I walked across the dirt path with a large stick that I found in my hand and started to flick it from one side to the other, my thoughts all over the place, and I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings that much.
I stopped when there was a large crack to my left as someone stepped on a branch, and I looked that way, holding the stick tighter in my hand. I didn't say a word while I looked that way, pressing my lips into a thin line.
There was another crack from the direction that the first one came from, and I waited for the person, or creature, to come out of the woods and show themselves to me.
There was a small whine that way, as well, and I bit back a sigh of relief when I heard that whine, knowing full well that it was a wolf, and I prayed that it was Xav but wasn't sure because the wolf didn't step out like Xav would.
"Hey there," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while I relaxed my grip on the stick. "It's ok. You can come out. I'm not going to hurt you."
There was another whine of nervousness, but the creature didn't come out of hiding.
I bit back a small sigh before I shook my head and moved a hand across my face, not knowing why they were feeling nervous and prayed that they would come out soon because I was interested in who was there. "Please?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, making sure that my voice was barely above a whisper. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I am not going to hurt you."
I paused and cleared my throat while I shifted on my feet, and my cheeks turned red while I looked away from them. "And I don't know if I will be able to do that or not..."
There was a small snort from the creature, and I had a feeling that they were looking at the stick in my hand.
I looked down at that stick before I looked that way again, my cheeks turning red before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "I'm not letting go of my stick, but I am not going to hit you with it. I promise." I shrugged and grimaced. "Like I said, I can't hurt you. I don't know why, but..." I shrugged and grimaced, again, my cheeks turning another shade of red. "I can't."
Finally, after a moment's pause, the creature stepped out of the woods to reveal a wolf, and I bit back a small gasp of shock while I looked at him, my heart skipping a beat before it started to pound faster and harder in my chest.
Julian...
The wolf was light gray and had dark brown eyes, standing tall and proud, even though there was a look of nervousness in his eyes. His ears were flat against his head while he looked at me, and I couldn't help but wonder why he was out here and not somewhere else, somewhere safe.
"Hey there, Boy," I said, trying but failing to make sure that Julian didn't know that I knew who he was because of the look he gave me with his eyes growing wide.
Shit...
I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet before I composed my features, praying that he wouldn't say anything to anyone that I knew who he was and knew about the world that was supposed to be hidden from me.
"How are you?" I asked, making sure to play it off, even though I had no idea if my brother believed me or not.
Julian gave me a deadpanned look and slowly blinked. He didn't say a word while he looked at me, and I had a feeling that he wanted to call this out or shift in front of me to see if what he thought was true.
I pressed my lips into a thin line and grimaced before I subtly shook my head, praying that he understood what I meant.
Not yet...
Julian hesitated before he slowly nodded. He flicked his tail and looked around before he looked at me again. He hesitated and took another step toward me, pressing his ears to the side of his head further.
"You are handsome, aren't you?" I asked with a small coo in my voice, and I held out my hand so that he could sniff. "You are very handsome."
I made sure that I kept my face blank while I looked at him, ignoring the disgusted feeling in my chest, especially since he was my brother.
Julian gave me a disgusted look, and I bit back a small snort but grinned innocently. He sniffed my hand before he nuzzled it, silently asking me to put my hand on his head.
I bit back a small chuckle and rubbed his head, clutching the stick tighter in my other hand. "Such a sweet boy," I teased, and Julian closed his eyes while he rolled them, biting back a small snort. "How are you?" I asked.
Julian nudged my side and sighed while I continued to pet him. He was tired and nervous, wondering if he had done the right thing and showed me his other form when I shouldn't know about him or the group that I had left behind.
"Hmph." I smirked tiredly and rubbed behind his ears. "I think we will have to worry about that later, Boy," I said softly. "Right now, let's enjoy this part before we get interrupted by something or someone."
Julian snorted and wagged his tail. He told me that the G-
"I don't know where you are going with that sentence, so shut up," I said, interrupting him before he could finish his sentence, and Julian pulled his head away from me until he could look at me with a deadpan look on his face. "I'm serious, Jul," I said and shook my head. "I don't know where you are going with that sentence, and i don't want to know."
It wasn't safe...
My brother sighed and shook his head before he nodded and nudged my side again. He wanted me to continue to pet his head but also wanted to know about my day and how everything was.
"Hmph." I bit back a small snort while I held back an eye roll. "We should sit if you want to know that," I grumbled, and Julian instantly laid down and looked at me expectantly, telling me that I could lean up against him as well.
I shook my head and bit back a small sigh before I did what I was told to do and sat down before I leaned against him. "There, are you happy?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, looking at him again.
Julian snorted and rolled his eyes before he folded himself around me and closed his eyes, resting his head on my lap.
I bit back a small chuckle and moved a hand through his fur on the top of his head. "Very funny," I said, biting back a small sigh while I closed my eyes and buried myself closer to him. "That didn't tell me if you were happy or not, Jul."
Julian snorted and rolled his eyes, scowling. He was ecstatic that I was petting his head, and we were sitting down next to each other. He was so happy that he could cry.
I bit back a small snort and nudged his side, and he whined dramatically and rolled away from me just a tad that I fell a bit to the ground. "Stop being an ass, Jul," I softly scolded, and my brother rolled his eyes and sighed, not moving back to where he was at. "Are you going to move back so that my back isn't touching the ground, or are you going to keep lying like this?"
Julian wagged his tail and said that he was going to keep lying like this.
"Hmph." I pressed my lips into a thin line and bit back a small sigh before I closed my eyes and slowly started to relax. "I miss this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper, and Julian opened an eye and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
I shook my head and cleared my throat. "Don't worry about it," I said, praying that he wasn't going to push. "All I know is that I miss this."
(03/13/2024)
"Hmph." Julian sagged against the ground while he sighed and closed his eyes, telling me that he missed this too. He missed the bond that we had with each other and wondered if there was a chance I would consider him my brother again.
"What do you mean by that, Jul?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I looked at him, and Julian opened his eyes and looked at me with a wide innocent look on his face. "What do you mean about you being my brother again?"
Julian hesitated and shook his head, telling me not to push. He didn't mean for me to find that out and to ignore it for now.
I held back an eye roll while I pressed my lips into a thin line, feeling very annoyed but also amused. "Very funny, Jul," I said coldly while I closed my eyes and leaned against him again. "Will I ever know what you mean?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I opened my eyes again and looked at him.
Julian snorted and slowly nodded, silently indicating that I would know in time but not right now. He nuzzled my side with his nose, and I bit back a small smile.
"Good," I said, biting back a small sigh or relief while my shoulders sagged with the relief that I felt. "Because I don't know what I will be able to do t-"
A growl interrupted me from finishing my sentence, and I jumped while I opened my eyes, grabbing my stick again, my whole body tense with the urge to protect my brother growing stronger with each passing second while I waited for whoever to appear in front of me, in front of us.
Goddess, protect us...