A King's Legacy
Chapter 25: Strength
Stahl studiously scoped his surroundings, waiting for the impending attack to launch. His opponent was an adaptive one, using their abilities and the landscape together to form quick tactics, and launch unpredictable attacks in barrages of flashing steel. Rust was quickly proving himself more than both formidable, and capable in battle. Stahl focused himself as he strained to hear the lightest rustle of leaves left by the nimble fox's footsteps. He almost didn't turn in time to intercept the cub, striking down at the leaping fox with his sheathed blade, catching Rust across the back in a quick counter. The fox fell to the ground with a grunt, huffing as he spoke in disappointment.
"I really thought I had you that time..." Stahl chuckled at his nephew, not hiding his glee as he made the jab.
"You almost did. Guess all those years of sneaking around and eavesdropping on everyone may come in handy for you after all. I barely heard you that time." Rust flushed beneath his orange fur at the callout, but quickly steeled himself with a shake of the head when he replied.
"Let's go again. I have an idea." Stahl crossed his arms as he sighed a bit, answering the cub with far less enthusiasm.
"Its already been nearly two hours. I only promised you one. Besides, the sun is setting on us anyway. We should be getting back." Rust stood, looking up in his uncle's eyes with his best pleading face, emphasizing his words as he spoke.
"Just one more? Please?" Stahl took a single look into Rust's sparkling blue eyes before he folded like a napkin with a partially hidden grunt of annoyance.
"...One more." Rust nearly jumped in excitement as he walked away a few paces, gazing off into the forest as he whispered ever so softly among the trees.
"Mark." The cub was gone in a flash, Stahl took his stance, listening carefully around him as his eyes darted around for clues. Rust had discovered he needn't speak the trigger loudly at all, that barely an inaudible whisper would work, making it far more useful for stealth. Stahl had been directing the cub well the passed two evenings, and the third day of training was really showing the progress the fox had made already. Stahl hadn't told him too much about it, and Rust didn't pry since he was finally getting treated like an adult, but the wolf did do his best to help his nephew understand how his bloodskill worked.
A rustle to his left drew the wolf's attention for a split second. Just in time to see the fox vanish once more into the shadows of the dense forest. A bead of sweat rolled down the wolf's brow, the heavy humidity in the center of the thicket made the forest feel more like a jungle in the heat, something the wolf assumed had to do with the river running through the heart of the thicket from the mountain visible to the north. The camp for the evening was only a short ways away, but there was no doubt they had made steady progress in their travels. There was one thing that was bothering the noble wolf though, something he just couldn't shake, ever since stepping foot into the thicket. Somebody was watching them.
Another crunch of leaves to Stahl's right side drew his attention, the wolf catching the fastest glimpse of his nephew before the fox flashed away once again. Rust was playing the long game here, waiting for Stahl to slip up and lower his guard. The wolf couldn't help but smile. He still had some reservations about teaching his nephew, but he was enjoying how dedicated the cub could be. Rosten Aschefell just may be the next head of the Aschefell line one day at this rate. Another rustle to his left drew him in.
Stahl turned quickly this time, taking a step forward just as his nephew disappeared again. A snap to his right made the wolf turn, right in time to see a stone bounce off the earth from where it was released midair. Stahl realized the fake out immediately, and turned as fast as he could. Rust had his sheathed dagger at the wolf's throat before he ever finished turning around. The fox's shit eating grin at his victory was smug enough to give Stahl's own a run for its money. The wolf just smiled at the cub, winked once, and motioned down, to where his left handed, sheathed sword was poised against the fox's ribs, ready to pierce his heart in the mock battle. Rust deflated a little, but Stahl quickly perked him back up with a compliment.
"Quick thinking. Good distraction. Did you teleport after dropping the rock? That was smart. If I were any slower, that would have been a sound defeat, Rust." The cub's smile returned, nodding in thanks for the praise. He spoke to his uncle-turned-mentor with respect.
