Snow Bunny Ch.15
#15 of Snow Bunny
Kadell wouldn't look at Moku as he fixed his clothes, shivering from dried sweat. He opened his mouth to say something-an apology, perhaps?-but only ended up closing it and looking away.
Moku sniffed, wiping his eyes from when tears of pain had slid down. He pulled up pants, trying them with automatic hands, staring at the dark bark before him, eyes following the carvings his claws had made. His body hurt, ached with such an intense pain. He felt blood dripping down his thighs, trying not to think about how painful that was.
"You can have the rabbit."
Blue eyes widened and Moku's head snapped around to look at the other wolf demon. "What?"
Kadell had his back towards him. "The rabbit. You wanted it, didn't you? You can have it."
Moku trembled, trying not to move because it hurt so much. "D-Do you think we just did this so I can get the rabbit?"
Kadell didn't say anything for a while. "... You're hungry and practically starved. I understand."
Moku refused to cry. He had fucking cried too much this entire day! "B-But... no! Kadell!"
"Leave it at that, Moku. What just happened... I don't know. I don't know what I was thinking. It-it-it just all happened so fast!"
The artic wolf's eyes were wide. "But... I love you."
"But I can't love you the way you want me to."
Moku froze. He could feel his heart shattering into a thousand pieces, all of Raklyn's words crushing his soul and echoing in his head. "But in the fall-"
"The fall was six months ago."
Moku swallowed hard, feeling weak and used. "Just tell me why."
Kadell paused before whispering. "I love someone else."
And with that he left, refusing to look back.
Liolyn's head snapped up the moment he heard Kadell enter the cave. He smiled brightly, despite the horrible twists his stomach was doing, and got up.
Gold eyes traveled down the wolf demon that hadn't moved from the entrance. His brows furrowed, knowing something was wrong but not being able to pick up what it was. "Kahdahl?"
Kadell flinched visibly, still staring at the ground. "Don't... Don't call me that."
The cat demon cocked his head to one side. "What? What's wro-" His eyes widened. "You're crying."
Kadell jumped, finger tips rising and feeling his cheek. "Oh."
"What happened?" Liolyn was getting unnerved and frightened. "What's going on? Kahdahl!"
"Please don't say that!" Kadell backed up until he hit the wall.
Liolyn took a step forward before the scents reached him. He completely froze, eyes wide and lips parted.
Kadell slide down it. "I'm sorry."
Moku didn't move from the spot Kadell left him. He shivered from the cold, eyes staring at nothing in particular. He felt broken, worthless, and used.
His eyes fell on the dead rabbit Kadell left him as payment.
Moku almost vomited right then and there.
Payment. He was a whore. Nothing but a slut that was to be used. Raklyn was right. No one wanted him. He was just a burden. He should just stop fighting and accept it.
Kadell was gone, the only thing left he was holding on to. He was a fool to think that he would still want him after what he did in September. He should have never called out to Derek but to yell at him to get out.
Maybe if he did, Kadell would have been gentle and love him too.
The wolf demon fell upon the rabbit, shredding it with his fangs and eating whatever he could. He didn't realize he started crying during his devouring but he couldn't stop.
He paused only to vomit before starting to eat again as if nothing happened.
The bloody carcass fell to the ground and Moku stared at it, trembling. Blood was all over him from the creature. He felt pity for it, knowing how it felt to be hungered for and being reaped because of it.
He dug a hole and placed it in it for a makeshift grave.
"I'm sorry and thank you."
He smoothed his hand over the snow covering it and got up, crying out from the pain that shot through his backside.
It was going to be a long way home.
"You BASTARD!"
"Li-"
"I can't believe you!"
"L-"
"You don't get to talk! Bastards don't get to talk!"
Kadell looked at the ground as Liolyn paced along the wall, glowering at him. "I can't believe you... you go to get food and I'm fucking worrying about you and you go do THIS! And you didn't even bring back food!"
Grey eyes closed tightly. "I caught something but I... I'm sorry."
Kadell ducked as something large was thrown at his head. Liolyn roared, kicking the wall and cursing because of it, clutching his toes. "You... you gave him MY FOOD?!" For some reason this was very important and Liolyn didn't know why.
"..."
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes."
"RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! I HATE YOU!" He turned his back on him to face the wall to punch it. "I HATE YOU!" He continued to hit it until his knuckled were numb and split. He clutched it helplessly, shoulders shaking. "Hate... you..."
Kadell felt horrible and looked at the cat pleadingly. "I'm sorry."
"You said that." Liolyn ground out, forehead pressed against the cold stone.
"But I am... I really am."
