[ P ] first time for everything

It was captivating to see Aryth act so passionate about something, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying every moment of this, even when he had to explain what undoubtedly was the most mundane of everyday knowledge to him. Well, it was to be expected – he wanted to teach at the College, after all.. but there was a wishful thought that part of this excitement, just maybe, could be coming from the fact that it was just Grigori participating in this lesson. Their sides were touching again, he could feel the momentary spike of tension in Aryth’s body when it seemed like his book might be threatened; the cowboy raised a brow at that, a little surprised by how assertive the scholar could be when the moment called for it. Though he could use to learn to channel that in other situations, like back when he had to deal with that seedy hunter… To be honest, if Grigori fully understood the value, rarity and irreplaceableness of these book, he probably wouldn’t dare come anywhere as close as he did now. Still, knowing that they are precious to his friend was reason enough for him to be careful.. at least as long as he was actively thinking about it. He was prone to getting distracted, if his tendency to headbutt the ceiling wasn’t enough of an indication.

Though his focus on the current subject persisted, after that one touch he couldn’t resist the urge to lean closer and maintain it, as if drawn in immediately when the other male relaxed after his bout of protectiveness. He couldn’t describe how nice this was, just chatting away in soft voices, and enjoying each other’s company in this cozy den. Like a gentle warmth, seeping into his very core. He’d thought that being this close, he’d be aching for more – and maybe some part of him was. But he was also content and comfortable, in a way he has never experienced before. He glanced up at his friend as the explanation continued, admiration clear in his grey eyes. It sounded so difficult, but it seemed to be no big deal for Aryth. “Hah, silly ancients.” Now Grigori chuckled, unable to contain his amusement at the presence of a rabbit in something related to religion. “I’ve heard about rabbits on the moon, but rabbits in religion are a first.” What else could these books have? They must be full of quirky things, even though they supposedly also are a source of serious and practical information.

He nodded as the lesson continued on to the matter of book fragility. Right, that’s why poking them with a wet nose probably wouldn’t be the best course of action. It begged the question, how did they even survive to this day? He might have an idea. “I s’pose that’s why I haven’t seen any before. No.. castles ‘n stuff, to keep them safe over the years.” Rather than a clever guess, it was a hasty assumption resulting from his specific outlander perspective, but everyone gets lucky sometimes. Finally, as a predictable conclusion arrived the question Grigori was a little afraid of. He glanced to the side, enthusiasm fading into uncertainty, displayed by his pensive smile. “Ah, I dunno.. I don’t think I’m cut out for this sorta stuff.” Grigori certainly was no material for learning something most wolves can’t do. He didn’t want risk not making any progress and Aryth getting tired of dealing with it. More than that, he was afraid of disliking it, and the time they’d spend together on it. Yet.. it’s been fun so far, and before he looked away, he could see that the russet male truly wanted to help him learn. He couldn’t suffer to see that eagerness turn into disappointment. So he sighed, and turned his muzzle back towards Aryth with a grin. “Eh, what the hell. Can’t hurt to try, right?” He sure hoped so.

“So, where do we start.. teach?” Grigori meant to use the title humorously, he didn’t even realize his voice lowered to a husky tone that could be taken as flirtatious instead.

„*”

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth’s ears swiveled forward, an academic humor washing over him. He chuckled as he explained, “Actually, as far as I can tell, this rabbit has nothing to do with the text. It just appears to be there to decorate the page.” He paused, then peered more closely at Grigori. “Wait, rabbits on the moon? You’re off your head!” he laughed in disbelief. He just had to know the origin of this wild tidbit.


To be fair, there were more pressing matters. Would the sassenach accept his tutelage? It must have been painfully obvious that Aryth was hanging on Grigori’s every word. He’d edged closer physically and metaphorically, standing on the precipice of an exciting new venture. He’d never taught someone to read before. Not even all the students in the College knew how to read a book. Many wolves found practical, applicable medicine preferable to studying the page. It was an intriguing challenge. But that wasn’t why Aryth was drawn to the idea. He liked Grigori. The man was keen, amiable, and humble—a perfect student. An ideal friend. There was a warmth between them, and Aryth wanted to bask in it. So any excuse to see the cowboy more often was exciting.


Aryth watched with bated breath; his ears drooped slightly as the vagabond shied away. A pit formed in his stomach, small, but noticeable. And then, the cowboy changed his mind, and Aryth’s soft smile was understated by the brilliant light in his eyes. Emerald met mountain-grey, and Aryth laughed once more, joyously this time. And maybe to diffuse the tension a little after Grigori’s coy tone sent another shiver down his spine. “Wonderful. Here, er…” Aryth shifted awkwardly and set about the task of gently, cautiously, closing the book in front of them. He exchanged it for one of the other volumes on his shelf, his jaws tender enough to carry an egg without cracking the shell.


When he set it down, the scholar scooted close to Grigori once more, opening to a page with various drawings of acorns. There were symbols (letters and numerals) beside each drawing. “This is the first book I ever read. It’s how I learned how to read.” Aryth smiled fondly, whisked away to the past by the nostalgic scent of the aged vellum. “It’s very dear to me.” Then he glanced up at Grigori and looked back down at the page to point. “These symbols here indicate a word. I knew this was an image of an acorn, so I used that as a starting place to decipher the language. This letter here is A...”


Aryth went on like that for a while, enthusiastic but patient. Teaching Grigori to read, he was, perhaps, more comfortable than he’d ever been in his entire life.

code by claerie

@Grigori

So, whoever put the rabbit there was basically showing off their skill for creating such accurate representations of real things? Well, Grigori couldn’t really blame them for bragging. It certainly was one of the more remarkable things he’s ever seen. It made him wonder if there are books with nothing but pictures in them, but.. that seemed too much of a disrespectful simplification of Aryth’s hobby to ask.

Even if him learning to read proves not meant to be, agreeing was well worth it – that smile, and the joy in Aryth’s eyes.. the cowboy realized that there’s few things he wouldn’t do in order to see that more often. He couldn’t look away, trying to burn the image into his memory while he could, before the scholar moved to grab a different book. “Anyway, the moon rabbits;” He might as well use this technical break to explain that. “Apparently if ye look closely at a full moon, the dark spots on it are the shape of a rabbit. So it’s literally a rabbit on the moon.. but all sorts of silly stories sprang from that, like the moon bein’ some distant land full of giant, bloodthirsty rabbits, just waitin’ for a chance to invade!” He couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous notion. Giant rabbits he could possibly believe, there are giant spiders after all, but the moon being as big as the world, and only appearing tiny because it’s far away? There’s no way something that big could just float up in the sky. The moon is.. the moon, just like there isn’t really any explanation for the sun.

He watched carefully as the next book was opened, his eyes immediately lighting up at the sight of acorn pictures. Seriously, how could they have done this? The best he could manage was drawing a crooked outline of something in sand or dirt, one that hardly resembled the original. The mention of this book being Aryth’s first piqued his curiosity; he hardly knew anything about the professor’s past and early life. Does he have family around? Has he.. ever dated someone? Sadly, he couldn’t ask any of it right now without it looking like he was trying to delay the lesson, so he focused on the symbols instead, repeating after his friend as he named each one.

It seemed straightforward at first, each letter being a sound, which form words when put together. But then it turned out they weren’t always exactly the same: for instance, the E in ‘bee’ was different from the one in ‘elk’, though that was something he could worry about later. The amount of symbols also proved to be a challenge, by the time they moved on to more, he was already struggling to remember the ones from the beginning. Still, every time he got one wrong, Aryth simply corrected him without judgement, displaying a seemingly unending supply of patience. There was some progress, the rate of Grigori’s correct answers increasingly slowly.. until after getting three wrong in a row, he grew frustrated and started guessing without any thought. He was fidgeting by then as well, thinking too hard for an extended time has always made him restless. “Let’s take a break?” he asked finally, ears folding back towards his head.

Normally after something like this he’d be eager to do anything physical, like running up and down a hill. However, he was reluctant to go with an interruption as heavy-handed as heading out; despite his shortcomings, Grigori was still enjoying the moment. So instead, he kicked his legs out to the side, his back pressing up against Aryth as he lied down on the padded floor. He closed his eyes, simply enjoying a moment of quiet after so many explanations, as well as the other’s presence. It might seem odd that someone who enjoyed physical activity and fighting also liked peace and silence, rather than hustle and bustle like what they experienced in the city. But the answer was simple – he simply liked it when his mind had little to deal with. Quiet was self-explanatory, at least when excessive thoughts didn’t get in the way. Fighting was a flow, something he understood subconsciously. For a moment, it might have looked like he’s fallen asleep.. but then he spoke up. “Hey, Aryth?” Grigori turned his head, glancing towards the russet male with one eye. “Thanks.. for everythin’.” There was no question that his stay in Rionnach would have been far lonelier if he hadn’t met the scholar. Perhaps he would even have kept traveling, never to find out what wonders this land contained. “Ye really think there’s use for someone like me here? I mean.. objective-like, not just because we get along well.” He couldn’t hold back a fond smile towards the end there. But the question was important; he didn’t ask it before when it was on his mind because of the curious glances he drew and the bothersome awareness that he wasn’t here to focus on studies like most everyone else. His presence here was never said to be for longer than it takes him to make sense of Rionnach and find his own place to fit in, anyway, so why worry? Now, however.. he wasn’t ready to say it, or even completely sure, but.. maybe he wanted to stay? And for that to be possible, he couldn’t be a burden and a freeloader.


„*”

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth’s laughter was like the rustle of leaves, like the chime of bells through the trees. He was utterly charmed by Grigori’s moon rabbits. It was peculiar in the quaintest way. But truth be told, Aryth enjoyed the way Grigori told it better. The enthusiasm and laughter in the cowboy’s voice was invigorating. It sated the scholar like a dying man led to water in a desert. Maybe it was all the more satisfying because Arythmetik suspected such laughter from the stoic traveler was rare. “Well then I’m glad the moon is millions of miles away,” he chuckled, “so we don’t have to live in fear of lunar lagomorphs!”


Joking and laughter aside, the lesson was slower-going than Aryth anticipated. But he was far from disappointed. In many ways, teaching Grigori to read presented challenges that the scholar never faced in typical lessons. It forced him to rethink his teaching style. It taught him to see questions from an entirely new perspective. There was so much he took for granted. And though he could see his vagabond friend tensing, they kept on trying. Letters and pronunciations, grammar and syntax, Arythmetik could have prattled on forever. But when Grigori finally asked for a break, the scholar was happy to oblige. “Of course,” he assured, his eyes widening faintly in concern. The last thing he wanted was Grigori to feel burnt-out.


No, he wanted to keep that fire stoked.


Aryth half-expected Grigori to leave for some fresh air. To his delight, the man merely plopped to the ground at his side, leaning against him with familiar easiness. Aryth blinked, then grinned, his tail flopping once. But he didn’t focus on it too much (rather, he tried not to, but he wasn’t used to physical contact after all). Instead of staring at his companion, he started to idly read through his book, searching for an ideal passage to use in the next lesson. Grigori’s abrupt words were even more startling. His lips parted, brown nose twitching in surprise as he met the other male’s gaze. “Losh...of course, you’re welcome.”


Aryth’s heart beat a mite faster at the next question, but he refrained from shifting or letting his worry seep through the surface. Is he thinking of leaving? If Grigori wanted to continue his travels, Aryth knew he couldn’t stop him. It wasn’t his place. They were friends, yes, but he...he understood that this simple life wasn’t fulfilling for everyone. And someone like him was certainly not enough to entertain a vagabond outlander like Grigori. Aryth’s eyes flickered to the ground as he pondered. Yes, he would understand if Grigori wanted to go. But things around the Arboretum wouldn’t be the same. In a soft voice, he answered, “Could we get on without you? Yes. But you bring a certain energy to this quiet part of the woods. Your...steadfastness, your courage, Grigori, it...comes off you in waves.” Aryth shook his head and smiled abashedly. He didn’t look at Grigori as he said, “It gives the eggheads around here, like me, some confidence.”


Aryth was, indeed, too eggheaded to know that he’d completely misunderstood the question.

code by claerie

There was no doubt in his mind that Aryth was used to keener students than him, but it didn’t seem to be much of a problem. It didn’t matter that Grigori didn’t know how big of a quantity a million is, or a fancy term for rabbits like lagomorph, among many other things. There was no arrogant bone in the scholar’s body and he never made him feel inferior for the difference in education between them. There was a quiet concern in the back of his mind, however – what if his outlander appeal wears off over time, and he’ll have nothing of interest to offer in their interactions anymore? Perhaps if the College didn’t exist, if wolves on a level closer to Aryth’s own weren’t all around, the professor would be more likely to prioritize the company of one over Grigori’s. Ah, but it’s silly to worry about hypothetical scenarios of a completely different reality.

The answer wasn’t one the cowboy was looking for, yet it was one he couldn’t bring himself to shoot down in order to clarify. It was warm and sincere, and a little funny too – after all, if he was being honest, these recent days have been some of the least confident ones in his life. “Hmmm.” he hummed, saying nothing at first, but the wagging of his tail betrayed how flattered he felt by Aryth’s admiration. Maybe even proud of himself. For once, if something like this was possible, he had to be doing something right with his life.

Yet the sentiment was quickly poisoned by guilt. He wasn’t a wolf who deserved to be admired like that. Aryth’s image of him was idealized, and how couldn’t it be? He made every to show off his best side, to not scare the other male off. Was it trying to a better person, or was it just being dishonest? “What if some of them are afraid instead? I’m.. no different in my ability to hurt others than the king’s soldiers.” His words were quiet, reluctant. He didn’t want to bring that perspective to Aryth’s attention – but it was better than letting it slip through without warning at any point in the future, wasn’t it?

Despite his mind’s attempts to undermine everything, and perhaps without him even realizing it, the direction he was going to take solidified. Knowing that someone he thought so highly of truly wanted him around was more than enough reason for the ‘why’, as for ‘how’.. he could figure that out on his own, couldn’t he? “Aight, let’s get a bit more readin’ in or else I’ll fall asleep. It’s too cozy here.” Grigori chuckled as he pushed himself back up to a sit, brushing the serious topic aside. To their credit, the letters demanded enough focus that it was easy to forget about everything else. He peered curiously at the open pages, now displaying pictures of herbs, and as soon as his eyes settled on one, a huge grin appeared on his muzzle. “Oh, hah, I’d know that one anywhere.” Of course, there was only one herb he’d recognize so readily. “So, uh.. it’s M, right?” He tired naming the first letter, before looking up to his friend expectantly.



„*”

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth could feel the air from Grigori’s wagging tail, and he glanced sidelong at his friend. A sheepish smile crept along his handsome maw. Perhaps he’d said something right after all. But then, Grigori raised the valid point that was waiting, persistently, in the back of their minds since he arrived: wouldn’t he scare some of the College’s residents? Aryth’s smile faded, and he recalled the way Grigori strong-armed that hunter into giving up the rabbit. The threat of violence lurked just beneath the still, glassy surface. Humming, vibrating, ready to be unleashed. It had frightened Aryth, albeit a small, instinctual part of him. Aryth sighed softly through his nose, then looked at Grigori and simply nodded. “I know.”


He knew Grigori was a strong man—that he’d seen and, perhaps, even lived through terrible traumas. He knew Grigori could kill him if he wanted to. But he wanted him here anyway, because he knew the cowboy would never bear fangs against the innocent. Of that, Aryth was sure.


The moment passed, and the scholar smiled as Grigori hurriedly returned his attention to the book. Suddenly, Aryth’s hip felt quite cool as the larger male shifted his weight away ever so slightly. But the teacher was happy to continue with the lesson. His eyes sparkled and he gasped playfully. “Hey, you’re sharp after all!” Aryth chuckled good-naturedly and added sincerely, “Good memory. So this is what we call an ‘i.’ In this word, with no other vowels around, it makes a short ‘ih’ sound, like in the word ‘insect.’” Aryth glanced back down at the mint, and a light sparked in his gaze, as if he remembered something. “Go ahead and sound out the words,” he instructed encouragingly. Then he stood and went to grab something from the other side of the den.


The professor returned with a few dried sprigs of mint in his mouth, but this one had smaller, rounder and paler leaves than the mint that typically grew like wildfire in dry climates. He set it in front of Grigori and smiled. “Spearmint. It tastes slightly different from regular mint. The difference isn’t too noticeable to me, but a mint connoisseur like you might enjoy it. Consider it a gift for your first successful time reading.”

code by claerie

I know. A short, simple sentence – yet it meant much more than anything else that could possibly have been said instead. Any attempts to cheerfully downplay the problem, to reassure him that it wasn’t something he needed to worry about and to pretend he couldn’t pose a threat would never be convincing, for Grigori knew better than anyone else what he was capable of. No, plain acknowledgement was the right answer. It told the cowboy that Aryth was aware of it and trusted him regardless. He felt accepted and understood. However that feeling came with a burden of responsibility. Should he ever let the scholar down with his actions.. he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

Inevitable guilt has never stopped the choices he made before. He brushed the thought aside.. but it’s not as if his conscience was telling a lie.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but he still couldn’t help but grin at the praise coming from his teacher. His burst of confidence was quickly tempered when he learned that the following letter was yet another one that can make differing sounds depending on the circumstances… honestly, at this rate shouldn’t he be assuming that they all do? He glanced at the other male curiously when he stood up, but then diligently proceeded to mutter to himself. Mint, insect, mint, insect.. rather unfortunate combination, come to think of it.

His nose picked up the smell of mint before he could even see it, even if it was a little different than the kind he was used to. “And here I was tryin’ to spare you the chewin’!” Grigori laughed, partly to hide how flustered he got at his reading initiation being made into something so noteworthy. Well then, it’d be rude not try it right away, wouldn’t it? His jaws closed on the herb in one chomp and he started to chew with gusto. “Hmm…” His head tilted to he side, his features displaying intense focus. “It’s not as cool as the usual. Softer. Almost sweet, in a way.” Not something he’d switch to for good, most likely; the cool was his favorite part. But it was good to know about it, a bit of variety is welcome now and then.

“If ye were thinkin’ that my mint habit is a tad obsessive…” He tried to narrow his eyes at the other, but couldn’t stop himself from smiling to properly pretend to be making accusations. Ah well, he’ll pull Aryth’s leg some other time. “That’s cause it is. Used to chew tobacco leaves, but.. I’ve been told it’s bad for my health. Mint was just a harmless replacement, though I like it now.” His friend hasn’t asked, but with such an inquisitive mind, Grigori figured he might have wondered. Probably most anyone would be curious, actually – the cowboy couldn’t say he’s ever met another wolf with a borderline mint addiction.


„*”

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth laughed as well, a bit nervous that he’d even offered a gift in the first place. But it had come so naturally; he hadn’t even thought about it being overbearing or forward. He deeply valued education (and Grigori’s companionship, clearly) and he wanted to make sure the vagabond knew that. Besides, he had the spearmint lying around. It might as well be put to good use. Aryth nodded and eased into a more comfortable position, finally lying on the ground with the book at his paws. He watched Grigori attentively as he reviewed the mint and offered an intriguing explanation.


“Tobacco leaves, you say?” Aryth’s head tilted, ears perked forward curiously. “The name sounds familiar… It may have been mentioned in one of the newer books in the College’s archives. An addictive plant, I presume?” There was no judgment in Aryth’s voice; he was in full academic mode now. “Tobacco doesn’t grow wild in this country, as far as I can tell.” After a short pause, Aryth grinned. “And I don’t mind the mint-chewing. I quite like the smell.”

code by claerie

‘Addictive plant’ was a rather blunt description, even if spoken with a neutral tone. The cowboy has never looked quite so harshly at it before.. and maybe that’s why he used to have a problem with it to begin with. “I s’pose..” he blurted, a little embarrassed. Even after all this time, he had mixed feelings about learning that his old vice couldn’t be found in this land. “Maybe it’s for the best. Bein’ on my own, I thought about tryin’ it again at times.” As far as drugs go, it wasn’t a particularly impactful one, but that initial hit of lightheadedness always helped him relax. An easy thing for him to want, considering how good he was at winding himself up when something was on his mind.

Still, it was impressive how Aryth knew about things he never directly encountered, all thanks to books. Although Grigori wasn’t about to say it could compare to firsthand experience, it definitely was much better than nothing. His friend then commented on the smell of mint, and despite how matter-of-fact it sounded, his brain still went ahead and interpreted it as ‘I like how you smell’. Which, of course, prompted a nervous chuckle. “Well then, yer in luck. I’d rather go without food than without mint.”

Ah, right. Food, that’s something he had to think about. Though he had a place to stay, he wasn’t doing anything to earn his keep; hunting what he could was his best shot until he has that figured out. “Speakin’ of, I really need to go chase some plain not-moon-rabbits before it gets too late. Wanna come with?” He wasn’t sure if Aryth’s professor training earned him any pay or if it only left him with even less time to secure basic necessities, but considering that trip to the market earlier it might be more of the latter. All the more reason for Grigori to want to make up for keeping his friend holed up here for so long, and what better way than some hopefully productive activity in the woods? Obviously he was getting carried away and looking at it too much through the lens of his own preferences.. but that’s not to say it couldn’t be a good idea still.

„*”

ooc. I think this is a cute place to end this! Aryth would happily go with him. <3