Fairspell Meadow i watched you change

@Koji <3

as far as buffalo was concerned, he was a goddamn free agent, and planned to stay that way until he found byll. unbeknownst to the wraith, perhaps one of the only wolves who remembered him had relocated with her pack to the mountain range buffalo had left behind him.
and now, the weasel narrated dramatically inside his head, climbing down the last ledge that led him over into a meadow with four solid thumps of his broad paws, our stalwart hero arrives in what would have been a paradise, had not some jerkoff tornado ruined it.
”by fuckin’ Sos.” the blood-stained mess swore blithely at the snowy wreckage, referencing the name of some long-forgotten ursine god — not to buffalo or byll, however. no, the tottering madwoman who had spat them from her loins and abandoned them not a year later in pursuit of the same really drilled Sos into them, hadn’t she? he ran a tongue along his teeth and laughed hoarsely. ”and Sos drilled you to make us, wuddn’t it, mommy?”
by now aware he was talking aloud and deciding not to give a shit, buffalo let his tongue loll from his pearly jaws and scanned the territory for any movement, wolf or otherwise. he was up for a game, and in true sawlike fashion, would welcome any form in which that game came.

An over exaggerated yawn fell from the vagabond’s lips as he waltzed into the dull meadow, hungry eyes searching for the cure to his mild case of boredom. It took him maybe a second or two before his vision focused in on the talking porcelain blob in the distance, and though he was usually one to stray away from visible weirdos, Koji figure he might as well try to slide on over and make a bit of conversation.

“I’m all for ya fashion sense bro but ya might want to take a bath soon, ya startin to stink” he called out once he was within earshot of the stranger, eyes glued to the vibrant crimson that clashed against the man’s alabaster coat. It was an interesting choice of style but Koji had to imagine it made difficult for hunting...and making friends now that he thought about it. 

to buffalo's exquisite glee, the shadow that he'd spotted in the distance took form into a lanky man that teased him dryly. splitting his jaws into a pale grin that collided whitely against the sanguine blotches. "maybe you're just a barbarian with no appreciation of fine perfume," buffalo jeered back, his own two-toned eyes roving unabashedly over the hues that comprised the man's pelt and stare.
"my kingdom for those eyes, boy," the wraith chuckled lowly, passing his tongue over the edge of the smile that still festered on his features. despite the springtime blush in the air, it was still cold and snow strewn everywhere — buffalo was pleased to commit himself fully to this distraction.

A crocodilian smile slithered onto Koji’s lips when the pale man spat back at him, an amused flick of his tail following quickly after. Oh how fortunate for him to encounter someone with such a easy sense of humor. He let out a melodic hum while taking a few stouthearted steps in the ruffian’s direction, attention wholly taken up by the man’s noteworthy eyes. 

“They’re yours free of charge if ya can get ‘em, old man” he dared, a light snicker befalling his lips while doing so. The vagabond’s gaze shifted then from the mismatched eyes of the stranger to his thickly dyed crimson crown. Perhaps it was foolish to taunt a man soaked in the blood of what Koji could only assume to be his enemies, but then again, getting drunk off adrenaline sure did sound appealing to the anarchist.

the man drew closer, and buffalo straightened, holding the hot lilac of the stranger's gaze and slipping the tip of his tongue between his still-smirking teeth at the other's taunt. at the dark chuckle of his companion, buffalo's peculiar eyes fell to the scarred lip, then flicked back to the handsome features curved in that mocking expression. "looks like someone already caught your mouth, kid," the madman retorted.
he sidled backward in the snow, keeping his attention on the stranger, his own eyes now taking the time to rove over the other well-formed body and intelligent mien. and here buffalo's tongue lolled; eyes bright, leering in an invitation for their game to take a more abrupt and rougher turn.

His eyes widened a bit at the mention of his scar, a nearly forgotten mistake that tainted his otherwise faultless body. “A parting gift from a past lover” he crooned, tongue moving to trace fondly over the blemish that had healed long ago. His eyes wandered to the snow showered ground before flickering to meet his company’s steadfast stare. 

Normally one might falter under such a gaze but Koji was far too comfortable with himself to mind the attention, if anything he rather enjoyed it. And so when the pale man’s mismatched eyes gleamed their invitation, Koji let his tongue slip back between his jaws so that an elvish smirk could jerk at the corner of his lips, silently leaving the next move up to the crimson crowned vagrant.

their dance was one of smiles and leers; buffalo noted how the younger wolf's eyes had widened, his gaze lingering with open interest on how the darker wolf traced lips with tongue. and here they were now, smirking at each other from across a small distance. the madman's tail lashed at his heels; he skinned back his burgundy-stained lips from ivory teeth and let his blood-stiff hackles bristle proudly along his shoulders.
a game, a game, a game; that was all it was, he crooned inside his head, muscles tensing as in the next moment he leapt for the darker fellow. but buffalo stopped short and snapped his fangs on empty air, laughing manaically with challenge glimmering in his mismatched eyes.

Whether it be because he was insane himself or just utterly bored, Koji found the pale man to be delightfully entertaining. Even as teeth came snapping in his direction and manic laughter filled the air, the wayfarer simply grinned out of thrill, his cloudy eyes dancing with exhilaration. “That’s the best ya got?” he sneered, tail giving an amused swish behind him while he bounced a few paces away.

It was here that he felt the full rush of adrenaline sink into his muscles, tongue giving a click as he turned to glance at a patch of switchgrass behind him. And then without so much as a warning, Koji slipped himself between the blades and disappeared into the towering weeds, heart pounding in his ears as he eagerly waited to see if his pale companion would follow suit. 

it was with open glee that buffalo listened to the dark laughter of his companion, noted the roiling of latent strength beneath the sable pelt as the lip-scarred boy turned away. but the madman knew he was not departing — no, their game had only just begun. he guffawed to himself, letting the other disappear from view in the tall blades before he bit his bottom lip — hard.
metallic salt flooded his tongue; buffalo dug his toes into the snow and tilted back his head, swallowing his own life with clear delight before he followed the shadow-hued boy into the clutch of the weeds. and while he knew his companion lurked ahead, his scent fire in buffalo's nostrils, the bear-child lay back his ears and slipped into a hunting crouch all the same. "come out, little boy. i wanna show you how men dance."

The beating of his heart continued to echo inside his ears as he slunk through the grass, ba dump, ba dump, ba dump, playing on a constant loop with each step he took. Now this was what he craved, the thrill of being hunted was intoxicating and Koji was an addict ready to devour his drug. “Catch me if you can” he called out into the boundless blades of switchgrass, muscles tensing as he felt a shiver crawl up along his spine.

He roughly knew where his seeker stood, the metallic scent of blood easily distinguishable amongst the muted fragrance of his surroundings. And yet he still felt the same fear a child would if they were locked in a dark room with the constant fear that a monster would grab them in the dark. The only difference was that this monster was very much real. 

   

a hunt it was to be then.
        buffalo's belly tightened with an anticipation that was not wholly driven by instinct — whatever would come of this little game would be something the madman would enjoy. biting back the gleeful cackle driven to his ribald lips, the bloodstained man lowered his muzzle, slinking between the tall wavering stalks with careful steps. he half-suspected his quarry wished to be caught, and pondering this parted buffalo's jaws in a silent grin.
        pausing in his steps, the madman swept his gaze slowly along his path, searching for a trembling shadow, the glint of watchful, humoured eyes — and flexed his forepaws against the earth.

Koji assumed that when one was being hunted, the natural instinct was to either run or hide. He did both. He would tuck himself low to the floor one minute, ears alert for any sound of movement heading in his direction, and in the next moment he’d spring from his hiding place and bounce a few paces away before falling once more. 

Yet the game couldn’t go on forever and the vagabond knew sooner or later he’d either be caught or become bored, the latter of which he hoped to avoid. So he paused upon finding a small clearing just barely large enough for him to fit in, and it was here he decided to wait out the remainder of their game, heart racing as he anxiously waited for the moment when white and red would flash before him and he’d be discovered. 

buffalo's body uncoiled; bloodstained ears swept forward as the dark shape of the the younger wolf swept into view. openly, the male's amusement spanning the distance between them. their game had spread through a length of time he had not remembered — now the bedlamite lashed his plume catlike at his heels and advanced through the grasses.
a grin parted way to the jagged threat of fangs within; buffalo lifted his chin with a teasing glance. "mmm," came the slow trailing of his thoughtful purr. "what to do with a boy who ran and was caught?" snaking his muzzle closer, the red-blotched ghost reverberated with a thorned rumble. "taking suggestions from the audience."