Thoughts or telepathic communication between characters
Animals/animal spirits speaking human tongue
Normal text
Point of view switch (Belles Point of View) like that
One week later
In the Mortal World
A terrible sickness has spread throughout most of the village, the sun as not shown for a whole week. Freezing rain and bitter hard winds have left the fields ruined. Pests have eaten away at stored goods. A terrible feverish madness has left some of the villagers bed redden with nightmares of a pack of wolves chasing them with the shadow of a demon fox hovering over them. Smiling an evil grin laughing that he will eat their souls.
In the village tavern a lone man in a faded red cloak sits alone in corner smoking an old faded pipe with a pint of ale sitting in front of him hardly touched at all. He puffed out a cloud of smoke blankly looking out at the near empty tavern. Hardly anyone was willing to brave the raging storm outside, the only ones in the tavern were the owner was busying himself cleaning behind the bar. He was in the middle of cleaning the bar when the tavern doors open sending a gust of cold wind into the tavern. A man dressed in a brown long coat and hat that were soaking wet, stepped into the tavern with boots caked in mud. The man's clothes were dripping wet with spots of mud all other them. In his right hand he carries a lantern that had long been snuffed out by the rain.
"Not a thing," the man said hanging his coat and hat up on the rack by the door, "This damn storm isn't helping the search at all. I'm so worried for her."
"Well that girl is cleaver I'm sure she is fine," the tavern owner said walking over to Maurice patting his shoulder trying to encourage the distort father, "You haven't found any sign of a body so that must mean she could still be alive."
"I hope you so Louis."
"Well you can't find her if you get sick so warm up by the fire and I'll get you a hot cup of cider," Louis said motioning Maurice to a seat next to the fire, "Maybe the rain will even stop by then."
Maurice only nodded to the man before he sat down staring at the flames. Louis returned soon after with a mug of warm cider. Setting the mug down he patted Maurice on the back giving him an encouraging smile before going back to cleaning the bar. Maurice sipped at his drink, he hardly noticed the stranger in the corner watching him carefully. Both men sat in silence neither one acknowledging the other. After a while the stranger stood from his seat leaving a small pouch on the table before leaving the tavern. The stranger walked through the quiet town till he reached the edge of town where a small cottage rested next to a river that acted as a border from the rest of village. The man walked around the empty cottage, there wasn't much to the cottage a small garden of vegetables and herbs, a structure built off the cottage for some chickens, a large Belgian Draft horse, and a goat. Fox sniffed around the area confirming what he had already believed was the home of the little girl he had found with his pup. After a quick look of the place he began to make his way back to the river when loud clucking distracted him.
"FOX, THERE IS A FOX," a light brown chicken that had been peaking at the ground started shouting running in circles before dashing into the small chicken coop.
"What are you shouting about now Clucky," a male horse said poking his head out of his stable after being awaken from his nap by the chicken.
Fox just stood in front of the animals' gate glaring at the chicken coop before looking up at the horse, "Don't mind me my good fellow just passing through. I'm not here to eat any one just checking on something I'll be on my way now. Good night."
"You could eat Clucky before you leave," the draft horse said, "You would be doing all of us a favor."
Inside the coop Clucky flapping all around causing buffs of feathers to fly out of the coop. Fox chuckled at the horse, "She is a little too wound up for my taste my friend. I do have a query I hope you can help me solve?"
What is that Mr. Fox?"
"Please Fox is fine, and what may I call you?"
"My name is Phillip. What was your query?"
"Phillip, is this the home of a young human girl named Belle?"
Phillip nodded his head, "Yes she is our little master. She lives here with her father. Very kind little girl, has a special gift of hearing us too. May I ask you something Fox?"
"What is that?"
"Do you know a young wolf pup with red strips on her ears named Louata?"
Fox smiled nodding up at the large draft horse, "Yes I do. She is my pup."
"Do you know where they are we haven't seen the two for a week now? We are all starting to worry about them."
"Both are safe and well my friend," Fox said jumping onto Phillips stable door resting his front paws against the door, "Both girls are at my house in the Fairy Land being watched over by Louata's mothers wolf pack. I assure you Belle is getting spoiled by those wolves."
"That is good to hear," Phillip sighed, "But why are they there?"
"Have you felt the air around the village, or noticed the weather as of late? It would be safer for them to be there than here. Once it all has passed the pack will bring them here."
