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Kindred Spirits	By : RedelliaValentinos Category: +1 through F > Danny Phantom Views: 206 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, I don't own any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from writing this story, I write this purely for the enjoyment of writing. It's just me and a keyboard and my wild brain.

Chapter List
- 53
- 54
- 55
Pancakes are carbs. He needs more than carbs.
The old adage that carbs will run right through you and leave you hungry an hour later applies even to half-death, it seems. Danny's stomach growls at him rather painfully within moments of Vlad walking away. At least it waited, because he doubts he'd be able to handle being fussed over by both of them. Not that the idea isn't warm and fuzzy and charming, but the older halfa pre-crisis was already a lot to handle.
To add the post-crisis nine foot winged beast to the mix, one can only handle so much coddling at once, no matter how cozy it makes him feel inside.
Outside among the wilderness, in the deep of winter, there's very little to eat. ...unless one knows where to look. And his ears pick up movement beyond the trees. Heavy and slow with powerful huffs of air.
...he's never been inclined to hunt for food before. But there's this strange new sensation in his head. The feeling of stepping aside to allow someone else to take over. Yet, not a feeling of loosing control. Instead, more like someone wants to show him how it's done.
Danny kicks his shoes off and crouches down to the ground to slink his way across the terrain. He feels the niggling urge to dive and tunnel like he did in the Far Frozen. But the snow isn't deep enough. Oh well. They'll make do.
The land gradually slopes downward closer to the treeline. It allows for a whispering descent through the air, gliding just above the snow. The brush and fallen branches have made a natural haven on the outskirts of the forest, cutting an evergreen border through the middle of an otherwise barren field. Danny touches the ground carefully, keeping just enough air in his leg bones to avoid compressing the snow beneath him. He shucks his sweater off and slowly, he crawls into the greenery. He doesn't have to go far. Selectively keeping parts of his body intangible, he hunkers down within the vegetation and peers out into the foliage.
His tail flicks within the brush behind him. Sporadically, without rhythm.
Inside, he hears a clicking of approval and echoes the sentiment, allowing it to rattle free from his own throat. It even feels as if there's a hand on his shoulder, holding him steady. Telling him to wait. He does so without argument.
It takes a few minutes, but soft hoof-steps steadily draw closer. Thumping faintly against the ground below as the snow swallows the sound. Ice forms at the ends of Danny's fingers, growing into curled talons that promptly itch to be used.
'Not yet.'
Danny's exhales are smooth and even. He flicks his tail in the brush to further expel excess energy. To keep calm and keep still. His muscles rattle inside, twisting and winding up in anticipation. His heart beats just a little harder. His mind slows to a crawl as he focuses on those incoming steps.
Were he human, he wouldn't be anywhere near this patient. Hell, were he human, and thus, had a clock ticking down on his life cycle, he'd be anxious. Fidgety. Fussy. Sweating. He might even scare his food away. But when you literally have all the time in the world and then some, patience is not so scarce anymore.
Once again, another bright side to his state; the art of patience.
Good things come to those who wait...
Something feels like he's being pat on the head for coming to that understanding.
Finally, food. A full rack breaches, pushes through the branches. Its points are sharp and shimmering in the beams of light that pierce the forest.
Danny feels himself wiggle the lower end of his spine to prime himself.
'Not yet.'
A deep exhale of warm air floats up into the trees, followed by a snort and he spots an ear twitching. His claws sink further into the soil for traction.
'Almost...'
A powerful hoof crunches rotting foliage as it steps into a clearing. Into better view. Danny braces a bare foot against the forest floor and another phantom touch comes to his left shoulder. A reminder to keep still.
'Hold it...'
A brown pelt thickened for the weather enters into view and its head cranes upwards, looking around.
'Little more...'
It turns in its steps, exposing its sid-
"-NOW!"
The various little springs that make up his frame uncoil and release. Sharply, swiftly, suddenly. He launches forward, eyes thinned to slits, fangs and claws out.
