I literally just wanna go into the lore for Hattie because her and I have become well aquatinted over the last few days, but it'd probably be a chapters length in itself so...

For now, here's her official design😁

Alastor's POV

Once I parted with her, I tried my best not to let my anxiety spiral.

Literally anything could happen while I'm away...hell, the earth could open up and swallow her whole!

Briefly, I paused, having just entered the tree line. I peeked back, looking at my house that was a good distance away.

She was no longer outside, and the front door was shut.

Part of me was whispering to myself to go check all the locks, maybe even knock on the door to see if she would listen to me, or if she'd open it.

After a moment of thought, I shook my head and turned back towards my original path.

She's fine.

I'm just worrying, and worrying doesn't do anyone any good. It causes irrational choices, and I am a lot of things but irrational is not one of them.

As I made my way deeper into the forest, I stopped just a moment to look around. The leaves on the trees are browning slightly, letting me know that hunting season has officially set in.

Hunting season has actually been upon me for a while now, and normally I'd be out here the first day of the season but I've been a bit...preoccupied.

The middle of October crept up on me like the plague. Thank goodness I still have a couple of months before deer are out of season again.

As I walked through the peaceful terrain, my mind wondered back to Fawn.

My Fawn...

Just thinking about her has me smiling like an idiot, and I begin to feel a bit hot in my suit.

She's just so wonderful in every way...from her mossy gaze to her soft skin, I could worship her and only her forever.

And I fully intend to.

One day, that woman will be my wife.

Thinking about her has me missing her, and I'm suddenly cursing that I'm not back home with her, spending our Saturday curled up on the couch, or in bed.

But I had to shake those thoughts away. A hunter must stay focused on his game, no matter how delicious a distraction presents itself.

I will be back with her soon...I plan on this being a quick trip. I've seen plenty of deer lately, plenty of nicely aged buck roaming.

Suddenly, a distant gunshot rang out and I tsk'd, rolling my eyes.

Damn freeloaders...these other hunters walk the line when it comes to my property, always testing my limits.

I can't wait for the day one of them trespasses...oh, what fun that hunt will be.

Just then I heard a twig snap and I froze in place, my head snapping in the direction of the noise.

I was down on one knee immediately, aiming my gun towards where I heard the anomaly, scanning the area until...

Gotcha.

My smile widened and I steadied my aim along with my breathing, zeroing in on the buck that had wondered into the clearing with his doe.

His ear flicked, and he licked his nose as he surveyed the land.

His first instinct is to protect his doe, whom is most likely pregnant with his fawn. So, I must be very still, and very quiet...or he will run, and possibly scare any other deer away from this area.

Oh, that's what makes this so exciting. The sport, the game, the risk.

Exhilarating.

As I aimed, I set my sights just behind his shoulder, aiming around one third of the way up from his belly.

A shot there will give me a clean, good kill with minimal disfigurement.

I did feel a bit bad for the buck...simply protecting his "wife" so to speak. The poor little lady will be so frightened after the shot.

Never before have I felt for the animals I kill...perhaps my own little doe is rubbing off on me more than I first thought.

Closing one eye, I slowly exhaled, applying pressure to the trigger...and...

The loud shot rang out, and my eyes widened.

Mostly because my finger is still on the trigger, which I never pulled.

"What..." I whispered, a numb sensation tingling through my side that was beginning to feel warmer by the second.

The two deer became frightened, leaping away. I felt disappointed a moment, cursing whatever hunter just shot and scared away my game.

However, that shot sounded awfully close.

Sighing, I tried to get up.

But my legs felt weak.

Why do I feel weak?

My brows furrowed, and I grunted, stumbling and having to use my gun to steady my self as my other hand went over my side.

A slow, burning pain had set in, and when I pulled my hand away my eyes widened.

Blood.

No...have...have I been shot?

No. No no no.

My breathing was coming labored as I tried to walk, each step bringing an unimaginable burning pain.

Then the sound of footsteps came running up to me, earning my attention.

"Oh my god!" I heard an unfamiliar male voice.

He sounds awfully young.

Turning slightly, my teeth grit through the pain and a large smile still on my face, I looked at the young man.

He can't be older than 16 or 17.

"M-mister, I am so terribly sorry! Please, tell me you're alright, can you speak?"

The kid's voice came panicked and fast as he approached me with his hands out. His gun was around his back, resting between his shoulder blades.

"Hello, son..." I got out through my labored breaths, "my, it seems you've misshot," A strained chuckle followed my words, and I took a deep breath.

My hand was pressed firmly over the exit wound, but the entry wound was still bleeding heavily on my back.

"I-I didn't mean to, mister I-I promise...h-here let me help you, I'm so sorry mister..." the kid took my gun from me, replacing it with himself as my crutch.

There wasn't much I could do about it. My vision was starting to fade in and out, and sounds around me were fading.

Part of me was convinced I wasn't going to make it...but then my eyes opened wide when I remembered who's waiting for me back home.

She'll be standing on the porch, worriedly looking into the night for me to return...and I never will.

She'll cry...

I will not let that happen.

"Son..." I grunted, looking over at the poor panicking kid.

He was pale as a sheet, sweating and clearly all over the place in his head.

And as much as I understand it was a mistake...I cannot let this kid anywhere near my home. He shouldn't even be here in the first place, and what irresponsible adult left him without a mentor?

In different circumstances, I'd have been happy to mentor him until we found where he'd wondered from...

He looked over at me, "d-don't worry mister! I saw a house just a little ways back, so we can go see those folks, a-and they'll be able to help. It's an awful nice house, mister, I-I'm sure they've got a horn," he rambled.

At that moment, all I could do was sigh.

He's already seen it...

Shit.

Adrenaline rushed my veins, the pain in my side fading as I removed my hand and brought it to my inside suit sheath where I keep my hunting knife.

Slowly I removed it, staggering to a stop.

The boy turned to me, my arm still over his shoulders slightly, "y-you can make it, I–"

I grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling him forward into my shoulder as I shoved the knife into his stomach.

I felt his hands grab me in shock, his breath catching in his throat.

His chin was rested on my shoulder, and I slid my hand up to the back of his head as his knees buckled and his legs gave out.

"Shhh..." I whispered by his ear, "it's alright, I forgive you..."

He stuttered slightly while I lowered us both to the ground.

My heart was slamming into my ribs, a dull throbbing sensation pulsing through my side.

I pulled the knife out quickly, thrusting it back into his stomach near his ribs.

He was clutching onto me tightly, his body now trembling.

Again I hushed him as he choked and sputtered.

It irks me that after abstaining from my hobby for a good amount of time, this is my first kill.

I had planned to make it grand, and have a whole night of fun soon, seeing as the festivities from a few weeks ago had calmed and no other cops had bothered us.

Not this...

I'd have never chosen this.

Gently I laid him back against a tree, and he was still clinging to me weakly. I wish I hadn't looked at him, because it punched me right in the conscious when I did.

Blood trickled from his mouth and dripped from his chin, letting me know I'd successfully punctured his lung.

He was looking at me with wide, tear filled eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, mister..." he said weakly, his breaths coming shallow.

I nodded, "I know...I know..." I said, trying to reassure him that it was just an honest mistake...

He's just a boy, he didn't know this was private property...truly, it was an honest mistake.

But I cannot have him knowing where I live...where my Fawn lives. My job is to protect her, and this is the only way I can do that properly.

I've learned my lesson.

He coughed and blood spurted from his mouth, a bit beginning to leak from his nose as well.

But he was still holding onto me...

"You got any family, son?" I asked him quietly, slowly removing the knife.

He winced, the first tears falling from his eyes as he nodded slightly, "m-my ma...s-she told me b-be home 'fore supper...s-so I think I better g-go now..."

Despite his words, he made no effort to move.

I'm beginning to realize the gunshot wound isn't as bad as I first believed...the initial shock of it being the worst.

Had it truly been bad, I'd be dead already.

"Oh, really?" I continue the conversation, situating him against the tree into a more comfortable position, "what's your ma cookin' tonight?" I asked him, trying to distract him.

He blinked slowly, and swallowed before coughing again, "u-uh...rabbit, I think...w-we don't h-have much food..."

His breathing was shallow now, and I gently removed his hands from my suit.

Placing them in his lap, I held them and smiled.

"That sounds good," I replied, and he actually managed a very weak smile.

"Yeah...heh...M-ma's a great cook..." he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Just as I was about to continue talking, his eyes got a far away look in them. His breaths were quiet, and then he let out one final, deep exhale before his eyes glazed over.

My head dropped, and I squeezed his limp hand, "I'm sorry, kid..." I whispered, "really, I'm sorry..."

That said, I stood up slowly, wincing and placing my hand over my side once again. The bleeding has slowed, it seems, but the pain was rough.

"Godammit..." I growled through my teeth, grabbing my gun from where the kid had dropped it after I stabbed him.

Using that, I began to limp back towards the house.

God, I hope Fawn has the stomach to handle this.