[FIN] June Bugs [Rue/Oisin]

[Painted Moose]

Rp for the Bye Bye Butterfree! RP prompt.

[Total WC; 2,145]

 

[Painted Moose]

[Sabra via Discord]

It was one of those rare evenings when Rue was in a more playful mood. The walker was skirting about the forest as a fox, her golden gaze burning brightly as she darted around the larger trees. Her paws clutched at the soft mossy ground before pushing hard so that she could jump over a fallen trunk, her maw opening and closing as she tried to snatch a few fireflies from the crisp night air. Eventually her playful pursuits ended up with her entering a larger clearing, the emerald grasses swaying in the cool breeze. Summer had brought warmth to the usually cooler landscape but the disappearance of the sun from the sky always allowed some chill back into the air, not that Rue minded since she had the warmth of her fur to protect her. Honestly she had very little care today since everything had been so peaceful as of late and the trickster was just enjoying her shenanigans since she doubted anyone else would venture into her little piece of paradise tucked far into the woods.

One, two and three! The fox leapt forward again to try to snag a couple more fireflies even though she was more interested in playing around instead of actually capturing them. There was a faded memory almost like some torn photograph with the edges burned that flickered through the back of her mind - a small foal just chasing around fireflies and helping her family to gather them in lanterns to light up their home during the clear summer nights. Such memories and happiness had been lost for so long during her cursed existence that the realization startled her, her paws tripping and causing her to tumble forward as the moment of clarity quickly disappeared once again. Even though she was calmer now she was still far from being anything like that foal from ages ago. Rue shook her head at the thought, her fox instincts making her want to run away rather than to even try and think about such somber things. It was much easier to just play around in the clearing instead and so she focused once more on the fireflies, her tail swaying behind her as she watched a few floating up towards the bright moon that was quickly rising in the night sky.

[385]  

[Painted Moose]

Sabra Knight

Under the crisp, night sky Oisin’s dark pelt was night invisible save for the flecks of glittering fur. The nocturnal fox slipped under a fallen log and came out the other side with a bounce in his step. As much as he loved the winter there was something about a brisk summer that gave his blood a race. He’d seen a few of his kin over the past few days, drawn out by the warmer weather no doubt, but none had been all that keen to be around him. There had only been one with a stone such as his and she was very clear about having her space. So, he did his best to navigate on his own and worry about filling his stomach instead.

He'd been chasing after a hare when the creature darted off into a nearby bush and his eyes saw something else entirely. Just in the clearing before him was another of his kind; and a fox, at that! If he hadn’t seen the charm he might have thought it a normal fox, but there was always something off, even without the charm. His bright eyes watched their every movement right up until they fell and he felt his ears flip back in empathy.

From experience Oisin knew he had two options; he could either run or face them head on. If it were a bigger creature he might have run, but…Bravely (or maybe stupidly) he padded out into the clearing. Words were never his strong suit so instead he gave a little hop on his back legs to snap at the nearest firefly as if to say ‘I’m friendly, don’t eat me’.

[278]
 

[Sabra Knight]

Painted Moose

At first Rue didn't notice the appearance of the stranger. The little fox was distracted by the fireflies and had lowered her guard in the safety of her hidden sanctuary. It was only when the breeze picked up again and shifted that she noticed it carried a new strange, scent with it. Her golden gaze widened in surprise and a 'yip' left her maw as she turned and tried to catch sight of whoever had approached. Thankfully it wasn't a wolf like the previous time she had been caught by another, but Rue couldn't help pausing in confusion as the other fox seemed to be mimicking her own actions.

Was that also a jewel on their pelt?

Another cursed one? Her body tensed as she pondered her next move but the sight of the other fox simply jumping after the fireflies actually brought out a faint grin, her fangs shimmering in the moonlight as she showed her amusement at the sight. Had she looked so silly? A low chuckle, almost a purr left her throat as she simply darted back around towards the shadows. Did she dare continue playing around with a stranger here? Rue once had been truly territorial but ever since the gem had changed her such things had been tamed to a certain degree...this new place she had found was away from others but not truly marked by her nor did she wish to fight. She was simply trying to live in peace without causing any further trouble after all of the torment she had once created for so many others. Still, she was not completely without mischievousness now that she felt that the other fox wasn't a threat and it was impossible to resist the urge to suddenly dash towards the other fox before turning away last second, her tail brushing against his side as if to say tag before she sprinted away.

[318]
 

[Painted Moose]

Sabra Knight

Oisin’s tail shifted to balance the fox as he dropped back down to four paws. For a moment he looked almost like his more feral kin with his eyes catching the light of the insects around him, but then his ears perked, as if he were waiting on her cue. And then…she ran. He furrowed his brows and took a half step forward before halting. Maybe this wasn’t going to be any different than the others after all? Immediately once she was out of sight he felt his hackles rising in preparation. Any moment she would come back to strike him and –

She was back! For the quickest of seconds Oisin bared his fangs, unwilling to be the last to take a bite, but then it was just…a dash? His ears flickered back but this time out of confusion. What was…? Was she teasing him?

