Author's Note: Two chapters in one day! Consider it my apology gift for abandoning y'all for so long and your Christmas gift. :) Prompt from Emish5, "Wolf Klaus after he broke the curse?" Hope you like it!
Oh! I feel it's necessary to put in a disclaimer that this is not a how-to on dealing with wolves. I mainly based the behavior on my dog, so any inaccuracies should be chalked up to the fact that Klaus isn't actually a wolf all of the time. Real wolves should be left alone. Maybe it's obvious, but this covers my behind. ;)
"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Romans 14:10 KJV
Elijah stopped and bent down to look for any sign of his brother's paw prints in the soft ground. It was just yesterday that his younger brother, Niklaus, had finally broken the curse placed on him by their parents; the curse that had denied him of his werewolf heritage for a thousand years. After the transformation was complete, Niklaus had bounded off into the woods in his wolf form. Elijah had scooped up his brother's discarded clothes and followed him, determined to prevent any unnecessary and senseless destruction. However, so far, Klaus had been content to simply run with a wild abandon and fierce joy for life that Elijah had glimpsed at times during their childhood. It was an innocent wildness that had been absent from Klaus's life for centuries.
He spotted a paw print and a few wisps of dark blond fur and he strode off in that direction. After a few minutes' walk, his search ended abruptly as he came upon a clearing, about fifty feet in diameter. Standing across from him was the most magnificent wolf he'd ever seen. He was larger than a normal wolf with fur the color of golden wheat and crystalline blue eyes. The wolf stood regally across from Elijah, watching him curiously, seemingly studying Elijah as he stood there.
Klaus (for there was no doubt in Elijah's mind that this wolf was indeed his younger brother) looked at him with his ears pointed forward and his head cocked a little to the right.
"Hello, Niklaus." Elijah breathed, crouching down to show his lupine brother that he meant him no harm.
Wolf Klaus wagged his fluffy tail once and sat down, regarding Elijah with curiosity mixed with a hint of caution. Elijah placed the clothes he had been carrying down next to him as he sat down, leaning back against a tree.
"A fine pickle we've gotten ourselves into, brother." Elijah said with a slight, rueful smile, thinking about the mess they'd left behind. He had thought he could go through with the plan, but no matter what happened between him and his brother, they were and always would be brothers.
Klaus lay down and rested his chin on his paws, still watching Elijah where he sat against the tree. Elijah leaned his head back up against the rough bark of the trunk and sighed. It was remarkably peaceful here, only the vegetation, himself, and his brother in wolf form.
He remembered the first time he saw Niklaus transform into the blond wolf before him. Klaus hadn't been as aware as he is now. Elijah supposed that this time was different because of their years learning control as vampires and the nature of the curse. His mind drifted back in time to a similar clearing a thousand years ago. After he had regained his human form, Klaus had been sitting huddled up against a fallen log, shivering and looking more broken than Elijah had ever seen him before. His heart had gone out to his brother and he'd drawn him into a brotherly embrace. He had reassured his baby brother that his different heritage changed nothing between them or for Elijah. As far as he was concerned, Niklaus would always be his little brother, shared father or no.
He was drawn out of his thoughts as he felt a furry head tentatively coming to rest on his thigh. He looked down and saw the wolf staring up at him warily. He smiled gently and carefully brought a hand up to rest on the wolf's furry head. Klaus's head settled more securely as he realized that Elijah wouldn't push him away and Elijah began to run his hand softly over the fur-covered head and neck on his lap. Elijah buried his fingers in the soft, warm fur and scratched lightly, running his hand along the wolf's side. Klaus licked the fingers of his other hand and gave a content sigh as Elijah continued petting him.
The vampire looked up at the setting sun appreciating the beautiful array of colors that were spread across the skyline. Sitting here in a clearing in the woods of Mystic Falls not far from where he grew up with his wolfy brother and his fingers buried in said brother's fur, Elijah felt a sense of peace. It was the type of peace that comes when there is utter stillness and calm, one that soothes and refreshes the soul. He hadn't experienced that peace in such a very long time and he let the feeling wrap around his entire being.
He looked back down at the wolf that was almost asleep on his lap. "Oh, Niklaus," he sighed, "I do not always agree with your methods and tactics, brother, but I can never find it in myself to hate you or abandon you. Certainly not to truly want you dead." He mused.
Intelligent blue eyes gazed up at him, conveying a trust and affection that wasn't often seen in his younger brother's eyes. Klaus licked his hand before returning his head to his makeshift pillow. And Elijah knew that no matter what happened in life and between them, neither one could really live without the other. They may fight, plot against each other, and exchange threats, but ultimately they were brothers. They were family, always and forever.
Merry Christmas, everybody! :) Next up, prompt from Prue "Aurora shoots Elijah and Klaus has to dig the bullet out after breaking Elijah's neck. What about when he wakes up?"