Chapter Text
Thomas isn’t sure how much time has passed, possibly an hour now, that he’s been waiting in the house. He’s moved to the couch away from the backdoor but it’s still in visible enough sight. Remy has been keeping him company the entire time, sitting on the couch’s armrest to nuzzle at his cheeks and inadvertently helping Thomas’s anxiety.
He nearly topples Remy over as he jerks to attention hearing the handle of the back door jiggling. Is it back! What does he do?! Thomas quickly grabs a pillow aiming for the door as he waits with bated breath.
“Thomas?”
“Logan!” Thomas immediately drops the pillow before launching himself over to the couch to the door and hurried to let the elf in. Subconsciously hiding partially behind the door as he does so and quickly locking it back up.
“Is-Is everything ok with that deer thing?” Thomas can’t help but notice the way the corner of Logan’s mouth twitches upwards, amused maybe by the question?
“The Peryton? Yes, I got it back to its territory with minimal fuss. However it was quite rattled, something must have spooked it from its territory.” Logan muses allowed, a hand going to his chin as he starts thinking to himself.
Thomas subconsciously reaches for the amulet, biting at his lip as he gets lost in his own thoughts. Stuttering and stopping as he tries to get out something to ask about what may live near the house but is unsure if he could get any of the right words out. There wasn’t much to say other than it sniffed and scratched at the door, could have been a passing wolf?... Right? Did they even have wolves here?
“Are you alright, Thomas?... You seem…shaken?” Logan’s sharp eyes have locked back onto him with his brows slightly pinched.
Thomas clears his throat nervously “I- Something was scratching at the back door right after I got inside. It had Remy really spooked…and me..” He glances down at the amulet in his hand forcing himself to let it go as he looks back up at the tall elf, the cold metal showing no traces of the burning heat it had previously. “My amulet got really hot and was glowing?” He watches as Logan’s brows pinche further together, his eyes almost darkening as he looked between him and the amulet before settling to staring at the floor thinking again.
“Did you get a look at what it was?”
“No, I-I couldn’t really uh get myself to look.” Thomas rubs his arms anxiously, Remy trotting over with a mew and rubbing against his legs, ever to his rescue.
Logan nods, “I assume you had locked the door because of this?” Receiving a nod he continues, “I am unsure what would come so close to the manor, the iron of your necklace would keep most creatures at bay, acting as a protection charm, but the glowing and heat means that your amulet was most likely warded as well.” The elf begins to pace as Thomas picks up Remy, getting a few disgruntled meows in front the large cat. He soothes himself by burying his face in the cat fur, it was nice having a cat around that he wasn’t allergic to.
“This could have some correlation to the Peryton, it wandered far from its usual territory and was frazzled. We could possibly have some stray creature that’s wandered itself into the sanctuary and incidentally harassing others.” Logan pauses an ear twitching. “We must find it and figure out what it is so we can either dispose of it or find a suitable habitat for it in the sanctuary.”
Thomas jerks his head up from the cat’s fur nearly dropping him in the process “What? But that thing was gonna attack me!”
“We do not know that for certain, it merely scratched at the door. If it were attacking then it’s all the more reason to seak it. We must make sure it is not harmful to the sanctuary.” Logan states matter of factly, looking down at Thomas almost like a teacher trying to explain the obvious solution to a student.
Thomas bites his lip, holding onto Remy tighter, he doesn’t seem to appreciate this and wriggles free of his arms with a few upset flicks of the tail. He runs a hand through his hair, this really wasn’t exactly what he signed up for when he took his inheritance.
“I can equip you with several weapons for your safety, and we will have Remy coming with us. As mush as…neither of us would prefer this, you are the new keeper of the sanctuary and must fulfill the responsibilities.” Logan declares looking down at Thomas with a darkened expression. “If you do not think you can care for this place as your grandfather had then I suggest you leave as soon as possible.”
Thomas stares up at him feeling like this may not be just a suggestion…but possibly a hidden threat in there, but he knows he doesn’t want to abandon and leave this place. No one else in his family would take care of it, he knows that for sure. Everyone had labeled his grandfather as some family crazy, an old guy spending too much time on his own carrying for the wildlife and making up wild stories.
But he knows the truth now…mostly. And he wasn’t going to let Aldwin down and his home or his life work rot away.
“I’m staying.”
Logan’s face lightens glad to have the human on board. “Good. Now I believe there is someone else that can help us and would provide us with one of your first lessons.” Logan waves for him to follow as he quickly makes his way to the library, Thomas following with confusion clear in his face, there is no one else in the house that he was aware of unless Logan helped sneak someone in? He still doesn’t know how the elf is really coming and going? Does he have his own key?
In the library, Logan steps behind the desk and opens the drawer Talyn had opened the other day, pulling out the very statue the three of them had curiously inspected. “This here is an Ushabti as the Egyptians called them, or simply put, a golem. A creature made of natural materials and an artificial soul.” The elf holds it out to him, pointing to the hieroglyph on the back of the small statue. “This here shows it’s been sealed with blood, only members of the family can activate the magic within the golem.”
