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wrightingdungeon · 6 days ago

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Growing Pains

Don't mind the writers block I'm going through, trying to get it to go away.

Enjoy a Shane fic in the meantime

Looking down at the plastic chew toy in his hand, Shane sighed, thinking about how his life ended up this way.

He had moved him and his goddaughter here for a quiet, safe life, definitely not because he was depressed and lost in his mind about how to raise a child. Nooo.

And yet here he was buying a chew toy because-

“You got a dog!”

Damn it, Sam’s voice rang loud in his ears. Looking up at the taller yet younger male Shane’s brain froze, what should he say? How would he say it?

“Jas… Jas has been wanting one…” He said slowly, trying not to sweat from the anxiety pooling in his stomach, that was kind of the truth

Like every child does at some point she had been asking for one, but that wasn't why he was buying a chew toy.

“DUDE! You are getting her a dog!” Sam jumped in place as his smile split his face. “That's so cool! I wish my parents would get us a dog, then us two and Alex can have doggy play dates!”

Shane rolled his eyes slightly at Sam's excitement, always beaming with happiness. “Yeah, sure.” He said curtly while shoving the dog toy under his arm.

Sam didn’t seem to notice Shane’s curt response as he leaned in closer. “Wait, did you get the dog already?” he asked, his eyes lighting up. “I wanna see them!.”

Shane forced a thin smile, his grip tightening on the chew toy. “No, no. It’s… uh, getting sorted. We got an adoption planned.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. “She’s... just not ready.”

“Oh man, I can’t wait to meet her,” Sam said, his voice bubbling with excitement. Though Shane was happy that he hadn't picked up on his tension at all. “Can I come by and help set up or something? I bet Jas is thrilled.”

“Uh, no I got it,” Shane replied, his mind racing. The last thing he needed was Sam poking around, especially with how Jas was now. She’d already gnawed through two of his shoes and had developed a habit of barking at the vacuum cleaner.

“Vincent’s gonna be so jealous. He’s been talking about wanting a puppy forever.” Sam chuckled, bouncing on his toes.

The mention of Vincent made Shane’s stomach twist. He swallowed thickly, remembering how Jas had been bitten that night in the woods.

She said Vincent had been there too, the two of them stuck at the hip always, but that he had run off, leaving Jas alone.

Taking a deep breath he tried to calm his anger, the thought of Jas not making it home that night making his blood burn.

“Yeah, well, don’t tell him,” Shane had to clear his throat, mustering a weak grin. “Just not yet… I want it to be a surprise, alright?”

Sam gave him a thumbs-up, oblivious as ever. “You got it, dude. I’ll keep it under wraps. This is gonna be so awesome.”

“Yeah,” Shane mumbled, already backing away. “Awesome.”

He turned on his heel, making a quick exit out of the aisle before Sam could say anything else. As he walked, he let out a long, shuddering breath.��

How was he going to do this? He was in over his head already. It was one thing raising a kid. It was another thing entirely raising a werewolf kid.

He couldn’t help but think back to the night it happened. Jas was at a sleepover with Vincent, Jodi was supposed to be watching the kids and had let them go out to play.

Shane had woken up hearing Jas crying. He was confused, hearing her voice broken and small. Why was she home?

“Uncle Shane,” she whimpered, her little hands clutched to her chest. “It hurts.”

Shane had sprung out of bed, groggy with sleep, only to freeze at the sight of Jas doubled over on the floor, clutching her stomach, her arm bloody and torn up.

She was burning up, her skin clammy with sweat. He’d never seen her like this before — she was always so energetic, so full of life. His immediate thought was to call an ambulance, but then she looked up at him, and his heart dropped into his stomach.

Her eyes weren’t her own. They glowed a haunting, feral yellow.

“Jas?” he breathed, his voice cracking. He’d dropped to his knees, reaching out instinctively to touch her, but she flinched away. Scratching out in fear, catching his arm as a low growl rumbled from her throat — not a sound any child could make.

