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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jan 15, 2018 13:44:01 GMT -5
(This is an Alternate Universe I thought of about mine and ᴀᴄʜʀᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ 's Stardew Valley roleplay. This AU takes place in a large forest in pseudo-medieval times, where Finn is part of a clan of shape-shifters and Chris is a huntsman. The other characters will likely appear as side characters as well.) (DISCLAIMER: Any art used as reference is NOT mine.) (Christopher and Brooke are mine, the rest of the characters featured -including Finn- belong to Patience. UPDATE: there are some nameless characters in later chapters that belong to me.) Chapter 1
Once upon a time, there was a forest so expansive that no human society had explored the entirety of it. It was so dense it could swallow one whole, so easy to get lost in that there was no guarantee a wanderer would make it back out.
Many different animals lived in this forest, but among these animals were those that weren't just animals.
There were humans that lived in this forest, and these humans formed a clan. But this clan wasn't normal; this clan suffered from a curse. A curse that the humans could transform into woodland animals at any time, regardless of whether or not they wanted to. The clan members felt ambiguous about this curse. Transforming into an animal caused them to feel connected to the forest, to feel as one with each other and the other animals. However, it also meant some could be targeted by predators such as wolves and other carnivores.
But there was one predator they feared the most, even more so than the largest pack of wolves. It was a Hunter.
This Hunter was a human that was skilled in survival, residing in the depths of the forest. He killed without discrimination, in order to fill his appetite. The clan was terrified of him, because he had killed one of their kind without knowing that they were actually human. But the clan dared not reveal themselves to him, because they believed above all else that their existence must remain a secret to others. And so they watched him from the shadows and the sky, and avoided him to the best of their ability, because to be discovered by the Hunter was the surest way to die.
One such shapeshifter was a young man named Finn. He was a boy who had just recently come of age. He wasn't very large or very strong, but he was loved by his clanmates all the same. His hair was brown and his eyes were the color of jade. He was a shy boy but he was loving, when he finally became close to others.
He was sitting by a creek not too far off from the clan's camp, tossing stones across the water's surface. It was a place he liked to be; the sound of the water was soothing and good for collecting his thoughts. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching him, and a familiar woman's voice. "Finn, be careful not to wander too far from the camp." he heard, and he turned around to see the clan's shaman walking towards him. "You don't need to be my mother, Brooke." Finn said in response, facing the water again and tossing another stone. He wasn't upset with her or anything, just teasing about the fact that Brooke was always so worried about him. Sometimes it got annoying, but he had to admit it was kind of nice to have someone care about him so much.
Brooke sighed and sat down next to him. "You know why I worry. You never know what will happen, even if the camp isn't that far away." she said, looking at him with a sad smile.
Finn caught her gaze, but couldn't hold it. She was right; Finn was in particular danger from his transformation. His animal was large, beautiful, and sought after by many predators. Finn was a white stag. The clan put a lot of effort into protecting him because of this; he couldn't afford to attract attention to himself when he transformed. For that reason, he was never allowed to venture very far in the forest.
And he hated it.
"Nothing bad will happen, I promise." he said stubbornly, picking up yet another stone and turning it around in his hand. Almost as if in response, he heard something fall to ground next to him, and he looked over his shoulder to see a beautiful barn owl sitting in a pile of hemp clothing that the shaman had just been wearing. Finn sighed, and chuckled as the owl stared at him expectantly. "Okay, you've made your point." he said, holding his arm out for the owl to climb up. He stood up, with Brooke perched on his shoulder, and snatched up her clothes. "I'll go back. Happy?" he asked, heading the way he came as the owl hooted triumphantly.
The camp was in a clearing among the trees, small huts dotting the area. A tree much larger than the others loomed over the camp, which was used for safety and for some, residence. Finn carried the owl over to the shaman's hut, which resided closer to the great tree. Upon reaching it the owl jumped off Finn's shoulder and fluttered past the cloth entrance, disappearing inside. Finn reached a hand inside, holding out the bundle of clothes and looking the other direction. A dainty hand took the clothes from him, and a minute later Brooke stepped outside again, fully clothed.
"Thank you, Finn." she said, ruffling his hair. "You're a sweet boy."
"Don't mention it." Finn responded, ducking away from her hand playfully. "You're lucky, you know. Being a bird. You can control when you turn back." he said, his jealousy obvious. "I know that." she giggled, twirling her lavender hair with her finger. "I have to admit it's a big help. I feel sorry for you."
"I don't need your pity!" Finn exclaimed, giving Brooke's shoulder a light push.
Those who turned into birds had a special trait; while they still couldn't control when they turned, they had the unique ability to keep from turning back until it was convenient. This was especially important for when they flew; those who turned back midair would immediately fall to their deaths. The clan put this ability to good use: they used it to track the actions of predators, particularly the Hunter. The others weren't so lucky; they had no control over when they transformed or turned back...save for one.
During Finn and Brooke's banter, the clan's Chief appeared nearby them, looking to the sky. He was a tall man with icy blue eyes that could cut your soul, but despite that he was rather friendly. His eyes were trained on something in the sky. Noticing this, Finn followed his gaze and saw a large hawk circling towards the ground.
This hawk was actually a woman named Naomi, and she was one of the clan's scouts. The hawk landed gracefully on the ground in front of the Chief, staring up at him expectantly. The Chief was carrying a blanket made of scavenged animal hides, and he threw it over the bird as it transformed back into a woman. Naomi stood up, wrapping the blanket around her otherwise unclothed body.
"The wolves?" the Chief asked first.
"Far away, towards the west. The Hunter is too." Naomi said simply. The Chief smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Naomi. You may rest."
At his words, Naomi's stature changed. She looked visibly exhausted from flying. She nodded at him and walked away towards her own hut.
Finn and Brooke both paid close attention to the exchange. Brooke approached the Chief deliberately, and Finn followed. "Cyrus. We're safe for today?" she asked him.
Cyrus glanced at Brooke, and then Finn, his gaze warm. "Yes, the danger is far away today. We should be safe." he responded. Suddenly he glared at Finn sternly. "But that doesn't mean anything. You should still be careful." he asserted to the boy.
Finn groaned and rolled his eyes. "I will." he promised. Cyrus nodded in approval and walked away from the two, going around the camp to tell the others.
After he left Brooke stole a glance at the boy. "He means well, you know." she began. "He just wants you to stay safe. He thinks of you like a son."
Finn turned to face her, a smirk appearing on his face. "Yeah, and so do you."
Brooke's face turned pink at his words. "W-well, of course!" she sputtered. "You're practically a child!"
Finn's expression turned sour. "That's only because you treat me like one." he retorted, becoming annoyed. Brooke looked as if she was trying to argue, but couldn't find a response. Finn took advantage of the silence to say "I'm gonna go back to the creek for a little while. It should be safe, right?" He began to head that direction without waiting for an answer.
Brooke sighed, giving up. "Alright, but if you turn you come back, okay?" she called after him.
Finn turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. "I will, I promise." he responded, and continued walking towards the creek.
Soon after, he arrived and sat back down in the same spot as before. He picked up a stone and tossed it across the water once again, attempting to toss away his irritation with it. He knew perfectly well that everyone was just trying to protect him, and he was grateful that they cared about him, but it just wasn't right to keep someone his age cooped up like that. He was never able to explore the forest like Brooke and Naomi could. He could take care of himself; he knew to run away from danger. So why wouldn't anyone trust him?
As he was thinking of this, an idea occurred. A wonderful, daring, dangerous idea. No one was watching him at the moment, and he knew the predators were far away from the camp. He grinned to himself.
They couldn't keep him locked away forever. No one could stop him now. |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jan 17, 2018 14:00:59 GMT -5
Chapter 2
By the time the sun had reached its peak and was starting to climb back down, Finn had gone a sizable distance away from the camp. He had headed north-east, to a part of the forest that should have been far away from the predators that Naomi was tracking.
And he felt alive.
The thrill of being in the depths of the forest, away from the watchful eyes of his clanmates, was everything he had hoped it would be. The feeling of being completely on his own, surrounded by new sights and smells, was fascinating. His ambition for exploration drove him deeper into the woods, even causing him to ignore some of the landmarks he would need to find his way back.
And so it was in this way that he became completely lost.
Finn had started jogging at one point, when exhilaration overtook him and he wanted go as deep into the woods as he could. But after a while he grew exhausted, so he slowed to a halt and leaned against a tree to rest. He glanced at his surroundings, taking in everything he could. He could see the sun filtering through the leafy tops of the trees, and as he realized it was getting later in the afternoon he decided it was probably time to go back.
At that thought he grew a little anxious, however. He figured Brooke or Cyrus or one of the others would have probably noticed his disappearance by now, and he would be in a lot of trouble when he came back. Well, I've gotta go back anyway. May as well go now before it gets too late.
As the boy stood up and looked around, he realized something. He had absolutely no idea where he was, or which direction he had come from. Am I lost?! he thought, heart beginning to beat faster in fear.
But before he lost his mind he managed to come up with a plan; he had been walking with his back to the sun for most of the morning, and since it was afternoon now, doing the same thing should send him back the direction he had come. It was a flawed process, but the only idea he had at the moment. And so, pinpointing the position of the sun, he set off in the presumed correct direction.
Hours passed, and he hadn't found anything that he'd recognized. Every tree he saw, every rock he found, every stump he came across were all new to him. And the longer he went without making any progress, the closer he became to being overtaken by panic.
Soon he began to run frantically, the depth of the forest driving him mad. He had no idea where he was going; all he could do was keep running, adrenaline and fear pushing him forward.
By the time he had stopped, huffing and panting and using yet another tree to hold himself up, the sky had turned orange as the sun was touching the earth. Sweat was dripping off his body, and his heart beat wildly as he gasped for air.
It was then that it happened. That feeling, the one that was all too familiar to him and his people. It was a feeling that sprung forth from deep inside him, calling him. There was no way to suppress it; it was completely irresistible. This can't be happening, not now! he thought, as he heard the sound of someone cackling in his mind. I'm not safe here! But once he realized what it was, he knew he had no choice but to turn.
Thinking fast, he only had time to strip from his pants before he felt himself growing larger. White fur sprouted everywhere on his body as he fell on all fours, hands and feet replaced with hooves. His head grew heavier as large white antlers expanded from it.
He whipped his head around and shuffled his feet, struggling to get used to his new body. Once he was somewhat accustomed to it, he picked his pants up with his teeth and looked around, trying to get his bearings. He didn't have much time; the sun was setting and he was in much greater danger now that he stood out so much.
Hopelessly lost as he was, he wasn't giving up. He kept moving forward, pushing through the undergrowth to find his way home. He knew he had to keep a clear head, even if panic was still pressing the back of his mind. Or it was all over, and he'd be wandering in circles forever.
Just as he was beginning to calm himself down, he heard a twig snap. He dropped the pants in surprise, and his head whipped around to look at the source of the noise.
What he saw was the face of Death.
A man was standing a few yards away, bow in hand. He was tall, and held the stance of a seasoned survivalist. His skin was pale and his cloak was dark, matching his coal-black hair. And his gaze was trained directly at Finn.
The Hunter.
For a moment Finn was frozen; all he could do was stare at the Hunter as dread overcame him. He thought for sure the man would draw his bow and kill him, but he didn't. Rather, the man was staring back, eyes wide with surprise and amazement. Finn's heart was beating so fast he was almost certain the Hunter could feel it. Even still, death didn't come.
Finally it occurred to Finn that he should run, and run he did. He turned around and took off as fast as his legs could carry him. Get away! Get away! Get away! were the only thoughts running through his head as he tore through the forest, trampling bushes and leaping over stumps. He had completely lost his wits and had no idea what direction he was going, and right then he didn't care. He just needed to put as much distance as possible between himself and that man.
Unfortunately his haste to get away caused him to get reckless. His leg caught on an unseen log, and the momentum of his body vaulted him forward, rolling through and tearing up the foliage until he slammed into a tree. As he lay there, dazed on the forest floor, the world around him descended into a dizzying darkness.
☘ ☘ ☘
Christopher prowled through the dense forest, silent as a cat. Sundown was approaching, which signaled to him that it was time to go home and eat dinner. He had been successful enough at hunting that day; he had enough for his meal tonight, and maybe even for breakfast in the morning.
Suddenly he heard a noise, like that of a large animal walking briskly. He turned his well-trained ear towards the noise and began to follow it, bow ready in his hands. He certainly wasn't going to pass up an opportunity for a big kill - it could potentially feed him for a week!
It wasn't long before the creature revealed itself. But when he saw it, he gasped. This wasn't anything like he expected.
The white stag appeared from a thick cluster of trees, walking deliberately. The side of its head came into view first, and then its flank. An impressive set of white antlers adorned its head.
Christopher had never seen a creature this beautiful.
Distracted, he shifted his weight...but to his horror, a twig snapped beneath his foot. This solitary sound was enough for the stag to notice him.
For a moment, Christopher had the privilege of viewing the creature head-on as it gazed at him. The sight was absolutely breathtaking. He froze in place, not wanting to scare it away. He wanted to stay like this for as long as he possibly could; even one more moment holding the stag's attention would be worth it.
Suddenly it took off in the other direction, disappearing into the woods. The man sighed. He never wanted to forget that sight, as long as he lived.
He turned around to head back to his cabin, but then an idea came to him. There was still a little light left in the sky; maybe he could catch one last glimpse of the creature before he retired. He was an excellent tracker, after all.
He walked over to where it had been standing, observing its tracks. The stag left a clear trail in its haste to get away. Perfect.