Phillip was silent for a moment thinking over what Fox had said. Taking a deep breath, he spoke again, "I have a feeling that you have something to do with it but I won't ask. I'm not very knowledgeable about those kinds of things any way. As long as Belle and the young pup are safe I'm happy. Though her father is becoming very worried about his daughter."
"I know my friend I saw him earlier. I'm hoping to help with that worry my friend."
Fox reached back to his fluffy tail pulling out Belles mud covered dressed. He then managed to wiggle his way into the dress. Fox then morphed into the shape of a young girl with red hair, and a dirt covered face.
"How do I look," Fox asked Phillip.
"Much like our Belle except for the hair."
Fox took a strand of hair examining it before shaking his head changing the color of his hair to a light brunette, "How about now?"
"Much better," Phillip said nodding his approval, "If I hadn't watched you I would have thought you were her but your voice is a little off."
Fox rubbed his throat in deep thought, "Well I didn't get a chance to hear what she sounded like… I can work with it though. Now all I need is a pup."
Fox then snuck to the little garden and gathered a large about of mud before rushing back to Phillip. He stared molding the mud to look like a sleeping puppy. He then pulled three strands of hair from his wrapping one around the sculptures neck, one across its eyes, then one down its back. The mud pup then stood up shaking the mud from its body to reveal snow white fur with red strips on its ears. With that Fox had made a perfect double of his daughter, and well as himself being the perfect copy of young Belle.
"That was amazing," Phillip said in awe.
"Thank you my good horse," Fox said bowing to the horse, "This illusion should easy Belles father till our curse has faded from the village."
"How long will that take," Phillip asked.
Fox pondered for a moment then spoke, "Another week should do it. Then I will go and retrieve both girls."
Phillip nodded to Fox before he and the mud pup left the stable rushing to the edge of the forest. They waited there till Maurice as well as Louis continued the search for his daughter, it wasn't long till they found Belle huddled under a tree holding onto her dog both asleep and shivering. Quickly Maurice and Louis carried the two back to Maurice home laying Belle in her bed wrapping both in heavy quilts.
10 years later
The early morning light stretches over the village of Monlyuex. The sleepy little townsfolk begin to wake up and start their day. On the edge of the town is a quaint little cottage with a large white wolf with red strips on her ears, head, and down her back sleeps peacefully on the front porch of the house softly snoring. The morning sun warms her fur waking her up with a long yawn, a good stretch, then shaking off the left over sleep from her body.
Lou Lou's POV
"Whelp it's a new same-as-everyday-day," I yawned out as I stretch my back, "What shall I do first today? Wake up Belle or mess with the opening shops."
Hearing movement from inside the house I made my chose, "Messing with the shops it is. I believe Jack should be opening up by now so breakfast with Cerberus first."
I started towards town, taking a long drink from our water wheel connected to the house before heading into town. It was early enough that the shops were opening up but the streets were clear of any of the morning crowd.
The perfect time for a wolf dog to wonder the streets without her human
Jack is already setting out fish when I arrived. Cerberus was there lying next to the table in the sun.
"Morning Cerberus," I barked out to him. Kissing his ears and muzzle as I arrived next to the table, "How you feeling?"
"Old," he grunted out before kissing my muzzle, "How is your humans craft coming along?"
"Belle's getting better at her charms and our connection is growing stronger each day," I said sitting next to him.
"That's good to hear. How is your pack and father doing?"
Cerberus and I talked over our fish head breakfast that Jack tossed down to us. After finishing our meal and grooming leftover fish form the old dog's snout I said my farewells going about my day. First going to the Bakers where his young daughter would have a special treat for me she would sneak past her parents, next cause a little havoc to the school master by stealing his hat with a little fox magic then dropping it in the dirt as I run away yapping. After that tease the blonde triplets by nipping at their dresses and jumping around trying to get them to at least pet me while they are on their way to the dress shop. And finally meet up with Belle at Pere Roberts church for a new book.
I meet Belle at the church as she was returning the book she had just finished while Pere Robert dusted the church windows. I sat in the door frame before I announced my presence to them with a loud bark.
"Well good morning Lou Lou," Pere Robert said cheerfully as he walked over to me patting my head then scratching my ears, "Cause much trouble this morning."
You know me too well, Pere. I barked at him happily accepting the scratches he was giving me even moving my head a little so he could get more of the good spots. Yes, there's the spot right there.
