[ P ] Ablaze

T

he large wolf was in a hurry, enormous paws racing the fading sun to see who would arrive at their destination first. The sun was slipping closer to the western horizon, while Cian rushed to find his companion before the last bit of daylight had been lost. That would ruin everything. The youth was nervous as his deep topaz eyes looked for Clover where she had last been seen, nose searching for her feminine scent.

Cian had been exploring the mountainous regions of the Highlands with Clover for several months, in the latter days of summer and the entirety of autumn. He could not recall happier moments in his memories than those he had gathered in the far north, with Clover by his side all the while. It could be as simple as seeing her bright smile in the morning, or hearing how her breaths changed just so when she was excited about something… which was often, and one of the many things he appreciated about his companion.

Now, there was a bite in the early air, that unmistakable cold that hints at winter’s fast approach. He did not want to spend the winter on his own, and in his mind, the only way to assure that he would keep his most preferred company, he had to do something. So he had spent some solitary time searching until he was satisfied, preparing until he felt ready that his plan was perfect enough to reveal.

Tonight was to be very important for Cian, though he would not grasp its real significance until some time after the evening was over. He intended to make it a special occasion. All that was needed now was Clover, and maybe a little extra courage on Cian’s part as he tried to control his nerves.



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

C

lover had risen with the sun and had taken to her day quickly, keeping her body energized and moving to create heat. Winter was moving swiftly over Rionnach, the lightest dusting of snow foreshadowing the blanket that was soon to be pulled over the lands as nature slept beneath it all. It was an absolutely beautiful season from what she remembered of it and excitement fueled her brisk pace as she maneuvered here and there, gathering assortments of berries and materials for bedding to make sure she was well-stocked for her winter in the mountains.

She chewed on a berry she'd plucked thoughtfully while she shuffled some of what she'd collected into a pile, taking a visual inventory. The sound of large paws fast approaching pulled her from her train of thought and she turned about, facing where it sounded like the source was moving in her direction. At even the slightest glimpse of tawny fur, the young girl lit up with excitement, calling out to him before she thought he'd even spotted her from what distance he was at, "Cian! Over here!"


@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

W

hen he was spotted, Cian seemed surprised, practically jumping at the familiar sound of her voice. ”Hey – uh, hi.” Upon closer inspection, by the light of the fading sun, Clover may have noticed that Cian’s normally messy fur had been meticulously groomed. This was rather odd.

Also strange was the return of the boy’s nervous stutter, which had nearly faded away during the last few weeks, as he addressed Clover, betraying his anxiety: ”Um, p-please follow me. I w-want to show you something.” He willed his tongue to obey that night and that his brain would make sense. He smiled sheepishly as he began to lead, though he would not walk any faster than the pace set by Clover.

They were not far from Cian’s intended destination, luckily, because day had given up its rein to the gods of darkness. He walked in silence for a time, before realizing that he was being maybe a little too quiet, and he tried to fill some of the space, which did not go as smoothly as he had hoped. ”There’s – er, I think th-that winter is – is almost here.”

The boy did not realize that the season had already arrived, with little fanfare. Only the snow had not yet fallen, but the cold bite in the dusk air suggested it was soon to come. But winter, and all of its grown-up consequences, undoubtedly possessed ways of making its presence known.

His tumbling words failed to make much sense, but the two young wolves were almost there, and he could not contain a smile, in spite of his late-adolescent awkwardness.

@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

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hen he came into full view, Clover blinked in mild confusion at the way his fur appeared, although she continued to smile. Her eyes hovered over him, noticing he'd smoothed it all down and even the stray hairs she enjoyed pawing at had been mostly tamed. "Don't you look nice today." She complimented him in response to his initial greeting. Cian was awfully stuttery this day and she moved to follow him when he beckoned her after him.

