The Young Are Usually Wounded

[viggoslayer]

I sit on my stool looking at the canvas, the tip of my paintbrush between my teeth, examining the colors. I've moved over by the large window allowing the moon light to stream across the splay of color I've been working on these past few days. Deciding on softer shadows, I take my brush and continue my work, singing absently, pausing every so often

Comments

[st4v]

He almost caught me again. I frown and go back to reading. This book is supposed to be a classic. It's been enjoyable enough so far but drags a bit every now and then. Like now, Frodo is at Rivendell, elves are kind of boring. I think of what I would be like if I was an elf, pointy ears and a know it all. Though the being one with nature thing would be cool

[viggoslayer]

I hum, "Hmm, yes. A storm will soon be upon us. Mother Nature has a voice all her own."

He was watching me again. I sense he wants to see the painting. It had started out with just brush to canvas then I allowed it to take me where it saw fit.

The colors represent how I see Stav, the inner anguish yet longing to belong. So much conflict inside him, so much confusion.

The moon is covered and I have lost my light so with a sigh I put my brush down and look at him, "Come see, please. I would like to know what you see."

[st4v]

He wants me to look at it! I am about to jump out of my seat in excitement but then catch myself. I fake annoyance, sighing big and thumping my book down in my lap. "If it'll keep you quiet

[viggoslayer]

I laugh out loud, "Then it is a success."

I scrutinize the picture, "Has more depth under the moon light, but..."

Leaving the conversation I gather my brushes and paint, "Well perhaps I need to clean these." I leave him to ponder the painting, but before leaving the room I casually tell him, "Take it if you want, my quarters are full of them."

Once in the restroom I wash my brushes wondering if he will take it. My hands are spotted with colors but I'm not ready to wash away today's work. I head back to the library.

[viggoslayer]

I laugh as I hold the camera up to my eye, "Well then don't look, oh she is gone."

I've heard that rumor about the water fairies but I doubt it to be true and tell him so as I walk over to the tent, "I do not get any sense of ill will from the water fairies. I think the stories of them taking babies is a tall tell parents told their children to keep them from exploring to deeply into the woods."

Entering the tent I open my smaller bag and put on a pair on loose pants, but nothing else. I feel free in the woods and do not like the confines of clothing, however, I do not wish to offend my young friend.

Exiting the tent I hold up my hands, "Better?"

[st4v]

I blush furiously when he says not to look. I had to have been to notice. I concentrate on eating and push my own questions away about why I notice his nakedness and especially why I felt the need to take a photo of its partiality in the water as he disappears into the tent.

My ears are trained on his movement inside it. It's not long before the flap of the tent is pushed back and I also hear him come out of it again.

Better?

I cut off another piece of meat and pop it in my mouth without looking at him and swallow it. "You're still old."

[viggoslayer]

I chuckle, "Old and wise my friend, old and wise."

Slinging the camera strap around my neck I announce, "Alright, I'm going that way," I point to the west, "we may get rain tonight so be sure to be back at camp by dusk. These cameras are not water proof."

With that I make my way into the woods.

[st4v]

I can't help but turn and watch him disappear into the brush. The solitude crushes in on me as he does. I chew on my lip and fight the need to go after him. I don't want to appear needy or clingy or get in his way. He made it obvious he was going off alone. Alone doesn't include a tag along

[viggoslayer]

The sunlight awakens me and I hold my head up and yawn wide, a small whine coming from my throat. My body shivers at the feel of the stretch, a damn good one! I feel warmth next to me and see Stav in form curled up tight against me.

I am honored he laid so close. I stretch my neck and lick the top of his head and ear before nuzzling in and letting the sounds of the morning awaken him.

[st4v]

I feel something press against me, it feels damp and cool but warm at the same time, sort of nice and I move my head toward it slightly pushing back.

The sound of birds breaks into my thoughts and I crack one eye partally open whincing against the sunlight.

I growl low in my throat. "Fucking noisy birds."

[viggoslayer]

I chuckle and lift my head. I am feeling much better and am anxious to check the cameras. I hope he found them. I am, however, reluctant to move. I am still healing and rest is calling me - his closeness is welcome as well.

I lift my head and yawn wide again, "Did you find the cameras?"

[st4v]

Sleepily I stretch my legs out in front of me arching my back and loving the way my spine pings. I spread my pads/toes, not sure what to call them. I don't have like proper paws like a wolf. I rest my head back down and close my eye as I absentlmindedly answer him. "Yeah I did."

I yawn and hear my jaw crack then I stretch again and roll over against the warmth and nuzzle into it.

[chr1st14n]

I listen to what Viggo tells me and look over at Stav. He does not look at me and seems uncomfortable with the whole thing. I speak to him about it anyway. "I am very pleased to hear you defended a family member so valiantly Stavko."

I stand and walk over to him reaching out and lifting his head up so he has to look at me. "You should feel quite proud of yourself as I am of you." He frowns and I feel him straining against himself to not pull away from me.

I let go of him then turn to David and ask him to take Stavko to his room then to fetch Marius. The both of them are to go and check on these dead hunters.

When they have left I turn to Viggo. I am not going to play word games. Stavko's future in the pack depends on it.

"I need to know about the killing, how Stavko took to it?"

[viggoslayer]

"He acted completely on his instincts Lord Christian. He did not hesitate, he was deadly and and did not question his actions. Fierce, very. To snap a mans skull in your jaws... very powerful."

I take a breath, "He had returned to the scene to retrieve our cameras, but I was resting and did not see how he was... but when I woke he was in form curled up against me. He never spoke of the scene. He wanted to go back this morning, to take pictures," I shrug a shoulder, "a morbid curiosity some might think, but I gather it was his first human kill so he had to have been curious."

I think about how little time it took though for him to react this morning, "We had not been there long however when he - fainted. He claimed it was my salve, that I was poisoning him," I smile softly, "but he knows the truth. He chose not to try again my Lord."

[chr1st14n]

I move and sit back down with a soft sigh of relief. I look up at Viggo. I know he is old like me and that he would probably understand my need to know. "It would not have done to have him enjoy the kill. There is no place for it in our family. In these times it is too dangerous a thing to permit." I leave unspoken the consequences if Stav had of enjoyed it.

I do find it interesting that Stav slept next to Viggo in form. That is the closest he has ever been to any one of us, even David. There is hope for him yet.

"I will have to inform the order and make a complaint." I growl. "I will not have hunters wandering about on my property." Now that I am on council they have to listen.

I look back up at him. "Thank you Viggo. You may go."

[viggoslayer]

I bow and take my leave. Once in my quarters I unpack and clean the equipment, again, and put it all away. I take a shower and dry off, not bothering to dress as no one is here to offend. I chuckle as I dry off at Stav's reaction to my nudity. Ah the young.

I lay on my bed, on my belly, and open up my laptop to study the pictures again... Stav's card is still in. I go through the pictures he took, not many but all very good.

Studying the pictures he took of me I wonder why. Curiosity I decide upon, the lighting, the movement - just a target in a new art. The one of me eating, while in form... it dawns on me I would never have allowed that of anyone, but yet I allowed him. A picture of me in form... that is quite personal, but yet it was natural with him. Interesting.

[d4vid_b]

I am with Marius preparing to go find these hunters when Andreas rushes in saying that Stav is attacking Viggo. We have decided to go in human form as with hunters about and the order informed that is probably best. I feel Marius bristle but tell him that I will deal with it

[viggoslayer]

I take the jacket and put it on and shrug, "I'm not exactly sure. We had no issues while out in the woods, not with each other at least. I just came down to give him his camera and he opened the door, threw the painting I made at me, told me I didn't know him and hit me."

I shake my head, "His rage was so strong, then he suddenly," I look into David's eyes, "it was as if I scared him. I took form and held him down so he could not hurt me."

I tilt my head and look at the wall, "I told him I did not want to hurt him, that was when he - it was as if he was frightened of me."

Shaking my head, "He seemed to open up to me, or least lower his guard, while we were alone. Why would he suddenly think I mean him harm?"

[d4vid_b]

I nod my head knowingly when he says Stav's rage was so strong. I've also seen the scared side of Stav, more often than the rage for sure but even that is nowhere near as prolific as his attitude.

As soon as Viggo says it I know what set off the scared Stav. It was very similar to my own experience with him. His rage though was set off by the same thing as what happened with Marcus. One second I am telling him he had pretty eyes and the next he was trying to rip my throat out.

Viggo didn't say that though. I don't answer Viggo yet but look around and move to pick up the painting which is laying over by the wall. I look at it, the frame is broken but can be fixed. Maybe it was my fault for putting it up on the wall. I thought he would like it. I had guessed it was one of Viggo's and I have noticed how Stav pretends to not watch him.

I turn the painting over and look at it. "What is this of anyway?" Looks like a colour pot threw up on it to me but I am not about to say that to Viggo.

[viggoslayer]

I look at the painting, "Inner turmoil surrounded by a deep need. I will admit it is what I see when I look at Stav, the feeling I got through the many night in the library with him. But it is only my interpretation."

The frame is nice, or was at one time. I wonder if Stav framed it.