"Thank you. I was hoping it would work how I thought it would. I really do appreciate this... You're a really good teacher you know... Ready to head back?" Stahl admittedly beamed in pride at those words.
"Well, you're a good student. I'm surprised you aren't pushing for another round though." Rust stood a bit straighter, using that best attempt at a grown-up voice of his.
"I told you I wouldn't argue with you if you teach me. I agreed to one more." Stahl nodded at the statement before he answered in a lighthearted voice.
"So you did... But we still have a little light left, and a few more minutes wont hurt anything. Want to go again?" Rust's eyes lit up as he happily accepted the offer. Stahl was enjoying it almost as much as the cub was.
They ended up going for three more rounds before finally calling it quits. The sun was disappearing behind the dense line of trees as they made their way back to the camp area a short walk away. As they trailed into the small clearing, the glow of firelight casted itself against their forms. Stahl paused for a second to process exactly what he was watching before he started towards the campfire, questions burning in his throat.
Aster was sweating heavily, his body had been well worked before his current training, the bull pushing him as far as ever. After near exhausting himself physically, Aster was tasked with working on the same technique he had been the two nights prior since entering the thicket. The human would raise his shield flat above the earth, climb atop it, and hold his balance in the air. A technique that was giving the human nothing but trouble trying to master. After he was able to maintain barely standing on his own shield, the bovine moved to the next step, creating a second shield, and jumping to it. Aster met the dirt after every attempt, never managing to stick the landing. The captain had decided to raise the stakes the third night, bringing Stahl face to face with the captain's bizarre training method.
Aster was atop his shield, standing cautiously as the disk threatened to teeter and throw him off. He was straining his arms to the side, seemingly in struggle to hold the shield steady while he remained afloat. He really didn't want to fall that night, and Stahl could see why. Aster and his shield were poised directly over the fire, the stout bull watching with crossed arms. Stahl finally cleared his throat as he spoke to his struggling mate.
"Hey Aster, Captain... This is some... Intense training." Aster almost lost his balance at the interruption, but quickly corrected himself as he strained to answer his wolf.
"Don't worry, the shield is fireproof... It doesn't get hot. I just can't lean too far over the edge is all." Stahl gave the bull watching his student a questioning look. The captain didn't budge, but did give his answer.
"He can handle it, Ash Pelt. Besides, we are almost finished. Panther's Son, make the jump and I'll let you rest tomorrow." Aster grunted out his reply.
"Yes Sir... Let me turn-" The bovine interrupted the boy before he ever finished speaking.
"No. Tonight, you jump over the flames. Give you some incentive not to fall." Aster flustered while he strained to regain his balance, not liking the idea of that. The human furrowed his brow, but steadied his resolve. He freed up his left arm, shaking to keep himself on solid footing with his right, but managing all the same. He raised a second shield roughly three feet away, just over the peak of the fire below. He could feel his control slipping. He could feel his strength draining. Even still, he would hold. He would make the jump. He braced himself, shifted his weight quickly, and leapt forward, landing directly in the center of his second shield.
The disk wobbled in place, tilted sharply, and dumped the human off, Aster barely landing outside of the burning embers. As he rolled to a stop face down on the ground, Aster clenched his fist, slammed it into the earth below, and shouted in his frustration.
"Dammit! I'm not getting any better at this! Can we PLEASE move to something else Captain?" The bull snorted a bit as he answered his irritated student.
"No. You learn to master one thing, and we move to the next. I don't do shortcuts, not when it comes to training. We will try again tomorrow." The human stood, stumbling a bit as he adjusted to standing on solid ground again. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it after. He ended up just letting out a long sigh, and answering the captain with a sullen "Yes Sir." Aster walked a short ways away, and plopped down, feeling much too aggravated to talk. Stahl came to take a seat beside him, throwing an arm around his sulking mate as he drew him in closer.
