Aster hit the ground with a thud, his breath being stolen away from him once again that day by the impact. What breathing he was managing was labored, and a coarse coat of sweat and dirt slicked his skin, making it gleam in the setting sun.
His muscles were sore, making the boy miss Javis's healing touch even more now that his training progressed on without it.
This had pretty well been his every day life now for the passed three weeks. He woke up, ate breakfast, and met the she-wolf in the courtyard to get the shit beat out of him for eight hours straight all in the name of 'training.'
He knew it was going to be exhausting, and Stahl never quite hit him with her full force, but he hadn't realized how much smoother his caretaker's gifts had made the process in his youth.
Aster could only lay still with his arms stretched out to his sides, body aching in the dirt, right where the she-wolf's last assault had placed him. Stahl sashayed over with the same cocky smile she usually wore, and gazed down at the human on the ground as she spoke.
"Well, guess we should call it a day. Food should be about ready, feeling hungry yet?" Aster just cocked his own smile despite his fatigue.
"Always." The she-wolf reached a hand down to the boy, and Aster took it, pulling himself up with the beast's assistance. Stahl caught a heavy whiff of the sweaty human, and suggested a rinse off first, jokingly holding her nose despite how much the scent actually made her mouth water. They cleaned up, and met back up in the hall afterwards.
The two made their way to the dining area where the servants were just finishing up with preparing supper. Aster found he really liked the cooking in the Aschefell estate, and all of the staff was friendly towards him, so he always found himself looking forward to just existing around them at times like this. Like he finally could.
As the two warriors discussed the human's progress so far, Aster noticed a small humanoid fox maybe twelve or fourteen years of age peeking at him meekly from another table beside Stahl's own brother, Amboss.
The human realized it was the same small fox from the day he had woken up in the wolf estate, so he gave a little wave. Stahl followed the human's gaze, and turned back to her friend shortly after.
"Wow. Rust actually waved back... It's not often the cub really acknowledges strangers you know? I'm kind of surprised, honestly."
Aster gave his friend a curious look before asking for a bit of clarification. Stahl happily obliged. "That's Amboss's son and my nephew, Rosten, but we all just call him Rust. He is usually pretty reserved, so I was just a bit surprised you two seemed to have familiarized yourselves is all."
Aster felt he should clarify on that.
"We've briefly met, but we haven't actually spoken. I figured he was just a bit scared of the human... I assumed anyways... We are the monsters in most of your stories, after all."
Stahl shifted uncomfortably before she had an idea. The she-wolf quickly stood in place, and walked over to where the fox and the other wolf were sitting. Stahl made a few remarks to her brother, resulting in a bountiful laughter filling the area as he simply shook his head in response and motioned over to his son.
Aster couldn't really hear what they were saying, but the fox looked alarmed to say the least. A moment later, all three beasts were heading back Aster's way. After they had taken their seats, the conversation was picked back up by Stahl.
"So, Aster. Turns out the little guy here kind of admires you." Stahl gave a small slap on the fox's back with her hefty hand, making the smaller canine jump. Aster was surprised to hear it, but he listened patiently for his friend to elaborate. The she-wolf never did, but Rust finally squeaked out some words.
"Sir Jagón, the panther from the other day... He's your dad right?" Aster nodded once and the fox perked up before he continued with a small smile across his muzzle now. "Thought so... That means you're like me huh?"
Aster was certainly taken aback, he'd never really been in a position where a beast had made comparisons of their similarities rather than their differences, let alone be told he was like one of them, so he didn't follow the logic.
Still, the human remained quiet, intently listening to what the shy fox had to say. "It's just... My dad isn't my actual dad either, but he's still my dad... That knight isn't your real dad either, but you are still his son anyways right? I- I've never met someone else that knows what that feels like, and it was kind of nice knowing I wasn't the only one...
"Besides, you're small too, and even though you'll never be as tall or as strong as your dad, you are still working hard to follow in his path... I really feel that too, I guess. You give me hope. If a little human like you can do it, maybe even a little fox like me can too one day."
Rust looked up into the human's eyes with a hopeful gleam behind his own. Aster felt humbled. He was actually inspiring to this little cub? Someone was actually looking up to him for all the work he was putting into towards reaching his goals?
He'd never been a role model before, but Aster felt his heart warm at the very notion, even feeling a bit embarrassed, leading to a very calm tone as he replied softly to the fox.
"Well, how about we meet here for dinner then and talk about it whenever you want to? I'd be happy to help you figure out these feelings if I can assist with my insight. Nice to meet you, buddy, Aster Venatus."
The human's outstretched hand was met with the fox's own as they shook on it. A while later, after the four had finished eating, and Amboss had reassured his son of a few things, Aster and Stahl were left alone at their table.
The she-wolf had something she had to talk about with the human, and was trying to figure out how to lead into it gently. Now seemed as good a time as any to the she-wolf.
***