#alwf

She threw on her bag, taking one last sweep of the room before heading out. Mint swatted at a few of the cobwebs as she went. Recently some spiders had tried to take residence near her home- no, thank you, that was not happening. The abandoned home was quite spacious and Mint was perfectly content with leaving the creepy crawlies to their devices on the other side of the home, but the back left corner of the house was hers alone. 

Mint stepped out through the grate, shielding her eyes from the harsh sun. How dare it personally offend her. Taking her eyes off her great sky nemesis, Mint perused the garden alongside the side of the house. It was as abandoned as the rest of the structure, the plants long ago running wild, but there was still a plethora of blackberries and raspberries for the taking at this time of year. 

Mint gathered up one in her hands, not caring about cleanliness as she took a large bite. The juice spilled past her lips, forming a ring around her mouth of that lucious purple stain. Long ago Mint had given up on trying to keep her appearance tidy. It was inevitable her clothes would become covered in stains of their own, and honestly with no one around to judge the only issue was keeping clean enough to be able to grab her rope. 

The borrower wiped her hands on her pants, creating new stains before more carefully gathering berries up into a nylon net she had crafted from some materials upstairs. It helped her lug back large loads, filling the net to the brim before giving the bag a hard yank.

“C’mon.” She grunted, pulling it with all her strength back towards the grate. All her effort was for naught when the bag couldn’t fit through the bars, causing her to readjust the load. She tried pushing instead, spilling a few berries into the passageway but eventually proving successful. After an obligatory victory cheer Mint filled the bag back up, already dreading the walk back. 

By the time Mint returned to her humble abode the moon had risen, making it much more difficult to see beneath the floorboards. Mint huffed, frustrated the berries had taken so long. She didn’t even feel like mashing them up, instead leaving that arduous task to be a future Mint’s problem. 

She sighed, her stomach rumbling again about last being fed several hours ago. It was getting greedy, honestly. Mint remembered times when she was still wandering outside looking for a home and she would go days without food. If she survived then, she could survive now without some sugary treats.

Mint ate a bit of berry anyways, munching on the sticky flesh and feeling annoyed at her body. Survival was so boring. Every day it felt like the same sort of trivial tasks, Mint just going through the motions to keep herself alive- the bare minimum, really. She was never moving forward, never progressing. Nothing changed. 

With a groan Mint threw herself back on her makeshift bed, the wrinkled fabric digging into her back. She didn’t care, instead focused on trying to see up through the cracks where the slightest of starlight was trickling through, just enough for her eyes to adjust to the dark. Then again, Mint had always had excellent night vision.

Mint thought about the world above her. She had traveled to the house above, of course, just not often. Mint had already mapped out every room. With no human beans about, the borrowings available never changed. All she really cared about was the dwindling sugar supply in the second to the left cabinet. Soon enough it would be completely gone, and Mint wasn’t certain what she’d do then. Perhaps it hadn’t been wise to get addicted to having such a sweet tooth. Well, at least no rodents had thought to invade and try to get at her supply. 

The borrower girl sighed long and hard through her nose, counting warps in the wooden floorboards above her now. It was pathetic. 

“I’m going to die unless something changes soon.” Mint declared, loud enough for any spirits to get her message. In a literal sense, there was a foreboding truth to her message. But mostly, it was a declaration of boredom, an air of frustration in the face of tedious repetition. It didn’t particularly help her mood, but Mint let her eyes shift closed anyways, figuring that maybe tomorrow would bring something interesting.

But then, there was a thud.

Mint’s ears twitched, instantly wide awake as she heard a foreign noise, rusted hinges squeaking so loudly they might have been crying out. Mint’s eyes flew open, listening to a rhythmic thumping increase in volume. Footsteps. Her eyes scanned the ceiling once more, as if that would allow her to see the giant intruder through the wood as she felt her entire world begin to shake. It trembled, and then just as suddenly as it came the being left to explore another part of her house. 

“...What the hell?” Mint muttered, slowly sitting up. She refused to acknowledge just how fast her heart was still beating from that fright. It was startling, that was all! How was she supposed to predict a human bean would come traipsing through her home tonight? Honestly with how few she’d seen in the past few years Mint had begun to wonder if they had died out entirely.

Well, there was no use in getting to sleep now. Mint threw on her bag, unable to keep a grin off her face as the adrenaline hit. Now this, this was exciting. A bit annoying, perhaps, but even with the potential danger Mint didn’t care. In fact, she relished danger. This was what she had been missing, the idea of your life on the line every time you step outside your home. It wasn’t the same with the birds and the spiders. 

