But stay a while, and maybe then you'll see. [Larsa]

[Crys]

Pharos

The weather had changed so quickly, the teasing breeze turned into a barrage of ice and snow that blew so strong it was hard to keep their footing. What would usually have been only a short journey was dragging on into an hour, and he was beginning to fear that the entrance to the den he had dug might be lost by the time they arrived. He glanced back over his shoulder, back at his companion who trudged with him almost near enough to touch, and worried what Larsa must be thinking now. That he had tricked him into his vile storm, or that he had lost his way? He couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing him. Larsa was depending on him. Larsa trusted him. Larsa, the only one who had paused to give him any thought. Letting him down would be… devastating. And besides that, the weather was only getting worse, getting dangerous. A whine caught in his throat, and was lost to the roar of the wind, unheard, unvoiced.

And then he saw it. Familiarity. Landmarks in a world becoming progressively barren and blank with white. The proximity and position of those rocks, that tree- and a mound before him. He looked back at Larsa again, eyes wide, and then bolted off toward a seemingly empty expanse of snow. It was here, he knew it. The snow had blown over the entrance, but he remembered where it was, and in seconds he was digging up to his chest in snow. It stung his paws, but he continued persistently- and then broke through. Through the hole opened up a small cavern of tightly packed snow. He’d been using it as a den for over a fortnight, and knew it to be as sturdy and safe as they came.

He poked his head back out the hole, gesturing for Larsa to follow with a wordless, pleading gaze.

[Kenren]

Larsa

He couldn't deny that he did have a thought, a little ways in, that perhaps the boy didn't know where he was. Or maybe he had misunderstood and thought Larsa was some stalker following him for no reason. Despite the amount of time it was taking, though, the most likely scenario is that he was looking for shelter out of self-preservation if nothing else. The storm was ripping full-force, and he could feel the biting chill through to his skin. It hadn't reached dangerous levels yet, but he found himself scanning every passing tree, every rock, for somewhere that might provide shelter sometime soon.

They kept moving.

Suddenly, the grey wolf took off. Larsa jumped a little at the sudden movement, and nearly lost the boy in the swirling snow. Larsa's mouth twisted in a chagrined expression, thinking of the time he'd just wasted getting lost and cold and honestly a little hungry just to have his guide run off. He trudged on, though, and as he got closer he realized he had been too hasty. The boy was digging almost frantically in the snow, head below the surface and tail to the air. It was hard to say if he was looking for something specific or if he'd just gotten tired of aimlessly wandering and was making the shelter himself. Larsa smiled into the chilly air, though there was no one to see.

Finally the pale wolf slipped from sight, and Larsa assumed he'd broken into some hidden alcove. Which, of course, made a lot more sense than simply digging from scratch. A moment later, the head popped back out, blue eyes seeking Larsa's imploringly. The older wolf stepped forward, looking at the small burrow incredulously for only a moment before a sweeping wind bit into him. He ducked his head, squeezing his larger mass into the slightly wider space within. Or rather, it would have been wider than the entrance if not already occupied. The den would have been relatively spacious for the boy alone, but Larsa's presence made it seem incredibly small. However, the cramped quarters were already warming up drastically from their combined body heat, and it was almost burning against he icy chill of his skin. He was intensely aware of the side that pressed against the younger wolf as he settled in and the heat that transferred between them. Larsa curled his legs close, trying to give the obviously shy wolf as much room as possible, but it wasn't really possible in such a space. He tilted his head, looking eye-to-eye at the face that was now so close to his own. "I know this is an inconvenience, but thank you. It'll only be until the storm passes." His voice was meant to be reassuring and nearly a whisper now that snow was beginning to muffle the sounds from outside.

[Crys]

Pharos

He obviously hadn’t thought this through far enough. A den dug for a yearling, small for his age, was not really intended to have guests. Larsa’s body slid into the hole with him, pressing against his side as he eased away from the wind and the cold. He found his mouth inexplicably dry, and also found himself leaning back against him despite Larsa’s fruitless attempts to make more space. The run had their hearts pounding, their blood pumping hot, and the warmth of Larsa’s touch was almost intoxicating. Guilt was setting into the pit of his stomach even as he had these thoughts- who was he to derive pleasure from Larsa’s touch? It was circumstance, nothing more. Larsa’s next words made that painfully clear.