The tracks looked hurried, frantic. They weren't impossible to follow though, especially since the stag left a wake of destruction in its path as well. I've never seen an animal lacking this much grace. The man scoffed to himself. He followed the trail diligently, picking through destroyed bushes and trampled undergrowth.
Eventually he stepped over a log, and suddenly the trail seemed to end. He was searching around for more footprints when he found something even more unexpected.
A boy was lying on the ground at the base of a tree, covered in cuts and bruises. Christopher rushed over to examine him closer. He turned the boy's face around in his hand; he seemed to be unconscious, but at least he was alive. He was naked and clearly in rough shape.
Christopher wondered what he could possibly be doing here, in this state. He glanced around the area once more. The trail seemed to be lost. The poor kid must have been trampled by that stag, was Christopher's thought. It must be long gone. I guess there's no point in looking for it now.
Suddenly a groan escaped from the boy's lips, and as Christopher turned to look at his face his eyes fluttered open. They were a soft pale green, similar to the color of a jade. His hair was brown, and it was messy, with grass and twigs tangled in it.
Christopher watched him, waiting for the boy to say something. As the boy woke, he eyes began to focus on the man leaning over him.
The boy's eyes grew wide with fear, staring at the Hunter as though he were a terrifying monster.
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jan 21, 2018 2:40:25 GMT -5
Chapter 3
Finn slowly woke up, bleary-eyed and feeling like he was half-dead. His eyes blinked open, gaze blurry for a moment, but when it came into focus his heart nearly stopped.
The Hunter was mere inches away from him, leaning over him like a cat that had cornered a mouse. And to Finn, that was exactly what they were - predator and prey.
Finn panicked. Breathing heavily, he sat up and tried frantically to back away from the man in front of him, but instead found himself pressing his back to the tree that he'd slammed into earlier.
As he moved, he started to realize that he was no longer a stag; he had turned back into a human when he passed out. At that realization he began to calm down; he wasn't going to die yet.
The Hunter just stared in surprise as Finn was writhing around, face breaking into a small smirk as he stopped moving and tried to regain his breath. As he calmed down, Finn began to notice the man's features. His skin was pale, and smooth. His hair was short, messy, and black as coal. His eyes were a brilliant green, like buds in the spring. A silver ring adorned his left ear. He was dressed in dark clothing; made from material Finn had never seen before. A dark cloak covered his shoulders, and his bow was strung across his back.
"Who are you?" The man asked, causing Finn to flinch. His voice wasn't cold and cruel like Finn had imagined it would be; rather it was warm and kind. How could the man that killed one of his people sound so charming?
"Um...F-..Finn..." Finn stammered, gaze locked on the man warily.
The man looked him up and down before interrogating him further. "Where are you from? I don't usually see other people out here."
That's because you might kill them as animals. Finn thought angrily, but he bit back his anger as he responded. "...I don't know.." he said, trying to dodge the question. There was no way Finn could tell the Hunter about his clan.
The man's eyebrows rose in surprise and he tilted his head. "You don't know? Do you mean you don't remember?" he asked. "Do you know what happened to you, at least?"
What happened to me? Finn echoed in his mind, glancing around at their surroundings. He struggled to remember, but he thought he might've passed out when he tripped over an obstacle or something. But he couldn't say anything about his transformation. "Um, I'm not sure...I think I fell..." he responded, voice still groggy from being unconscious.
"Sooo..." The man's voice trailed, seeming to gather his thoughts. "You don't remember much, then." Suddenly his eyes flashed and he grinned. "You should come with me. I have shelter and food."
Finn just stared at him, wide-eyed and terrified. Stay the night with a murderer?! No way!
"Uh, no thanks. Actually, I should be going now..." he said as he tried to stand up, grasping the tree for support. He started to take a step forward but his legs buckled and he collapsed.
The Hunter rushed forward and caught him before he could hit the ground. "There's no way you could survive on your own in this state." he said, chuckling. "The wolves will catch you before morning comes."
Finn winced in pain as the Hunter grabbed him. What he said was true; Finn couldn't get anywhere like this. He had no choice but to go with the Hunter for now. "Okay, fine." he muttered.
The man grinned and helped Finn up, leaning him against the tree. "You need some clothes." he chuckled.
Finn immediately looked down and his eyes widened in shock. He was completely naked! He must have dropped his pants at some point while trying to escape. His face grew hot, turning a deep shade of pink, and he refused to look up at the man. This stranger had been looking at him all this time, with no clothes on!
The man took off his cloak and handed it to Finn. "Here, put this on."
Finn breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks..." he muttered as he took the cloak and draped it around himself. It was pretty big; the man was quite a bit taller than him.
Suddenly he realized that he had never asked for the Hunter's name. "Um...who are you?"
The Hunter looked at him for a moment before answering. "My name is Christopher. I'm just a solitary huntsman that lives in these woods."
"Christopher..." Finn echoed, feeling a blush returning to his cheeks. Why did a murderer have such a charming name?
"Don't wear it out." Christopher said. Suddenly Finn yelped as he was scooped off his feet by the tall man.
"Where are you taking me?!" he asked as the man began to march through the woods, carrying him bridal-style.
"To my cabin." Christopher said simply.
Finn stayed silent and allowed himself to be carried through the woods. But as the man kept walking he couldn't help but think about how strange the situation was, with his practically naked body pressed close to the man who hunted for his people without even knowing it. It's a wonder I'm not freaking out right now. He thought, and it was true. He felt a strange sense of calm at being close to Christopher; it was as if he'd completely forgotten who he was and what he'd done.
As they traveled through the forest Finn trained his gaze on Christopher's face. The man was looking ahead, concentrated on finding the way to his cabin. His expression appeared a bit strained, and Finn could just barely hear him breathing heavier from the extra weight. He wasn't hard to look at, Finn had to admit. As Christopher's eyes flicked around he could see their brilliant green hue flashing. He's kind of attractive. Finn thought. That just makes this situation even more bizarre.
As the sky grew dark and became speckled with stars, eventually Christopher's steps became more practiced and methodical, as if he were following a familiar trail. Finn turned his head and spotted a wooden structure in a clearing through the trees. This must be his cabin. Finn thought as they drew closer to it.
From the outside, the cabin appeared big enough to house one or two people. It had a porch at the front, a large pile of firewood placed at the side, and a short chimney sticking out from the roof.
When Christopher climbed up the steps and reached the door, he gingerly let Finn back on his feet. Carrying his own weight, Finn's legs began to wobble like a newborn fawn. Christopher held his arm out for support and Finn eagerly held onto him, allowing himself to be guided inside by the tall man.
The interior was surprisingly spacious. There was a stone fireplace on the right wall, with a rack of pots hanging over it. Near the back wall was a small wooden table with two chairs placed neatly on either side. There were other furnishings towards the left wall; a couch and a couple side tables, with various tools or interesting rocks placed on them. At the right corner on the other side of the fireplace was an opening for a set of stairs, leading to the second floor.
Christopher led Finn over to one of the dining chairs, and Finn plopped down heavily. "Well, this is where I live." Christopher said jovially, beaming. "Do you like it?"
Finn surveyed the entire room, gaze lingering on the fireplace. The cabin was small, but it was way bigger than the huts back at camp. Finn had never seen many of these furnishings before; the fireplace and the couch were completely foreign to him, as were the tables and chairs.
"It's amazing." he found himself muttering. Then he blushed and shook his head. "I-I mean, it's nice. Nothing like my place." he quickly recovered, looking away from where the Hunter was standing over him.
Christopher's expression grew thoughtful, and he placed his forefinger and thumb around his chin. "Interesting. For a simple cabin to impress you this much, you must live somewhere much worse off."
Finn's eyes grew wide and his heart started to pound. Have I said too much?!
Christopher's face broke into a grin once again. "Well, I'm glad I got to show it to you. It's been ages since I've met someone new."
Finn relaxed, internally breathing a sigh of relief. He hadn't revealed anything that could tip the Hunter off about his clan. Christopher eyed Finn once again, causing him to feel very self-conscious. "You're pretty banged up."
He turned away and starting rummaging through a drawer, in search of something. After a minute he walked back over to where Finn was sitting and laid some bandages and a washrag out on the table. "Just a second." he said and walked out the back door, returning a couple minutes later with a bucket of water.
Finn sat back and watched as the Hunter cleaned his wounds with the washrag and wrapped them in the bandages. How could this man be so kind? He was a hunter, a cold-blooded killer!
But the gentle touch of his hands caused all of Finn's fears about him to begin ebbing away. He found himself staring once again at the man's face as he concentrated on patching Finn up. His expression was focused, but also happy, like he was remembering something nice.
"Say, Finn," Came Christopher's voice, shaking Finn from his stupor. "Do you remember seeing a white stag?"
Finn's blood turned cold. "...I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
The Hunter's expression grew distant. "I saw one. I was tracking it, and at the end of the trail I found you, all banged up."
So he was hunting me after all. Finn thought, a cold chill running down his spine. But in the end he supposed it was a good thing; he would have died out there alone if Christopher never found him.
"You know," Christopher continued, not noticing the boy freezing in fear. "You may not remember, but I think it's possible that it trampled you. It looked pretty terrified, judging by its tracks."
They call him the Hunter for a reason. Finn thought. He really is a good tracker. "I don't remember much at all about it." he lied. "But a white stag? That's a little hard to believe."
Christopher's eyes lit up at those words. "Maybe it is, but I saw it. And I want to see it again."
Finn's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. I want to see it again, the words echoed in his mind. What was happening to him?! Where did his wits go?! This man was hunting him!
He could feel Christopher's gaze on him. "What's that face for?" he chuckled.
Finn shook his head. "What are you talking about?" he said too quickly. Not waiting for a response, he added "Anyway, thanks for helping me."
"No problem!" Chris said, face beaming.
Suddenly Finn's stomach growled loudly. Finn clutched it, realizing that he hadn't eaten all day. He was too busy being lost to worry about it.
Christopher blinked in surprise. "You must be hungry. Lucky for you, I've already caught dinner." he turned to where he'd dropped his pack on the floor and pulled out a couple squirrel carcasses and other small animals.
Finn became horrified at the sight. Those animals could have been people. But he knew there hadn't been any deaths in the clan, not since that one...
He sighed in relief.
Christopher cocked his head to the side. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking worried.
"Oh, it's nothing." Finn responded, shaking his head. "I don't eat meat often. But it's fine."
Christopher looked confused for a moment, but then he grinned. "You're a strange one." he chuckled. "Well, you're in for a treat. I've been told I'm a pretty good cook."
And so Finn sat back and relaxed as Christopher prepared the meat and cooked it over a warm fire. They ate together at the dining table, and Finn was surprised to find that Chris was right- he was a good cook. Finn had never eaten anything this delicious.
After they had eaten dinner and cleaned up, and Finn had been given a spare set of clothes to wear, it was time for bed. Christopher helped Finn over to the couch, and laid a soft blanket over him.
As he was beginning to turn away, Finn grabbed his sleeve. "Wait!"
Christopher turned back to look at him, surprised. "What is it?"
Finn looked up at him, green eyes wide. Suddenly he was uncertain about what to say. "Um...thank you. For helping me." he stammered.
Despite how tired Chris was, his expression lit up. "Don't worry about it. You can stay as long as you like."
For a second he looked as though he wanted something, but instead of saying anything else he smiled. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Finn echoed, as Chris turned off the lantern on the table and disappeared upstairs.
Finn shifted around under the blanket, trying to get comfortable, and winced in pain from his injuries.
As Finn was laying there, waiting for sleep to come, his thoughts kept drifting back to the Hunter. He was so friendly and charming, and hospitable too. He was nothing like how his clanmates always described him to be. But that was just how he was around humans, Finn was certain. He was sure that had Christopher found him as a stag, he would have been dinner instead of those rodents.
But that didn't stop Finn's heart from pounding every time he thought about this man, whether it was fear or...something else.
Suddenly Finn froze, finally realizing the most terrifying part of this entire situation.
He could transform at anytime.
Literally at any moment he could shift, completely revealing the secret of his curse. Christopher had already seen the white stag; just imagine if it randomly appeared in his living room in place of Finn, the boy that was suspiciously found in its path!
For a moment Finn considered escaping, and taking his chances out in the wild. He would certainly die, but it might be worth it if it kept his clan's secret safe.
What's more important, the clan or my life?
Suddenly Finn realized that he was never told exactly why their existence had to be kept a secret. He silently cursed Brooke and Cyrus for never bringing that up. For all he knew, it may not even be that important.
In the end, he decided that he may as well stay and hold out as long as possible. If he could keep from shifting just until he healed enough, then he could run away.
Finally Finn felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he drifted off to sleep. |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Apr 13, 2018 12:51:26 GMT -5
(This chapter was a loooong time in the making, but I think I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. Let me try and make it up to you by making this chapter longer and more interesting~)
Chapter 4
"Finn...can you hear me...?"
Finn knew that voice.
"Finn...please respond..."
He blinked open his eyes, slowly gaining consciousness.
For a second all he could see was darkness, but then a familiar woman's face appeared, wavy lavender hair and cerulean eyes inches away from his own.
"Brooke...?" He muttered groggily, vision coming into focus.
When he spoke, the darkness gave way to reveal an unfamiliar woods.
Brooke's worried expression turned into relief.
"Oh, Finn, you're alive!" she exclaimed, face breaking into a smile.
Finn realized he was lying with his back on the ground, and he grabbed Brooke's outstretched hand to help him stand up. As he moved he noticed his body felt very strange, as if he were moving through water.