"I don't care. You cheated on me with... with... with MOKU! THE FUCKING CHILD THAT'S SO FUCKING... RAAAAAAAAAAA!" He wanted to throw something again but there was nothing near him.
Kadell hugged himself, staring at Liolyn's back. "I know... he was just... there and... and saying things-"
"I say things. All the time. Hell! I'M TALKING RIGHT NOW!"
"I know... but he was bringing up what happened before the winter..."
Liolyn's claws sliced through the stone and Kadell realized that he said something wrong. "Happened? Something happened before? Is he the little brat you tried to rape?"
Kadell flinched back, feeling weak and just wishing Liolyn would let it go. "Yes but it wasn't rape. It was consensual until Derek walked in and Moku got scared."
"OH FUCKING HELL!" Liolyn punched the wall again with a roar, fist leaving an indent. "You have to be KIDDING ME! COME ON! THIS IS NOT FAIR!" He rounded on the wolf, stalking closer to him. "What is it about him, hm? Is it because he's young? Helpless? So fucking desirable that you just want to screw him if he likes it or not?!"
Kadell looked pleadingly at him. "Lio-"
"Don't you da-"
"I love you."
Liolyn froze. "What?"
"I love you. That's what I was thinking about in the forest. I didn't know if I did or not and I thought it was all about the sex until I saw Moku and after... and after it was done I felt empty. I wanted you. I wished it was you instead of him. And that's when I realized that I lo-"
The fist came so fast that he didn't even get a chance to sense it. He stumbled back, catching himself before falling. He straightened, gingerly touching the side of his face and wiping the blood that drizzled from the corner of his mouth.
He stared at the crimson before saying, disbelievingly. "You hit me."
Liolyn was breathing heavily, eyes golden slits of pure hatred. "Don't you dare say that. Not now."
Moku was almost to the cave, limping heavily as he continued walking. He was so glad for leather. Blood didn't seep through it as it does with cloth. If he was lucky, he could get in and passed all the other wolves without them noticing.
"My, Moku, that's a bad limp you got there."
Blue eyes rose to look at silver ones inspecting him closely. "Hi, Gira."
Gira bit her tongue, the scent of blood and semen floating to her in the light breeze. "What happened?"
Moku averted his eyes, not sure what to say. He didn't want to lie to Gira because he respected her but he didn't want anyone to know about it.
He was afraid it would get to Raklyn that he succeeded in seducing Kadell and making it look like it was forced, therefore completing the task placed on him. But he didn't want to get Kadell in trouble, no matter how hurt he was by the rejection.
"Moku... I hate to do this but I really don't have a choice."
Blue eyes shot open wide as he was slammed into a tree, crying out but the forearm pressing against his throat cut it off. He looked fearfully into Gira's hardened and threatening eyes.
"Listen very carefully, Moku. I will not let you screw him over."
Moku tried to speak but Gira increased pressure.
"You tell Raklyn..." Gira whispered calmly. "And I'll make sure you never see the light of day again. I won't only kill you, but I will do it slowly. Do not cross me, child. I'm more of a threat than Raklyn will ever be. He may be able to rape you but I can do so much more. Keep what happened between you and my brother quiet and you'll be just fine. Okay, sugar?"
Moku nodded, choking, and Gira released him. He clutched his throat, coughing, as he collapsed to his knees.
"Good boy. Now stay still."
Gira took out a small bottle and pulled off the cork. She poured the contents over him, watching as blue smoke started to come off his skin. "That'll get rid of the scent and this..." she dropped a small jar on the snow next to him. "Will heal you. Have a nice day, Moku."
Moku didn't look up as she left, hugging himself and trembling. He took deep breaths, eyes closed, willing himself not to cry.
When that was done he took the jar and tucked it away. He used the tree to pull himself up, whimpering at the pain that shot through him. He took a few more breaths before walking in small steps, still taking calming breaths to keep his emotions back until he was alone.
Stay calm... stay calm... breathe... just breathe... almost there... please don't cry... not again...
He was so wrapped up in his mantra that he didn't even realize he was not only in the den but in one of the tunnels leading to the smaller caves. He didn't even hear his name being called or even acknowledge that someone was calling him until a rough hand grabbed his arm and forced him around.
He cried out, the fast movement making he move wrong and rips to sting with a vengeance.
He opened his eyes to meet silver tinted eyes staring wide at him. They raked down his body, analyzing him.
Moku gulped, trying not to show anything. "Derek."
Derek growled and his eyes narrowed. "Sit."
Moku's eyes narrowed also but in confusion. "What?"
"Sit. Right now."
"Derek, I'm not going to listen to you like a dog!"
Silver flashed. "You won't because you can't, can you?"
Moku took a step backwards and tried to hide the wince. "Derek..."
Derek started to breathe heavily, his anger evident. He growled, grabbing Moku and picking him up. Moku bit back the noise of pain and told Derek to put him down but the other wouldn't listen. He whimpered as he was carried to Derek's room.
He was thrown roughly onto the bed and he screamed as he landed on his ass. Blue eyes shut tightly, whimpers escaping his throat and he raised his hips up, using his hands and feet to hold him up.
"I knew it!"
Moku opened one eye, breathing harshly from the sharp jolt of torturous agony. "What?"
Derek grabbed the animal skull near his door and threw it out as I sign he was not to be disturbed. "Who did it?"
Moan groaned, eyes closing again. "Derek."
"Tell me who did it!"
Moku looked at the other and saw Derek's eyes tightly shut and fist clenched, trembling with what he could only assume was rage. "Did what?"
Derek snarled, silver eyes snapping open. "Don't you dare play dumb! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"No... I don't."
Derek ground out through clenched teeth. "Rape. Who raped you?"
Moku looked away and said quietly. "Who says I was raped?"
The smaller wolf jumped with a yelp as Derek roared and kicked something that was on the ground. The object shattered as it hit the wall and Moku stared at Derek with wide, frightened eyes.
"Was it Raklyn?!" Derek roared. "Was it my grandfather?! Was it Katsu?! TELL ME, MOKU!"
The artic wolf began to crawl back until he hit the wall and used that to help him stand. "I should go."
Derek snarled again, claws flexed. "YOU ARE NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU TELL ME!"
"And why would you care!" Moku snapped back, getting sick of this. "You never care! And even if I did tell what did or did not happen what will you do? Huh? Tell me, Derek? Would you face Raklyn and stand up to him?"
Derek's eyes narrowed. "So it was him?"
Moku snarled in frustration. "I NEVER SAID IT WAS! Derek... just... let me go. I'm not worth getting in a fight over."
Derek froze, rage calming. "Don't say that."
"It's true!" Moku bowed his head, body trembling. "I'm nothing! I'm just a fucking whore, just like he said! No one cares about me. No one loves me. I'm just a tool to be used and disposed of."
Derek looked desperate. "That's not true."
"But it is..." Tears started to stream down his face. "It is... no one cares about me. They only care about power and sex and-and-" He choked. "I'm a worthless whore. I should just stop fighting."
Moku flinched back as fingertips slid up his face. He didn't even notice that Derek had crossed the room. The other tried to get him to look up, his hands cupping his face.
"That's not true."
Moku tried to move his face out of the gentle touch. "It is. No one cares."
"I care."
Moku sniffled. "No you don't."
"Moku..."
Derek nuzzled him, pressing the side of his face against the boy's.
"I love you."
Moku didn't have time to register the words as Derek pressed their lips together.
Kadell took a step forward and Liolyn moved back.
"Don't come near me."
Kadell silver eyes locked on to his and he took another step.
"Kadell..."
Kadell stepped again and Liolyn growled threateningly, taking two steps back.
"I'll fucking kill you. I swear I will."
Kadell didn't listen as he continued to move forward.
Liolyn hissed, claws flexing. Something hard hit his back and he jumped, looking back to see the wall. That gave Kadell enough time to surge forward and pin him there.
Liolyn snarled, struggling but Kadell held on tightly.
"I love you."
Liolyn trembled, now trying to sink into the stone as Kadell's forehead rest against his neck.
"I love you, Liolyn."
Gold eyes closed and he held back tears that burned at his eyes. "Stop it. Don't-"
Kadell kissed him, tongue sliding over his closed lips. His fangs gently grazed over Liolyn's bottom lip before he went down to gently mouth his neck.
He let out a shuttering breathe before whispering. "I love you so much, Liolyn."
Liolyn didn't move, didn't even struggle, as Kadell nuzzled him. The wolf backed away, releasing the cat.
Liolyn's eyes slid open, head falling to one side. He focused on the stack of logs next to him.
Kadell turned around, walking towards the bed. "I'm sorry for cheating on you. I really am and I'm hoping we c-" He eyes went wide as black flash before his eyes and pain slammed through his skull.
The wolf demon fell to the ground, eyes rolling into the back of his head and body limp as if lifeless.
Liolyn dropped the now broken log, staring at the wolf with wide eyes. He let out a small choking noise before bolting to the door and into the freezing cold. He leapt off the ledge and into the forest, his mind reeling and unfocused, his senses screaming at him to run and was more than willing to listen to them.