Chapter 3: Who Is Damien Wolfsbane?
The nurse was a little flustered, but also not too interested in the small wounds on Alice's cheek. "Dear this wound is not very bad and it stopped bleeding, just put this bandage on it and you should be fine." She nodded as she complied and left to her math class that she was now way late for, Damn you would think that because of the fight she would be able to go home but nope. She had thought it was probably best not to mention that Damien had cleaned the wound with his tongue. As she sat in class, Alice thought about what Damien had told her, "Never let them see you bleed." Did he mean for her to not let anyone see that they got to her? Yeah that had to be it...honestly he was different for a wolf, seeming to want to be alone rather than wanting to run with the pack. It interested her...but also thinking of what she would tell her aunt, no she knows what the schools are like, she was going to have to tell her mom, whom she did video chat with almost everyday. Ah she'd cross that bridge when she got to it.
At the end of school, she was walking out not really paying attention, keeping Damiens large jacket wrapped around her, when she heard a deep and cheery voice, "Hey Fluff! I've been looking for you." She looked up to see Damien jogging towards her and saw the white bandages under his shirt, on his shoulder, and guilt hit her in the gut. He seemed to notice, nudging her, changing the subject. "Where you headed now that schools out?" "I have to head home especially cause I don't really know the city." Damien smiled slyly, "Ah that's simple, I'll take you and show you some places, but it'd have to be tomorrow. I have to go to practice." She looked at him surprised, "You're going to practice with your injuries?" Alice then saw his whole demeanor changed and his voice became distant and cold, as his eyes glazed over. "I've had worse, Fluff." But as quickly as he changed, he shook his head and smirked,"Yeah that's why I'm here...I need my jacket. My grandma would kill me if I didn't come home with it, as nice as you look in it..." Alice blushed at the comment as she slipped it off. "Thanks for giving it to me, it was really sweet of you." He nodded and waved as he walked away, "You should come and watch us play sometime Fluff, I need a cheerleader." She shook her head at him, as she turned away and then saw Clove looking at her and the tail of Damien as he walked around the corner. She then walked beside her, "Do you like him?" Alice giggled, "No, he's just friendly and nice." Clove raised her eyebrow, "Actually he doesn't act like that with anyone, you're the first that I've seen." Alice eyed her as they walked down the street, "You seem to know alt about him...do YOU like him?" Clove smiled revealing the tips of her sharp teeth, "Who wouldnt? He got so many secrets..."
"What is it that makes him popular?" Alice asked curiously. "One of the best football players in Zootopia! If he continues, Damien could move to playing professionally, although he doesn't really hang out with us or the Pack." "What's the Pack...and wait he doesn't even hang out with the popular predators?" Alice asked,her attention becoming focused again. "No not really, he's super quiet and keeps to himself; why so interested in him?" Alice thought about it, why did she seem so captivated by Damien Wolfsbane? She brushed it off, and redirected the conversation, "It's just interested that he wouldn't hang out with you guys because of the way he's acted with me. Maybe it'll be different tomorrow and he just felt bad cause of earlier today." "What happened?" Alice seemed a little embarrassed when she told her, "I got lost coming to school and he helped me." Clove was trying hold in her laugh, "How do you get lost coming to this place?" Alice pursed her lips, knowing she'd would only embarrass herself more.
As she arrived at her aunts apartment, a cream colored hare, in the apartment across the hall, named Jared greeted her. He went to a private school, but often tried to talk to her when she was home. Especially when she had to wait a couple of weeks to enter Zootopia High. Her mom and aunt often pushed her to allow him to pursue her, but...now wasn't the time. Mostly because she really inexperienced when it came to things like that. Her aunt smiled when she entered, but it fell when she saw the bandage on her face. "Alice, what happened?" She decided to play dumb, "What are you talking about?" She looked at her aunt, and finally her ears dropped and covered her face. "...Okay, fine there was this Arctic fox, who tried to hurt me." Her aunt shook her head, "I see...it isn't the first time I heard about that. I'm surprised she didn't hurt you more." "She would have but someone helped me." "Who?" Alice tried to keep her smile inside but couldn't help but smirk slightly. "His name is Damien..." Her aunt quickly became excited, "Damien? What kind of animal is he? Another hare? An antelope?" Alice shook her head at every question, "He's a...wolf." Her aunt looked surprised, "Wow...that's interesting...is he a least nice?"
Alice looked exasperated, "Yes! He's a gentleman." Her aunt walked into the kitchen, "Oh wait till you tell your mother..."
The next day, school passed by quickly, and thankfully it didn't rain and she hadn't gotten lost. Damien seemed to be waiting for her, smiling and walking down the halls with her. "Hey Fluff, you ready to see the city?" Alice looked up at him, peering into his black eyes, they seemed to peer into her, as if searching her face for something. She brushed it off, "Yeah, what are you gonna show me?" He smiled and shrugged, "Eh, I don't know yet...but I have a few place in mind." He looked at the his copper colored watch, "I'll see you after class." He winked, and ruffled the hair in between her ears. There was something about him, it was almost as if he was acting...but really, REALLY good, like he wanted to tell her something. What a strange wolf.
