literature

Only Us [DOTW]

Deviation Actions

Aschefall's avatar
By
Aschefall
Published:
819 Views

Literature Text

Wyvern Falls, the night of the full-moon.
Featuring Malachi and Kaen

[DOTW] Malachi RP Medallion by Aschefall

On most days, forgetting went remarkably well. Winter meant work, and work meant keeping busy - the paws, the ears, the eyes, and, most importantly, the mind. When Malachi wasn't spending time keeping up with his packmates, he was working, and it was hard to think about much more than the present when on the hunt, where your next meal, and your life, depended on whether or not you could stay alert. The kick of charging deer was enough to remind you of that.

But in the stillness of tonight, forgetting would be harder to work for. By now he had dealt with enough full moons to know the places to go to avoid his packmates on their solemn night of reflection, and Malachi was well removed from Watcher's Willow by the time the sun sank into the moon's deep and churning depth. The pitch reminded him of the ocean, and the sky lit with a certain brilliance tonight, lighting the thick clouds with a fiery bite and setting all of Chandor ablaze in an otherworldly glow. Beautiful, really, the way the light played with the slow cascade of Wyvern Falls, partially thawed by the coming spring. He could lose himself in the sky and the lulling crash of water, and from his solitary perch, he sought to do this very thing.


The full moon shown beautifully over the clearing where the Chandorians sang and danced their cares away. Kaen's packmates put their all into celebrating their new members whilst remembering the fallen that they loved so dearly in life, she couldn't help but appreciate their fervour. While this day was the celebration of remembrance, Kaen thought of her lost family quite often. Whether it was quietly mourning her mother and sister, hoping desperately for her father, or fearing the thought of her brother, Kaen's family was on her mind frequently. It simultaneously made her so glad to have Chandor, a whole pack of family that was as dedicated to her as she was now to them. Yet, some of her family was absent from the fesitivities, notably the one she was closest to. She had noticed a few months ago that Malachi was never around for Remembrance, and before she hadn't felt that it would be proper to question it, but now she couldn't bury her curiosity. Kaen had to at least see where he was, she wouldn't demand that he explain himself, but she had to at least see him once tonight.

Tracking a wolf in the snow was never easy, but luckily for Kaen she had a sharp sense of smell, her senses well suited to her task as a Lynx. It took her a while of travel across the territory to find his trail, but once she found it, Kaen followed it diligently. Heading for Wyvern Falls, Kaen realized just how keen he was to avoid the celebration. It was also a gorgeous location to just sit and relax, Kaen had snuck away to do so herself on more than one occasion, so she could see why he would choose it. The climb up the rocks left her a bit winded by the time she reached the entrance to the clearing, but as she looked into the cove she quickly spotted Malachi among the grass. Carefully picking her way down towards the falls, Kaen called out to alert Malachi of her presence. "Heeey!" Her dark fur bathed in the moonlight reflected by the falls, Kaen trotted over to him. "Mind if I join you here for a bit?" She asked, smiling.


As the flaming touch of sunset faded to night, the moon took hold of the sky, brilliant, and full. The celestial king looked bigger tonight, and touched the piling water with cascading light. He turned his eyes to the falls with a tip of his head. The sight mesmerized in a different way than the sunset. Twilight still touched the horizon, but soon, the stars would peek out in full, and then, Malachi would turn to watch them.

But his ear twitched at a noise over the gurgling falls, and he inclined his head, mouth pulled to a frown, yet softening to a smile when he caught sight of Kaen's familiar silhouette gracing through the grasses. "Heeey!" he returned in kind, and threw a toothy grin over his shoulder, turning his head to watch her upside-down (though he could very well catch her right-side up, if he turned the other way - but where was the fun in that?). Eventually, her proximity made him cross-eyed, and he turned his head forward to right himself, a shock of warmth in his eyes as he continued to meet her with a gentle grin. 

"'Course I don't mind," and he tapped the ground with his tail to emphasize her welcome. True, he'd come here to avoid the company of others, but for Kaen - well, he would make the exception. "Did you follow me here?" Wyvern Falls wasn't exactly close to where the rest of Chandor gathered, after all, and that made her presence, though welcome, seem much more than a coincidence.


Malachi's brand of humour never failed to amuse her, his head craning to watch her upside down bringing a smile to her face as she descended. She had worried briefly that he'd turn her away, since he was very clearly avoiding the festivities at Watcher's Willow, but Kaen was glad to find her fears unfounded. She needed to learn not to worry so much, Malachi was kind and relaxed and that wasn't going to change without warning. The warmth of his smile and the friendly tapping of his tail made her feel even more at ease.

"I did, sorry." She admitted as she sat down next to him. "I saw you were missing at the festival, so.....I came looking for you instead." Kaen curled her tail around her side, getting comfortable where she sat. Giving him a bit of an inquisitive look, she continued "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but... is there a reason you don't want to be there?"


