Author's Note

To those of you that have followed so far, and the few that have reviewed, thank you so much! I want to know what y'all thought of the second chapter, was it good character introduction, was it interesting or a good way to throw important exposition at you? Please let me know! This is the first time I'm writing a story made entirely around original characters, and quite a few of them, I want to know how I'm doing so far. Thank!

This chapter is going to be heavy on the dark side, emotionally speaking. Just a warning.

Uploaded

09/19/2023

LEGEND BELOW

"Hello, no I won't eat you..." = Normal speech.

''That's a radical idea...'' = Normal thoughts.

Chapter 4

Rated-M

M rating for mature themes, mentions of suicide and depression, anxiety, romance and nudity.

Music of the day

Dark Souls - Nameless song

The snowfall had finally come, bringing with it a thick wall of white that threatened to consume the people of Flagstaff entirely in a cold blanket. The forecast had spoken of the approaching storm for some time, but when I finally arrived, people still seemed surprised by its presence.

Nick found himself by his living room window, steaming cup of tea in hand as he watched the flakes of snow slowly yet steadily build across the landscape of the outside world, all from the safety of his warm living space. Dull red eyes regarded the cold front with a distant sense of loneliness, the freezing air that was brought with the chill of winter something he once looked forward to, but not anymore.

In the past, he found joy in the appearance of winter. For the cold season made the warmth found in an intimate partner that much more pleasant.

He remembered the days that he'd spend with her by the fireplace, the air so cold that they had to snuggle together under a blanket while they waited for the fireplace to heat the house. He could still smell her, the earthy scent of her shampoo forever burned into his mind.

Even now, his heart yearned for those days now gone, yearned for the times he would never again experience. Nothing could ever replace her in his heart, it was impossible to even consider.

He was but one part of something else, something that had its soulmate ripped away without warning, and was left halfway complete.

He could still remember the overwhelming sadness that overcame him that night, the real physical manifestation of his heart breaking into two so intense that he had landed himself in the hospital for a week without warning.

Be remembered what the doctors had said, thinking themselves outside of his range of hearing.

"It doesn't make any sense, he's physically fine, no illnesses or anything. All he suffered from the accident was a few cuts and bruises, and yet, his body is dying. It's as if losing her made his body lose the will to live…" The voices echoed out, spoken in a soft tone yet seemingly as loud as gunfire to his well tuned ears.

It was true. After she'd died, he'd fallen greatly ill, suffering from something no doctor could cure.

He'd been given the diagnosis that if it continued on the way it was, he would be dead within two weeks. Nothing the doctors did changed what was happening.

It was simply as if his body had given up on life.

Yet, in the depths of his shattered heart, he remembered her last words to him.

"Please don't let this be the end for you… I'm… I'm sorry we didn't get to grow old together like you'd wanted for us. But please, please promise me this before I go. Promise me that you will go on without me, find love again. Please don't let it all come to an end here… Promise me that you'll keep going forward without me…?"

"Please…? Won't you promise me this…?"

He remembered watching her blissfully slip away into death, a beautiful smile on her face only smudged by the blood that leaked from her lips.

Even in her last moments, all she could think about was him.

Her love for him, her passion for him.

In her last moments she'd made him promise that he would go on without her, that he would find a way to keep going, to live without her by his side. She must've known that such a request was nearly impossible to ask, and felt compelled to say it before she could never speak again.

He'd been so distraught by the events that day that he'd never truly taken in what she'd told him. For only hours later, he fell greatly ill, and had become bedridden in the intensive care facility. Some time after he'd received the news about his rapidly declining health, her words had finally hit him.

She wanted him to continue living on in her stead, to find a way to go forward no matter what. If he loved her, truly, then he would do this one request for her. And, he wouldn't be able to do that while dying in a hospital bed.

Within a day, he'd regained enough of his health to be discharged from the hospital.

The doctors had been so baffled by his sudden and anomalous recovery that they were at a loss for words.

