Ghastly Woods loving never gave me a home

Was it really just convenience that had Felyx bringing up Dace's unintentional display of anger again, or did he know it was a sore spot? Just the possibility made the younger boy itch to ramp up the rowdiness and really blur the line between play and aggression, a chip on his shoulder that he'd been acting on for as long as he could remember. Currently, he was fighting the urge to not-so-gently knock his own thick forehead against his friend's.

Lyx was laughing though, and not at Dacian. That was about all it really took to give his heart a little flutter of contentment, his desire for simple connection still strong despite his best efforts to beat it back. Back and forth, pulling in then pushing away, it was like his emotions were incapable of just settling.

'Count your blessings, Dace.'

He wished he knew if the remarks were sarcastic, or if Felyx was being sincere. It'd be much easier to know how to feel if they were the former, though Dacian couldn't say he really understood why. Naturally, his response could have also been interpreted either way.

"Sure," Dace shrugged his dark shoulders and looked aside, murmuring, "one, two" for his dashing appearance and long legs, while his paw pressed down and his toes curled, ensuring that a little bit of dirt and debris would come with it.

"... three."

He would count his friend by pressing that same paw directly into his face.

It was a good thing Dacian was funny. Very few wolves were quite this entertaining. Most wolves were good, at their core, and Felyx had a strong suspicion that Dace could be, but there was an equally strong chance of the opposite. Felyx could have been good once, too, he thought - at least, not as bad as he was now. There were no regrets about how he'd ended up, of course, and no options, either.

Dace had options. Felyx wondered, eventually, what he might choose.

This was all out of speculation, of course. Felyx had no insight on the other boy's emotions - only what he'd observed. Not a kind wolf by any means, but not an outright evil one either. Potential for either direction, or neither, should he decide on it.

One, two...

Amusement sparked in Felyx's eyes as he watched the boy count, and was entirely unprepared for the third blessing. A larger paw pressed directly into his face, dirtying the fur there, and Felyx was left blinking owlishly in surprise. Both at the action and implication, because while Felyx had been considered a great many things, - a sacrifice, a tool, an acolyte, a nuisance, - a blessing was never one of them. It was hard to tell if Dacian was being serious or not, and Felyx was willing to bet he wasn't, but it had definitely taken the ginger boy by surprise either way.

He barked another laugh, something playful buzzing in him, and proceeded to shove at Dacian's shoulder. "Asshole," he huffed, still grinning. "Your feet stink." Was he deflecting? Sure. Felyx had never really known how to deal with normal people emotions, so he simply didn't try. After all, what if Dacian had been serious? He might be in for quite a rude awakening someday.

Dace's own laughter bubbled freely along with the other yearling's this time, eyes pinching shut into little crescents. He hadn't gotten Lyx to step back at all, but he'd clearly caught him by surprise, and that was enough of a win for him, at least for now. The look on his russet face had made for an excellent prize, and the shouldering was returned with enthusiasm.

"Good," he replied smugly, lifting his dark chin and puffing out the little bit of white at his chest, "means everyone'll know what's mine."

The implications that could go along with that particular retort went clear over his own head. He began to scuttle around, roughing up the forest floor with his paws to leave his scent and 'claim' the bit of ground they were on. He'd do a little circle before facing Felyx again.

"Back up, man."

His tail wagged high in the air and his legs tensed, ready to scuffle. He didn't even notice that their ursine companion was toddling out of sight, giving up on finding what it needed here.

(This post was last modified: Sep 19, 2024, 01:03 AM by Dacian.)

Means everyone'll know what's mine.

Felyx's ears angled forward with interest. He wondered if Dacian knew exactly what he'd just said, or if he didn't think it through. Felyx had his own definition of belonging, and very few wolves fell into it. He didn't mind the thought of being someone else's in return, either, but only if they belonged to him first.

It was best to breeze past the topic for now. It was likely Dace didn't realize what he'd said, anyway.

Another laugh escaped him at the other boy's display of ownership, and his tail whipped around behind him, eager to play whatever this new game was. "You first," he urged, falling into a play bow, a broad grin on his face. "I'm not goin' anywhere."

It was probably a good thing the little bear had wandered off, too. Best not to get caught in the crossfire, if it could avoid it.

