ちあき

[https://www.wolvden.com/wolf/9823016 PAIRBOND]

"Oh, I know we're not supposed to be here, but by the moon and the stars I love you, Masaki."

A THOUSAND AUTUMNS

1,634 words 9,135 characters

Gently, the light-coloured wolf cautiously sidesteps crunchy leaves as he rises and tucks his tail between his legs. Chiaki painstakingly picks his way around his packmates, hurrying out of the den quietly and without a peep. Ever silent on his cushioned paws, he is mindful of the noise his claws could make. Each pawstep is directed into plush patches of dying, brown grass rather than the surrounding stone. Chiaki feels his coat repel the wind, but it's not easy to avoid the chill that comes with.

It isn't easy, living in the mountainous pack that doesn't feel like home. Chiaki shivers not only from the cold. His tail raises in alert, but the intruding animal nearby is only a scavenging raccoon. The wolf has never been one to pick fights with animals littler than him, as much as he was encouraged to by his packmates. Chiaki would much rather explore. He navigates around the masked creature as it squares its shoulders, curling its banded tail around itself. The moon is full tonight, lighting much of Chiaki's way.

A little brightness begins to seep into his spirit, he thinks, as his gait goes from a cautious walk to a more excitable trot. Visions of black fur and light-gray paws fill his mind, as do a fond sapphire-ruby gaze which he has missed greatly in comparison to his packmates' onceovers of him that portray nothing but recognizing his existence. To everyone within Mountain Pack, Chiaki is naught but another mouth to feed and another set of paws to accompany a hunt. He is not remarkable, he does not make anyone chuff in amusement or play-bow before him.

However, to the wolf he meets in the light of the moon, he is everything. Masaki...

Chiaki's trotting speeds up as he makes his way swiftly out of the mountainous landscape and begins to break into bounds over the hills, feeling as excited as an adolescent racing through the territory. One day, he will do just this. He will get out and see every bit of territory, every inch of it, follow every trail and discover all there is to see. His dreams of being a scout will be finalized, they will come to fruition. One day! But that day is not today, for he is occupied with-
"Chiaki!!" Barks a familiar voice, and before the autumnal wolf knows it, he's bowled over by rambunctious, large ball of energy. "Greetings!" The black wolf whines, bathing the pinned Chiaki in overly familiar licks. "Greetings to you, as well, Masaki." Chiaki responds, fond.

"What are you doing here so late? We agreed to meet when the moon first rose!" The larger of the duo hops off from the grey wolf.

Masaki begins to investigate every inch of his friend with his nose, and whines when he catches a glimpse of the scars upon his pelt. "Oh, goodness. Are you alright? What's happened? Don't you have a herbalist to heal your wounds? I don't know lots about herbs, but perhaps I could help! Is there any tansy here? Wait- I don't think it's tansy, actually, I think dandelion works best! Is there any dandelion? Do you want me to look for some? Oh, I'll fetch some right now!! Wait here!"
The black wolf rambles, his paws lifting and pressing to the ground over and over, like a pace-in-place.

Chiaki sits up and sighs, amused. "Oh, no, it's quite alright. I'll be fine, I've only these scratches. A mishap on a hunt caused them, pesky thorn bushes." His tail begins to wag, which causes Masaki's to do the same. "You're sure? You don't need me to help you? Because I want to, and I will!" He leans forward and drags his tongue over the other male's cheek, a gesture of affection. "I'm so concerned for you lately..."

Chiaki's ears perked. He sank down in a somewhat comfortable patch of grass, watching Masaki ditto. His first instinct was to get closer to the other wolf in the chill of night, but the latter had already scooted close enough for their fur to touch.
This close, Chiaki could feel the other's warm body, he could feel the way Masaki was panting slightly. "Are you anxious?" The calmer of the duo asked, which caused Masaki to pause and fluster. "No- no, not at all. I'm as cool as a moonlit idyll."

"Another phrase you've stolen from me?" Chiaki makes a playful jab, prodding the other wolf's shoulder with his nose.
"How else am I supposed to sound smart?" Masaki asks, and then pauses. His scarcely-utilized braincells activate in that moment and he then barks out; "-wait! Wait, no, I mean, I am smart. Very smart. WAIT!! I got a gift for you! I forgot!!" All of a sudden, the black wolf rises to his paws and hurriedly ducks into the shelter of a bush, where he pulls out something that makes lots of clinking noises, like hollow bones bumping against one another.

