Ash And Ember The Wolf / Witch Hybrid

Chapter 5

Even with how terrible that morning had been, it was a beautiful day. Ash had just come back from a long run when she decided that it was time to go see Tomas in the hospital wing. She knew that he had always enjoyed seeing Ember. He was one of the few students here that was in awe of her, but he was too shy to talk to them. Even though they weren't the ones that hurt him, they still felt guilty about it. Ash quickly started towards the hospital wing, trying to ignore all the whispers from the staring students. Unlike this morning, now they were talking about Melony and her group, spreading insane stories about how Ember ate them or ripped them to shreds in the forest.

"I'm not sure if you are all aware of the fact that I can hear every word you are whispering." Ash's voice was like thunder in the quiet hallway. Her hands were balled into fists as she had finally hit her limits.

All the students paled and darted into the closest room that they could find. Finally, Ash was able to walk around peacefully. Ember chuckled at how fast everyone scurried away. Ash shook her head and continued walking to the hospital. She hoped that Tomas hadn't heard the latest rumors yet.

When she finally arrived, she quietly poked her head inside to find out who was on shift. As soon as she saw that Abigail was on duty she smiled. Abigail was an older looking woman with blonde hair and just about the same height as Ash. She was also an actual doctor with a PhD in medical science. Ash had been more than grateful for that on quite a few occasions over the years. Ash stepped inside and cleared her throat so that Abigail would know that she was there.

"Oh, hello Ash. What brings you in here today?" Abigail smiled brightly.

"I was wondering if I could see Tomas." Ash's smile faded a bit when she saw the look on Abigail's face change.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but he isn't welcoming visitors right now." Abigail didn't want to hurt Ash's feelings so she held back the reason why.

"I guess the rumors have already hit here as well." Ash felt a little defeated by the news.

"Unfortunately, you know how the rumor mill goes around here." Abigail knew the truth of the situation and felt heartbroken about it, but then she had an idea about how to help Ash. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Ash immediately nodded her head, understanding what Abigail was getting at. "I really would."

"Then why don't we have a seat over here and you can tell me the truth about this morning." Abigail gave a firm nod and led Ash over to an open bed. Ash knew that Tomas was on the other side of the curtains and would be able to hear everything that was being said.

"How about you start from what happened with your lessons with Vladimir this morning?"

"It's been a rough day, and I guess that's what actually started it. I was so exhausted that Ember decided that she was going to go give Vladimir a piece of her mind. I guess in a way that's exactly what she did. When she saw him, she was so angry but knew that she couldn't hurt him, so when he went to walk away, she had actually conjured a fire wall. It was incredible. She was incredible. I was shocked and in awe at the same time. After a few minutes of a battle of wills between those two, he complimented her. He actually said that he was proud of her. I thought that it was a weird dream for a moment." Ash figured that she might as well tell the whole story.

Abigail sat in a chair beside Ash and listened intently to what had happened. On occasion she would ask her usual therapy questions. How did that make you feel? And why do you think that was? When Ash told her about the council proceedings and being a witness to them, she shuddered. She knew exactly what it was like to be there. She grabbed a box of tissues for Ash to dry her eyes. Abigail knew that it had to be hard on her. Ash then told her about the girls and Brenda being sent to the dungeon. Then about the uneventful brunch in the study and that everyone decided to give her a couple of days to rest before resuming her training.

"So, as I left the study, Ember asked if we could go for a run, and I figured that it would help rejuvenate us. So, we went for about a two-hour run and when we got back, I decided that I wanted to come visit Tomas. That's when I heard the rumors flying around. I guess no one either cares or knows that wolves have extremely sensitive hearing because they kept whispering and staring at me." Ash was still angry about it.

"To be honest, most witches and wizards don't think about what gifts other supernatural beings have. A lot of it is because, for the most part, we all have a similar form, and it doesn't even register that there might be a difference." Abigail gave Ash's hand a gentle squeeze. "But unfortunately, the imagination tends to go wild when all of the facts are not known."

