Bloodied Butterfly

Part 8: I've seen it too much to be surprised...

He was so quiet.

I never noticed Rhodes behind me,

"You need to teach me how to be so quiet, stealth would be very useful in hunting-"
I turned to see him in his full monster form. I knew he would be like this, I knew it was winter, I just wasn't ready. I never felt ready.

"Hungry." Was all he said before stalking off to probably stare at Bluebottle and try to mimic him.
The snow was ankle deep, the months had gone by so slowly. I couldn't remember saying anything after he left for hibernation. I have been silent for months. My voice felt foreign on my tongue, I felt like even Rhodes spoke more than me, and he only spoke when I was around.

The old couple did come to my cabin though, I did speak then...
They were desperate for information on Jason- Rhodes. I told them nothing, they didn't deserve to know, I didn't care that they were his parents. I had figured out that Mr Golding did still secretly hunt, but not for the usual game, there were traps made of silver... Rhodes must have got caught in one of the traps he had set as I met him in the forest. The old man still believed the monsters existed, he was right... But I couldn't let him be right, or Rhodes would be...

"Ruff, get out of your head." Rhodes ordered sternly, shocking me out of my trance, turning to him,

"Again; the stealth," I said, "You need a bell or something..."

Rhodes chuckled, "I have yet to perfectly mimic your scream- I need practice." He purred, a serpentine smile stretched across his face so obviously I could see it form under his skull mask.

"You wouldn't dare." I hissed. He stood to his full height and inch from me. He towered over me completely, shielding my small human body from the gentle snowfall,

"I think I might as well dare!" He teased.
I beckoned him to come lower, he crouched to meet my height. Quicker than an arrow, I ripped out my silver chain, pulling his hood down and latching it over his neck, pulling him closer down so close I could see his hollowed out socket through the empty eye of the deer skull. He cried out in pain, "You bitch!" He swore.

"You're still smiling!" I teased, he huffed a laugh,

"I know... Because I'm gonna do this..."

"Do wha-" before I could blink twice, the Wendigo twisted his entire body to unwind the chain from his neck and twirled me around, forcing me to the ground with an arm held behind my back. This time I cried out, he pulled my arm back harder, "Okay okay! I give in!" I surrendered, my arm was released. I tried to sweep his leg, but Rhodes stood strong, rubbing his neck with a small wince, he didn't even flinch, though I had put a large amount of force into the second attack. He didn't look at me as he adjusted his mask, "Now that was pathetic." He muttered.
I stuck my tongue out at him, so he stuck his tongue out at me. I gasped, his tongue was actually really long... It made me uneasy.

The Wendigo noticed, reeling his tongue back through his sharp fangs. I rose to my feet, my fingers numb from the freezing snow.
Suddenly, Rhodes looked up, cautious, "Someone's coming... I see them." He whispered.

"Go, the stable, now." I ordered, he nodded.

It was that girl, Zach. I sighed, almost relief, or disappointment, I couldn't tell.
She jogged up to me, an excited smirk upon her flushed face,

"What was that?" She asked.

I stuttered, "What... What are you talking about?" I was panicking, I didn't want her to die...

"Don't play dumb! I saw the creature with me own eyes! Don't worry- I won't tell a soul if you let me peep at 'im!" There was exhilaration in her hazel eyes.

I weighed my options, "You really won't tell?"
She shook her head, "On me life I promise."

"Oh your life does depend on this vow, Zach." I warned, opening the stable door,

"Rhodes, come out, she's with us."

The Wendigo crawled outside to loom over us both. Zach was in awe, "So you're the scruffy lad from summer? How?"

"He's a Wendigo... We don't know how he works." I stated.

Zach reached a hand out to Rhodes, who backed away, growling. Zach smiled reassuringly and bravely, "Don't worry, I don't bite."

Rhodes was still, dipping his head for Zach to examine him, running her hands across his antlers as if she were examining an antique. "You are extraordinary..." She breathed.

"You reacted very... Different than others, including myself." I said, surprised.

"Well what's the fun in bein' like others, eh?" She muttered, tapping Rhode's skull mask, "May I?"

Rhodes sighed, "Might as well..."

I raised a brow, it took three years of trust to get Rhodes to reveal himself to me, Zach seemed to be so trustworthy... I was unsure of her.
Zach winced at the sight of his unmasked face, "Holy shit- bit gruesome aren't ya?"

Rhodes blinked, "Times up." He moved away, trudging through the snow solemnly.
Zach huffed, hands on hips, "How... How did you both meet- he looks like a hostile creature, how did you make him docile enough for me to come close?"

I held up the thin chain, "Silver."

Zach's brows rose, I added, "He may be hostile, but he's a human cursed to maim and devour- he's docile because he feels like it."

I could have sworn a flicker of fear flashed across her face, "Noted..." She breathed.

"So why did you come here?" I asked, instantly realising my tone sounded rude.

She shrugged, "It took a lot of askin', but I found out you lived quite far out from the village... Hadn't seen you in a while- I wanted to say hi! Though I didn't know your partner was a- well, not human."

"He's not my partner, we made a deal; I give him food, and he doesn't kill a living human..." I stopped myself, realising he had killed a human; Brandon. Rhodes had killed him in self defense, but I didn't forgive him, I haven't, I just lived with him. I lived with the monster.

We both looked over to Rhodes, who was now clambering onto the roof, hooves clicking against the wood.

"Strange one you got 'ere, Ruth." She chuckled.

I sighed wearily, "Next time I face a monster I'll make sure they have manners..." She chuckled at that, "You get used to his behaviours." I reassured.