Belles POV
I went through my normal morning routine going through the village square heading towards Pere Roberts church and small library to return the book I had just finished reading. All along the way I could hear the villagers whispering about me. I did my best to ignore them and act like I didn't hear any of them as I walked up to the church.
"Morning Pere Robert," I said as I walked into the church. Pere Robert was dusting the upper windows of the church when I came in.
"Well if it isn't the only book worm in town," Pere Robert said as I walked in, "Where did you go this time?"
"A city in fair Verona do you have anything new today," I asked walking over to the small shelf of books on the other side of the small church.
Pere Robert chuckled, "Not since yesterday. But you are welcome to any of the others you like."
A loud bark came from the doorway, Lou Lou announcing her morning routine was complete. Pere Robert welcomed Lou Lou patting her head scratching her ears before giving her a biscuit from his pocket. I grabbed a new book biding Pere Robert a good day before leaving the church with Lou Lou at my side.
Which one did you get this time?
Midsummer's Night Dream.
Oo, start with my favorite part!
Ever since I met Lou Lou when we were children I was always able to hear her thoughts. Grandfather Wolf said we had been meant for each other. I don't mind really she is my only real friend in this town next to Pere Robert though Lou Lou and I are far closer. She likes it when I read to her and our bond makes it easier say when we are around other people.
I started reading at Lou Lou's favorite part of the play which was when Puck was spraying everyone with the love potion. While I read she act as my eyes. I have the town mostly memorized by now but my seeing eye dog mostly keeps an eye out for moving obstacles like carts and people. We were just reaching the edge of town when Lou Lou started to become edgy.
Heads up he's coming
Oh no
With flowers this time mm I was hoping for the duck he had just shot. That would have been nice.
I'd rather he take a hit and not give me anything.
Ten steps away coming in fast. Want me to bite him.
No just act normal.
Easy for you to say.
Lou Lou Pov
"Good morning Belle," Gaston said stepping in front of Belle holding a large bouquet of flowers. By the scent of them earlier I had thought there would have been more than was he was holding. I still wasn't impressed either way.
Side step left then right one to miss mud puddle.
"Good morning Gaston," Belle replied back not even looking up from her book fallowing my instructions. She had stopped reading focusing more on getting away from Gaston. She was just about to avoid Gaston when he plucked the book from her hands examining it.
"Gaston can I have my book back?"
I'll still bite him just say the word.
"How can you read this there are no pictures," he said looking over the pages Belle had been on.
It's called a play twit.
"Some people use their imaginations," Belle replied reaching for her book. Gaston held it out of reach tossing the book over his shoulder into the mud.
"You know Belle it's about time you got your head out of those books and focused on more important things," he said blocking the muddy book to Belle and shoving the flowers to her, "Like me. For your dinner table. Shall I join you later?"
While he was talking I moved behind him picking up the book in my mouth bringing it back to Belle, but not before I nudged Gaston to the side so I was in front of her. Sitting down wagging my tail before setting the book down at her feet.
Fur friend before boyfriends Gaston. Sorry not really.
I looked back at Gaston giving him my best 'I'm a good dog' face. Smiling tongue pant included. Gaston just sneered at me before looking back at Belle as she picked up the book wiping off the mud with her apron.
"Sorry Gaston not to night," she said wiping off the last of the mud.
"Busy?"
"Not really. Come on Lou Lou."
Gaston was both confused and disappointed at Belles rejection lowering his flowers close to the ground. I very much hadn't caused as much trouble as I wanted to this morning so I took the opportunity to steal the flowers, dashed of the stone bridge, dropping the flowers before rolling on top of them.
"Lou Lou come," Belle called from the other side of the bridge. I quickly got to my feet running to her side, "Was that necessary?"
"Yes I haven't really caused as much trouble this morning," I said as we reached the house, "If he hasn't figured out by now that you aren't interested in him then hopefully my flower bath with. Though I had other plans but you wouldn't like it."
"What was your plan," Belle asked setting her book on the living room table.
"Pissing on the flowers," I said laying in my spot in the center of the room.
"Really you would do that," Belle said with of disgust and disbelief, "Last time I checked only males do that."
"Well if he doesn't get the hint this time I might as well," I said rolling on the rug, "Damn it that moron didn't even get lilac. I smell like the triplets."
Belle chuckled as I furiously rolled around on the rug trying to get rid of the flowery scent. The scent didn't even have a mix of grass in it. Which I would have been much happier with but no it was pure flower.