Chapter Text
Shelby dropped into the chair heavily.
“That,” She muttered, “Was a very long day.” Trying to run a bookshop in a tiny, remote town was like trying to sell grass to a rock. And some rocks though that their town didn’t need any grass, and made her life particularly difficult.
She had however, managed to sell a couple of books to a woman who had moved into the town recently. She had taken a particular shine to the mysteries, and walked out with four of them. Overall, a mostly productive day.
She was forced to move again when there was a knock at the door. She sighed, but bounded over and swung the door open. A bored looking mailman waited on the other side.
“Shelby Goldsmith?” He intoned.
“That’s me.” He handed her an envelope and disappeared down the street again.
She shut the door with one foot, ripping the letter open as she sat back down. She pulled it out carefully, leaving the empty envelope on the table.
Dear Shelby,
I hope you are well little bat. It’s so quiet here without you now, and Abolish and I miss you greatly. We wait in eager anticipation of your every letter, and I hope your bookstore venture is faring well.
We managed to find a few more books that we thought you might enjoy, and we’ll be holding onto them for the next time you visit.
Speaking of which, I hope you are still planning on visiting as we agreed last time. There is still time for me to arrange a carriage for you my dear, just write and all will be arranged. If there is any trouble, please just write, and we can arrange to have you another time.
We await your arrival or your next letter, whichever way it will be good to hear from you.
All my love,
Scott.
She smiled as she read through the letter. She loved hearing from Scott and Abolish, and treasured every letter they sent her.
They had arranged for her to visit in a couple of days. Scott always insisted on trying to arrange a carriage to pick her up, but it had all felt a bit gaudy, and she insisted on making her own way.
It would take her about three days to get through the woods that surrounded her old home, so she would probably need to leave tomorrow to ensure she arrived promptly. She knew they never cared about promptness, but she still felt the need to try arrive on time.
She decided to start packing her supplies for the trip, so she would be able to leave early the next morning. Although, she might need to drop by her store and leave a note on the window to let everyone know she would be away. Then again not that many people would care. The thought was there though.
She placed a couple loaves of bread, and some jam, fruit and cheese into a sturdy basket. She left it on the table, ready and waiting for tomorrow morning. She retreated into her bedroom to do some reading before she went to sleep.
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The next morning, she pulled on her old red travelling cloak,
(Which she had stolen from Scott.)
And put three books into her basket, before starting out the door.
She waved to the few people she saw as she made the short walk to her store.
“Morning Owen!” She called, waving to the grumpy lumberjack. He offered her a reluctant wave, a small smile pulling the corner of his mouth.
“Morning Shelby.” He replied. “Going on a trip?” He asked, noticing her cloak.
“Yep, just going to visit some family for a few days.” She said, slowing a bit to chat.
He nodded thoughtfully, glancing toward the forest.
“Just be careful. The wolves are migrating east this time of year.” He said cryptically. He turned and walked away before she could answer.
She decided not to dwell on the odd answer, instead darting over to her store. She stuck the note she had written the night before to the door.
“Oh, are you going away?” Someone said behind her. She spun to find the new woman who had bought the mysteries the day before.
“Just going to visit family for a couple days.” She replied with a smile. She nodded.
“Shame. I was hoping to get some more books today.” She laughed. Shelby laughed as well.
“Good thing I brought this then.” She said, producing a book from her basket.
“I know it’s not your normal preference, but this one is one of my favourites.” Shelby handed her the book. She glanced at the cover.
“‘The Ballad Of Desert Sands’?” She read. Shelby nodded.
“It’s one of my favourites, romance, betrayal, some magic. Very dramatic.” Shelby said. The woman chuckled.
“That certainly doesn’t sound like something I would normally pick up, but thank you.” She laughed. “I’ll see you around I guess.” She said, waving.
“See ya!” Shelby called.
She turned to begin her walk out of town. The first day was uneventful, just a long day of walking beneath dappled sun.
The second day, she kept glancing over her shoulder, for no reason she could discern. She put on a burst of speed. She stopped at about midday to sit beneath a tree and eat in the shade. After that, Shelby kept walking, trying to shake the odd feeling she was being watched.
The third day, the sense of being watched had increased tenfold. At one point she was even convinced that she had heard someone’s footsteps. She was just negotiating a particularly thick patch of brambles,
(The path degraded the closer you got to the manor, she had found, the third day was always the longest.)
When she spotted a pair of yellow eyes watching her from the shadows. She yelped, falling backwards. A pale hand appeared in her vision.
“Sorry about that, let me help you up.” The voice was oddly accented, but not in the familiar way Scott’s was. This voice was higher and more feminine, lilting up at the end of sentences, and she sounded as though she was laughing as she spoke.
