Chapter Text
The chill of the autumn had begun to settle on the land, the earth bitten with frost when you’d first left that morning and now leaves fell all around carried on bitter wind. You’d prepared for it, dressed in your warmest riding skirt and heaviest cloak. Both had been dyed dark, showing their previous colors under only the most direct light, although you hoped to wash some of it away come springtime. Your mourning period was blessedly over now.
You reach forward to your horse, its long mahogany neck feeling like velvet as you ran your hand up towards his tall ears. Bruce, your Clydesdale, had been walking most of the day, happily carrying you through two small villages and few miles of farmland without issue. Now that you were entering the woods he became unusually skittish, not that you could blame him; there were strange things out there, things that had no way to know whether you were friend or foe. You had heard that these creatures could smell many things that a human could not, including fear, so you tried as hard as you could to remain calm. You knew that not all the stories about these beasts were true but now, all alone in a forest with an hours ride to safety, you couldn’t help but dwell on those tall tales. You had packed your rifle in Bruce’s sled, which was loaded up with your clothing, food, and other goods you deemed necessary for starting a new life. Now you wished the trusty fire arm was in your lap, just as a precaution.
To help fight the mounting anxiety, you recall your grandfather’s letters, sent from the same address you were now traveling towards, reminding yourself that he happily lived there for most of his life. You had visited on two occasions when you were very small, but now you could recall nothing from memory, only what you’d been told by your mother. Nothing had happened to you, or her or your grandfather, he had been living proof to not trust everything you heard. He sang praises of the hybrids who lived with him on the mountain, always speaking of their kindness and generosity. You decided to take his place as the warden of the mountain because of how highly he spoke of them; the fear now making you a bit ashamed.
You reach into the breast of your gown and gather a silver locket, hung from a long matching chain. The latch releases and you are graced with two smiling faces, that of your late mother and grandfather, finding that their smiles always warmed the cold places in your heart. Those two would never lie, you reassured yourself, gazing on them a moment longer before replacing the locket into your bust, close to your heart. Grandfather wouldn’t lie to you, he wouldn’t have sent you into a den of wolves; and with faith in that you managed to calm yourself.
You had been riding along a waving path for the better part of an hour, taking thing slow as the dirt road wasn’t very smooth and thus had your sled teetering from time to time. You observe other dirt paths coming and going as well, fresh footprints crossing and disappearing in the wake of your horse and sled. You pull back the heavy hood of your cloak to get a better look, taking the reins so that Bruce wouldn’t try to choose a different route. The directions said to keep following the same path until you reach a clearing with three buildings, so that's what you were going to do.
A howl sounds from behind and without warning Bruce takes off at top speed, the sled suddenly rocking and bouncing as the horse’s terrified sprint sent everything into chaos. With your heart racing you spare a glance over your shoulder, worried that the wolf was close enough to see; instead you watch as several belongings fly from your sled, scattering across the path and into the brush surrounding. Bruce thunders on, far more worried about the predator than your lost items, refusing to listen as you coo and pet his neck. You brace in your stirrups and pull on the reins but he doesn’t fully relent for another minute at least. When you do get him to relax your heart was pounding as you contemplated stopping to retrieve your items, but with wolves stalking around that hardly seemed safe. You let the horse keep walking, sparing a look over your shoulder in an attempt to spot your items but the road hand curved enough that all you could see was trees.
With Bruce calmed, you take care in steering him forward, cautious that there could be another howl at any moment. The threat of such kept you on edge until the trees started thinning, replaced with bushes, and finally an open space of trimmed grasses. Fruit trees littered the space between three structures now plainly visible, along with raised garden beds and what appeared to be barrels intended to catch rainwater. The first building was the grandest by far, with a stone foundation and brick walls. It was, however, rather small for how grand it appeared, the front porch and stoop being rather stylish luxuries you had not anticipated at the forest cabin. The chimney was open and smoke was rising from it, through sash windows you could see the light of a fire, or perhaps a few lamps, the spines of books and dark oak cabinets.
