Chapter Text
Darkness surrounded Jaune. And it scared him.
A vast void of infinite blackness. No stars to give light or hope, no ground to stable yourself, no sense of anything, nothing but an intense nothing. A nothing that threatened to overwhelm the sense making even the bravest falter and feel as though they were drowning. For what could be more terrifying than an incomprehensible infinity or a dark lonely void.
It was such a void Jaune found himself in again.
Vaguely between consciousness and sleep he found himself in a darkened place. One that would have reminded him of the void between the bridge, and the ever after had he been more aware. While it lacked the golden sparkles or the odd colors in the distance, it gave him the same sickening primal fear.
The fear of the void
‘Am I dead?’ Jaune thought with a drawl.
His thoughts were muddy and flooded with confusion and near delirium as he pondered this place. Though to him it made sense if he was dead, he wasn’t sure why he thought it made sense how he knew this. It just did and seemed to fit somewhere in his mind that he was dead.
‘I guess I’m dead.’ he thought tiredly in an almost stupid way, his mind slowed and unthinking as he accepted the notion.
Being dead should have scared him, should have left him in a state of panic. Yet he accepted this supposed death in stride, or simply to mentally dulled to care.
No it was the void that scared him as he fought to move. Fought to open and close his eyes, fought to even breath. Feeling as though he was being smothered by the darkness.
Yet his body would seemingly not move, as he felt heavy and hot. It was as though someone had piled a large mass of electric blankets upon him. Which made him realize he was all wet, though again his mind was so dulled he could not understand why.
“S-so. t-too hot.” he rasped his voice, a barely audible scratchy mess.
His words were quickly cut short by a brutal gloopy coughing fit that left his lunches burning. Left him breathless, left him feeling as though he would drown. He knew not how long he coughed, it may have only been seconds, or even just a minute or two. But it felt like hours, day’s even as each cough felt as though it threatened to tear his very chest open.
Yet even when his coughing fit finally came to a stop no relief came, if anything it was worse.
His whole body ached, his ribs now felt like they were broken from the coughing, his skin felt like it had been flayed with a whip or someone with claws tore it open. Every bone in his body screamed at him in protest to make whatever was happening stop. While his lungs burned the the intensity of an inferno as he struggled to breath from panic as his body felt like he was drowning.
Desperately he scratched, pulled his arms, hands trying to get them to move, to try and claw at the feeling of drowning in his chest. But they wouldn’t obey, all it did was make the pain his arms felt, the heat worse.
“Ca bret.” Jaune rasped in pain expressing his difficulty breathing.
Though as before no relief came, only more pain. And eventually the feeling of salt in his mouth as he unknowingly began to weep in pain.
It was at this point some relief finally came a cold shock upon his forehead that gave him an instant headache. Though at the same time instant relief as he let out a sigh at the feeling of cool upon his head. While the cold left him shivering as though he walked into a cold winters day. Compared to the boiling heat Jaune felt himself absorbed in this was heaven.
It was at this moment that he felt a moment of clarity. And in this clarity he could have sworn he heard, foot step?
The steps were soft, slow, calling even reminding him of something his mind could not comprehend. Even when he tried to figure out what that thing was he could not, his mind was still too cloudy even with his clarity to remember.
Yet even then there was one word that came to his mind. One word that meant something to him was his broken foggy mind that found its way to his lips even in this darkened place.
“M-mommy. Mommy” he whispered, begging even as he desperately wanted to feel something he could not put into words.
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Watching Jaune from all sides from a somewhat crumpled makeshift origami bed where he lay nearly a dozen large pillow sized paper stars. Each one was made from one or two colors of carefully folded paper, some with patterns like stripes, plaid, glitter or stars, while others were plain solid colors of vibrant shades.
The room two was a very vibrant colorful kaleidoscope of colors, seemingly made from a large number of individual sheets of paper. Each one overlapped the other in a messy haphazard way while bits of yellow and brown could be seen smeared between the layers. Making it look very different from the neat colorful folds of the paper pleasers who waddled around the blonde knight's bed. Akin to a painter spending hours carefully crafting the paper stars but only minutes on the room they resided in.
As if to compound this, small drops of water fell from a few leaks in the ceiling. While numerous paper sheets were already partly coming unstuck like a worn out bandaid in need of replacing.
The Paper stars the pleasers as they liked to call themselves, stood around the blonde warriors bed. Though they had no faces it was easy to tell that they were all deeply worried. Their top spikes laid low as though hanging in depression. They regularly shuffled about and fiddled with their arms unsure what to do with themselves. And regularly they could be heard moaning or whimpering in nervousness.
