Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Revenge of the Wolf
Chapter 19 – Don't Give Up.
No One's POV.
Seeing Tori the way she was, really hit home for Jade. Knowing what she did was bad enough but seeing the physical results in the form of a dirty and frightened wolf, was almost too much to bear.
Tears streamed like a river down Jades face, as she carefully reached to the cage.
"Please baby….it's me…..I'm so sorry."
Jade got her hand within about 8 inches of Tori, before the wolf viciously snapped at her.
The startled Goth, yanked her hand back just in time to prevent her loosing several fingers.
Devastated by the vicious attack, Jade retreated across the floor, to the far end of the room. There, huddled in the corner she completely broke down.
For more than an hour, Jade sobbed hysterically, calling out Tori's name over and over. It was only when she exhausted herself, did she stop. Then she sat there, starring at a spot at the while, not moving, not speaking.
All the while, Tori quietly but cautiously watched her from inside her cage.
Two more hours past, with Jade still quietly starring at the wall and Tori still in her cage.
"You're waiting are you?" Jade said, in a low voice, her eyes not diverting from the wall.
Of course, there was no response from the wolf.
"You're waiting for the right moment to rush out of that cage and kill me. Waiting to see if my defenses are down."
"We never got married or even discussed it. Does that bother you? You never complained about it. I loved you and we were together, you were my mate, we had children. I thought….."
Jade chuckled darkly. "I thought wrong…about you, about everything. I'm not cut out for this Tori. Me being a queen of all werewolves. I'm supposed to lead us and there are thousands of us all around the world. I thought me being strong was all that mattered. What the fuck did I know? I wanted to be an actress and singer….I'm not a fucking general. I didn't want this. I didn't even listen….."
Jade continued to talk, reminiscing about their meeting and lives together, but in a sad sort of way. Like the way someone would talk about something that was long gone.
After she found she had nothing more to stay, Jade lowered her head and in a barely audible voice lamented. "I failed you…..about now, I wish you had killed me. I'm not going to move Tori, not a muscle. Just put me out of my misery. If you feel bad about it, just think of it this way; it wouldn't be an act of murder…it would be an act of mercy. I can't go on without you…."
Jade then closed her eyes and spoke no more, nor moved.
For some time after the wolf continued to watch the now motionless figure across the room. She felt fear but didn't quite know why. It was her natural instinct to snap at the creature as it reached for her.
But it had gone silent and did not move, its head lowered.
Still the wolf waited, how long it didn't know, but yet the other one did not move. It was still alive as her ears could hear the slow breathing of its opponent.
The more primitive parts of her instinct had been telling her to attack and now seemed to be the perfect time. But something from deep insider of her had sprung up and held the wolf back. It didn't even know why.
It was a confusing feeling and the wolf felt the need to investigate the other more closely. At the moment it was still, curled up in the corner.
Moving very slowly and quietly, like a true hunter it got up and began to move. At the door of it's cage, the wolf stopped and smelled the air and again watched the still figure in the corner. Not movement, no sound.
Feeling no threat, the wolf moved a few paces closer and froze.
Jade who was now aware of the wolf's approach, did nothing as a single tear ran down her face.
The wolf again began to move, closing the distance until she was within a foot. Every one of her animal instincts told her to strike, while the creature sat there defenseless.
Yet there was something else.
Again she found herself unable to strike. Studying its pose, head down as if it had been defeated, the whole thing felt wrong to the wolf. A week ago while in the wild as she fled, a different wolf challenged her, as she was passing through its territory.
Tori defeated the wolf and drove it off. Watching it flee, she saw how its tail and head were low. That in itself was a sure sign she had beaten the beast.
This creature before her, look in a way, just defeated if not more. It wasn't even trying to flee.
This wasn't how this is supposed to be. She didn't know why, but she knew it.
Soon the fear Tori felt, started to fade away. It was replaced by a feeling of sadness as seeing the defeated creature before her, stirred the feeling in her.
She could smell the creature and as she moved her nose towards its unmoving hand, the smell, seemed familiar in a way.
Again she sniffed and again her scent registered as something she knew…or once knew. The only real memory the wolf had was that of running from something.
But this scent was familiar, the more she smelled, the more it rang her mind.
For a second a single image appeared in her mind, that of another wolf. A large, proud and majestic black wolf, in fact.
Tori thought of that black wolf and wondered why this lowly defeated creature, made her think of it.
In the mind of Tori the wolf, there were many doors and for the moment, most of them were locked and in some cases chained shut. But that smell caused one of them to open, just slightly.
This creature was the black wolf.
Backing up with surprise, Tori looked over this miserable defeated thing. Once it was strong and beautiful, now it was broken and defeated.
Tori then approached Jade and sniffed again. That scent, it was more than familiar in fact she found she liked that scent. It made her feel warm inside, safe.
