au claire de la lune
#1
[html]
et tu m'as vu, une ou deux fois près de toi ramper
depuis tu ne m'as plus jamais regardé

Gotta meet more packmates! ;-)

Word Count → 388


Night had fallen. True to the moon chaser he had been named for, Hati Catori loved the night. Everything was silent and still, the courtiers in their homes, the horses asleep in their stables. It was not the first time he slipped past his siblings and parents, meeting the cool air by himself -- and it wouldn't be the last, as was his habit. The deep shadows turned his pelt as black as the sky, his pale forelegs and muzzle a ghostly white by comparison. Darkness made him feel more confident, an inky cloak that could conceal his imperfections.

As the young wolfdog padded quietly from his home and past the silhouette of the Chien Hotel, he caught sight a small blinking light -- a single firefly, the first of the season. The months had been growing warmer, but it was too soon for any other lightning bugs to answer its lonely signal. Hati followed it idly, wanting to see it up close, but the light vanished, leaving him deeper into the Court's territory. The stars were emerging one by one, illuminating his walk. Tall grass tickled his underbelly, the field stretching before him. Once he could no longer see the buildings, it was as though the insecurity and worry melted away. There were no expectations to live up to here, no competition for attention, no noisy distractions. He was the night prince, at home in his element.

The adolescent found a large rock jutting up from the field, taller than the sea of waving grass surrounding it. He easily made the leap, landing with surprising grace atop the stone. It pleased him to see the clumsiness of youth was fading; he felt more agile each day. The wolfdog settled onto his hindquarters, listening keenly to the night around him. As he patiently waited with ears perked, he heard the call of an owl, searching the wide field for scurrying prey. Crickets resumed their chirping serenade. The little noises here and there caught his attention, fascinating him. It made him wonder why so many of the Luperci chose to live by the sun, when the moon held so much more wonder. It made him sigh heavily to think of returning home again, but he could not stay here too long, lest someone wake up and notice his absence.


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Table by Raze!
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#2
[html]
Polar opposites, much? xD This looked lonely, and I wanted to post. <33 /+415


Night was the realm of his brother, and so it was rare that the sun child would wake at this hour and step out the front door in pursuit. He couldn’t understand why anyone would like this darkness; he was a creature of light and life, colors and sounds bright and loud. He liked to look at the moon sometimes, and reclining in the grass by starlight was just as beautiful a moment, but he didn’t make a habit out of it. After all, as gorgeous as the lunar orb was, it was only a fickle thing, waxing and waning and casting eerie light on the world. The sun was a constant, and as brazen as the prince was, he liked having something constant to fall back on.

His dark nose to the ground, four paws padding a steady rhythm on the night-cool grass, Skoll followed his quieter sibling. He’d woken by chance and realized that his brother had snuck out of the house, which piqued his curiosity. He was far enough behind that he couldn’t see the dark wolfdog, however, and so all he could do was trot along, nose down, his coat almost bright white contrasted with the subtle, dark hues around him.

Eventually, the grass grew taller, rustling as he pushed through it. His ears swiveled constantly at the chorus of crickets around him, but he was as unafraid as ever, even in this shadowy place. He wasn’t sure he even recognized where he was by such a different light; it was strange how the night transformed things. He mulled over this for a while before his head jolted up; something dark was moving beyond.

He caught a glimpse of his brother’s slender form balanced on a rock, and Skoll entertained the thought of creeping up on him and scaring him. It passed quickly—not for a sudden burst of maturity, but because of the fact that Hati would be able to see him coming a mile away. Wagging his tail in good-natured defeat, he padded up to the stone, not bothering to muffle his footfalls.

“Hi, Hati,” the pale prince greeted warmly, his voice distorted by a yawn. “What’re you doing out here so late?” He sat down beside the rock, seeing there was no room for him—although it went against his nature as a dominant canine to be below the other. He managed to push the purely instinctual sensation in favor of being pleasant company, for now at least.



