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Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Standing up, Fenrir nodded in acknowledgment, preparing to leave.

“Ah,” he said, as he patted his person. “My cloak.”

“Oh!” Rose exclaimed, hastily heading to her room to retrieve the drab grey cloak, as if embarrassed that she had forgot to return it. It put a smile on Fenrir’s face, witnessing how his words sparked this adorable reaction from her. She returned in a moment, nervously holding out the cloak, trying to avert her eyes. “H-here…” she offered. Fenrir couldn’t help but smile again. Just the simple things this girl did could bring him happiness; the way she spoke, the way she moved.

“Thank you, Ms. Rose.” He said gently, playfully returning the way she always called him Mr. Fenrir. Taking the cloak from her, he put it on, pulling the hood over his head. Next, he made his way to the door. Grabbing the handle, he opened it but did not yet step through. “After you…” he directed. She nodded, and moved past Fenrir, leaving the cottage.

“Have fun you two.” Willow commented from the hall as they departed. Fenrir gave her a nod, and then proceeded to exit behind Rose.

Outside, the scenery was covered in a blissful white. It was chilly, but not too cold. The wind was gentle with an occasional breeze. It was a beautiful morning with clear sky, and the sunlight glistened off the brilliant snow. Fenrir and Rose quietly walked side by side, taking in this serene atmosphere as they made their way toward town.

As they walk, once again their images contradict each other; petite red beside broad grey. Their forms foiled each other firmly; he made her seem smaller, and in turn he seemed taller. After a few minutes passed, Fenrir carefully moved to hold her hand. He caught it, clutching it loosely. He was allowing her the option to break the grip if she so chose, not knowing what reaction his movement would provoke.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

“Whatever you think is best,” Fenrir replied, acknowledging Rose’s wishes. He started to realize how little he knew this young woman, though he wanted to. Her words had struck him, making him feel like an intruder. Well, I am an intruder, aren’t I? he contemplated, starting to give it thought, and in turn filling him with guilt.

She had a suitor lined up, didn’t she say? One that she chose; one that she may have loved. A man that may already know who she is and could give her what she wanted. Her words echoed in his head; the more I won’t want to go, and as much as I would like to ignore the truth. She didn’t want this; she probably wanted Fenrir go, and leave her out of his life. And I could… I could leave, return her freedom, never to come back… he gave it a serious moments thought.

But then what would he leave with? He would have nothing, and no one; just his lonely cabin in the woods. His only friend a young dryad that, while grateful for it’s company, often annoyed him. He could not live among his kin after the events of the war, and he could not live among humans, being a Lycan. He’d be alone for the rest of his life, of that much he was certain. And what a pathetic life it’s been… he thought, as melancholy began to set it.

Suddenly, a voice growled in the back of Fenrir’s mind. A wolf does not concern itself with the opinion of sheep. The voice wanted to reestablish Fenrir’s confidence, and in truth, had some success. But it was a voice he was afraid of, a voice he had always tried to silence. It made him uncertain; was it the man that chase after this Rose, or was it the beast?

After a few moments, he recollected himself.

“I could go into town with you today, if you’d like.” Fenrir added, unsure how Rose would feel about this offer.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Once more, Fenrir shared a meal with the Smiths in their small cottage home. Much like last night, Fenrir felt a bit out of place in this dining room, and a gruff contrast to these two distinguished women. Unlike last night, however, it didn’t seem like a cloud of uneasiness loomed over them. It was a nice change, and Fenrir found it easier to steal the occasional glance at Rose. He wondered when, and if, he’d cease to be astonished by her image. This love was young, like a flame; very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. He was hopeful that it would grow into an older, disciplined love, which was like coals; deep-burning and unquenchable.

Fenrir perked up a bit at the sound of Rose’s words. She was accepting it decently well already, he thought, compared to first hearing the news just last night. Still, he wanted to make sure she didn’t feel rushed, and wanted to let her know she wasn’t restrained.