"I didn't realize that's what you were working on. I can see the utility. You could run across air itself... I'm sort of mad I didn't think of it before." Aster replied, trying not to sound too distraught for his beast.
"It's probably best you didn't... I don't think it's something I'll be able to rely on. It's hard... It's like I'm raising my shield backwards. How do I brace my footing when I'm holding the ground beneath my boots in my hand? I'm going to snap a wrist if I keep this up... And the jump? It's like I'm leaping onto my own shoulders. None of it makes any sense." Stahl squeezed his boy lightly in comfort as he answered the human.
"I don't have any ideas, its hard to know how it feels for you. But... I do know that you will figure it out if there is a way. Maybe you should cool off for a while? A rinse in the river could do you some good. We can hit it from some different angles after, see if we come up with anything that might help?" Aster leaned into the touch for a moment, pressing his lips softly against his wolf's bicep as he took in a deep breath of his calming scent. After he exhaled, he answered his beast.
"I think you may be right... But I think I need to be alone for a while also. Sorry... I just-" Stahl broke the sentence off with a swiftly placed kiss on the forehead, answering before his human finished that sentence
"You don't have to explain, or apologize. Go get yourself right. Let me know what I can do when you are ready." Aster leaned in just a bit closer at the reassurance, grateful as ever for the understanding. He planted another tender peck on his wolf's arm, and stood, rising to head off towards the river in search of solace.
===
Sir Corper was beginning to worry about his pupil. Oust had been regressing significantly, at least in his technique. His movement was stagnant again, his heart not behind his strikes at all. He wasn't speaking as much, preoccupied with his own dredged up thoughts he had long ago buried. Corper worried he had tried to force the tiger to do too much too quickly, he was worried he had underestimated what the cub had really endured. He was correct to worry.
Oust was angry again. Before, it was a misguided anger, a hatred of the world itself for always being so ugly towards him... But it was different now, it was redirected. It was vengeful poison. It was a spiteful malice. It was a thirst to inflict that same pain right back on the one who had hurt him. Oust Candori was becoming more and more angry as memories of his father's tormenting resurfaced and lingered on his mind. There was one major memory he didn't dare think of though, one that he wasn't sure he could revisit yet. He had plenty of fuel for that fire as it was. The tiger struck again, his movement sloppy. The bear sighed as he lowered his own stance and spoke aloud.
"I'm heading back, you should stay here for a while." Oust simply looked to his mentor with inner frustration lingering beneath his gaze. He nodded at the bear, partly in thanks, partly in respect. Sir Corper turned, and took a few lightly splashing steps out of the river, pausing as he reached the bank to speak once more.
"It can be hard to believe when life has been so unforgiving... But you too, deserve happiness, even if you can't see it yet. There is light all around if you search for it. There is light in you as well... Lights shine brighter together, young one, especially in the darkness." The veteran stepped away without anymore words of wisdom for his student. Oust would have to reach his own conclusion at that point. The brown bear had done what he could. The tiger watched him depart before he turned back towards the river, took a step forward into slightly deeper water, and started his movements all over again. His thoughts only wandered on all the while. His peace was disrupted. His passion and proficiency were both smothered by doubt, and rage.
Sir Corper took his time returning to camp, his mind heavy in the early night. The bear was so distracted, he almost didn't notice the human until he was already upon him. The large beast stopped on the game trail to nod at the boy. Aster averted his gaze, but nodded all the same. He wanted to like the bear, he'd had a human wife after all... But he had made it hard to trust him, to feel safe near him. Aster was admittedly afraid of this beast. Corper understood this.
"I hope your training went better today?" Aster shifted in discomfort as he replied.
"No. I'm still just stuck." The human trailed off with a hint of defeat in his voice. Corper grunted as he commented.
"Seems that's going around then. I don't mean to hold you up, Venatus son." Aster forced a smile.