As they walked, she listened to her best friend fumble over his words causing her to giggle as she bumped her hip against his. "Oh, yes! I can't wait! Do ya like Winter, Cian? Even if it freezes me to my bones, it's just so beautiful! After it snows, it's like being in a different world!" She grinned to herself, imagining what she could remember of it the year prior. Clover hummed thoughtfully as she trotted next to him. "If the heat was so horrible during the Summer, do you think the Winter will be much much colder?"


@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

”D

on't you look nice today." Cian opened his mouth to respond, but only a few incoherent noises came, and he felt warm from embarrassment. The discussion turned toward winter, and Cian nodded absentmindedly. ”I – I hope it will not be too cold, but – but I think we can m-manage it.” He cast his companion a side smile, but his focus remained on the path before them expectantly.

As the pair turned a corner around a strand of evergreens, his surprise was revealed: a narrow path led to a vista, where Cian had found the perfect summit, with an unobstructed view of the night sky, and late-blooming flowers bursting with colors of vibrant yellows, deep orange, mingled with gentle pinks. The flowers had been picked carefully and scattered on the ground around the peak, giving it a cheerful appearance, even in the fading light of day. And, naturally, lots of clovers decorated the scene, as well.

But this deliberate display of affection was not the only surprise waiting for the wolfess this night. Cian held his breath as he anticipated Clover’s response.

He only realized he was holding his breath as his head began to feel light, and the male exhaled in a deep sigh. That evening saw no clouds in the indigo sky (something he had been counting on in order for the night to be assuredly perfectly perfect), and the slimmest trace of the waning silver crescent moon decorated the eastern sky.

The glittering stars were beginning to appear in the sky, shimmering and distant and mysterious but beautiful beyond words. Those stars, however, could not compete with his present company, and his smile was insuppressible.


@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

S

he peered curiously past the evergreens that Cian had led her to and instantly came to a halt as a gasp escaped her, "Oh!" Not only was the view from this vista completely incomparable to any she'd seen before, the immediate scenery has been meticulously decorated with clover and the remnants of vibrant blooms.

Clover lit up as though she were a star that would the rest of them in the darkening blanket of the night sky. After a moment of surprise, she glanced over at Cian, noticing his wide grin and then she skipped herself merrily among the flowers of the overlook. She looked all around her paws taking it in and then back up at her best friend, who had clearly put so much effort into this presentation.

Her heart began to beat in her chest at a quickened pace as she gazed upon him now. An unusual tingling warmth crawled across her skin as her sparkling pink orbs roamed his large frame. "You did all of this, Cian? It's so...amazing! So beautiful! What's the occasion?" She asked, cocking her head to one side as she recalled her birthday had long past. What could all of this be for?


@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

”W

hat's the occasion?" While his mind still fumbled to find the words to explain, Cian was pleased that so far, things were going perfectly. ”Well – well, you see, I j-just thought that–” He swallowed the lump in his throat, which seemed to have grown worse as he observed Clover’s reaction. The evening was beautiful, yes, and he hoped it would be amazing. But nothing could be more amazingly beautiful as Clover. ”I did it for you. Be-because – you deserve it.”

But there was even more to come this evening.

He moved closer to his companion, standing side by side so close that he could feel her cherished warmth, as the night’s next surprise began to appear in the heavens above. His eyes moved reluctantly from Clover’s pretty face to the increasingly colorful skies. Stripes of vivid green and turquoise blue blazed like mystical fire in the northern skies. ”Look.” Cian had never seen the northern lights for himself, but had heard stories of their appearance just before winter’s descent. He could not think of a better place to watch them than a summit, and no one better to share the experience with than Clover.

With nature's art painting the heavens, and his closest companion so close that he could touch, Cian glanced back to Clover. His heart felt as if it would burst if he did not follow through with his plan for the night. ”Clover, I…” His mouth was a desert, and the words he had practiced in his mind did not come.



