Sweetheart Hideaway Steal the moon

For @Magg

The night was warm still as a swarthy silhouette restlessly trudged through the darkness of the trees that offered far more shelter than the thinly pines back upon the mountain, but also negated the man's ability to bask in the silvery glow of the moon while adoring its presence. A past time that had stayed with Galen since he was a pup and one he doubted would fade as time went on. Here and there the beams of soft light would manage to filter through the dense canopy more frequently, signaling that somewhere up ahead an opening had to be found.

Molten gold eyes shifted over an inky shoulder momentarily to gauge whether not he had been followed by another despite the assumption most, if not all, had curled up for the night before moving onward, unaware of how much soil had been churned under paw until a large beam of moonlight highlighted the man that was one with the shadows from within the hollowed trunk of a large redwood. It was here that Galen stopped, lowering himself into a seated position and tilted his head skyward, immediately in awe of what his eyes saw.

A peculiar shape that resembled a heart had naturally been carved into its top where surely a thick canopy had once resigned, but now allowed the moon to be nestled perfectly centered amongst the opening. Perfect for a selenophile such as himself to admire its beauty.

If only he could share this wonder with another he found beautiful..

Word Count: 253

(This post was last modified: Sep 14, 2024, 07:27 PM by Galen.)

WHEN THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO BURN

Magg hadn't meant to end up in the same place as Galen, and would have avoided it had she known that was where her prowling was headed. He was far from spared of the resentment she was steadily building toward nearly everyone in her life. Damned if he did and damned if he didn't, keeping the secret she'd created by herself had truly been his best course of action. To undermine and out her would be the most cutting, unforgiveable betrayal her childhood confidant could commit. Still she was bitter about it. That he kept that respectful distance, that he didn't stand up to the others and boldly claim what was his... that he didn't even risk their subterfuge by seeking her out in private... Wandering eyes and plotting steps stilled when she spotted him, his sable features tilted upward to soak in the moonlight. Something in the pit of her stomach twisted, emotions she couldn't name infiltrating from within given the opportunity surprise afforded them. Like so much in what was left of her life, it all made her angry. She gritted her fangs, and the toes of her paws pressed down hard into the earth. "Enjoying yourself?" she bit out all at once, voice cutting sharply across that bit of physical distance. He'd been more close to her than anyone else before this mess, but it felt as though she'd been an entirely different wolf then than she was now. Was he capable of defusing the 'new' Magg? Was anyone?

YOU HAVE TO SET YOURSELF ON FIRE

(This post was last modified: Sep 19, 2024, 11:37 PM by Magg.)

Enjoying yourself?

Whatever semblance of peace Galen had managed to achieve in that singular moment since their departure from the mountain all came tumbling down like shattered pieces of glass the moment her voice reached his ears. The same ears that now swiftly swung back and flattened themselves against his skull in an expression that could only be read as guilt while his head lowered in order to cast his molten gaze upon his best friend. Silently staring for just a few moments. He could sense the building anger that had her body vibrating and for the first time the swarthy male was unsure if he could soothe it for he too had earned a special seat in the core of her ire as of late.

"Magg." He spoke softly at first, analyzing what words to say next that hopefully wouldn't fuel the flames of her anger further. Not that he wasn't undeserving of its wrath. Like he wouldn't welcome her fangs upon his flesh should she wish to do so if it helped release whatever resentment she harbored. The strain of upholding their secret was a hefty one, but he tried his best to negate any inclinations that the children she bore into this world were his per her wishes. Remaining nothing more than a shadowy guardian. That didn't mean, though, that the distance he was forced to maintain didn't pain him. There wasn't a day that went by where Galen didn't feel the urge to give up the charade and come clean, willing to accept his punishment if it meant finally being able to be with the ones that meant the most to him.

Alas, it was one thing as of late that kept his resolve from completely disintegrating, kept him from risking it all due to his own internal strife it conjured in the cavity of his chest.

He seemingly meant nothing now, to the one who still meant everything to him.

Word Count: 325

WHEN THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO BURN

In her eyes, that culpable look spoke volumes. It couldn't be drowned out by only saying her name. Magg waited, breath bated, but nothing more came. Whatever was going unsaid behind his gaze she could not read. Pain throbbed through her core, and her weaker parts begged that she retreat all at once. Her doubts told her that clearly the relationship was lost, just another demolished bridge amongst many others, and so what was the point of rubbing her own face in it? Her hammering heart told her to close the distance and sink her teeth into him, to make him keep talking. Frustration built as the silence and her own indecision both pressed on. When it became too much, her shaking legs abruptly unlocked and she stormed to the right before wheeling back around. Her jaws worked the air but all that ever came out was a faint, high-pitched squeaking that was oddly effective in indicating her mounting outrage. When her voice continued to fail her she turned again as though to leave, furiously paced a singular circle, then faced him a third time. Hot air streamed from her nostrils in an attempt to compose herself enough to speak, but she was torn in dozens of different directions and couldn't commit to any one way forward. Why did she always have to be the one to speak up? Why was everyone else like this? Avoidant, passive. For so long her parents pedaled it as consideration. There was nothing considerate about ignoring what was hurting someone you're supposed to love. "Just fucking talk to me!" she finally barked out, the demand emphasized with a stomp of her fore paws. "If you hate me now at least have the guts to say it! Tell me why you don't care anymore!"

YOU HAVE TO SET YOURSELF ON FIRE