That had been nearly three months ago, and he felt like that spark that had temporarily been reignited in his heart had quickly begun to dim over the course of those short few months. He felt as if his body was once again treading towards the point where it could no longer go on without her.

He'd been sad, realizing that he'd unfortunately break his promise to her, that he simply just couldn't live without her anymore.

Then he met a most wonderful creature.

She came out of nowhere, like a specter in the night, and kicked down the walls to his heart. She grabbed hold of that dying flame inside him and oh so carefully began to kindle it. It was as if her existence was entirely there to stop that flame of light, that spark of life within his heart from going out forever. When he'd truly been at the end of the road, and he held the knife in his hands, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

The scar would likely forever remain on his body, a stark reminder of how close he had come to breaking his promise to his dearly beloved.

But this ghostly apparition, the creature that snuck loudly and proudly into his life had kindled that flame of life once more.

For, even though MalO did not know where she had come from, he held the suspicions that his beloved's love for him had spurred MalO into existence from beyond the grave, or at the very least pointed her in his direction.

She was his protector now, the one that would stand as his pillar in life, to support him when he felt like his fragile existence was on the brink of collapse.

And he couldn't care what people would think of the relationship he had with her, he appreciated her odd existence just the same.

It gave him someone to live for in her stead…

"You'll catch a cold, Darling…" The wolf headed creature hummed in his ears, appearing from somewhere behind him. In her claws was a thick blanket, one that she quickly wrapped around his smaller frame as he stood by the window, gaze still glued onto the land outside.

MalO's expression fell as he failed to respond to her presence, eyes so thoroughly glued to the outside world that he'd not even sensed her appearance.

It took a while, but his tired eyes eventually noticed her reflection in the window. He blinked, pulled from whatever stupor had locked him in place for so long. He gripped the blanket just a bit tighter around his shoulders, turning to face the worried face of his ghostly companion with an exhausted little smile. "Thank you, MalO." He murmured genuinely, finally noticing how cold it was in his living room.

By now the hot tea he held had cooled enough to drink, yet he didn't even take a sip of it, the drink remaining untouched in his hands.

The sun hung low in the skies, sunset not far away now.

He still had some time.

He had someone to apologize to, before it was too late.

He finally turned from the window, moving for his front door. MalO watched him go curiously, for he had not told her of his destination.

He stopped by the front door, sitting on the stool that had been placed there. He slipped on his furry boots, warm fabric sliding easily over his fitted black sweatpants. He grabbed his thick fur coat, sliding in over his shoulders, before grabbing his tea again. He turned back to MalO, an odd look on his face. "I'll be back in a bit…" He said, offering her a little smile.

"Where are you going?" She couldn't help but ask, eyes glowing in worry.

Nick had been acting odd all day, this had only been the tip of the iceberg on his behavior.

She knew there was a lot she didn't know about her object of desire, but the sad look that had overshadowed his face whenever he thought she wasn't looking had scared her.

And now he suddenly wanted to leave, and without taking his car keys?

"I'm going for a walk. I promise I will be back." He tried placating her quietly, that fake little smile on his lips.

She didn't know if he thought himself clever, but she saw right through it. "Okay, be safe." She hummed, hiding her concern.

He turned to leave, opening the door to the cold outside winds. But before he left, he turned back to her suddenly. Setting his tea down by the stand near the front door, he quickly embraced her in a hug, burying his face into the space just below her chest, arms wrapped around her tightly. He didn't say anything, simply relishing the warmth of her presence and comfort her scent gave him.

Then he pulled away, grabbing his tea as he stepped outside, door closed behind him…

The winds felt biting, but it was nothing he hadn't gotten accustomed to by this point in his life. In his fur coat and boots, he could stave off the effects of the cold, only his legs feeling chilly. The hot tea in his hands warmed them as he walked down the snow covered sidewalk, seemingly no destination in mind.