"Where are we?" he asked, glancing at his surroundings. They appeared to be somewhere in the forest, but Finn distinctly remembered going to sleep on Christopher's couch before now.
"Somewhere in my memories." Brooke responded, looking a little impatient. "We're asleep right now, Finn. I'm using magic to speak to you."
Suddenly her gaze hardened, and she grabbed Finn's shoulders.
"Listen, Finn. You're with the Hunter, aren't you?"
Finn's eyes widened with surprise. How did she know that? He nodded, trapped in her grasp.
"It's a miracle you're alive. Cyrus spent all night looking for you. He followed your scent all the way to the Hunter's camp."
Tears began to glisten in Brooke's eyes.
"He assumed the worst. We all did."
Finn gasped, feeling the intensity of the shaman's emotions. They were worried about me. He reached up to his shoulder, placing his hand on hers.
"I'm safe, I promise. The Hunter is a kind man. He even tried to heal me."
Finn pulled back his sleeve to reveal some of the bandages. Brooke looked down at them, relaxing her gaze.
"He can't use magic like you, but I think he genuinely wanted to help me."
The tears building up in Brooke's eyes began to fall.
"You can't trust him, Finn, he's the Hunter. Remember Rosie?"
Finn couldn't hold her gaze. He looked away, hiding his conflicted feelings.
Rosie was a doe, and the one that had been hunted by Christopher a long time ago. She had strayed too close to the Hunter's path, and was killed in order to feed him. Her death had been more heartbreaking than any of the others, because this time the predator was a human.
"Finn." came Brooke's voice yet again. "Does he know about us? The curse?"
Finn finally looked at her again. He shook his head. "No."
Brooke breathed a sigh of relief and released him from her grip. "Good. You can't let him see you as a stag, okay?"
"Okay." Finn replied quietly. But he realized that now would be a good time to find out the answer to his question.
"Why do we have to hide ourselves?"
Brooke just looked at him with a sad expression.
"Please, just get away as soon as you can. Come back to us."
"Wait, tell me!" Finn shouted, but everything was beginning to fade away.
"Wait! Please!"
Then his legs buckled, and he fell into darkness.
☘ ☘ ☘
Finn woke up to the sound of something sizzling.
He opened his eyes and turned his head to the source of the noise. Christopher was standing over the fireplace, his back to Finn. The fire crackled and the man hummed a simple tune as he cooked.
He sounds so cheerful. Finn thought. And whatever he's cooking smells good.
He lifted the blanket off of himself and sat up on the couch, bringing his legs to the floor. The small 'pat' his feet made as they touched the floor alerted Christopher to his presence.
The man turned around, smiling. "Oh, you're awake." he said. "Good morning!"
"Good morning." Finn replied hesitantly.
The conversation he had with Brooke in his dream echoed in his mind. You can't trust him, she had said. He's the Hunter.
But the man he was seeing in front of him directly contrasted the Hunter that everyone taught him to fear. He didn't know what to believe.
He slowly stood up, clutching the couch for support. Christopher took a step forward to help him, but Finn held out his hand as a signal to stay back.
"It's okay...I can walk."
Holding his gaze for just a moment, Christopher nodded silently and turned back to his cooking.
Finn gingerly took a step forward, and then another, and another, and carefully carried himself over to the dining chair.
As he sat down, Christopher glanced at him.
"Want some breakfast?"
Finn's stomach growled loudly as if in response and he nodded eagerly.
Christopher chuckled at him and set the food on plates, bringing them to the table.
Breakfast consisted of juicy strips of meat and apple slices. Christopher had proven once again how good a cook he was; the meat was tender and flavorful, and the apples were juicy and fresh. Finn found himself wolfing it down, as if he'd never eaten anything in his life.
"Slow down, you'll choke!" Chris chuckled, as Finn was shoving food into his mouth. Finn heeded his warning and began chewing slower, to better savor the flavor.
Then he noticed that the man was still looking at him, a fond expression in his eyes and a soft smile on his lips. Why was he looking at him like that?
"Hmm?" Finn grunted, food still in his mouth.
"You're just silly, is all." Christopher said simply, watching the boy instead of continuing his meal.
"Um...if you say so..." Finn muttered, shy now in front of the Hunter's gaze. He could feel his cheeks growing warm.
Christopher's gaze flicked toward Finn's hand, resting next his plate. His stare seemed to linger there for a while as Finn watched him in silence. This was awkward.
Finn suddenly felt very self-conscious of his hand, and he kept it still. Christopher looked back up to meet his gaze, seemingly embarrassed.
"Oh, am I making you uncomfortable? I'm sorry! I'll just, uh...finish this up." he said, flustered, and continued eating as though nothing had happened. But Finn could see a blush forming on the man's face, pink as his own.
Their breakfast went by quickly after that.
☘ ☘ ☘
For the next few days, Finn stayed at Christopher's cabin. Christopher would spend the day doing chores outside, or hunting in the woods. Even when he was away, Finn didn't try to escape. He was still recovering from his fall; he knew he wouldn't get very far on his own.
In the meantime, Finn found things to do at the cabin. Christopher began teaching him to read, which proved to be a difficult task. While the huntsman was busy, Finn would try to read the books Christopher let him borrow. It mostly consisted of him staring at each word, trying to pronounce each syllable out loud until it sounded like something he knew. But when he finally understood the words, he enjoyed the stories they told. He would spend hours wrapped up in their fictional world.
He also explored the ins and outs of the cozy cabin. Christopher had an extravagant rock collection, with varying colors and patterns. Some of them had different colored stripes; others were speckled. One was translucent, with a pale shade of pink. Finn favored that one.
Once, he carefully made his way upstairs to see what was kept on the second floor. The steps opened up to one large room, with a large bed pushed against the wall. A single-pane window was built into the wall on the right, looking over the front of the cabin. Finn walked over to it, peering into the outside world from up above. He could see the clearing in front of the cabin, and the stump he would see Chris use to chop wood sometimes. He could also see the line of trees at the edge, guarding the wilderness beyond.
He stared into their depths, wondering how Christopher was doing in there. If he was in danger. Or endangering others.
He could be hunting one of my clanmates right now. The thought came unbidden to his mind. He shook his head furiously, trying to rid himself of uncertainty. No. He's not like that.
Remember Rosie?
Brooke's voice echoed in his mind once again, and his eyes widened in fear and the old, familiar pain of loss. Christopher was a murderer, it was true. Even if he didn't know it. But he was quickly becoming someone that Finn admired as well. The conflict in his mind was storming; two great waves crashing together, neither letting up.
He moved away from the window, turning his attention instead to the bed. This was yet another piece of furniture Finn had never seen before. He assumed that its purpose was for Christopher to sleep on, as it looked so comfortable. Finn crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, huffing in surprise as he sunk a little into its softness. He moved his hand across the surface, stroking the sheets. He never imagined sleeping on anything like this! It was so comfortable! Christopher was living the good life.
Finn grew a little jealous, remembering the crude bedding he slept on back at camp. But then he remembered the hospitality the man had showed him, letting a complete stranger he found in the woods sleep on his couch, and he blushed a little. Christopher was very generous, that much he had to admit. He wondered what had compelled him to help that day.
One morning soon after, when his wounds had healed a little more and he could at least manage to stand and walk a little without much difficulty, Finn asked Christopher to take him along while hunting. Christopher's green gaze shined even brighter than usual at the request, though he did seem a little worried as well.
"Are you sure you can keep up with me? I won't be able to carry you this time."
But Finn was determined. He was curious; he wanted to see what kind of person Christopher was when he was in the woods, lost in the hunt. And part of him felt that maybe if he was there, somehow he could protect his clan. He could make sure the Hunter wouldn't hurt anyone else.
"I'll try my best. I'm dying to get outside for a while." That was true, as well. The small cabin was starting to feel cramped, having been stuck inside for days.
The man chuckled, smiling broadly. "Well I can't deny you that, then." And so it was decided.
The forest felt very different with Christopher by his side. Alone, he felt as though he was in danger at every moment. Now, suddenly he was the one the forest was afraid of. Every twig he snapped under his feet caused birds to take flight and squirrels to disappear.
Christopher was surprisingly patient with him, despite the fact that Finn kept scaring off their dinner. Every time a potential catch was lost, the Hunter would turn to him and smile, placing an index finger to his lips as a sign to please shut up. Finn tried his best, but he just couldn't match the Hunter's graceful steps, silent as an owl.
Once more, Finn stumbled over a tree root, the sound causing a rabbit Chris had his eye on to take off into the undergrowth. With a sigh, the Hunter lowered his bow and walked to Finn's side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"How about I teach you to use a bow? It'd be more useful than what we're doing right now." he added with a small chuckle.
Finn's cheeks turned pink and he stared down at his feet. He had ruined this hunting trip, and now Christopher was giving up. They probably wouldn't get to eat tonight because of him. But Chris's offer was still tempting; Finn had never used a bow before, and the thought of Chris teaching him made his heart beat a little faster.
"That sounds...good." Was all Finn could muster as a response.
Christopher handed him the bow, placing it in his left hand. "You hold the wooden part in this hand, like this." he said, closing his gloved hand around Finn's and guiding it to the correct spot. Finn's heartbeat skyrocketed at the man's touch, suddenly unable to think. His hand gripped the bow too tightly, causing Chris to chuckle once again.
"Not that hard, silly. You'll snap it in two."
At Chris's words Finn relaxed his grip, but not for long. He felt the man grasp his other hand and place it on the string. "Now you pull the string back with this hand, like this." Chris said, guiding Finn's hand as he pulled the string backwards. Finn couldn't think about anything except the fact that both of the Hunter's hands were surrounding Finn's, as they stood side-by-side facing each other. He willed himself to keep his heart and mind under control, focusing on keeping the string pulled.
"Okay, let's try shooting something." Came Christopher's warm voice again, the warmth of his hands disappearing as he pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back. He handed the arrow to Finn, guiding his hands once again to put the arrow in place. He let go and looked at Finn meaningfully.
"Try that tree over there." He said, pointing to a thicker tree a few yards away. "Just aim, breathe, and let go."
Time seemed to slow down as Finn raised the bow. For a moment he was hyper-aware of the way the smooth wood felt under his skin. The same bow that Christopher used to hunt every day.
The same bow that killed one of his own people.
Sweat began to form on his brow at the thought. Now this bow was in his own hands, and he was going to shoot it. He felt powerful, and frightened at the same time.
He aimed. He breathed. He let go.
The arrow flew through the air, landing with a thud into the trunk. It was quite a bit lower than where he was aiming, but he still hit the tree. He grinned widely with pride. Whipping his head to face Christopher, he was met with a smile just as broad. "Was that good?" he asked, eagerly awaiting the Hunter's approval.
As his jade gaze met Christopher's brilliant green, he suddenly realized just how close they were. He could see the intricate pattern in the other man's irises, the golden flecks hidden within their depths. He could hear Christopher breathe, feel the tickle of his breath on his nose.
The Hunter blinked, expression of intense pride turning into gentle affection. "Yeah, it was." he responded simply.
Eventually, Finn was able to keep quiet long enough for Christopher to catch something. He found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the other man, studying the way he moved, looked, breathed. The way he gingerly placed his feet in a way that made no sound, avoiding every twig and crackling leaf as if he were using magic to guide his footsteps. The way he sucked in the tiniest breath whenever he spotted an animal, in a way that suggested he didn't even notice. The way his eyes were always searching, every branch in every tree, every gap between every trunk. It seemed so deliberate, as if he was searching for something different this time, something special.
Finn had a feeling he knew what it was.
Later that evening, their bellies full of the plump rabbit Christopher had finally managed to catch, the two were sitting next to each other on the couch, an open book between them. Christopher was teaching Finn again, helping him pronounce some of the more difficult words in the book. But suddenly he had stopped, and was looking at Finn with a worried expression.
"Say, Finn...you still don't remember where you're from?" he asked quietly.
Finn met his gaze, confused. Oh, right. he thought. I had to lie to him. He felt kind of bad for that, but it was what he had to do. The image of Brooke's frightened face appeared in his mind again.
"I don't remember. I'm sorry..." he replied, trying his best to make it seem like he was really thinking about it.
Chris's head cocked to the side, thoughtful. But then his gaze widened in realization. "Oh, it's not like I don't want you here or anything! I really enjoy the company, honest!" he exclaimed, waving a hand to dismiss the thought.
"I'm just worried that someone might be out there, missing you. Wondering if you'll come home."
Finn's heart was hit with a pang of guilt. He knew very well exactly who missed him. But he had to heal first, before making the trek back home.
But even as he thought that, something in his heart protested.
It was a long moment of silence between the two, but when Finn finally responded, it wasn't what Chris was expecting.
"Were you hunting the white stag?"
For a moment, Christopher could do nothing but blink at him in surprise. "No, of course not. I didn't want to kill it."
"Why?"
The man gazed directly into Finn's eyes and took in a deep breath. This was it; he'd finally learn the reason why the Hunter spared him that night.
"I had never seen such a beautiful animal."
At these words Finn gasped, eyes growing wide in surprise. The Hunter had thought he was beautiful. Suddenly he was warped back to that night, paralyzed in the Hunter's gaze, waiting for death that did not come. Unaware that the man who held his life in his hands would soon become the object of his affections.
Back then he never realized it because of the fear, but now it was becoming very clear- he too had seen something beautiful that night.
He had never seen such a beautiful human. |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Apr 23, 2018 17:18:54 GMT -5
(To anyone still reading, I hope you really enjoy this chapter! It was a lot of fun to write, and there will definitely be more. This budding romance is just getting started~) Chapter 5
The day after their excursion into the woods, Christopher and Finn had an unexpected visitor.
