~~OBSSESION~~ {BOOK 1} (Shadow Milk Cookie x reader)

Chapter 1

But even his bright demeanor couldn't chase away the lingering sense of dread as they left the inn. The wind outside had grown colder, the darkness of the night pressing in like an oppressive weight. Yet, there was no turning back. Not yet.

Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the stillness. The group froze, their eyes snapping toward the sound. Through the trees ahead, they saw a small child, no older than ten, surrounded by a pack of snarling monsters. The creatures' eyes gleamed with malice as they circled the child, ready to strike.

Without a second thought, GingerBrave sprang into action, his candy cane flashing as he charged toward the monsters. The others followed, weapons at the ready. Reader Cookie, with their heart pounding, called upon their magic to shield their allies and strengthen their resolve. It was a blur of motion, a dance of battle, as the monsters were driven back into the darkness, their growls fading into the night.

Pure Vanilla Cookie knelt beside the child, his expression gentle as he spoke, his voice reassuring despite the danger they'd just faced.

"Are you alright? What are you doing out here all alone?"

The child, trembling, managed to speak through their tears.

"I... I lost my sheep. I've been looking for them all day, but the monsters... they kept chasing me."

Pure Vanilla stepped forward with a soft smile, his kindness a balm for the child's fear.

"It's dangerous to be out here alone, especially with monsters around. We'll help you find your sheep. Don't worry."

The child's face lit up with relief, but there was still fear in their eyes.

"You'll help me? Really?"

"Of course," Pure Vanilla reassured, his voice full of warmth. "We'll make sure you're safe."

Apple Fairy fluttered nearby, her wings shimmering in the dim light as she added with a soft smile.

"But the Spire of Knowledge is the other way. Shouldn't we be heading that way?"

Pure Vanilla, ever composed, gave her a reassuring smile.

"It's not much of a detour. Helping this child is the right thing to do. And the Spire will still be there when we're done."

Apple Fairy considered this for a moment before nodding in agreement, her smile returning.

"Alright, let's help him. But we need to be careful. Who knows what else is out here?"

The group agreed, their determination solidifying as they set off into the night, the child in tow. The darkness seemed to grow deeper around them, and though their spirits remained strong, the ominous words from the fortune teller echoed in their minds.

The river lay ahead, and what it held remained to be seen. But they had no choice but to press on—each step drawing them closer to a fate they could not yet comprehend.

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The group walked through the darkened woods, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and pine. The child, now a little less fearful, kept pace beside them, his tiny feet crunching over the leaves in the silence. He looked up at them with wide eyes, still trembling but grateful for their help.

"Thank you for helping me," the child said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

GingerBrave smiled at him, clapping him gently on the shoulder.

"No need to thank us!  But how did you lose the sheep did they run away?"

As they continued their journey, the child seemed to relax a little, though the shadows of the trees still loomed large around them. After a moment of silence, he began to speak again, his voice distant, as though he was lost in thought.

"You know ? Wanna hear a story?" he began, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to look far into the distance. "It's called The Shepherd's Tale."

The group slowed their pace, curious, and listened intently as the child began the tale.

"In a peaceful village, there was a shepherd boy who was bored and wanted some attention. So, he would shout 'Wolf!' just for fun. Every time, the villagers would come rushing to help, but there was never any wolf. They began to get annoyed, but the boy kept doing it, crying 'Wolf!' just to see them come running."

The child's voice wavered with the weight of the story as he continued, his eyes growing darker.

Wizard Cookie shouted after the story "What a weird story! What on Earthbread did the boy keep lying?!"

GingerBrave after him"YEAH! Lying is not nice!" the kid then said "Why, because It was funny."

The kid strted laughing and saying with glee "Oh the look on their faces was priceless! Ha ha ha!"

After that Wizard cookie with deadpanned voice said "Funny? You lost your entire herd because of your lie!"

Reader Cookie paused for a moment, considering the lesson that the child had just shared. The words from the tale rang in their ears, and they couldn't help but remember the darker ending of the story.

"You know," Reader Cookie began, their voice calm but somber, "there's one part of that story the boy forgot to mention. The part where, after all the lies, no one came to help him when the real wolf finally appeared. The villagers thought he was lying again, so they ignored his cries. And in the end, the wolf... ate him. That's the consequence of lying too much—you lose the trust of others, and when you really need it, no one believes you."

The child stopped laughing for a moment, his eyes darting to the group, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. But then, as if he hadn't heard the somber note in Reader Cookie's words, he laughed again, as if nothing had changed.

The eerie illusion of the child—this creation of Shadow Milk Cookie—seemed to mock their understanding of the world. But it was clear to Reader Cookie that the message was more than just a simple story. It was an unsettling reminder of trust, and how easily it could be shattered.

Suddenly, the child's attention shifted, his gaze focusing on something in the distance.

"There's my sheep!" he exclaimed, pointing excitedly. But the group, confused, followed his finger only to see... a wolf. Not a sheep at all.

"That's not a sheep," Strawberry Cookie muttered, her brow furrowing in confusion.

The child's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Sheep? What sheep? See, I'm not a shepherd. I'm a wolf herder!" He grinned, clearly enjoying the confusion he had caused.

Pure Vanilla's expression twisted in shock and disbelief.

The child, seemingly oblivious to the chaos he was causing, called out to the wolf. "Wolfie, Wolfie! How was your dinner? Hey, thanks for the company, bye-bye!" He waved casually as if it were nothing more than a friendly farewell.

GingerBrave blinked in astonishment. "Let me get this straight—this shepherd kid is really a Wolford Cookie kid? I'm so confused!"

Wizard Cookie sighed heavily, shaking his head. "How are you so gullible, GingerBrave? That little brat tricked us all for some giggles! It was all a lie!"

Reader Cookie, unable to help themselves, turned to Wizard Cookie with an unimpressed stare. "You got tricked too, you know."

Wizard Cookie froze, his face turning a bright shade of pink. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He had been outwitted by the illusion, just like the rest of them. Flustered, he turned his head away, trying to hide his embarrassment.