Would that be the end, then? One night, and nothing more? He’d never had a companion before, and… He didn’t want Larsa to slip away so easily. Gone come the morning, like a dream. Taking with him this warmth, this closeness. Larsa’s pale eyes, gazing so expectantly into his own. His own eyes were wide and pleading.
”No,” he said, a single breathless syllable.

[Kenren]

Larsa

Wide, soul-consuming eyes, and a single, breathless word that was quiet and yet resonating. "No." Larsa knew his own eyes widened then, and a moment later a hesitant, surprised, yet happy grin spread. He assumed that since he'd been let into the shelter the boy wasn't telling him 'no, don't just stay until it's over.' He wanted him here. A warmth that had nothing to do with body heat spread through him.

Probably looking more pleased than he should, Larsa relaxed, letting his body rest comfortably against the other instead of tensing away. "I don't have to go. It's not like I have anywhere to be. Not unless you don't want me here." Just in case he'd completely misinterpreted, which was altogether possible and he'd made a fool of himself. He paused, scrutinizing as well as he could in the nearly pitch-black chamber. He turned his head a little, and he could feel warm breath tickle his nose. He didn't know if he should push his luck, but he said a little tentatively, "You don't have to talk if you don't want to, but... if I'm going to stay, I should call you something, right? You know my name, so it's only fair if I know yours." Probably a childish tactic, but it was worth a try. It was kind of like a riddle he wanted to solve - maybe if he just went at it the right way, he'd get the answer. Or the kid would get annoyed and kick him out. One was probably as likely as the other.

[Crys]

Pharos

The moment he’d said it he wished he could take back the sound. It immediately changed the whole dynamic, inviting Larsa to probe for answers that he wasn’t yet ready to give. But he couldn’t feel too bitter about it. Larsa’s reaction, Larsa’s glee was contagious. It seemed that Larsa wasn’t eager to return to isolation either. That was good enough for him. Any excuse. He tucked himself ever more firmly against Larsa’s side, settling down to the frozen earth with his paws folded beneath him. Before them, the hastily recovered entrance was once again being claimed by the storm. All for the better; it might even get to be a bearable temperature.

He paused to consider Larsa’s request in lingering silence, silence that seemed much thicker now that it had once been broken. But it was more than just hesitation that held the lull. To his dismay, just for a moment, he couldn’t remember a name to tell him. When was the last time someone had asked for his name? When was the last time he’d actually replied? The word formed almost alien on his lips, two syllables this time.
”Pharos.”
He shivered as he said it. This secret now had been disclosed between them, a covert bond. He felt eager for Larsa’s approval, for his excitement. Imagine that- excitement, from something as simple as a name.

[Kenren]

Larsa

At first, Larsa didn't think the boy would speak. He had gotten that wide-eyed look again, the one that made his face seem far too gaunt. But then, quietly, he said it. Pharos. Pharos. A single word, with more meaning that Larsa could probably understand. Larsa's grinned widened, and that anticipated excitement was easily seen. "It's nice to meet you, Pharos," Larsa said in a teasing manner, but didn't ask any further questions. He'd gotten what he wanted, and he was willing to leave it at that. For now at least. Larsa sighed contentedly, shifting himself so he was laying down with his back was against the boy's side, stretching his neck out to rest his head on Pharos' paws. He shifted so he could look up without picking up his head, one pale eye half-lidded in a disarming manner. It was comforting to him to be beside someone after so long, resting even in a situation like this with his body pressed against another. He was taking advantage of the small space, he knew, but he couldn't be bothered to really care at the moment. He was pushing, pushing... even without noticing it. If Pharos reacted badly, it would be different, but for now he was as carefree as could be. He was callous, but not on purpose. Perhaps just unobservant.

"You should get some sleep, kid, unless you're feeling suddenly chatty." Larsa closed his eyes with a grin at his own joke, relaxing visibly. He was still cramped, legs curled against his body, but he was warm enough that he'd make the best of it. He'd been in worse company before, anyway.