"Not at all. I'm just going to the water, try to clear my head. Besides, the captain starts complaining if I stink too badly, so I need to clean up." The human's fake smile turned into a genuine one as he finished with the jab at his mentor. The bear chuckled at the enthusiasm, glad to see the boy had retained some degree of optimism. The tiger just may need it at this rate. The bear straightened up a bit, peering down at the human in an authentic way. Aster stared back up at the towering beast, feeling a bit nervous as the bear started wording his request.
"He listens to you, he may let you in..." Aster gave the beast an inquisitive glance as he asked for clarification after the pause. Sir Corper just shook his head, dismissing the thought.
"Nothing. It... Isn't my place to ask anything of you. Enjoy your bath, the scenery is beautiful when everything is at peace." Aster watched the bulky beast walk up the trail without another word, heading back towards the campsite. The human pondered what the bear was going to say for a moment before turning and moving towards the river, ready to feel the soothing touch of cool water against his heated skin.
Oust was knee deep as he went through his steps all over again, his turmoil only growing more imposing all the while. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be fast enough anyway. He wasn't as strong as his father or his sister. He probably never would be... They were always going to be there, waiting for him to find some shred of happiness so they could tear it away all over again. He had been fooling himself to believe otherwise lately, but reliving his past had reminded him of what he was. He was a spoiled pelt. He was a cursed cub that could never be more than a looming burden on his line. Oust was destined to either be subjugated, or to be their victim. His father had broken any resistance the tiger ever tried to cling to long ago, and the tiger knew that he could not face him, that he could never actually stand up to him. Oust was ashamed of himself for being such a coward, but he didn't have the strength to even look his father in the eye. When he dared to even think of it, the worst of his memories came rushing back, making him feel all the more ready to curl into a ball and admit he was only a weak, helpless cub. Anything so his father wouldn't hurt him like that again.
Something seized at his throat, a tingle that made his breathing feel shorter. His chest felt tighter, and a malleable panic shot daggers into his heart as the memory finally forced itself to the surface. Before the tiger could stop himself, the image flashed before him. The shame, the humiliation, the searing pain and betrayal of trust between parent and offspring. More tangible than anything else, however, was the ever present fear, driven into him with the recollection of every jarring, and wicked thrust his father had made that unspeakable night.
The tiger clutched at his chest, finding it harder to breathe by the second. His fingertips felt numb, like they were vibrating even. His footing threatened to fail him as the water suddenly felt so heavy against his paws. Oust fell to his knees with eyes wide as more of that night came flowing back to him. It took nearly all the control he was holding on to in that moment, but he finally managed to pull his tunic over his chest, freeing himself from what felt like the heaviest of bindings as he gasped for air that would not come. The humid, weak breeze against his back fur offered little comfort as the beast simply locked up in the running river, desperately trying to fight whatever horrid thoughts were overtaking him. Trying to fight off the manifestation of suppressing so many emotions, memories, and fears for such a long time. Oust was losing his battle, and the panic was consuming him. Even there, all those miles away, his father was still beating him, and Oust was too afraid to stand up to it.
"Oust?" The tiger nearly jumped out of his hide, adding another layer of panic as he turned to see the human runt mere feet behind him. Had he been so caught up in his own thoughts he hadn't noticed him? The human had spoken the beast's name cautiously, and continued now that he got a good look at the crouching cat.
"Are you alright?" The tiger still couldn't find the ability to speak, his worry only growing to new heights as his vulnerability was exposed to the boy of all people. Oust could only stare into Aster's eyes, pleading to just leave him be. Aster took a single look into those scared, uncertain eyes and made his decision, taking another two steps forward. Oust glared at the human even more as a low growl escaped his throat, making the boy pause for just a moment. He knew Oust wanted to be alone... But Oust didn't look like he should be alone in that moment. Aster took a steadying breath in, and took another step forward, aiming to place his hand on the beast's exposed shoulder.