'Errr I swear...that rabbit can see right through my facade. Those light blue eyes cut right through me.' A few hours had passed and the schools bell rang and he smiled to himself at least the day wouldn't be as bland as it is normally.
He waited for the bunny, and she skipped to him. Her energy was infectious, he couldn't help but smile wider. "C'mon Fluff, we're gonna stop at my place." "For what?" "To drop off my stuff plus change, I look way too good to go out into public like this." Alice giggled and trying not to smile, "What you don't want the girls crawling all over you?" "Nah, just want to keep your attention, babe." He looked down at her and winked.
She blushed, grateful for her grey fur, since it would hide the redness. As they walked down the street, she noticed the apartments turning to the houses. And then she noticed that Damien had stopped. "Already leaving without me Fluff?" He held open the gate for her and walked up to the house pulling out a key. Before turning the knob, he turned to her, "This place is a little crazy at times because my older sister has her kids here while she's at work...believe me their a handful." As he opened the door, she saw two fox kits jump and attack his legs. He yelled,"Ahhh! They got me!" He pretended to fall on the floor as they jumped on him. Alice smiled at the scene, it reminded her of Bunnyburrow during the dusk hours when her and her siblings played. She felt a slight sting at the memory, but then she saw he had grown still. A third kit that was grey with red streaks had walked up and poked his face and she spoke so innocently, "Is he dead?" He grumbled, "I need food. I need young foxes.."he then sprung up laughing, "because I'm the big bad wolf!" The little kits ran away laughing. Damien smiled at Alice, motioning for her to follow him. He held up a paw for her to stop and put his finger to his mouth, telling her to be quiet. He then got on all fours, quietly moving into another room, when a kind and older voice spoke, "Have you talked to your sister?" He hung his head, smiling, "No GG I haven't." He could tell Alice was uncomfortable, and he didn't like that.
"Who's your friend?" GG asked. Damien grabbed Alice's paw and pulled her into view. "GG this Alice and Alice this is my grandma." Alice was surprised, she had expected a wolf but it was a fox, who had silver streaked in her fur showing her experience and was slightly hunched. The fox smiled warmly, "Alice...what a nice name...your always welcome here at my home, granted it can get a little hectic." Alice smiled, "Thank you, ma'am." The older fox chuckled, "Ma'am? No just call me GG dear." The young female kit had walked up, "Uncle Damien?" He looked down at her, "Yes, Star?" "Is that your girlfriend?" Alice was then shocked but all he did was chuckle, "What makes you say that?" She pointed, "You're holding her paw..." He nervously laughed, blush slowly creeping on his face, and dropped her paw. Alice was also blushing but remained silent. "Alice, stay here, I'll go change and we can leave." He reached down and grabbed the young kits hand, "C'mon Star, let's leave Fluff with GG." Damien turned and winked before leaving the room.
He stopped when they got to the stairs, "Hey Star, you'd tell me if those kids were still bullying you right?" The little kit then grew very quiet and shy. "Star...are they?" She nodded slowly still not looking at him. His anger burned inside him, they'd had a meeting with the parents...and they..they didn't do anything! He put on his mask and smiled, poking her in her stomach causing her to giggle, "Hey, show me what you did in school today."
Alice watched Damiens grandma return to cutting some vegetables. "Alice...would you like some blueberry pie?" She thought about it, "No thank you, I'm fine." "So what brings you to the big city? Since I'd assume your not really from here." Alice was a little surprised, "School, opportunities, and getting away from my family." GG nodded, "I came here with the same motive and found that I missed home a lot." "Yeah, I already miss it but in the fall break I'm going to head back to visit."
GG motioned to the house, "You're welcome to spend fall break here if your plans fall through." Alice smiled gratefully, this family was really nice. And Damien seemed a lot more open here than in the outside world, it was nice to see. GG opened the fridge and pulled out half a pie, "You sure you don't want some pie, Alice?" She then heard movement behind her and Damien answered for her, "Of course she does GG, she just doesn't know that yet." His warm breath on her neck sent tingles down her spine, and she felt his paw around her waist as he slipped in a chair beside her, but then it was gone. She looked at him. He wore a dark red button up with black jeans...she hated to admit it but he did look good, the red coinciding with his black fur. "But we'll have to take it to go cause I got to show her around Zootopia." GG cut a slice and wrapped in paper towel and handed it to Alice and motioned to Damien to see if he wanted a piece. He smiled at her, shaking his head, "I'll just take a few bites from hers." GG chuckled, "You better eat what you want now Alice because a few bites to Damien is the whole thing!" He pretended to look mortified, "No...just for good food." GG watched her grandson with the bunny as they walked down the sidewalk, she hadn't seen him smile like he just did in a long time...it may be coincidence but maybe, just maybe Alice could be the key, to saving him...from himself.