Chiaki watches the clumsy wolf's butt, and seems amused at the excited tail wagging. Once Masaki turns around, the former gasps. "Is that-"

"I made it just for you! It took me a long time, but eventually I got Mieko to show me how to craft stuff! I know you like skulls and crows and birds and things, I- I really hope you like it!" Masaki's jovial nature is contagious as always. Chiaki gazes fondly down at the crow necklace placed gently at his paws by his friend, and gives it an admiring sniff. He quickly picks it up in his own jaws and slips it on in one fluid motion, glancing down at the intricate trinket.

"You've outdone yourself, this is wonderful. Thank you, Masaki. I...will cherish your gift forever." Chiaki gets up to sink down beside the warm wolf. He is so touched by the gesture that he gets closer than he had before, resting his head on his paws and lying beside Masaki. Sweet, gentle, considerate Masaki. He is scatterbrained and clumsy, but his adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit overpowers all. He had made this thoughtful gift just for Chiaki.

"Sooo...you like it?"

"I love it." Chiaki lifted his head just to lean on his beloved friend. Then, a thought came to him. He would not be able to keep the trinket, not if he returned home. Surely, the necklace would be torn apart and destroyed by pups whom the pack leader is too careless to station pupsitters to watch. Or, his necklace could be stolen and worn by some vain wolf that Chiaki didn't have the courage to go against. So many awful things could happen, he couldn't bear to have his only gift destroyed.

"Hey..." The soft, concerned tone of Masaki beside him made the autumnal male's ears perk.
"What's wrong? Are you thinking it's too ugly to wear and don't want to hurt my big, stupid feelings?" The joking tone of the black wolf is reassuring. Chiaki lets out a soft chuff, his whiskers twitching. How does his mood improve simply by being around this wolf, a wolf from another pack?

"No, no...I only," he sighed. "-wish I did not have to return to my pack, to my...home."

"Let me guess- because it doesn't feel like home, right?"

"Ah, you always know."

"What if you didn't have to?" Masaki prompts, which causes Chiaki to halt his train of thought. He opens his mouth to respond but no words come out. Indeed, what if...?

Then, words do come. "How would I...?"

"Well, you said when we first met, they wouldn't even know you disappeared because they pay so little attention to you. What if you just...came home, with me?"

"Surely your leader would turn me away! I am from a competing pack, Masaki, they will not accept-"

"She's nice!" Masaki's muzzle was thrust gingerly into Chiaki's neck, and for a moment he was convinced it was an attack before he realised the other wolf was simply allogrooming him. "She's nice." Echoed the other. "I promise you, Chichi, she's not going to turn you away just because you're from another pack. She didn't for Midori, she won't for you."

"Midori?" Chiaki questioned for a moment, then shook his head. The stranger was besides the point. "How can you be so sure...?"

"Because I know her, she's great! C'mon, at least come with me just to visit? It won't hurt!" The black wolf pulled away from his allogrooming to give Chiaki a worrisome look, one of concern and adoration. He was so worried, still, for the autumnal wolf.

Chiaki couldn't turn him away. "...okay. I will come with you."

"Great!" Barked Masaki. "Then, I'll come get you tomorrow, okay? When do you hunt? You can sneak away then!"

"Around the time the sun rises, actually." The smaller responded.

Masaki blinked.
"Ooh, wow. That's early for a pack." He rose shortly after, sitting up and then rising to all fours. He shook out his pelt from twigs and probably little insects, then turned back to Chiaki with his ethereal, ruby-sapphire gaze of fondness. "Anyhow, I'll see you then! Get some rest, Chiaki."
Chiaki nodded, getting up himself.

"And remember; you matter way more than that stupid pack thinks you do. Way, way more." Masaki sincerely admitted, pressing his nose to Chiaki's just briefly.

The notion alone of such a gesture would've flustered the autumnal wolf. The actual gesture itself in physical form caused his heart to thud rapidly. It lasted for a moment, but before he knew it, the warmth beside him had bounded playfully away into the hills beyond, leaving Chiaki with the cold air in his place.

Chiaki shook off his fluster and made his way back to his pack in a waggy-tailed trot.

After all, he would soon be home.