ASSISTANT
**Chapter One: Uneasy Encounters**
The sun beat down harshly above the crumbled ruins of what was once a bustling city center. Steven crouched low behind a broken storefront window, his hooved legs awkwardly folded beneath him. His goat tail twitched nervously while his curved horns scraped lightly against the cracked concrete wall behind him. Carefully, he surveyed the area. The few scattered zombies nearby shuffled without purpose, their groans muffled by the remnants of a world long gone.
His breath hitched slightly, and he shifted in place, trying to suppress another wave of nervy goat-like bleats bubbling up. *“Baaah… no, no, stay calm…”* he muttered quietly, wiping a stray lock of messy brown hair—so unkempt from days without a proper mirror—off his forehead. His heart pounded like a drum in his ribcage whenever people were near, and though he was a god — a protector born for humanity — meeting anyone left him paralyzed. Cursed, or blessed, with goat legs, horns, and tail, Steven’s appearance often caused more fear than comfort.
His fingers grazed a dusty metal can on a nearby shelf. Looting was necessary, though he hated it. It always meant someone could stumble upon him, and he’d have to talk. Talking… the most terrifying part.
“Baah… uh, no, no, stay quiet,” he whispered nervously, dropping the can into his makeshift sack.
Just then, a voice cut sharply through the heavy air, lilting and clear. “Hey! Hey– you! Yeah, *you* there.”
Steven froze, ears twitching. He peeked around the corner and saw a tall figure approaching—slender, with sharply pointed ears and silvery hair that almost shimmered in the dusty sunlight. She moved with grace and confidence, eyes sharp and curious. An elf woman, no doubt.
He swallowed hard. “Uh– h-hi…”
“I’m Everest,” she said brightly, arms crossed with a playful smirk. “And you look lost. Not like regular survivor lost. More like… freak of nature lost.”
Steven blushed, brushing his tail nervously. “I-I’m not—I’m not freak! I mean—”
“Don’t worry, big guy,” she grinned, raising an eyebrow at his goat hooves. “I’ve seen worse. Come on—let me take you somewhere safe.”
“Safe?” Steven squeaked, backing off a little as his hooves clicked anxiously on the cracked asphalt. “I… I don’t really do places with a lot of people… I mean, I do but—*baaahh*—it’s just a lot.”
Everest cocked her head teasingly. “We’ll see about that.”
Despite every instinct screaming run, Steven nodded, his tail flicking. “O-okay…”
The walk was tense. Steven kept his gaze down, hands clenched tight, vocalizing occasional soft goat murmurs—*“mhhh, b-baaa…”*—whenever Everest glanced his way. The elven woman hummed softly beside him, as if trying to ground his fluttering nerves.
Upon arrival, a tough-looking man with a scarred face and a shotgun lowered his weapon when he noticed Steven’s horns. “Is that… for real?”
Everest grinned, voice crackling through her radio, “Guys, you’re not gonna believe this — I found a literal god. Steven.”
The radio crackled in response, muted voices buzzing.
Suddenly, the makeshift camp burst into organized chaos of curious survivors surrounding Steven. Questions flew relentlessly, their faces close, voices loud. “Are you here to save us? How did you get those horns? What can you do?”
Steven’s breath hitched. His goat noises grew louder and less controlled—“Baaah! M-mhmm—b-baaaah!”—eyes darting wildly. The sea of faces closed in, overwhelming the already jittery god.
“I-I’m sorry, I—c-c-can’t—” His voice broke as he stumbled backward, retreating into the shadows beside a pile of scrap.
Falling to the ground, he curled into a fetal position. Soft, frantic bleats escaped him—“Baaah baah baah! Mmmhh—b-baaaah…”—his body trembling as panic took hold.
Everest moved quickly, parting the crowd with a gentle but firm hand. “Give him some space, yeah?”
Once quieter, she knelt beside him, voice low and kind, “Hey… hey, Steven, it’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe.”
Steven didn’t stop the goat noises immediately, but they softened to desperate murmurs. “Mmmh, baaah… h-h-hello? I-I’m s-sorry… I just—”
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Just stay with me.” She brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
Minutes stretched on as Steven’s panic ebbed slowly. The bleats faded to soft, quiet sounds — more like sheepish sighs of relief: “Mmm, baaahhh…”
When the camp finally quieted, Everest helped him to sit up gently, tucking her arm around his shoulders. “Looks like we got a long road ahead, huh?”
Steven gave a shy grin, nibbling on his lip. “Y-yeah… I’m… uh… really glad you stopped for me.” Another quiet goat noise slipped out — “Baaah…”
“Well, you’re stuck with me now, big guy,” she teased lightly, eyes warm.
For the first time since the world ended, Steven felt… maybe safe.
—
That night, under threadbare canvas in the dim glow of a lantern, Everest sat beside him in her tent. Steven remained curled up, his knees hugged to his chest, horns brushing the fabric roof.
Steven’s voice was barely a whisper, interrupted every few seconds by odd bleats and mutters. “I-I guess I uh… guess I’m not r-ready for all of this… it’s just so much noise and… and people… and baaah… I don’t want to be their god if I can’t even hold a conversation sometimes.”
Everest chuckled softly, brushing his hand gently. “That’s okay, you know? You don’t have to be perfect. Nobody does. I like you just the way you are—horns and all.”
Steven smiled awkwardly, nails digging into his jeans. “Th-thank you… Everest.” Another soft bleat escaped him — “Mmmh… baaah…”
“You know, sometimes I’m scared to talk, too. But, hey, look at us now — talking. Sort of.”
He laughed quietly, the tension uncoiling a little. “Yeah… sort of. I just wish these hooves didn’t make me feel so self-conscious.”
“You’re not just your hooves,” she said warmly. “You’re so much more.”
Another quiet bleat-wheeze as Steven exhaled, the tight knot in his chest loosening just a bit.
“Goodnight, Stevie.” She poked him gently.
“Goodnight, Ev.” He wrapped his tail a little tighter around himself. “Mmmh–baaah…”
Outside, the moan of the undead was ever-present, but in that moment, all the noise was distant. Inside the tent, for once, there was peace.
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