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The creature arrived sometime in the night. Now it is the morning, and the destruction is already rampant. It may have escaped from a nearby town, or it may have simply wandered from a caravan and found its way here. Dedue does not know. What he does know, however, is that this creature is wreaking havoc. He must put a stop to it before all is ruined.
“Shoo,” says Dedue. The lamb, mouth full of flowers he had intended to dry into tea for Dimitri, freezes, looking at him once again as if it forgot he was there. After a moment, it continues its meandering path through his greenhouse flowerbed. It favors his over the others. Dedue does not know why. Nor does he know how to remove the animal. He could lift it, of course, but should it panic, he could find himself with a hoof to his face.
He holds a handful of grass to try and coax it, but it simply seems to prefer its meals fresh. It rips another patch of green leaves from his carefully cultivated garden. This is simply unacceptable. How did this beast even find its way into the greenhouse?
“D-Dedue?” comes a shaky voice behind him. Marianne, a student in the Golden Deer house, stands several paces away, wide eyes on the lamb. “Oh! You have a friend. That’s nice…”
“This sheep and I hold no such friendship.”
Marianne frowns. “I’m sorry, that’s too bad. She seems to really like you.”
“Animals dislike me. They are afraid of me. She likes my flowers,” Dedue corrects. Indeed, he may have to replant the entire bed at this point. Luckily, as he was still unused to the soil and climate provided by the greenhouse, he had planted more common, easily replaceable seeds. The sheep has common tastes, it seems.
“I think she likes that you gave her food,” Marianne says. She comes closer, her face softening as the lamb looks to her and bleats. “There, see? She’s happy. And animals know good people. She wouldn’t have made herself so vulnerable around you if she couldn’t trust you.” Marianne kneels, holding out her hand, palm up. The lamb gleefully kicks and jumps in a circle before bounding to her side, nudging into her hand.
“That…that is amazing, Marianne,” Dedue says. “You command her so easily.”
“Command?” Marianne giggles. “N-no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. It’s normal for people to be nervous around animals.”
“I am not nervous.”
Marianne stands and looks at him. She is small and has to crane her neck. Her gaze is tired and her eyes dark, but somehow Dedue feels like she can see a part of him he doesn’t want to show. Some secret he doesn’t even know he has. Dedue shuffles, crossing his arms and straightening his back. He doesn’t have a secret. He is an open book. Marianne averts her gaze and holds out a hand to her.
“Here, give me your hand,” Marianne says, “if you don’t mind. I’ll help you pet her, and then you can see that there’s nothing to be afraid of.” The lamb butts at her thigh, demanding her attention once more.
“You should not risk being seen in such proximity with me.” Dedue lowers his arms, trying to relax his shoulders.
“I could say the same for myself,” Marianne answers, “but it would be awful for you to go your whole life being afraid of animals when they so clearly adore you.”
“They do not.”
Marianne shakes her head. “I’ve seen you feed the scraps to the stray cats. I’ve seen you return a fallen baby bird to its nest. The dogs accompany you on hunts, don’t they?”
“It would be a waste of food if it was uneaten. I am the only one tall enough to reach their nests. The dogs hope to scavenge a meal of their own. And this lamb simply found my flowers an acceptable breakfast.”
As if she knows she’s being talked about, the sheep bounces towards Dedue and rams into his thigh. She nibbles at Dedue’s fingers.
“I think she believes I am her next meal,” he says. “Little one, I am no flower.”
Marianne giggles again. Dedue knows her to be generally morose and does not generally speak to her. To see a smile on her face like this feels like a rare treasure. He swallows roughly. He can’t be so cruel to take that away.
“Fine, then,” he says, reaching slowly for the lamb. He freezes just above its body, the warmth rolling off its woolen back not unlike a hearth.
“Let me help.” Marianne’s hand lays on top his own, gently pushing his palm against the lamb. The lamb, for its part, bleats happily. “See? Nothing bad is happening.”
The lamb is soft. Dedue curls his fingers into its wool.
“Oh,” he says. “You were right.”
Marianne smiles softly. “I’m terrible at a great many things, but I know animals.”
“You aren’t terrible,” Dedue says. “You… you are very kind.” He doesn’t know much about Marianne. He does not let himself become close with others. A familiar pang of regret strikes his chest as he realizes this may be the last time they ever speak so familiarly.
Marianne’s lips dip down. She looks towards the ground. Dedue is afraid he’s pushed her to tears, though he isn’t sure why.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“I…hmm. It’s strange hearing you say I’m kind. It’s easier to believe it from you, I think.”
Dedue cocks his head, but Marianne doesn’t elaborate.
“Say,” she says instead, “I believe there is space for us to board her in the stable. Shall we find her a home? And while we’re there, I can introduce you to Dorte, my horse. He’ll love you, too.”
Oh. Horses. Horses are bigger than sheep. That may pose a problem. Still, Marianne’s eyes glitter, and if today is the beginning and end of their fleeting friendship, Dedue thinks he would like to cherish it as long as possible.
“I would be honored,” says Dedue. The lamb follows them out of the greenhouse, leaving Dedue’s destroyed flowerbed as it is. Rather than flowers as he hoped, something new has sprouted and bloomed today.