The Beast (SHORT STORY) (EDITED)

Chapter 2

Daybreak painted the sky in hues of soft pink and gold as Hollis slipped out of the quiet cottage. Just as the last of the breakfast dishes were being cleared, a rumbling stomach announced Brandon's arrival in the kitchen. It was uncanny how he could sense when food was ready.

"Mom and Dad gone?" he mumbled, his eyes half-closed.

"Yeah. They said not to burn the house down," Hollis replied dryly, handing him a plate piled high with scrambled eggs and bacon.

"Ah ah, you're so funny," Brandon retorted with a mock glare.

Hollis chuckled, grabbing her medium-sized woven basket. "I'm heading out now. Don't let my pies burn, or it's your share."

"Where are you going?" Brandon asked, his sleepy demeanor shifting to his usual protective mode.

"Don't know yet. But I'm passing the river. There's a first time for everything," she said with a hint of defiance.

"Just be careful," Brandon warned, his brow furrowed with concern.

With a wave, Hollis set off, the rising sun casting long shadows before her. She kept her eyes peeled, a habit ingrained from years of foraging, though today her focus was less on berries and more on the unknown. She had never ventured beyond the river, the boundary whispered about in hushed tones, the edge of the beast's territory.

The beast, of course, was Rune.

Try as she might, Hollis couldn't reconcile the villagers' fear with the image of the broodingly handsome man she had encountered. He had seemed... intense, yes, but not monstrous.

She climbed over a moss-covered fallen tree, a small thrill of accomplishment bubbling within her as she avoided snagging her skirt.

Unseen, high in the branches above, Rune watched her progress. A flicker of something akin to amusement almost touched his lips as she nearly tripped over a root, catching herself with a little dance-like movement.

He followed her silently, a shadow moving through the trees. Crossing the border was a fool's errand, venturing into the perilous badlands. It would be a regrettable waste to see such an innocent spirit meet a violent end. He leaped effortlessly to another tree, his movements fluid and silent. Below, Hollis stopped. She had reached the river, the unspoken boundary clear as day. On her side, wildflowers bloomed in vibrant clusters, and the water gurgled peacefully. On the other, the badlands lived up to their name – a stark, desolate landscape devoid of color, eerily still. He thankfully did not dwell on that blighted side.

Hollis hesitated for only a moment before stepping across the invisible line. The air immediately felt different, heavy and silent. Not even the chirping of crickets broke the stillness. Then, he heard them – the low growls, the rustling in the undergrowth – before he saw them.

With a silent drop from the trees, Rune landed between Hollis and the pack of gaunt wolves that had been stalking her. The sudden appearance startled her, but the wolves, even his own kind, recoiled, fear evident in their yellow eyes.

He turned his gaze to Hollis, who stared back at him, her blue eyes wide and unblinking. He found himself momentarily mesmerized by their clear, innocent depths.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he asked, the words a low growl, edged with a frustration he didn't quite understand. He was infuriated by her reckless stupidity. She shook her head quickly, her braid swaying. "Curiosity gets you killed."

"Sorry. I just wanted to see how bad it is," she admitted, her gaze sweeping over the desolate landscape.

"Bad enough that they are waiting for their foolish food to step across," he said, his eyes flicking back to the retreating wolves.

"Thank you," Hollis murmured, a genuine sense of gratitude in her voice.

"Don't try it again. I don't like saving humans," he stated flatly, turning his piercing gaze back to her.

She gasped softly. "So it's true! So what are you? Oh, that's so rude. I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Hollis. I already know you're Rune."

He raised a perfectly arched brow, a hint of amusement flickering in his dark eyes.

"You're a bedtime story," she said, smiling brightly.

"Ah. That makes sense." He was the monster that made children behave, the reason they ate their vegetables. How... fun.

He was the beast after all.