Chapter Text
It was dark and cold.
Julie stood stock-still in the center of a small clearing, her left hand hovering over the hilt of her sword. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, fog rising up from her mouth. Her eyes scanned the darkened woods. She was certain that she had heard something.
She strained her ears to listen, but she heard nothing, not even the chirp of insects. The forest had fallen deathly silent. Julie’s fingers wrapped around her sword’s hilt. Something was here. Something was watching her.
Julie had come to the forest for a bit of sword practice, as she did once a week or so. Her silver blade hung at her hip in its leather frog, faintly reflecting the moonlight. She was grateful to have her weapon at hand.
A twig snapped behind her, and in one fluid motion she dove forward, rolled to her feet, and unsheathed her blade. There was a rustling of underbrush and Julie raised her sword defensively in front of her, ready to fight.
She had prepared for any number of things (most of them awful). However, instead of a beast, a visibly shaken Leah emerged from the treeline with twigs and leaves stuck in her hair and multiple tears in her jacket. She was panting and out of breath, and moving so fast that she had to skid to a halt to keep from barreling into Julie.
Leah’s eyes went to the silver blade gleaming in the moonlight and she let out a yelp before beginning to scramble backwards. Julie dropped the blade and called after her.
“Leah! Leah, it’s me!”
Leah stopped, but looked at Julie suspiciously until Julie removed her hat and the scarf covering her nose and mouth. Her hair tumbled down over her shoulders and she shook her head to get it out of her eyes.
“Julie!” Leah said. “Thank goodness it’s you!”
She rushed forward and threw her arms around Julie.
“What’s going on?” Julie asked. “Are you okay?”
Leah turned and looked into the forest.
“I was out picking berries and I didn’t notice the sun going down. When I was walking back to my cottage I must have taken a wrong turn. I got lost. I’ve been trying to get out of the forest for almost two hours!”
Leah took a breath to steady herself. Julie could feel her shaking.
“That’s not even the worst of it. Just as I was ready to resort to forging my own trail through the trees, I heard someone walking toward me. I looked all around but I couldn’t see where it was coming from. I kept walking, but the sound followed me. I started to run and I heard whatever it was behind me pick up its pace. I felt something right behind me, breathing down my neck. That’s when I panicked and bolted into the woods. I abandoned my berry basket, I was so scared!”
Julie looked into the dark, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She saw nothing.
“Well, you’re safe now.” Julie said, her eyes still on the trees. “You’re sure something was following you?”
“Positive.”
“I see. In such case, why don’t you come with me? We’re not too far from my property.”
Leah looked at her with gratitude.
“I would sincerely appreciate it. I hope I’m not imposing.”
“Nonsense! I’d feel better knowing you’re safe. Besides, dinner ought to be ready soon. Penny’s making vegetable soup!”
Leah nodded.
“Okay. That sounds great. Thank you, Julie.”
“Of course! What are friends for?”
Julie retrieved her sword from the damp grass. Before sheathing it, she took one more look around. The feeling of being observed had passed, but Julie didn’t like the sound of whatever was following Leah. She resolved to stay on guard until they were safe at home.
The two women began walking down a path that lead from the woods to the river that ran through Julie’s land. It was a decent distance to walk, but they kept a good pace.
“What were you doing out on your own?” Leah asked as they walked. “Fancy taking walks in the dark?”
Julie chuckled.
“Not quite.” She gestured to the clearing. “I come out here to practice my swordsmanship on occasion. It’s a nice clear area with room to swing.”
“Why not just practice in front of your house?”
“There’s not a lot of room on the farm these days. We’ve also got a full-blown garden now! I’ve got pumpkins growing in front! Also, to be honest, I think it makes Penny nervous whenever I start waving my blade about.”
Leah let out a brief laugh, still a bit shaken.
“I can imagine.”
They crossed the bridge and began making their way up the cobblestone path that led to the house. When they arrived at the door, a little black bombay cat wound its way around their legs, mewing to be let in. Julie reached down and scratched the cat gently under its chin.
“Heya, Bast.” Julie said in the sort of voice one reserves for speaking to small animals. “You want in?”
“Mrow.”
“That’s what I thought. Say hi to Leah.”
“Mrow!’
“Good kitty. Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”
Julie opened the door a few inches and Bast zipped inside. Julie stuck her head through the gap and called out.
“Penny?”
“In the kitchen!”
Julie turned her head in the direction of the kitchen and caught sight of her girlfriend standing at the stove over a pot. She wasn’t wearing pants, as was the norm around Julie’s farm. Bast curled around her feet, meowing for food. Julie cleared her throat.
“Er, hon? We have a guest.”
Penny turned around.
“Oh? Let me go get decent.”
Penny lowered the heat on the soup and made for their bedroom to get dressed. A minute or two later she re-appeared wearing sweatpants.
“Please, come on in.”
Julie said to Leah, opening the door wider for her. Leah stepped inside.
Julie took a deep breath and took in the aroma of Penny’s cooking. Her culinary skills were improving all the time, and tonight the food smelled delicious. Julie went to the stove to give the soup a stir before she put away her sword and coat.
“Hey, Leah.” Penny said with a friendly wave. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Leah looked sheepishly at the floor.
“I, uh…” She began. “I kind of ran into Julie running away from something else.”
Penny’s face lined with concern. Only now did she notice the tears in Leah’s jacket.
“Oh, dear! Are you okay?”
“I am, just a bit rattled.” Leah looked around the well-lit house. “Now that I’m safe and indoors, it feels a bit silly. I’m sure it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. That’s what I get for staying out too late.”
“I don’t know, I felt something too.” Julie said. “You never know what lives in the woods.”
She probably wasn’t helping. A nagging thought was pulling at the edge of her mind but she couldn't quite bring it to bear.
“What sort of thing do you think it could be?” Leah asked Julie. “I’ve lived at the edge of those woods for years, and this is the first time I’ve felt scared of them.”
Julie wished she had a better answer.
“I’m not sure. I’ll check it out in the morning, when we’ve got daylight on our side. Better to be safe than sorry, right?”
Leah nodded.
“Right. Thanks again for having me over. I feel much better now that I have other people around.”
“Of course!” Julie said. “Go ahead and sit down, I’ll get you something to drink.”
“Food should be ready any minute!” Penny said. “I’m just adding the finishing touch!”
Penny opened the cabinet over the sink and retrieved some dried hot peppers leftover from their summer harvest. She added them to the soup and stirred.
Julie set about making tea for Leah, setting a kettle on the stove next to the soup pot. While she waited for the water to boil, she retrieved a can of cola from the refrigerator and sipped from it to ease her nerves.
Soon enough, the tea was made. Leah held the steaming mug in two hands, blowing into it gently to cool it. Julie and Penny joined her at the table, bringing with them three bowls of piping hot soup.
“Mmm!” Leah exclaimed. “Penny, this is delicious!”
Penny’s face colored a bit.
“I’m glad you like it! I’m a little self-conscious about my cooking, to be honest. I’m still learning.”
“I feel like that’s cooking in general. A constant learning process.”
“Exactly!”
Julie was glad to see Leah relaxing. The incident from earlier still bothered Julie, but it was something best left for the morning. She would arm herself and head into the forest to investigate at first light. No sense dwelling on it for the time being.
For now, being back home with Penny nearby was doing wonders for Julie’s anxiety. She laughed at something Leah said and the sound warmed Julie’s heart. How she adored hearing that laugh.
“Julie, what do you think?”
Shit.
Julie’s attention snapped back to the conversation. What had just been said? Damn it. She took a guess. Maybe they were referring to the soup?
“Delicious!”
The looks on Penny and Leah’s faces told her she had failed grammatically, but she covered by swiftly eating a spoonful, scalding her tongue a bit in the process.
“Well I’m glad you think so!” Penny said. She turned back to Leah. “My first few tries were… Less than successful. But Julie has been my courageous taste tester since we met!”
Penny met Julie’s eyes and smiled warmly. It was a look they shared often, and it never failed to send Julie’s heart a-flutter.
“It’s been my pleasure.” Julie said. “And your first tries weren’t that bad.”
“Do you remember the garlic cookies? Because I remember the garlic cookies.”
“Protection from vampires!”
“What’s a vampire?”
“Nevermind.”
They chatted idly while they ate, all fear from the forest forgotten. Julie felt a furry presence brush against her shins.
“Mrow!”
“Hey there. You hungry, girl?”
“Mrow!”
“Okay, okay, let me go get a tin.”
Julie excused herself from the table and went to the cabinet in the kitchen where they kept Bast’s food. She set a tin on the counter and Bast leapt up beside it, purring into Julie’s hand and meowing insistently. Julie pulled the ring pull and Bast dug into the food with gusto.
Julie almost didn’t notice something passing by the window.
It was quick, just a blur of movement. It could have easily been a bird or a squirrel, but the sudden motion set Julie on edge. Bast reacted to the presence as well, making a disgruntled noise and leaping off of the counter. Julie took several steps backwards and snatched up her sword, her eyes still glued to the window.
“Julie? Is something wrong?”
She felt like she was being paranoid, but she needed to check.
“No, everything’s fine. I just need to have a look around outside. I’ll be right back.”
She darted into the bedroom and flicked on the light before going to the curtains and pulling them open. She needed all the light she could get.
Julie was out the door in a flash, blade drawn and ready for anything. She stepped outside into the cold night air and shivered. It was approaching the end of Fall, and Winter would be here soon. Julie’s breath turned to fog as she rounded the side of the house.
She didn’t know what she was expecting, but nothing was all she found. In the light streaming from the bedroom window, Julie could see right up to the small stand of trees that separated the back of her property form another bend in the river. Her eyes scanned around, but there was no sign of anything unusual. Had it just been a bird? Was she seeing things? The longer she stared at the empty scene, the more foolish she felt for scaring her friends.
Her attention caught on something as she began to turn around. The forest around her was completely silent. She couldn’t even hear the chirping of the crickets. Julie knew what this meant. Prey went quiet when predators were about.
Julie’s grip on her sword hilt tightened. She began backing out the way she’d come, her eyes scanning the trees for any disturbance. Why was her own backyard making her so tense?
She made it back to her front door unaccosted, but she made double sure to lock it behind her as she came back into the house.
“Hon? Is everything okay?” Penny asked. “You’re starting to worry us.”
Julie set her sword on its stand above the fire. She tried to shake off her nerves as she drew the curtains to the kitchen window. Just in case.
“Everything’s fine, I just thought I saw something at the window. I can’t find anything out of place, it might just be my paranoia getting the better of me.”
Penny looked concerned, but she motioned for Julie to rejoin them at the table. Julie did so, and did her best to put on a disarming face.
“It’s nothing, really. Probably just a bird or something. Let’s get to the food!”
They ate in silence for a while, Julie occasionally stealing glances at the covered window. Penny caught her eye and they shared a look. After a year of living together, they could read each other’s emotions without a word. Penny could see that something was bothering Julie, but Julie nonverbally agreed to talk to her about it later. Penny nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. Whatever was going on, they would deal with it together.
When Julie’s bowl was empty, she got up for seconds. She loved eating Penny’s cooking, and the taste of home was helping to settle her nerves. With a belly full of hot food, it was easier to relax.
The clock struck ten. The evening had really flown by. Leah glanced at the door anxiously, anticipating her walk home. Julie placed a hand on Penny’s shoulder and tilted her head in Leah’s direction. Penny nodded.
“Leah, would you like to stay over for the night? You can crash on the couch. We’d rather send you home in the daylight.”
Leah nodded, a grateful look on her face.
