Prompt IV: Alarm

A bark came from further into the trees. Yugi stopped and stood at attention, every fur on his back raised in alarm. Yami froze at his side, ears flattening against his head as other wolves carried the slight noise through the forest. Abruptly Yugi turned his head, staring at him with brilliant blue-specked eyes. He peered at him for a long time, then flattened his ears and lowered his head.

We can't go out tonight, he said quietly. He looked guilty as he faced him. That was Ryou. There are people in the area right now. Everyone has to stay put.

Yami blinked. People were in the area? His ears pricked forward, eyes widening. Did that mean his family had finally found his scent? Were they following it? He turned his head and listened. The barking had ceased and everything seemed quiet again. He glanced at Yugi sideways for a moment.

He looked so guilty and upset for him.

That's okay, he finally murmured. He wagged his tail and opened his mouth to show off his teeth in a sloppy grin. We can go tomorrow.

Yugi looked hesitant, then shook his head. No, Yami, I don't think that's safe.

But what about my mom and dad or Atem? They might not know to come this way to find me.

Yugi stared at him with something of an expression Yami couldn't entirely read. And then finally the paler wolf nodded almost uncertainly. Okay, we'll… We'll go tomorrow then. Tonight though, let's, uh, go back to the house, okay?

Yami flattened his ears against his head. He wasn't used to the pack voices and signals yet. They barked in alarm, as if they were dogs, and didn't always relay messages or images to one another. Sometimes it was just noise.

Yami glanced over his shoulder towards the path leading to his home territory. Then he turned back and considered his friend. Maybe Yugi was always with him like this because he was the next in line when his parents stepped down from leadership. For the moment he acted as an omega due to age—all yearlings were naturally omegas due to their childish natures and shorter attention spans—they'd been grooming him for a while. He could tell that much.

The other yearlings immediately deferred to him. When there were small squabbles—over something as simple as who took whose backpack or pencil or game cartridge or whatever—they came to him. Yugi would take in details, then fix the problem. Sometimes it required taking the bag back when the others were playing with it or giving them a new pencil. Sometimes it was simple as telling them they were both right and that meant they should be neutral and respect the other's opinion.

Yami remembered Atem acting that way much of the time. But their pack was a lot smaller and Yami had the feeling Atem was like that just because it was his personality. He was always charismatic and easygoing until someone pushed too far. He didn't raise his voice often. He always grinned and resolved issues without bloodshed, even when it came to some of the humans being bullies and physically hurting each other. He'd stepped in once to tell off one of the boys when they'd looked at Yami the wrong way and the verbal warning had almost turned to physical blows. But it was done a second later, when Atem snapped at him to back off once more.

Yami, on the other hand, had mostly stuck to himself and his family. He hadn't wanted trouble. He never wanted attention and he always left any scene that had the potential to turn into an issue. He kept his head down and didn't try to make friends, though he was polite when other people spoke to him or were friendly in any manner.

Yugi reminded him a lot of Atem.

Yami, please, I promise if they're looking for you, they'll know to come this way.

But how can you be sure?

Because I talked my grandpa into having someone near the border every day just in case. Yugi tilted his head and wagged his tail in a slow, almost gentle manner. His ears folded back and then flicked forward and he wagged his tail faster a moment later. I don't want your parents not to be able to find you. You're my friend. Friends help each other. So, I told Grandpa to have someone at the border every day until—

Yami would have cried had he been human. He leaped forward, startling Yugi, and licked his face rigorously, tail wagging so hard he swore he saw doubles. Yugi let out a surprised noise, then wagged his tail in response, laughing at him.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yugi wagged his tail in response, waiting until Yami stopped before licking him just as fiercely. Yami squeaked and tried to dodge away, but Yugi pounced on him. Yami whined and flattened his ears as Yugi licked and licked until he got tired and burrowed into his side.

Yugi looked over after a moment, eyes widening with delight. Oh! Your muzzle has the tiniest little bit of silver!

The black male tilted his head. You didn't know?

The paler wolf flattened his ears. I don't always notice stuff like that, he grumbled. Plus, usually it's a lot darker when we're like this. I just never saw it before.

Yami flicked an ear. That was true. They'd usually be moving by now and Yami always looked pitch black when he was beneath the night sky. Atem had started calling him his little shadow because of it.

Well, I did notice your undercoat is silver.

Yami tilted his head and wagged his tail rapidly. And yours is gold!

Yugi snorted and grinned at him sloppily. They call it tawny, but I like gold more.

The black wolf tilted his head the other way, peering at him in confusion. Tawny is a nice name for the color.

I like gold more, Yugi stated definitively, leaning forward to lick his nose, because you said it.