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The sun shined brightly upon a clear day sky. Healer Cookie perched under a fig tree watching his flock. It was quiet, peaceful, as all he had in the world was himself. Well, the sheep as well, of course. With his staff at hand, he would count all his sheep, ensuring no one was missing. 99… 100… 101… He counted. All of Earthbread could never comprehend how he manages to tend to so many sheep… It is as if he has a watchful third eye, looking down on all his precious subjects.
“Two hundred thirty three sheep…” He questioned, “But I was tasked with two under thirty four today…”
Healer Cookie scanned the field. Has he miscounted? He's not the cookie to make mistakes... Healer Cookie has always been a highly trusted individual. Not in such a simple task would he fail so easily.
A figure was quietly hiding behind the tall, wide tree—a hand in bandages rested on its side, and a noticeable bit of the individual's hair was visible off the edge of the bark.
"Healer Cookie..."' She called.
"Black Raisin Cookie! I hope you're not buried…” Healer Cookie exclaimed in excitement. "I hope you don’t mind guarding the sheep for a while... I mean—I really need to look for a missing one..."
Healer Cookie looked down, brushing his heel on the floor bashfully requesting such to one of his subjects. He looked back up with a puppy-eyed smile for Black Raisin’s consideration. Blank Raisin was a busy cookie. She barely has time at hand for leisure, but would always use this time to catch up on Healer Cookie.
"No problem, Healer Cookie... Good luck on your search—"
Healer scurried away in a gleeful frolic, ignoring Black Rain's response. His first targeted location was the gloomy forest down south. In him he held deep concern for his lost lamb, but at the same time could not resist exploring for a bit. Entering the forest brought him from a sunny field of grass and wildflower to a shaded canopy so overcast, it felt like the whole afternoon had just passed.
The tree bark was old, rough, and dusty. Brushing his fingers against it, Healer Cookie navigated with scent and patterns of old oak and pine.
Not long did it take him to feel a wet sensation on his fingertips.
Healer Cookie brought his hand towards his face. Painted red, smelling of iron. It glistened in the thin rays of sun that seeped through the canopy.
“My sheep…” He muttered. “My young lamb… still just learning about the world…”
He followed the smell which led to more scarlet markings along the lines of trees and trails of paths. Healer Cookie was intent to find his lamb, ever more so with the chance of possible impending doom. Soon enough, the maroon marks were accompanied by the occasional crumb and clunk.
“An endless path… Must this be a trap? If not, another clue for my search.”
Healer Cookie ducked his head in contempt for the doer of this atrocious crime.
“Hmmm… I will find you.” He assured, “And I will fix you.”
Every step he took, Healer Cookie went deeper into the forest. He had a sense of direction, knowing where to go based on how he felt, yet inside… He felt a bit too… Lost.
It did not take long until he reached an empty patch of sunlit grass right in the middle of the forest. Moss covered stones were scattered across the roots of the overarching greenery. It was a beautiful sight, if not for the foul smell coming from its center.
Decay was on every corner. A brutal scene. In the midst of nature was its very own destruction. Healer Cookie felt his heart drop. Not just for the lamb, but for the cruelty of this view. On the contrary, he could not find the lamb anymore. The corpse was not that of the one he searched for. It is crimson red, pulsing and raw. Perhaps an already skinned animal, unbitten but not spared.
Healer Cookie slowly walked towards it, inspecting the offense and who must have done it. It may just be a lure of the true beast that took his lamb. Maybe he should just stop his search, right here and now.
That was, until a set of eyes glowed from the distant shadows. Two crescents full of regret and shame covered by pride and power. The figure slowly approached, the pair of eyes gradually getting bigger. Yet, Healer Cookie did not move; Not even a single flinch came from any limb.
“Come, my Lamb.” He said, a gentle request.
From the rustling bushes, out came a fierce being: neither lamb nor wolf.
It was a monster.
It hissed and growled, but never jumped to attack. The black fur coat was slowly slipping off its face.
“You chose to become a wolf.” Healer Cookie questioned. “You chose to become a predator when you were born and raised for good… How come?”
The lamb squinted its eyes with a wide sneer, contrasting through the dark, dull, canine fur.
“For if value comes with recognition, why must I remain with the meek?” It retorted. Its eyes glowed a sharp yellow and radioactive blue, slowly fading into a gloomy monochrome. A slow descent into deceit, but not out of his will.
Healer Cookie turned back in full disappointment. Never had he imagined his very own lamb turning feral.
A Beast.
“Live for how you wish, come into my abode, but not longer are you under my grace. Nor my name.”
“I don’t care, Pure Vanilla! Being your Fount was never for my benefit.”
The wolf scrammed, leaving Healer Cookie in achieving failure.