“I appreciate it. That sounds good to me, so long as I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all!” Penny said. “You’re a friend, and we want you to be safe.”
Leah smiled.
“Okay. Thank you.”
Penny returned the smile.
“Of course!”
They set about busting out an extra blanket and pillow for Leah, laying them down at the end of the couch in the living room. The three women sat on the couch, Leah with a blanket draped over her shoulders and Julie with Penny draped over hers. They watched a re-run of a nature program that taught its viewers to forage for wild goods in the forest.
Eventually, Penny began to yawn. She stretched her arms over her head and wrapped them around Julie’s neck.
“I think I’m going to head to bed pretty soon. I woke up early this morning and I am tired as tired can be.”
She looked at Julie.
“Care to join me?”
It was getting late, and Julie’s nerves were shot. Sleep and cuddles sounded wonderful. However, she saw the anxious expression on Leah’s face and decided that sleep could wait a few more minutes. Julie wanted to make sure that she was okay.
“I’m just about ready to sleep. Give me ten minutes or so to get Leah set up.”
“Okie doke! In such case I think I’ll take a quick shower before bed. See you in a few?”
Julie leaned forward and gave her girlfriend a kiss.
“Sounds like a plan. Love you!”
“Love you, too!”
Penny yawned again and headed back into the bathroom. Julie heard the water turn on. She turned to Leah.
“Interesting night so far.” Julie said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t continue on that way.”
Leah chuckled and drew the blanket around herself.
“Agreed. I could use a break from all the ‘interesting’ things that have been happening lately.”
Julie’s brow furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Leah looked around and scooted a little closer to Julie.
“Things have been happening recently. I can’t explain it, but there’s something wrong. Being alone in my house feels weird. Things don’t stay where I leave them. My furniture will move an inch or two by itself. It feels like someone else has been in my house.”
Julie didn’t like the sound of this at all. She was versed in the supernatural, but she didn’t have an explanation readily available.
“Tomorrow, after I walk you home, would you mind if I came in and took a look around the place?”
“Not at all! It would do my mind some good to have someone check it out. I just hope I’m not getting worked up over nothing.”
Julie laughed without much humor.
“Better nothing than something.”
They were quiet a moment. Leah yawned and stretched. Julie looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. Julie stood up.
“I’ll let you get some sleep. You’ve had a long night.”
Julie walked around the couch and clicked the kitchen light off. The fireplace embers glowed softly, casting shadows across their faces.
“Oh, one more thing.”
Julie said as she paused in front of her bedroom door. She thought of how quiet the forest was. How still everything had become.
“Don’t go outside.”
She looked Leah in the eye, unblinking. Leah nodded solemnly. Julie nodded back and pushed open her bedroom door.
“Goodnight, Leah.”
“Goodnight, Julie.”
Julie got ready for her bed in her usual fashion; Stripping down to her underwear and throwing on a comfortable T-shirt. Penny came in a few minutes later, her hair and body wrapped in towels. She dried off properly and made sure the bedroom door was closed before dropping the towels and sitting down on the edge of the bed. She motioned for Julie to scoot closer. Julie did so, laying her head across Penny’s lap and looking up at the ceiling.
Penny’s skin was cool to the touch, and she smelled lightly of cedar and palmwood. Julie recognized the smell. A fragrance of soap that Leah had made for the two of them as a housewarming present when Julie and Penny had moved in together the year before. Julie closed her eyes and breathed in the scent. Penny began gently running her finger through Julie’s hair. It soothed her nerves.
“Penny?”
Julie spoke up softly.
“Yes, dear?”
Julie paused for a moment, unsure of how to give voice to her feelings.
“Do you feel safe here?
Penny thought about it a moment.
“Here on the farm? Absolutely. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. I’ve done my best to leave my days as a beast hunter behind, but I worry that I still attract trouble. I just… I invited you to live with me, and I want to make sure the home I’ve made for us is well-protected.”
