#ahlhound

[hyperpsychomaniac]

I've actually been meaning to draw this for ages, back when I wrote 'The Curse of the Black Hound'. But never did, because I only had Erik turn into a Barghest. I just remembered it for some reason, and so... I give you Erik and Gerda as Barghests.

The plot if this had a plot:

Erik is being an idiot yet again, and gets into a spot of trouble with some Trolls outside Trolberg. Gerda tries to rescue him, but gets caught up in the Troll-magic-blast, and, suddenly, they're both Barghests.

This causes problems, as Safety Patrol doesn't know what has happened to Erik or their Chief Officer - no bodies, but there are very clearly Barghests seen in the area, including one with some striking (and very hard to hide colouring). The Chief has been implementing some changes recently, encouraging the officers to think twice before engaging the magical creatures in the area, to try and investigate without violence, at least at first. Not everyone is happy with these very recent changes. With her out of the picture, will they continue to follow her lead in her absence, and take the time to find out what really happened? Or will they revert to old ways, and hunt down the animals that seem so obviously to be responsible?

Meanwhile, Gerda and Erik, are still not on the best of terms after the wall, and certainly not after Erik has gone and turned them into these creatures. Gerda, who would usually just take over in situations like this... just... can't seem to get control of this new body. There are too many legs, and any athletic attempt that would come easily to her in her human body ends in a tangle of limbs and derp. As if that's not bad enough, in this form she does not have the good camouflage genes and stands out far too easily, even without the clumsiness. Erik, though he takes to his new body fairly well, has about the exact same level of common sense as before - attacking things bigger than him, running out and barking at Safety Patrol to get their attention, etc. But they're going to have to learn to work together, as a team, if they're going to get out of this mess - Erik's going to have to listen to Gerda and do what she tells him, and Gerda's going to have to depend on Erik.

[thesealanterns]

This reminded me of @hyperpsychomaniac alhound story with gerdas

(Don’t know how accurate)

[hyperpsychomaniac]

More Erik and Gerda as Barghests doodles.

[hyperpsychomaniac]

POV: you slam 10 kV into the Barghest that ate your best friend and just put your deputy in its mouth. Except the Barghest is your best friend. Also you collateral electrocuted your deputy.

From this fic

[hyperpsychomaniac]

So I decided my drawing skills were finally up to the task of drawing that scene from curse of the black hound where Erik changes into the Hound. And it’s… messy. And Gerda runs smack bang into him and literally can’t compute what’s going on.

Just smacking a mature tag on it cause it is a bit bloody just in case. I mean I wrote it to traumatise poor Gerda so.

[thesealanterns]

Dogs

[hyperpsychomaniac]

That moment in the cafe.

I’d planned for these two to bump into each other but it wasn’t until I actually wrote the scene that Erik decided to go all dorky. So now I guess I’m shipping them.

[hyperpsychomaniac]

The Curse of the Black Hound - Final Chapter

Summary: Sequel to 'Lost in the Wilderness'. Erik Ahlberg has a problem. And he’ll solve it like a man - by himself, and dragging no one he cares for needlessly into the whole confounded mess. Gerda is having none of it. She’s determined to figure out why he’s being so secretive and protect him, whether he likes it or not. But when Erik finally asks for help, he finds himself alone, with those he’d always thought would stand by him, his biggest threat.

First Chapter

***

The ocean crashed against the shore, waves lapping. A chip arced through the air, almost hitting the seagull Hilda aimed for. Another gull darted in to snatch it away, earning a squawk from the intended recipient, followed by a short chase. Hilda picked up another chip, but instead of eating it or throwing it away, she looked up at Erik, catching his eye as he followed her movements. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

The question stirred him. Erik realised he’d been sitting there, staring at nothing, for lord knew how long. He squared his shoulders. “Yes. Of course.”

“You usually tell me not to waste food. But you’re being very quiet. You know, for you.”

Erik rolled his eyes. “Would you prefer I prattle on about… I don’t know. Something I probably made up. Whatever it is I usually talk about. Nothing. I talk about nothing a lot.”