Ash looked at Abigail, unsure of how to ask her biggest question. She felt so defeated and alone because she was a wolf living in a witch coven. She really didn't have many friends here and everyone always seemed either afraid or uneasy around her. Ash took a deep breath and then asked, "Should I just go ahead and move to the wolf pack that my birth mother came from?"

"No" someone said on the other side of the curtains. "Abigail, can we open the curtains please?"

"If that's what you want," Abigail stood up and started moving the curtains back.

"You can't leave us, Ash." Tomas said, his eyes were full of tears. His older brother, Jason, was sitting beside his bed with his arms folded over his chest, looking angry. Jason was a handsome young man with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Tomas. They both had square jaws and full lips. But Jason had more of a tan while Tomas was still pale. Jason was also muscular and tone standing at 5'11".

"I'm so sorry that you got hurt because of me," Ash whispered. She was fighting back her own tears.

"It's not your fault, Ash. Melony is just as cruel and evil as her mother." Tomas was feeling foolish for listening to the rumors about Ember being a monster.

"Tomas, they are not evil. They just have a superiority complex." Abigail shook her head at him.

"Tomas is right about it not being Ash's fault. Those girls are nothing but trouble and would have beaten him just for crossing their path." Jason said. He also had a few run-ins with them before.

"I know, but you boys still don't need to say that they are evil." Abigail had bandaged up enough of their victims to try to argue with them.

"But now they can't hurt anyone here again. I know that when they have chosen a new council member that they will banish the girls, and hopefully Brenda as well." Ash stated, bringing a small amount of hope to the others.

"So, was it really that scary being a witness to the council?" Tomas asked. His eyes went wide, wanting to know everything about it.

"To me it was. Hearing Marlin's voice so cold and empty is one of the most terrifying things I have ever heard in my life. And seeing what had happened, it was like I was right there. It made me feel helpless and weak not being able to stop them." Ash looked down at the bed she was sitting on, unable to look Tomas in the eyes.

"Well, thank you for being there to witness that for me. If it was hard for you, then it would have been impossible for me," Tomas said.

"What do you mean? You are so strong and brave." Ash looked at Tomas, not understanding how he didn't see that. "Not once did you cry or yell or scream. You didn't feed into their power trip while they were hurting you. That is the strongest and bravest thing that I have ever seen."

"You really think so?" Tomas asked as he puffed his chest out with pride.

"I know so." Ash smiled, looking him in the eye. "Not many people can do what you did."

"It's time for your medicine, Tomas," Abigail said, trying to hand him a small cup with a foul-smelling liquid in it.

"I feel all better now. I don't think I need it anymore." Tomas said, refusing to take it.

"I know it's disgusting, but I promise you only have one more cup after this and then you can go." Abigail was trying to hide her frustration, but Ash knew that tone all too well.

"But I feel completely healed now," Tomas whined.

"The medicine makes sure that you are completely healed, you have to take it." Jason said, trying to help Abigail with her stubborn patient.

"If it's so good, then why don't you take it?" Tomas grumbled and folded his arms over his chest.

Ash chuckled and shook her head at Tomas's antics. But she had an idea about how to get him to take his medicine.

"Abigail, it's been a while since Ember had a check-up. Maybe after Tomas takes his medicine then you can make sure that she is in perfect health?" Ash gave her and Jason a sly smile.

"Well, seeing how he's more stubborn than you, I might not be able to do it today." Abigail gave Ash a wink.

"True. There's also the problem of no one is ever there to hold her paw during her check-ups." Ash looked at Jason, hoping that he would agree to what was going on.

"What do you think, Tomas? Would you be willing to hold Ember’s paw during her check-up?" Jason asked.

"I would be honored to," Tomas said as he took the cup. He held his nose and drank the liquid in one gulp. His face scrunched in disgust as the medicine touched his tongue.

"Thank you, Tomas." Ash smiled at him. She walked behind a different curtain and took off her clothes so that she didn't shred them when she shifted.

