❛ 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 ❜

24

howl trudged through the landscape, the castle finally coming into view. the view of its spires and chimneys loomed against the horizon, its movements sluggish, almost as if it were waiting for him. he hated the idea of returning without y/n, hated the taste of failure that clung to him, but exhaustion had sunk its claws into his bones. the night prior had been long, the search relentless, and he could feel his strength waning. he needed rest— not that he wanted it, not that he deserved it— but his body demanded it.

he hovered in the air for a moment, wings outstretched, his inky black feathers gleaming faintly under the morning sun's rays. the hybrid form he wore was unsettling even to him. his elongated limbs and the sheen of feathers made him look otherworldly, monstrous—more harpy than human. his wings folded tightly against his body as he descended, his anisodactyl feet dragging through the wet grass as he stumbled forward, his energy nearly spent. his form began to shrink slightly, feathers retracting just enough for him to enter the castle, though the sharp curve of his claws and the unnatural stretch of his limbs remained.

as he reached the door, howl flung it open with more force than intended, his movements clumsy from fatigue. the creak of the door reverberated through the castle as he staggered inside, head bowed and eyes half-closed. calcifer's fiery head whipped toward him from the hearth, his flames sparking slightly at the sound. "oh, there you are." calcifer muttered, though his tone carried a note of exasperation. "you okay? man, you smell terrible..." he then added.

howl ignored the comment, his feet— still clawed and leaving trails of dark, viscous goop— dragging across the wooden floor. he made his way to the chair positioned in front of the hearth, the firelight casting eerie shadows on his elongated form. with a heavy sigh, he slumped into the chair, his wings folding awkwardly around him as he leaned back. his head tilted upward, his eyes remaining closed, and for a moment, he just sat there, unmoving.

calcifer watched him carefully, his flames flickering as he added, "you look like you've been through it. no luck, huh?" howl groaned in response, shifting slightly in the chair. with visible effort, he began the process of transforming back to his human form.

feathers melted into his skin with a slow, painful seeping motion, leaving a faint shimmer in their wake. his elongated limbs shortened, cracking slightly as they resumed their natural proportions. his clawed feet softened back into boots, though the black goop from his transformation still clung to the floor. the process wasn't seamless— it never was— and when it was over, howl looked drained, like the life had been siphoned out of him.

he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he ran a hand through his filthy, tangled hair. his face was smeared with soot and speckled with small scrapes, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. he let out a long, ragged breath, breaking the stillness of the room. the castle creaked faintly around him, and calcifer's flames dimmed slightly, their crackling the only sound that filled the space.

"you're going to burn yourself out," calcifer said again, his voice quieter, almost cautious. howl still didn't respond, his gaze glued to the floorboards as if the knots in the wood could somehow unravel the chaos in his mind. he looked hollowed out, all sharp angles and weary edges, like a candle that had burned too close to the wick. calcifer flickered, casting shifting shadows across the room. "and you know well enough you shouldn't keep flying around like that. soon, you won't even be able to turn back into a human." the fire demon's voice had a tinge of sharpness, but beneath it was concern—a rare thing from calcifer, but genuine nonetheless.

howl let out a rough, shallow breath, his shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. "did you find her?" he rasped, his voice raw, as if the words themselves had scraped their way out. the sound startled calcifer, who blinked and stared, momentarily dumbfounded.