Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Yu-Gi-Oh!
Warnings: References to death
Okay, so, I have two projects that I'm still extremely focused on. But I've wanted to work on Puzzle June for a long time. So I decided, between edits and additional scenes for chapters 91 to 96 for Shadows That Bleed and the Of Land and Sky series updates, that I would do a smaller story within the themes provided. I was going to originally work through my older stories and post them according to the themes, but edits would have been far longer and I didn't want to use all my time doing that. So, shorter story within themes and freshly thought up. And, of course, werewolves because I love werewolves (if anyone was confused haha).
For reference, Yugi and Yami are Half-Bloods (standard werewolves). Yami's age is 10 for the sake of the story, and Yugi I'm debating 11 or 12, most likely 11.
The story won't be nearly as long or complex as STB, and it's not going to get ANYWHERE near as dark. But I'm thinking the parts will be a certain year in their life and the next will take part after. Unless something else happens, that'll be how this plays out. So far my outline works that way. Chapters will be smaller and quicker and focused more on Yugi and Yami than surrounding characters or events or environments. So that's why the environment will normally just be mentioned as forest, mountain, school or city outskirts. Chapters will have individual warnings where necessary.
I didn't have a way to put "to infinity" or "beyond" into my story, so I decided to just go with the other prompts, from dawn to bond.
Prompt I: Dawn
Yugi shivered as he scrambled after the other male. He'd been leading him in circles for hours now, since almost midnight. He didn't want to admit it, but he was exhausted. A deer haunch wasn't even worth this. If it wasn't for the fact that the pack had put him on vigil for the first time after their hunt, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest.
But it'd been his night. He was supposed to stay and guard the kill and make sure nothing happened. And for more than half the night it had been fine. And then he'd yawned and shuffled his paws and wanted to lay his head down. And he'd fought the urge and sat there, head lowered and ears pricked forward, breathing softly and trying not to fall asleep.
And then came the other wolf.
He'd been a void of jet black against the ground, rushing forward and snatching the haunch before Yugi had even properly understood what was happening. He'd taken off after him, hearing the wolf trying and failing to eat as he fled.
Yugi huffed and pushed himself to leap over the creek that rippled nearby. He panted, grunting from exertion, and looked swiftly around. They were on clear ground. The terrain was even and easy and wouldn't collapse beneath him if he sprinted forward.
And all he needed to do was sprint and put his all into it.
He'd catch the thief and be able to take the food back and—
He pushed himself until his legs felt they would break beneath his weight. He slammed into the other wolf. They spun and rolled across the fallen pine needles. Yugi panted and struggled not to choke on thin air. He shivered and snapped his teeth when the other wolf grunted and tried for his paws.
The black canine folded his ears back and whined, wagging his tail rapidly. His tongue flicked out as if to lick his chin. Yugi glared at him, huffing, and raised his tail angrily.
Who the hell are you?
The other wolf wagged his tail again and lowered himself to his belly. He ducked his head and shifted so as to show his neck. Yugi blinked, startled by the timid response, and slowly lowered his tail. He was taking a stance like Yugi was the alpha.
He tilted his head and considered him.
The other wolf was shaggy and thin, almost skeletal, but not to the point of being completely unappealing in appearance. His cheeks were still fluffy and his tail was bushy, his long legs strong and limber. His eyes were bright and glittering and he looked as if he were full of raw muscle despite his thin frame.
Well?
The other wolf was quiet for a moment. He hesitantly wagged his tail again. Yugi blinked, then looked around uncertainly. He'd forgotten after so much time with his pack. Other lycanthropes or hellhounds couldn't understand him. They had to be part of the pack, or abnormally powerful. He turned back.
He didn't want to bite him, however.
Yugi was torn between the necessities of shaping his pack he was trustworthy and ready to be held in higher regard than just a yearling, or letting this other wolf keep his food and leave the territory unharmed. The pack would go crazy when they realized Yugi smelled of a wolf that wasn't one of them. But he was going to smell of him regardless. He'd tackled him. And the other wolf had tried to lick him. They'd smell him on his fur. The question was whether Yugi initiated communication with him or left him be with a warning nip to deter him coming back for more food.
But the more he looked at him, the more he couldn't help but acknowledge just how hungry he seemed. And Yugi didn't think he could stomach letting him starve. But he could always grab something smaller and then give it to him and take the haunch back.
But then, if he left him, who was to say he wouldn't swallow the meat while Yugi was gone and flee?
Yugi took a seat and reached a paw out. When he tapped him in the forehead, the other wolf wagged his tail. The yearling hesitated, glancing around for a moment, and then leaned forward. He peeled his lips back and bore them, hoping to get his intention across, and the darker wolf merely looked down and kept wagging his tail. Yugi bit him hard in the head, with enough force the other wolf grunted from the force when he smacked his chin into the ground.
