Valravn Girlfriend: Vita (special preview)

You stay up waiting, watching from a crack in the door for any sign. When the rain lets up and the clouds disperse, the full moon casts its white light over the street. You open the door further and step out onto the muddy ground. You listen, waiting, hoping to hear Vita coming back.

Instead you hear a grunt and whimper, and curse under someone’s breath. You step out further, keeping to the shadows. You then see Vita against the wall of a house. She’s removed an arm of her armor and is tending to something on her arm. You see her pluck and pinch then she tosses aside an object that, when touched by moonlight, looks like a tooth.

“Vita?” You whisper to her.

Her head perks up and she quickly clasps her arm against her body. “What are you doing here? Go back inside!” She shouts this in a whisper.

“Are you hurt? Let me help you!” You step closer but she shakes her head.

“Get out of here! I am fine and can handle myself. Go back to bed where you’re warm and safe.” Vita keeps her arm hidden, but you can smell the blood in the air.

“Please, Vita, let me do something for you, let me help you.” You come to her side and kneel down.

“I want you to go away,” she snarls. 

You place your hand on her elbow and you feel fur. 

“Don’t! Ah-” She winces as she tries to pull away and she doubles over her injured arm. 

You touch through her fur until you find it soaked with blood. You pull her arm towards you so it becomes bathed in moonlight. Black fur coats her arm while the pad of her hand is leathery. Her fingers are long with black claws where her fingernails would be. 

“It’s ok,” you try to coax her. “Let me help. What happened?”

Vita shivers as she takes in a breath. “I would rather you left.”

You point to the house she has her back leaned against. “This one is empty, we can go inside.” You help her up and lead her into the abandoned home. Inside you find a lantern and light it, setting it beside her arm as she lays it across the table. There are several teeth embedded in her arm and you carefully remove them. You then wrap her arm in cloth and sit back.

She goes to put the armor back on but she stops. Vita turns her head towards you. “I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”

You look at her arm, bandaged and strange. “I would very much like to see you.”

Vita remains quiet and still.

“What will happen when the strangers are gone?” You ask her quietly. 

“I will leave to find more.”

Tears prickle up in your eyes. “Would you ever come back?”

“If they return here, I would.”

You close your eyes as the tears start to fall. Ever since Vita arrived she has been a comfort you were desperately searching for. You had been working so hard to comfort the village, especially the children, you had gone without. Vita had been the first relief you had in so long, you could not imagine being without her again.

“I am not what you want,” Vita whispers. “I am not mortal, no man.”

“I don’t need man,” you whimper.

Vita extends her arm back out across the table. “I am a creature. As much as I may want, I can never be held by you.”

You lace your palm in hers. “But can you hold me?”

Vita wraps her fingers around yours. “Pretty thing, you,” her voice cracks. “Why would you even want that?”