you caked in grime. Okay?"
"Can't," he muttered.
"Why not?" David asked and in answer he tried to move only to not get very far. "Ah, I didn't mean on your own. You're a bit little to go in alone, I'll do all the work for you, okay? All you have to do is let me know if it hurts." He would wash him? Did humans do that? "Can you tell me how old you are?"
Prompto hesitated, almost giving his production date…but that wasn't how others said it… "Eight," he finally offered.
"Eight years old huh? Same age as the Prince."
Prompto blinked, he hadn't realised that. All he'd been taught was their names and that they were the enemy.
"Okay, I'm going to get back in and drive to the lake so we can clean you up. You'll have to make do with one of my shirts for clothing until we hit an outpost where I can buy you something."
"Why?" He couldn't help asking, why was he helping him? Offering to get supplies for him. it didn't make sense.
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"Wolf or not, you're a kid, Prompto. I can't just leave you to die out here," David answered, wondering who had hurt the boy for him to be so wary. He was definitely leaning towards family being involved in his being all alone. Had they died or kicked him out? "Will you shift tonight?" he asked as he got back in. If he did then precautions would be needed, for both of their safety. A few hours was not enough for him to risk it all on the kid recognising him once changed.
"Don't have to," Prompto answered sleepily after a while. "Only full moon."
David glanced back to find he'd burrowed back under and fallen asleep which was good, sleeping would help him heal quicker. He drove a little slower to where he knew the body of water was, parking and looking around for any sign of danger. This close to the full moon, hopefully the scent of wolf would keep most away. "Okay Prompto, let's get you washed up," he called gently, not wanting to startle him. He got what he'd need form his bag and found the kid struggling to get up. "Easy, I'll carry you," hopefully he weighted the same as a human kid his age. He reached into the car and lifted him as carefully as he could, finding him way too light to be healthy. He took off his own shoes and rolled his pants up to his knees before wading in and lowering Prompto into the water. "I know it's cold, but I'll be quick as I can."
"Used…to colder," he mumbled.
David washed him thoroughly but as quickly and gently as possible. It took four tried to finally get his hair clean, revealing bright blonde that was definitely un-styled in any way, growing out from a shorter cut likely, or hacked at with a knife. By the time he was dried off the kid was basically asleep again and David got him wrapped in the warmest shirt he'd brought, it fit the kid like an oversized dress. There was a gas station coming up, with camper, where he planned to stay the night since the kid said he didn't need to shift. Hopefully there would be something there more appropriate, otherwise he'd have to make do till Hammerhead. David settled him back in the car and then paused…was he really considering taking the kid home? He had to be crazy! Insomnia was no place for a werewolf, even a child one. How would he hide him? Get him past the checkpoints with no papers? Was he really considering risking prison for a child he just met? Sara was going to kill him!
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For the first time in his life, Prompto got to sleep in a bed while warm, his belly full. In the morning he would get to have a warm shower, more food, and human kid clothing…and he wanted to know so badly what the cost of it all was going to be. Surely David would want something in return? What would happen to him when the man went back to the city? How much longer could he even last out there? He'd been doing okay at first, but he'd been chased off by a pack near where he'd first come ashore. Then later hunters had chased him for days. He'd seen the map on the wall of the shop, he was in Leide now. He'd learnt about that at the facility, closest region to the island that held Insomnia, dry and desolate. Sure there were animals to hunt for food, but water could be scares, that lake where he'd been washed wasn't very big and it didn't rain much.
There was a part of him that wanted to beg to stay with David, he could be useful, to not be alone. But he couldn't. He'd be killed in the city! Someone would know what he was. But…maybe that'd be okay? He wouldn't have to fight anymore. He was so tired of always fighting. He was too little to make it on his own yet, he knew that now. He didn't even know how he'd gotten away from the facility, it was all a pained blur till he woke up on shore.
Prompto closed his eyes, listening to the sound of David breathing in the other bed, kind of awed that he trusted him enough to really sleep so close to him. he could kill him so easily… he bit his lip and burrowed deeper under the covers. No! He wouldn't hurt him; he was the first person to ever help instead of hurt him. if only it could last…
TBC…