He hesitated when the other wolf peered up at him. Do, um, do you understand me?
The black male wagged his tail. And Yugi nodded slightly before ducking his head and waiting. The other wolf jumped to his paws and bit him in turn. The impact with the ground stunned him for a split second. Then he huffed and straightened. The black wolf still did not cease his friendly stance. In fact, now his mouth opened and his tongue lolled and he looked so friendly Yugi almost forgot what had brought him to this point in the forest, on the outskirts of his pack's territory. He cleared his throat and raised his tail, bristling along his scruff to appear intimidating.
Who. Are. You?
He wagged his tail more rapidly. You're cute!
Yugi nearly sputtered. Had he been human his entire face would have turned red. Now his eyes widened and his fur lost its bristle for a single second. He huffed and growled. Seriously. Who are you?
The other yearling sighed and shook himself out. You're no fun.
Yugi scowled. You just broke into my pack's rendezvous point and stole food. I don't need to be "fun". If it was anyone else they'd probably have hurt you so much.
The black wolf tilted his head and then looked over at the mentioned food. Yugi watched drool drip from his teeth for a moment. And then he turned back and wagged his tail. I'm Yami! he announced, entire body quivering from the force of his tail wags. I'm from the Sapporo pack.
Yugi froze in place, realization dawning and body losing its tension a split second later. His heart felt as if it were lodged in his throat now. He flicked his ears, then flattened them before pricking them forward again. The Sapporo pack, huh? he mumbled, blinking. So then someone had survived the massacre. He was looking at the only wolf who hadn't been caught or slaughtered for their pelt. You're really far from your territory.
Yami huffed. I got hungry and I heard you guys running around so I came to see and then when they all fell asleep, I decided to try to get food. I thought you were almost asleep and I got so hungry. He flattened his ears. You're not going to chew my paws off for stealing, right? Mom told me naughty pups get their paws eaten.
Yugi couldn't help but snort at the question. I don't know, Yami. You called me cute. I might have to take a paw for that, he teased, then licked his nose when Yami stared at him with a horrified expression. No one is going to hurt you. How old are you anyways, Yami?
Yami was quiet for a long time, then took a seat and looked around. The sun is going to come up soon! he blurted out abruptly, eyes widening. I have to get back to the rendezvous point! I don't want my parents not to know where I am!
Yugi stiffened, eyes widening at the words. Yami didn't know. Yami didn't know about his parents or the rest of his pack. He thought…
Yugi grimaced and looked him over. Yami?
His head snapped around. Ten. I'm ten. Sorry. I… He got to his paws again, then looked briefly at the deer haunch before darting off. I need to go so I can meet my parents!
Yugi wasn't sure what possessed him to, but he took off after him. I'll come with you, okay? he blurted out, hurrying himself to get to his side. Yami was speedy, but Yugi was the fastest in their pack for a reason. He was usually the scouter for hunting parties, especially due to his age, and Yami couldn't escape him if he put his all into it. He knew that much.
Yami glanced at him sideways but didn't object.
He led him wordlessly through the mountains, until they almost crossed entirely from Yugi's territory and to the border of the city. From there Yami slowed and sniffed around for a moment. He led Yugi another couple of yards, then sniffed the air again. His ears flicked about restlessly before he finally wandered toward a small den that looked like an abandoned badger nest formerly. He crawled in and plopped down, then poked his nose out the end to huff.
Yugi peered down at him, then took a seat. There wasn't enough room for them both. There was barely enough for Yami as it was. He looked around, bristling faintly. The city was still far enough to be considered distant. But the couldn't shake the feeling of dread that came just by being so close.
He looked at Yami again. Why here?
My older brother told me to stay here and wait for them to come get me. Yami blinked and looked up at him with bright eyes. Atem said to stay here and wait until they came back.
Yugi felt something cold and hard form in his belly. Yami didn't know the pack was gone. He thought his brother was going to come and get him if he stayed put. He likely hadn't left that makeshift den often, which would explain his poor physical condition. And that explained why he would have stolen rather than hunted on his own, too.
Yami didn't know how. No one had shown him yet.
Yugi tilted his head and watched him for a moment. How long did he say to wait?
Yami was quiet for a long minute, watching him as if he wasn't sure how to answer
Then he looked away and yawned. I wait until dawn. If they're not back by then, I can sleep for a little while.
Yugi wondered just how badly his pack would react to his disappearance. They'd come after him immediately; he knew that much already. He couldn't even pretend otherwise. They would come for him the moment it was noticed.
How about I wait with you until dawn then? he asked gently.
Yami pricked his ears forward and then stared at him in surprise. Why?
He didn't know how to answer that. So he licked his nose and lay down instead.
