My Naga Owners

19)-Time With Ainsley

Ainsley's POV:

    "Is he going to be okay?" Lucas asks, staring up at me with curious eyes.

    "Yes. He will need a bit of time to heal though," I reply, stopping what I'm doing for a moment to pat Lucas' head then continuing my task.

    "Will he be in pain?" Lucas stares at the unconscious rabbit with pity.

"Maybe a little bit," I mumble, wiping the stitches clean with a wet and warm cloth.

"Is there something we can do to help him with the pain?"

"Yes. I have a special job for you. I have some herbs that can take some of his pain away. In the main room of the den, there is an opening to a little room on the left wall. In there you will see many bowls of herbs. Can you bring me the bowl with the white tree bark?"

Lucas nods his head excitedly and smiles up at me. I lower myself down to his height and place a gentle hand on his head.

"If any of the shifters give you trouble scream for me, alright?"

He seems hesitant but nods his head anyway.

"Are you sure? I will not force you to. If you're uncomfortable with it you do not have to."

His green eyes widen at my words like he is surprised at what I said. His smile returns and he nods with more confidence this time.

"I'll do it!"

"Thank you, Lucas," I say, and pat his head. He runs away jumping excitedly at his job.

I turn back to see the rabbit stirring awake. His eyes open and tiredly explore the room. They eventually land on me and seem to dull.

I know that look. It's a look of hopelessness. His brown gaze no longer holds fear. He no longer fears me because he no longer fears death. At this point, he probably wishes his demise will be quick.

"Don't worry, youngling. I won't hurt you." As I reach down to pet his soft fur he doesn't even flinch. It's such a contrast from his behavior earlier. "You're just a sweet one, aren't you?"

I stroke his black, brown, and white fur soothingly as I wait for Lucas to get back. Soon, the little human comes bounding in with a bowl in his hands. He walks up to me and lifts it.

    "Did I get the right one?"

    "You sure did, little one. Look at who is awake." I pick Lucas up as he stares curiously at the rabbit's unmoving form.

"He looks sad," Lucas mumbles. "Maybe he misses his family." His voice drops lower almost impossible to hear. I still caught it and look at him worriedly.

"Do you miss your family, love bug? I can get you to them if you'd like," I say caressing his warm cheek. I then mentally scold myself.

"I totally forgot he is not one of mine. If he wants to go to his family I cannot take him back. Felix would be so mad at me. I'd probably be executed for letting his pet go. But my heart cannot help but break looking into those sad green eyes. I am so mouse-brained! Lucas will never forgive me if I say no and he says ye-"

"No." A soft whisper travels to my ears breaking my thoughts.

My heart shatters at the empty look in his eyes. No matter how much I search them I just cannot find any emotions.

"Why not, love bug?" I whisper. I do not want it to seem like he has to answer my question.

    "My mommy is... dead." His voice cracks as he says the word but he doesn't cry. I decide at that moment that noise was the saddest thing I've ever heard. He gulps as if to swallow down the sadness and looks away in shame. "And I don't really like my daddy. That makes me a bad boy, doesn't it? He took care of me after mommy was gone and I can't even love him."

    "You are not a bad boy, Lucas. Why do you not love daddy?" I ask, brushing strands of hair out of his face.

"Daddy used to hurt me," he says, covering his mouth with his hand when his voice cracks again. "It hurt so bad, but I deserved it. I did bad things and I was punished for them. I-I'm a bad boy for thinking I didn't deserve the punishments!"

"I'm here, love bug. You're safe with me." He lays his head on my shoulder and sobs. "I'll protect you. How does that sound?"

    He nods his head while continuing to sob. His small sobs are muffled by his hand.

    "My heart breaks for you, love bug," I mumble, slithering around the room. Hoping that the small soothing movements of moving around will calm him down.

Third POV:

The rabbit shifter had watched the whole scene and he no longer believed Ainsley wanted to kill him. His words and actions seemed genuine. For some reason, trust swelled in his chest.

The rabbit is now watching Ainsley move around the room with Lucas in his arms. His nose is twitching as his brown eyes follow them.

Ainsley notices the rabbit's stare and smiles at him comfortingly. He then brings his attention back to Lucas, rubbing soothing circles on his back.

    The naga comforting the human reminds the rabbit of his mother comforting one of his many many siblings. The rabbit craves that now and Ainsley seems to be the only one who's giving it out.

    He hops to the edge of the tree stump he's on and stares at the naga with pleading eyes. Once Ainsley's eyes meet his again, he immediately understands.

    Ainsley slithers over to the rabbit, with Lucas still in his arms, and picks him up. The shifter doesn't freak out like he did when Ainsley first approached him and even gets comfortable in his arms.

    Lucas feels the soft fur of the rabbit and starts to stroke his fur. The rabbit still doesn't show any signs of discomfort and pushes into Lucas' small hand.