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#3
[html]
et tu m'as vu, une ou deux fois près de toi ramper
depuis tu ne m'as plus jamais regardé

<333 all of my love!

Word Count → 411



The cool air carried with it the scents of the land; Hati lifted his small wet nose, reading the breeze as though it were one of his books. The salt of the ocean was ever-present throughout the territory, even when the coastline was not visible. Grass carried with it a sweet, earthy quality, one that reminded him of the horses at the stable. Scurrying mice gathering wild strawberries nearby left their own fragrant trails, though they did not stir up any instinct to hunt. His mother fed him too well to warrant chasing down morsels on his own.


The rustling sounds of someone approaching from downwind were unmistakable. Hati turned from his perch, watching the tall grass sway, listening keenly as the crickets fell silent nearby. Cloaked in the night's velvet shadows, he felt only curiosity and confidence, ready to meet whoever was out there without his usual self-conscious nature holding him back. It wasn't until the packmate drew closer that he realized who had entered the field, and his ears fell back a notch out of habit, wagging his plumed tail in response. "...Skoll? Did you follow me? Why are you up?" he asked quickly, pressing his form down against the rock in a supine position. In the darkness, his brother's pelt seemed so pallid and colorless, a faint reflection of how he normally perceived Skoll and his handsome golden coat. He did not blend in with the eventide colors the way Hati did.

"Don't tell Mother and Father?" he asked quietly, pleading in his pale gaze. He knew he and Skoll had been granted their adult ranks in the pack's hierarchy, but they still lived with their parents and followed their rules as they gradually outgrew their puppyhood. Hati was not one to challenge authority, and this small act of lukewarm rebellion made him anxious toward the possible consequences he might face. Disappointing his mother and angering his father were equally abhorrent in his eyes, and he had to trust that his brother wouldn't rat him out. He and Skoll hadn't argued about anything recently, so there was no brotherly grudge he needed to worry about, right...? "M'not doing anything, really, I just like taking walks at night sometimes." He glanced back out at the field, reveling in how the starlight made the swaying grass look like a sea of silver. It was a different world at night, but still with the safety and familiarity he needed.


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Table by Raze!
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#4
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Ugh I gave a great first impression, huh? Making you wait over two weeks for a reply. >__>; / +375


A dark tail ghosted through the cool air, and Skoll tilted his head slightly as he watched his brother settle down on his belly. It was almost impossible to see him, other than the oddly sharp outline of his ears and the shining reflection of his blue eyes as they locked on the brighter brother. Everything had that cold edge to it at night, much different than the soft and blended hues of the world under the sunlight.

“You woke me up,” the blonde wolfdog answered to the first question, although he didn’t sound at all annoyed about that. It was different, anyway, and it was giving him a new insight into what his brother actually did all the time. Skoll didn’t really know what his siblings did for fun, although he supposed they clung to their parents; Lottie went on patrols with their father while Hati assisted their mother. The bigger prince loved and looked up to his parents, but he was more ready to break out from their lives—just enough to live his own. He’d always come back to Cour des Miracles.

He frowned at the other’s plea. “Okay,” he said uncertainly, not sure why they’d be mad. It wasn’t as if Hati was sneaking outside of the pack under cover of darkness—at least, he didn’t think so. It didn’t seem like him to disobey even an unspoken rule.

Skoll almost snorted at his brother’s explanation, but then he followed his gaze to the silver-lined grass stalks. It literally was like night and day. In fact, he found all the smells and sounds coming to him stronger than they ever had in daylight. He could take things for granted when the sun shone and it was harder to hide, but this—it set him on edge, and he didn’t know if he liked the thrill or not. When an owl hooted, he nearly jumped then gathered himself a bit closer to the rock, his ears swiveling boldly in that direction.

“I guess it’s cool,” the squire conceded, his yellow tail beginning to dance. He flashed a little smile up at his brother. “Wanna go explore the rest of this nightworld? Or do you always come to the same rock and sit?”



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#5
[html]
et tu m'as vu, une ou deux fois près de toi ramper
depuis tu ne m'as plus jamais regardé

xD No worries there, lol, I tend to be a slow poster all the time!

Word Count → 433


Hati was surprised to hear that he had woken Skoll; he always took precautions to be extra quiet in the house, but perhaps he had gotten careless tonight. His ears fell back another notch, though his brother hardly seemed upset. "Désolé, mon frère. I didn't mean to bother you. I've come out here a bunch of times now, and it never woke you before..." He stared contentedly up at the moon, basking in its pallid light. It seemed his secret was safe, because Skoll promised he wouldn't tell their parents. Perhaps it just wouldn't be as fun for him if he knew his family didn't care -- he liked having small secrets that didn't harm anyone. It made him feel more unique, less overshadowed by his charismatic siblings. It was also pleasant to have such quiet time to himself, free of expectations.

The cry of an owl sounded nearby, catching both brothers' attention. Hati swiveled his ears in that direction, noticing Skoll moved closer to the rock. "I... I wouldn't mind exploring. I mean, that sounds... exciting!" He blustered, trying to sound braver than he felt. In actuality, he did tend to follow the same trail every night he slipped out, so it was more routine than random impulse. He supposed if they did get lost or hurt in the dark, though, it would be an easy matter to wait until morning and let the sunlight show them where they needed to go. Yes, this would be a chance for him to be on par with his brother, rather than always being left behind.

Putting on a determined face, the midnight-furred wolfdog slid from his perch onto the ground, standing beside his littermate. His tail was waving like a banner, anticipation and a touch of anxiety causing what felt like butterflies in his stomach. When they were little puppies, interaction hadn't taken this much thought; it came easier, more naturally. Now that they were growing up and starting to choose different directions, it felt more like Hati needed to prove himself as an equal, whilst maintaining some measure of dignity. He wondered if Skoll was overthinking things as well, or if his brother was always confident in himself and therefore never had to worry about messing up. "Which way should we go first?" he asked, pale blue eyes meeting vivid green. He could have taken charge, but already fell into the old habit of deferring to Skoll's authority. The cloak of night at least let him be more assertive, holding his brother's gaze with ears perked forward, waiting for a response.



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Table by Raze!
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#6
[html]
+403


Hati apologized for waking him, and Skoll grinned warmly at him with a little shrug to show that he didn’t care. Ce n’est pas grave,” he responded. He wasn’t a cranky child or elder who needed a ton of sleep, anyway; his growing body enjoyed its resting and lazing about, but it was full of energy from the moment he opened his eyes. He wondered if he’d keep waking up now that he knew his dark brother was coming out here, but for once he didn’t really like the thought of following him each time. Part of him recognized that this was an independent and individual moment for Hati, and that part knew not to ruin something like this for more than this one occasion. Of course, that same part would be dormant later, but he would be considerate while he still remembered to.

The moon chaser burst out his feelings about a nighttime exploration, and the grin came to the paler prince’s lips, still warm but also a tinge mocking. He still wondered why his siblings weren’t as adventurous as he was; he had the lion’s share of bravery and ambition. His journey with Terra had been one such example—but it was for the best that Hati took baby steps. What was one little trip in the star-changed Kingdom tonight could be a grand expedition between brothers in a few months.

The dark shape slipped down the rock to land softly beside him, and Skoll considered the question with a wag of his tail. He turned his bright green eyes on the noctilucent world around them then jolted forward with a bark. “This way!” he proclaimed as if this were a well-thought-out decision rather than impulse. He jumped through the field, although shortly he slowed his pace and hoisted his yellow tail high so that Hati wouldn’t get lost or fall behind. He rooted through the grass, breathy laughs escaping him as crickets hopped over his paws and chirped right by his ears.

When he reached the edge of the field, the forest provided a barrier of trees—almost like a portal from the open meadow to the darkness beyond. He looked over his shoulder with a challenging grin, but his ears fell down a notch, and his arrogance was almost as blustering as Hati’s excitement. He wasn’t quite afraid but who knew how the woods changed in this alien darkness?



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#7
[html]
et tu m'as vu, une ou deux fois près de toi ramper
depuis tu ne m'as plus jamais regardé

Word Count → 379


Hati felt a little flicker of warmth, affection for his brother that was sometimes pushed aside in favor of jealousy. He admired his golden littermate, the courage and charisma he embodied, and felt envious of the success Skoll enjoyed. He was the first to shift, the first to get his own horse, the first to gain an adult rank -- it was hard not to feel resentment when Hati was always the last. But he loved his brother dearly, and could never tell him how his cocky attitude was sometimes abrasive and unwelcome. It was times like this, moments they could share away from everyone else in their world, that Hati could appreciate.


And then, the world was transformed; instead of perching high above the field and listening to the night's symphony, the brothers dove directly into the heart of it. The rush of air streaming past his muzzle, the tall blades of grass sweeping against his sides and underbelly, the buzz of crickets waxing and waning as he blew past them -- it was exhilarating. The pure joy of running as fast as he could, putting one paw in front of the other into the shadowy darkness, he found himself grinning wide with his tongue lolling out. He could never outgrow that, no matter how much dignity and maturity he was trying to emulate during the daytime. Hati bounded past Skoll's waving banner of a tail, bumping against his brother's shoulders as he matched his gait.


They broke free from the sea of grass, and Hati paused to catch his breath, meeting Skoll's challenging grin with a mischievous smirk of his own. Was it his turn to lead now? This felt easier, like they were puppies again and playing was all they ever wanted from life. "M'attraper si tu peux!" he called, darting forward with his tail arched over his back. Emboldened from their dash through the field, the night prince entered the forest, swerved back and forth to evade the tree trunks as they seemed to spring from nowhere. The moonlight began to fade as the canopy of leaves blotted it out, leaving only a dappled pattern of light on the ground. Hati felt invisible, melting into the shadows, weaving through the trees deeper into the grove.


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Table by Raze!
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#8
[html]
skoll fall down go boom :C +365


The brothers flew through the grass, shoulder to shoulder, a fallen star and its shadow. The moonlight illuminated their eyes so that they were almost ethereal, no more than bobbing orbs of blue and green in the darkness. It was wild and dangerous, and the doggish prince knew that this night was the true realm of the wolf.

For a fleeting moment, Skoll was envious of Hati. The emotion engulfed him as he felt the energy pouring off his quiet, oft-eclipsed sibling. His own energy was jittery and wild in comparison, a clumsy attempt at bravado like always as he sprinted blindly toward the trees. It was a feeling that passed almost as soon as he recognized it, because it was silly to be jealous. He was the sun prince, and he governed his own realm; he didn’t need another!

Teeth flashed as the Catori boy grinned at him, taking the cue to move onward. His challenge was answered with a wordless growl as Skoll jumped headlong after him, his golden tail flagging behind. He would catch his brother like he had hundreds of time before, even it took the entire night to outlast him. Maybe he wasn’t super fast or super strong, but Skoll never ever got tired; his was the technique of wolves trailing their injured prey for days, waiting for it to fall.

His arrogant conviction melted away immediately when Hati was suddenly gone, and he barely stifled a yelp as he almost crashed into a tree. He swerved at the last second, ears pricked for the sound of leaves and twigs being ruffled by thudding paws. Eyes attempted to adjust to the deep abyss that pooled under the trees, but he found it harder and harder to focus. He tried to slow, to get his bearings, but he also just wanted to catch up to Hati now and be done with it.

Skoll didn’t see the root in his path, and his paw smashed underneath it; he flipped over, landing on his side with one paw caught in the gap. His yelp came out as a hurt gasp as he hit his ribs, and the heart-pounding adrenaline made his vision swim.