“Rose,” he looked at her with a calm smile, “I spoke with your grandmother last night and I’ve decided to stay here for a while. I want to let you know that you may take as much time as you need, until you feel comfortable enough to leave.” Sure, that means he’d have to sleep more nights in the ill-matched guest room, but his discomfort was nothing next to making sure she felt comfortable.

“And of course, after we leave, we can always come visit your grandmother and stay a few days. I’m sure that would be alright with her.” He glanced at Willow inquisitively.

“Of course,” Willow nodded, pleased to hear that Fenrir wasn’t the type to cloister her granddaughter from the world. Turning back to face Rose, he continued.

“It’s only a little over a day’s travel. I often make the hike when I need supplies from town.”

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Don’t say something unless you mean it, Fenrir tried to recall what it was he said, wondering how he had managed to upset her. He wasn’t sure. He let out a deep sigh, still hopelessly lost. Well, at least I apologized for it, he thought, feeling a bit relieved. Still… she looks a little cute when she’s upset, something he now came to acknowledge with the worry was off his mind. Then again, had there been a time he hadn’t found her attractive in some way?

By the time Fenrir had finished this thought, Rose had finished in the kitchen and made her way toward the dining room. Rather than asking him to move, however, she squeezed past him. This drove him crazy; being so close to her, he caught a whiff of her scent. He wanted to grab her and embrace her, as he had the night before. He was only barely able to stop himself. As she slid by, he could almost swear that he had heard her heart pounding, but figured it was probably just his.

All these emotions, these feelings he had, they spurred from more than just physical attraction. They also came from of an idea, one several years in the making; the idea that he could have someone, someone to love. But he wasn’t selfish, and he wasn’t dense. He knew that she didn’t feel the same way, and he figured she’d need time to even just accept this idea. He only hoped that one day she would, and that he might be able to express these feelings. Until then, he knew he had to keep himself reserved, and that’s tough when you’re half-beast.

Half-beast… That’s right, she didn’t even know he was Lycan yet, did she? What if she hated Lycan; what if she would never be able to accept him? When would he tell her, or would she just somehow find out? His mind raced with questions, overcome by the same uneasiness that had plagued him the day before. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. For now, he’d just focus on being human.

Finally, finishing this moment of quiet contemplation, Fenrir reentered the dining room. By that time, Rose and Willow had finished setting everything up. He moved up next to Rose, pulling out a chair for her.

“Please, have a seat.” He offered.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

After Rose had made her comment and left the room, Fenrir felt a little glum. He sat there for a moment, pressing his palm into his face. Well, I definitely gave her the wrong idea… he thought. Looking up and through a small circular window, he soaked up the sunlight with his groggy eyes. Mornings… he sighed.

He stood up and finished a few standing stretches before finally making his way toward the dining room. As he entered, he was greeted by Willow who asked if he had slept well.

“I, uh… yeah.” Fenrir replied, a little anxiously. He hadn’t, but he felt no reason to bring it up. She may have thought it was the guest room, and while it’s true it was a little uncomfortable, it was his thoughts that had kept him up. The old woman had been more than accommodating already, and he didn’t want to disquiet that with his restless night. Even the little rest he got was impaired by his dream.

That dream… in that moment, he remembered that he had one. He tried to recall what it was about, though it seemed a blur to him. He could only recall the vast array of emotions that he had felt. He pushed it to the back of his mind and continued on.

“Where is Rose?” Fenrir asked Willow, clearly able to see that she wasn’t in the dining room with them.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Willow replied, “Getting the…” but before could hear her full reply, he had already walked out of the room.

“Hey…” Fenrir stood in the doorway of the kitchen, directing his speech toward Rose, who was pulling something out of the oven. A nervous bead of sweat dropped down his cheek. “…I’m…” he scratched the back of his neck, eyes sort of shifting down and away. “…sorry if I offended you… I didn’t mean to. Mornings are... rough for me...” It was a strange sight; a modest voice and timid look on this robust man. Even he had to think so; unsure of what he was really doing.