“Erik, you only turned back into… you, a few days ago. I’m glad you called Mum and that you wanted to see me. I was worried about you. I want to know you’re okay.”

Erik closed his eyes briefly, shoulders sagging. When he’d called, instead of the usual third degree followed by a growing list of rules she expected him to adhere to, Johanna had asked how he was feeling. It was unexpected, and it had stirred in him the memory of her taking care of him, when Hilda went to talk to Safety Patrol. Of course, Hilda would be even more concerned for him. He wished he’d called her earlier, even just to talk on the phone. But, he had had many things on his mind, and, for once, hadn’t felt like talking.

“You got hurt. You slept the night in my room, and I may not have known it was you, but you were really shaken up. I wish I’d realised sooner. I could’ve helped you better when I first found you.”

Foremost in Erik’s mind had been how stupid he’d been. In retrospect, he could have saved himself so much trouble and pain. And Gerda too. To think he’d convinced himself he’d been doing right by her, keeping his problems to himself. “That wasn’t your fault. I should have told you. Or rather, I should have told Gerda. I shouldn’t have involved you at all. I just thought I was stuck like that. But now…” Erik turned over his hands. Even handing his cash to the cashier, the fact he could hold things again, had thumbs, seemed like a miracle. Being able to fit back inside his house, even doing the house chores, they were small things, but each seemed to carry more joy than even something like his medal had initially brought him. He forced a grin. “But, hey, I’m back! Trolberg better look out!”

Hilda folded her arms. “If you are okay, how come you haven’t eaten any of the chips?”

Erik had been thinking about what he had planned for later, contemplating whether he should tell Hilda. Now, he realised, that was why he’d called her mother to ask if it was okay if he take her out after school. “Those are for you. I… I’m going out with Gerda later.”

He instantly regretted it, as Hilda flashed him a wicked grin. “What, really? Like a date?”

Erik flushed. “No! She’s my friend.”

“But you were going to. Take her on a date, I mean. Remember? In the coffee shop? Except, you kind of… well, I don’t know what you were doing, but I suppose you realised you were about to change into the Black Hound.”

It seemed a world ago, rushing out of the coffee shop after causing such a commotion. After that performance, Gerda should have known to steer clear. And after what he’d put her through? He had not expected her to call him so soon.

“Sorry I bailed on you like that.”

“In retrospect, I think it’s understandable.”

“But that wouldn’t have been a date either. At least, I don’t think so. It’s just Safety Patrol was there, and it was so awkward. We aren’t anywhere near something like that. Especially after all this. We need to talk. There’s… it just feels like so much has happened between us since then. And it wasn’t good.”

The last time he’d seen her, Gerda had been a wreck, sobbing in his arms. She’d always been the one to take charge, even when he’d technically been in charge. She’d always known what to do, always been the one to act - unless taking action was foolhardy. Seeing her in such a mess had wrenched his heart, and he’d just wanted to hold her. But, he was not foolish enough to think that as much as he’d been there for her, that was enough to mend the rift he’d caused between them, with his stupid, stubborn ego.

After Safety Patrol took them both to their respective homes, and Erik convinced them he did not need to be rushed to the hospital for a full do over, he’d collapsed on his sofa, not even making it to his bed. He’d slept until after noon. He’d woken to a knock on his door. Dorothy stood there, smiling up at him.

“Those nice Safety Patrol boys who brought you home last night explained what happened. I figured you might be feeling a little under the weather, and might not be up to cooking.” She held up a steaming dish. The smell of tuna, pasta, and far too much cheese wafted up. She’d handed it to him, then, unexpectedly, wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I’m glad you’re still with us, sweetheart. It wouldn’t be the same without you over the fence to brighten my day. I know you’ve been struggling. Not only with what happened just now, but since you left Safety Patrol. You know if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m right next door. I have a bit of life experience, after all.”

“I will. Thankyou,” he’d replied, though it hadn’t sounded like that at all. Then he’d kicked the front door closed, rushing into the kitchen to put down the dish, so he could wipe away the tears that had sprung to his eyes. He’d done quite enough of that this week already.