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#9
[html]
et tu m'as vu, une ou deux fois près de toi ramper
depuis tu ne m'as plus jamais regardé

Word Count → 391



The game had taken an exciting and dangerous turn, leading Hati to weave in and out between the unforgiving tree trunks, crashing through fallen branches and leaping over logs at the last second. He could barely keep up with this pace, and found himself gradually slowing, feeling the slightest twinge of regret for having chosen this direction. This wasn't as fun as romping in the field. As if on cue, Hati heard the far-off noise of a strangled yelp, and the thud of an impact.

All at once Hati found himself alone, just as he had started. He skidded to a halt, tongue lolling from open jaws as he panted, struggling to catch his breath. His lean, lanky frame was ideal for sprinting, but he lacked the long-term endurance his sibling could boast of. He grew tired easily, and now that Skoll had been swallowed by the night, Hati found his confidence fading as well. There was nothing in the forest that should scare him, but it did anyway; an inky blackness engulfing him as the tree leaves blotted out the light of the moon. He peered back over his shoulder, half expecting to see the pale form of his brother bursting forth to tackle him... but nothing came. His tail waved nervously, then stilled, hanging limply behind his haunches. Was he lost? Had... something happened?


He moved several paces in the direction the noise had come from, but realized he felt disoriented and was unsure if he was going the right way. This was the downside to the night world he loved; everything looking different made it far too easy to get turned around and confused. His questing nose couldn't seem to locate his brother's scent, and he quickly gave up on the hunting game, feeling tired and disheartened. If his eyes and nose failed him, he always had his ears. Hati sat down with a thump, tilted his snout up to the sky, parted his jaws, and let out a low mournful howl. It was his first true wolf howl, not the discordant cries of a puppy, and he held onto the resonating note for as long as he could, suddenly proud of the way his deep voice reverberated through the trees. Skoll had to answer him, that was how it worked -- then they would find each other.



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Table by Raze!
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#10
[html]
ugh craap +476


The last time the boy had gotten his paw trapped was during a flight from a monstrous border guardian. This time, he was the hunter, but that didn’t change his situation or give it any less terrifying urgency. He wasn’t about to get eaten by a furious behemoth, and he was in his own territory, but it hurt a lot more, and it was dark.

Shapes that had baffled and excited him distorted into grotesque figures: leaves blotting out the stars, more roots reaching toward him like sinuous snakes. He bristled and snarled, the guttural sound that left his throat scaring him almost as much as the shadows. It sounded like the snarl of the night, which had finally found a beast of light in its midst: one that did not belong. And it would do its damnedest to destroy this light if it had the chance.

Skoll jerked his paw again, rolled over, and gritted his teeth as his shoulder was wrenched by the motion. Keeping his leg low, he took a few deep breaths of the cool midnight air and pulled his foot free. He put his weight on it, dense flame shooting up his leg, but he managed to limp forward, shoving his endurance against the pain.

Now—the prince had to find his brother.

He flattened his ears and swung his head suspiciously from side to side as he started down the wooded path. He tread as quietly as he could, an awkward lurching gait due to his sore paw, and quickly found himself turned around. Once again, all the creatures of the night seemed to be clamoring and conspiring to hunt him; even the melody of the crickets had turned into a dissonant scirch scirch that was sharp and almost menacing.

A wolf howled.

Skoll froze, ginger ears coming up, a shiver running through him until he recognized the boy’s voice within the mournful cry. It stirred something in him, something wild and fierce and not all that kind, but his mind recognized what his ancestors’ power could not: that it was a call meant for him. He set three legs in a firm stance, his throbbing paw tucked up, and craned his neck back to let out a howl of his own.

His was not the soulful, musical note of his dark brother. His howl was a thing that could be described as wolfy rather than wolf. It had in it a volume and power that lacked beautiful subtlety, and a bit of the warbling of huskies and malamutes lost in the north and left to interbreed with their wild kin. It was not a song or a cry, just a howl.

But he did not analyze it. It was loud, and that was what mattered, and as he shut his mouth Skoll blundered in the direction of Hati’s voice.




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