𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖊𝖉 (First in the Garden Trilogy)

Chapter one- 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒔

Coming to this town Cerby didn't expect much. She expected the normal to occur, death and mayhem nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe a few of the holy religion to fight back and then die by her hand. That would have made things interesting at the very least.

She hadn't expected to pick up a pup wearing a mouses façade, her new pack mate was strong and could hold his own.
It filled her with rage to know that those weaker than him had treated him like he was the dirt beneath their feet.

Snarling loudly the furious growl echoed around the desolated area, the little whimper from her mouse soothed the growls into soft coos of comfort.

"Souris." The words dripped from her lips, her little mouse craned his head to look at her with glowing amber that held such trust. She could get use to that. The trust and easy nature he seemed to hold towards her.

"Ma'am?" The confused lilt in his voice caused her ears to fold down in amusement. Alabaster eyelids dipped half mast as she looked upon the young pup.

"Your name for now, until you grow to reflect something greater."

He was too small to be named something fierce, for now his name would be the Lutum tongue for mouse. If he proved himself and lived into adult hood then she would re name him.
As was her right being lack leader.

The smell of burning flesh caused her stomach to rumble, her hunger had not been sated. Souris looked ill his face had taken on a green tint, he didn't find the smell as appealing as she did.
Cerby doubted he would ever find the scent appetizing.

"The smell." Her voice broke through the screams, the inferno would not stop until everyone was dead. Everyone expect her little treasure.
"You will grow use to it." She would make sure he did not falter under something as simple as this.

Nodding his head to show that he had understood Souris straightened his back pushing his chest out a bit.
Cerby watched him do so with an amused smile, her mouse needed to hold his head high anyway. He was better than this scum. Those that still screamed and shrieked.

"I'm about to feast. Check some of the building that are unburned and see if you can hunt for yourself." If he could not then Cerby would do it for him, though the meat would come from the humans who lay mangled upon the ground.

Taking off into a dead sprint, she moved from running on two legs over to four gaining speed with the movement.

Soon her teeth would sink into the charred flesh she craved.

Tearing into the body before her, the sound of skin and meat tearing away soothed her.
The burns hadn't left her skin, she would need to eat more for her regeneration to kick up, a strange sense of satisfaction filled her at the thought. Her little mouse was strong, strong enough to be pack. She truly pitied the human scum for she would turn her mouse into a true hound.

The rumble of satisfaction that left her caused her form to shake. Oh yes. She would turn her boy into something stronger than her.
Finishing her meal, she left the blood on her face. No sense in washing it off when they would have to clean up soon enough, she couldn't leave Souris in those rags for any longer then she had to.

Making her way to were his scent was the strongest, she watched as he tore into a piece of meat several apples lay near him. She looked at the tears streaming down his cheeks with a puzzled expression, why was her mouse upset?
Dropping one heavy hand atop his head, she roughly rubbed the best of brown tangles. His form trembled and shook.

"You are filthy, Precious."

Wide amber hues looked at her in confusion a slight wobble to his lip coupled with the tear stains he looked pitiful.
The young boy felt stabbing pains in his chest from the women's rough words, even though it was said in a tone of fondness it still left him feeling dejected.

"I'll clean up. Promise." Hunching into himself Cerby bit back a sigh. She wasn't use to this nature, brash and loud had been the one she called a dear friend, quite and filled with curiosity had been the other she loved dearly.
"Stand proud child." Her words were harsh but this little one had so much potential that she would make him proud to be part of her pack.

The small thing said nothing.

"Dry your tears. Today you lived. Today you go onto greater things."
She meant for these words to sooth him. Power would be his to gain in the very near future so he should not pity the dead or pity himself.

"Souris." He turned his gaze upon her craning his neck to look at her face

"Ma'am?" His voice was tiny and nearly drowned out by the roaring of flames.
The inferno was dying down,
Glowing amber burned to her skull as she moved forward, the scrambling sounds of Souris picking himself up from the floor and the scattering of apples echoed in her ears.

"We are leaving, a small town is a days time away from here." Souris nodded once, before he could say anything Cerby continued "I will take a faster form. We will be there within an hour at most, before the sun loses its light."

"A faster form..?" He sounded confused, chuffing lightly Ceby had to remember most demons did not venture beyond the vale to Lutum. The Great Separation was something few cared to break.

Bending down she felt her bones break and form a larger mass. Short thin hair coated her body as she moved, her heads grew and she relished the feeling of being able to see the world in the view of three again.

"Come. We ride. Tap when you are ready." The low timber of her voice shook the ground and caused Souris to wobble.
Cerby waited until he was seated comfortably enough, waited for him to lightly tap her side as a signal.

Bounding towards the Chilled Forest, the eternal snow covered area would provide a short cut to their destination.

* sorry for the rushed chapter! It's been bouncing around in my head for a few days, with any luck I'll be able to go back over it and change some things up!
Thanks for peeking in!!