“What should we do?” a red paper with glitter asked in a high pitched distorted voice as she looked over the blond before them all.
No one answered right away as they looked over the one they found at the edge of their village not mere hours before. Having spotted the boy near a campfire that could be seen from their village watch tower once the sun went down.
While the papers had expected many things when they went to ask those who made the fire to put it out for their safety. As well as offer whoever made it a place to stay for the night in exchange.
None of them had expected to find an afteren they had never seen before, heard of before. For they like all afteren’s had an instinctual knowing of what everything in the ever after was, even if they had never seen it before. It was a feeling of foreign familiarity that all afteren’s had when facing their own kind. Though this familiarity may not have extended to names or memories it was enough to allow them to conduct business as needed, if needed with all other afteren’s
Thus when they found the Blond warrior collapsed upon the ground they were so struck by a feeling of foreignness that they almost didn’t notice he needed help. Not till the group was nearly trampled by the jackalope that watched over him.
Yet now hours on and after their best efforts they felt helpless as the blonde lay struggling for his life on a bed.
His wrists and ankles bound to the four corners of the bed to keep him from trying to unknowingly kill himself. His clothes save for his boxers were gone, laid in a pile forgotten soaking wet from fever and stress before the rain began to fall. While a number of sponges held in metal or wood tongues by several papers washed away his sweat while trying to cool him down.
Though all of this effort seemed to be done in vain as his condition continued to worsen. His body only continuing to boil hotter seemingly by the moment as his body began to shimmer oddly here and their.
“I do not know?” another paper, a green one finally said in an equally high pitched, though somewhat male voice.
“Surely there must be something we can do?” a yellow paper said stepping forwards. “It is our purpose to please, how can he be pleased if he is in pain?”
This question left all the papers stumped, for it was in their nature to please, and if they could not please then what were they truly.
Before anyone could answer this they hurt the sounds of high pitched worried bellowing, followed by the sound of thumping and digging. Sounds which they knew were made by the blonds trusty steed the mighty jackalope. Who even now tried guarding him mightily and who had kept them away till they proved they were trying to help.
Yet even now after proving their worth to the majestic beast it wished to protect him from harm. And to protect him it tried to do, and do so mightily as the hastily made home began to shake once again at the beast's attempts to enter.
The papers looked around in concern as everything connected to the walls shook as though in a light earthquake. The large horse of a bunny both kicking and attempting to dig their way into the building with vigor.
A bright pink paper stepped forwards at this shaking a whimpering sound of worry leaving it as it got the group's attention. “The jackalope will break in at this rate if we don’t help him soon. It smells his unwellness. We need to do something soon.” the paper with a slight girlish tone to it spoke.
Before anyone could volunteer anything helpful it was the boy they worried over who spoke first breaking the nervous energy that surrounded them.
“M-mommy. Mommy” he rasps as tears began to flow from his eyes.
The sight made them all tremble as some unseen part to their hearts and souls began to treble in sorrow. Though they knew not what the meaning of his words were they could feel the meaning in their papery forms.
The begging did not last long and was soon replaced by open weeping which only left him weaker as he lost water in droves. Leaving the papers all present heartbroken to see, too hear.
It was here that a black paper stepped forwards gathering all those present attention. Their black papery form walking or waddling tall with determination and conviction that radiated unseen confidence.
“We may need to give him the forgetful thoughts tea, The mad hatters' poison will destroy him and nothing else is working. if we don’t get him to forget his pain… I don’t know what will happen.” the black paper spoke in a deeper nervous, but still squeaky female voice
This caused uproar with the other papers all clearly distraught at the idea. With many of the normally docile and kind papers actively protesting upset at the idea.
The red paper from before walked up to the black in a manner as though challenging the black. “Are you folded properly? There is no telling what may happen if we give… whatever he is that tea in his state.” they spoke in loud uncertainty.
“She’s right,” a green and gold paper added calmly in a squeaky male like voice. “We don’t know what he is, and if we give him too much we could do more harm than good.”
This caused more words of disagreement of using the black papers suggestion to follow. All of them voiced their concerns for what may happen to him should he take it while the poison still coursed through his veins.
“But if he doesn't forget his pain soon there may be no one left to save for us to serve.” the black paper argued back more defensively, insistently this time.