The other two buildings flank the first on either side, the left was a four post timber frame with a modest forge and sturdy tables set up as a workshop, with racks for drying fish and lines stretching towards fruit trees for drying laundry. On the right was a bathhouse made of wood and stone with a tall roof and a large barrel of water bracketed to one side. Small cuts of wood were stacked against the opposite wall as the barrel, with a thin metal chimney poking out above that.
You blink, struggling to take it all in when the door to the main house opens presenting you with a boy, or rather a man on second glance; his height and round face had confused you for the briefest of seconds. The childish appearance certainly disarmed you as he approached with big green eyes and a cheery smile. “Hello! You must be the new Warden! I’m so happy to finally meet you. I hope the ride wasn’t too stressful.” His tanned skin darkens as he approaches you, his eyes dancing between you and the ground like a flustered schoolboy.
“You must be Midoriya?” You question as he offers a hand to help you dismount. Your eyes can’t help but linger for a moment on the tall rabbit ears sprouting from his mop of green hair.
He easily helps you to the ground, gentle hands ready to steady you. “Of course miss, I should have said so. I’m Izuku Midoriya, at your service, miss warden.” He bowed respectfully and you did the same as you gave him your name in return. “I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather, and of course your mother too. The previous warden talked about you both so fondly, l can only imagine your loss.”
The man’s emotions were clear in his features as the corner of his lips pulled down, his rabbit ears drooping. “That's very kind of you to say, Mr. Midoriya.” You respond, hoping a warm smile could ease his distress; which it seemed to do.
“Please just call me Izuku, we’ll be spending a lot of time together from now on so please don’t worry about formalities.” He pulls the reins down over Bruce’s neck leading him to a post near the front steps before tying him off. “Please feel free to look around miss. I’ll give you a proper tour once we get your horse settled.”
You remain for a few moments, expecting Bruce to throw a tantrum from being handled by a stranger but Izuku’s calm demeanor seems not to disturb the fickle beast. Confident that they would be fine alone, you head towards the wooden bath house. Inside was a small room with a toilet and the rest of the space was dedicated to three wooden basins, the largest for bathing, a smaller one as a sink, and another one tucked under a few shelves that was clearly for laundry judging by the soaps stored inside..
You wash up, tapping damp fingers to your brow and cheek, staring into a polished bowl to contemplate your own reflection. You’d been traveling for days and looked as such, the bags under your eyes and lines set into your brow easily convincing you to give up on your reflection to rejoin your new acquaintance. With your cloak pulled back up around your shoulders you make to leave when a howl rips the air, so close it could have been in the clearing.
Izuku was clearly a rabbit hybrid so you feared that he’d be attacked if you didn’t do something to help. Without a thought you fling open the door and hurry into the yard which had grown orange and amber thanks to the aging of the day. “Izuku,” you call holding up your skirts as you make towards the front of the first house. “Izuku we must get inside quickly!”
You come around to find Bruce bucking and rearing while Izuku rushes the steps on the heels of another man. “Kacchan, stop, they’ve just arrived, can’t you wait a while before you start harassing them?”
The voice that answered was a bark if you’d ever heard one, biting and vicious, although you couldn’t quite make out what he said over Bruce’s frantic whines. “Where is she Deku? We don’t need another warden, and certainly not some fool headed child.”
“Izuku,” you say, coming up the stairs pinning the men between you and the door. “Please get inside, there's a wolf.” The rabbit tilts his head as they both turn to look at you, his confusion evident. “I’m sorry, I don’t know much about hybrids but surely a rabbit is still a prey animal? So please, stay inside where it’s safe.”
The other man’s laughter cuts the tension and makes Bruce rear and fight again; thankfully his sled had been taken off or he’d have hurt himself by now. Finally your eyes took in the new stranger, nearly a foot taller than Izuku and wider at the shoulders, the blonde man stared down at you with malice and you flinched. You balk at the ears on his head, the fluffy tail swishing at his back. Your hand moves to cover your mouth as the other reaches for Izuku as if you could protect him; the gesture only causes the wolf to laugh again. “Fool headed child.” He repeats, tongue clicking as you continue to reel Izuku further from the strange man. “Do you really think you could protect him from me? What an idiot.” The wolf snarls, his fangs showing as his lips pull back in a clear sign of aggression.