Finn was sitting in the front yard reading, while Christopher was chopping wood. It was sunny, and warm. The spring breeze ruffled Finn's hair, bringing with it the scents of the forest. He glanced up at Christopher, wondering if the same breeze would help cool him in his work. The man had his shirt off and tied around his waist, as he tirelessly swung his ax down again and again. He sure seemed strong.
Suddenly an unknown voice called out from behind the cabin. "Christopher!" Finn heard as a strange woman appeared behind Christopher. She was dressed in the same kind of clothes that the Hunter wore, made from some unfamiliar material, and she carried herself the same way that he did. She had auburn hair that was braided down her back, and a pack that seemed to be full.
Upon hearing his name, the dark-haired man turned around to the source of the voice. His expression lit up when he saw her, and his mouth broke into a grin. "Jolene!" he called back excitedly. He dropped his ax and went to her, catching her in a bear-hug.
Something about this exchange bothered Finn, but he couldn't quite understand why. They must be very close. he thought, getting up from his spot in the grass and crossing the yard to join them.
Suddenly noticing him there, the strange-woman-called-Jolene turned to look at Finn, glancing at the book in his hands and surveying the clothes Christopher had let him borrow, clearly too big for his smaller frame. "Oh, who is this? I've never seen him here before."
Christopher held a hand out, gesturing towards Finn. "This is Finn. I found him out in the woods, all bruised and bloody. He's been staying with me for a while now." His eyes caught Finn's, and he gave an encouraging smile. "Finn, this is Jolene. She's a close friend of mine who's from a town outside of the forest."
Jolene flashed a warm smile, and stretched her hand out towards Finn. "It's nice to meet you, Finn. I'm sure Chris appreciates having someone around to keep him company. He can get quite lonely, you know." she said with a wink.
Lonely? Finn thought. He'd never considered that the Hunter had ever felt alone. He took Jolene's hand, getting caught in a strong handshake. "Nice to meet you too." he returned quietly. But something that Christopher had said confused him. "A town? Outside of the forest?" he asked, eyebrows knitting together in a puzzled manner. He had never heard of any civilization outside of the woods he grew up in. This was all he'd ever known.
Jolene's gaze seemed to echo Finn's, her eyebrows furrowed questioningly. "Laucester. It hugs the edge of these vast woods. You've never heard of it?"
Finn shook his head.
"You're a strange one." Jolene said, studying him with eyes the color of turquoise. "Where are you from, then, if not Laucester? There isn't another town for miles."
Finn decided to keep up his facade, with the same story he had told Christopher before. "I don't know. I don't remember much before Christopher found me."
Jolene looked at him with an expression of bewilderment. "Well, I guess that explains that." She then turned to Chris. "You should take him to visit sometime. It's a town worth seeing."
The man frowned a little, casting a concerned glance at Finn. "I don't know, exposing him to that many people might not be such a good idea. And you know I like it much better out here."
A friendly smile returned to Jolene's face, attempting to mask her disappointment. "I suppose that's true." She then tapped on the strap on her shoulder, where her pack was hanging from. "Let's go inside; I brought some goods you might like."
Christopher nodded and led the way into the cabin, the other two trailing behind. Finn watched Jolene as she walked in front of him, suspicious of this new person. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about her made him uneasy. She was so friendly with Christopher, unfiltered. And Christopher clearly adored her as well. Finn didn't understand why that bothered him so much.
Finn sat down on the couch as Christopher and Jolene took the two dining chairs. Jolene opened her pack and took out some interesting fruits, placing them on the table. She then took out a leather-bound book, handing it over to Christopher. "Take a look at that. I thought you might enjoy it."
Christopher's expression lit up at the sight of the book, and he took it from her gratefully. "Wow, this looks really interesting!" he said, running his hand along the front cover. "I can't wait to read it. Thanks, Jolene."
Jolene smiled at him warmly. "You're welcome." she replied, and dug around in her pack for something else. She pulled out her hand and laid a collection of stones out on the table. Christopher immediately started pawing through them excitedly, and Finn stood up and walked over to get a closer look.
There were many interesting stones to look at, some even Christopher didn't have. But a familiar shade caught his eye, one that reminded him of the clouds during sunset. "I like that one." Finn stated, pointing a finger towards the pink stone.
Jolene picked up the stone Finn was pointing at, turning it over in her hand. "Good choice. They call this one a 'Rose Quartz'." She held it towards him. "It's yours, if you want it."
Finn took it from her, looking at it closely. The beautiful stone had white lines etched into it, as if there were many pieces inside, held into one through some mysterious force. "Thank you." he told her politely.
Jolene flashed him another warm, comforting smile. It was similar to Chris's, in a way. "You're welcome. Any friend of Chris is a friend of mine as well."
Friend? The word echoed in Finn's mind. Was he the Hunter's friend? Suddenly his cheeks grew warm. He glanced at Christopher, surprised to see that the other man's face was tinted a pale shade of pink. He seemed to take great interest in the plain wooden surface of the table. Friend. The thought made him happy, somewhat.
Looking up from the table, Christopher directed his attention to Jolene. "Thanks for the gifts, Jo, it was really sweet of you. Anything I can do to return the favor?" he asked earnestly.
Jolene looked away thoughtfully, deliberately placing her thumb and forefinger around her chin as if she were pretending to think about it. "Well, how about a delicious meal and a place to stay for the night? That's not too difficult, yes?" she asked with a giggle.
Christopher chuckled in return. "Alright, alright. It's only fair. You don't mind sleeping on the couch, do you?"
Finn grew confused at that statement. He was the one who had been sleeping on the couch up until that point. "Um, where will I sleep?" he asked shyly.
Christopher looked at him with a friendly expression. "You can take my bed."
Finn's eyes widened in surprise. Take Christopher's bed? But then...
"Where will you sleep?"
The man's head tilted sideways, somewhat confused. "In my bed."
Finn could feel a fierce blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Is that...okay?" he asked tentatively, wringing his hands. Was the Hunter actually suggesting they share a bed?!
Christopher let out another chuckle, as if Finn had asked a silly question. "Of course it is. It's big enough, I'm sure. And you're small, anyway."
Jolene's gaze shifted slyly between the two, with an expression that implied she knew something the other two didn't. "Sounds great, Chris!" she said quickly. "Hey, we should build a fire outside tonight! I'll go ahead and get started." The lithe woman stood up and crossed the room, stopping at the front door. She glanced behind her, at Christopher. "You keep your firewood in the same place, right?" Christopher nodded at her and she disappeared out the door without another word.
A moment passed of complete silence, neither man sure of what to say. Then Christopher clapped his hands together and stood up. "Well, I should probably go help her." he declared, and started walking towards the door Jolene had just left.
"Wait...Christopher!"
Christopher froze in place and turned his head to glance over his shoulder at Finn. "Hm?"
Finn looked down at his hands, which were still grasping each other from nerves. He wasn't quite able to meet Christopher's curious eyes.
"Shouldn't you share a bed with Jolene?"
Christopher turned the rest of his body to face him directly, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't think so. Why do you say that?"
Finn could feel his face heating up rapidly. "Isn't she...special to you? Like your lover?"
Christopher blinked a few times, staring at Finn incredulously. "No, silly. Jolene is just a friend. We've known each other for a very long time now, but...it's not like that. I could never see her like that."
It was like a heavy weight had lifted itself from Finn's chest. He breathed a sigh of relief. But he had one more question to ask.
"Then why are you sharing it with me?"
Finn continued to stare at his hands, waiting for a response. For a moment, there was only silence. Finally, he raised his head to look at Christopher. Upon the man's face, Finn saw that his eyes were clouded with pain...
...and unfiltered desire.
Suddenly, Finn remembered what Jolene had said to him earlier. He's lonely. And now Finn believed he understood exactly what she meant. He was longing. Not for friendship, but a different kind of closeness. Something that he could never find with Jolene, no matter how long they had known each other.
Something he must have seen in Finn.
Heart pounding wildly, he opened his mouth to say something, anything that would diffuse the situation, keep the other man from having to confront this pain that Finn caused. But Chris beat him to it.
"You need a place to sleep. I can't deny you that. If it makes you more comfortable, I'll sleep on the floor." And with that, he turned around and quickly walked out the door, leaving Finn to his own thoughts.
☘ ☘ ☘
Eventually Finn had joined the other two outside, helping them build the bonfire. Christopher had treated Finn with the same warmth he usually did, as if nothing strange had occurred between them. He cooked a delicious meal just as Jolene requested, and as the sun set the darkness came forth, bringing with it the faint glow of fireflies in the night sky. The three friends feasted happily, and spent the evening gazing at the fireflies and telling stories by the fire. Jolene told Finn all about Laucester, with its vast fields of horses and cattle, its bustling marketplace where the merchants gathered, bringing goods from faraway places. She promised him that one day, they would take him to see it. Christopher told them stories about his adventures in the woods, about interesting things he saw, and fish he caught. Finn learned that Christopher really loved flowers, and that he wanted a garden of all different colors, if only he could keep them alive. Christopher mentioned the white stag as well, enthusing how badly he wanted to see it just one more time.
"It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen." he went on, eyes growing misty with fondness as he absentmindedly gazed into the bright flame in front of him. "But since that day, it's eluded me. As if it's been hiding from me. One day I'll see it again, though. I believe it." The words sent Finn's heart on a marathon. He feared it might burst out of his chest.
Jolene snickered, glancing at Finn. "Did you see this stag?" she asked him, teasing.
Finn shook his head. "I was unconscious, so no. But Christopher said it must have trampled me that night." But the way the Hunter had seemed so adamant to see it again was charming to Finn. He suddenly felt the need to give him hope.
"I believe him, though. I'm sure he'll cross paths with it again one day."
When the words left his mouth, he realized that he really wanted it to happen.
He turned his head to Christopher, who was gazing at him with a look of affection and happiness. Finn's heart skipped a beat, and he returned the gaze.
As the evening fell into night, their voices fell into comfortable silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they stared into the crackling fire. The scene reminded Finn of home. He missed his clan, and the fun they had dancing and telling folktales around the bonfire. He missed his friends, and most importantly he missed Brooke. He knew that she was waiting for him to come back, safe and sound. But the thought of leaving pained Finn. He was really enjoying his time with the Hunter, traitorous as it was. It was hard to think of leaving him behind and going back to his old life. He loved the cabin, and all the foreign things Christopher kept inside of it. He loved everything that Christopher taught him, from reading words to using a bow. And the thing he loved most...
Would Rosie hate me for this?
☘ ☘ ☘
Soon the hour grew late, and it was time for them to put out the fire and carry their exhausted bodies to bed. After Christopher and Finn had told Jolene goodnight, they both made their way upstairs to Chris's bedroom. When Finn crawled in on one side, he realized that Christopher had remained true to his word- the man was currently building a pallet of blankets on the hard wooden floor. He felt a pang of guilt at that; he felt that it was his fault Christopher felt the need to keep his distance. "Hey..." he started quietly, interrupting the silence.
Christopher stopped what he was doing and looked up at Finn from where he was crouched on the floor. His expression was unreadable. "Yes?"
Swallowing a gulp, he continued. "You don't have to sleep on the floor. Come up here, it's very soft." To prove it, he patted the sheets.
The man's face broke into a soft smile. "I know, silly." And with that, he stood up and crossed the room, crawling into bed from the other side. He reached over to the lamp on the bedside table and clicked it off, bathing the room in darkness with only the moonlight filtering through the window. "Goodnight." he told Finn, and settled into the sheets.
"Goodnight." Finn returned, laying back onto the pillow he was given. All was silent once more. A few minutes passed, but Finn couldn't make himself go to sleep, or even feel drowsy. He turned his head just a little to look at the man beside him. Christopher had his back to him, dark hair splayed across the white pillow.
Suddenly he realized just how terrifying a situation he got himself into.
He was in bed with the Hunter. And he could transform right now.
But wait...why hadn't he transformed at all since the night Christopher found him? He had been staying with him for quite a while now. It was strange, he would have almost expected to have had to make a daring getaway long before now. Finn didn't understand it. Just one more night at least. he thought. I'm sure it will be okay.
Staring at the taller man's back helped calm his wildly beating heart, somehow. Suddenly Finn was overcome with curiosity to know what it felt like underneath his fingertips. He stretched his hand out, reaching for Christopher.
Suddenly, the Hunter's body began to move. He slowly turned around under the covers, shifting to face a terrified and very frozen Finn.
On his face, illuminated by the moonlight, was that same expression of unfiltered desire.
And in that moment, inches away from this man that had suddenly meant so much to him, Finn decided that he wanted the same thing.
Christopher's gaze melted into warm, sweet affection. Ignoring the boy's outstretched hand, he reached out with his own and ruffled Finn's hair affectionately. "Go to sleep, silly." he muttered. Instead of turning back around, he just closed his eyes right there, treating Finn to a truly beautiful sight.
This must be what it's like to fall in love.
☘ ☘ ☘
The next morning, Jolene prepared to make the journey back to her hometown. They ate a hearty breakfast full of laughter and bittersweet goodbyes, and before she left she took Finn aside, away from Christopher's sharp ears.
"You take good care of him, okay?" she said to Finn, looking him directly in the eyes. "He'll never admit it, but he needs you. And I can tell he really adores you as well." She flashed him a smile and a wink. "Promise?"
Finn nodded, more honest than he'd ever been in his life. "I promise."
