Ch. 03: Eyes
`This isn't right.'
The thought came to him immediately, well before he had even finished waking. It was wrong. HE was wrong....
He awoke in terror, rushing to correct his mistake, abruptly sitting up in the soft bed and flinging the warm blanket off of his form. He was gasping for air, breathing heavily, eyes dilated by fear. He hurried, madly rushing to get into position before....
`Oh no....' The realization poured down his shoulders like ice water. He was too late. The master was awake and at the table already, passing a whetstone over his sword. The human trembled, he had been caught asleep.
`Wait.' He was finally starting to recall how he had ended up in that bed. He peered down at his pants, the ones he thought he'd surely imagined. He gently pressed a palm against the lighter, almond-colored fabric, testing that it was, in fact, real. They were a little baggy, and he wasn't sure how well he could keep the creamy color from getting too dirty, but his hand trembled against the gift in non-belief yet again.
Keeping his gaze low, he braved peering the master's direction, noting that the wolf seemingly hadn't even noticed him yet. The human looked away, his thoughts churning on what to do. Ultimately, he decided he should stick to his rules, and let the master dictate any changes. He was determined to serve the new master the best that he could. He found it a bit strange. He always wanted to please the masters, because that was what they demanded of him. That was how he could make it hurt less... but now? He just wanted to thank this master, to do whatever it took to keep the bread he offered; to maybe even have more.
He silently slipped off the bed, his eyes focused on his bare feet as they met with the cool ground. He stood, taking a small step forward before kneeling dutifully, presenting himself. He was awaiting his master's newest command, devoid of his usual dread in such a situation. He found it rather nice, showing his devotion to a master so kind for a change.
~ ~ ~
Hatchet had been awake for a while, letting the summoned have all the sleep he could get. He slipped away from the inn once the summoned had essentially collapsed from fatigue. Hatchet would give him another day, so he spent his additional time getting a few more things in place for the ride home. He had secured most of the essentials they needed, finding only a few supplies evading him by the end.
Still, he could work around what remained. His funds had been depleted almost entirely, with most of his allotted gold for expenses spent on purchasing the human, but the sell-sword was nothing if not resourceful. He returned to the inn after making his rounds, finding the human still out cold, his smaller chest just barely rising and falling.
The wolf smiled, glad to see the summoned would be well rested. He turned towards the table, abruptly stopping as he snatched his gaze back towards the human. Hatchet took two large steps over, stopping just on the edge of the bed as he leaned over and inspected the human's face closer.
There were scars everywhere on the summoned, with plenty of those older wounds marring its face. Since there were so many, Hatchet couldn't be entirely sure... but he was almost certain there was a crooked scar on the bridge of the human's snout before. He didn't see a trace of it now.
`Am I imagining things? Guess it could've been a shadow. He does keep his face lowered usually.' The beast stood back up, brushing it off as misremembering. He leaned back, stretching his shoulders wide, feeling a few of his bones shift in response.
"I'll give him a little more time to sleep. Always things to do." He spoke to himself, rolling his neck. He moved towards the table, ensuring everything was packed and ready to go one last time before he drew his sword from the scabbard on his back. He plopped down in the creaky chair, fished around for his whetstone, and started touching up his edge; finding his thoughts surprisingly occupied as he tended to his blade.
It was only half an hour later when the wolf felt the unmistakable feeling of being watched. He turned his sights behind him, finding no eyes cast upon him, but instead the slave with his eyes to the floor and kneeling. Hatchet almost let the sight irritate him, but he had already realized this mission would be requiring a whole new degree of patience. He wished he could just talk to him....
The master had noticed him, turning in his seat as he sat aside his weapon. The human kept his eyes lowered, but felt the strangest flutter of excitement when the kind new master began to approach. The human couldn't quite explain it, but he just felt... better that day... stronger.... He didn't ache quite as much, but he was already starving again.
A dark-furred hand clipped the leash into place, patiently waiting for the human to stand. He rushed to do so. For the first time since being put on a lead, he found himself eager to follow the master that pulled it.
He was guided over to the table again, a familiar hand signal passed before his eyes. The human looked over briefly, wavering for just a moment as he stared at the seat. He held his breath as he sat in the chair, his instincts still fighting his logic, wanting to choose the floor instead. He exhaled as the leash was unclipped, elated he had listened to standard this time. That ever-steady hand of the master came back into his view, this time sliding a small plate across the table. The wolf pulled the cloth off the top, revealing the food resting delectably beneath it. The beast pushed the plate before the human, his intentions undeniably clear to the slave at last.