Earlier, in his drowsy state, he had mistaken the red on her face for agitation. Combined with her grumbled comment, Fenrir felt he had insulted her in some way. He wasn’t sure how, he missed distinct details. Often he would when he was tired, so that was no surprise to him. What did surprise him, however, was what he was doing now; this clumsy impulse to say something.

Hardly having interaction over the years, and never a significant other, this was all new to Fenrir. The only true communication he had since the troubled days of his youth was with a forest dryad who often liked to pester him. His only knowledge of successful relationships all came from books he had read over the years, and so far this had been nothing like those.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

“Breakfast?” Fenrir perked up, delighted to hear both this news and that she had slept well. It was definitely strange, not having to fetch his own morning meal, but it was kind of nice. Having just awaken, Fenrir’s muscles felt stiff. Still slightly under the haze of drowsiness, he closed his eyes without much thought, beginning to execute his normal morning routine.

Keeping his seat, he inclined his head forward. He stretched his neck; left to right. Next, he put his right arm on his chest, grabbing it with the forearm of his left. Pulling his arm this way, he could feel the stretch within his shoulder. Flipping this posture, he repeated the same stretch for his left arm.

Afterward, he reached up with his right arm. He bent his elbow, putting forearm down behind head and shoulder blades. Reaching up and grabbing the elbow with his opposite arm, he pulled it toward his head, feeling a stretch in his triceps. Again, he reversed position and repeated.

He now felt awake and refreshed. Opening his eyes again, they once more made contact with Rose.

“Oh.” He exclaimed, realizing that he had slightly forgotten she was there while executing this natural routine. Not being a morning person, he was always a bit more absent minded than his usual self early in the day; something Rose would discover in time. “Not a dream, then?” he asked playfully, trying to play off both this and his odd question from earlier. “Good.” He smiled genuinely.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Rose’s soft, sweet voice roused Fenrir awake from his slumber. He lightly opened his tired eyes, which for some reason, perhaps due to the dream, had pupils of the wolf. If Rose hadn’t squeezed her own eyes shut, she may have noticed this odd occurrence. With a quick blink, his eyes returned to normal, accommodating that of his human form.

He saw her, nervously standing in the half-open doorway. Compared to that of the night before, Rose wore a simple dress, but she was still all the most beautiful to him. He did not speak, taking a moment to gaze upon her as she yet to realize he had awoken. He calmly sat up on his bed and face toward her; placing feet on the floor, elbows resting on knees.

“Rose…” he said tenderly, eyes half open, still in an elated drowsy state. “…are you… but a dream?” Recognizing that he was still partially asleep, Fenrir rubbed his eyes. “I mean…” quickly he interjected, realizing what he just said may have sounded rather silly, “Did the night treat you well?” The question he had first planned to ask, hoping the events of last night had not befallen her Ill.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Fenrir had not been able sleep well that night. He had trouble calming himself, his body still trembling with excitement, his mind still racing. He recalled all the events that had happened, from the moment he knocked on the front door to the moment he left Rose at her bed. He was happy things turned out decently, but he worried of what the future might bring. Finally, too tired to think anymore, he drifted off to sleep.

That night he had a dream. He was his human self, and he was running through a dark forest, being chased by a wolf. He ran and ran, for what seemed like ages, until finally he had lost the wolf and came upon a clearing. Within this clearing, a brilliant moonlight shined upon a single red rose in the ground. Fascinated by the flower, he moved in to harvest it from the soil. The rose had thorns, however, so as he pulled it pricked his finger and he began to bleed.

He could detect the scent of his blood fill the air, as if his sense of smell had improved immensely. Suddenly, he was surrounded by glowing red eyes in the darkness. Up ahead, a pair of these eyes moved toward him. The moonlight revealed what they belong to; a wolf, with a coat of fur as dark as night, and a fierce scar across his left eye. This wolf then began to shape shift into an immense and terrible beast, half-man and half-wolf; a lycanthrope. It was someone he remembered; someone he knew.

“You are a wolf, Fen…” The lycan growled, in a deep and threatening voice. “One day, you have to accept that.” In an obscure angle, Fenrir managed to look upon himself and realize that he was no longer human, but instead the wolf that had been chasing him earlier. The rose he had picked lay in front of him, and now it blew off with the wind. Fenrir chased the flower, as the wolf had chased him.

The dream ended there, but his rest did not. He was never a morning person to begin with. Now, with the lack of sleep, he was sure to slumber well into the day if no one were to disturb him.

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Link - Inspiration used for my last post. Figured it might be a nice share. ヽ(^。^)ノ

Hope you're enjoying the RP as much as me; it's been a while since I've been immersed like this (・。・;)

Flower for the Wolf [Blank/ Lala Kitty]

Finally, when Rose looked up and their gaze met again, Fenrir felt slight reprieve. Rosy cheeks and misty eyes, still she had a rather sullen look. Despite that, he couldn’t help but find her incredibly cute; a delicate red flower, made all the more appealing by the vast sea of white. It was then she began to speak.

I think I may have loved him. The words resonated in his head; words he had feared to hear. He was sure he had seen this man before, the suitor she spoke of, when he had observed her as a wolf. It was not jealously he felt so much as… guilt. To be forced away from one whom you love, is that not an ill fate? The word she used, think, was the only comfort he could find.

Wobbly, she pushed herself up onto her feet. Fenrir wanted to reach out and help, but did not dare to touch her, fearing another outburst. He still did not know how the girl felt, and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds. She spoke again, and all of it took Fenrir by surprise. Her brash remark of intimacy unexpected; her demands all of things that he felt already went without saying. Heh, she’s still just a kid… he thought, realizing he could have expected as much.

After her trembling words, he felt great relief. He thought she had hated him, yet in the short time between her passionate fit of anger and now, she was considering him. Suddenly, Rose stumbled toward him, pressing her face to his shoulder. Fenrir was bewildered, surprised again by an unanticipated event. Stunned, his arms hovered over her for a moment, until finally he decided to embrace her. He held her tightly, snowflakes now gently beginning to descend around them.

“Anything…” he said, a late reply to her previous words. In this moment, he felt something he had not truly felt in a long time… he felt happy. How long he held her, he would never be able to recall, for it seemed timeless. From this incredible joy, a drop of water had formed and rolled down his cheek. Wolves don’t cry, he heard his old comrade say in the back of his mind. Maybe… maybe I‘m not a beast… Fenrir thought.

~

Fenrir returned to the small cottage, carrying Rose in his arms. She had passed out back near the lake and he wanted to let her rest. He had wrapped his grey cloak around her, giving another layer to shield her from the cold and the falling snow. So he entered the home, snow affixed on his shoulders and in his hair.

“Is she alright?” Willow asked urgently upon seeing them arrive. Fenrir nodded. Willow quickly moved closer to examine her granddaughter. “Poor thing, she must have wore herself out. Here, I’ll lead you to her bed.” He followed the old woman to the room, and then he would lay Rose down atop her mattress. He left his cloak wrapped around her, making certain not to disturb her. Visually, the mix of grey and red seemed to go together well. The humble grey accentuated the vibrant red, while the red seemed to deliver some life to the grey.

“How did it go?” Willow asked in a hushed voice.

“...Well.” Fenrir replied with a faint smile. Willow seemed surprised, as he too had been.

“Have you decided what you are going to do?” She quietly inquired.

“I’ll stay here for now. It will be good for us to spend time together in a familiar setting, I think. I will give her as much time as she needs before I’m to show her a new home.” A sound consensus, he thought.

“Come, the guest room then. It’s a bit small, especially for you, you might feel…”

“I’ll be fine.” He said confidently, taking one last look at the dormant Rose before following Willow out of the room.