Mint darted through the walls, quieter than a mouse as she scurried up the steps she had crafted from the various rusted nails in the walls. What sort of human was this, anyhow? If they were going to get in her way Mint might have to devise a way to run them out, which would be equally thrilling. Or perhaps they were only staying for a night of refuge before heading off into the world… maybe she should tag along just for the heck of it.

She laughed at the ridiculousness of such an idea. It was positively suicidal, and the idea of being so foolishly bold even in her mind made her spirits soar. 

“Alright, alright, keep it together.” Mint whispered to herself, still wearing a ridiculous grin as she slowed her pace. As she was nearing the human rooms, Mint had the common sense left to be quiet. It wouldn’t do to blow her cover so quickly when investigating the intruder. 

At first, Mint frowned, not seeing the human in the kitchen, which was just above her sleeping space. Guess this would take more trekking. Mint jogged through the walls, peering through nooks and crannies to try and catch a glimpse of her visitor. Mint gave a frustrated huff, getting annoyed after the first couple rooms proved fruitless. This house wasn’t that large by human standards- how could such a great lumbering being stay hidden? 

Finally, finally Mint found her suspect in the sleeping space. She paused, barely breathing as her eyes adjusted to see the shadowed figure hunched in the room. The human wasn’t even trying to sleep at this late hour, instead messing about with the window across the room. They had laid their bag on the bed, a few of their belongings strewn about.

Mint got a better look at the giant stranger as they turned, the moonlight illuminating their figure for only a moment as they stripped one of the sheets from the bed. It was a man, looming higher than any person had the right to stand. He had long black hair and an abnormally pale complexion- was he sick? Had he come out here to die? Good lord Mint hoped not, that’d be impossible for her to deal with logistically. But the most notable feature by far were his eyes that seemed to almost glow with their bright red hue. They illuminated the scowl on his face, looking to all the world like a human bean any borrower in their right mind would stay far away from. 

And as he turned, Mint took a few steps closer.

Her curiosity was piqued, heart racing as she struggled to comprehend exactly how dangerous this man was- he could easily crush her with his hand. Or his foot. Or any body part, actually. He could toss her or choke her or break her in any number of ways, every part of him being equally devastating to a borrower. Good lord she had forgotten how awful humans could be, nor how safe she had grown living by herself. This was a threat of the highest order to her kingdom.

But Mint had to be certain to know just what she was dealing with. She pushed aside the loose wallpaper, crossing the small gap between the wall and the shelf adorned with a smattering of dusty collectibles. Mint weaved her way amongst them, searching for a good spot to settle in.

If she wanted to survive the next few days (or even years, depending on how long this intruder was sticking around), Mint would have to learn everything she could about this human. She would need to learn his schedule inside and out, understanding what his motives were so she could always predict his next move and be one step ahead. One wrong move and she’d be toast. 

A breeze shifted the bedroom door, causing it to slowly creak open. Faster than Mint could blink the figure whirled around, and with a sudden thunk the door slammed shut. It took all her willpower not to gasp, terrified and amazed as she stared at the long knife blade firmly wedged into the door. Instead she crouched behind the ceramic frog, deciding it was safest not to move lest that knife head in her direction. 

C’mon, it was already a human for crying out loud- why did it also need to have a knife! It didn’t need to be any more dangerous.

The stranger stared at the door for several moments, looking almost shaken. Eventually he snapped out of his stupor, stomping over to the door with a scowl and shaking Mint’s hiding place in the process. Mint tried not to flinch at the sound of the ceramics clattering around her, watching the giant being yank the blade longer than she was out of the door like it was nothing.

“Lord, I’m such a-” The invader’s voice was lower than Mint expected, but it rumbled through her core in a way that was eerily familiar. Mint supposed you could never forget that feeling no matter how hard one tried. But, as soon as it was there, the stranger was already cutting himself off with a shake of his head.

He looked down at the blade, thoughtfully twirling it before returning it to a sheath at his hip.

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“We should?” The younglings shared nervous glances, chittering amongst themselves like kits.

“For once, dark and brooding is onto something.” Damien assured them, grabbing a spear and standing up boldly. “The humans are coming.”

“They’ll take our children!” A woman shrieked, clutching her son close. The boy wriggled to get out of her grasp, biting at her arm.

“They’ll do a lot more than take your children.” Cain growled. “They’ll kill ‘em and make you watch.”