“Nothing else we have done has worked, the poison spread too far for us to stop. He is so hot that he is practically burning like we do. He bleeds water faster than he can drink it in from the pain and at this rate his body will dissolve the bed we have made for him.” she continued frantically leaving the room in uncertain silence at her outburst.
The paper turned to look away from the others and to the knight anxiety making them tremble as a terrible thought crossed her mind. “If we do not at least help him forget the pain of the poison then if he returns to the tree he may ascend improperly, and come back broken.” she added with a mix of worry and fear.
To this the other papers had no rebuttal. All of them to speechless or afraid of the answer to try and go against this reason.
Thus it was with great reluctance they slowly sang to different songs and agreed with the black papers plan.
Within they prepared the forgetful thoughts tea, and prayed to the tree that his life would not be harmed by the mad hatters poison. knowing only bad things would come if the the boy went to the tree broken.
Once the tea was administered many stepped out to wait and pray to the tree that the boy would recover.
Only to nearly be met by the large while fuzzy form of a very angry jackalope. Who threatened to crush all who got in her way of seeing the boy they had just moments departed from.
Though the papers knew not her name they knew how much she cared. Evident by the way she paced about pawing at the home as papers trying to get her to stop before she destroyed it. While every now and then she would let out a powerful, painful, haunting, mournful sound into the cold night air. The kind that reminded one of a frightful dream.
“I am sorry but you can not see him now,” a bright lime green paper said in an airy male tone as he left the home approaching her side. “Though if it pleases you I could serve you while you wait.” he offered.
This offer fell on deaf ears however as she merely bounded over the papers head and began to dig at the walls again..
Swiftly many papers tried to lasso her and pull her back not wanting her to harm their other guest. An act the jackalope did not take kindly to as she tried to resist their pulling.
Juniper shrieked again calling out to her master, to Jaune from wear she stood as all the papers watched and ran about in distress as she panicked at the boys absences.
Seeing no other choice the papers collectively attempted to restrain the mighty jackalope before she hurt herself or anyone else. And while not fighters by any means the papers were not cowards either, so when someone they were serving was in need they would defend them.
“We must stop her before she hurts the boy!” a purple paper called out, his voice like a child with helium while throwing another paper Laso round Juniper's neck to try and stop her.
Once it was clear to all that the lasso would not come free, over a dozen papers piled upon it. Each paper pulling with all their collective folded might to pull the jackalope away from the place where they left their gust to rest.
“Has she been like this since we went inside?” a yellow, glittery paper asked as she jumped on a line as the jackalope tried to bound away to shake them off.
Not a moment later the beasts of a steed managed to gain some traction and jump up freeing herself from the ground. This stunt had the effect of pulling several papers off the ground into the air causing them all to cry out in distress.
Thus it was here many less brave papers let go of their lines in fright and made off to hide. While those still brave enough to hold on we're now too few in number to hold the beast back.
The papers who remained then watched in trepidation as the jackalope Juniper turned to look at them. Where before there were more than fifty paperweights holding her down. Their surprisingly immense strength and weight in numbers was now reduced by over half even as those remaining now tried to hold fast.
Yet it was all for nought as a mischievous smile and a wicked glint filled the jackalopes eye. A sight which made all the papers who still dared to hold onto the lines shake with worry.
“Uh oh.” was all the papers said in collective unison just moments before the giant bunny bound away.
The sudden jerk from the bouncing, as well as the fear of being dragged forced all the papers to let go in fright. This allowed the rabbit to flee free from her captor's grasp at long last. A loud trill like that of a dove soon echoed from the jackalope lungs in excitement while the disheartened papers looked on at their failure.
Though the papers were not ones to give up easily, quickly rallying as the mischievous beast realized it was free and tried to return to her digging at the building's walls.
“NOW” a loud high pitched yell echoed out in the air causing the jackalope to slow in fright and look around.
Only to just barely avoid a large fishing net that was thrown her way. So large was it that she could have probably wrapped herself up in it. Which was the paper's intention before she dodged their scheme.
The jackalope then in a twist of character fled into the village baffling many of the papers who just moments ago were trying to pull her deeper into the village away from the home.
Though one red paper was not confused, only annoyed as she stood tall among her peers before calling out to them.
“She is trying to deceive us, we need to hear her into the pens. She doesn't know this village. This is our chance to stop her!” she called out in a commanding rally cry
With this all present rallied behind the red paper. Creating a display that was honestly more adorable than intimidating. But it didn’t matter as they made their way to town to search for the beast bringing whatever long tools they could find with them as they did so.