The few people he passed along the road waved pleasantly at him, a courtesy he returned.

Slowly as he walked, his house was lost in the sea of homes that sparsely lined his street at the edge of town.

So focused on his destination before him, he hadn't even been aware that he was being followed all the way from home, the shadow of a familiar creature having replaced his own.

He walked for what must have been an hour, before he made a turn into a lonely and quiet corner of the street. The area was gated off, save for the entrance which was always open to visitors.

After an hour of walking, Nick had found himself standing at the entrance to a graveyard.

He sucked in a slow shuddering breath, having to stay his feet lest he lose his strength and return from where he'd come. But now that he was here, he wasn't going to turn back.

After having paused by the gateway, he stepped inside, footsteps treading the wandering pathways, barely making a sound.

No one else was visiting the resting place for those who'd passed on in death, he was the graveyard's only visitor at such an hour. He wandered seemingly aimlessly, but he knew where he was going, he knew all too well.

Eventually he stopped, a certain gravestone standing out amongst the rest. It was not fancy, a fairly simple grave that did nothing to draw attention to itself.

He stood before it for a long moment, hands shaking, either from the cold or his bubbling emotions, he was not sure. But eventually he sat down, resting on his knees, the snow cushioning his legs. With a shaky tear stained smile, he faced the stone.

The name written across the front was one not even time would ever take from him.

(Judy Wilde - 2000-2021)

(Wife of Nicholas Wilde)

In life, she was the spark that kept him alive, and in death, the memory that pushed him ever onward.

He sat there for a long time, trying to find his voice. But when it came to him, all the emotions he thought he could keep at bay rushing along with them.

"Hey… Judy…" He muttered quietly, biting his lips as the tears began falling with a force he couldn't hope to halt. "I-I'm sorry it's been so long since we spoke, I-I know you must've been so worried…" He muttered quietly, a bitter empty laugh slipping past his lips.

He glanced down to the cup in his hands, the tea cold now. He smiled a somber look, some of his tears having fallen into the cup. "I-I-I… I brought you your favorite tea, t-thought you might enjoy some wherever you are now." He said mirthlessly, shaking hands reaching out to set the cup on the bottom of the gravestone.

A thick breeze blew through the area, nearly knocking his hood off, but he paid it no mind. All he could focus on in that moment was her name, carved into the face of the stone.

"I-I miss you… Y-You know?" He spoke to after a moment, voice cracking. "For the longest time I-I… I tried to go on without you, j-just like you asked me to." He said. "But I just couldn't do it. I feel as if a part of me left with you, and now I… I feel incomplete."

The cold felt like it was creeping up his spine, but he couldn't bring himself to care in that moment. He averted his eyes, too ashamed of what he was about to say to face her any longer. "I… I tried to take my life a few days ago…" He admitted quietly, shaking cold hands coming up to grasp the bandages that were wrapped around his throat.

"I thought that… maybe if I died, I could be by your side again. I-I was ready to do it, but before I could, I remembered what you made me promise you that night. I'm so sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. I realized it almost too late that I was about to break my promise to you…" He unraveled the bandages from around his neck, exposing the giant cut on his neck, looking like someone had slit his throat, but just not bad enough to kill him. It would, however, forever leave a large ugly scar across his neck, reminding him of how close he'd come to breaking that last promise to her.

"I-I-I know you could never forgive me for that, a-and I don't know how I would face you again if I'd truly done it." He cried quietly, his tears freezing from the presence of a strangely powerful snow-front.

He'd been so absorbed in his despair that he'd not noticed the storm of ice and wind that had surrounded him, threatening to consume him whole.

Even if he did notice it, he was too focused on speaking to give it any thought.

"But… I've found someone now… Someone that is there for me. She's very nice, I-I'm sure you'd like her if you two ever met." He smiled as the image of magically pink glowing eyes appeared in the back of his mind. "She's very… strange. I don't know how to describe her, but she's special to me…" He admitted, a little genuine smile breaking through the wave of sadness that threatened to consume him whole.