"What did you just rope me into Ash. You know that I don't need a check-up." Ember grumbled as she started to come forward and shift into their wolf form.

"I know, but it was the easiest way to get Tomas to take his medicine." Ash chuckled as she went deeper into the back of their mind.

As soon as she finished shifting, Ember slowly started walking toward the group. She really didn't need someone to hold her paw for this, but it would make Tomas feel better. Ember looked at each one of the three people in the group gaging their reactions. Abigail looked completely relaxed and at ease. Tomas was trying to contain his excitement; he really was a cute little kid. But Jason was frozen in place, his eyes wide in amazement. Had he never seen her wolf before? She thought to herself.

Seeing that there were no problems, Ember walked over to Tomas and sat beside him. He seemed so tiny compared to her. She lifted her paw and looked at it and then the bed. How was she going to let him hold her paw without hurting him? As if seeing the dilemma, Abigail wheeled a small cart over and placed it in the perfect spot. Ember bowed her head as a thank you and placed her paw on the cart. Tomas then placed his hand on her paw and giggled at how small his hand looked.

"Alright, now that everyone is settled, are you ready to begin Ember?" Abigail was smiling at both of them.

Ember lowered her head and huffed in defeat. She saw Abigail grab the stethoscope, and Ember squeezed her eyes shut. She hated how cold that thing always was. Tomas started to stroke her paw to reassure her that it was ok. After a moment of Abigail sifting through her fur, she felt the stethoscope on her skin, but it wasn't cold. Ember opened her eyes and looked at Abigail.

"I figured since you were willing to come in for your check up, I could at least be nice and warm up my stethoscope for you." Abigail replied to the questioning look on Ember’s face.

Ember tilted her head to the side as she thought about how much she actually fought when it came to her check-ups.

"Yes, I just gave you the key to the Doctor's universe. If we have to struggle to get you to take care of yourself, then you have to deal with cold stethoscopes." Abigail chuckled.

After what felt like forever, Abigail was finally done with Ember. It took a little longer than normal because Abigail's step stool was too short for Abigail to measure Ember properly. Everyone got a good chuckle as Abigail finally asked if Jason could help her. Ember was happy that this check-up wasn't as intrusive as the others had been either. She knew that it was because of the boys being there.

"Alright Ember, you are a perfectly healthy wolf," Abigail finally proclaimed. "You can go shift and Ash can get dressed now."

Ember nodded at her and then looked at Tomas, who was still stroking her paw. He was a sweet kid, and she was willing to bet that he was going to be a heartbreaker when he got older. He looked up and smiled at her as he moved his hand so she could go. She lowered her head so that they could touch their foreheads and then went back behind the curtain. Never before had she wanted to be able to speak so badly. She wished that witches and wizards could mind link like wolves could, but for now Ash could tell them what she was wanting to say. As she let Ash take control, she realized just how alone she truly was.

"Alright Tomas, in about an hour you have to take the last of your medicine and then you will be free to go." Abigail explained and then started to go about her other duties.

Ash had finally finished getting dressed and came around the curtain. She walked over to Tomas and gave him a hug. "Ember says thank you so much for holding her paw. You really helped her."

"I'm glad that she is ok and if she ever needs someone to hold her paw again, I would be happy to help." Tomas was happy about being able to help.

"I have no doubt about that." Ash chuckled and then looked at the clock on the wall. "I'm sorry to say this but I have to go. Hopefully, I'll see you at dinner, but you will have to take your medicine first or she won’t let you go. "

"I will," Tomas said with determination.

Ash chuckled and waved goodbye to them as she walked out of the hospital. She could feel the loneliness that Ember was feeling and didn't want Tomas to see it. It hurt knowing that Ember was so alone, the only other being that she could actually talk to was Ash. Ash had to figure out a way to fix this. Maybe there was a spell or something that could help her talk. With that thought Ash ran down the hallway to go find Marlin. If anyone knew, it would be him.