Oust turned, finding his mobility returning at the distraction, catching the boy's arm by the wrist with his staggering speed. The tiger squeezed the arm a little roughly to emphasize his point as his scowl grew, the tips of his claws digging into the skin there threateningly. The beast narrowed his crimson eyes as he bared his fangs at the runt, giving his final warning. Aster spoke in a tone laced with sympathy. Oust hated it, or at least, he wanted to.
"What do you need then?" Oust felt the panic loosen its grip the slightest bit as he stared into the boy's soft, understanding eyes. Still, there was just too much going on inside his head... He couldn't focus on what he needed, not like he was. The tiger's eyes took on a look that Aster likened to begging, pleading for an outlet. Aster steeled himself, understanding what the tiger wanted. It was time to return a favor.
Aster pulled his arm free without resistance, and turned to take a few steps back, coming to stand a few feet before the wounded beast. Aster gazed at the tiger's ivory fur gleaming beneath the moonlight. The boy marveled at the rare sight of seeing the beast's torso exposed like it was. Oust ALWAYS kept as much of his orange tinted fur covered as possible, but Aster understood. He was ashamed of his body too, although, he couldn't personally see any faults in the tiger's coat. It was beautifully captivating to the human. Aster could feel the vulnerability though, so he paused to remove his own shirt, meeting the tiger on equal ground in that way. Aster raised both of his fists, a shield appearing on each. He nodded towards the beast, and widened his stance just a bit. Oust finally found something he could focus on, and drew a steadying breath at last, raising his own trembling fists as he crouched slightly. The tiger exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto the boy's own, the anticipation thicker than the humid air between them. The beast lunged as he finished releasing the breath.
Strike after strike, Oust came down upon the boy. Aster struggled to hold pace, going completely on the defensive as the beast launched his jarring assault. Aster had to abandon matching fist for fist pretty early on, and switched to rotating between his two larger shields to cover more strike area. Even still, the tiger was always one blow from victory, and they were both quickly realizing it.
Oust was shifting. The fear was fading, the weight was lighter, and he wasn't thinking about his father anymore. He was far too busy looking at the runt. What began as striking by lashing out soon faded away, the motivation veering to something more. Oust felt his chest loosen just a bit, feeling his breathing become more steady by the second, despite his ongoing assault. He could feel his limbs relaxing along with his mind, his muscles reacting quicker than ever. Oust leaned in a bit, and struck with his right hand, moving towards the boy's midsection with a new level of speed for him. Aster scrambled to raise the shield, and barely managed in time, taking a stumbling back step as he processed the startling swiftness of the last attack. Oust leapt back in, his thoughts giving way to clarity at last.
`It's him... The only time I ever make any progress, it's because I talk to him... The strength always comes from him.' Oust struck hard, jabbing with his left fist as he twisted his body into the impact, Aster used both arms to brace the shield on his right side, and still felt his feet slide just a bit when it collided. The human was quickly realizing the unsettling truth. If Oust actually landed that blow, it would have killed him. Without missing a single beat, the tiger took another step forward, driving an open palm toward the human's face. Aster strained while catching this one as well, not certain how long he could keep this up. Oust struck again.
The beast was staring into the runt's eyes the entire time, that is what was fueling his fluid movements. That is what was driving him to move even faster, to be fast enough to lay a hand on the boy, for Oust saw it as a right he must earn, anything less was mere charity. Oust looked into those eyes as his fists collided against the legendary weapon, and the tiger saw many things. Aster's respect for Oust's strength. His admiration for the tiger's speed. His fear of the beast's capability. The beast loved each and every one of these glimmers of truth reflecting back from the human king's gold-littered gaze. Oust had acknowledged the boy's strength, the runt had practically demanded as much... If someone with power like that saw him as a worthy opponent, perhaps there was some hope for the tiger after all? Oust struck again.
