Chapter Text
1)
Shelby didn't know what to expect that night when looking for something to feast on but it certainly wasn't to see Cleo fly out of Pearl's pocket. There was a smile on Cleo's face and a berry in their hand as laughter bubbled from their lips.
Questions swarmed Shelby's thoughts over what she'd seen, though one was the most prominent. Could she do that? Could she sit in someone's pocket? It'd probably be comfortable in a pocket and a good way to hide from the sun if the fabric was right. It'd be a good way to get the jump on someone too. Startle them by launching out of someone's pocket.
Who would let her sit in their pocket?
Who had deep enough pockets to fit a bat?
Pearl did and Cleo probably did as well, but they probably wouldn't let her within five feet of them, much less in their pockets. Would they?
If she turned into a bat could she go into Pearl's pocket while Cleo was out and just pretend to be Cleo?
Could she do that? Would that work?
It'd be an experiment.
She liked experiments. This was sure to be a nice one. There was danger in it, of course there was. Danger that Pearl would realize she wasn't Cleo and drive a steak into her heart, danger that she'd miscalculate and Cleo would be in the pocket and tell Pearl to get her. Danger that they would think she was trying to eat them.
Danger that was worth it for an experiment such as this.
Was it danger when Avid told her she'd be welcome? Or had that been a lie?
Shelby needed a plan. All good experiments came with a plan.
Was flying into Pearl's pocket and hoping that Cleo wasn't there a good plan?
Maybe.
Maybe it was a horrible plan.
Maybe it would work.
It wouldn't be for long. Just for a little bit. Maybe she'd learn more about the cure that the humans were working on.
Shelby was thinking over her idea when she heard Pearl in the trees below her.
"Great idea Pearl. Get yourself turned around in the woods full of vampires that may try to eat you. Great."
She was alone then.
This was the perfect timing for her experiment.
Shelby turned into a bat and flew into Pearl's right pocket, the same one she was sure she'd seen Cleo fly out of. She curled into Pearl's pocket and wondered if she'd be caught.
Pearl noticed her immediately, of course she did.
"Oh! Guess I'm not alone. Was that you Cleo? I thought you were with Martyn?"
Shelby stayed silent and hoped that Pearl wouldn't take that as a sign to stab her.
"Did you fly too far? I told you to be careful."
A moment later there was a berry set in the pocket next to her.
This was kind.
Is this why Cleo stayed with the humans?
Did they all know about Cleo or was it just Pearl and Martyn?
Did they all have pockets for Cleo or was Pearl the only one?
Did Pearl keep berries on her for Cleo? That was kind.
Would Pearl have given her a berry if she knew she wasn't Cleo?
Probably not. She'd probably kill her, or tell her to get lost.
Right?
Shelby decided that for a moment she'd forget that. She'd curl into Pearl's pocket and imagine a time when she was cared for by humans and vampires alike.
She'd pretend for a moment that she was Cleo because Cleo was trusted. Cleo was given a place to hide from the sun and berries to snack on.
Shelby stayed in Pearl's pocket until Pearl mentioned heading towards town to look for Martyn. With that she flew out and away. Maybe Pearl would think she was just out searching the woods for Martyn.
Maybe she could do this again. After all Pearl didn't catch her.
Maybe she'd get some more berries.
It wasn't really the berries she cared for the most, but just the fact that someone thought to give them to her. It would be nice to be cared for how Cleo was, if only for a few moments longer.
2)
It was a few days before Shelby saw Pearl again. She was alone again, or well. Shelby hoped she was alone, she really did.
What if she was wrong?
What if Cleo was in her pocket?
Could she risk that?
Should she?
The sun was out, the only shelter she had was the tree she hid under. It'd be dangerous to fly over to Pearl, to hide in her pocket unsure if she was truly alone.
Then Pearl spoke.
"I need to stop getting distracted and losing people."
She was alone.
Maybe she could join her. Just for a bit. Keep her safe.
Yeah.
Yeah she'd keep Pearl safe because Pearl was nice. Even if Pearl hadn't known it was her she was being nice to.
Before she could overthink it Shelby blinked and she was a bat and as fast as she could she flew into Pearl's right pocket hoping there wasn't a steak in there. That'd be her luck.
But no. Nothing dangerous, just a nice empty pocket ready for her to curl up in.
Pearl noticed immediately again. Of course she did.
"Why are ya out flying when the sun is out? You're gonna get yourself burned and that won't be a fun time."
She held her tongue, stopped herself from saying that it hadn't been a far flight, that she was just fine. Then Pearl would know she wasn't Cleo. She couldn't have that. She was enjoying this, even if what she was enjoying was a lie.
A moment later there was a berry in the pocket with her.
"Didn't think you were going to join me today. Not that I mind the company, the woods are better with company. Better to be lost together then lost alone."