“Stop it!” Scout stomped their foot, frustrated as the energy in the room was quickly reaching dangerous levels. “I am the one who goes out. I’ve been amongst them. Humans…aren’t all bad.” They paused, rubbing at their arm. “Okay, it’s true. We think they’re monsters, and they think we are. But that’s not going to change by us hiding.” They took a deep breath. “We have to communicate.”

“‘Communicate’? Are you hearing yourself?” Damien  hissed, smacking the side of his sibling’s head. “We take one step towards a mortal and they’ll drive a stake through our heart.”

“Only because they expect us to drain them dry of blood!” Scout argued, hitting him back. “But it’s cruel for us to do so, just as it’s cruel for them to make assumptions. If we just talk to the humans, if we let them understand that we mean no harm-”

“They won’t let us drink.” Amdis blurted out, uncharacteristically steady as she said her piece. “Even if they knew what we needed they wouldn’t give it. Too scared of being bitten.”

“Well of course they’re scared, it probably hurts.” Scout admitted. “But we can get a system going, Sam has told me about a witch to the east who deals in painkillers, perhaps they’ll help.”

“Yes, perhaps.” Damien said sarcastically, stepping forward. “Or perhaps your human friend is leading you into a death trap.”

Scout was not to be intimidated, glaring up at Damien. “You will not touch him.”

“So I can’t rip out his neck but he can gouge out my heart?” Damien challenged.

“I didn’t say that.” Scout muttered.

“No but you might as well have meant it.” Damien turned to the resting crowd, gesturing to Scout. “They’ve gone soft, ya hear me?”

“Impossible not to.” Cain rolled his eyes, having gone back to whittling his spear. Damien heard his cheek, coming over to glower over the younger lad.

“You got a problem with me, boy?” Damien asked, his eyes turning a dangerous shade of red. It was bold of him to call Cain a boy when the two were barely separated by a year. Despite his jab, however, Cain did little more than glare up at Damien.

“Damien, please.” Scout stepped up, giving their brother a reassuring touch. “Just… trust me. This can work.” Damien softened under their gaze.

“Or it could kill us all.” Cain mumbled.

“Diplomacy is the only way.” Scout announced, turning back to the group. “I say we lay down our weapons and let the humans have their demands.”

“And when they demand our heads?” Damien raised an eyebrow.

“They’re not going to demand our heads.” Scout dodged the question. “Not when they see how compliant we’re acting. It’ll confuse them enough to turn a listening ear. And Sam will vouch for us, we have friends on their side even when it doesn’t seem that way.”

“And what about the blood?” Amdis piped up. “If they won’t take our heads, surely they’ll starve us.”

“They might be hesitant to let us drink in the beginning, true, but we can survive on animal blood until the time comes.” There was a chorus of groaning from the crowd, Scout rushing to ease their complaints. “I know, I know, but it will only be for a short while, I promise. Just long enough for them to see we don’t mean harm.”

“…look.” Damien sighed. “You’re not exactly making a compelling offer, talking about throwing ourselves at their feet and gurgling pig’s blood. But the fact is if I have to spend one more eve locked in here with you lot I will start ripping out your necks.”

“Not if I rip yours first.” Cain assured him, having a similar mindset.

“So if you don’t want to stay here, are you saying you’ll talk to them?” Scout perked up, looking eager.

“I say we give it a shot!” Damien slapped Scout’s back, surprising the group with his agreement. “Worst comes to worst when we get that close we just start killing ‘em.” Scout’s eagerness quickly turned to unease.

“Please don’t.” Scout winced. “That’s not diplomacy.”

“Only bite if they bite first?” Amdis offered a compromise.

“Works for me.” Damien shrugged. “At least it’ll prove we’re better than them. Who’s with me?” The group glanced amongst themselves, but with his vote the general sway seemed to be in diplomacy’s favor. Slowly more vamps stood up, joining the thrawl. After all, vampires tended to be creatures who favored group mentality. Only the most recently turned vampire was still whittling away.

“Cain?” Scout asked, looking at the only one left sitting.

Cain shrugged, finishing off his spear. “You all can go.” He said quietly.

Scout deflated at his words. “You’re not coming then?”

“Do as you want.” Cain stood up, not looking them in the eye as he gathered up his tools. “I’m heading to the abandoned shack at the edge of the woods, figure it’s as good as any place to set up a home.”

“…okay.” Scout gave him a cautious smile. “Be safe.”