Aster was already a bit worn out from his own training, but the tiger was relentless. The human was giving it everything he had, and he still was losing... Badly. Oust Candori was finally proving a point, at least in Aster's eyes. Oust was faster, Oust was stronger, and Oust was the indisputably superior one here. Aster could feel it, the malice behind the strikes. The passion behind those glaring eyes... What else could it be but such resentment? Oust was setting the story straight at last. Oust didn't want Aster around anymore. Oust wouldn't be trying to kill him if that wasn't the case. Aster blocked another bone rattling fist aimed right at his face at a speed he almost failed to even see. The human let out a weak cry as his shoulder threatened to give way for a moment, creating the fastest opening for the beast.
Oust launched another fist towards Aster's midsection, making the boy scramble to cover it. Oust shot his other arm forward, aiming straight at the boy's face again. Aster flailed to raise the shield, but didn't realize the fake out until it was too late. The tiger took a bit of a dipping sidestep, raised his fist again, and struck towards Aster's head with every bit of speed behind a hummingbird's wingbeat. The beast was reaching towards his face hungrily, his gaze locked onto Aster's as the boy realized he could never block in time. Oust admittedly relished the look of fear that flashed across the runt's face as he submitted to the tiger's strength. As Oust finally proved himself worthy enough and strong enough to stand beside him. Aster turned his head away, clamped his eyes shut, and flinched in anticipation of the deadly impact colliding against his skull. The strike never came, not in the way he had expected anyway.
The softest touch brushed against the boy's cheek instead, coaxing him to open his eyes as the window for the strike long since closed. The human cautiously looked up to the menacing tiger, a single, lingering finger lightly caressing his face all the while. Oust was close to him, staring down with those red eyes again, in a way that made the human burn within his own skin. Oust opened his hand a bit more, and pressed the pink pads of his palm and fingers flatly against the runt's scarred cheek, holding nearly half of the boy's head in his careful, larger hand. Aster kept staring up at the beast which had just bested him, feeling confused. It's like all of that bloodlust he had been showing during their match had vanished entirely.
Even so, before he realized it, the human brought his own hand up to cradle the tiger's, holding the soft palm to his face with a sense of comfort. Oust adjusted his hand slowly, trailing his fingertips along the human's jawline and the short beard just beginning to grow over it. The tiger moved his thumb to rest between the two scars as he gently slid it along their length, tracing the damage from Aster's nose, over his cheek, and resting just where his ear began. The beast spoke in that calm voice of his, never letting the human break eye contact.
"How something so small, so frail, and so kind can still be so strong is a mystery to me." Aster tried to look away in embarrassment at the praise, but the beast wouldn't let him. Oust didn't want to look away from those eyes this time. Aster's hand trembled against the tiger's as his own convoluted feelings simmered beneath his surface. The boy did manage to at least answer the beast.
"Strength isn't measured by power alone, it's measured by how you use it. Being kind is not a trait of the weak, Oust. It's a choice, not an ultimatum. It's your choice too." The tiger dropped his hand, closing his eyes as he broke the eye contact at last. He took a few paces towards the bank before he called back to the human.
"And what if I'm bad at choices, Runt? What if there's something stopping me from choosing anything?" Aster stepped towards the bank, brushing off his need for a proper bath all the while. He came up beside the tiger once more, answering as he walked right passed him.
"Then you can just rest for a moment while we figure it out. I think this rock looks like a good spot to do just that." The boy jumped up on a nearby boulder, pulling himself up with ease as he turned and took his seat. He flashed the tiger a toothy smile as he patted the spot next to him. Oust looked hesitantly at the boy's offer, but yielded to the request, humoring the runt as he jumped up beside him. Aster quickly shifted, turning his back to the tiger, looking over his shoulder with the same grin as before. Oust gave him a puzzled stare, so the boy elaborated for him.
"Sit back to back. It's something me and Cortist used to do, helps talk about tough stuff." Oust's brows furrowed as he replied defensively.