“Miss, he’s really not-” You're pulling Izuku further down the steps refusing to take no for an answer as you frantically try to sort out what to do. Your rifle was on the sled somewhere, if you could find it then surely the wolf would leave.
You reach towards the cart when a hand grips your wrist and wrenches you back. Rough calluses scratch as pressure blooms and worse, nails feel like needle pricks as he drives them against your flesh with purpose. The wolf was beside you, steering you away from your supplies as blood beat in your ears with deafening ferocity. You try to wrench yourself free and the wolf sneered down at you, expression caught between amusement and anger.
“Miss, please, Kacchan isn’t going to hurt us.” The rabbit insisted from behind you, his hands coming into your peripheral vision reaching to separate the wolf and human.
“Don’t lie to the pup… I’ll hurt her if I want to.” The wolf snarled, his red eyes drilling painfully into your own. You whimper, jerking your hand and finding yourself free, tumbling backwards into Izuku.
The rabbit caught you with ease, gentle hands making a stark difference to the one that had held you prior. “I mean it, Kacchan, I’m not going to let you bully the warden. Be nice or I won’t let you on the property anymore.” Even as he says the words the wolf stalks closer, bending at the waist to capture your eyes again. You press back into Izuku harder than before but he doesn’t move, standing firm and tall in the face of a predator.
The wolf reaches a clawed hand towards your throat and you expect to be slashed open by his claws and drained dry of blood. Your heart thundered, your chest was rising and falling with such vigor that your head was growing light. The wolf’s hand dipped into your blouse, warm against the skin of your chest as it dipped into your corset making you whine with alarm. At that moment your heart stopped, feeling him rummaging between your breast before pulling out the locket you’d hidden there. He brought the polished silver to his nose and sniffed at it, curious, like a tracking dog about to start his hunt.
“Kacchan, you can’t touch human women without asking,” Izuku scold’s, although with little authority, far different from just a moment before, as if he knew the rule but not the reason.
The wolf showed no sign of having heard as he undoes the latch of the locket and stares down at the faces kept safely inside. You whimper as your heart is exposed to him, now only worried for its preservation. “Please,” Your voice is small as you beg, but the way red eyes blink as they stare down at your teary face show that he heard you; perfectly. He takes a moment to drink in the look of fear, taking one last sniff of the air before backing off.
“Relax pup, I’m not going to bite. Today.” You blink as he snaps the locket shut and drops it to its natural resting place on the long silver chain, just below your sternum. There’s a twinkle in his eye as he says it, the curl of his grin was no longer malicious. Regardless, your nerves were fried.
Izuku turned you back towards the door, telling the wolf to unload the sled with a clipped tone. The blonde grumbled but did as he was instructed while you were finally led into your new house. The inside was brick and dark wood. On the left was a kitchen with a few cabinets and a large wooden table with fresh vegetables, cheese and bread arranged on top. Directly across from the door was a huge fireplace with a mantle of smooth wood and littered with all manner of useful things from lanterns to sheers. The fire itself was equipped with a sturdy iron rack already dressed with a pot and kettle. On the left was a half open door showing a small closet of shelves stacked with linen and other supplies. On the right was a bed, a small table and a rocking chair. There was a bookcase built into the wall beside the bed and a large desk shared a wall with the front door. There was a faded amber colored rug under the living space making the whole area feel cozy. The bed was stacked with knitted blankets and down pillows, the sturdy frame decorated with ivy. Just inside the door were a set of hooks for jackets and robes, a broom and a small stool. Above you were beams all hung with drying herbs both for medicine and cooking. The place smelled like spices and applewood logs.
“My mother and I got all of the bedding and towels washed fresh for you just yesterday,” Izuku explained as he closed the door behind you. “The bread and cheese are fresh too, so please help yourself if you're feeling peckish.” The rabbit came to stand at your side near the middle of the living room, smiling proudly into the space he clearly took remarkable care of.
You were still reeling from the encounter with the wolf but you tried to put on a smile for the kind caretaker. “Extend my thanks to your mother for her part, it’s lovely, really.” You hang your cloak at the door before moving through what was now your home, although it didn’t resemble any place you’ve lived before. You were from the city where you had a small living space, sure, but everything was in one building and there certainly weren’t any threats of wolves.