And with that, Jolene turned away and left the cabin clearing, waving goodbye until she disappeared into the forest. Christopher and Finn were left in silence, somber at how empty the place suddenly felt without her. Finn truly hoped he would see her again someday.
And so it was back to life as usual. Christopher did his daily tasks, hunting and maintaining the cabin. Finn accompanied him for some of it, and when he had nothing else to do he continued his reading. The day was peaceful, though a little quiet. It was as if Christopher and Finn had to adjust back to being two instead of three.
That evening, Christopher cooked yet another delicious dinner. The two sat at the dining table across from each other, eating in a comfortable silence. After a little while, Finn noticed that Christopher had stopped eating. He glanced at the man's face to see that he was looking directly at Finn, gazing at him with a fondness similar to their first breakfast together.
Finn couldn't help the light blush dusting his cheeks. "What is it?" he asked, no longer nervous when the Hunter looked at him like this.
He waited a moment before answering. "Are you happy?" he asked innocently.
Finn's eyebrows lifted in shock. What a strange question. But he really was happy; being with Christopher gave his life a sense of adventure, and stirred feelings he'd never experienced before. "Of course I am." he replied, shock melting away into one of those genuine smiles that Christopher always showed him. "I really like being here with you."
The man's face broke into a grin. "That's good. I'm really glad you're here."
Finn stared at him affectionately, fighting down a snicker. "...silly." he muttered, echoing the nickname that Christopher liked to use on him.
"Hey!"
Christopher's hearty chuckle broke the quiet atmosphere, sending Finn into a fit of giggles as well. But when the laughter had subsided, Christopher did something unexpected.
He reached across the table and gently grasped Finn's hand, holding it in his own.
The warmth of his hand sent Finn's heartbeat up into the sky, probably never to return, and the blush coloring his cheeks grew even darker. But despite this, he slipped his hand more comfortably into Chris's, as if they were a natural fit.
They stayed like that for a few moments, seemingly lost in each other's gaze. The Hunter's bright green eyes gave away many emotions; Finn could see endearment, sincerity, and longing blended with serenity. He noticed the way the corner of his mouth curled slightly, as if he didn't realize he was smiling.
Christopher's warm voice broke the silence once again. "Thank you." Was all he said.
And that was all he had to say, because Finn understood.
Thank you for making my life complete.
☘ ☘ ☘
The evening had gone as usual, talking and reading together with the crackling noise from the fireplace providing a relaxed ambiance. And as the hour grew late, it was once again time for bed.
With Jolene gone, Finn had the couch to himself again. It was different from sleeping in the soft bed upstairs, but Finn wasn't going to complain. Christopher probably wanted the bed all to himself now, and besides, Finn had taken quite a liking to the couch. He sank into the cushions and curled up under the blanket, falling into a deep sleep.
Finn could see or feel nothing, only darkness. His thoughts felt hazy however, as if he was in a dream. Suddenly a voice cut through the darkness, as if someone was speaking directly into his mind.
"You've been a naughty boy, haven't you Finn?"
The voice sounded feminine. Her seductive tone suggested that she was toying with him.
"I know what you've been up to. Making very special friends with the Hunter, yes?"
Finn began to feel panic in his heart. But he couldn't think or react, he could only listen.
"I think it's time to destroy your little paradise. Hurry now, we wouldn't want to reveal our little secret, would we?"
"WOULD WE?"
An artificial fear took hold of his body, as well as something much worse. He could feel the forest calling to him, reaching into his innermost instinct to flee and perverting it into something irresistibly strong. An insane cackle echoed loudly through his mind.
Snapping out of the dream, he sat up quickly, breathing heavily. No, no, no, no, this can't be happening! he thought, throwing the covers off of him and jumping to his feet. But it was happening, right now, and there was no time to lose. He summoned all of his strength to hold it in as he stripped his clothing and tossed it away, not wanting to destroy the clothes Christopher was so nice to give him.
He briefly recalled one of the stories he had read together with Christopher. It was about a maiden who had been enchanted with a spell, passing off as noblewoman so she could attend a ball and meet the prince of her dreams. But when the hour struck midnight, the spell broke, and she fled the castle in a hurry so the prince would not see who she truly was.
That was how Finn felt as the ivory fur sprouted from his skin and he doubled over, forced to land on all fours as his hands and feet transformed themselves into hooves. And as he dashed through the front door, ripping it off its hinges, and fled into the cool air outside, he felt as though he were turning into a monster, forced to flee from the prince of his dreams.
As he neared the edge of the clearing, his gait slowed to a walk. He raised his head and peered into the trees, furiously brainstorming how to get home. It was then that his sharp ears picked up a barely audible 'gasp'. He whipped his head to face the noise, shocked.
The Hunter was standing there in the yard, gaping at him.
It was like déjà vu. Finn was a stag again, staring down the man who had caused his clan so much fear. He was afraid, petrified, though not for the same reason. Back then he feared for his life; now he feared for his secret.
But this time, he wouldn't run away.
Locking his gaze with the Hunter, he turned back and crossed the yard, back to his prince. As he drew closer, Christopher sank to his knees, eyes wide with awe and mouth agape with astonishment. He leaned down, bringing his elongated head inches from the Hunter's face.
"Beautiful." Christopher whispered, tentatively reaching up to cup Finn's face in his hands. He could feel their warmth through his fur, and it made his heart dance inside his chest. He closed his eyes and touched his forehead to Christopher's. I told you that you would see it again.
And he knew that the Hunter understood.
They stayed that way for a long time, as the fireflies floated in the night sky above them. Christopher held them together, until Finn's body finally shrank back into his arms, human once again. Held in Christopher's tight embrace, Finn could feel his breath as the man's lips drew close to his ear.
"You have a lot of explaining to do."
Finn buried his smile in his shoulder, and hugged him back. |
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on May 14, 2018 21:24:57 GMT -5
(((((((((((Hello, I love when there are Finns because my real name is Fnn!))))))))))
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on May 14, 2018 21:41:14 GMT -5
Oh, that's great! Finn is Patience's character, though despite that I tend to use him a bit liberally when writing lol.
And btw, I am still continuing this story even though it's been a few weeks since the last update. I hope you like it!
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on May 14, 2018 21:46:03 GMT -5
I love it it's great!
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on May 14, 2018 21:51:44 GMT -5
Thank you!  |
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on May 14, 2018 21:55:31 GMT -5
I'm bookmarking this thread I want to read it so badly!
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on May 14, 2018 22:00:07 GMT -5
Awww I'm so flattered It might take a while; I haven't started on Chapter 6 yet since I had to focus on a big project at school. Luckily that's over now so I can get back to this!! I'm so excited!! |
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on May 15, 2018 7:30:09 GMT -5
Yayyyyyyy!
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jun 3, 2018 19:20:26 GMT -5
(Wow, this chapter sure took a while! I didn't expect it to take a whole month to write this but between lots of stuff going on irl and writer's block on top of it, it just happened that way. Anyway this chapter is lots of good ol' fashioned fluff, and I loved writing it, so enjoy!! And there will definitely be more chapters  The story isn't over yet!) (Oh, fair warning: if you don't like MxM and somehow didn't realize that's what this story was about before now...This Is The Part Where You Should Leave. Just Saying.) Chapter 6
After the night when Finn revealed his true nature to the Hunter, there was no way he could keep his secret. He spilled everything, or mostly everything. He told Chris about the curse, and how his clan had been plagued with it for generations. He told Chris about the night they first met, how he had been lost in the woods, how he panicked when he saw the Hunter, certain he would die. He even told him about the 'dream' he had before last night, expressing his confusion about the strange woman who had somehow forced his transformation.
But he didn't mention Rosie. There was no way he could spring that kind of accusation against Chris, at least not then. Not when all of this information was so fresh and confusing. And to be honest, a part of Finn wanted Chris to never know what he did. He didn't want to push that guilt on him.
As Finn explained everything, Christopher paid close attention, eyes locked onto his. He seemed perplexed, even bewildered, but not once did disbelief cloud his gaze. It looked as though the Hunter trusted every word Finn said.
"But one thing I don't understand is why it took this long for me to transform. I've been here for quite a while now; I expected that this would happen a long time ago. Was I just lucky?"
They were sitting at the dining table, in the early hours of the morning. Finn was dressed once again, and Christopher was still wearing his clothes from the night before. He had his fingers crossed over his mouth, elbows resting on the table as he listened to Finn intently. He seemed to think hard for a moment before finally giving an answer.
"You could be. Or perhaps it has something to do with that dream."
Finn raised his eyebrows. "You think so? How?"
Christopher maintained a serious composure. "You said the woman in your dream somehow forced you to transform. If that's true, then she clearly has some sort of control over the curse. Maybe she's been keeping you from turning as well."
"You could be right." Finn replied, a hint of surprise entering his voice. "But why would she do that? If she wants to hurt me, why didn't she do it the first night?"
Christopher looked away, pensive. "...Maybe she wanted to mess with you." he answered after a while.
Mess with me? He wasn't quite sure what Chris was talking about. He thought back to the dream, still fresh in his mind.
Making very special friends with the Hunter, yes?
He blushed as he remembered the words. Somehow the woman must be watching him, if she knew how much he liked the man sitting across from him. Perhaps she'd waited for them to grow close, only to try to crush Finn's heart by forcing him to run away. Well, the attempt clearly failed. Finn looked up at the Hunter, whose gaze was still focused elsewhere. He didn't like the feeling of being watched, but as long as Chris was here, it would be alright. A small smile graced his lips.
A long moment of silence passed between them, both men lost in thought.
"...Hey." Finn began, interrupting the quietness. Chris tore his gaze away from the window and watched him, waiting.
"Why do you seem so calm about this? I thought you'd be going crazy. None of this should make any sense to you."
Christopher's face broke into a grin. "I know. And I'm shocked, I really am. This changes everything I know about you. But I trust you; I believe everything you've said."
He rested his cheek in the palm of his hand, gazing intently at Finn. "I mostly feel...happy. I saw who you really are with my own two eyes, and what I saw was beautiful. I thought the stag was hiding from me, but he was actually right here the whole time."
The Hunter reached across the table and grasped Finn's hand. By this point, a furious blush had made itself apparent on Finn's face, and his heartbeat skyrocketed. He was speechless.
Suddenly, Christopher's grin was replaced with a worried expression. "But now I know that you really do have a home to return to. Your clan. And I don't know how to feel about that."
Finn could sense the Hunter's fear. He didn't want Finn to leave, but he didn't want to hold him back either. Not when he had a family that probably missed him. And Finn was filled with conflict as well; he missed his friends, but he had a feeling that if he left the cabin he might never be able to return. Christopher had no idea how much fear the clan had for him, how much hatred. They would never let Finn go back.
Finn took a deep breath and squeezed Christopher's hand. "I understand. I miss them, and I know I have to go back eventually. But..." He tore his gaze from their interlocked hands and glanced at the man in front of him.
"I really like it here. I want to stay with you a little longer at least. And besides, I got hurt again last night. It would be dangerous for me to leave now, right?" he said with a devilish smirk, causing Christopher's beautiful smile to return once more.
And it was true, to an extent. His collision with the front door had introduced some painful bruises on his arms at least, even though he knew he was just making an excuse to delay the inevitable. But speaking of the front door...
Finn and Chris both glanced at it simultaneously. After a moment of silent thought, Christopher stated the obvious. "We're going to have to fix that today." he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah." Finn agreed blandly, observing the damage. The door had been ripped clean off its hinges, and was lying haphazardly in the yard. The warm outside breeze flowed into the room from the tall opening. Neither of them had been aware the amount of damage a panicking buck was capable of until now. It was stunning really, that Finn had done all that. "Sorry about that."
As the two got up to start the day, the matter seemed to be decided. Finn would stay, for now.
It wasn't very difficult to fix the door. The wood was sturdy, so despite the impact, the door itself didn't suffer much. The hinges were an easy fix. As they worked, Christopher hummed a happy tune. But Finn could see a bit of apprehension in his eyes. Perhaps he was still worried about being alone again. I wish there was something I could say to ease his fears.
☘ ☘ ☘
The days went on, their lives relatively normal despite the new information that had come to light. Christopher was telling the truth; he really did trust Finn, and he treated him the same way he did before he knew his secret. Finn felt entirely different, however. Opening up to Christopher had made him feel so...free. He wasn't lying anymore; it felt so good to be honest. The Hunter knew what he really was, and liked him all the same. And Finn felt so much closer to him because of it.
It was a beautiful day, one time when Christopher and Finn were hunting together. Spring was in full swing, and the forest teemed with life. They hardly even needed to be quiet, as the birdsong swallowed any noise their footsteps made. Finn still made a conscious effort to keep quiet though, and since their first excursion he had improved quite a bit.
Along with the forest animals, the plant life had exploded as well. Various flowers lined the undergrowth in full bloom. Finn caught Christopher bending down to look closer at one: a daffodil. He gently stroked one of it's white petals, seemingly lost in thought, and Finn couldn't help but be transfixed at the sight.
"I like these." he said, stopping to glance up at Finn. A soft smile graced his lips, and his eyes held a tranquility to them. Finn felt fully relaxed just from looking at him.
Finn knelt down next to him. "Then why don't we take them home? We can build a flower garden." he said, smiling.
"Ah..." The Hunter started, reaching a hand to the back of his head as he glanced away. He was beginning to blush. "I think I told you the other night, but I can't keep flowers alive. I'm just a hunstman, haha...I don't have the talent for gardening."