As Logan explains Remy hops up onto the desk and paws at the air, meowing almost demandingly at the statue. Thomas takes the statue glancing between the cat and Logan, giving Remy some ear scritches hoping that will soothe him before looking closely at the symbol. “I…I don’t know magic though, I hardly knew what this place actually was or what you were this morning.”
“I am aware, but I can teach you. It may be more difficult for you as a human, especially since you weren’t taught from birth like Aldwin was but imbuing magic into an object is so simple that I’m sure you can handle it.” The elf reassures him as Thomas bites his lip and runs his thumb along with the hieroglyph.
“All you need is a drop of your blood on the glyph, then imbue, pushing your magic into it. It’s very simple.”
Thomas nods with a sigh and brows furrowing. That…that doesn’t really help him. “So I just find something to prick my finger and… somehow perform magic and put it into the statue guy…even though I don’t know how.”
Logan hums, lips twitching upward, a small smile trying to creep up his face as he takes Thomas’s hand in his “I can teach you, think of it like pouring water from a pitcher, careful steady hand pouring water from a pitcher into a glass. First focus on your aura, the energy inside of you.” The elf gently touches the center of Thomas’s chest with his other hand, “That is your pitcher, then you must will that energy into the object you desire at least for this type of magic. That would be you pouring the water,” His hand on Thomas’s chest slowly moves across and over to his arm and to their hands “The object is your cup, it only needs a little water, if you use too much you risk overflow and cause waste. Tiring yourself faster and depending on the spells or what you’re using the magic for can have added effects or possibly harmful ones.” He lets go of him as Thomas gives him a nod.
He’s trying to absorb the information and wrap it around his head. He could…do that…maybe. His thoughts caught off seeing Logan pull out a dagger and pull Thomas’s empty hand towards him. “Wa-wait!” Logan doesn’t pay him any mind, taking a finger and pricking it with the tip of the dagger, Thomas breaths out a hiss of air as Logan guides his stinging finger over the hieroglyph, dripping a couple of drops onto the symbol. “Now, try putting your magic into the golem.” He commands.
Thomas takes a deep breath trying to force his shoulder down, relax, focus, and attempt to do as Logan instructed.
He closes his eyes trying to somehow focus his energy like Logan had spoken about, willing it into the statue, and pour the water from the pitcher. He can't help to scrunch up his face in concentration, tongue sticking out. For a long moment that seems to take ages nothing happens.
He’s just about to give up when it almost feels like something slips through his fingers, next the statue grows warm in his hands as the hard clay begins to grow and soften.
"Quick, put it on the floor.”
Thomas fumbles, eyes shooting open as he fumbles with the golem in his hand and places it on the floor. The golem continues to grow becoming more detailed and life-like, with magic lighting up the air and swirling around it until it reaches just a few inches over Thomas’s own height. Blinking open its eyes and begins to stretch out its stiff limbs.
It looks relatively like a normal person now, save for the rough texture of its skin the skin being dark like clay. It’s dressed in a lighter brown sweater with a white dusty button-up underneath, and grey slacks. The hair was very light, reminding him of sand and the eye(?) were incredibly dark with speckles of grey. It only had the one, almost as if his face hadn't been finished, and was left with a hole where his other eye should be.
The golem finally notices them as it finishes its stretches. “Oh! Hello, do you how to do it!” It? He? They giggle. “Oh, it’s been so long since I’ve finally been out and about again. Logan, dear! My, don’t you look as fresh as a leaf-!” They're cut off by a rather loud meow from the cat who’s still sitting on the desk waving a paw around, Thomas is pretty sure he’s never seen the cat look so energetic since he’s been here.
“Remy! Oh, sweetie!” The golem immediately scoops the cat up into his arms and nuzzles his face against it, earning loud rumbling purrs in response, the complete opposite of when Thomas picked it up. “I’ve missed you so much!” Remy meows and purrs louder if possible and feverishly tries to return the nuzzles back at the golem.
They suddenly gasp, taking notice of Thomas standing there, and gives him a beaming smile “Oh, Where are my manners! I’m Emile, your personal magical companion.” They give a mock shallow bow still holding onto the cat, Logan huffs from behind them, rolling his eyes.
“Uh, hi?” Thomas greets back awkwardly, “I’m Thomas.” Emile tilts their head at him eye looking over him intensely before widening.
“Little Thomas?! Master Alkwin’s grandson Thomas?” Emile gaps “I haven't seen you since you were small enough to carry.” The golems demeanor seems to somber as Thomas furrows his brows
“I’m sorry I…I can’t say I really remember you?”
Emile coos with a nod, their smile disappearing. “Oh I would have been surprised if you did, you were so young when they took you away.” They put a hand on his cheek in thought, somehow holding the large cat with no effort in one arm. “It was such a shame what happened, really it wasn’t anyone’s fault but maybe mine. I really should have had a better eye on you. But…you were always to curious for your own good.” They give Thomas a sympathetic smile as if trying to bring the mood back up.