“I know this must be hard for you so please, if you have any questions I’d be happy to help.” He took a moment to look back outside where the wolf was unloading the few things you had brought before walking them up to the porch. “And, I apologize for Kacchan, he’s aggressive but he means well. In fact he’s the one who keeps our lands safe, he patrols every day to make sure all of the hybrids who live here can do so in peace.” Finding this hard to believe you turn to look back outside where the wolf was now petting Bruce, which you found to be rather remarkable. “Really, he’s just bad with humans, he doesn’t understand your culture or how you interact. For hybrids we communicate more with our pheromones, but humans… sometimes you can smell one way but say something else and it gets confusing for a lot of us.”
You nod and contemplate what he had said, wondering now if this had been the right thing to do or not. Your grandfather always made being a warden sound relaxing and fun, like the job was really just spending time with his hybrid friends all day; but clearly there was a bit more nuance to it. “I’m woefully ill prepared for this I’m afraid.” Your smile is meek as you feel your eyes getting misty.
Izuku’s smile is caring and warm as he steps into your space and takes your hands. “I’ll be here every step of the way to help so please don’t worry. I promise everything will be fine once you get used to it. Everyone is really friendly, even the other predators aren’t as rude as Kacchan so I’m sure you’ll get along just fine.” His kind words help you calm back down, only for the wolf to come through the door.
“Oi, help me move this stuff inside Deku.” The wolf said as he reached for the rabbit, pulling him out onto the porch. You take a step to help when the wolf glares at you and pins you to the spot with just that glance. Instead you stand beside the fireplace and watch the pair of them move the last of your things inside. The wolf explains that he put the rest of the food supplies in the cellar and let Bruce to pasture; although you don’t recall seeing any such thing on your way in.
Izuku insisted that he give you a tour even though it was well into the evening, and you tried to commit everything to memory. He made a point of walking the perimeter of the clearing, pointing out different paths and where they would lead you. On the east side there was a path to the river which Izuku explained to be the water source for the homestead and so you made sure to remember that one. Towards the north he pointed out another trail that would lead you all the way to the home he shared with his mother. He gave a name to almost every little path, making you wonder if all the roads on the mountain lead to this clearing. It was overwhelming, but surely you’d get used to it in time. For now you would remain confused.
The wolf had joined you, being remarkably reserved as he followed the short tour. You noticed that both of them kept close to you, closer than men usually would when on a stroll with a lady. It had startled you at first, wondering if they’d be so bold as to take your hand or something, but neither did. Apparently courting customs were a bit different here as well, or at the very least personal space. Their body heat was always just a breath away, a gentle hand guiding you around raised planters and dips in the ground.
By the time you returned to the main house the wolf had left, briefly saying he needed to check on things before disappearing into the woods. “How will he be able to see anything at this time of night?” You chide, tutting as his light hair disappears into the darkness of the forest.
Izuku laughs and follows you up into the house. “His eyes work really well at night actually, he can see as well right now as you can during the day.” You hang your cloak and jacket at the door, thankful that the house was warm and cozy.
Izuku shed his jacket too, hanging the brown wool on an available hook. Beneath he was clad in a simple white cotton shirt and dark slacks, streaked with dirt at both knees. You observe him and realize that he’s doing the same to you. “I look a mess after traveling, please don’t judge me too harshly.” You say and turn your face away from him, only for the man to step back into your line of vision.
“Not at all miss, you're quite the beauty, if it’s not too bold of me to say.” Izuku smiles bashfully, a curled finger coming to tip your chin back to face him. “Of course your grandfather said as much but,” The rabbit lost his nerve as your cheeks started to redden. “What I mean to say is that you needn’t worry about how you look.”
Regardless of what he says you flee once again, this time towards the kitchen. “That’s very kind of you to say, Izuku, but perhaps it is too bold.”
He follows and watches as you start to slice bread and cheese making a plate for the both of you. Outside the forest was dark, almost black save for the reflection of moonlight on the few remaining leaves. “Saying your beautiful is too forward?” He questions and your face starts to change shades again. “I hope I’m not being uncouth, it’s just that, I study what I can about humans; I think it’s important for humans and hybrids to understand each other. So we can all get along.”
You nod and hand him a plate. “I suppose it’s forward because we’ve only just met.” Explaining the nuances of human interactions was difficult for one so previously out casted by said humans. You’d never been very good at understanding them either.
“So I should lie and say you aren’t beautiful?” His voice is so earnest it makes your heart ache.
“No, perhaps you used too strong a word? Instead try, ‘You look very well’, upon first meeting.” You nod in agreement with yourself as you take a seat in the rocking chair. “Or, “quite agreeable.’”
“You look well, miss warden, very agreeable.” He repeats, beaming a smile at you that could have made flowers bloom. His tanned cheeks were speckled with freckles like constellations and their contrast was more noticeable in fire light. With such large eyes and sunny demeanor you found yourself staring at him in wonder. Your mind searches for the word that he had used to describe you earlier; beauty. Izuku was a beauty too.
“The same to you Izuku.” The man’s smile doubles before the two of you eat and chat. He explains that his house is only a short walk north, and that Kacchan would be back at some point to check on things. You squirm at that, eyes darting towards the windows to check if he was already out there, looming in the safety of the dark. “He’s a brute, I know, but please don’t judge Kacchan too harshly. He’d do anything to protect those who live here, including our warden, so take what he says with a grain of salt. But if he tells you to do something it’s probably better that you just do it. Sometimes it’s a matter of safety, or survival.”
You tilt your head and ask what he meant by that but Izuku doesn’t know how to explain exactly. “It’s a hybrid thing… Wolves protect their packs and they have extra senses to help them do that, so, sometimes he’ll just get feelings and they are usually right.” He goes on to explain how those feelings had saved lives in the past and you decided to do as you were told and trust the wolf.
“Do rabbit hybrids have any special talents?” You ask before taking the last bite of your cheese, chewing as you rise, taking his empty plate to the kitchen with yours.
“We are really fast,” He starts, bashful as he scratches the back of his neck. “And I can dig really well, but that's not always so useful. Prey hybrids also have another sense for danger but it doesn’t work the same as Kacchan’s. Ours is for self preservation, and it makes a lot of us really anxious. That's part of the reason why communities like this exist; within Kacchan’s territory our prey sense can relax because we’re safe, because we’re part of the pack. Does that make sense?” He laughs and starts to ramble about how he’s not great at explaining things but you only smile.
“I suppose it does,” You nod and gaze out the window again.
“Some of the books in here are about hybrids, I’ve read most of them and they are very informative.” He stands and leans over the bed to reach for a particular book. “This one isn’t about any specific hybrid species but it goes into detail about predators and prey which should help you understand Kacchan better. Besides, it's an easy read. The author Nezu is one of the leading hybrid scientists but he writes very plainly.” The rabbit hands the book to you, it’s cover is dark blue with embossed letters and a modest spine.
You thank him for the recommendation and he starts to head to the door. “I’ve had a nice time chatting with you, but I should really let you alone for the night.” He explains which path will lead to his house again before lingering one final time on your figure. “Goodnight miss, I’ll see you in the morning.”
The crackle of the fire is all you can hear once he leaves, the surrounding silence startles you. In the city there was no such thing as quiet, being alone was a fantasy, a lie you told yourself in your one room apartment at night with nothing but a bed and end table as belongings.
Somehow you aren’t tired enough to sleep, even though the day had been long and arduous at best. You search the cupboards for tea, finding a bucket of fresh water with a ladle in the kitchen as you go. There was some loose leaf in a jar that smelled okay to you, so you went to the fireplace to fetch the kettle. It was already warm and made short work of boiling. In the meantime you changed out of your riding clothes into nothing but your chemise, worshiping the freedom of movement and the release of pressure around your middle. The white cotton under dress had a bit of lace at the throat and wrists but was otherwise unremarkable and plain; all your fancier clothes had been sold for supplies. You drink your tea and read for a while, rocking in the old chair before turning down the bed and going to sleep.