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fandomweekly2020-11-22 07:00 pm
badly_knitted) wrote in fandomweekly2020-11-22 07:00 pm
Entry tags:
[#074] Forests Of The Night (Original)
Theme Prompt: #074 – Into The Forest
Title: Forests Of The Night
Fandom: Original.
Rating/Warnings: PG / None
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 957
Summary: Two men head out for a night of adventure in the remote forest.
It’s dusk on a late fall evening but the forest is already deep and dark as the two men, one black-haired and the other blond, leave their car out of sight of the road, hidden behind concealing bushes, to stand among the trees, still and silent, allowing their eyes to adjust to the gloom. They’re a long way from civilisation, not another soul around for miles in any direction, so it’s unlikely anyone will happen along and steal their ride, but taking such precautions is second nature by now. They don’t particularly want to get stranded out here; it would be a long walk home.
They breathe the chill air deep into their lungs, ears straining for any sound that doesn’t belong in this place, but there’s only the breeze rustling the few remaining leaves on the trees, an occasional sleepy bird muttering in the branches, the soft hoot of a hunting owl, and far off, the bark of a fox. Looking at each other, they grin, excitement building inside them.
With one final glance back at the car, making sure it’s locked and secure, they turn and run deeper into the forest, chasing each other, laughing and playful, but they stop when they reach a particular tree. Behind some brambles at its base the trunk is hollow, making it a good place to hide things. The moon will be up soon so they’d better hurry.
Dropping their backpacks to the ground, they kiss, long and deep, before starting to strip off each other’s clothes, fingers fumbling with their urgency. On another night they might take their time, but not in these temperatures. Late spring and summer, getting naked is a pleasure to be drawn out as night slowly settles over the forest, but the rest of the year the weather is less accommodating and the way the temperature is dropping there’ll probably be a frost tonight. Still, they snag kisses whenever they can, fingers trailing over bare skin, raising goosebumps as much from the lingering caresses as from the cold. They hurry to shove their discarded clothes into their packs, tucking them into the hollow tree, knowing they won’t be cold for long.
Naked, they take off running again, dodging the trunks of trees that loom out of the darkness almost without noticing them. They know this stretch of forest well, as familiar with it as they are with each other’s bodies.
They feel the moon as it rises even though they can’t see it from this side of the ridge. It tingles through their blood and their laughter is cut off abruptly as, between one stride and the next, their pale, naked bodies shimmer and reform, and two winter-coated wolves bound across the dry, dead leaves, their paws almost soundless and their breath steaming in the air.
Racing flank to flank, so evenly matched that neither can gain a clear lead over the other, they race onwards to the crest of the ridge, and pause, scanning the forest spread out below them with their sharp night vision, and sniffing the air, gazing upwards at the stars twinkling overhead. Wolves know the stars well, they’re old friends; both belong to the night.
The peace is broke as the darker one pounces on his companion, growling, and they roll together across the flat ridge-top, mock fighting, powerful jaws closing lightly on a leg, or an ear, or a snout. When they break apart they stand facing each other, tongues lolling and long tails slowly waving from side to side. In human form they’d be laughing again; there’s nothing like a friendly wrestling match to stir the blood!
There’s no time to waste just standing around though; even this late in the year the night won’t last forever and they have better things to do. Turning as one they bound down the far side of the ridge, swift and surefooted, heading deeper into the forest to hunt. They won’t kill, they ate well earlier, but there’s a thrill to the chase that few activities can match. Running is what wolves do best, tireless loping for mile after mile, and swift sprints to bring down prey.
The full moon paints stripes of silver across the landscape between the black shadows of the trees. Frost is beginning to sparkle on exposed rocks. The wolves pause to lap icy water from a small spring before continuing their hunt. They startle a rabbit grazing in a small clearing and send it skittering for its burrow, but they pay it no heed; they’re after larger prey. There are deer in this forest and they always provide good sport.
Climbing the next ridge, the highest in the area, they stop once more, sit back on their haunches, raise their muzzles to the stars and howl. Somewhere a few valleys away, campers stir in their sleep and shiver at the wildness of the sound. The wolves can smell the smoke from their campfire on the breeze, acrid and unpleasant; they curl their upper lips back from their teeth in disgust. Still, there’s enough room for everyone out here and the wolves will be long gone before the campers awake in the morning.
Tomorrow they’ll be men again and back at work in the city, but right now none of that matters; the affairs of humans are irrelevant to wolves. All that matters is now. The night stretches our before them, full of adventure and promise, and their human lives exist in their minds as little more than distant memories. Instinct will see them back at their tree by moonset, reenergized by the hours spent running through the nighttime forest, but that’s still hours away, another life and another world.
This is their time to howl!
The End
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I came to this line and wondered if it was going the werewolf route, and it did! I really like the emphasis on their surroundings and how in tune they are with not only one another but the forest/moon.
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This one almost didn't get written because my computer practically died, but it was revived enough for me to get some words down. Glad you liked the result, I just really wanted to do something with werewolves, but the nice kind who just love being wolves running through the forest.
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