Do not fear the storms or sun.

Do not fear the winds that run.

I will keep you safe and hold you tight.

As long as you are in my wings tonight.

Lullaby of the Black Wing Harpy.

{Clover Cottontail}

She was in a cabin somewhere. It was dark and a strange child was laying on her. The child had been crying and Clover couldn’t help but feel bad for the little one. Something called to her from the deep shadows she had been hiding in, and she was suddenly in this strange room holding a child and singing the same lullaby her mother would sing to her when she was a kit. It made the child calm down and go to sleep. There were two others in the dark room. One sounded like a man who was having a bad nightmare, but that seemed to stop when she started singing. The other was some type of monster. It didn’t seem hostel, so she just let it be for now. She moved her body and found she was missing one hand and both feet. Her ears still worked, but only one eye opened. What had happened to her? Last thing she remembered, she was, her head hurt, and her one remaining eye started to cry. It was something bad she didn’t want to think about. Her own mind was fighting with her. The image of her sister chained up and crying. Horror and fear was all over her face. Clover started shaking as she cried. She didn’t hurt, but this was the memory of some great pain she had suffered. She just lay there until the sun brought light to the room. She gasped as she saw the head of a huge dire wolf using the foot of the bed as a pillow. It had long black fur and looked over at her and nodded. Clover just nodded back worried. The child in her arms yawned and hugged her tightly.

“Mama, too early.” The child said in a sleepy voice. Clover looked at the child and saw dog like ears, long black hair and a broom like tail. That tail started to sway as the child woke slowly. “Mama is awake?” She said looking into Clover’s eyes. “Can you sing again? It was pretty.” Clover wasn’t sure why this made her smile and warmed her heart. This wasn’t her child, but somehow it felt like this dog girl was closer than Clover thought. Clover started petting the dog girl's hair and her tail wagged more.

“Where am I?” Clover whispered. She hoped the man wouldn’t wake up. She didn’t trust men at the moment.

“You are here with Daddy.” The dog whispered back. Now that the room had gotten slightly brighter, she could see the size of the ears and how bushy the tail was. Large yellow slightly glowing eyes looked up at Clover. This one was a wolf not a dog.

“Who is Daddy?” Clover asked, her heart beating faster. Clover’s mother had warned her about wolves and how they could easily hurt bunnies. The little wolf girl pushed up and pointed at the other bed where the man was sleeping.

“There is Daddy. He is sleeping and we shouldn’t wake him.” Her bright yellow eyes shined back at Clover.

“Does Daddy get mad when he is woken?” The wolf shook her head and smiled.

“My old Daddy did, but my new Daddy is nice. He had nightmares and he needs to be happy now.”

“How long have you been here?” Clover asked slightly worried.

“A long time.” That seemed useless. Clover said inwardly frowning.

“Has winter come and gone?”

“No. It gets hot now, but not too bad.” So, it had to be summer maybe even late summer.

“How did I get here?”

“Daddy carried you here. You were hurt,” the wolf said with a frown.

“How was I hurt?” Clover started to get worried. The wolf shook her head and looked sad.

“No know. Someone took your arms and legs and ear, but Daddy grew you new ones.” Clover inwardly shook. If she was that badly hurt, why was she not killed?

“Have I been here a long time?”

“Yep, you came here with me.” So why didn’t Clover remember anything?

“Have I been sleeping?” The wolf smiled at her.

“No, you were sad. Daddy said you got really sad when someone hurt you.” Clover had heard about that happening to some of the slaves. What had brought her out of it? She remembered the wolf girl crying. Was that it?

“What is your name little one?” Clover asked sweetly. This made the wolf smile and lean in close.

“I’m Willow. Daddy gave me my name. Do you like it?” She looked up with a slightly sad and worried look in her eyes. It made Clover smile, and she kissed the young girl's forehead making her give out a whispered yep and hug Clover hard.

“I think Willow is a beautiful name.”

“Does Daddy do anything mean to you or me?” She wasn’t done interrogating Willow. She wrinkled her nose and frowned.

“He does have me eat Mama Meals. They don’t taste good.” Were they made from the bodies of women he chopped up? Her heart began to beat faster.

“What is in the Mama Meals?” She asked worried about what she would soon learn.

“Veg ables, old dry dear, dry meat, dry old cheese and other things. He said they are good, but they aren’t. Can you cook, Mama?” So, they didn’t sound like something bad. Just sounded like poor winter rations. Clover sniffed and realized that the house didn’t smell. He liked to keep things clean. Who was this man?

“Willow, Mama is going to play a game with Daddy. Can you play with me?” This made Willow smile and hug her. “I am going to pretend to be sad like I was before. Can you play along?”

“Can you sing for me again if I do?” Clover smiled and kissed her head. The man grunted and rolled over. Clover froze, her heart beating so fast. Willow got up and ran to the huge dire wolf who had been watching them. Why was the child acting so friendly with the huge animal? The man rolled over and rubbed his eyes, his feet hanging off the side of the bed. He looked over at Clover and Willow and smiled.

“Mornin Darlin. Did you sleep well?” He had a low deep voice and spoke with a Vosran accent. Willow ran over to him and gave him a huge hug as he picked her up and kissed her cheek. He was being so nice despite the fact that he was a human. No wonder the little wolf girl called him Daddy.

“I did, I’m happy your nightmare went away.” She said boldly.

“Me too. Did you try to wake me?” he said a frown on his face.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“No, Betty said it wasn’t safe.” This made the man smile.

“That is good. Iffen Daddy is having a nightmare, don’t come close.” Her collar glowed and Clover noticed that the little one was his slave. Why did he treat her like that then? “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Eggs and milk.” she said smiling.

“I still have some goat’s milk, but I’d have to check to see if we have any new eggs. Wait here.” He said putting on boots. Why didn’t he send his slave out to fetch the eggs? Willow came back over to look at Clover.

“Am I playing right Mama?” She asked beaming at Clover.

“You are, but we need to keep this game going for a little longer.” Willow kissed her cheek and jumped down, that broom like tail wagging with joy. The dire wolf stood and walked to the door. Willow got up and skipped to it patting the huge wolf on its back.

“Betty says she needs to go to the bathroom.” Willow said opening the door. Now that the issue had been brought up, Clover had to pee too. How did she do it before? Should she just wet the bed or wait for something to happen. The man returned and smiled at the girl and wolf.

“You two play outside. I need to help Mama.” He said happily. Once the door was closed again, his face fell into a sad frown. Eyebrows furrowed he walked to Clover. “Sorry I almost forgot you, Darlin." He helped her sit up and moved something out from under the bed. Clover noticed that she was only dressed in one of his huge shirts. He moved her onto a stool that had a hole cut in it and moved the shirt aside exposing her to the room. The way he did it implied that this was a common action. Clover tried not to give it away and inwardly wept as she let go. The sound if it splashing into a bucket could be heard and she risked a look up to see him looking out the window, a slight blush on his face. He had a neatly kept blonde beard and long blonde hair. Deep blue eyes looked out the window not focusing on her as she did her duty. Once she was done, he pulled out a rag and cleaned her up before she could even protest. Much to her embarrassment and joy the rag was warm and damp. He didn’t waste a movement or linger, just cleaned her and put her back in bed. He shifted the pillows and blankets, so Clover was sitting up and looking out the window before taking the bucket outside. She could see Willow and the wolf playing. He came back and started cooking. Halfway through, Clover could hear him start to hum. It was the bunny’s lullaby. How did he know that? His low gruff voice seemed to fill the room. “Dry your eyes my little bunny babe.” Clover just watched his back as he sung and swayed working over the stove. He looked normal for a human. Large body that seemed to be carved out of stone, big hands that moved smoothly over the tools. The smell was okay, but he was no cook. Soon he had three plates and set them down on a table he had hidden in the wall. Two stools were brought out and he leaned out calling to the girl. “Come and get it.”

“Coming Daddy.” She replied and Clover could hear the joy even at this range. Clover had to pretend to look out the window to avoid suspicion.

“Come on now, you know Betty stays outside when we eat, or she’ll be goin after my plate.” He said with that huge belly laugh. Willow sat and started drinking the milk. “You need me to cut it up again?” He was just so fatherly to the young girl.

“No, I got it.” Willow said beaming.

“You make a mess, and I will be mad.” Somehow Clover knew he was joking, and this was an every morning thing between them. The huge man walked over to her bed and sat on the stool that Clover had just used. Setting a plate on the bed, he cut the eggs into small chunks and scooped them onto a crude wooden spoon. “You ready for breakfast, Darlin?” He asked. Should Clover open her mouth? He reached up and tugged lightly at her chin, scooping the eggs in. They were small enough she could just swallow, and she did that. They were mostly tasteless needing seasoning, but it was food. Humming the lullaby, he fed her. Did he do this every morning? Once she was done, he lightly touched her cheek with the back of his hand and smiled. “Good Darlin, stay with us.” Why was he acting this way? He returned and ate his own food. “Now Willow, today is a Mama day so you have to play outside for a little. You understand?” Willow nodded and looked over at Clover, worry clear on her face. What did that mean? What was a Mama day? Fear ran through Clover as she sat there. When everything was clean, he let the girl out and walked to Clover. He pulled out the cleaned bucket and set it on the side of the bed. “Sorry Darlin. We only have three of these left to go.” Why did he seem sad? He brought out a huge knife and her heart fluttered. Was he going to hurt her? He pulled her arm that ended in a stump and brought the knife up. Clover couldn’t help herself and pulled back shaking and crying. The knife clanged on the floor as she hid behind her hand and stump. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Forgive me.” She peeked out and looked at the big man who sat there watching her, a sad look in his eyes.

“Itssss o,” she gulped, “Okay.”

“How long have you been awake?” He asked his voice wavering.

“L l la lassssst, last, ummm night.” she was just so scared, and he was just so big. Would he be mad?

"Was it you I heard last night?" He looked up at her with those deep blue eyes. Her heart wouldn't stop thumping against her chest. She just nodded and tried to crawl away from him. "Thank you, Darlin, I was in a bad place, and you brought me out of it." Why was he being so nice to her? Humans don't act like this. "Can I ask your name?" She stopped once she was sure he wouldn't come after her.

"Clo," she swallowed again, "Clover cot, ummm, Cottontail." her voice was just so small.

"It's nice to meet you Clover Cottontail. My name is Fastos Von Vastos, but all my friends called me Quick." He still sat there just watching her. "Can I get you anythin?" She just shook her head. "It may hurt, but do you want me to give you your other hand back?" Was he a healer? That would explain why Willow had said Colver was missing limbs. She wasn't sure, but having both hands would be nice even if it hurt. She took a deep breath and nodded holding out the stump. With a nod, he fetched the wooden spoon from breakfast.

"Umm, I ummm can't pay," she said, looking at the ground.

"Never asked you to. This is helping me." He said with a sad smile. "You ever seen a limb regrown?" she shook her head slightly scared. "I have to cut the stump away so I can grow on a clean wound to work on. that will hurt, but not as much as the hand itself. When the nerves hit air, they burn like all the hells and you may pass out." She just nodded looking up at him. Holding the handle of the spoon to her mouth, she took it biting into the wood. "Good, this will help with the pain. I will try to go as quick as I can." He moved the stump to the bucket now on her lap and wiped the knife clean before shielding her with his large body. "Best you don't see this part. Now this is cruel, but I order you to hold still." Her collar glowed and she froze. "I'm going to start." White pain shot from her stump as he carved into her then that pain became a deep burning itch. She could see a green light filling the room, but all she could do is cry and bite down on the spoon. "Good Darlin, pass out if you need to. I have the bones in place now. This part will hurt." She screamed around the spoon as the pain rocketed up her arm and filled her mind. Suddenly she was lying flat on a table while her old master laughed and cursed at her sister. Lily was chained to a wall and wept.

Clover felt a hand brush her cheek and opened her eyes to see Quick standing there. She looked down at her hand as he wiped the blood from around the wrist. She tried to move it and the fingers twitched. It was hard to control, but it was back. He took the spoon after brushing her cheek again. "Good Darlin, you held up nicely." Why had he brushed her cheek like that? It felt nice, but he didn't have to be nice to her.

"Thank, ummm, thank you." She whispered, her voice low and horse from screaming.

"I'll get you some water Darlin." He said with a sad smile. she looked at the new hand and moved it slowly. "Your brain will get used to it as you go along. That will take about a week or two and the pain should fade in a year." He spoke with the authority of someone who had done this many times before. Who was he? He held the water to her lips and tilted it slowly. She reached up and grabbed the tin cup. "Sorry Darlin, had forgotten you could do it now." Why did he have a sheepish expression on his face? She sipped the cup and he moved to the other bed, laying down. "Healin like that and that quickly takes a bit out of me. I need a while before I can move proper." He took off his boots and made sure they were by his side and in line with the edge of the bed. Was he in the army? She had known men who acted like that even after being out for years.

"What," she took a breath, "Are Mama Meals?" she asked. This made him laugh hard as he lay there. She liked the sound but wasn't sure about him. They talked for a while, and she liked the way he talked openly to her like she was an equal. He was her master, but for some reason, he treated her like a friend. Around noon there was a knock on the door, and he opened it to see Willow who bolted in and tackled Clover. This made both the human and bunny laugh and Willow joined in.

"Sorry Darlin, didn't mean to leave you out." He said ruffling the wolf girl's hair. "What do you want for lunch?"

"I want to try the spicy cheese, Mama Meal. Clover said calmly." Willow wrinkled her nose and frowned.

"That is spicy. Not good." He stomped down to the basement and Clover looked at Willow.

"Your Daddy is a good man." Clover combed the girl's hair using the fingers on her new hand. It still wasn't working right, but he said it would get easier the more she used it.

"Told you so. You should meet Betty, but Betty can't be in the house when Daddy is cooking."