A half-loaf of bread, three cheese wedges, and, most importantly, two VERY enticing skewers of glazed and roasted meat cubes. There was a smoky aroma of charred fat wafting up to the human, making him positively drool as his stomach clenched and rumbled in desperate desire. His body needed such sustenance so very badly, but he held his resolve, waiting as he tried gathering his courage.
He was just too afraid to reach out for it.... This entire morning, since he had awoken, everything had been going far too nicely. It was too good to be real. He was afraid, afraid that he had leaned into the gifts too strongly. He had let himself take the bait, he had succumbed to his wants, to the bread. So... what if the master stopped his hand when he reached forward? What if now that he had fallen for the trick, it would all be taken away again. He didn't think he could endure it.... His head couldn't take it again. He'd break even more.
He didn't even realize he was spiraling in fear... but Hatchet did.
A strong touch against his trembling one; that dark and generous hand grazing firmly over the human's own. The master moved his hand, taking the smaller one with it, guiding it to the skewer. The wolf closed his hand over the human's, placing the edge of the delicious treat in his grasp while his fingers curled around the sliver of wood. The master was holding his hand through such an uncertain journey, until they had reached the destination together. The human was in awe, nothing short of humbled.
The master pulled his own hand away slowly, leaving the human's lingering on his food. Just before the wolf's hand left the view of the summoned, the master gave his permission with a single command, extending two fingers. `Open your mouth.'
It was the last piece of reassurance he needed. The human cleared his plate within minutes. The wolf was smiling.
~ ~ ~
Brilliant sunlight, enchanting flora, birds and butterflies floating and dipping erratically on the light breeze; such usually simple things were nothing short of magical to the human's weary sights. He inhaled sharply, noting the oh so sweet pairing of fresh pollen and recent rainfall drifting in the air. He hadn't realized how greatly he had missed those little daily miracles that most tended to overlook.
The human was simply enjoying his ride, finding such great comfort in his situation. He was riding on the master's horse, a larger black stallion with three white socks and a diamond shape on its head. While the human had never been around a real horse in his life, he was almost certain they weren't usually quite this large.
`Bigger riders, bigger mounts.' He reasoned with himself, just as he had when first laying eyes on the creature.
The master had loaded a few supplies on the flank of the horse before the wolf pulled himself up, throwing a leg over the saddle and grabbing hold of the reins in one smooth motion.
The human only stood still, his eyes watching the larger hooves of the horse cautiously. He was preparing himself for the task, assuming he would be walking beside the master. His heart nearly stopped when he was suddenly hoisted up on the horse's back. The master had lifted him on effortlessly, plopping him right in his lap. The human scrambled to brace himself, instinctively grabbing the horn of the saddle as he leaned forward in initial panic. His blood was pumping like electricity at the unexpected accommodation, but it was not mere fear that fueled his thrumming heart that day.
`I'M RIDING A FUCKING HORSE!' Even when he was still a real person, this was something he had always longed to try. The tremor of excitement that wracked across his body was strong enough to bring a wall down....
He smiled.
For the first time in over four years, the human actually smiled, and Hatchet had got to see it. The sight made the wolf's own heart thump a little faster. The sell-sword scoffed earnestly, warmly flashing a few fangs shortly after.
The wolf placed an arm on either side of the human, taking proper hold of the reins as he turned his horse towards the western trails. He gave a small tap with his paw, and soon they were off, making better time than ever as they left Cobalt village far behind. Within the hour, they had mostly returned to wilderness, their trodden dirt path the only tie to civilization in sight.
Hatchet always enjoyed the woods, there was something medicinal about them, something that could heal an aching head and heart like nothing else could. The wolf was thrilled to see the human just as soothed by the scenery as he was; even though Hatchet didn't yet understand why lingering on that softer smile felt so fulfilling.
An unexpected yawn came from the human a moment later, drawing the wolf from his idle thoughts to more perceptive ones. `Wait, is he really tired again? He's done little but sleep and eat since we've started....'