The next few days he’d spent recovering, and thinking through all the choices he’d made, which now didn’t seem that good at all. His energy had been crap, like he was recovering from a bad flu, and he’d ended up feeling a little mopey, and useless. He’d eventually dragged himself out to his doctor, just to check. Nothing wheresoever wrong with him, which, his doctor had said, was rather unusual seeing he’d been presumed dead a week ago. Erik hadn’t appreciated the joke. He’d butted around the house for most of the rest of the week, and had only just starting to feel like getting out, when the phone rang. He’d been in good enough spirits by then not to ignore it.

And Gerda had asked him, stammering and fumbling and searching for words she could usually easily find, if she could buy him dinner. He’d agreed, she’d set a time, and then hung up on him in a flustered rush.

“And anyway, she insisted she was the one taking me to dinner, that she would pay.” Erik huffed. “It doesn’t feel quite right. I’d usually pay - like my mother taught me.”

“She feels bad about hurting you.”

“She shouldn’t. It’s not her fault.”

“It’s not yours either. Those Trolls turned you into a Barghest. It’s theirs.”

“I still feel like I should be the one making it up to her.” Erik fidgeted, his hat twisting in his hands. “I thought stirring up the Trolls was hard work. But this? Ever since the wall, just… trying to figure out where I went wrong and making sure I never let myself get back to a place like that ever again?” Erik gulped at the lump in his throat. “Hilda, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. I thought I’d got on top of it. But after all the stupid things I just did? I just… I’m not sure I’ve got… what it takes… to… to…” He trailed off, staring at the waves crashing against the shore, not trusting his voice to remain strong, not sure he knew what he wanted to say.

Hilda squeezed his hand. “You’re doing okay, you know?”

Erik looked at her small hand over his. His chest tightened. “I’d be dead if not for you.”

He’d spoken softly, and though she had to have heard him, Hilda smiled, and continued, as if he’d said nothing. “You are, you know? I don’t think you would have even thought to be worried about Gerda before the wall.”

Erik’s shoulders slumped. He must have behaved really badly if Hilda thought he wouldn’t have shown some concern if something had upset Gerda as much as his actions had now. He couldn’t have been so caught up in himself that he wouldn’t have at least noticed, surely? Suddenly, Erik wasn’t so sure. He had, after all, almost destroyed an entire city. “Gerda. Gerda’s got more hurt out of all this than I did. Certainly more than she ever deserves. Right now I can’t even think of working through anything else. I just want to make sure she’s going to be okay.”

“You know, I think Gerda would appreciate you’re worried about her. Maybe if you care so much about just that… maybe that means if you guys do like each other that way… maybe it’ll just happen, eventually.”

Erik shook himself and smiled faintly. “Maybe.”

“Either way…” And that wicked look crept back onto Hilda’s face. “I guess you’re about to find out.”

***

Gerda’s first day back had not been as hectic as she’d imagined. Selby, who’d conveniently forgotten he’d promised to take time off the same as she, had kept everything in order. Still, there was paperwork to catch up on. That had been a good distraction, and she had spent most of the day going over what she had missed in her few days’ leave.

Now, late in the afternoon, her impending meeting with Erik weighed heavily on her heart. He had not seemed quite himself on the phone, the usual energy in his voice lacking, instead he had sounded wary, and unsure. That was understandable. Gerda had almost slammed the phone down in his ear when he answered. He wouldn’t want to talk to her. But he had, and he’d agreed to meet up. She just had to figure out what she would do, or say, to make it up to him.

Rather than meet Erik in the office where people would see, and that would surely start all sorts of rumours that Gerda wasn’t ready to deal with, she made her way outside. Across the wide grassed area in the Safety Patrol yard, Jellybean was being trained. Gerda had assigned David’s mother the task, as she said she’d trained a few dogs when she was younger.

