Red Sky In The Night

Seven.

Déjà vu wasn't limited to The Elders and as Derek woke, memories returned of the afternoon and he was left checking himself for signs of injury while wondering if it had all been a dream. The fact that it wasn't became obvious as the figure of Devony appeared by his window, standing patiently nearby as she waited for him to wake.

 “Devony?”

“Hello Derek.”

“What happened?” He mumbled, rubbing his forehead lightly knowing there was a headache coming to take over. The last time he woke up, he had felt amazing and now he literally felt like he had just had a brush with death.

And death won.

“You were shot, the elders healed you.” She answered simply, not moving as he got up and stretched, his muscles feeling tight and unused making him wonder how long he had been out for.

“And Amerie?” Why did he ask about her? Instantly regretting it the seer only smiled that knowing smile that had infuriated Amerie more times than Devony could count.

“She is fine. You saved her.”

“It was my fault, I shouldn't have kissed her.” Derek admitted. Unlike the faeries, he could lie and that one was obvious to anyone. “We never would have been fired upon!”

Devony sensed the darkness that plagued him and how someone could have a good heart, but a dark soul confused her. She knew his past and also that he needed to let it go, but what could she do to make him understand?

“You think it is all your responsibility Derek, but it is not. For everything you think you could have stopped, you couldn't have because it's not within your powers of control. Accidents really do happen, we are all living our own destiny and sometimes we all entwine when we need to, no matter the outcome.”

“But…”

“No. It is what it is. Stop keeping everyone away Derek, you may walk as a bear, but you are not a creature who is destined to live on its own.” And with that she left him alone to be frustrated with her riddles and lack of true answers.

“Fucking faeries or seers or whatever the hell they all are,” He mumbled, wondering just how he actually got to this point in his life and he headed outside for some fresh air, the bear wanting to feel the earth beneath his feet while the human needed to breathe. Derek began to pace up and down outside the hut, thinking about what had happened not just yesterday afternoon, but everything that had happened in the last six months. He had come here to escape the world and instead a whole new one had found him. Amerie had found him, the bear too and stuck on Devony's words he kept pacing until he found himself being interrupted.

“Derek?” Ameries' voice had him turning to see her looking like the angel he had always considered her to be. Her eyes were filled with sadness as she refused to meet his gaze completely. He didn’t remember her ever looking so fragile or innocent and turning her head away, she looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Was he angry with her, did he hate them? Her thoughts began to speed up and she was left feeling nothing but panic towards his lack of response at seeing her.

“Amerie.” He couldn't say much more, distracted by the way moon light had her blond hair shimmering as white as her skin while the pale pink gown fell from her body in a way that had always made Derek think the dress wore her, not the other way around.

Sighing Derek walked past her and back inside, he didn't want to deal with this; not now, not ever. Amerie spun around to watch him leave, clueless as to what to do as he slammed the door shut behind him.

That wasn't going to be their ending and in another moment of déjà vu, this time on Ameries' side as Derek reappeared, leaning against the door frame the pair just stared at each other before he sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck he no longer terrified her in the same way he did in the beginning.

“Did you wanna come in?” 

“You're inviting me in?”

“If you want?” A tiny smile played on his lips that had her heart racing and Amerie didn't hesitate in taking off towards him to where he now waited with open arms and welcomed her home because that's what this place was now to both of them and for the first time in a long time, Derek's nightmares were no longer there to haunt him, but in their place the bear he had become, did.

  

Two Months Later…..

The confident unhurried steps of the bear were nothing but gentle soft thuds on the well-worn path that weaved like a snake through the forest. He had no purpose, enjoying the freedom that came on the full moon. The river had left his fur wet and matted; briskly shaking it the alluring scent of the sweetest kind of honey lured him towards home and from somewhere nearby the chorus of wolves filled the air.

Despite the night declining, the forest seemed to erupt with life while the king of his kingdom spied the mans hut on the hill and un-bothered by the activity around him, he was filled with a sense of belonging and home rather than fear as creatures like him normally have being so near human things, but then again, he wasn't exactly normal.

The silver shimmer of the faerie appeared on the steps. Her face lit up with the same dazzling brilliance of the stars seeing the bear and his waddle turned to a trot as he hurried home to her, certain far too precious to be of this world

“Are you ready?” She asked, taking his head in her hands she scratched under his muzzle before getting the spot behind his ears.

The breathy moan was all she got in answer and nudging her playfully the bear headed towards the house.

“Oh no you don't! You know you can't fit in there!” Amerie appeared in front of him, crossing her arms over her chest her glare had the beast stopping in its tracks and pawing at the dirt with agitation.

But there was not much point in denying him entry, standing on two legs the growl would have once scared her, but now she knew it was all for show and she gently pushed his stomach, causing the bear to fall down with a heavy thump, whining as if he had been injured. Instead of showing it sympathy she jumped onto its chest and was shown a new meaning to the phase ‘bear hug' only as the moon arrived in its new position, the fur was reduced to skin and the giant bulk was instead replaced with Derek.

Amerie could help heal the pain from shifting, her presence and touch the thing that had been missing when he first shifted and now he had her, he wasn't willing to give her up.

“You smell amazing,” He whispered into her ear. His scent heavy in the air around them, some animal traits he was finally learning to control and understand with the simplest of them being familiar with scents.

“So do you.” The musky earthy smell that covered him now had always been a favorite of Amerie's and the water from the river had his dark hair appearing even darker while she shone like a beam of light against his tan skin. It wasn't the life either of them had expected, but it was one they never wanted to change. He was her beast, she was his beauty and surrounded by nature under the waning moonlight that claim was made once more in a possessive territorial manner that Amerie was learning Derek was very good at.

Nothing was rushed as they each sought to enjoy the moment as they did with everything these days. Amerie savored the taste of his skin on her tongue, finally having permission to touch each and every one of those scars and tattoos like she had been wanting to do since that morning at the river and his body responded eagerly as her gentle kisses and soft caresses travelled further down his body before Derek took control and had her trembling at his mercy until they finally fell asleep under the stars until the red sky of the morning arrived to greet them.

The End.