He didn't notice it, but as he turned his mind towards a certain ghostly monster woman, the storm that had suddenly appeared had begun to fade away, slowly leaving him alone once again.

He didn't say anything for a long while after that, eyes closed as he sat before her final resting place. Even now, he felt like she was still there with him, even if only for a moment. He didn't want to leave her side, wanting to pretend like she was still right there, that he wasn't talking to a cold lifeless stone.

But eventually the world would force his hand, the sun having set on the land. As the night took over once more, and darkness shrouded Arizona in a blanket of cold, he knew he must be returning home.

Slowly he stood to his feet, the cup of tea left behind on her stone, the liquid frozen solid…

When he finally returned home, he felt like he could breathe just that little bit easier, the heavy weight of guilt on his heart having lessened some. That and, after spending some time by her side, he felt like a little bit of peace had returned to him, at least for the time being.

No sooner had he stepped inside and slipped out of his jacket, he was greeted by his friendly monster woman. He hadn't expected her to suddenly pick him up by the armpits, holding him up off the ground as she inspected him.

"Are you hurt? Are you cold? Let's warm you up, you must be freezing!" MalO urged protectively, quickly carrying him off like a mother wolf would her unruly kits.

He felt his face flush in embarrassment at the way he was being handled like an oversized doll, being carried through his own house by the monster woman. "M-MalO, I'm fine. Really." He urged, asking to be put down.

But she didn't seem willing to comply, dragging him all the way to his living room, the place considerably warmer now then it had been when he first left hours ago. He blinked in surprise when she suddenly lay down on the couch, placing him atop her, before she pulled a blanket up over both of them.

"You're not going anywhere else mister. Not until you warm up." She said decidedly, leaving no room for argument as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him firmly to her chest.

He sighed in defeat, a small yet amused smile on his face.

This time, however, he wasn't faking the look.

"Okay okay…" He murmured into her chest, tired eyes quickly growing heavy. The sound of her heartbeat was melodic, beating in a gentle and powerful thrum, slowly lulling him to sleep. "I'm sorry for worrying you, MalO…" He muttered quietly.

"I know you are…" She hummed deeply, the warmth of her breath sending pleasant shivers down his spine, all the way to his tailbone. Even with his eyes closed, he could still feel her piercing gaze on him, like a worried mother that was afraid her child was only moments away from running off again.

The house was quiet now, the cackling of the fireplace a soothing source of white noise in the background, something for their minds to hone in on while they tried to relax.

MalO didn't say anything, finding a distinct comfort in finally being able to cuddle with her favorite human once again. She was sure he'd fallen asleep at some point, his head resting gently on her furry bosom, breathing leveled out.

She was content to stay there until the next sunrise, but he surprised her when he spoke suddenly. His voice was so quiet and soft spoken that she wasn't entirely convinced he'd even spoken in the first place.

"I know you followed me…" He murmured gently, voice not even above a whisper.

Her eyes softened at his words, snuggling him just a little tighter. "I know…" She hummed lowly, boney chin resting on top of his head.

She wasn't going to apologize for having followed him, it was in her nature to make sure that he was safe wherever he went.

And after hearing his admission at the graveyard, she realized that she needed to protect him, not only from the outside world, but from himself as well.

It took everything she had in her not to drag him back to the house at blistering speeds once he was done there.

"Thank you…." He said quietly, his words coming out like a breath of air across her fur.

Her eyes widened in surprise, before a gentle fanged smile graced her skull. "Of course Darling. Anything for you…"

He slept wonderfully that night, both of them in fact…

"He hasn't responded to me in two days, Max, I'm getting super worried!"

"Britney, come on, I think you're being a little over dramatic. This is Nick we're talking about, I think he's going to be fine. He just needs a few days to himself, to gather his head, yah know?"