Of course he was up for a tussle. Dace showed his teeth in a wide smile and his brows tilted inward wickedly as Felyx continued to match his energy. He couldn't always equal the older teen's stamina, but he'd certainly been called a handful many a time by adults, and had a history of burning through other kids' patience with remarkable speed. This was probably the first peer to go so long without tiring of the shadowy youth's incessant antics. That was a really good sign, right?

'I'm not goin' anywhere.'

I sure hope not, Dace found himself thinking in reply with an earnesty he wouldn't dare give voice to. It was nice to have a friend.

Especially one you could chew on a little. Dace launched himself at Felyx without further ado, batting mercilessly with those big mitts of his and looking to pinch at the other teen's ruff with his teeth. He was going down, actually.

(This post was last modified: Sep 22, 2024, 06:46 PM by Dacian.)

Unfortunately for Felyx, sparring was not his strong suit. He supposed he could be good at it, in a life or death situation, but just for play, he wasn't really sure how to win. Not competitive or muscular enough, he tended to get bowled over in more casual, mock fights like this.

It didn't mean he wasn't going to try, but really, with their size difference and the lack of mortal peril, Felyx really didn't have it in him to give it his all.

Still, one thing he didn't mind was getting beat up a little, so long as it wasn't the throat. After a few moments of struggling against Dacian's larger physique, nipping and pawing at his companion in return, Felyx did end up with his scruff grabbed and body pressed down against the ground. In most cases, this would've been the end of it, and if it were a fair fight, he probably would have given up there. But...

Felyx gave a sharp, pained yelp, whining afterward and curling his tail between his legs to see if Dace's conscience would take over and he'd let go.

It really didn't hurt Dace's pride one bit to take the easy victories. He maintained that twisting smile of his all the while, tail wagging back and forth exuberantly as the much smaller wolf buckled down - until the cry came. All at once he let go and stepped back, copper eyes wide and brows arched high with surprise. There was an inquisitiveness in his gaze, a question of 'really?' along with a touch of concern. Worry not that Felyx was in pain, but that he'd committed a misstep that would cost him that bit of comfort he'd just been striving to bask in.

Because really, he hadn't been that rough. If it had hurt, well, they'd already covered that Lyx was onerously small. Guess he should of backed up like Dace had told him to do, playing or not.

For whatever reason, his ploy worked and the other boy stepped back. It hadn't hurt, not really - certainly not bad enough to yelp and cry about it. But it had done the trick, and Felyx wallowed for a few seconds more to really sell it before he acted.

What he lacked in size and strength, he made up for in speed, and like a snake whipped around in an attempt to dive under Dace and push up, aiming to throw him off balance. If it worked, he'd take advantage of it and try to wrestle the other boy to the ground. If it didn't, well, it would probably be pretty easy for Dacian to shove him back down to the ground.

Lyx wasn't quick with any reassurances, and Dace's gut twisted unpleasantly. Oh no... His paw lifted to step forward, and that was when the tables turned unexpectedly. Now the whites of his eyes could be seen as shock widened them further, but as Felyx's thin back pressed up against his sternum it fully clicked what had happened.

The larger yearling's grin was back as he let his own limbs go limp. He'd go down, sure, but hopefully his opponent would be joining him. If completely successful, he'd crush the rust-smattered other right under him. Dace would be happy enough with clipping him though, and knocking his friend off balance in turn.

Besides, he could always just start kicking, and try to take Felyx out at the knees.

"Wow," his mirth would be clear in his voice, even if his fiendish smirk could be mistaken for a sneer, "and the ploys for pity don't stop."

(This post was last modified: Sep 29, 2024, 08:17 PM by Dacian.)

Ah, he'd been outsmarted. Dacian dropped on top of him, flattening him like a pancake to the ground and eliciting another round of laughter from the ginger, tail thumping on the forest floor behind him. Felyx had hardly been expecting to win this, but he had lost in what was most likely the funniest way possible, so it was fine.

"I'd like to say," he began, as though he wasn't currently being squished, "that it was more a tactical move than a ploy for pity." A snort of laughter escaped him, and he admitted, "Not a very good one though."

No, like this, Felyx was not much of a fighter. What was the point of it, when he didn't have someone tearing at his throat, anyway? As long as it was a fun play fight, then he didn't mind taking the loss.

"You win," Felyx conceded, peering up at his companion out of the corner of his eye. "I've been bested."