Warnings: Referenced Death, Mild Cursing
Prompt VI: Movement
Yami sprinted for the old den. The trees were a blur and his lungs ached. His paws were screaming with pain and his legs were too stretched. He panted and watched his breath come in puffs from the autumn chill. His tongue hurt when he skidded, mouth clamping shut on it for a single moment. He barely avoided hitting the tree that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of him. He scrambled across its roots, claws hooking briefly on the bark, and hurried away again.
The pack had heard he was running.
One of them had let out a long, distressed howl that had caused movement from every end of the territory. He'd heard them, rushing about and working in unity to find the source of the howl's pain.
He didn't recognize who had bayed like that; he was too new to memorize them all.
Yearlings were terrible at that kind of thing until they were at least hunting. Around that time they learned to memorize noises and howls. They'd die otherwise. Yami was too young to join a hunt; he'd always stayed behind with Atem or one of his cousins.
He flattened his ears and slowed his pace.
The den was coming up. He could tell that much. He'd never have forgotten it, no matter what. He may not have had the most intelligence or cunning, but he still possessed perfect recall as any other wolf did.
The den looked inviting as usual, although a small sense of unease crept through him now.
Something felt off.
He slowed to a stop, listening and straining his ears.
He'd never been particularly good at pinpointing sounds on his own. Yearlings were usually so closely monitored that they didn't develop those skills until they were nearer juvenile age. He craned his neck, looking around, and slowly lowered himself to a crouch.
There were voices.
Someone was whispering about their hunt.
But he didn't recognize the voice.
And it wasn't in his head.
Yami pricked his ears forward. Human voices; they were human.
It wasn't the lower, slightly guttural pitch a mature wolf owned when they spoke as a human. It was simply human.
Yami tilted his head and blinked in the dark. He could see well enough, but the moon was somewhat blocked by clouds and his sight was limited from the lack of light. He craned his neck and peered into the dark. The trees whistled with a breeze and a small clump of pine fell from a stirred branch.
A light flickered into existence further into the trees. It flashed and danced, a small yellow halo forming around its edges.
Yami bristled, fear creeping through him. They had started a fire. He didn't know why they would have done such a thing. The area they were in was technically a national park, where the wildlife was preserved and anyone who did something so foolish as to threaten them in any way could be punished. He'd heard it was jail time, which Atem had told him meant people got thrown into a cage and fed limited meals and only allowed to shower in groups. He'd said something about not dropping soap, but their mom had scolded him immediately after.
Yami had no idea what it meant. He just knew it was supposed to be a bad thing, considering how firmly Atem had been yelled at. Afterwards his older brother had simply grinned and ruffled hair and told him he'd find out eventually at school because all of the people there were juice boxes.
He'd asked what that meant and Atem had winked at him, saying, "Mom won't let me say douche bag," ruffled his hair again, and run off when his mom shrieked that he wasn't allowed to say that.
Yami wriggled his nose, breathing in deeply. The distance was too far for the smoke to travel in any manner.
He flicked an ear. Someone was coming up behind him.
He turned on them, baring his teeth and bristling fearfully. The other wolf faltered a few feet away, then dropped to their belly and peered at him hesitantly. Yami blinked, staring into a pair of eyes that glowed a deep, disturbing shade of purple in the dark. Their pupils were pinpricks and their body quivered as if he were vibrating with tension.
Yami stared at him until his eyes hurt. Yugi…
The white wolf wagged his tail slightly, expression uncertain and nervous. Yami, I… What are you doing here?
The better question is why you followed me, he scoffed, borrowing one of Atem's most common quips. "The better question is" had been one of his favorite things to say when Yami asked him anything. He figured that meant Atem didn't know the answers, but he'd never pointed it out.
You're going to get hurt. I… Yugi flattened his ears further. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I just didn't want to hurt you—
Yami flicked an ear in the direction of the humans, listening intently and bristling. Then his head snapped up and he froze in place.
Yami?! Yugi hissed more urgently. Yami!
He knew that voice. He did.
That's Atem! he blurted, tail wagging rapidly. That's Atem! I hear Atem!
Yugi flinched as if he'd been struck. What? No, Yami, that's not possible.
Yami shook his head insistently. That's him. I know his voice. I'd know it anywhere!
The paler wolf stared at him for a long minute. His fur rose and fell in a shuddering bristle. Yami… he whispered. Then he shifted closer. Please, don't go over there. They have guns and—
Atem will protect me.
Yugi bore his teeth. Enough, Yami! Atem is dead, okay?! He's dead. Your pack is dead.
Yami turned his head, startled by the ferocity in his voice. He blinked, then bristled and snapped his teeth at him. He's. Not. Dead. He turned his head back toward the sound of voices. It was Atem's. He was talking in a soft, baritone voice that sounded like river water and golden summer breezes. Yami huffed and turned back. You're a…a juice box!
Yugi blinked in contusion. A… What?
Douche bag! he snapped when he remembered it was only himself and Atem who used the term "juice box". Besides, he wasn't a baby and who was going to stop him? You're a douche bag. Leave me alone.
Yami—
Yami scowled for a single moment, then turned and started creeping forward. Atem was still talking, something about "guns" and "hunters" and—he'd said his name! He said it!
Yami scrambled forward, bolting towards them.
And then he hit the ground so hard he swore his lungs burst.
He yelped. Atem's voice stopped. Every noise ceased but for Yugi breathing against his scruff. His teeth were dug in and his body was quivering. Yami could see his leg shaking in front of his eyes. Yami bristled tearfully and flattened his ears against his skull.
The pack was circling around them now, listening and shifting about like gray and silver shadows. The darkness camouflaged them, but Yugi was a sore spot against the ground. Yami could hear them coming now, entire body quivering with excitement. Yugi began to tremble fearfully, as if he had just realized his predicament as well.
Yami shrugged him off when he released him. Then he shoved him to the ground and pressed him there, laying across his back to offer some semblance of camouflage. The pack was there. They'd fight them off if it was human hunters. It might be violent, but they'd do it.
He blinked when a shadow shifted near a tree. Yami strained his eyes, at first unsure of the definitive shape, and then bristled with excitement.
Atem! he burst out. He sprang forward, but didn't get far. Yugi's teeth snapped shut on his tail, holding him in place. Yami screeched and spun around, eyes wide with shock. But Yugi was staring at him with a terrified expression.
Yami turned back. His brother was wary as he stood those few yards back, staring at the display with an unreadable expression. Then he wandered forward.
"You found the Motou pack?" he murmured and his eyes flickered to Yugi. "How…?"
Yami flattened his ears, ducking his head, and tried to wag his tail. He whined loudly and tried again but Yugi refused to release.
Atem blinked, eyes a shadowy crimson with hints of violet, and then glanced over his shoulder. "Stay there," he murmured before turning back. His voice was astonished, cracking faintly. "Yami, how the hell are you still even alive?"