Finn grinned and placed a hand on the other man's shoulder. "That's okay. I know a thing or two about it, so I can help you." Without waiting for a response, he turned and dug his hands into the dirt. He began showing Christopher how to scoop up the flower without damaging the roots.
As he worked, he felt the Hunter's hand gently caress his shoulder blade. The warmth of it seeped into his skin, distracting him. He glanced up to Christopher's face, and found that the other man was watching his hands intently, studying the careful uprooting process. He didn't seem to even notice his hand on Finn's back, and the way it was flustering him.
It was really...endearing.
With Finn's guidance, they picked up a few more daffodils as well as some crocus and tulips. And with their arms filled with the vibrant hues of nature, they headed home to get started on the garden.
Digging up the dirt for the garden took longer than either of them expected, so by the time every flower was planted in rows along either side of the front steps, the sun was beginning to sink beneath the treetops.
"I'll water them every other day; that way they won't get dehydrated and wilt." Finn said, patting the loose dirt around the last blossom, a beautiful crocus. "It's possible to over-water them too, though. You want to make sure you don't drown them."
Christopher looked up at him from where he was finishing up with a nearby daffodil. Suddenly he crawled over and encased Finn in a tight bear-hug. Ignoring Finn's surprised struggling and the 'oof' that escaped him, Chris said, "Thank you so much. You have no idea how long I've wanted this."
Finn wasn't quite sure whether he was talking about the flower garden or his companionship, but either way he was happy he could provide both. He tore himself away from the Hunter's strong grasp and looked him in the eye. "Of course." he said, grinning. A playful expression graced his features; suddenly he felt like showing off.
"But that's not all I can do, you know..."
He had an idea. There was one thing he wanted to show Christopher, something he wouldn't expect.
☘ ☘ ☘
The following day was spent gathering supplies for Finn's mystery-project. Christopher was allowed to help a little, but even having seen some of the supplies Finn chose, he still had no clue what the boy was planning.
They didn't see much of each other the next few days. Finn was completely engrossed in his work, and Christopher busied himself with his usual chores. Whenever he tried to catch a glimpse of what Finn was working on, he was shooed away relentlessly. Christopher tried to ask questions about it every night at dinner, but Finn stubbornly refused to answer any of them.
It seemed Finn really wanted it to be a surprise.
It was dinnertime once again, but this time Finn was acting different. Rather than the usual brusque responses to Chris's questions as of late, Finn instead responded by quivering in his seat, fighting a huge grin. Clearly Chris was going to get some answers soon.
After their meal, Finn jumped out of his seat and hurried over to Christopher, grabbing his hand. "Come here, I want to show you something!" he gushed excitedly, dragging him from his chair and out of the cabin. The Hunter just chuckled and let himself be led by the smaller man until they were standing in the front yard.
Evening was upon them; the sky had turned a lovely peach color, bathing everything in a warm yet muted light. Christopher felt his hand being squeezed as Finn turned around to show off his wide, dazzling smile. Between his rosy cheeks and his mint-green eyes, Christopher believed that the face in front of him was even brighter than the sunlight peeking from the trees behind its owner's head.
Finn grasped Christopher's other hand with his own and gently tugged him down until he was sitting. "Wait here." was all the young man said before he disappeared behind the cabin. A few moments later he returned, hands hiding something behind his back. He carefully sat down cross-legged in front of Chris, face beaming.
"Well, what is it?" The Hunter chuckled, growing excited and a little impatient to see just what had absorbed all of Finn's attention for the past few days.
Wordlessly, Finn drew his hands from behind his back, revealing a lyre.
It was a bit crude as far as instruments go, but it was still clearly in the fashion of a miniature harp. The wooden base seemed sturdy enough, even if it didn't look that pretty. The strings were attached with obvious skill and care, though it wasn't perfection. Finn's expression was beaming with pride as he patiently awaited Christopher's reaction.
Christopher was more impressed than he had ever been in his life.
"That's amazing!" he gasped. "Where'd you learn to do that?"
Finn's smile was absolutely radiant. "There are some elders in my clan who know how to make instruments like this, though theirs are way better than mine. They taught me some things, but I have to admit I'm not very practiced."
He absentmindedly plucked at a string. "But I am good at playing."
His fingers began to move deftly across the strings, producing a beautiful melody. Eventually it morphed into something Christopher recognized. "Wait...is that...?"
Finn paused for a moment to meet the Hunter's gaze.
"The tune you hum every morning, while cooking breakfast."
It was amazing that Finn had paid attention during all of those mornings, especially when Chris often failed to notice it himself. Finn focused on the instrument again and continued playing, leaving Christopher absolutely starstruck. Listening to the song caused a warm, fuzzy feeling to make its presence in his chest.
He was so unbelievably happy.
The sun sank further into the ground as Finn played, the peaceful sunset drifting into dreamy darkness. One by one the stars popped out, tiny pinpricks of light blinking open above the inky sky. Eventually Finn grew tired, and he set his lyre aside so the two could lie back in the grass alongside each other and watch the stars. As the darkness grew, the fireflies made their presence known once again, drifting above their heads.
Lying on his back, facing the shimmery night sky, Finn felt at ease. Though that was mostly due to the gentle aura of the man next to him. He absentmindedly reached out for Christopher's hand. The other man grasped it in response, intertwining Finn's fingers with his own. He glanced at Finn, granting him a small smile before raising a hand to the stars.
"See that?" he pointed at a small cluster of the silver flecks. "It's a constellation. They call that the 'Big Dipper'."
Finn narrowed his eyes, trying to pinpoint it. "Why is that?"
Christopher shrugged, causing Finn's arm to shift with him. "Because it looks like a giant ladle."
He searched the sky for a ladle, finally noticing the rectangular shape. "Oh, I see it!"
Chris chuckled, eyes roaming the starry-scape for a new constellation. "Oh, and that's Orion the Hunter!"
Finn's gaze followed Chris's finger to where he was pointing at a belt of three bright stars. Looking at it, he could make out what was supposed to represent a belt, a dagger, hands and feet. "A hunter? Like you, then?"
"Well, sort of. According to the tales, he hunts for sport. I hunt to survive." He shifted to face Finn, gaze suddenly serious.
"I would never kill an animal for anything else."
Christopher's words brought forth an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. But he pushed it away, forcing himself to smile. The Hunter was a good man; there was no reason for him to know what he did. Finn gave his hand a squeeze.
"I know."
With that, both men turned their attention back towards the sky. Christopher pointed out more constellations, and told the stories behind them. Finn absorbed them with interest, enjoying the other man's comforting presence.
But eventually Finn stopped listening. He was growing bored of the glittering world above, preferring to gaze at the the man next to him instead. As Christopher went on, Finn watched him. The way his mouth moved, the way his eyes gleamed with the passion of storytelling. A warm feeling steadily grew in his chest, one he couldn't seem to ignore any longer.
"Hey...Chris."
The Hunter turned his head to look at him, interrupted from his monologue. "Hm?"
"I love you."
For a moment, both of them were still. Christopher's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth slightly open. Then his expression melted into pure bliss. He smiled and pushed himself from the ground, shifting his body, and suddenly Finn could feel Christopher's legs on either side of his body, could see his face inches from his own.
The moonlight illuminated the handsome man's features. His coal-black hair stirred ever so slightly in the delicate breeze. His dark cloak draped across his shoulders, outlining his form against the stars. The silver rings in his ear glinted in the moonlight like shining jewels. His electric green eyes were so close they reminded Finn of their first excursion into the woods together, the exhilarating feeling of being able to see every detail, every golden fleck hidden within the green. Those eyes were trained directly at him, filled with affection...as well as hunger.
He raised a hand to caress Finn's cheek. "I love you too, silly."
Suddenly the Hunter's lips were pressed against his own. They were soft, and warm, and gone too soon. The warmth was replaced with cool air, and Finn opened his eyes, wondering why.
The next thing he knew, Christopher had cupped his cheeks with both of his palms, and dived in for a deeper kiss. Finn sighed into it, letting the other man take over his mouth. He grasped Christopher's shoulders, his hands slowly migrating up the Hunter's neck to tangle themselves in his hair.
Soon after they broke apart, gasping for air. Finn peered at the man above him and saw that Christopher was looking down at him, eyes wide with delight and cheeks flushed. He's so beautiful.
A coy smirk appeared on Christopher's face. "Stay with me tonight."
Finn felt his own grin come forth unbidden.
"Gladly."
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jun 17, 2018 0:49:33 GMT -5
(...Alright. This chapter is done. All aboard the feels train, everyone, cause we're about to take a ride through the City of Angst  Here, have a complementary box of tissues.) (The next chapter should be the finale, except for the epilogue I have planned so things are gonna be wrapping up soon. Enjoy!!) Chapter 7Finn awoke to the sound of tapping from the window.
His eyes blinked open slowly, attempting to adjust to the sunlight invading the room. 'Tap' 'tap' tap' came the noise again. Mind groggy, he slowly turned his head to view the source of the noise.
A crow was perched on the windowsill, peering in from the outside. Its beak rapped against the window one more time. Then the bird cawed twice and took off, its shadow vanishing in an instant.
The sheets stirred next to him.
Finn turned to see Christopher shifting under the covers to face him. His brilliant green irises peeked out from beneath his eyelids, bleary yet still stunning. He looked amazing, even like this, with his gaze unfocused and his dark hair an absolute mess.
Upon seeing Finn, his lips formed a soft smile. Those lips Finn had kissed passionately the night before. "Good morning." he muttered sleepily.
Finn's cheeks grew warm. "Good morning."
Christopher scooted closer, throwing his strong arms around Finn and planting a kiss on his cheek. "Don't get up. I want to stay like this."
Finn returned the embrace, hands lacing behind the Hunter's back. "The sun's bright outside, though. It's time to get up and start the day."
"Mmm...five more minutes, then."
"You say that, but then we'll be here all day."
"...I'm okay with that."
"Well, I'm starving." As if his words were a cue, Finn's stomach growled loudly.
"Okay, okay." Christopher chuckled and released Finn from his comforting yet firm grasp, rolling over to the other side of the bed and getting to his feet.
Finn couldn't help but grin. Christopher was usually the early bird, already dressed and cooking breakfast by the time Finn woke up in the mornings. But Finn loved this new...attached side to Christopher, one that would rather stay in bed and cuddle than get a head start on the day's work.
Breakfast that morning was better than ever before, even though the food was the same.
☘ ☘ ☘
After that night under the stars, their relationship had undoubtedly changed. There was so much...more. More kissing, more cuddling, more hand-holding. More confessions of love, more promises. And there were ways in which they were just the same. They hung out together and talked as they usually did, and accompanied each other in their household chores. Life at the cabin was simple, and sweet.
But not completely.
Finn was changing noticeably; it seemed as though his body couldn't quite decide whether it wanted to be a human or a stag. He was transforming erratically. One time when tending the garden, he noticed white fur sprouting along his forearm and knuckles, before it disappeared. On an excursion into the woods, he was trailing behind the Hunter when he suddenly bowled over, having rapidly turned into a beast. At dinner one night, an antler suddenly sprouted from the side of his head, snagging a hearty laugh from Christopher and an awkward conversation.
At first, Christopher didn't seem too worried about it. Perhaps he didn't understand that whatever was happening wasn't normal. Finn was struggling to understand it himself. But when these events started happening every day, they both soon grew uneasy.
It wasn't very long before they got an answer.
Finn was sitting on the front steps alone, reading a book. The weather was nice, and he wasn't busy. Suddenly a voice interrupted him from his thoughts.
"How boring you are."
He flinched, nearly dropping the book. That voice sounded familiar. The woman from his dream?
"I had wanted you to suffer. But soon I will get my wish."
He looked around frantically, searching for the source of the voice. What did she mean by that?
"The curse is out of my hands now, boy. You've made your mistake. Your never-ending darkness draws closer."
His gaze landed on a crow perched on the railing, glaring at him with a beady eye. It cawed at him twice, almost in a jeering way, and flew off, disappearing into the forest. The voice did not return.
But her foreboding words stayed with him for a long time.
Finn told Christopher about what happened as soon as he could. They talked inside, on the couch, in the hopes that the strange woman would not hear. Christopher cradled his chin in his interlocked fingers, staring at the floor. His expression was tense, focused. He concentrated hard before giving his thoughts.
"Whoever this woman is - I think she plays a big role in this curse. And like she said, it's getting worse." he glanced up at Finn, awaiting confirmation. Finn nodded, urging him to go on.
He took a deep breath, as if mentally preparing himself for the words he planned to say next.
"We don't have the answers here. And we aren't going to find them."
"...I think you need to go home. Your clan must know something about all of this."
Finn sputtered, not knowing how to respond to such a suggestion. This was his home, with the man he loved! He didn't want to go back. Going back would mean returning to his old life, with its confined loneliness, not knowing whether or not he'd be able to see Christopher again. His gaze hardened, determined not to consider that outcome.
"I can't leave. That woman is here; she's watching us. She spoke to me in broad daylight. I don't know what might happen to you if I leave you here alone."
Christopher smirked at that, just barely. "I'm more than capable of handling myself, I promise you. And I'm worried things might get worse if we leave them the way they are. There's a chance your clan could help."
He gently placed his hand on Finn's shoulder, attempting to reassure him. "I've been living alone for a long time now, Finn. I promise I'll be okay until you come back home."
Finn placed his own hand over Christopher's, intertwining their fingers. "I'm not going back. I refuse to leave you."
The Hunter brushed Finn's hair out of his face with his free hand, and leaned in to give him a brief kiss. "Okay." he responded with an uneasy smile.
They left it at that. Finn wasn't going anywhere, not without Chris.
☘ ☘ ☘
He walked serenely through the woods. Moonlight filtered through the tree branches, painting the forest floor in an intricate pattern. His hooves parted the undergrowth, almost silent. Past tree after tree he walked, thinking of nothing, only observing.
A barn owl flitted between the tree branches, silent. Soon its panicked flight interrupted the tranquility of the scene, landing on his outstretched antler and ruffling its feathers impatiently.
"Finn, where have you been?!"
Suddenly he became aware again, as if he had just surfaced from water.
"...Brooke?"
The barn owl hooted anxiously. "You told him, didn't you? About our secret?"
Oh no. Brooke and Cyrus had always told Finn that the curse must be kept secret. His long ears flicked. "I had no choice! He saw me, as I am now." He held up an elongated foreleg, staring at it incredulously. This is strange. he thought. He never turned in his dreams.
"Brooke, there's been a dangerous woman in my head." he continued. "She forced me to turn in front of him."
The owl suddenly grew still, listening silently.
"But the Hunter is kind. He understands. He never wanted to hurt me, or anyone."
"He has no idea what he did, all that time ago."
A few moments passed. Then he heard a sigh from above his head.
"You have to come home. Please. The curse is growing worse as we speak. Everyone is affected. The Hunter will be, as well."
A chill ran up Finn's spine. Chris, too? "What's happening? And what do you mean?!" A hint of panic entered his voice.
"We're turning constantly, unpredictably. Worse than ever before. You have to come home and see it for yourself." she said with cold severity.
The same as me. he thought grimly. "But what about the Hunter?! What does he have to do with all of this?!" he nearly shouted. He was growing more worried with each passing second. He wanted Christopher as far away from this crisis as possible. There was no way he could be connected to this, no way.
Her weight shifted around on his antler. "...It's best that you forget about him. You will likely learn, soon."
Her words only stirred more questions, no answers. "Tell me!" Finn shouted. He was pacing now, swinging his head around. The owl fluttered restlessly, struggling to stay perched. "What will happen to him?!"
Brooke said nothing else. Instead she took off from Finn's antler and soared off into the trees, quickly disappearing into the darkness. As Finn lost sight of her, the world around him crumbled away, leaving only an empty blackness.
☘ ☘ ☘
Finn woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up in the sheets and gasping for breath. He clutched his chest, heart pounding. Through the window he could see the early morning sunrise, it's orange glow spilling into the bedroom. The sight calmed him a little, and for a moment he just sat there, trying to regulate his breathing.
What did Brooke mean? The other clan members must be going through the same weird transformations that Finn was of late, but what about the Hunter? Brooke had implied that something was going to happen to him, but she refused to say anything else. Finn was terrified for what might lay in store for him, the one he loved.
He looked next to him, expecting to find Christopher's sleeping form there, but the sheets were empty. He took a deep breath. Maybe the Hunter had decided to get up early today. But his thoughts were suddenly derailed by a loud growling from outside, followed by familiar shouting. No.
He kicked the sheets off and shot to his feet, dashing down the stairs and out the front door. The scene waiting for him was completely unexpected.
Christopher was standing in the yard with his back to Finn, posture tense. He was brandishing a hunting knife defensively. In front of him faced a large black wolf, snarling threateningly. Finn knew that wolf.
"Get back!" Chris yelled, slashing the knife through the air in an attempt to scare the wolf off. But that wasn't going to work with this one. The wolf leaped back and snarled viciously, spittle flying off of its lips.
"STOP!"
The wolf immediately changed its stance, watching Finn with surprise written on its face. Christopher turned his head to glance at him, echoing the same expression. "Finn?"
Finn's gaze hardened. Squaring his shoulders, he walked forward to stand in between the man and the wolf. "Cyrus, stop this. The Hunter means no harm. As you can see, I am safe." He held out his palms for proof.
The wolf straightened up, losing its hostility. A moment later, the clan Chief was standing in its place. Finn heard Christopher gasp from behind him. "I see. Then this will be much easier. Finn, I'm taking you with me back to camp."
"I refuse. This is my home now, and I won't leave Christopher here." An edge of determination crept into his voice.
"Christopher...?" Cyrus muttered confusedly, glancing at the other man. Suddenly his icy blue gaze twisted in pain and fury.
"Don't joke with me! That man killed Rosie!"
It was as if time stopped in that moment. All Finn could do was stare in horror as his blood ran cold, the man's words sinking in. He prayed that Christopher didn't hear.
"...Finn. What is he talking about."
He carefully turned around to face Christopher. The Hunter's green gaze was wide with shock and bewilderment. Darn it all. He couldn't hide the truth any longer.
"I'm sorry. I just couldn't tell you." Tears began to well in his eyes. "You hunted her...when she was a doe. You couldn't tell the difference. You had no idea who she was."
Christopher's face crumpled, visibly shaken by Finn's words. The knife fell out of his hand, hitting the ground with a soft 'thud'.
"You're saying...I did that...?"
He sank to his knees, gaze locked on the ground in front of him. "Then that means I... a person. I killed a person. I... I ate her. And you knew...all this time..." his voice trailed off as he began shaking in fear.
The building tears streamed down Finn's cheeks. "I'm so sorry I never told you. I didn't want you to carry that burden."
"Enough of this. We need to go, now."
Finn whipped around to face the Chief. "What makes you think I'm leaving?"
Cyrus folded his arms across his chest, wearing an angry grimace. "This is all because of you. You broke the truce I'd carefully maintained with that darned witch, and now you're going to come with me back to camp to help fix this crisis you caused."
Finn's eyes widened in surprise. A truce? A witch? But all he'd done was...oh no. He had revealed himself to Christopher, had told him everything, despite the rule to keep hidden. Whatever was happening to the clan, this was all his doing. His shoulders slumped, giving in. Cyrus was right, all of this was his fault. There was nothing he could do. He had to go back, to find some way to make things right before it's too late.
"You're right, it's all my fault. I'll go with you." he said, defeated.
He turned back to Christopher, who was still staring at the ground. He got to his knees in front of him and gently cradled the man's face in his palms, tilting his face upward to meet Finn's gaze. He looked horribly, utterly, distraught. It broke Finn's heart to see him like this. What he was about to do would break it even more.
"Tell me it's not true..." Christopher begged, voice wavering.
More tears came as Finn was filled with emotion. The pain from losing Rosie so long ago, the conflict he felt, the love he had for the man in front of him now.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to find out like this." He felt Chris's fingers grip his arm. "Listen, Christopher, I have to go now. But I promise I'll return, human or not. I love you no matter what."
He leaned down and kissed the Hunter square on the lips, not caring that Cyrus was watching. When he pulled back, Christopher's grip on his arm strengthened in protest. Finn gently pushed him away, heart shattering in the process. He stood up, leaving Christopher in his crumpled state, and finally turned to the Chief.
The Chief still looked irritated, mingled with a new twinge of disgust. "Let's go." He said coldly. He turned his back to Finn and began walking away, in the direction of the forest.
Finn trailed after him. When he reached the line of trees at the edge of the clearing, he glanced behind to see Christopher staring after him, pain and loss etched across his features. A horrible feeling twisted inside Finn, and he forced himself to look away.
"...Goodbye." he whispered, before disappearing into the forest after Cyrus.
☘ ☘ ☘
Christopher watched as the man who changed his life walked away. As he lost sight of him, he suddenly became very terrified at the thought of Finn leaving. For a moment, he thought about going after them. But he didn't move. Trying to change his mind was useless, now. Finn had to leave, for his clan of shape-shifters.
Christopher bowled over as the fresh realization of what he'd done to them took over. One hand clutched at his chest as the tears flowed freely, dripping onto the ground below him. He was a murderer, there was no way he could deny it. He'd killed someone, a woman named Rosie. He dragged her body home, cooked her, ate her, none the wiser that she was no animal.
And the worst part about it was that he hurt Finn. He had given Finn a kind of pain that he could never take back, no matter how sorry he was. No matter if Finn ever forgave him for what he'd done.
Suddenly he felt sick. He retched, spilling all of last night's dinner into the grass. Disgusting. Murderer. Cannibal. Despicable. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and returned his gaze to the woods, the direction that Finn left. He stayed there for hours, until the sun had passed the highest point in the sky.
He was all alone, just as he was before he ever met Finn. The only company he had now was guilt. For days he became a complete wreck, doing almost nothing, eating even less. For nights he lay awake, unable to allow himself to sleep.
He recited her name again and again in his mind, Rosie. Rosie. Rosie. The one I killed. Finn. The one I hurt. The one I love. These thoughts swirled around and around and around, driving him mad.
But it wasn't long before it all started to...ebb away. Soon he was able to sleep again, able to eat again, even if it was just a little.
One day he woke up to find he couldn't remember her name.
---
He knew he was a murderer, but who did he kill? What was her name?
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He knew he'd done something terrible, but what did he do?
---
Why was he so sad?
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Why did he wake up with tears staining his cheeks?
---
For a while he had the strange sensation that something was slipping, falling away from him. He felt as though he was being dragged underwater, sinking, his mind a muddled mess. He tried to hang on, find out what it was, remember. But to no avail.
In his dreams, he saw someone beautiful. Someone he cared about deeply. He would caress their cheek, hold them close, only to wake up and find himself alone, confused. Those dreams only occurred for a short while.
One morning, he woke up and thought of nothing at all. |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Jun 17, 2018 0:57:24 GMT -5
All the feels must be felt.
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on Jul 19, 2018 15:34:29 GMT -5
whaaaaaaaaaaaa? Cristopher is dating Finn?!
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on Jul 19, 2018 16:42:59 GMT -5
(I wanna be in ur forum fam 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 !) |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Jul 27, 2018 21:10:23 GMT -5
Huh, somehow I never saw your posts until now Tawny. But anyway yes, Christopher and Finn are a couple. And I know it's been a really long time since I've updated this story but I promise I'm still working on it! I'm actually about ummm, halfway through Chapter 8 at this point. Though it's starting to look like there will be a Chapter 9 as well  There's still some sad feels ahead but I promise a happy ending |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Aug 20, 2018 21:53:38 GMT -5
(Oof, wow, sorry this took so long. A whole lot of real life stuff got in the way, and it made it a little difficult to get back into writing. And I kinda lied about this chapter being the last one, there will be at least one more before the end of the story. I won't make any promises, but I doubt the next chapter will take this long to be finished. Anyway, enjoy!!)
Chapter 8
They walked back to camp in complete silence. Whatever Cyrus had thought of that scene in front of the cabin, he revealed nothing. He just marched determinedly ahead of Finn, shoulders squared, expression hidden. Finn followed him closely, keeping up with a little more grace than before. Trekking through the forest with Christopher had given him a lot of practice.
Eventually they arrived at a much more familiar stretch of woods, though it gave Finn a strange, nostalgic feeling. He felt a little uneasy being back in this place, somewhere that was home to him for so long. A place that he had wanted so badly to return to...until he didn't. And the circumstances for which he had to return made this visit much more upsetting.
Soon the clan's camp came into view. As the two drew closer, Finn could feel the air grow tense.
As told by Brooke last night, the clan was clearly in trouble. A blond man nervously paced around, a squirrel tail sprouting from his behind. His dark-haired friend desperately tried to calm him down, though his own arm was replaced by a bear's paw. Naomi could be seen resting on a stump, feathers sprouting from her face and neck, and hawk wings protruding from her shoulder blades. She had a dirty-blonde-furred mouse cupped protectively in her hands, and she spoke to it worriedly. A fox trotted through the clearing, and from its aggravated pace Finn could tell this probably wasn't the first time the fox had turned today. Some clanmates had patches of fur in random places, others had claws, tails, paws, wings, ears.
Brooke suddenly appeared among them, seeming normal for the most part. She approached Cyrus and Finn briskly, her hardened gaze melting into relief. "Finn! You came back!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around Finn, suffocating him in a tight embrace. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been all this time?!"
Finn struggled to breathe in Brooke's bear-hug, but he reached his arms around to hug her back. "I'm sorry for making you worry...but I've been just fine, promise! The Hunter is harmless, and really helpful actually-"
He stopped talking when he saw the cautious expression on Brooke's face as she pulled back. "Finn...what are you...?"
"Tch." The noise came from Cyrus's direction, and the man began walking away, demeanor still cold as steel.
"Wait, Cyrus!" Brooke called out to the man's back. "Aren't you going to-"
"No." He interrupted. He didn't stop or look back.
Brooke watched him leave, then sighed as she looked at the ground, seemingly lost in thought. Finn just stood there awkwardly, not sure what to say to the shaman. "Um..."
Brooke's gaze shot back up. "Okay." she muttered, probably to herself, and turned back to Finn. She gripped his shoulders tightly, her usual cheerful gleam returning. "So! You're going to help me with some research. We need to find some way to stop or slow down this curse before it gets out of hand."
The curse is out of my hands now, boy.
He wondered what that meant. Was it too late? Was the curse already out of hand? Nevertheless, they had to try. The clan depended on their efforts. Christopher did, too. He nodded, mint gaze determined. "Right. I'll do my best. Just tell me what to do."
As they walked across camp to get to the shaman's tent, Finn saw the squirrel-tail-guy suddenly disappear, clothes falling to the ground. His rodent form shot out of the wriggling fabric, scurrying around in a panic. Bear-paw-guy chased after him and scooped him up, but he quickly regretted his decision when the squirrel immediately grew back into a full-sized person and crushed him.
Brooke opened the tent flap and ushered Finn inside. In the dim lighting he could see the pallet in which the shaman slept, along with a collection of covered baskets containing all sorts of tools and ingredients the magic healer would need. Among these were herbs, trinkets for spells and rituals, and staffs of various sizes and designs.
Brooke entered after him and walked over to a basket in the corner, taking out what looked to be rolls of parchment, similar to the material that made up the books Christopher had in his cabin. Seeing them caused a pang of regret to blossom in his heart. He had to get this done quickly, so he could return to his Hunter.
"These are important spells that have been passed down through generations of shamans. Some of them are from even before the clan was cursed. We have to try them all; maybe one of them will weaken the effects of the curse." She shoved the rolls into Finn's arms and turned her attention to a basket of herbs.
"Um, how do we do that?"
"Well, first we have to gather all the ingredients we need." Brooke answered, not even looking at her new assistant as she focused on rummaging through her belongings. "Then we have to prepare them. Some of the spells require a ritual, maybe some chanting. Then it's mostly experimentation. We have to try again and again until we get a lead."
Finn sat on the ground cross-legged, placing the pile of parchment next to him, and picked one to read. He unfurled it in front of him, suddenly extremely grateful for Christopher's reading lessons.
Draught of Essence: To Cure Minor Spiritual Ailments
One marigold flower, One spring bud not yet bloomed, One seed of an aged oak. Soak together in water purified by the moonlight and speak these words:...
Finn scanned the parchment and inhaled deeply, already feeling overwhelmed. He breathed out.
"Alright. Let's get started."
☘ ☘ ☘
Finn was kneeling on the ground in the shaman's tent alone, surrounded by a mess. Parchment was scattered everywhere, as well as various herbs and other potion ingredients. He pushed a hand into his hair and ruffled it impatiently, then picked up another scroll and read it again, eyes darting across the page furiously.
About two weeks had passed since Finn returned to the clan with Cyrus. He and Brooke had been working diligently together to find a solution to the curse, but they didn't make much progress. And now they were running out of options. They tried every trick that Brooke knew, and every spell she had written down. Every ritual, every incantation, every concoction known to the shaman, but no luck had been granted to them. Beginning to grow desperate, their new task was to double-check each of the written spells, in the hopes that perhaps they made a mistake along the way that could be corrected.
Finn was beginning to lose that hope. The situation seemed so much brighter two weeks ago, when they still had ideas to try. Now that all the possible solutions were dwindling, the future of the clan seemed bleak. But perhaps Finn might not have been so worried if it weren't for Brooke.
The lavender-haired woman was losing her confidence. How could she be the clan's shaman if she couldn't use her magic to aid them in their time of need? Every time she waved her staff and chanted the words instructed, only to find that nothing would change, Finn could see the desperation closing in around her mind.
He could tell that something else was bothering her, too. She grew increasingly agitated about Finn's well-being, pestering him to eat more, to keep clean, to stay safe and warm. And oddly enough, she was beginning to take an unexpected interest in the Hunter as well. She kept asking him questions, about what had happened between them out in those woods, their life together at the cabin. He decided to be honest with her. After all, she was practically his best friend. There was no one else, save Christopher maybe, that Finn could truly trust more.
Every answer he gave her was met with a long silence, no doubt filled with extensive thought. Her sky blue gaze would grow distant, clouded with something that he could only guess was sadness, or perhaps worry. Perhaps Brooke was reminded of Rosie, still feeling the pain of her loss. Though Finn began to wonder if maybe it was something else. He never asked.
As the time he spent away from Christopher grew longer, the more anxiety riddled his mind. He was working so hard, trying his best to save the clan so he could return home as quickly as possible and make sure Christopher was safe. He knew Christopher was capable of holding out on his own, since it's what the man had always done, but he couldn't shake the fear. That dangerous woman was out there, watching. And he couldn't shake the lingering suspicion that the worsening curse might hurt the Hunter as well.
Finn threw down the parchment, giving up on it for the time being. He rocked back onto his heels, sighing heavily as his gaze trailed to the ceiling. Brooke had left the tent in a hurry some time earlier, shoulders tensed. He didn't follow her or ask any questions; she probably needed some time to herself. It was understandable, with the stress they were both under. Finn needed some fresh air, too. He pulled himself to his feet and pushed his way out of the tent, blinking warily at the sunlight beaming harshly into his face.
There was one place where he always took comfort during times like this, an old habit that refused to die no matter how long he had been away.
Almost by instinct, his feet carried him down the familiar path until he found himself near the bank of the creek. His eyes were already searching along the ground for good stones to throw, when the sound of voices stopped him. He looked up to see Brooke and Cyrus by the water's edge, a distance away from him. They were facing each other, and it seemed like they hadn't noticed Finn's presence yet. He quickly ducked behind a tree and stood completely still, hoping he remained undetected. For some reason, he didn't want to be found.
"Please, Cyrus. You have to tell him everything. You know what will happen, to us and the Hunter. He needs to know."
Finn's heart began to pound as dread pooled in his stomach. What? He whipped his head around to peer at them from behind the trunk. The urgency in Brooke's voice was unnerving. Christopher...
"...Why should I care about the Hunter's well-being." It didn't sound like a question. It sounded flat, yet cautious, as if the Chief already knew the answer.
"Because, you idiot!" Brooke was almost shouting, now. Almost. "Finn loves him! You can tell, can't you?! He deserves to know. And if you don't tell him, I will, because I can't bear to keep this from him any longer!"
Finn turned away and clutched at his chest, hyperventilating. What's going on? What is she talking about? She sounded so scared, so sad, it was obvious she was on the verge of tears. She knew something terrible was going to happen.
For a moment there was only silence. Then he heard her sigh, and she continued, a little more composed.
"That witch. She's been following him, you know. She forced him to turn; that's how the Hunter found out. She's been in his head, haunting his dreams. She's toying with him."
"I know it's impossible to forgive the Hunter. But you can't blame him for all of this, and you can't blame Finn either. You know who's really at fault. He deserves to know. Please."
Once again Cyrus said nothing. The sound of the trickling water was all that disturbed the silence. Finally Finn heard him take a deep breath, his sigh sounding resigned.
"I know. You're right, you're always right. We can't protect him anymore." He paused, and then his voice grew louder. "You can come out now, Finn. I know you're hiding."
For a second Finn froze, surprised that he'd been caught. But he shook it off, stepping out from behind the tree to face them. They were both looking directly at him. Brooke still looked like she was going to cry, meanwhile Cyrus's icy glare seemed to have melted away, as if a burden was being lifted. In its place was an almost fatherly gaze, the warmth that had been missing for so long finally returning.
"...I'm sorry for eavesdropping." Finn muttered hesitantly, wringing his hands as if he were a child about to be scolded.
Cyrus, for the first time since the day Finn left to wander the woods so long ago, smiled.
"Don't apologize. Come to my hut at sunset. I need to gather my thoughts."
☘ ☘ ☘
After that, Cyrus had briskly walked away. Brooke soon followed, expression resolute. Finn was left alone by the water bank, to gather stones and ponder about what the Chief wanted to tell him.
Now the sun was beginning to sink beneath the horizon, the rays filtering through the space between each tree trunk. Finn stood outside the Chief's hut, preparing himself for the information he was finally about to receive. Perhaps now he would finally get the answers he'd been craving all this time; answers about what would happen if they failed to find a cure, and the reason why this all had to be kept secret.
He pushed open the tent flap and walked inside.
The inside of the Chief's hut was spacious, but there wasn't much to look at. There were ceremonial blankets and other cloths propped against the walls, and a place on the floor where Cyrus clearly slept, but other than that the Chief's personal possessions were minimal. Cyrus himself sat cross-legged on the floor in the center, as if he had been waiting patiently for some time. He looked up when Finn entered, features neutral.
"Sit down, Finn. It's time I told you everything about this curse."
He complied, choosing a spot in front of the Chief. Cyrus took a deep breath, and began.
"A long time ago, many years before you were born, a witch cast a curse on the people here. That witch is known as Celestine, and she is a powerful and spiteful woman. She has lived a long life, free from the limits of mortality, and everything she does is for the purpose of alleviating her ever-growing boredom. She considered our people weak, and so to amuse herself, she used her magic to force our people into an alternate form, to turn into animals at random. Realizing that they could not fight it, they retreated deeper and deeper into the forest, isolating themselves from all of society."
So that's how the curse began, huh. Finn thought as Cyrus paused. "One witch did all of this? Just for...amusement?" Cyrus nodded, and continued.
"That witch, Celestine, is still around to this day, watching the clan. That's the woman that torments you in your dreams, in your mind. She's the one who forced you to reveal our secret to the Hunter." His tone grew irritated, and his eyebrows knitted together in a scowl. "She speaks to me as well, and part of my duty as Chief is to do her bidding in order to keep this clan safe from her wrath. As some sort of stupid reward for being her pet, she gave me the ability to control my turning. That's why I am able to transform one way or the other at will."
"A useful gift, but insulting." he practically spat. "To allow me this when she could easily give it to the others...I despise her."
Finn gazed at Cyrus curiously. He had always wondered why Cyrus was different from everyone else, but never quite expected that the ability was given to him. By the witch who had cursed them all in the first place, no less. He absorbed this information gratefully, but there was something he wanted to know more, the question that's been burning in his mind ever since his first night at the Hunter's cabin, that bothered him again after Brooke's visit in his dream.
Finn breathed in, gathering his courage to speak. This time, he knew he would get an answer if he asked. But he wasn't sure if he was prepared for it.
"What about the secret? Why did it have to be kept? And what will happen now, if we don't find a cure?"
The Chief's eyes glazed over, trying to disguise his fear. "The secret...it's something like a protection for her, a security. Though I suppose she finds amusement in it as well, watching us run around in a panic." He began, voice hoarse but gaining strength and anger with each word. "She didn't want word getting around about what she did. So she set a trap, an extra curse along with the first one."
He paused again, eyes filled with regret. He hesitated, not wanting to say what was next, but Finn's expectant gaze drove him to continue.
"If someone outside the clan learns of the secret, the curse will worsen, causing the transformations to happen more and more frequently."
"Eventually...no one will be able to turn back. We'll be forced to live as animals for the rest of our lives. And the outsider who learned the secret will lose all memories of it, and of the clan. That's how Celestine's secret will be kept for all of eternity."
Finn's eyes widened as dread gripped his heart with claws of cold steel. Animals...forever? And Christopher...he would forget everything. He would have no memories of Finn.
He couldn't spend another moment in this camp. He had to go back, NOW.
He shot to his feet and raced out of the tent, stopping outside to collect his stormy thoughts. Cyrus didn't follow him. Christopher. I have to get to Christopher. Before he forgets! The thoughts swirled in his mind as he reached his hands up into his hair and grasped tightly. I have to go right now; there's no time to waste.
But before he could take another step, slender yet firm arms reached around him, gripping him tightly. He was too shocked to struggle as a hand held some sort of cloth over his nose and mouth, forcing him to breathe in a strange scent.
He tried to move, tried to shout, but his body wouldn't respond. He could feel himself slipping, feel his consciousness ebb away as the ground suddenly came closer.
The last sensation he felt was a pair of hands catching him before darkness took him.
I'm sorry.
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Post by ᴀᴄʜʀᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ on Aug 20, 2018 22:49:05 GMT -5
I'm not crying, you're crying ;-;
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Aug 21, 2018 0:06:01 GMT -5
To be honest, I'm crying too
also drinking game: take a shot every time someone mentions 'the curse', you'll have liver failure by the end of it
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Post by ᴀᴄʜʀᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ on Aug 21, 2018 0:38:05 GMT -5
I'm gonna need a liver failure to get through all this sadness lol just kidding. Really though, your story is so good ;-;
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Aug 21, 2018 0:55:34 GMT -5
Thanks so much bb~ your tears mean a lot to mee~
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Oct 13, 2018 2:27:55 GMT -5
Bumping this thread to remind anyone who's still paying attention to this story: I promise I'm still working on it!!! I actually have a pretty decent start on Chapter 9 at this moment, and this is the story I'm primarily focusing on now. I REALLY didn't mean for Chapter 9 to take this long. I'm an easily distracted person, and after a while when other things have absorbed my attention, it can be difficult to get back in the head-space for a story I've been away from for a long time. The good news is that, while Chapter 9 should be the last one, it will be very long. Partly to make up for the long wait, but mostly because I can't justify splitting it up into another chapter. I would advise going over some of the previous chapters to remind yourself what's happened so far, as there won't be any recaps and it might get confusing. Anyway, I'm excited to be working on it and hope that at least some of you are still interested in the conclusion  it's on its way folks, and that's a Boop Promise. |
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Oct 15, 2018 3:31:21 GMT -5
*subtly edits each of the previous chapters and changes the font* *casually reads over it all and falls in love with the story all over again* |
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on Oct 23, 2018 18:20:20 GMT -5
Finns girlfriend wow
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on Oct 23, 2018 18:20:46 GMT -5
Why are you saying me, Finn, has a girlfriendz. Im singlezz
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Oct 23, 2018 19:01:02 GMT -5
Finn...doesn't have a girlfriend. But he does have a boyfriend. I think you must be confused at what kind of story I'm writing.
Also, the Finn in this story is not you. Nor is he supposed to represent you.
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Post by ғewp|leaf🍁 on Oct 23, 2018 19:30:42 GMT -5
HE MUST.
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Post by ✽Boop✽ on Oct 23, 2018 19:42:17 GMT -5
Um, no.
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The story isn't over yet!)
Here, have a complementary box of tissues.)
it's on its way folks, and that's a Boop Promise.