Logan steps forward clearing his throat as he gives Emile a side-eye “I’d hate to ruin this reunion but we are here on important matters.”
The golem chuckles leaning against the desk and petting Remy in his arms. “Right, of course, my apologies Logan, how can I help the two of you today?”
“We need assistance with tracking a new creature that’s found its way into the sanctuary. Thomas here has no experience with this or much of anything that goes on here.” The elf sighs, “I’m worried that it may be dangering the others here.”
Emile nods with a hum finally setting Remy down and back onto the desk, he knows the real reason Logan’s worried about a harmful creature, most of the sanctuary could take care of itself if unwanted predators showed up. “Alright, then what’s our plan?”
After taking a few minutes to get prepared, namely, Logan trying to convince Thomas to take a couple of daggers and Thomas arguing about leaving Remy at the house just in case it’s dangerous, the four fo them made their way through the woods. Logan takes the front of the group as he expertly follows the tracks and traces that the animal left as it walked. The further they traveled the more uneasy Thomas felt. The woods were darker and cast shadows as the sun no longer sat high up in the sky.
Logan slowed their traveling every couple of feet as his brows furrowed further. Maybe he felt something was off to but Thomas wasn’t certain. They remained in silence not wanting to spook it off if they were to get close. His amulet hadn't heated up even once during the tracking.
He wasn’t sure if it could be the creeping exhaustion from walking around the woods for an hour or fi the unease was just deep-rooted anxiety from his childhood but either way it didn’t feel like they would find this thing anytime soon like this. “Maybe…maybe we should call it a day?”
Logan pauses at his inspection of the ground and sighs. Frustration clear on his face “I wish to find this thing before it causes any harm. It may have simply spooked on the creature but it could try and harm another.” He stands taller and adjusts his quiver of arrows. “I’m going to scout ahead, you three wait here something doesn’t seem right about these tracked. I’ve not seen them before and…its traveling patterns are odd.” Before Thomas could protest the elf was gone into the trees.
He sighs and sits down onto an old fallen log watching as Emile hums and looks down at the track that Logan had been looking over, pausing as he looks over it again and again.
“So uh…did my grandfather make you?” Thomas attempts to make small talk noticing how Emile stiffens and glances around.
“Thomas, stay very very quiet”
“Wha-why?” What’s wrong?” Thomas stiffens just as he asked his question his amulet grows warm beneath his shirt, Remy, at his feet puffing up lightly.
It was here somewhere.
“What is it?” Emile shakes his head, keeping quiet and frantically looking about, worriedly scanning over the trees and bushes their eyes widening a moment later locking onto something behind Thomas.
He doesn't get a chance to look behind him, his face crushed into the dirt and a sudden weight against his back. He can feel large claws digging into his back, his breath stuttering out of him as he freezes in place. It was that day in the woods all over again. Ribs being crushed underneath him by the foul-smelling creature's weight, he couldn’t move then and definitely not now with its hot breath breathing down his neck.
He’s not sure what happened next, it’s all a blur of movement, a thunk and he can move his head again. Spying Logan fighting off something with a gleaming dagger, bouncing along on his feet with inhuman agility, the red glowing eyes of the gangly beast sent ice down Thomas’s spine. His blood thunders in his ears, drowning out the sounds of everything else.
Someone may have been calling his name as his vision grows blurry, its like its all underwater, slow and muffled.
The grounds move away from him as everything rights itself.
He doesn't recognize the man in front of him, he vaguely remembers a picture in the house has him in it, the same fur coat and sunglasses. He’s shouting at him, pulling him up to his feet and pushing him towards the trees.
His feet are awkward and unmoving as the man shoves him away, sending the creature out of view and Thomas finds he can breathe again.
The sounds around him returned along with the feeling in his body. His chest burns, stinging from the heat of the amulet.
“Thomas run! Get out of here!” The man is still shoving him trying to urge him on.
He can hear them, their voices ringing in his ears as he takes off, shouting to one another as they fight the thing off. His chest heaves and feels constricted unable to get enough air, he can’t go fast enough, can’t get away from those burning bright eyes and razor claws.
His scares along his body feel on fire as if they are fresh again, his shirt soaked and heavy with crimson blood.
The footsteps are all around him, chasing him! The growls of the creature are permanently in his mind as he slams into the back door and throws it open. Closing it just as quickly and triple checking that it’s all locked and secure.
He backs away to the furthest corner of the room panting for air as his hands quickly pat down his body. There’s no blood and no deep scratches just the scars. He’s fine, he’s ok. He’s not bleeding.
He runs a hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes closed, and winces as he curls up with his head to his knees. So scratch that he was cut but just a bit on his back, not a amsecure as his mind made it out to be. He’s fine. Just deep breaths in…then out. He’s in the manor not tiny, in the woods and an animal's meal.
It takes some time to calm his racing heart, the blurry vision leaving him as it returns to a more normal pace. He ignores the pain in his back for now, focusing on the floor infront of him. He’s still shaking but he’s ok
…what…what even was that thing.
…and will the others be ok?