The Monster

“For saving my son,” Vaaberus grunts. “Dinner. For you, pretty human.” Is this how humans court? He nudges the deer closer, eyes wide in anticipation.

It’s also a gift for saving his son. Unlike the rest of the humans in your village, you’ve shown no fear of him or Ceni. Ceni begun following you around when he realized you wouldn’t run away screaming. He’s curious about humans, despite Vaaberus warning him about them. Humans don’t take well to monsters.

Vaaberus knows this. His mate—Ceni’s mother—had been killed by humans of the previous village. They blamed her for their cows dying. He’d seen humans as nothing more than ants before. They festered and ruined and were little more than annoyances.

But they were weak. He’d been so certain a mere human couldn’t kill them. It was a mistake and his mate had paid the price for his naivety.

He’d spent three years moving around with Ceni. Nowhere was safe enough. He couldn’t lose Ceni, wouldn’t live with himself if he wasn’t able to protect his son. Your village was the most peaceful one he’d found. Though the humans there feared them, they left them alone. Most avoided him and Ceni.

You’d watched his son, though. Played with him. All characteristics of someone he wants to court. But he hadn’t done anything until you saved Ceni from falling off the cliffs near the village. Ceni’s attached to you, it seems. But today he left Ceni at home so that he can be with you.

“Two deers?” Vaaberus offers. Is one not enough for you? Perhaps you have a large appetite.