The search was a short one as a group followed the rabbit and its large footsteps before giving chase from behind the proud beast. While the others positioned themselves in strategic locations around the village.
As the papers gave chase to the oblivious creature they watched in joy as their plan ironically unfolded perfectly before them.For just as the beast was about to cross a street many papers carrying long pole-like tools rushed out of the shadows to bare her path.
Their sudden appearance alongside the throwing of a pair more nets made her skid to a stop panic slowing her down and nearly making her crash. By the time the wide eyed jackalope recovered from its initial surprise to realize what was happening it was moving too slow to even try to jump over them.
Thus was forced to skid to a stop before bounding in the opposite direction of the way she wanted.
The assembled pappers let out a small cheer as they began to work like a charm before quickly splitting off, waddling to after the jackalope while the others reclaimed their position.
This large game of cat and mouse, or rather paper star and jackalope continued for some time.
Each and every time Juniper thought it had gotten ahead of the papers enough to escape another group would come to wall her off. Thus forcing her to turn to flee in another direction as she desperately tried to return to Jaunes side.
Though as an added consequence each failed attempt succeeded in further tiering Juniper.
So much that the beast in its distraction was soon corralled the steed into a stall made special for her like the room made for her master.
And it was only once the stall door behind her closed did she realize her error in judgment. For as soon as the latch was locked behind her the papers saw the large doors jump backwards as a powerful force struck them.
With the jackalope captured the papers took a moment to rejoice at their accomplishment. For they the small, weak paper pleasers fought and captured a jackalope by themselves.
“We have been great today.” a green and black paper cried out over the cheering crowd of pleasers. “We have captured this poor creature and how that it is contained we can serve it and her master without fear of one hurting the other, or each other!?”
Another renewed wave of cheers and applause rained forth from the unseen vocal processes of the paper pleasers who jumped and cheered at the green paper's words.
“We have served them well today.” a pink paper added cheerfully.
“Now we just wait for the other to heal and we serve them both.” another paper called out in the moving colorful cacophony.
“We will have guests again. We will have guests!” another shouted over the crowed.
This jubilee soon ended however when a bell began to raing, followed by a plume of smoke from the morning lighting going awry again. Immediately many of the papers began to return to town.
Though before all of them could leave the green and black one from before called out to a trial of papers who wear red, blue and black, and orange causing them to stop to look at in wonder.
“Please you three say here and watch over our guest. She is tired and will likely try to escape again. Please serve her and make sure she is comfortable till her friend is ready to see her.” he asked the three papers kindly.
The three papers looked at each other for a moment before they all nodded to the forth. “We will serve till it pleases them.” they all recited in glee.
Seeing this answer the forth paper left the three to go about aiding the town leaving them to care for the Jackalope. All while said jackalope kept trying to dig or kick the surprisingly strong paper door down.
The three papers thus set about their work as the fire raged on in town not far from them without a care in the world as they prepared to serve their guest to the best of their abilities.
Yet at the same time the three were unaware of the emotional damage that was going on inside her head. Nor of the pain she would feel when she awoke later that evening for that was not their purpose.
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Juniper was a very lonely rabbit as she lay upon her bed wrapped up in blankets and bandages, bound to the main support of the stall mindlessly staring at the wall.
It had been nearly four days since she was bound and she had still not seen her master return since the papers took him away from her. And in that time her health began to deteriorate.
She had refused any food or drink, shooing the papers away when offered. Forcing them to administer food and water against her will when she fell asleep or passed out..
And to add literal insult to injury her attempts at breaking free from her bonds greatly injured her. Even now she lay nursing several torn muscles and a broken leg from a failed attempt to break free which nearly strangled her.
Her wounds were debilitating making it hard to even stand let alone walk. They were also painful, making her yelp out in pain with nearly every move. And it would likely be months before she would walk normally again.
Despite this she kept trying when she had the strength. For she was determined to see her master again to fill the hole in her heart to fill her loneliness, fill his loneliness that she saw in his eyes when she was small.
A glare of the sun then momentarily blinded her.
Sparing a weak glance up she saw how the sun was starting to set though the open window. which was now much larger and had several patches from where she tried to escape from it.
She saw a few odd birds taking roost as the sunlight began to dim around her, casting exaggerated shadows across the ground.
Ground which had been torn to confetti in several places.were she had tried and failed to escape. Only succeeding in breaking through the floor once before collapsing from exhaustion, before awakening to find the damage repaired. Alongside a badly dented door her eyes fell next.
Yet as she did this she was reminded of a painful feeling around her neck.
Leading her to remember the short lead she had around her neck. This led her to subconsciously bring her eyes upwards where the lead was tied to a support in the ceiling,
The mere sight of it made her huff dramatically in frustration at her defeat.
She had tried clawing and chewing them before, but this had only resulted in a sore jaw and the loss of what the papers called a little tooth. A tooth which left a sore jap between her teeth that she regularly licked at.
It had been four days though the time meant little to her still somewhat young mind. For all she had to show for it was a missing tooth and a painful body.
As she mopped her mind drifted back to her oldest memories.
She knew not why this was, but she seemed to remember things, ponder others in this depressed restbit.
The first thing she remembered was feeling all alone, lost, grief, stricken, and even guilt. And she had no one, no one to be with, no one to help her while she was small, or save her when she was hurt. For she had no one.
And then she remembered somewhat vaguely how he appeared.
How he took down some people who were picking on her in some dark place. Then she remembered warmth, his warmth as he let her sleep inside his sweater after healing her.
She liked his warmth, like the memories of it cooing in pleasure remembering how he had saved her, and gave her a purpose.
There were other times too, like how he fed her first when she was hungry. How he bathed her when she was dirty or hadn’t been washed in a while. And all the times he put her to sleep with stories of his “friends” while holding her, even when those same stories made him sad.
Though she had no words to express it she had nothing but love and admiration for her master, or as much love and admiration a jackalope could show to a person.
Her memories but a bunny’s smile on her muzzle, but it was short lived as she let out another huff. Kicking with her uninjured front paw at the bed she sent a small cloud of debris out from under her blanket.
She was bored, and wanted something to do.
It was selfish but after trying to escape for day’s she couldn’t help it. Being locked up for so long after being so used to wandering the acers with her master. Yet even in spite of her worry she couldn’t help but be bored to the point she was close to shedding.
Raising her head she let out a loud screeching sound like that of an elk causing a large number of papers nearby to yelp in surprise.
Another snort this one of amusement left her this time at the sound of her prank going off.
While she disliked being trapped and wouldn’t dare harm the papers not wishing to upset her master. She was sure he wouldn’t mind her pulling a few pranks on them from time to time in retaliation.
She was about to do it again in another selfish attempt to amuse herself when she could have sworn she heard something strange.
Raising an ear trying to listen more closely to the sound at first revealed nothing save for the usual sounds of the paper people going about their evening.
She was ready to dismiss the sound as just her imagination as she considered trying to get more comfortable. But stopped raising her head and both her ears high as she heard the sound again.
“Clank……..clank…….clank…..clank.”
Every few seconds maybe more the slow rhythmic sound of clanking metal could be heard. It was an odd sound to be sure given how it sounded almost like footsteps, slow limping ones but footsteps all the same. Which caused her great hesitation, the paper pleasers were made from paper so could not make such sounds. And she was certain they would have little reason to move around something that sounded so large made from metal ether.
Her answer came when the door to her stall finally opened.
At first all she saw was her trio of helpers pushing the door in. the sight of which made her want to eat them if only to spite them due to the trouble they caused her keeping her and her master apart.
Her thoughts of revenge on the paper pinatas was quickly ended however when she saw a new paper that she didn’t recognize entered her vision.
This paper was white and red and seemed to be waddling backwards inside her stall. This was odd behavior, even for the papers making her coo in curiosity, her head tilting slightly. Then she noticed something else, another figure's shadow just out of view. Though they slowly walked in view with a familiar “Clank1”
“Your mount is here, she was so worried about you that she hurt herself.” the paper said in a kind of goofy female voice.
“We took care of her the best we could but she misses you. Sorry we had to summon you so soon when you needed rest. I am sorry if it displeases you” the paper added, speaking to this unseen person who made the metal steps, steps whose sound was beginning to make her anxious.
Yet nothing could prepare her for what she saw next.
“I-it’s ok. You were just doing your job.” spoke an all too familiar voice as the figure walked into the room.
Juniper felt nervous when the armored figure stepped before her. He reminded her of Jaune, looked sorta like him to, and as she smelled the air his scent was similar to Jaunes. But that was where the similarities ended.
This figure walked with a limp, his suit of armor was fuller than Jaunes was, and he wore a full face covering helmet. His armor was also worse off than jaune's; his armor was all rusted over with only traces of gold and white visible. Whereas Jaune’s armor, while dirty and rusted in spots it was never this rusty. He was so rusty the armor squealed and creaked with every limp he took towards her.
Though scariest of all he didn’t act like her master. Instead he acted strange as she watched as he looked around vacantly like he wasn’t truly there. Watched as his eye slit fell on her tilting his head as if meeting her for the first time. Their was also a stiffness to him, like he wasn’t sure how to walk and was just giving his closest imitation of walking.
This was not Jaune or at least not the one who had raised her.
She folded her ears back as her body began to shake in fear as he got within a few steps of her in fright. She had no idea what had happened to Jaune after the papers took him or who this was. Though whatever the case she could not hide her fear of this person.
The armored person seemed to notice her fear and took a startled step back.
This action surprised Juniper surprised that he would do such a thing when she was of no threat and afraid of him. The whole situation felt off which made her feel even more fearful of what was going on.
“We will do all we can to help her sir knight but if it would not displease you could you help us to get her to eat and drink on her own again.”
Juniper watched with intrigue as these words drew the attention of the knight seemingly startling him as he jumped slightly. Only to look down on the paper with wonder as said paper kept talking not noticing his change in behavior.
“She doesn't seem to trust strangers but given how she protected you when we found you both she may trust us more if you help us serve-”
“Juniper?”
This sudden interruption caught both the paper and Juniper off guard. Juniper paused her shaking, raising her head slightly as she recognized the voice. While the paper let out a gasp of surprise seemingly aw struck by the words.
“Oh you do remember something?” she asked but, did not wait for an answer before speaking again. “Oh I don’t believe it, I'm so glad your memory is somewhat intact. I’ll leave you two alone then to get acquainted." Once more she did not wait for an answer from the knight before walking off and closing the door behind her leaving them alone.
For a time neither side did anything, both she and the knight being seemingly too surprised by the papers sudden exit to pay much attention to each other. But eventually this surprise faded with night turning to face her once more with the blank expression upon his helmet.
Once more she started to shake as the blank hollow helmet looked back at her revealing nothing but a black slit where the person's eyes should be. It made her afraid not knowing who this truly was or what had happened to her master if this was truly him.
The knight meanwhile again seemed to be surprised by her fearful response letting out a slight gasp in response as well as taking another step back. But he quickly suppressed it as he took another step forwards, her ears falling down again as her body began to shake more fiercely.
But this time the knight did not stop or hesitate taking another step. And another, and another drawing closer with each step he took.
Juniper panicked and immediately hid her head in her blankets and closed her eyes in fear of what he might do as he drew near only stopping once he was above her.
For a time she did not dare look up too afraid of what she might see or he might do. Choosing instead to keep her head in her bed hoping he would leave her alone like the papers did.
Yet nothing could prepare her for what happened next as a familiar touch graced her head.
She felt it, felt him, felt her masters touch the way he had always done. Felt his armored fingers run between the fur right behind her ear. Which soon made contact with the sweet spot she loved so much. Instant euphoria flowing through her mind as the hand continued to rub her favorite spot.
Soon an uncontrollable urge overcame her and she felt her uninjured back foot start to thump shaking the ground slightly as though trying to scratch the spot he was like a dog.
The sensation was so wonderful that she didn’t even notice him uncovering her face and lifting her head till she lazily opened her eyes from pleasure.
Immediately the pleasure was forgotten as she looked wide eyed in the knight's helmeted face and saw a familiar glint of blue in his eyes hidden by shadow. The same blue she saw the first time her master had saved her. Yet it was what he said next that sealed it for her as she heard his all too familiar voice.
“Juniper. My Juniper.” he muttered hisitently as if unsure, as if unsure of himself. Stopping for a moment as if in thought before speaking in a far more confident tone. “I remember my Juniper.”.
Then without warning he stopped his petting and wrapped his arms around her neck in a tight embrace.
For a moment she was stunned stupid, unable to believe what was going on. For one minute she was afraid of the towering rusted titan, the next she was in his warm embrace even with all the armor on.
It was so surreal to Juniper she wasn’t sure what she should do, or could do. Yet at the same time as if on instinct she did the only thing her mind could think of. That was bringing her face into his to return the embrace nuzzling her fuzzy head into his helmeted one. The action brings a familiar chuckle to his lips. After which both she and her master fell into a comfortable silence together again.
Juniper knew not what happened to him or why he was behaving the way he was. But she did know one thing as she nuzzled into his embrace, she would never leave his side again if she could help it.