“It HURTS!!” she sobbed again, but her voice was different now, raw and strained as if it was scraping against something primal. Her hands had started to change, fingers curling and elongating, nails sharpening into small, claw-like points.

Shane could only watch, horror freezing him in place as she continued to change before his eyes.

He didn’t understand what he was seeing. This wasn’t possible. This kind of thing didn’t happen in real life. He wanted to scream, to run, but this was Jas. His Jas.

He needed to do something. Anything.

“Jas,” he managed, forcing calm into his voice despite his rising panic. “It’s okay. I’m here, alright? I'm right here.”

But Jas wasn’t listening. She dropped onto all fours, her small body convulsing as patches of coarse fur sprouted along her arms and legs. She looked up at him again, her eyes wide with terror, and he saw her teeth had sharpened into little fangs.

“I’m scared,” she whispered, her voice almost unrecognizable. And then, she let out a pained howl that filled the entire house.

He’d spent the rest of the night cradling her, not knowing what else to do. He whispered soothing words, holding her close as her body continued to change, the convulsions tearing through her. He’d never felt more helpless in his life.

When the sun finally rose, the transformation seemed to ease. She was back to being a little girl again, but she was exhausted, her tiny frame limp in his arms.

Shane had not slept a wink, his mind racing with what he’d witnessed. He’d considered taking her to a hospital, but how could he explain this to anyone? They’d take her away, lock her up, and treat her like a monster. And she wasn’t a monster. She was his little girl.

He’d promised her that morning as she slept, still curled up against his chest, that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. He’d figure it out. He had to.

Now, as he walked out of the store, clutching the purchased chew toy in his hand like it was some kind of lifeline, he wondered if he’d made the right choice. How long could he keep this secret? How long before someone noticed that Jas wasn’t just an ordinary kid anymore?

He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of someone yelling his name. Shane looked up to see Vincent running towards him, his face flushed with excitement.

“THERE YOU ARE!” Vincent shouted, skidding to a stop in front of him. “Is Jas with you?” He peered around Shane, eyes wide and hopeful.

“Uh, no she's at home,” Shane said, hiding the toy behind his back. “What are you doing here, kid? Shouldn’t you be at home?” He had to hold his tone, reminding himself he was indeed talking to a child.

Vincent’s smile faltered a little, his shoulders slumping. “I just… wanted to see if Jas is okay,” he mumbled. “She hasn’t been at school, and Mom won’t tell me anything.”

Shane felt his chest tighten at the sight of Vincent’s downcast expression. “She’s…” Shane struggled to find the right words. How could he even begin to explain? “She’s been a little under the weather, that’s all. It’s nothing to worry about, buddy.”

Vincent looked up at him, his eyes searching Shane’s face for reassurance. “But it’s been so long,” he whispered. “Is she mad at me for running off? I heard… noises. Growling… But when I turned around, she was gone...”

The words hit Shane like a punch to the gut. He’d been so wrapped up in dealing with Jas’s condition that he hadn’t considered how Vincent might be feeling — the guilt, the confusion, knowing he’d abandoned his best friend.

He could see the kid had bags under his eyes as if he hadn’t been sleeping well, he must have been worrying about Jas ever since that night in the woods.

“No,” Shane said firmly, dropping to one knee to look Vincent in the eye. “Listen to me, kid. Jas isn’t mad at you,”

The words felt heavier coming out of his mouth than in his head. Still wanting to tear Jodi a new one for letting them go out so late, still mad at Vincent for running off, mad at himself for not protecting Jas.

But what would holding onto the anger do in this situation? Nothing.

It could have very well been him and his mom in his shoes. Feeling scared and alone, not knowing what to do, or who to talk to.

“And… And you didn’t do anything wrong, okay?” He said softly, as he looked at Vincent, seeing tears welling up in his eyes.

“Then why won’t she see me?”

Shane hesitated, feeling like he was balancing on a knife’s edge. He couldn’t tell Vincent the truth, but he also couldn’t keep brushing him off like this. The kid needed something, some kind of explanation.

