CHPT 141: Honey and Flowers

Claude ran for less than half an hour to get past the gates and back to the University. Every new area he entered on the way back welcomed him to a quick flashback of what he saw only few hours ago— when he wasn't exactly himself. The only way he could describe it was as if he was remembering portions of a very long and violent dream.

***

As he closed the distance between himself and the main doors of the University, he was able to make out the two guards in shining black armor stationed directly in front of it. Luckily, he'd been sticking to the shadows behind trees and bushes that lined the field and walk path towards the entrance— or else they would've seen him.

"[Looks like they may have upped the security since the Headmaster was told about Jack. Try going in through the Training area.]" Arne said.

"Good idea." Claude replied before turning right and moving to go around the University.

After silently jogging for a few seconds, the front of the University and its entrance guards were behind him. He continued to jog— past the weights and dummies of the training field, until he was right at the door, trying his best to open it silently.

Once inside, he moved towards his room using a combination of his heightened senses and his (Sensory Focus) Skill to only move when he knew no guards were in his path or just leaving.

"[Maybe choosing the class of Assassin on your Hero registry wasn't too far off the mark. By the way how lucky are we that the door was unlocked, huh?]" Arne joked as Claude approached the door into his room.

Right before he reached out to twist the cold steel knob and enter, he froze. His (Sensory Focus) Skill was still active, allowing him to perfectly hear the rhythmic inhales and exhales emanating from his room. He'd spent enough nights with Frosty to recognize how he sounded when he slept. What he was hearing now was different.

Another individuals breaths had fallen into sync with the PitWolf's. Someone else was in his room.

A low growl started to rumble from within him as his nails faded to black and his eyes flared.

His territorial impulses were stopped the very second the scent of honey and flowers slithered out from under the door and into his nose.

"Son of a bitch." He muttered before silently turning the knob and entering his room.

"[Persistent. Persistent. Persistent.]" Arne said as Claude entered his room.

Under normal circumstances. The sight would've been wholesome— something Claude wasn't at all accustomed too. So he let himself stare for a moment.

Ursula lay in his bed in the deepest sleep he'd ever seen— it looked more similar to hibernation actually.

Frosty somehow shared the space with her— laying with his back to her and drooling heavily on Ursula's arm that peeked out from under his thick furry neck. Frosty's long muscled limbs hung off the side of the bed, moving like he was dreaming of running every few seconds.

The two looked at peace.

"[It seems your link to him communicated nothing off last nights even—.....]" Arne was cut off as Claude averted his gaze from the two on his bed.

His room looked like he'd been locked inside during the Full Moon instead of Ursula and his PitWolf.

Deep claw marks lined his walls and the stands of his bed were mauled and indented by deep teeth markings from where he assumed Frosty chewed and snapped at his bed. His door got the worst of it with actual tears in the black metal from Frosty viciously trying to escape. He was surprised he didn't notice it all before.

"Sorry you were locked in here buddy....I had to make sure you were safe..." he whispered.

The sudden sound of movement behind him drew his attention. He silently turned around and saw Frosty looking at him from his position laying next to Ursula. His tail thumped against the bed loudly— threatening to wake up his sleeping partner.

"No....no...no. Shhhhh. Chill the hell out." Claude whispered, bringing a finger to his lips.

He could've sworn he saw a wicked grin appear on Frosty's face as he rolled off his small bed and raised his snout to the ceiling— letting out a beautiful deep and throaty howl lined with excitement.

"WWWWROUUROUU!!!"

Ursula jumped up like cold water was just dumped on her as she was startled out of her deep sleep.

WOO!

Claude panicked and lunged for the bed, yanking the sheet out from under her and covering his body with it.

He tried his best to look inconspicuous with the sheet cloaking his body while fighting off Frosty's many attempts to jump up and lick his face. The two tussled around for a few seconds until Frosty relented and settled with sitting and waiting for Claude to shake his paw.

Claude looked away from Frosty just in time to see that Ursula was fully awake.

She was completely silent while she studied him. Her teary eyes reflected the light of the rising sun that leaked in through his window.

"Y-You were gone...." She whispered as if she wasn't speaking to him but instead vocalizing her own thoughts.

"Ursula..." Claude started.

"You were gone.....it was a Full Moon last night.." She said, cutting him off as she got up and approached him.

"Ursula listen—"

"Oh my....look at your face." She interrupted him again as she brought a hand to her mouth and tears began to stream down her face.

Reflexively, Claude brought a hand up to his face, feeling the cuts that ran along his nose and jawline.

"Is....is that blood?!" She questioned once she saw his red stained fingers.

"Shit....calm down, it's Goblin blood." Claude responded, hoping it would throw her off the mental trail she was on.

She made a horrified and confused facial expression in response, "You killed them with your bare hands?"

"Well yes— I mean no! Just—" He fumbled his words until he realized she was no longer looking at his face. Her eyes trailed down to his— now exposed, naked and scarred upper body from the sheet coming loose.

The blood drained from her face immediately as she stepped closer, continuing to stare at the dozens of old and very new scars that lined his body.

He cursed himself a dozen times over as he shrugged off the sheet and watched her somehow go a shade paler than before.

"Alright, I swear it's not that bad." He said before tossing the sheet back onto his bed.

Her eyes took on an icy shade of blue as her face twisted into an expression of hurt anger. "Where were you....where did you go?" She demanded.

"Sit down, and let me talk so I can tell you." He responded firmly.

She stood still for a moment before reluctantly backing away and sitting down on his bed.

As he came over to sit next to her, he couldn't help but hear her whispering something over and over to herself. It was something he knew she didn't want him to hear.

"Don't tell me you're one of them...please don't tell me you're like them."