The more familiar she seemed, the more she hated seeing her like this. It was wrong and so many ways, yet Tori couldn't think of a single one of them.
Again she thought of the black wolf and that that creature stirred up even more unrecognizable emotions. There were no additional images or memories, but there were memories.
She sniffed again.
And again.
And again.
It was a single word, one word only, but when it sprang into her mind she somehow knew its meaning. She also knew it to be true.
That word was "Mate"
Jade who up to this point was wondering why Tori hadn't killed her yet. She dared not move a muscle or a sound, hoping the end would come. She wanted the end to come.
Mate, Tori the wolf knew it, this creature, this lowly defeated creature was her mate. There was nothing else she knew, as other parts of her mind were still closed, dark and locked up tight.
Excited at the revelation, Tori excitedly jumped up and barked.
Jade knew it instantly, Tori's bark. She knew all the sounds Tori made in her wolf form, it was a bark of excitement one of joy.
Barking again in excitement, Tori watched as her mate lifted its' head and opened her eyes. It was a welcome sight.
Moments ago, Jade had expcted to die at Tori's hands and was prepared to do so. But that bark, came a stunning change of events.
Tori did rush her, but not to attack, but began to lick her face and nuzzle up against her. Jade knew that Tori had at the very least recognized her as her mate.
Again tears burst from Jade's eyes, but this time tears of Joy as she wrapped her arms around the wolf who welcome her embrace.
"You know me. I'm sorry baby….I'm so sorry. I love you…please know that. I love you." Jade cried.
Letting go, she let Tori sniff all over her body, including her rear end. It was something they did.
For a moment Jade was tempted to turn into her wolf from but was afraid it might frighten Tori. Plus Jade was more than a bit frightened of her own wolf.
"Come on Tori, change back. Please."
But the wolf looked at her uncomprehendingly.
The moment once joyous suddenly turned bittersweet as Jade realized that Tori still couldn't remember her human side. It was still buried deep within the wolf.
She had Tori, back, but only halfway. It was wonderful and heartbreaking all at once. For the next hour Jade sat with Tori, trying to get her to remember. She even showed Tori a picture of Victoria, hoping it would jar her memory. She then showed them a picture of Jadelyn and Victoria together.
The wolf not understanding a picture or what the image meant, simply didn't understand. Wolf was happy to have its mate back, and happy it didn't look defeated anymore, but that was all Tori knew. She was still very much a wolf.
Giving up temporarily, Jade sighed and sat on the couch, Tori jumped on the couch and sat next to her.
"Well, I can't get through to you now. But I'll fix this Tori, I promise. But with you here, I have some more of my strength back. How about we go for a run, you and me. Maybe it will help clear my mind and help me think of something."
Tori barked with approval.
Jade then changed into her running gear and headed out into the night air.
It was a lot easier with Tori at her side, but Jade knew they both had a long way to go, a very long way.
Jade jogged at a good pace, feeling more strength back and Tori kept up with everyone.
It was just after a mile Jade had a realization, half laughed and stopped.
"How funny Vega. Here we are, me running and you in wolf form at my side. It seems that you and I are back pretty much exactly where we started. But perhaps that's a good thing."
They ran 2 miles that night, with Tori faithfully at Jade's side. Normally she would go and work out, but Jade was worn out emotionally and physically. She just wanted to sleep and hoped that Tori's presence, would keep the nightmares away.
Upon coming home, Jade cleaned up and got ready for bed.
Though she doesn't remember her human side, something odd happened which gave Jade hope. When they walked into bedroom, Tori jumped on and settled in on the left side of the bed. At home, the left side of the bed is where she always sleeps.
It was a tiny fragment of my Tori. She's in there somewhere. I can't blame her for forgetting. She was so traumatized that she simply blocked out her human side. Tori's in there somewhere.
Lying in bed, I felt a great deal of comfort being able press up against her, even in wolf form.
"Vega, first thing we need to do is get you cleaned up. Your fur is dirty and matted. Normally, I would just wash you in the bathtub, using Jadelyn's shampoo, its best we not wear out our welcome. That and I think you're too big for the tub anyway. There's a big pet store a few doors down from the restaurant I work at, Crockett's Pet Emporium. They have dog grooming there. I'm so sorry, but it's the only way. We may need to get you a collar too. I am sorry, but until I can pull you back, I need to do what I need to do."
Jade doubted Tori understood a word she said, but if she did and had any objections, didn't act like it. Jade hated the thought of treating Tori like a normal dog, but until things could be fixed, it was necessary.
Settling under the blanket, Jade kissed Tori on the forehead. The wolf, happy to be with its mate, let out a whine of approval and closed her eyes.
"I'll make this right Tori, I will, I swear."
I tried to give you a look into Tori's wolf mind. I hope you liked it.
So Jade has Tori back, partially at least. How will she bring the human out and how will human Tori react.
The chapter title, is from the song, "Don't give up" By Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel.