Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 25 - Thing is, Do you want a chance to join us?

Not having the energy to leave your room this morning, you just laid in bed. A butler had come to try and get you out of bed but you firmly sent them away. It's not that you were depressed. Your brain just felt overloaded with the new information and you wanted a bit of space to process it.

Getting up you sat at the desk in the corner of the room pulling out your journal. It had been a while since you'd done anything like this but deciding today was a good day you began sketching little flowers all over the pages.

Getting sudden inspiration you got up snapping the journal shut and began to walk to the door. Upon making it you began to creep towards the front door. You shouldn't be surprised but a butler appearing at your side had you jumping slightly.

"Didn't mean to startle you miss. Just checking in to make sure everything was alright." Looking up to Gotoh you sighed.

"Yes, I'm fine. I would like to go outside if that's alright?" You raised a brow.

"That should be fine. Come along." Exhaling you followed behind the butler until you made it to the front door.

Following him outside he looked over his shoulder to you. "Where exactly am I to escort you?"

Smiling mischievously you held up your journal and pens. "We are going to see Mike. I hope he doesn't mind being my muse for the day."

He didn't show much of a reaction but you were positive he was slightly surprised. "We should get a move on then."

When you finally arrived at Canary's station at the end of the trail you smiled towards her waving. She only gave a quick curt nod before returning her attention to her job.

When you got a good bit down the path you called out, "MIKE!"

Deciding to wait you found a clearing with a bunch of soft grass. Crossing your legs you opened the journal and began sketching the trees while you waited for the beast to arrive.

The soft breeze tickled the ends of your hair, you weren't sure how long had passed but a presence behind you made you pause. Carefully looking over a shoulder and up you're met with the large form of mike standing behind you.

"Hey there! Hope you don't mind but I wanted to come see you today!" Spinning around while still seated you held up your Journal for his inspection. It probably didn't matter to him either way but it felt nice to show someone regardless.

"Do you mind if I sketch you buddy? I won't always be around the mountain to come see you in person and I'd like to remember you clearly when I'm away." His tongue lulled out to the side and he turned slightly lifting a paw.

Smiling at the realization he was striking a pose for you, you set to work on copying what you saw in front of you to the paper. As soon as you finished that sketch you nodded to him.

"Good boy! You can relax." Seeming to peer down he nudged his nose on the paper leaving a muddy smudge at the top corner.

"Oh I see you had to sign your work!" Without thinking you reached up to the face in front of you and began giving him pets. He laid down seemingly to bask in the attention you were giving him.

Standing up to run your hands along his neck giving scratches occasionally as you pet. Stepping over an arm you scratched more, after rolling to his side giant tail thumping garaging against the ground you rubbed his belly for a few moments before walking back towards his face.

Getting around front you rested you back against his chest after he sat back up. It was nice being around an animal instead of a person. A long time ago your family had a dog, and not that Mike was anything like a dog not really but the comforting animal presence soothed away a lot of the overwhelming feelings you had previously.