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

C

lover blinked at him, studying him as she patiently awaited him to find his words. When he finally found them she turned her face away bashfully, eliciting soft giggles. He moved closer and she turned back to look up at his face with a broader smile perched brightly upon her maw. "Why do I deserve it? You deserve it too, ya know!" She asked, prodding him a bit as she wondered what he thought of her. But maybe it was also to gain some more of his stuttering words, enjoying that effect she seemed to have on him.

Cian then directed her attention back to the sky and her jaw fell open, awestruck as the night was illuminated by radiant, multi-colored lights that reflected in her eyes. There was a sudden flicker of recognition across her face, a look of shock as she realized that this was all familiar to her. A series of emotions played on her features as she was drawn back to her reoccurring dreams of floating, dancing in the midnight air with a boy. He a was a being, a soul whom she did had not known, but one that was shared with her own. Clover turned her sights back on Cian abruptly, her brows furrowed as he had begun to speak. When he trailed off she piped up, "Are you him?"


@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

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hy did Clover deserve it? She deserved all the nice things, all the very best, and Cian wanted to prove it to her, again and again. The smile on her face wiped his mind clear of anything he intended to say. It was not the threat of battle now that intimidated him, that life was far behind. It was the threat of love, of a future he would or would not have with Clover. This evening mattered very much.

The blazing sky had lost all interest, for his focus was elsewhere now. He had been watching Clover’s gentle features as a thought occurred to her, and a range of feelings crossed her facade. For a moment, Cian wondered if it was too much, if he was about to leave. Instead, she asked: "Are you him?" This question elicited a puzzled facade, and for a second, Cian stared back at the girl, eyebrows arched above twin pools of deep orange as he tried to understand. ”Well, I –” But he was not sure how to respond.

It took the youth another second, a few deep breaths, and some will power to speak his mind, all the thoughts he had been having since their time together, all the feelings… Finally, his expression softened, and his voice came lower now. He was not a child any longer, and it was time to summon courage. ”Clo – er, Clover, I just wanted you to have something beautiful, b-because –” The rest tumbled out hurriedly, like a fast current, but finally, it came: ”Because you are the most beautiful wolf I have ever met – the most beautiful in the world, I bet. And I just wanted for you to know that I – I love you. And – I want to stay with you until the end. No matter what.”

His face registered his own mild surprise that he had gotten the words out, more or less the way he had imagined he would as he planned the evening. Cian exhaled now as he fell silent, watching Clover with renewed nervousness as he anticipated her response. ”I – hope that is alright by you,” he added quietly.





@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

T

here was a bit of confusion and hesitance on his part, but no denial. Clover's smile grew and she danced on her paws as excitement overtook her. "I knew it! I had a feeling from when we first met and then every time we bumped into each other! I knew you were special, I just-"

"Clo- er, Clover..."

Cian spoke her name and she grew silent, remembering that he'd had something that he wanted to say. "Oh, right! Apologies!" She seated herself and gestured with one paw for him to keep going despite her energetic wriggling in place. "Go on, I'm listenin'.'" Clover gave him a sweet smile, waiting as patiently as she could for him to find his words. Then it all came tumbling out and her eyes widened slightly as she tried to catch up with all that fell from his lips.

Clover's smile only grew wider, letting out a light gasp of pleasant surprise by all of what was being expressed. "Awww, Cian! You're so kind and wonderful and I love you too! I wanna stay with you too and explore the whole world with you! And we'll be best friends forever!" She went on and on, rising to her feet again to dance on her paws excitedly. Her charming, tooth grin started to fade when she realized still how nervous he was and when he asked her if what he'd said was okay, she gave him a puzzled look. "Of course it's okay, Cian!"

She leaned towards him, her light pink orbs glued to be his face while she analyzed his expression. "It's more than okay." Clover's voice had lowered into more of a soothing tone to put him at ease and she moved closer to him. She gave him one last uncertain look before she quickly moved to embrace him, leaning her head on his chest, nestled beneath his chin. She could only hope she hadn't said something wrong to upset Cian.


@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck