[ P ] Last Night

S

he moved heedlessly between trees that were bursting with new life, illuminated by waning sunlight that would soon disappear to the darkness of night. The darkness of the dungeon still lurked in her mind: the smell, the cold, the sounds of agony close by… Willow was lucky to have gotten out in a matter of weeks rather than months. Finally, the tears had stopped, her shock and panic replaced instead by a feeling of dread. There was little time to waste before her exodus. Willow was a wanted criminal now.


For the tri-color maiden, the unexpected now marked the violent end of one chapter of her life. In the course of one evening, even recent memories felt far away. Willow didn’t know how to feel anymore, but it was overwhelming with each step of an ivory paw as she moved quickly through the forest. She didn’t want to lure any captors to her home.


Well, her former home.


This reality occurred to her over and over again as she hurried, a crushing feeling like being stuck underwater. Willow couldn’t guess whether she would be able to come back to the College, where the backdrop of her entire life. Would it be weeks? That seemed more like wishful thinking. Maybe in months… or there was a very real possibility that the wolfess could never be able to return. Life would never be the same. And she sought out the one wolf who she hoped would understand – and, she hoped, would forgive her for leaving… again.


Within her rib cage, her heart beat furiously as she came into the familiar piece of the forest that she knew like the back of her paw. Finally, the College came into view. Willow wanted to yell and cry and all of the things — but to be loud was to be conspicuous, and she could no longer afford to be careless. Her pale chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, eyes desperate to find a familiar pair of azure eyes. She then rushed to the enormous, ancient tree where her friend resides, hoping to find them there.


”Galla?” At least she could say goodbye to them, if nothing else.


@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

GALLAGHER BREAC

Gallagher had been in their den for some time now. In the time since the news of the protest had reached them, they could truly only think of one thing. Willow. They had spoken with one of their mothers and had gathered that she had been involved with the protests, much to Gallagher’s panic. But, she had been okay, relatively speaking. But now, Gallagher was just worried, fretting constantly, unable to focus on much else other than their own worrying.

Pip rested in his spot in the ancient fallen tree, asleep on his bed of moistened moss. Gallagher lay, fidgeting mindlessly with a moss ball, rolling it back and forth between their paws as they lay there, meandering through their own mind. A voice broke their thoughts, and at first, they felt a wave of frustration at being disturbed — several had come to check on them, to make sure that they were okay because they hadn’t been out and about like they normally were. But, the familiarity of the voice struck them, making them stand and come to the open, their head pushing through the draping lichen. Their eyes lit up, and suddenly they rushed out.

“Willow!” They said, suddenly feeling breathless as they came closer, drawing her into a hug if she would allow it. “I’m so happy you’re alright, I was so worried, I… Oh, I was just worried.” They said, the words tumbling out as quickly as their lips could manage to move.


"We are all young and naive still."

code by claerie

A

flurry of feelings threatened to overwhelm her senses as she awaited her friend’s appearance – if they were home at all. Gods, what would the wolfess do if the old tree was vacant? Willow’s mind raced with a thousand thoughts in a second — she questioned what had happened at the protest, as well as her role. If she had never gone, Willow would not be forced to leave again now. It would have devolved into a riot no matter what. The she-wolf only hoped that her presence had helped to help a stranger of two. She didn’t expect anyone to understand or even approve of her choices – not her parents, nor Arythmetik. But if Gallagher hated her for it…


When they finally appeared, Willow could not help herself as she lunged closer to them in a frantic embrace, erasing any space left between them. ”I’m sure – I’m sure word of what happened in the Mainlands has already found its way to Melrose. And Galla. Please, please don’t hate me.” She leaned against them, any semblance of timidity gone after her time spent in the cage.


In typical Willow fashion, her words continued breathlessly: ”I was helping to protect others. I didn’t want – no one should have been hurt…” The images threatened to resurface in her mind, and she willed them away. ”And then – the dungeons – I can’t…” She paused to try to collect her thoughts. Gallagher’s scent filled her senses, and she rested her chin upon their shoulder. ”I’m sorry I left without – I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t just leave... Not again…”


As the words parted her dark lips, a sob caught in her throat. She buried her face into the soft fur of her friend’s scruff. ”I’m sorry, Galla. I’m sorry I have to go again.”


@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

GALLAGHER BREAC

They embraced each other, Gallagher’s heart soaring a little at the touch. But, it was a short-lived emotion as they noted fear on Willow’s fur. What had happened, exactly, they wondered? But… they didn’t dare ask, for fear that they might bring up something that she didn’t want to remember. Everyone knew by now, just how violent the protests had been, how some had met their untimely demise at the hands of the soldiers who were supposed to protect them. Gallagher was just relieved that Willow hadn’t been one of them.

“I’m sure — I’m sure word of what happened in the Maindlnds has already found its way to Melrose. And Galla, Please, please don’t hate me.” She said, leaning into them. “I was helping to protect others. I didn’t want — no one should have been hurt… And then — the dungeons — I can’t…”

“Shh, you don’t have to talk about it,” Galla said gently, buying their face into her fur. “I don’t hate you. Willow, I could never. I…” They paused for a moment, the words caught in their throat. ‘Damn it! Why can’t I just say it!’ They snarled to themselves, the viciousness in their own mind startling them for a second. They squeezed their eyes shut, leaning into her, their nose pressed to her shoulder as hers rested upon their own.

"I’m sorry I left without — I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t just leave... Not again…” She said, a sob coming to her voice. “I’m sorry, Galla. I’m sorry I have to go again.” At her words, a whine left their throat. ‘Please no…’ It pained them to think that this could be the last time that they see Willow.

‘I have to say it now, or I may not ever be able to…’ They told themselves, pulling back a little, looking at her.

“Don’t cry, please. I’m not mad. I just… I… I understand. I don’t know… exactly what happened, but I understand. Things aren’t good now, not in Rionnach. They…” They trailed off, looking for the words to say. They closed their eyes again, shaking their head slightly, tears beginning to pool from beneath their eyelids until they ran down their maw.

“Willow. I love you.” They blurted out, their mind a whirring current of a thousand thoughts, until the last word left their lips. “I… Yeah.” They said quietly, looking at her, their pale gaze searching hers, although for what, they weren’t quite sure.


"We are all young and naive still."

code by claerie

A

ll of her earliest memories were set right there in the Lowlands — the College where she played around as a precocious pup. The Fritz famly’s cottage, affectionately called Haven with its healing garden, where she had been raised… would no longer be hers to call home. She would not be allowed to stay at the College. The threat of these losses felt imminent and overwhelming, but Gallagher’s gentle voice grounded Willow, pulling her back from the cliff of uncertainty that lay ahead. And in truth, Willow had wanted to be close for some time now, but there was always something holding her back. But everything was different now.

”Gallagher –” But before she could admit her own feelings, they had already done so, leaving the wolfess momentarily speechless. Willow pulled back, green eyes wide as she appraised the other’s beautiful blue eyes for any hint of insincerity. Naturally, she would find nothing of the sort there, and her chin trembled. ”I had a lot – lots of time to think when I was there.” Since there wasn’t much left to do in the cage but think, for better or worse... ”I thought about the College and Melrose, and – so many things–”

She offered a soft smile. ”Whenever it felt too cold, too hopeless, I thought – I thought about you.” There was no use in being shy anymore. Nothing could be the same; there was nothing left to lose in being vulnerable now. ”I love you, too, and I’m sorry – I’ve ruined everything.” She buried her face into their fur again, voice choking again with the muddled feelings of relief and sadness and anger, that looming regret, but still having conviction for what she had done. Was it worth it to throw away the future she had there in the Lowlands?

What was done, was done. The thought of never seeing Gallagher again caused Willow to whine softly. To have come this far, only to leave once more, felt unfair. The whole situation felt wrong. But she couldn’t put others around her at risk. ”Can I – can I stay here tonight? I have to leave, but…” Her words tapered off into silence.


@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

GALLAGHER BREAC

In blurting out their words, Gallagher hadn’t realized that Willow had started to speak, the noise between their ears too much to bear for a moment as the world seemed to tilt and sway around them. But, the words coming out had… eased it all. Willow’s silence scared them for a moment, the way her eyes searched their own, made Gallagher feel… unnerved, but steadfast at the same time. They had said what they needed to say, and now… the ball was back in Willows court, so to say.

“I had a lot — lots of time to think when I was there. I thought about the College and Melrose, and — so many things —,” she offered with a soft smile. ‘This is it, this is where she rejects me.’ They glanced away for a moment until she started speaking again, their ears laid back slightly against their skull in apprehension. “Whenever it felt too cold, too hopeless, I thought — I thought about you.” Gallagher looked up, surprise touching their pale eyes.

“You did?” Their voice sounded small, even in their own ears.

“I love you, too, and I’m sorry — I’ve ruined everything.” Once again her face was buried in their fur. For a moment, Gallagher simply held her, trying their best to comfort her with quiet ‘shh’s and a paw gently rubbing at her back.

“Can I — can I stay here tonight? I have to leave, but…” Gallagher nodded.

“Of course you can,” they said quietly. “Come on. Let’s… let’s get inside before someone sees us out here.” They said, before slowly — reluctantly — pulling back from her. They lead the way through the lichen curtain, standing to the side to allow her inside.

Inside the ancient fallen tree, there was plenty of space for them to stand together. One side was touched with dried plants, and various things that they had collected, while the other was fashioned into a comfortable nest made of moss and furs, adjacent to Pip’s own little nest only a tail’s length from the ‘door.’

Once Willow was inside, Gallagher glanced at her.

“I… Hope you don’t mind — there’s only really space for one nest in here, but I can sleep in the doorway if you’d rather. I… If you would allow it, I’d… I’d like to sleep beside you tonight,” they said, their voice hushed, but shy sounding. Willow had been in their home before, but never for the night. Gallagher had never had anyone stay with them before, and they weren’t quite certain as to how things… should go.

They knew what their heart was telling them, their brain telling them much the same, but there was a level of nervousness and apprehension that kept them grounded for a moment, wondering what Willow’s next move would be.


"We are all young and naive still."

code by claerie

W

ithin her rib cage, her heart was beating furiously. The physical exertion was only part of the reason why. She could feel warmth spreading through her entire form. How often Willow had thought of doing exactly this during the pair’s travels together, to fill that space that had always lingered between them… and how ironic that only now, now that she couldn’t stay, that she had the courage to do it, to admit it aloud.

As she followed their invitation into the soothing space that Gallagher called their own, Willow allowed herself to pause and inhale a deep breath. It was only in that moment that she realized how mad she likely looked, with wild, messy fur. But that didn’t matter, not anymore, and any sense of self-consciousness faded swiftly. What was the use of being shy when she’d be gone before long? She noticed Galla’s little froggy friend, Pip, and she offered him a polite smile and nod where he was resting.

The cage had been so cold and dreary. Gallagher’s home was just the opposite, offering the same calm energy that exuded from Galla. It was a cozy dwelling, which smelled like herbs and plants and, naturally, Galla, and she breathed in the symphony of scents greedily. Even now, in the face of crisis, Galla were calm and coherent, still caring despite whatever rumors might have proceeded Willow’s arrival…

An unconscious smile crossed her muzzle as her eyes again found Gallagher’s as they spoke. As soon as the words had been offered, the question asked, Willow nodded eagerly. ”Please, I don’t want to be alone tonight, Galla,” she responded, nuzzling them under their chin before she turned to their shared bed — just for tonight.

Without further hesitation, she curled up there, feeling grateful. Once she had settled into the cozy nest, she looked up to Gallagher with a characteristic grin as she patted the space beside her with a cream-colored paw. Again her heart beat like a hammer in anticipation. This was all very new and unfamiliar to the wolfess, but… in a good way.

@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

GALLAGHER BREAC

Gallagher’s nervousness was almost palpable at the situation. They had never been with anyone before in this manner, and more so… they had never wanted things to go in any particular way with anyone before, but things were different with Willow. The knowledge that this was possibly the last time they’d see each other… Had Gallagher thinking, admittedly. ‘How… How do I bring this up? Would she even want something like that?’ They thought to themselves, looking down at their paws for a moment.

Their gaze lifted as Willow spoke, her maw coming to nuzzle them beneath their chin.

“Please, I don’t want to be alone tonight, Galla,” she said. They smiled gently.

“Then you won’t be,” they said quietly, watching as she moved to their nest, and laid down. She wore that familiar grin on her lips as she patted the space beside her. Taking a breath, Gallagher moved over, laying down beside her. Their heart pounded rapidly in their chest, their nervousness even more so than it had ever been before.

