Warnings: Referenced Violence/Blood
Prompt X: Clouds
I'm sorry I ruined your hunt, Yami mumbled as he flipped a stone over with his paw. A dark black and yellow salamander scurried from beneath it and hurried to the nearest place of shelter. The forest was mostly dark, the clouds blocking more moonlight than they allowed through their thick blanket. The black wolf watched it go unblinking, and then looked over. Yugi's eyes were on him, as they had seemed to be the entire time they'd been alone like this. I'm sure you would have wanted to lead the patrol instead of deal with some shallow cuts.
Thank Lupa they were shallow, Yugi breathed, shaking his head. You did some serious damage to Bakura's face. Even Grandpa was shocked.
Yami blinked and tilted his head as he looked down again. He hadn't truly meant to hurt Bakura as badly as he had. In truth, he'd panicked slightly in thinking he'd attack and hurt Yugi. He'd trusted Yugi to hold his own, but he'd been unable to convince himself not to rush forward. It had been a split second decision, pushing himself forward rapidly. Yugi was so much smaller than Bakura; he was a few inches from the other yearling in height and muscle mass was something else entirely. Yami himself was heavier built and broader in the shoulders. And he knew how to fight, thankfully.
Atem taught me to fight in case anything ever happened. We never drew blood from each other when we did it, but he always made sure I was prepared. He taught me every maneuver he could. I wasn't old enough to be a serious threat back then, so he had to teach me how to compensate and use my opponent's weight against them… He glanced at Yugi in his peripheral. The white wolf was staring at him curiously. He was very insistent about it. So I…I listened.
Yugi wagged his tail. I'm glad he did then! I was so worried you'd get hurt.
Yami shook his head and turned away, pulling another stone up and watching another salamander flee. He shook himself out and looked around for a moment. He said… When I was younger, that… Yami fell quiet for a long time. Then he turned his head and stared at Yugi for a few minutes. Yugi was waiting patiently, studying him and watching with gentle eyes. He couldn't imagine Yugi would be upset when he told him. He said, um, that my mom had been alpha for our former pack when she was younger and when my dad came into the picture, they had Atem. And because she…technically cheated on the alpha male, he tried to kill her. So, she and my dad were always on the run. That's why the pack was always so small. The less members, the less likely they were to be found. I think… I think they found us. I don't think it was hunters.
Yugi blinked once, long and slow, then stiffened for a single second. A moment passed where Yami swore he didn't breathe. And then he exhaled slowly. His entire body seemed to sway for a single second as if he were dizzy.
I don't…think that's possible, Yami. I… Grandpa told me what Atem said about the situation and… Yugi shook his head. He seemed to be considering his words now, as if he were afraid of upsetting him in some manner. Not unless they hired the hunters to find you. But that's…
Yami stared at him for a minute or two. Then he blinked and looked away. He saw a patch of straw shift where a lizard scampered beneath it. Then he took a seat and turned to Yugi. I've had a lot of time to think about it, he finally said, voicing an admission that left him almost breathless. Ever since Atem left me here, I've been thinking about it. And I do… I think the entire thing came about because of this other pack. I…
Yugi seemed to study him, hesitant as he offered, Atem didn't want you to join him because of the situation he was about to participate in. He… Grandpa calls it a social structure known as the "alpha and bitch". Apparently the pack all…shares the female so that they're still inclined to follow the alpha because they're a war unit and not a solidified pack. There's only ever one female and she's not…allowed to have pups so… He shook his head. It sounds miserable.
Yami flicked an ear. It sounds like he's going to war.
Yugi blinked. Yeah, but—
And it sounds like that war might not just be with hunters.
Yami…
He shook his head and turned away. I don't want to be part of it. I just wish… I just wish Atem would have told me, he finally whispered. I waited for months for him to come back and then he did and then he just…left.
Yugi flinched in his peripheral. Then he scrambled forward and Yami barely had time to blink before his face was rigorously bathed by Yugi's tongue. He still loves you. You know that, right? He just…had to go for a while. He'll come back for you again, eventually!
Yami flicked an ear. I don't think that's true. If he's going to war like you just said, I'll probably never get to see him again. And I didn't even get to say anything to him.
Yugi flinched and stepped away as if he'd been struck.
Yami wished he could have told him he didn't blame him for it. He really wished he was capable of saying that and not having a bitter taste left in his mouth. But some part of him did partially blame him and he knew Yugi knew that. He respected him far too much to lie to him about such a thing. He cared too much about him to lie and hurt him like that.
So, instead, he flattened his ears and leaned forward to lick his nose.
I'm not mad at you anymore. And he wasn't. At this point he was just tired. He missed his brother, but he didn't want to nip him on the ear as he had when Atem had originally left. That had only lasted a month before turning to mere frustration.
Yugi looked visibly stunned for a single moment, then smiled at him hesitantly and wagged his tail. His eyes were soft and warm and hopeful. Yami studied him, then licked his forehead and wagged his tail in turn.
Thank you.
Yugi visibly faltered. For what?
For not giving up on me when I was upset. He turned away and flipped another rock. Yugi rushed forward abruptly and licked his face until Yami was whimpering with disgust at all the slobber covering his fur.