As Gerda approached, Jellybean saw her, and made to move from his sitting position to greet her, but a command from David’s mother kept him rooted to the spot. Instead, he wagged his tail happily, tongue hanging out.

“I heard you’re going to see Ahlberg for dinner,” said David’s mother, a smile creeping onto her face.

Gerda’s shoulders sagged. “That has gotten around already? I only told Selby.”

“In all fairness, he didn’t spill,” she said, running her hand through Jellybean’s coat. “At least, not at first. You had your office door open when you told him. And then Harry started pressing him…”

“It’s not a date anyway,” said Gerda, as her cheeks grew warm. “I need to make… well, things, up to him.”

David’s mother put a hand on her arm. “Look, it’s Erik Ahlberg. I’m not sure what you see in him, but he seemed pretty concerned over how upset you were. I think, between some things David has told me about him, and what I’ve seen, he can give you a break for slipping a little. You were doing the best with the information you had.”

Jellybean barked and jerked upright.

“Jellybean, sit!”

Jellybean whined, but his backside plonked back onto the grass. He clearly wanted to move, his tail jerking his whole rear end around.

“Still, if a dog likes him this much, maybe he’s not all that bad.”

David’s mother looked across the paddock, and Gerda followed her gaze. Her heart quickened. Erik walked from the Safety Patrol office; it was his entrance that had got Jellybean all excited. He had his hands thrust in his pockets, watching his feet, but he picked up his gaze as Jellybean barked again, and smiled. It was for the Hound, but Gerda still felt her spirits lift. His ordeal couldn’t have knocked him around that much if he could still smile like that.

“I think this is my cue to leave,” said David’s mother. She tossed Jellybean one last treat. “Which I guess means we’re done…”

Jellybean turned his head and practically vacuumed the treat out of the air. Then he was off like a shot, racing across the paddock for Erik. Erik’s smile slowly faded, his eyes widened, and he raised his hands.

“Jellybean!” David’s mother called. “No! We don’t sit on people!”

Jellybean skidded to a stop right in front of Erik, then licked him across the face. Erik shuddered, then sat down hard on the grass. Jellybean pushed his snout into him. Erik held him back with one hand, which did nothing to deaden the Hound’s excitement. “Hi, to you too, Jellybean.”

Gerda dashed over. “Erik! Are you okay?”

“I’m wet,” Erik scowled. “But otherwise fine.”

Gerda held out a hand and hauled him to his feet. He stared down at her, hand still clasped in hers. Gerda flushed and tugged it back.

“Jellybean! Come on, leave them alone. I’ve got more treats for you!”

Jellybean barked and ran around behind Erik, nudging him with his snout in a hasty goodbye. Erik stumbled forward and bumped into Gerda. He stepped back, flushing. “Sorry.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Wet… oh. I’m fine. I guess. Nothing a bit of rest, and my neighbour’s been at my door constantly giving me enough food to feed all of Safety Patrol, won’t fix.”

With him standing here now, everything Gerda had felt over the past few days came welling up inside her. He was okay. She reached out a hand and brushed his arm, starting as she felt him solid beneath her touch. Yes, he was still there.

“Hey.” Erik put his hand over hers before she could move it away and smiled softly. “What about you? How are you feeling?”

“I… I am okay, I guess. I just… I know you had a really rough time with it all. And that… that was kind of my fault, so…” She tugged her hand back, tucking it under one arm, and looked away.

Erik’s shoulders sagged. “Gerda, I’m not mad at you. I’d just like to spend some time together, and…. I mean, I didn’t exactly make things easy for you. So I want to make sure you’re okay.”

Gerda gulped, feeling tears prick her eyes. “I would like to make sure you are okay as well.”

Erik hugged her. It was sudden, warm, and all-encompassing, his huge arms completely wrapping around her. She could smell his cologne, the musky scent a little thick this close, but nicer than the last time he’d held her, smelling of sweat and trembling faintly himself, even as he’d tried to comfort her. He held her for a long moment. She felt his chest rise and fall, his fingers gripping into the back of her cloak.

Gerda cleared her throat as she pushed him back and hastily swiped a glove under her eye. “Come on, let’s get out of here. Where did you want to go? I’ll take you anywhere you want. I don’t care how expensive.”

They turned and headed towards the Safety Patrol compound’s gates. Erik shifted closer to her shoulder as they walked, brushing up against her. “How about,” he said, after a moment. “We just get something like fish and chips and go down to the beach. It’ll be nice and quiet, just us. And we can talk.”

“You’re sure you’re happy with something like that?”

Erik smiled down at her. “Yeah. Sometime, I think maybe it’s nice not to make it a big performance, you know?”

***

Inside the Safety Patrol office, those nearest to the windows overlooking the paddock were crowded around, cracking open and peering through the dusty metal blinds.

“Oh my gods, they just hugged!”

“Move over, I want to see.”

“What are they doing now?”

“Leaving…”

“Are they holding hands?”

Standing beside the front counter, waiting for his coffee to cool, the Bellkeeper rolled his eyes with a groan. “This is why I hate coming into the office.”

[hyperpsychomaniac]

And I'm finally finished this. Took way too long, lol. *cries in corner*

[hyperpsychomaniac]

The Curse of the Black Hound - Chapter 9

Summary: Sequel to 'Lost in the Wilderness'. Erik Ahlberg has a problem. And he’ll solve it like a man - by himself, and dragging no one he cares for needlessly into the whole confounded mess. Gerda is having none of it. She’s determined to figure out why he’s being so secretive and protect him, whether he likes it or not. But when Erik finally asks for help, he finds himself alone, with those he’d always thought would stand by him, his biggest threat.

First Chapter

***

“This is awkward. It’s awkward, isn’t it? I don’t even know what he’s saying to me.”

Johanna busied herself in the kitchen, her back to Erik, talking in hushed tones to the house spirit, who sat on the countertop, little legs swinging. And staring at him. At least, Erik thought he was staring, because he couldn’t see his eyes under that bushy mane or hair or whatever it was.

Not that he hadn’t seen a Nissa before. He was sure his mother’s house, now his, had one, as he’d caught glances of it from the corner of his eye more than once. It wasn’t a nuisance, and he usually forgot about it until one of his socks went missing. And that was all the blasted thing seemed interested in. No matter how many times he’d left his medal lying around, that had never disappeared. It certainly hadn’t brought him kitchen supplies, then sat and conversed with him. Not that the little guy was saying much. Johanna was doing all the muttering, oblivious that Erik’s Hound senses picked up every word. Besides, she was right. It was awkward, and he’d love to tell her he agreed, but he couldn’t do that either. Hilda’s friend only seemed capable of helping Hilda understand him.

“You know,” Tontu said, as he finally got a word in edge-wise. “Barghests have really good hearing, right?”

Johanna blushed. “Oh.”

Erik pretended to study a photo on the wall and nearly knocked it off as he turned his head. He was crammed into the living area, squeezed in beside the sofa, and had only got himself out there with Tontu’s help. Erik liked to think he had a commanding presence that could fill a room wherever he went, but this was ridiculous. He didn’t feel himself either. Not just physically. Crammed into the room, he still felt small and vulnerable, and useless. Hiding whilst a child solved his problems for him.

Johanna cleared her throat. “Hilda said you had a rough night.” She came out of the kitchen, balancing a huge mixing bowl. “Tea usually helps when I get stressed, so I hope that’s… teacup sized?” She put the steaming bowl down on the coffee table. A half dozen tea-bag tags hung out around its edges. The scent of chamomile wafted up.

“I suppose I’d better get you something to eat,” Johanna said, almost to herself.

“I’m not hungry.” Erik’s belly rumbled, and he winced at the twitch of muscles. He still felt queasy and wasn’t sure if he could stomach food. The tea smelt nice and, as Erik inhaled, he relaxed a little. He lapped out his tongue, careful to avoid slurping up the tea-bags.

Johanna stuck her head in the fridge. “I’ve got… pie?”

Twig stared at him across the room and gave a little whine. They don’t listen, do they?

Johanna straightened and chewed her lip. “Could we… do two barks for yes? One for no?”

“The tea’s fine.”

“So… no to pie or no… barking…” Johanna sighed and flopped down next to him on the sofa. “I’m sorry. I’m not a very good host at the best of times.”

“Well, the last time I came over you yelled at me, and made me get your groceries. So, you’re doing better this time.”

“Hilda will sort this out, don’t you worry. I can’t imagine what Safety Patrol was doing to you out there last night; they made such a racket. Are you okay?”

Erik huffed and turned away. Safety Patrol. They were supposed to be his friends. All he could see was Gerda’s icy glare, right before he’d crashed into the river’s freezing waters. What was he supposed to say? Gerda was the last person he thought would hurt him. And there was still that small part of him that felt it was deserved. Certainly more so than a medal. Erik gulped, blinking back tears that threatened. “Why are you asking me this? What’s the point? You don’t understand. Literally.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. But, we know you’re you now, right? I, well, I know we don’t always get on. But I’m glad you're not dead. And not just for Hilda’s sake.”

It was shaky ground where his emotions were right now. Erik gulped at the lump in his throat. “I… thanks…”

Johanna stood back to her feet. “Well, we might as well make good use of being stuck here.” She headed into the bathroom.

Twig’s ears flattened.

“What? What’s she doing?”

Twig yipped.

“Bark?”

The Deerfox glared daggers. Bath.

“What? I can’t fit in the bath!” Erik was certain he would not even fit in the room, even with the Nissa cramming him through that weird space.

Johanna emerged from the bathroom. She held a brush and a tin of dry shampoo. “No offense. But you’re making the entire house smell like river water. You won’t fit in the bathroom, but, well, I need a new hairbrush anyway, so that’s not a problem. And this is dry shampoo. Super handy if you’re in a rush and… can’t… fit in a bathroom.”

“I know what dry shampoo is. I still have enough hair that I know how to take care of it, damn it.”

Johanna’s eyes widened.

That had come out as a growl. Erik winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Is… this okay?” Johanna asked. “We don’t know how long you’ll be stuck like this. And your coat is a mess. You might feel a little better if I clean you up.”

Erik’s shoulders sagged. Earlier in the week, the thought of someone brushing him would have made him cringe. A small part of him still did, but the rest was too tired to care. It wasn’t like he could do it himself. Not only was he so useless he couldn’t get himself out of this mess, but he needed help just to get cleaned up too.

“Hey,” Johanna put a hand on his shoulder and smiled up at him. “The worst is over. You’ve got Hilda looking out for you now. She’ll make sure Safety Patrol sees sense. I mean, she got through to you.”

“I guess.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll sort this out and get you back to normal. I’m pretty sure Hilda will figure that out too.”

Erik wasn’t so sure. But it didn’t matter; he didn’t have to worry about fixing things himself anymore. Having to accept the help Hilda and her mother gave him may have been embarrassing, but, he realised, he didn’t have to fight anymore. No more struggling to fix this by himself, and getting chased near to death. He still didn’t know what would happen. But it was being taken care of for him. And it would have been easier if he’d asked for help in the first place, but that, or course, was his own fault too.

So he just sat still, ignoring the twinges whenever the brush caught in a knot, and hoped Johanna was too busy to notice his misty eyes.

***

A few hours and cans of dry shampoo later, Johanna decided she was pleased with her work. “Perfect. At least my hairbrush won’t take much more.” She tossed it away where Tontu caught it and disappeared under a seat cushion. “Do you want to see?”

“Well…” There was no reason he needed to see what he looked like. But Erik wasn’t sure what he looked like as a Hound, never having caught more than his distorted reflection in the river. He was feeling a little better with the tea in his belly, and, well, he always did like looking his best. “If you insist.”

Johanna couldn’t have understood him. But she returned with a hand held cosmetic mirror and held it up for him.

Erik tilted his head sideways, then scowled. Johanna giggled, and he fixed her with a glare that must have conveyed his meaning, because she stopped. “I’m sorry. But you’re so fluffy.”

At least he was clean. But Safety Patrol had chased halfway around the city because they thought him a menace. He’d been through enough, a part of him felt he should look the part. Right now, he looked less scary than Jellybean.

The sound was faint. But Erik’s ears flicked forward none the less. A snarl and a yelp. Another Hound! But the sound warned of danger, and the voice was familiar. “Jellybean!” Erik shot up and the coffee table skittered across the room.

“Careful!” Johanna said, backing into the kitchen. “What on earth…”

“No, you don’t understand… I need to… we need to get outside. Where’s your house spirit…”

“Erik, stop! It’s okay. I get that body language. At least, I’ve seen Twig use it enough. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I understand. We’ll get you outside. Tontu!”

Erik forced himself to still, lest he destroy more of the woman’s living room after all she’d done for him.

Tontu stuck his head out from under the oven. “What?”

“We need to get Erik outside, and I, well, I hope he didn’t smash my coffee table for a bathroom break.”

The Nissa grabbed a wad of Erik’s fur and Johanna’s hand, then impossibly dragged them under the sofa. Erik closed his eyes. He’d rather pretend that the strange in-between space didn’t exist. They spilled out into the alleyway. Erik cracked open an eye, then shook himself as he got his bearings.

“Wait.” Johanna grabbed a nearby drainpipe, hoisted herself up, and swung onto Erik’s back. “I don’t know what’s going on but…”

A howl rent the air.

“There’s more of… you. Erik, what were you doing out there?”

That had not been Jellybean. The other Hound likely. She must have cornered Jellybean. If they got in the city, and then Safety Patrol got involved… Erik thought of Gerda and his stomach dipped. For once, he couldn’t trust his former deputy to do the right thing. “Gods, Jellybean, I’m sorry I dragged you into this.”

With a quick check that Johanna was indeed clinging to this back - he knew the woman could take care of herself whatever he was about to rush into - he dove out of the alleyway, twisted towards the direction of the howl… and came face to face with a Safety Patrol vehicle.

Gerda stared up at him. Erik froze.

“Gerda, it’s okay!” Johanna called to her. “He’s not…”

Erik steeled himself, closed his eyes, and bounded over the Safety Patrol vehicle. He dared not look back, but dashed headlong for the wall, and Jellybean’s cries.

***

Gerda pulled up outside Hilda’s apartment. As she turned off the vehicle’s engine, the pounding of her heart became glaringly apparent. How could a Barghest fit in there? Had she misread Hilda? She stared at her gloves gripping the steering wheel, the blood stains again flashing across her mind, though this pair was new. She’d seen that, hadn’t she? How could Erik bleed that much and survive? Nothing made sense anymore; her world was reeling.

“Captain,” Selby said gently. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know!” Gerda pounded a fist into the steering wheel, making both herself and Selby jump. “I just don’t…” She gulped at the lump in her throat. “She said the Hound wasn’t just a Hound. She said… she said it was Erik.” The admission lifted a tiny fraction of the crushing weight from her shoulders.

“What, but how? You saw what happened to him, didn’t you? We had the lab results.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t know…”

“That would mean… last night….” Selby glanced across at her, then reached over and squeezed her arm. Gerda put her hand over his, squeezing it tight enough that he winced, then she moved his hand off her arm and stepped out of the vehicle.

Something crashed in the alleyway. The Hound bounded out into the street. It saw them and froze. Gerda froze too. The Hound towered over her. But it was no longer the red-eyed beast which had cornered her on her way home. Its coat was clean, and now it looked more like an oversized labradoodle than the creature she blamed for killing her friend.

“Gerda!” Johanna was, of all places, astride the Hound’s broad back. The Hound who now stared at her, eyes wide and terrified. “It’s okay, he’s not…”

The Hound jolted into movement. It shut its eyes and leapt, eliciting a yelp from Johanna, cleared the Safety Patrol vehicle, and bounded off up the street without a backward glance.