Oh! Oh, she was! A simple, unconscious excited sound slipped out of him and Oisin took off after her. He feigned to the left only to use his dark coat to his advantage and maneuver around to the right instead. When he was close enough he let his tail ‘bap’ against her own before bouncing off.

[201]  

[Sabra Knight]

Painted Moose

Rue had a moment of hesitation, her feral instincts trying to kick in when she saw the defensive posture of the other fox, but she continued on with her game of tag. If she had stopped the walker was afraid that it would accidentally start a fight rather than a game like she had originally intended. A playful grin crossed her maw as she realized he was now chasing her and it was only when she felt the tail against her side that a yip left her. So he really was playing!

A chittering sound of amusement left the fox’s throat as she darted about to try to chase the darker fox throughout the clearing, her gaze gleaming in amusement even though the moonlight totally gave her away with how her golden fur reflected the brilliant light while the other fox seemed to easily slip into the shadows. Thankfully though there was a slight shimmer of green as she spotted his gemstone again and Rue faked that she was going right, her paws slowing down as if she were to circle about in confusion almost as if she had lost her target, but then within a moment she was back on track again as she faced the true direction and darted forward to n** lightly at her opponent’s flank. It wasn’t a harsh bite but more like one that a pup would inflict upon another while play fighting with siblings or the like.

[243  

[Painted Moose]

Sabra Knight

He hadn’t felt like this since he’d first split from his littermates! While a few had been feral without their charms some had been just as playful and Oisin realized now how much he missed it. If he’d been on the hunt then he may have been harder to find, but Oisin’s occasional yips and chitters of gave him away. Keeping up with the vixen was much easier because of her coat, but just because he had visuals on her didn’t mean the chase was his!

The darker fox didn’t expect her move and gave a cry of surprise when he was nipped. On instinct he kicked at her with his closest hind leg, missing by bounds, but his fur did fluff before he gave chase once more. Were all other charmed ones like this? Or was she just an exception? When he caught up to her this time Oisin ran as hard as he could to be parallel with the vixen, even for the briefest of moments, and pushed off with his paws to bump into her shoulder with his own.

[182]  

[Sabra Knight]

Painted Moose

Well that definitely worked! Laughter escaped her again at the sight of the fluffed fur. Rue knew that she couldn’t always play around like this with others, especially since meeting another charmed one who was still inclined towards hunting her, but since she felt like the other fox wasn’t intending on a true fight she was willing to take the risk and play. Still, after Rue had chased him about a few more times she decided that it was enough playing about for the moment. After giving a final bump towards the stranger the other fox tumbled to a stop so that she could rest along the edges of the shallow stream cutting through the middle of the clearing. Her tongue was out as she panted to cool down, the crisp night air helping to cool her body as she finally relaxed. Her golden gaze was still active though as she kept looking out for her pursuer to see if he too would calm down now that they had been chasing each other for a bit. Would he linger or leave? Interest kept her alert as she waited to see what would happen now that she had given up their game of tag.

[203]
 

[Painted Moose]

Sabra Knight

By the time all was said and done Oisin was properly tired. His blood still thrummed but his limbs held an exhaustion that made it hard to keep going. For a moment he considered sitting down as she had, but knew that if he did he likely wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. As much as he was enjoying his evening he still needed to hunt or his empty stomach would come to haunt him.

The silver that adorned his pelt felt a little too cool now that it had taken the temperature of the night around them. Compared to his heated skin the juxtaposition made things feel a little off which caused him to lean a little further forward. For a moment he wondered if he should say something or nothing at all. Instead he motioned toward the woods with his head and made a little ‘snap’ with his teeth. If she were hungry she could come or this is where they would part ways.

[166]  

[Sabra Knight]

Painted Moose

At first Rue was disappointed that the other fox wasn’t going to join her, but then she realized what his intentions were and her expression brightened again. She had worked up quite an appetite from running around and it would be nice to have company for once. The golden fox stretched out her body, her paws digging into the soft dirt in front of her before she slowly rose from the ground and trotted over towards the stranger. Rather than saying anything though she simply bumped a hip against the other fox before disappearing into the forest to track down the nearest prey.

[103]  

[Painted Moose]

Sabra Knight

fin

He gave into a cackling sort of yip and bounded after the golden vixen. While he knew he wouldn’t have the energy to give chase to anything too big, Oisin knew they’d be able to have a fine meal that night. The crescent moon above them illuminated just enough of their world to make navigating fun and Oisin wasn’t about to waste a bit of it.

[66]