“She’s just… going through a rough patch, ok,” Shane said finally. “It’s hard to explain, but I promise you, she’s not mad at you. She really misses you, too.”

Rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand Vincent sniffled. “Can I call her or something? Maybe it will make her feel better?”

Shane’s heart twisted in his chest. The sincerity in Vincent’s voice, the pure, untainted concern of a child who just wanted his friend back — it was almost too much to bear. “Yeah,” he managed, his voice thick. “I think she’d really like that.”

Vincent’s face lit up, and he nodded eagerly. “And I’ll draw her a picture, too!! She loves my pictures.”

Shane forced a smile, reaching out to ruffle Vincent’s hair. “You’re a good kid, Vincent.”

“Do you think she’ll come back to school soon?” Vincent asked, his voice small. “It’s not the same without her.”

Shane swallowed hard. He wished he had an answer for that. He wished he could promise Vincent that everything would go back to normal. But the truth was, he didn’t know when — or if — things would ever be normal again.

“Maybe,” Shane said, standing up and patting Vincent’s shoulder. “Just give her a little more time, okay? She’ll come around.”

Vincent nodded, his expression a mix of hope and uncertainty. “Okay, you promise?”

Shane hesitated for a moment, could he promise? “Yeah, I promise.” He couldn't tell if it was a lie or not, he just hoped it wasn't.

As Vincent turned and ran off, Shane watched him go, feeling like a weight was pressing down on his chest. He was barely holding it together himself.

Penny and Jodi had been asking about Jas, Vincent is worried, and now he will probably need to buy a dog so that way Sam won't ask him where the damn dog was.

He took a deep breath, glancing down at the chew toy in his hand. It was ridiculous, the lengths he was going to keep this secret. But if it meant protecting his girl, if it meant giving her a chance at a life that wasn’t defined by fear and uncertainty, then he’d do whatever it took.

Later that evening, Shane was sitting at the kitchen table, head in his hands. He’d dropped the chew toy onto the counter, staring at it like it held all the answers he was searching for. Or at least the answer to his shoes no longer being torn up.

The house felt too quiet now, the kind of quiet that buzzed in his ears. It was always like this after a full moon — Jas would sleep most of the day, exhausted from the transformation, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He was so lost in his mind that he didn’t notice the tiny footsteps padding into the room until he heard a small voice.

“Uncle Shane?”

Shane’s head snapped up, and he saw Jas standing in the doorway, clutching one of her stuffed animals to her chest. She looked so small, so fragile, her big brown eyes wide and searching.

“Hey, kiddo,” he said, pulling a smile onto his face. “You’re up early.”

Jas nodded, but she didn’t move any closer. She looked down at the floor, shuffling her feet. “I… I don’t feel good.”

Shane’s heart ached. He stood up, approaching her slowly. “Yeah, I bet. You had a rough night, huh?”

She nodded again, her bottom lip trembling. “My tummy hurts. And my head.”

Shane knelt in front of her, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know, sweetheart. It’s gonna be like this sometimes, okay? But I’m here, and I’ll take care of you.”

Jas’s eyes flicked up to meet his, and there it was — that glint of something not quite human, like a shadow lurking in the depths of her gaze. It vanished almost as quickly as it came, but it was enough to make Shane’s breath catch in his throat.

“Are you mad at me?” she whispered.

The question took him off guard. “Mad? No, honey, why would I be mad at you?”

Jas’s grip tightened on her stuffed animal. “Because… because I’m different now. Because I’m a monster.”

Shane felt his chest clench painfully. He reached out, taking her small hand in his. “Hey, don’t say that. You’re not a monster, okay? You’re my girl. You will always be my girl.”

“But I hurt you,” she said, her voice so small he almost didn’t hear it. “I… I hurt you, Shane.”

Shane glanced down at his arm, where the deep scratch marks were still visible. He’d hidden it under his sleeve this morning, not wanting to alarm her, but clearly, she remembered. He gently squeezed her hand, forcing a smile.

“It was an accident, baby. You didn’t mean to. You were scared.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over onto her cheeks. “I don’t want to be scary,” she sobbed. “I don’t want to hurt you or anyone.”

Shane pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly as she buried her face in his shoulder. He could feel her little body shaking, hear her hiccupping breaths as she cried. He held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back.

“You’re not a monster,” Shane whispered, his voice barely above a murmur as he held her tight. Her small sobs wracked through his chest, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring her or himself.

“You’re just... you’re going through something no one should ever have to go through. But I’m here, kid. I’m not going anywhere. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. Okay?”

Jas nodded against his shoulder, but the tears kept coming. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to be bad.”

“You’re not bad,” Shane said fiercely. “Don’t ever think that. You’re the best and bravest kid I know.”

They stayed like that for a long time, Shane kneeling on the kitchen floor, holding his goddaughter as she cried. He wished he could tell her it would get easier, that this was just a temporary problem. But he didn’t know that, and that uncertainty was what scared him the most.

“Can I sleep with you tonight?” Jas’s tired little voice breaking through her slowing crys brought a smile to Shane.

“Of course,” He said softly, lifting her into his arms. She snuggled against his chest, and he felt her relax, her breathing evening out.

As he carried her to bed, he couldn’t help but think about what the future might hold.

He had no idea what he was doing, and he was terrified of making a mistake. But as long as Jas needed him, he’d keep going. He’d keep fighting for her.

Because she was his girl, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

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fierce-little-miana · 8 months ago

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I will forever remember that one time on a local (I live in the French countryside) fb page about lost/missing pets when I witnessed the following interaction:

A farmer couple had just adopted a Beauceron puppy (4-5 months old) that was nowhere to be found. It had disappeared at their farm and they were worried sick about it: asking people for tips to find it and to keep an eye open.

People asked legitimate questions to understand what could have happened. Was their propriety correctly fenced? Did the puppy had a collar with a tag or a gps? Had they noticed people hanging around their farm recently that they did not know (puppy theft, especially of pure breed puppies, is starting to be a problem around here)? Etc etc.

Turns out while the grounds around the farmhouse were fenced, the main gate was always open during the day. The puppy was left alone there while the farmers went to work in their fields. Gate wide opened, no human presence to care for the puppy for several hours, it wasn’t restrained by any lunge rein or anything. NOTHING.

When someone pointed out that this was an extremely bad idea because puppies are social creatures, that loneliness and staying put are learned behaviors not innate, and that this situation was perfect for them to escape, follow someone or another dog or just be taken by someone else, the owners snapped.

They started saying that you do not take a dog to keep it tied (true but you do not take a dog to leave it on its own without caring for it either), and that farm dogs before did not « live under glass » and that they had always stay put by the farm. The woman even added that it was how her dad had always treated his dogs.

The thing is they are right. We did not use to treat dogs as carefully as we do now. As a result of that a lot more dogs in the past died violently or disappeared plain and simple. The puppy that went roaming on its own and never came back was simply deemed a bad farm dog and the farmer got another one. They did not start crying about losing their precious puppy. Most of the time as long as a dog had not demonstrated its capacity to be useful it was no one precious puppy. People did not really like their dogs like we do today (I could tell you about the farmer in my grandparents’ village who let his female dog run around and get pregnant and then ran over the puppies with his tractor to kill them as soon as they could walk. That’s how some people in the countryside used to treat dogs and while some people thought they were massive assholes for this behavior no legal action was ever even considered against them).

The guy who told them that this was a dreadful idea and asked them to change their way when they would have found their dog was 100% right. If they wanted to guarantee that their dog would grow up healthy and did not just disappear they had to treat it differently than we would have done 50 years ago.

If you insist on treating your dog the old way, don’t come crying when it dies the old way.

#dog #tw animal death #tw animal abuse #still baffled by the fact that the farmers were sure that the guy who told them to care for their puppy was in the wrong

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