Selby stared after it, jaw hanging open. “Was that a woman riding it?”

A howl rent the air, coming not from the retreating Hound, but far beyond the city’s gates. Another Hound. What was going on?

Gerda didn’t know. Everything she had been so sure of, now she questioned; it had all crashed from underneath her with Hilda’s revelation. She didn’t know what was going on. She didn’t know if she had already made a terrible mistake. She didn’t know how she was supposed to protect Trolberg, or if she even had to.

Gerda closed her eyes and pushed every shred of doubt to the back of her mind. Not knowing what was going on had never stopped her before. She simply focused on the moment and what needed to be done. Usually, the rest worked itself out. All she need do was what must be done in the moment.

Maybe, somewhere in her responsibilities as Captain, and having to think about things in the long term, she had lost sight of that. Things may be falling apart around her but, she still knew what she needed to do right now.

“Get in the car,” she said, the order carrying an authority she did not feel. “We need to follow that Hound.”

***

The blare of horns followed them as Erik tore through Trollberg’s streets. He moved fast, and there wasn’t time for anyone to really react until they were long past. He skidded out the main gate to find Jellybean and Tarpit toe to toe. Jellybean stood with his back to the gates, and Tarpit, hackles raised, faced him. She stood in front of three stony shapes. The Trolls.

Erik wasn’t sure if Jellybean was trying to stop her entering the city, or if she was protecting her masters from Jellybean. She did not seem keen to leave her post. Jellybean growled and stalked closer. He had mistaken the far more powerful Hound’s refusal to pursue as fear.

“Jellybean, stop!”

The pup spun, tail wagging. “Erik!”

Tarpit lunged.

Erik darted forward, ploughing not into the attacking Barghest, but Jellybean, knocking him flying. He snapped his teeth at Tarpit, leaping back after he did so. “Back off!”

Tarpit moved back in front of the troll rocks, and Erik could swear the corner of her lip quirked upward. “It’s you. Master will be pleased when she wakes.”

“Erik? What is going on?” Johanna asked. “Wait, Jellybean?” Jellybean yipped as he righted himself, recognising his name. Johanna slid from Erik’s back, cautiously. “You’re protecting him.”

Erik felt his stomach dip at her words. Sure, that’s why he had come here, but now what? He still panted from the run and was in no condition to take on Tarpit. Even before the events of the night before, unused to this body, she would have torn him to shreds. His muscles felt heavy and aching. A brush and a dry bath could not recover him from that ordeal.

With a screech of tyres, Gerda’s patrol car skidded out the gates to a stop. She stepped from the car with Deputy Selby. Erik’s stomach tightened. No. He couldn’t do this. But Gerda’s gaze was not on him, but the other two Hounds.

“Gerda!” Johanna stepped in front of him and Jellybean and threw her arms wide. “It’s Erik! And the puppy… he’s not a threat. But this one…” She flung a hand at Tarpit.

Tarpit stood tall, teeth glinting in the fading sunlight. As the sun touched the horizon, the stone shapes behind her stirred. The Troll rocks crumbled, the creatures imprisoned within bursting forth.

“Captain…?” Selby pointed. But not at the three Trolls.

Just beyond the treeline a small hill shifted in the gathering darkness, and unfolded. Erik spun, eyes widening, Gerda and Safety Patrol forgotten. The mountain sized Troll, Trundle’s brother, rose higher and higher, then turned to stare down at them, beady eyes fixed right on Erik.

***

Chapter 10

[hyperpsychomaniac]

Took way too long to get this done. Urgh. Chapter 8. Finally.

[hyperpsychomaniac]

Tried something with fur. It half worked. 🤔

[hyperpsychomaniac]

Not the fic yet buuuut I have drafted / braindumped the first three chapters and got a rough outline/plot for the rest of this. So I guess I’ll repost this when I post the first chapter.

I don’t know I just really wanted to take a crack at drawing a whole stack of characters.

[thesealanterns]

More fanart for @hyperpsychomaniac and there story

(Tried to use the same scared/worried expression you gave Erik)