Shelby hesitantly took the hand, allowing herself to be pulled free of the brambles.
“You alright mate?” The woman asked. She had pale blue eyes and a waterfall of wavy brown hair pulled into smaller braids and adorned with red flowers.
“Um, yeah fine. Sorry, who are you?” Shelby asked.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. Whatcha got there?” She asked instead of answering.
“This? This is just my lunch. I’m going to visit some family on the other side of the wood.” She explained. The woman tilted her head slightly.
“The other side of the wood you say?”
“That is what I said, yep.” The woman hummed, eyes dragging away from her to the trees.
“Well, I’ll see you around Shelby.” The woman said, waving as she darted away into the trees.
Shelby didn’t move for a moment. How had that woman know her name? She hesitated for a moment longer, but decided not to dwell, starting to walk through the trees again. She was still slightly unsettled, still constantly glancing over her shoulders, convinced she saw shining eyes flash from the darkness.
By midday, she had mostly managed to shake off the heebie jeebies. She found a random clearing filled with bright flowers, and decided to eat lunch and pick some flowers for Scott and Abolish. She had finished almost all of her food by the time she had eaten, and decided to collect some flowers.
She picked a few blood red poppies that sprouted around the edges and grabbed a couple of the white tulips as well.
“Pretty.” The woman said from right behind her. Shelby screeched, jumping back and spinning around. She brandished her flowers at the woman but let her arm drop slightly when she saw her.
“Oh.” She said dumbly.
“Hello.” The woman replied cheerfully.
“Are you… following me?” Shelby asked uncertainly.
“Nope.” The woman answered, “What are the flowers for?” She asked.
“Uh, their for Scott and Abolish, my family that I’m visiting.” She explained.
“Ah. May I have one?” The woman asked, leaning forward slightly.
“Sure. I guess.” Shelby handed her one of the pale tulips.
The woman examined the flower intently.
“I like it.” She decided. Shelby nodded uncertainly. The woman glanced up at her.
“Would you like to come meet Tilly?” She asked abruptly.
“Tilly?” Shelby asked.
“She’s my wolf.” The woman informed her easily.
“Ah, okay, well I kind of need to get to Scott and Abolish’s place by sunset. Maybe another time though?” Shelby offered carefully. The woman blinked.
“Okay. Another time then.” She replied. She disappeared once more into the trees.
Shelby shook herself out.
“I’m fine. I’m definitely not being followed by a maniac.” She whispered to herself. She darted between the trees, racing across the overgrown path towards the safety of the manor.
Finally, she spotted the dark imposing silhouette and she breathed a sigh of relief. She clambered up the hill toward the heavy doors. She rapped quickly on the dark wood. There was a quick pattering of feet and then the door swung inwards. When nobody greeted her, she pushed it further open.
“Scott? Abolish?” She called, stepping in.
“Up here Shelby!” A voice called from the next level up.
“That didn’t sound like Scott or Abolish.” She muttered, starting the climb up the staircase.
“Why are you guys up here?” She called.
“All the better to greet you.” The voice replied. She noticed as she walked down the hall that none of the sconces were lit.
“Why are you in the dark?” She called.
“All the better for the dramatics.” The voice replied. She finally reached the main sitting room at the end of the hall, looking around and searching for Scott or Abolish.
“Why are you not here?” She called.
“All the better to eat you!” The voice declared, right next to her ear. She screamed, leaping into the air.
She hit the ground heavily, scrambling back only to find the woman from the forest.
“That was hilarious.” The woman laughed.
“What the hell! Where are Scott and Abolish?” She yelled.
“We’re fine dear.” Scott called, appearing from around a corner. “Geez though, that was hilarious.” He chuckled.
“What the fuck is happening? I like totally thought you had been killed by some serial killer wolf lady who was pretending to be you.” Shelby rambled hurriedly, scrambling to her feet.
“That was a lot.” Abolish observed coolly from where he had pressed into Scott’s side.
“Mm. Shelby, meet my old friend Pearl. I asked her to watch out for you while you passed through the woods. Apparently she had a bit of fun with that.” Scott said with a fond smile. Shelby bounded forward, burying her face in the two men’s shoulders.
“It’s really good to see you guys. Weird wolf people or not.” She added with a grin.
“Thats my name from now on. Weird wolf person.” Pearl decided. Shelby giggled.
“Oh my gosh, you were terrifying, you know that?” She said, pointing at her.
“Yeah. I was serious about Tilly though.” Pearl said.
“Wait really?” Shelby laughed.
“I’m always serious about Tilly.” Pearl said honestly, pressing a hand to her heart.
“You’ll love Tilly Shelbs, she’s actually pretty cute for a wolf. And they all look the same.” Abolish said evenly. Shelby snorted.
“Brutal.” Pearl laughed. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”