Had she messed up?
No.
No of course not. It was good that Cleo wasn't here, that she wasn't expecting Cleo. That meant that she'd be okay to stay here without the danger of getting caught.
"Perfect timing, I was going to pick some more berries. I know there's more food and that you don't need them but they're nice."
They were nice.
Being thought of was nice. Even if it wasn't her being thought of, not really.
Shelby stayed while Pearl rattled off different stories and facts while picking berries, her smile evident on her face even if she couldn't see it.
Then Pearl paused, all of her going rigid for a moment.
"That sure is a lot of bats. Wonder what they're planning."
Bats?
Was it dark already?
Shelby flew out of Pearl's pocket and to the sky. After a minute or two of flying she found Scott, Pyro and Owen. It had to be them.
It was Scott's voice that greeted her.
"Shelby."
"Hey! What are you guys up to?"
"Looking for you. Where have you been?"
"Just looking around, exploring, hunting some sheep. You know how it is."
"Yes well let's get back home. You've been gone too long."
"Right."
Shelby couldn't help but wonder if she'd find Pearl alone again. Maybe she could make this a routine, though she doubted it.
3)
It took a few days before she found Pearl again. She wasn't alone this time. Martyn was with her. Martyn who also knew Cleo was a vampire. Martyn who was there when Shelby saw Cleo fly out of Pearl's pocket.
Shelby took a chance, one that she probably shouldn't have taken, but the sun was getting dangerously close to stealing the shade she was in, so she turned into a bat and flew into Pearl's right pocket.
This time there was no hello. Or well. No verbal hello, not at first. That isn't to say there wasn't a hello. No, Pearl set a berry in the pocket and Shelby wondered if maybe that was how she greeted Cleo when she expected her. Was this a mistake?
Then Pearl spoke just a moment later, though it felt like it had been longer.
"Nice of you to join us. We're not doing anything exciting today, just gathering some wood."
That was alright, a nice calm day.
Shelby didn't notice herself falling asleep. Not until she woke up to Pearl's laughter. She startled for a moment, wondering if maybe she'd been caught and was being made fun of or-
Before she could spiral too far Pearl spoke.
"Shit did I wake you up? Sorry about that. Martyn fell out of a tree. Well, he misjudged where a branch was in the dark, but still. It was a little funny."
"It was not funny!"
"Sure it was."
"Rude."
"Honest."
Night. Again.
Had she slept through the whole day?
Shelby flew out of Pearl's pocket and towards the castle, though not before making it seem like she was heading towards the town. She should get home before Scott and the others worried too much.
Maybe one day she'd leave something for Pearl. She hated feeling like she was taking advantage of the kindness meant for Cleo. It wasn't hers to accept.
4)
Shelby wasn't sure why she was back in the woods again. It had only been a day since she had seen Pearl last, yet here she was in the woods hiding under a tree wondering if she should just go back to the castle.
She didn't get the chance to turn back, not when Pearl's voice filled the woods around her.
"Walkin through the woods, looking for some sunflowers, through the woods I go."
She smiled hearing Pearl singing to herself as she walked through the forest. She hoped that Pearl was alone, hoped because Pearl had said I, hoped because if she didn't have hope what did she have?
Hoped because she was tired and she knew Pearl's pocket would be safe, even if Pearl thought she was Cleo. Safe because Pearl thought she was Cleo.
Shelby dove into Pearl's pocket. She dove into her pocket and found herself handed a berry a few moments later as Pearl continued to sing, though this time the lyrics changed.
"Walkin through the woods, looking for some sunflowers, looking for some berries, through the woods we go."
It was nice to be included by someone. Scott and Owen and Pyro included her, even if they spoke of her like food too often for her liking. Scott and Owen and Pyro made room for her. Pearl wasn't making room for her, she had made room for Cleo. She wondered what Pearl would do if she knew it was Shelby in her pocket.
She couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe Pearl wouldn't mind having both Shelby and Cleo by her side. After all she knew Cleo was a vampire and she didn't seem to mind.
Was that because Cleo wanted to be turned back?
Would they give her the option if they knew she was here?
Would they let her choose if they offered it to her or would they assume she wanted to be human again?
Did she know what she wanted?
Shelby tried to drown out the thoughts. She didn't have to try too hard, not with Pearl's singing and walking slowly lulling her to sleep. She was tired. Just a little nap wouldn't hurt.
When Shelby woke up Pearl was singing a different song, though still singing.
"Back to town, back to town, sunflowers and berries all collected. Time to go back to town. The sun just went down, time to go back to town."
Town.
Shit. She needed to go.
There was a flower and a small collection of berries next to her. Shelby held the sunflower in her talons and a berry in her mouth as she flew out of Pearl's pocket and towards the castle. She should go hunting, make sure Scott, Owen and Pyro knew she was alright.
If any of them noticed the sunflower in her hair as she entered the castle that night they didn't say anything.
5)
Shelby didn't look for Pearl until the sunflower in her hair withered away. That is to say she started looking for Pearl the next day. It took her three days of spending the morning under trees before she found her.
Pearl was alone again, mumbling about getting lost again. Shelby did what had become second nature, she dove into Pearl's right pocket.
There was a berry next to her a moment later.
"I'm glad you've decided to join me today. The woods are lonely when you're lost. Maybe I'll be productive while I search for the way home and get some berries."
Shelby did all she could to stay awake as Pearl headed towards the town.
She wanted this to last longer, wanted her usual day with Pearl even if she'd spent most of it sleeping more often than not.
Sadly this wasn't in Shelby's cards as all too soon Pearl spoke.
"Found the town. I know you were planning on getting some work done today so I'm under a tree, there's a small cave nearby, it's hidden from the sun, don't get yourself burnt."
Shelby flew out of Pearl's pocket all too soon and into the cave where a small basket sat with a collection of berries and sunflowers sat.
These were for Cleo.
Cleo.
It would be wrong to take them.
If Scott noticed the vase of sunflowers next to Shelby's bed when he came to get her for their hunt that night he didn't say anything.
+1)
It only took two days for Shelby to find Pearl. She was alone again. Shelby dove into Pearl's pocket, happy to have what she hoped was a full day with Pearl, even if most of it would be spent asleep.
There was a smile on Shelby's face as she curled into Pearl's pocket and fell asleep moments after a berry was set next to her. She was safe. Safe here in Pearl's pocket.
For a little bit it didn't matter that this was meant to be Cleo's and not hers. For a little bit it was hers and that's what mattered.
When Shelby woke up it was to Cleo's voice.
Shelby panicked.
This was bad. This was really really bad.
Before Shelby could fly out and away Pearl spoke, her voice calm and worried.
"Shelby. Calm down. We're not going to hurt you. We just want to talk."
Shelby flew out out of Pearl's pocket and landed in front of her. To Pearl's left was Martyn, to her right was Cleo. She didn't fit in this picture, of course she didn't. It was finished.
How did Pearl know it was her?
How long had she known?
"How did you know? How long?"
"Since the second time you flew into my pocket. I already knew you weren't Cleo, then when three bats were looking for their fourth member and out pops a slightly red tinted bat. It wasn't too hard to connect the dots."
"You knew and you said nothing?"
"I wanted to know when you would reveal yourself. I wanted to give you time."
Shelby's mind was racing.
She knew it was her.
Pearl had known.
Pearl had known and given her a sunflower, Pearl had known and let her into her pocket still, Pearl had known and left a basket for someone she knew wasn't Cleo.
Wait.
"The basket?"
"For you."
"I thought it was for Cleo."
Cleo raised an eyebrow from where she sat on Pearl's right.
"And you still took it."
Shelby nodded, expecting a sly comment only to get a chuckle and slightly approving nod instead.
Shelby looked over at Pearl, Pearl who held a sunflower in her hand, a fresh one that matched the one in her hair, the one in Cleo's hair, the one in Martyn's hair.
Pearl stood up and gently tucked the sunflower behind Shelby's ear, smiling as she looked at her as if she was something kind and soft, as if she was worth all the care Pearl had given her.
"The sunflowers are our thing. Sunflowers stick together and trust each other."
Trust?
"Why did you give me one?"
"Because I trust you."
"You barely know me."
"Then let me get to know you and trust you."
Shelby watched as Pearl backed up, Cleo and Martyn looking towards her yet making no move to follow.
"In turn I want to show you something just. Please don't freak out."
Between one blink and the next Pearl was replaced by a wolf.
A wolf.
A werewolf.
A werewolf like the creature that killed her father. How long had she wanted to prove that werewolves could be civil just like humans and here's a woman who had trusted her and treated her with so much kindness and held her in her pocket like treasure who turns out to be a werewolf. One of the things she feared most.
"Oh."
Pearl's movement towards her was slow, not in a way of a predator hunting prey, but the cautious movements of someone moving towards a stray cat trying not to startle them.
After a few moments and held breath on Shelby's part Pearl gently nudged her hand.
Shelby looked down at Pearl before gently running her hand through her fur.
After a moment Pearl stepped back and within a blink she was back, looking at Shelby as if she had been expecting claws instead of a gentle hand.
After a second that felt like minutes Pearl gently took Shelby's hand and pulled her towards Cleo and Martyn.
"Come on, Martyn brought food. You're part of our group now."
Shelby looked at the candles that Martyn was pulling out of the basket and lighting, likely for light and then at the sunflowers in their hair, matching. They weren't a family like her, Scott, Owen and Pyro, but they still cared for each other.
The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"Is this a date?"