The human was just as perplexed by the feeling of his fatigue overtaking him, but he just couldn't seem to fight it away. His head nodded briefly before snatching back up. The steady trotting of the horse was soothing, like he was rocking. The fresh air and sunlight were gentle on him now, bearing such a welcomed reunion after so long without either comfort. More than even this, however, was the inescapable feeling of the master seated just behind him.
The wolf's intimidating form wrapped closely around his own, the brawny arms holding the reins on either side was strangely reassuring to the human. The master was steering them, he was leading, but the human did not fear where they were heading. The slave inhaled sharply, noting the master's more prominent scent bleeding in with the aroma of flowers, fashioned into an intoxicating medley that gave him a wash of goosebumps. For once, he did not feel imprisoned by a master's touch, but protected....
A firm hand momentarily came up to the human's chest, pulling him backwards against the wolf own form. The master was letting him know it was alright to rest for a while, coaxing him to relax against his fur.
`Do not look them in the eye. From their touch you do not shy.' He repeated his reassurance, finding it such a wondrous thing that the gospel would agree with him this time. It was alright if he leaned into that hold, for the masters touched where they wanted to. He could let himself drift.... The master would steer them. The master placed him there, so close to his chest. The master had given him a bed once already, and it seemed he would even offer the comfort of his own fur to the human.
He succumbed to the demanded rest within minutes, the security of his new master's presence guiding him safely to his slumber.
Hatchet scoffed yet again, perplexed how anything could sleep quite so much as that little summoned could... He could feel the human snoring lightly against his chest, finding himself staring at the sight as his horse trotted ever forward. His eyes were lingering on those many scars again, tracing over each line, one by one, looping back around again as they crossed with one another. He didn't realize how angered he was by them at first, but the thought of anyone needlessly hurting something so meek....
His breathing halted, his red eyes widening in nothing short of bewilderment as they focused on one of those facial scars; a scar that was fading. It was like an invisible finger gently grazed over it, tracing along the mark, the damage finally repairing in its wake. Before it had even fully faded, the beast's attention was drawn to another movement, one on the hand of the summoned.
Another scar slowly faded, properly healing at last. It was a crescent cut placed horizontally on the human's wrist, likely one from bindings. A third and fourth scar followed after when the process seemingly halted for a while, however, Hatchet's thoughts would not cease so easily.
`Is THIS why it needs to sleep so much? Or is this about the food?' The wolf let his thoughts linger on the possibilities for a moment before they fell back to the instructions the slaver had given him. He was almost certain they would hold the key to figuring this all out, but they would offer him little use until he could actually know what was written.
For now, he would simply let the human rest against him. He would let him heal at his own pace... but Hatchet was starting to realize they were going to need more food....
~ ~ ~
The illusion of the cloak was a little strange to witness. When hatchet was holding the leash or touching the summoned he could see the human clearly; the black fur on his head, his pale and scarred flesh, and his dark eyes that only sought to look at the dirt whenever Hatchet was near.
From any other real distance, Hatchet saw the illusion instead, making the human appear as a smaller wolf. The false wolf had mostly white fur, with the smallest dusting of black hairs littered along the coat. Aside from those scattered strands, the human's disguise had two black paws and hands, with that same dark fur coating the entirety of his ears, brow, and snout. To Hatchet's surprise, those solemn and dark eyes remained the same in either form; still just hauntingly cast aside.
`He makes a cute wolf.' The sell-sword thought it before he could stop himself, coming back to their small camp with an armful of more firewood. It was no uncommon thing for males to mate with one another in his world, but Hatchet never had a preference either way. He had bedded males and females, though, the common denominator between them had always been that he preferred to keep it to a single encounter. He didn't care for attachment, not like most wolves did. He didn't want a mate, nor any pups sauntering about his space, breaking everything. He enjoyed his silence and solitude too greatly.
The wolf dropped the wood on the pile near the small fire, dusting his hands off after as he turned back to the summoned. The human held his conjured ears held flatly against the back of his head, obediently kneeling in place.
`I was only gone for a moment. Guess it is a little scary out here at night, I remember hearing that humans can't see as well as us wolves in the dark. I'll need to be mindful of that.' Hatchet was a little surprised how considerate he was being now, this wasn't like him.
He stared at the summoned a little longer, sighing in acceptance as he grabbed his bag and strutted over to take a seat beside the human, touching sides just enough to break the illusion.
He pulled a loaf of bread from the satchel, breaking it in half. He offered the larger piece to the human, who gently took the bread as if it would crumble in his hands. The wolf smiled half-heartedly, turning forward as he tore a piece from his own half and tossed it into his maw. They sat there for only a moment, both eating a little more slowly than usual. They were watching the fire dance and crackle, casting a soft and warming glow back over the pair as they shared their silent dinner. The master pulled two pieces of smoked jerky out after, offering the human the bigger piece yet again.
When they had finished their smaller meal, the master stood, stretching groggily as he let out a hefty yawn. The wolf walked over to their supplies, snagging a claw around the straps of the bedrolls before he returned to the human's side. Hatchet knelt down, unbuckled the straps, and rolled out the first near the fire. He placed the second close by the first, only a few inches away.
After a moment of directing the human to the first bedroll; which he almost immediately passed out on following dinner, Hatchet took a seat on the second, plopping down atop the padding before laying back, stretching out into the bedding once more. He crossed his arms behind his head, shimmied into comfort, and let himself sleep for a while as he shut his eyes.
He awoke to a kneeling human. The wolf prepared a small breakfast for the summoned before he fanned out into the surrounding area, checking the snares he had set the night before. He returned a short while later, bearing two rabbits he skinned while away.
The human had fallen asleep again; a seemingly unavoidable side effect of him eating. So the wolf carved two pikes of wood instead, plopping a hare on each as he roasted their meal. Just as he was getting them set to cook, he heard a rustling behind him. Not expecting the summoned to be awake so soon, the wolf turned. Perhaps a little too quickly....
For the shortest instant, their eyes finally met; the intrigued red eyes locking with the terrified dark ones.
`DO NOT LOOK THEM IN THEY EYE! IT WAS YOUR FIRST RULE, YOU IDIOT! YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS....' The thoughts were invasive, undeniable, and piercing his very core with an icy spear of realization. He hadn't meant to, he never would have done it on purpose, but he let himself get too comfortable. He let his mind and discipline slip too far from him.... He just wanted to watch the morning birds a little longer.
The human awoke quietly, as usual, moving to his kneel without a hitch. The master had his back to the human while he roasted something on the fire, the smell of charring meat drawing the human from his slumber with anticipation. Even so, he would be patient, the new master always fed him when he hungered.
He was letting his thoughts run idle, staring at the rich soil of the forest floor, the rotting leaves nurturing the new life sprouting underneath. A flicker came into his view; a smaller bird that looked similar to the blue jays of his world, but with longer tail feathers that streamed behind on the wind currents.
The avian was hopping along the earth, scratching at the soil in search of tasty insects. The human found himself quite affixed, relishing the moment to study something so foreign and beautiful, sating his neglected curiosity. He was watching it hop along, his eyes following closely, not realizing how high he was holding his head. That is, until the bird flew away, drawing his line of sight with it. The human turned his head, lifting it, watching the avian flutter off with plumage twisting on the winds behind it. He was following the graceful flight....
Following it right into the master's gaze. The wolf had turned around, and the human hadn't realized it. The panic that seized his heart was immediate, his darker eyes dilating in horror as they caught the first glimpse of the master's own.
They were a dark and rich red, a color not far from the human's own blood. They were hauntingly sharp, consuming; the eyes of a predator. They penetrated the human, entrapping him as surely as those rabbits were ensnared by the twine. The master's leer was definitive and undeniable. The human's fate was surely sealed, held captive by the crimson and menacing eyes of that dark wolf while his own were frozen, begging for mercy he knew not to expect.
So visibly terrified, tears of torment began pooling in the eyes of the summoned. He cast his gaze down in horror at what he had done.... The master would surely take his eyes, for that was the cost of such a serious crime. He had peered into the eyes of a master, and payment was due....
`He can have them....' The thought came in humbling acceptance. The new master had been good to him. The new master had given him so much already.... So, the new master could have his eyes. They would grow back with a little time, no matter how badly it hurt losing them. If facing this punishment meant he could keep eating the bread; if it meant he could stay with the new master, he would do more than accept it. He would embrace it.
The wolf was approaching, coming to exact the toll. The gospel had been broken, the human could accept this....
`Do not look them in the eye, from their touch you do not shy.' He repeated it, preparing himself, ensuring he would remember the lesson for next time.
The master stopped right in front of the summoned, towering over him, making the human once again feel small in every way that one could. Breathlessly, he awaited the next command, expecting brutality.
Instead, the human witnessed nothing short of sheer blasphemy. In a heretical display, the master didn't simply defy the gospel, he cast it aside entirely. He did the unthinkable... the master knelt before him; before a broken human.
The human's eyes went wide as the master moved to his level, trembling in place, completely unsure of what to do in such an unprecedented situation. That is, until the master moved his large and steady hand forward, fuzzy digits lightly brushing the human's chin, coaxing him to raise his head once again. He followed, as he always did, and slowly lifted his head, keeping his eyes glued to the earth for a little longer while still obeying the guidance.
`Do not look them in the eye, from their touch you do not shy.' He could follow both commands here. The master kneeling didn't appear to change anything, he was still coaxing his gaze higher, preparing to claim his prize. When he was positioned; when the master had placed him where he wanted and held him there, the summoned took a heavy breath, grateful the master was at least giving him the time to accept his judgement.
`It's alright... this is the first painful thing he's required of me. In a way, it's a fitting payment. If- if this is what he needs from me, if this is what he demands in order to serve him, I want to comply. I want to satisfy him. I want to please this gracious master, so I never have to please another cruel one in his place. I'll accept this, and I'll never make that mistake again. I'll show him I can do better, that I can take responsibility.'
Exhaling deeply in resolve, the human yielded entirely to the beast. He raised his tearful eyes, lifting his gaze to peer into the master's forbidden sights once again. He would have to keep looking at the master, even as the wolf plucked his eyes right out of their sockets.... There was a reason it was his first rule.
`Will he eat them?' The old master always ate the first one removed, making sure he watched.... The trembling human couldn't help but expect the worst here as well.
`Will he take the right or the left first?' More ceaseless questions, less and less hope. He was more trapped than any animal ever was, spiraling into the bottomless despair he had first used to craft the master's gospel.
It was crushing to watch. Hatchet just couldn't fathom what had made the human so fearful of eye contact, but the wolf could see there was something serious behind that lowered gaze. The wolf assumed the human just preferred it that way, but he was quickly realizing it was more the summoned wasn't allowed to look into his eyes....
The human was losing himself again, practically falling apart as his entire body wracked with viscous and uncontrollable tremors. Even so, the summoned held that gaze this time, staring fearfully through dark eyes overflowing with tears. Hatchet needed to do something, he just needed to show it was alright... He needed a desperate measure, something universal; something understood in any language.
What?' The human stopped; stopped trembling, stopped crying, stopped thinking, and stopped breathing. He did not, however, stop gazing into those burning red eyes as his gospel failed him. For a split second, he felt incredibly dizzy, like he was floating on a cloud of tangible disbelief. His mind finally jolted back from the heavy task of processing what had happened. Did... did the master just LICK me?'
A swift dart of the tongue. A mere tender lap on the cheek, an unmistakable notion from any canine, "I am here with you, it will be alright, so please feel better."
Before the summoned could even manage to understand what this meant, the master placed a large hand on each of his shoulders, pulling the human into a reassuring and sound embrace. The master caressed the human gently, soothing away any lingering doubt as his long fingers shuffled over the back of his head, his thumbclaw carefully tracing the shape of the rounded ear.
The stalwart heartbeat of the beast was steady, the thrum of the rhythm blissful in the most unexpected way. The master held him there, petting him, calming him, showing him the one thing he never really received from anyone; both in his old life, nor his current one....
`So... this is what affection feels like?' He relished the thought, shuddering into the warm embrace with a wash of goosebumps. The master hadn't merely let him keep his eyes, it was more than that; the master was opening them.
The human parted his eyes, deliberately raised them, and blissfully gazed into those of his master. He smiled again that day, doting to himself about how pretty a color red really was....
~ ~ ~
Ok, sorry for any delay. Been absolutely busy as hell last week. 4th of july week is rough in retail lol. Always down to hear your thoughts, feedback, or encouragement. That stuff tends to keep me going. I be mean as shit to my writing, so kinda my own worst critic. If you wanna talk more freely about this story or gave questions, feel free to jump in my discord server. Have a dedicated channel there, and will be adding a role for new releases of this story.
https://discord.com/invite/UMmM3QxnD6
Regardless, thanks for reading guys! ~ RedBayou (PupBayou)