“I… I’m going to miss you,” they said quietly. “Do you know where you’ll be going?” Maybe… they could visit, when there wasn’t a risk of anything going wrong… but who knew when that would be again, with the state that things had been in since the protest — it had apparently been a bit of a climax in the political sphere of Rionnach, and now… Everything was uncertain.

Everyone felt the tension in the air.

But here, inside their den, it was easy enough to forget for a moment the state of life in Rionnach. Because they were with Willow. They couldn’t help but smile a little, a shy little thing that told they were happy for a moment, although their shyness was evident in their soft features. Gallagher looked up at Willow, holding her gaze for a moment, before they leaned forward, brushing their nose against hers. Their eyes closed slightly, before, on pure impulse, they gave her a small, shy little kiss.


"We are all young and naive still."

code by claerie

S

he had never been so close to anyone before — well, not close like this. Gallagher was warm, comforting, the polar opposite of the dungeon. Their enduring shyness was more than endearing, it made her feel even warmer than their body heat. Willow unconsciously sighed as she observed Gallagher’s soft features. Eyes the color of a cloudless sky. Gentle pink nose. Never a hint of resentment or judgment, ever respectful. Kindness incarnate. That was Galla.

They inquired where she would go next. Green eyes closed, only for a second, and a moment of silence lingered before Willow could bring herself to answer. ”North,” just one word was her only response, for there was nowhere else to go but the Highlands. The Mainlands were off-limits to her so long as she wanted freedom. Even the Lowlands were too risky. There was a vague chance she could visit, but not until her face began to fade from the guards’ memories. ”I’ll miss you too, Galla.”

The moment was bittersweet. It had been a slow crawl to this moment, but time was up once dawn arrived. She could leave no words unspoken, all of those thoughts that had swelled within her headspace, but never uttered aloud. That timidity served no purpose in these final hours in their nest, and Willow was braver than she had been then.

Her tone was gentle in a voice barely more than a whisper, speaking close to Galla’s ear. ”I’ve seen so much. I’ve seen so many beautiful places.” She returned their gaze with half-lidded eyes and a growing smile.
”But none of that compares to you.”

If this was to be their last night… well, that thought was too overwhelming to consider, not now that they were finally close — As friends, or whatever this was… Willow was not entirely sure what to call her evolving relationship with Gallagher. So the wolfess didn’t try to figure that out in their scarce moments left together. It was what it was, and the longing she had ignored overtook her thoughts.

Instead, she would allow natural instinct guide her, nothing to lose. Trembling with excitement, Willow returned their kiss with one of her own — less shy, but still gentle.

She desired something more than closeness.


@Gallagher

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

GALLAGHER BREAC

Gallagher studied Willow’s features after they had proposed their question. She seemed to be thinking for a moment, as if trying to figure out where she might go. Did she know? Did she have a plan? Gallagher could only wonder — part of them wondered if she would stay in Rionnach at all. They would understand if her plan was to leave, it was for her safety after all.

“North,” she answered. Gallagher nodded slowly, thinking it over.

“That would be safest, I think. I don’t think the Highlanders would allow the soldiers to take anyone on their land,” they said thoughtfully.

“I’ll miss you too, Galla,” Willow said.

“Just promise… you’ll come back to me some day,” they spoke softly, taking a moment to touch her paws with one of their own. They hoped that she would return to them — if things got too bad, however, they may flee Melrose too. They had no intentions of joining the army, they wouldn’t feel right fighting on that side. Galla was quiet about their political views, but they had always been a Jacobite at heart. They would not fight for the wrong side… but would they fight at all?

“I’ve seen so much. I’ve seen so many beautiful places… But none of that compares to you,” Willow said, their voice a whisper in their ear. A small shiver ran through them at the feeling of her breath against their ear. But, after that, they spoke no more words.

Gallagher allowed themself to get caught up in their kissing, their paws feeling Willow’s fur beneath their pads. They allowed themselves to give in to their desire, their wants, to what the love they had for Willow bid them to do… A paw waved at Pip, asking the frog to go outside for a while.

[ fade to black ]

Still tangled up, Gallagher rested their head against Willow’s shoulder. They wished that this night would never end, that the dawn would never come. The spring crickets chipped outside, the soundtrack of their night — mostly. It was perfection, in Galla’s mind, but they knew that things would not last come the first rays of the sun. But for now… they could pretend that this was a happy beginning.


"We are all young and naive still."

code by claerie