The Wolf of The Woods

Chapter Nine: Mixed emotions

A/N: the art for this chapter was done by @lauca3 on insta, go check em out :)
-

Dan stared at Phil with a hungry look.

No. What was he thinking? He was going insane, Phil was his friend, he couldn't, he wouldn't...

He ran for it.

Turning and sprinting away from the scene, away from the deer carcass and away from Phil. The only thing he couldn't run from was his mind.

He found he could run much faster now he had eaten. He wondered if Phil was running too, running away from him, afraid.

Dan didn't stop until he'd reached his home and collapsed onto his bed.

He wanted nothing more than to sleep, to escape the hell of his own mind but he knew he couldn't.

As he lay there the look of terror he had seen in Phil's eyes kept flickering back into his mind, as did thoughts of the deer peacefully grazing in the forest just as it would be if he hadn't killed it.

He had murdered that innocent animal and probably would have murdered his own friend if he hadn't snapped out of it.

Lying there shivering, both in fear and from the cold, he could do nothing but let his thoughts taunt him all night long.

-

Before he knew it, Dan was in a classroom listening to his geography teacher ramble on about nothing as he sat at his desk. He lay his head upon it, memories of the previous night still haunting him.

'Does anybody know where Stockholm is?' Mr Pike asked. A couple of people raised their hands.
'Yes Phil'

Phil had come to school today. He had called for Dan that very morning (luckily Dan had transformed back by then) and they had walked to school together.

It had been rather awkward actually. Dan not wanting to talk to Phil after what had happened and Phil still clearly upset about whatever it was he'd been crying about.

'Sweden sir, it's in Sweden'
'Yes Phil, well done'

Phil had only just moved into Dan's geography class and on any other day Dan would have been quite glad of that.

He turned around and looked at his friend, who now had his head on the desk as Dan had done, looking almost as tired.

Of course he wouldn't have gotten much sleep either, Dan thought.
'How about Berlin? Does anyone know where Berlin is?' Mr pike asked.

Dan wasn't paying attention, he continued looking at Phil with curiosity. Phil spotted, looking up at him and smiling weakly.

'Daniel' Mr Pike snapped.
Dan practically jumped out of his skin.
'Ah! I, yes sir?'
'Do you know where Berlin is?'
'Erm... France? Is it in France'

Half the class giggled and Dan swore he heard a particularly loud snort from Seamus.
'It's in Germany you idiot!' Called a voice from the back of the class.
'Yes yes well done. Anyway children, that is all for today, class dismissed'

-

'Are you two okay?' Louise asked. It was lunch time now and Dan and Phil had both hardly said anything to each other. Louise had been friends with Dan for a while, though they'd hardly spoke recently.

'Yes we're fine' Phil said hurriedly.
'Hmm okay' said Louise, very much doubting him.

'But Dan you haven't eaten your lunch' she pointed out.