-
"He can't have gone far," Plasmius muses as it looks out across the land, "I doubt he'll wander too much."
Vlad grunts. "It's not how far he'll wander that bothers me. It's that he wandered at all. Unleashing a supernatural predator into the living wilderness was not part of the plan."
"You worry too much," Plasmius chuckles, "He's far too pliant for a predator."
Vlad glares. "Remind me, where have you been for the last four years?"
"Oh, please. He's practically a kitten."
There's a snappy comeback on the tip of his tongue with a sharp retort to follow, but just as he opens his mouth to speak, a strangled bellow escapes from the forest. Disturbing the seasonal quiet and catching their attention, they both stop to look. A full buck comes barreling out of the greenery, kicking and bucking as hard as it can while blood trails across the plain. The source of its agony? Four fresh, ugly gashes in its side. The run is haphazard and panicked, almost uncoordinated.
Flesh hangs in grueling ribbon work and flutters in the breeze. Its ribs are exposed and flex with every labored breath, pushing more blood to the surface with each passing moment.
Vlad quirks a brow and briefly glances at his demonic half.
The buck missteps, staggers and faceplants into the snow about two hundred feet out, heaving hoarse breaths into the frigid air. From the vegetation, Danny lazily floats out into the light, parallel to the ground. Tail swaying and twitching behind him, blood splashed across his hands and shirt. He reaches the animal and his tail lashes out, wrapping around its throat and proceeds to squeeze.
The buck flails in his hold. Kicking, twisting and grunting loudly to get free. Danny shifts with it and continues cinching his tail until he feels something shift in his grip. Several bones give a sickening pop that rolls over the hillside. Then, he just hovers there for a moment. Staring down at the silent creature with an expression Vlad doesn't recognize.
And for the first time, Plasmius feels unsettled.
Vlad can practically hear its stomach twist and roil. He looks up at the gargoyle and extends an open hand out towards the bloodshed...
"Well? Aren't you going to go pet your kitten?"
Plasmius swallows. Audibly gulps, in actuality. "...I seem to be at something of a loss. I cannot decide if I am further smitten with him, mildly terrified, or both."
Vlad smirks. "Welcome to my world."
Danny unfurls his tail and plops down in the snow before the deer. He snaps a piece of its rack off and proceeds to cut into the flesh.
"Also, the concept of food is very suddenly unattractive." It almost wants to ask if such a change of feeling is common.
Vlad could make another joke. He could give a witty reply. There's several he could choose from. But he can sense that such responses are not what Plasmius needs. He thinks carefully before speaking again.
"We've already made the decision to pursue him. You've already gotten a feel for him. You've even gotten your own wounds by him."
The beast looks down at its tattered sleeves that are stained green.
"This," he motions towards the felled hunt, "this is what I was talking about in the manor. He's a delight and a threat at the same time. Keeping him means keeping every part of him. The good, the bad, the emotional, the temperamental, and the gore. You cannot just choose to misinterpret his various behaviors because it makes you feel better or paints a prettier picture. What you called a fear response could not have been further from the truth."
They watch the younger halfa chew at a piece of meat.
"By the same token, he'll be taking on the two of us. Split and whole, with all of our bickering, of which he'll likely only get half of, most of the time. Along with my reclusiveness, my unresolved bitterness towards his parents, my insecurities, my trauma, my fits, my occasional binges with alcohol, your insecurities, your fits, your unresolved bitterness towards his parents, your-"
"-alright! I get it! What's your point?!"
Vlad glares again. "My point is that he's willing to take us as he sees us. Whether we are as one cohesive unit or thirty feet apart. Which means we need to take him as we see him. You may be a manifestation of my own denials, but you think for yourself. At times, you literally think for yourself. I will not have you dismissing any part of him. Those pieces that make you uncomfortable are crucial to making the rest of him. You take him in every aspect, or you don't take him at all. Are we clear?"
Plasmius seems to soften and gives a silent nod.
"Good. Now, let's see if we can talk him into sharing."
- 53
- 54
- 55
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Kindred Spirits