"What makes you so sure I need to talk about anything?" Aster stared at the tiger with a skeptical look, silently reminding the beast of the condition he had found him in only moments ago. Oust lowered his gaze and his ears a bit as he turned his head away. He begrudgingly turned his back to the human, still feeling like this whole thing was trivial. He almost jumped out of his pelt when he felt the human's bare back lean against his own exposed fur. The tiger cautiously looked over his shoulder, but the human was only staring up above, smiling that dumb smile of his, gazing at the stars peeking back down at him through the larger trees. The tiger turned his own gaze, looking up with him as he focused on breathing. As he focused on the boy's breathing against his body.
"See? It's not so scary like this." Oust actually chuckled, his rumbling sides pouring into Aster's own.
"Nobody ever said you were scary, runt." Aster glared back at the tiger in annoyance, but he was happy the beast seemed to be lightening up some.
"I wasn't talking about me, Oust. I was talking about whatever you have going on inside of yourself. I get it, I had some low points too... Times where I felt there wouldn't even be anyone to miss me if I just gave up... Cortist helped me through that stuff, and he did it just like this. Just... Give me a chance here." Oust went silent, but Aster felt the beast nod, agreeing to hear him out. The boy beamed at the progress, letting the sounds of the forest overtake them a while more before interrupting the natural symphony of crickets and frogs around them.
"Tell me what's bothering you?" Oust remained quiet for a while, letting the silence build between them.
"I don't think I like talking about it. It makes me feel like I'm fishing for pity..." Aster closed his eyes, thinking how to answer that.
"Alright, I get that. How about you just tell me about your mom then? I'd like to know more about her." The tiger relaxed against the human just a little, letting his back rest on the boy's own.
"Well, she was really kind... Far too kind for my father. Their marriage was arranged, because my father has a thing about purity. She was a beautiful white tiger, her fur as blinding as the snow, but with a smile that could warm the coldest room." Aster smiled softly at the description, trying to imagine what she looked like. The boy asked another question.
"So, both of your parents are all white? Where did the orange come from?" Oust leaned off the human a bit, drawing away in his insecurity. Aster almost panicked, fearing he had crossed a line, but Oust answered this as well.
"My father blamed my mother's side... Said it was something hereditary, a `Spoiled Pelt.' My sister and brother didn't have it... My mother kept it hidden until I was ten. I remember, twice a week, she would paint a little white dye over the orange, carefully avoiding the black stripes that crossed it... There's a story, about a spoiled pelt rising from within my family, and she always feared how my father would react... She was right to be afraid back then." The tiger shifted uncomfortably, feeling like he was talking too much again. Aster leaned his head back some, coming into contact with the beast's wide shoulders once more as he spoke.
"So, one day he found out, and I'm guessing it went badly?" Oust let out a heavy sigh before he replied.
"No... That night was going badly long before that secret was revealed..." Oust clenched his fists before he even realized he was. That was part of THAT night... The night Richta and Oust were both broken by different, cruel methods.
"I won't pry there... Not until you want to tell me." Oust spoke again, grateful for the boy's approach there, but speaking in a lower voice than ever before.
"I don't know that I'll ever want to tell anyone." Something about the defeated way the tiger muttered those words struck Aster in a very raw way. Oust was letting him see who he was at last, but the boy didn't know how to help the beast with all that hurt he carried around. Aster felt the sorrow behind Oust's anger, and for a reason that wasn't even clear to the boy, he felt his eyes mist up as that familiar desire to protect those he cared about rose within himself once more.
"Your coat... Your `Spoiled Pelt,' as they called it. It doesn't happen often, does it?" There was a rasp to the human's voice that the beast just couldn't quite identify, but there was a passion that was very audible as well. Oust was almost taken aback by the sudden question, but answered it a bit curiously.
"No... Different white variant species can have it happen... But you don't see it but maybe once every five generations per bloodline." Aster rebutted quickly, making sure he got to his point.
"So in the entire world... In our country, and those that surround it, you are the ONLY single person that has a pelt like that? That white with the orange tint on your back?" Oust shifted, starting to feel a little self conscious discussing his pelt so in depth. Even so, he answered the boy.