Julie propped herself up on an elbow to look at Penny more effectively.
“It may be paranoia talking, but it seems like everyone’s on edge. Earlier, right before I ran into Leah, I could have sworn I felt something watching me from the forest. And then there was a moment out back that I thought I sensed something nearby. It could be that I’m just jumping at shadows, but the idea that there’s something out there I can’t see bothers me.”
Penny rubbed Julie’s shoulders in a comforting fashion.
“I’m sorry this has you so frazzled. If you want my opinion, you do a wonderful job making this place feel secure. I’ve never once felt unsafe here, and I feel so protected and cared for when you and I are close together. These last few seasons have been some of the best of my life, and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.”
Penny placed a hand gently on Julie’s cheek and looked her in the eye.
“Whatever happens, we’ll have each other. That’s enough for me.”
Julie smiled.
“We will. Thank you, I think I needed to hear that.”
“That’s what I’m here for!”
The two began to drift closer to one another. Julie spoke up.
“I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
“Nor could I. Now come here, you.”
Penny pulled her into a kiss, soft and sweet. The kiss became firmer, and Julie draped her arms around Penny’s neck for support. Penny responded to this by flopping back on the bed, bringing Julie with her. Julie let out an exclamation of surprise, but went along with it gladly. The two realigned and locked lips again, holding each other close.
“Would you like something to keep your mind off things?”
Julie felt Penny’s hands begin to roam. Penny bit down on Julie’s lower lip and pulled back an inch or two before releasing it. Julie let out a soft moan.
Penny fixed her with a sultry gaze.
“I’m ready if you are.” Penny whispered. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
It was a sorely tempting offer. Julie felt one of Penny’s legs wrap around hers. Julie’s head was spinning, and any other night she would have gladly indulged her partner. However, Leah was still in the front room, and she was probably still freaked out. It felt just a bit weird.
“I… Don’t think I’m up for it tonight, hon.”
Penny ceased her wanderings and brought her hands up to lightly run through Julie’s hair. She gave Julie another long kiss before laying her head down on the pillow.
“That’s absolutely fine.”
Julie kissed her forehead and snuggled close.
“Thank you for understanding. It’s just been a weird night, y’know?”
Penny drew the blanket over the two of them and reached over to turn off the lamp on their bedside table. This accomplished, she stretched out like a cat and wrapped around Julie for warmth.
“Of course, dear. You’re always allowed to say ‘no’.”
She turned to give Julie one last kiss before retiring.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Julie said it softly, as she often did. It was a frequent enough statement around the house now that she and Penny were living together, but Julie meant it every time she said it. It scared her sometimes how easily it came to her. Penny was something special.
“Goodnight, kochanie.”
Julie said, curling her arm around Penny’s waist.
“Goodnight, darling.”
Penny said in between yawns.
They lay there in the darkness a long time, Julie breathing slowly and trying to forget the unsettling events of the evening. With Penny nearby, it was much easier to relax. Still, though she hovered near the edge of unconsciousness at several points, she couldn’t seem to fall asleep.
After over an hour of trying her best to drift off, Julie heard something break the silence. The sound was faint, and at first she was unsure she’d heard anything at all. However, after a few seconds of silence, she heard it again, this time louder.
Julie sat up in bed, careful not to wake Penny. The scraping sounds continued as Julie climbed slowly off of the mattress. She draped the blanket back over Penny and crept across the room to the laundry basket in the corner, where she pulled on a pair of pants and threw on a jacket. This accomplished, she slowly and carefully pulled open the top drawer of her dresser. From within, she retrieved her knife. Just in case.
She could still hear the strange sound. Julie went to the window and peeked out, steeling herself in preparation for any number of ghoulish things. She saw nothing but darkness.
Julie did her best to slide the window open without making a sound. She only got it open an inch or two, but that was enough. She could make out the sound more clearly now, and it appeared to be coming from the back of the house. It sounded like something scraping against wood.
That decided it. She was going to investigate.