PopeMira fantasy AU with healer Samira and werewolf Andrew.
Samira is the only healer of this small rural town. She lives in a little cottage at the edges of the forest, and treats the folks that reach for her help. She never asks anything in turn because of her healer vow - also, the townfolks are not wealthy - but they always pay her back with something, usually in goods. Food, clothes, utensils.
Andrew is a packless werewolf. He run away from his abusive pack and found into the forest a good place where to hide. He feels lonely, but he knows all too well his violent nature, and he'd rather live alone forever than hurt anyone ever again.
They both know of the other presence - Samira because of the townfolks warning telltales, Andrew because he caught her scent more than once - but for a while they don't have a chance to interact.
That is, until one summer full moon night.
It's past midnight when she hears it. Or better say, she doesn't hear it. Because the forest has suddenly fallen silent. Not a noise in the breazy warm air.
A lanter to light her way, Samira is roaming the forest in search of precious healing plants that she knows bloom only during full moon. Every time she spots one, she crouches down and neatly cuts it with her sickle, stashes them into her basket.
And so it happens. The creature doesn't show up nor make itself audible, but she can sense its presence, how its following her through the forest, and back to the narrow path that leads out of it and to the town. Only when her cottage is in sight, she dares to turn and look.
Samira doesn't panic. Forests house of a lot of creatures, some of them are not of this world, and she's but an intruder. One must act respectful and read the clues. She will carefully makes her way back to her cottage. Hopefully, the creature will spare her.
A pair of wild hazel eyes are glinting in her direction. The creature is hidden behind the thick undergrowth bushes, a streak of its breath leaving its snout and condensing in the air.
Oh, so she finally met the local werewolf. About time.
As the healer locks herself into her cottage, Andrew reatreats into the forest. He only hopes he didn't scare her, because he'd really like to see her again. He should not reach out, he knows that, but what's wrong if he just happens to cross her path while she's out again?
Apparently, the healer is not scared of him. They meet again the next full moon, same way of the first one. And then again, the month after.
On the fourth time round, Samira dares to speaks out.
"You can show yourself, my friend. Don't be shy."
A long silence follows her words. And for a sad moment Samira fears she'd scared the wolf away. But then there's a rustle of paws over the fallen leaves. She turns to the sound - the very first one the wolf so far ever made in her presence - and finally sees it, in all of its majestic, terrifying apparence.
Almost as tall as her, paws as large as her head. Its fur is thick, color rich walnut brown with some scattered grey streaks. And, oh, its a male - she clinically notices.
"Hello, handsome." she smiles at him.
The wolf's tail immediately starts wagging. Samira can't help a chuckle.
Andrew doesn’t know if he's handsome. He does know, though, that she doesn't smell scared, and her smile is beautiful. It brings out two little dimples on her cheeks. Later that day, when the moon has set and he's back at his den in his human form, he lays there, in his simple cot, thinking back at that moment. At her gentle voice, and her sweet stare, and those cute dimples. He never saw something so pretty. He wished to be human and reach out and touch them. Caress them with his fingertips.
Andrew grunts, rolls over to curl on his side. It will never happen. The healer is kind by nature, but he's not meant to be around her like that. If he'd ever approach her in such a way, then he's sure her sweet scent would turn acrid with fear. Andrew will be lucky if he'll be allowed to meet her again like today.