"Yes." Aster straightened up, his smile growing bigger than ever as the tears fell faster than before
"Good! You know what that means right?" Oust huffed a little, having plenty of guesses as to what that meant, but knowing none of them were what the human would say anyway. The beast spoke with a touch of patience.
"What does it mean, Runt?" Aster lowered his head, leaning back into the beast as he near whispered his reply.
"It means you're like me. You're alone, Oust. The only one like you in the world. Maybe this means we are special in a sense, or maybe it's for some reason of fate, but what that doesn't mean is we have to be lonely. Even if we are different, we can stand beside each other. We can stand as friends... You are unique, Oust... Not a mistake. I would kill for fur like that... I would've given anything to be born as a beastman, to fit in this world... But I was born the human I needed to be... So I'll just have to settle for staring at that amazing coat of yours instead... It really is beautiful, Oust."
Aster turned, laying eyes on the pelt once more, marveling at the way the creamy white melted into the larger patch of orange between his shoulders. How the patch of orange swirled out into the smallest curls and tendrils at the edges of the marking. The way the colors folded, highlighting one another as the patch slowly grew to overtake the white more and more over time, stretching up his neck and the back of his ears, along his shoulders, and down the small of his back. The black stripes only adding another layer of depth to the illusion. Oust's exposed torso was something Aster could find the smallest patterns in, a natural work of art. The boy placed a caring hand between the beast's shoulder blades, noting the tight muscles beneath the pelt flinching from his touch. He left his hand there anyway, averting his gaze as to not stare for too long.
Aster would sit in silence, he had said what he needed to. He could only hope the tiger would believe him, that he would know it was the truth. Oust said nothing. He hadn't moved much since the human finished speaking, making Aster worry he had crossed a line. More of those sad tears fell from the boy, making him close his eyes and drop his hand from the beast's back to give him some space. Another soft touch at his cheek made the boy suck in a breath, but he didn't look back at the tiger just yet. The beast scooped away a single falling tear, drawing his hand away after as he finally realized the human was crying. Aster said nothing. He felt he just couldn't say anything else. Oust finally spoke, in a softer tone.
"You would even shed a tear for me." Aster laughed a bit at the bewilderment behind the statement.
"Of course I would." Oust could only stare at the boy in shock, Aster never realizing the severity that came with shedding tears in the Candori household. The tiger merely went quiet again, this time in pure bewilderment and butterflies. The boy had called his fur beautiful. He would expose his emotions for the tiger's sake. He would call him a friend. Aster felt the tension in the air as he feared he had gone too far. The boy let out a heavy sigh, and started his apology, opening his damp eyes slightly as he turned his head back towards the beast.
"Oust-" before the boy ever got another word out, Oust was pressing his muzzle to his mouth, initiating the kiss for the first time. Aster's eyes went wide in shock, Oust pushed himself further against the boy, securing a heavy hand around his back as he took the runt into his arms at last. The tiger pressed himself into the kiss, drawing Aster closer, completely taking the boy off balance as he fell from the boulder. The tiger was still clinging to the human as they landed, rolling into the brush and leaves of the damp jungle floor. At this point, Aster was kissing him back hungrily, pressing further into the menacing tiger the way he had longed to. Oust Candori finally had a real taste of kindness and love that night, and it would change everything as the steely walls he had so carefully built around his heart creaked, warped, and shattered from the most unstoppable warmth the beast had ever known.
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=P Oust fans may rejoice. Next chapter is him and Aster at last. (Cause damn does that tiger deserve some fucking love already.)
Expect a little more time before the next one though, I do take my time for the romance chapters, but gimme a week or so.
Reviews, ratings, and messages keep me going strong! Even if I cant reply in depth always, I appreciate that more than you guys know! I hope you enjoy what comes next! (And after.) Thank you so much for reading! -Pup Bayou