"Don't be sorry," he reassured, and offered her the same warm smile - though his thoughts clouded with a cold turn even before she explained herself. That she had noticed him gone didn't surprise him - she was, after all, one of his closest friends in Chandor, alongside Nadia - but the fact she had chosen to act on his absence, and to seek him out... no one had ever shown the guts for that. Not even Nadia. But Kaen had, and Malachi felt something turn in his chest and crawl to his throat, cool and sharp and constricting.

The Gamma knew which mask to pull. No major shift came over him but for the beat of a moment, his shoulders and jaw stiffening at her inquiry - and at her gaze, which suddenly felt too real to meet. "These nights just aren't my thing," he said, and eased back into a comfortable lounge, resting his head against the ground and flicking his eyes to meet the darkening sky, still licked with the fading hues of the sun. But his gaze moved unsettled. Remembering came too easy for him - he didn't need another night for that - but sharing these memories - he kept them bottled up and tightly sealed. He always had -

But would he always? He flicked an ear toward his friend. "But you like these nights?" She had been down there, after all, to notice his absence - which was more than he could say for himself.


His answer was somewhat vague, Kaen had figured that might be the case. His reservations were entirely fair however, and Kaen had resolved herself not to pry if Malachi wasn't forthcoming. Being here with him was enough for her. She settled into a laying position at his side, looking to him even though he didn't return her gaze. "That's fair." She said simply, following his gaze up to the stars, just starting to peek out in the darkening sky. It was a beautiful night, though as the sunlight faded away completely the night air got colder. The chill wasn't enough to be uncomfortable just yet, though. 

When he turned the question onto her, Kaen was a little surprised. She hadn't expected to be the one answering questions, but at the same time she had no qualms with it. "I do enjoy watching the story-dancers weave their tales." She responded softly, "Though its definitely not the only night I lay awake, remembering my loved ones, and what I've lost." Her gaze was a bit solemn, but she still smiled in spite of it. "So, I suppose if I were in charge of such things, I'd probably change the name." Kaen chuckled, doing her best not to bring down the mood too much.


She neither pried nor demanded more from him - simply took his words, and let the matter rest. Nor did she leave him, even after he had shut her question down. Instead, he felt her shift to lay beside him, and warmth spread through his chest. She had come for more than answers, and the thought settled him. Did she know, how much that simple thing of staying meant? 

When she spoke, his gaze remained matched on the sky, until she mentioned her own loss - and Malachi rolled onto his back and turned his head to face her - his form less than suave as he worked to prevent himself from rolling right on top of her. He managed, though the space between them lacked some of the distance they had held before. Close enough to catch that look in her eyes, despite the smile she gave.

"Yeah." He said, and gave the faintest laugh at her quip - but his voice ran soft, and his brow pinched with the preoccupation of what she had said before. He had always expected there were other wolves like him, whose losses and loved ones seemed to haunt them like a ghost. Someone broken, a mess like him. But not Kaen. He dropped his gaze, but didn't turn from her like before, though his eyes edged with something turbulent and uncertain. "It keeps me awake, too." He said quietly. "The loss." And the fear spiked through him again, tingling out through his chest to his toes, and he said no more.


Kaen hadn't expected Malachi to roll over so close to her. The lack of space between them made her pelt burn, but she said nothing of it. After all, it wasn't like she was bothered by it. What surprised her more was how he opened up, relating himself to her quiet admission of pain. Every wolf had some hurt deep down, but it was meaningful in itself that he felt comfortable enough to admit that hurt aloud.

Turning her head to face him once more, Kaen nodded in understanding. "Sleep doesn't come easy, and even if you could forget, the dreams wouldn't let you." She said, quietly sharing her experience. "You go on because you have to, and you can do it, but the memories still sting." Kaen closed her eyes, her ears folded back. "Some days I miss my family dearly, and I can't help but wonder if I could've done more for them." It wasn't like her to be so open about her own hurt either, but Kaen felt she could be vulnerable around Malachi. She trusted him, and hoped that on some level she could share his burden.


As he watched for her reaction, he sensed nothing but understanding, and slowly, the burn in his chest edged to something cooler and gentle. In part, he felt his heart extend to her. They were connected now, in this way - a mutual pain he hadn't expected her to share, or ever understand to the depth she seemed to express. But he trusted her expression was true - though it pained him to believe it, for the sole reason that she had to carry these burdens, too, ones for all measure as deep - and perhaps deeper - than his. And he hadn't even known, nor ever found the courage to ask until she'd broached the pain herself.

He didn't know what to say. Her words resonated with him more than he could figure out how to express, and his thoughts felt clumsy at best. "I sometimes wonder that too." he murmured, and he glanced at the flickering sky, before he decided that felt like too many eyes were watching him and he turned again to gaze at the moon-bathed ground beneath Kaen's side. She had her eyes closed - he knew the pain written quick upon her face, and his heart fell. Without further thought, he reached out to touch his muzzle against her forehead, hoping that maybe, even if he had few words for her, he could lend her something of comfort in his touch.