Max could practically feel the busty blond's sharp gaze on the back of his neck, her judgment painstakingly clear. "Really? You think him not even responding to us is just, fine…? The last time he ghosted us, we didn't see him for three weeks! And the first thing that happens when you finally manage to drag him out of bed is go and piss him off. Oh yeah, I'm sure all he needs now is even more space…" She snapped heatedly.

Max waved her off. "See, you agree with me." He sighed carelessly.

"I'm being sarcastic, dumbass!" She snapped, tossing a pillow at the back of his head. Not expecting the sudden attack, Max found himself suddenly staring at the ceiling of his apartment, head spinning.

Blonde could throw one hell of a toss…

He sighed, dragging himself back up to his feet. "Okay then, how about we call and check in on the guy?" He offered helpfully, eyebrow raised her way.

"He almost never picks up his phone, it always goes to voicemail." Britney sighed in defeat.

"We could just go over there and surprise him?" A third voice suddenly interjected, a familiar looking dusty redhead poking out from another room.

Britney glanced across the living room in surprise as Jessica came walking out from the bathroom, plopping down on the couch casually.

"When did… where did you come from?" Britney asked in surprise.

"My mother's vagina." Jessica smirked, taking pleasure in how easy it was to turn the blond woman into a blushing mess. "But seriously though, turns out I live next door. And staying home alone during this snowstorm is boring as hell, so Maxie here invited me over to hang out."

"You barged in demanding I show you where the food was!" Max defended from somewhere across the room, hidden safely behind a pillow. "And don't call me Maxie, it's so girly!" He whined, like any self respecting man would.

"Like I said, he so kindly allowed me to crash here for a bit. He even offered me his food, what a gentleman." Jessica continued, either uncaring or simply doing it to get a rise out of the red haired man.

"Offered you my-?! Hey! I was saving that pizza for tomorrow!" Max chirped indignantly, pointing an accusatory finger her way.

She promptly ignored him.

"So? What do you think? Show up at his door, donuts and coffee in hand? Unless the guy hates sweets or something, I know guys that are like that." Jessica asked, getting comfortable on the couch.

"Actually, Nicky has a serious sweet tooth. But he's stayed in such a slim shape because he doesn't like eating for some reason, e-especially after… After he lost Judy." Britney explained lightly.

Jessica almost asked who Judy was supposed to be, before connecting the dots.

"The guy simply doesn't eat much, don't know why. Could have something to do with his upbringing or even his metabolism, but I can't say for sure. However, what I can say for sure, is if you put candy or sweets of any kind in front of him, you can kiss them goodbye. He can't help himself when it comes to anything sweet, coffee from Starbucks, donuts from the corner store, you name it." The blond continued decidedly, listing off the sly fox's main weaknesses.

"Well, it's settled then. I'll hit the donut store, you guys get the coffee, and we'll meet up at his place! A little wakey wakey with donuts and coffee always made me happy." Jessica nodded to herself, already moving to grab her coat and her keys.

"Don't you have to work or something?" Max griped from his hiding place. She turned back to him, winking.

"I'm a physical therapist honey, I work whenever I damn well please. My clients are always satisfied, and I'm usually left with a bit a free time here and there. But they always come back for more." She explained playfully.

"Please stop…" Max whined in defeat, unable to get a read on the woman at all.

"You get the donuts, I'll grab the coffee. Just text me his address, I'll meet y'all there." The dusty redhead stated as she slipped out the front door.

"Are we actually doing this?" Max sighed, finally getting up once he realized Jessica was gone.

"Unless you have a better idea of how to cheer up your best friend who is probably planning on sleeping his entire week off in bed, depressed out of his mind with literally no one to talk to, then yes, we are actually doing this. Dumbass…" Britney said sharply, arms crossed under her chest.

"Well… When you put it like that." Max muttered.

"Yeah, that's what I thought…" She rolled her eyes, moving for the door. They had a little snow fox that was in desperate need of some cheering up…

Chapter

4

End