The silence between them stretched on, though not uncomfortably. It was a peaceful quiet, one that tied them together in their mutual hurt. It hurt to remember the past that haunted her so, of betrayal and death and fear, but at the same time it felt good to talk about. It was like a weight lifted from her back, having someone else know of her struggle and identify with it. When Malachi broke the silence however, the warm feeling remained. They both had heavy burdens to bear, but they weren't the only ones. It wasn't a lot, but it didn't need to be. The small sentiment was more than enough.

And yet, Malachi didn't leave it at that. Kaen's breath hitched as she felt his scarred muzzle rest gently against her head, the space between them suddenly vanished. Keeping her composure with the handsome wolf so close was a challenge to say the least, and she couldn't help the shy twitches of her tail. Leaning gently into his touch, she quietly released a tense breath, feeling enveloped by his warmth and the scent of his fur. This was a moment she couldn't let sit for long though, she would get embarrassed too fast. "It's...it's hard to move past, but... I want to dedicate myself to my new family now." She said softly, drawing back to meet his gaze, "To you, and all of Chandor." The words felt almost too sappy on her tongue, but she meant them with all her heart.


Malachi had closed the space between them with no expectations, just a quiet hope he could bring her some comfort, some peace. He hadn't thought they might end up the way they did, with Kaen now gently leaning against him to complete their embrace. The falls seemed to still, though he knew that was absurd - yet for the moment, the world became soundless, and stilled to nothing but the two of them - and he was okay with that.

And then it was over - but the feeling lingered, and when he met the soft starlight of Kaen's golden eyes, his gaze stirred with the reflection of the peace she seemed to bring him. A smile danced across his lips, and where at a different time he might have joked about how sweetly saturated her sentiment was, he didn't, because he shared this with her, too. "Me too," he agreed, and let a pause of silence take hold. Malachi drifted again to look at the stars, but he realized their presence didn't stir him nearly as much as when he turned to look at Kaen. The pull of his smile held, "Thanks for following me."



As the moment came and went, Kaen's anxiety got the better of her, and suddenly she feared that perhaps she'd gone too far. He hadn't pulled away from her, but was that too bold of her to do in the first place? Her nervousness melted away into joy as Malachi smiled at her with a warmth that was infectious. The mood that hung in the air had gone from sombre and mournful to almost exhilarating with one small action. Her heart raced, to the point she felt sure the wolves back at the festival would be dancing to the sound of it beating.

Settling in next to Malachi, Kaen flashed him a smile in return. "It was my pleasure." She replied, her tone friendly and sincere. It had been more than worthwhile to track him to the falls, and through their talk and being vulnerable together, Kaen felt stronger than ever. In the moment, things felt distinctly different between them, but for once Kaen felt like she could contend with that. Laying her head on her paws, Kaen lazily glanced between her nearby companion and the starry night sky. She wasn't in any hurry to leave. "But if you want to invite me along instead next time, you can always ask..."


He had wondered, briefly, if his sentiment would mark the end of their time together. If Kaen had wanted to leave, now was the logical mark. But with the subtle shift between them, he felt a deep yearning that grasped at the hope that she would choose to stay. And every second that passed, from the moment she returned her head to the ground, Malachi felt too good to be true. He briefly caught her eye, as he himself was torn and distracted between his friend and the sky, and his chest scored with heat. He found he deeply preferred her. But to linger his watch too long on her felt intrusive, and in this way, he danced his gaze with Kaen's, meeting hers here and there - but never too long to be weird, or so he hoped.

Malachi grinned and gladly returned his watch to her, now that her words called for his attention. "Then consider this my invitation. Next time the full moon comes around, meet me here, just before the sun sets." He expected to see her many times throughout the month, of course - he could hardly go a day without thinking of her now - but this could be something different - their rendezvous, a secret together. He had nothing to hide - but something in having this shared between the two of them, and only them, felt right. He looked at her with a serious glint (despite the smile still held on his lips), and dropped his voice an octave lower, as though conspiring some plan of grave importance, "But make sure you bring only you."


Kaen's heart soared as Malachi made his offer. The next full moon, sunset, alone together. The thought alone excited her, but this was an invitation, come next full moon it would be real.  A scenic rendezvous, the falls at sunset, just the two of them... her heart was already fluttering. Her tail thumped delightedly as she nodded, a gesture of her excitement that she couldn't hold back any longer. "Okay!" Kaen reached out a paw and laid it over his, holding his glittering gaze with her own. "It's a promise."
dotwfullmoonkaenmalachirpgchandordomainofthewolf
Summary: When Kaen notices one of their own is missing from Chandor's full-moon festivities, she decides to find out where Malachi disappears to every month while the pack is gathering. Discovering they have more in common than they once knew, little do these friends know how close the night will bring them.

Kaen belongs to the lovely toboe5tails 
Malachi belongs to me (:

This was such a fun and lovely roleplay! <3 I am stoked for all the things to come (:
:icondomain-of-the-wolf:
© 2018 - 2024 Aschefall
Comments6
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
smimley's avatar
smimley
THESE TWO ARE PRECIOUS

do I sense a new soon-to-be couple that Nav and daya can do married couple things with :eyes: