#7 the nights of new moons (have never been brighter)
Title: the nights of new moons (have never been brighter)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 940
Summary: A rebellious satyr falls for a mysterious nymph.
Warning/s: hint of character deaths
Pay heed to the new moon, the young satyrs were told. On those nights, don’t step beyond the eastern woods, to the shores of the black lake.
Why not? Luhan had asked, doe-eyed out of curiosity.
The vengeful forest creatures there have been known to lure us to our deaths.
Luhan looked over his guardian’s shoulder, squinting. The sunlight flitted through the tall trees and a baby bird peeked out of a branch. Luhan hesitated before responding.
Okay, I won’t.
________________________________________________________________________________
He lied.
The skies began to darken and the sounds of the nightly creatures took over the earth. It felt as though he had been walking in circles for hours.
Are you lost? A quiet melody hummed from his left.
Luhan froze in his tracks, slowly turning.
The voice belonged to a young nymph who looked no older than himself. The sun had almost completely sunk into the horizon, and yet the nymph’s golden skin shone brilliantly amidst the shade.
No, Luhan shook his head forcefully.
But he was lost. Juvenile haste had led the young satyr astray into the very woods that he had been warned not to enter. And now, without any familiar scent to guide him, he had no idea how to get back out.
Why are you here? The nymph almost floated towards him until they were only a breadth away, his deep eyes enigmatic but warm with concern. I’ve never seen you in these parts.
I... Luhan gingerly took a step forward, entranced. The other boy showed grace in his actions, but also a hint of something raw and fathomless just beneath the surface, barely restrained. But who are you? You shouldn’t be out here, either. These woods are not safe.
The nymph smiled rather sadly.
Ah, you are a satyr. Each word was a song, pulling Luhan in like fish on a bait.
Who are you?
The nymph lifted his chin up with two fingers, gently, almost as if he were dealing with a fragile wisp of a dream. His touch made Luhan close his eyes. He felt safe.
I’ll take you back to the edge of the forest. But promise me something. Luhan opened his eyes and the other had backed away, looking off to his side. The nymph hesitated and a quieter voice drifted over his shoulder.
Promise me you won’t ever get lost again.
The two silently walked together to a clearing that Luhan was familiar with. The nymph took one last look at Luhan and walked into the forest without another word.
Wait! You never said your name.
________________________________________________________________________________
Kai.
Luhan decides to get lost again. He wasn’t very good at keeping promises.
Kai.
Four years pass.
And during the nights of every new moon, one source of light always shone brighter in Luhan’s eyes. Even more powerfully than the sun.
Kai.
________________________________________________________________________________
Luhan peeks down from a branch and times his fall just as the other is passing by. The two tumble together among leaves and laughter.
You shouldn’t be here, Kai would often plead. Luhan stared up at the peeks of blue through the dark green canopy, and then rolled over on top of the other in stubborn protest.
Kai, he let his fingers drift through Kai’s hair.
He was young and impulsive, and he wanted more than anything to reduce the distance between the two of them. He was parched for Kai, and he was angry that Kai wasn’t hungry for him.
You’ve grown, Kai said observantly.
Luhan blushed furiously and he buried his head into the other’s chest.
You didn’t see anyone else along the way, did you? Kai methodically asks every time.
And Luhan would wrap his arms around the other’s waist and shake his head, all the while grinning like a madman. How could he have, when Kai is the brightest beacon that washes away all the other tiny specks of light Luhan could ever see?
Why are you always worried?
There are people who want to hurt you.
I better stick with you then.
Kai remained silent. Luhan pretended not to notice his hesitation. He buried his nose in Kai’s hair and breathed in his scent. Kai would smell different every time, and the last time they met he smelled of the soil after a rain shower. He closed his eyes. Vanilla and a hint of honey, he decided today.
________________________________________________________________________________
Kai!
Luhan’s voice cracked in surprise to see one familiar nymph amidst the crowd that had gathered. He struggled to rise, only to be forcefully pushed back down on his knees.
Kai, tell them to let me go, there’s been a mistake--
Luhan faltered when the light from the torches shone on Kai’s uncharacteristically livid face.
Kai approached him, his movements swift and deliberate. He leaned over and gently lifted Luhan’s chin, the storm in his eyes suddenly shifting to a complete calm.
Do you trust me, Luhan?
The satyr heard a final hint of hope in Kai’s voice, a belief he would hold onto forever.
He nodded.
Hold tight, this will only hurt a little.
Luhan closed his eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________
The satyrs searched for seven days and nights. After the eighth night, the guardians accepted the unfortunate fate of their lost one.
Luhan’s story would be narrated to the future generations as yet another soul to meet their demise at the hands of the merciless creatures of the eastern woods.
But if one listens closely, his story has a different ending. For, every new moon, the sound of uninhibited laughter would echo through the land. The laughter of two boys finally free to love to their hearts’ content- ardently, unconditionally, timelessly.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 940
Summary: A rebellious satyr falls for a mysterious nymph.
Warning/s: hint of character deaths
Pay heed to the new moon, the young satyrs were told. On those nights, don’t step beyond the eastern woods, to the shores of the black lake.
Why not? Luhan had asked, doe-eyed out of curiosity.
The vengeful forest creatures there have been known to lure us to our deaths.
Luhan looked over his guardian’s shoulder, squinting. The sunlight flitted through the tall trees and a baby bird peeked out of a branch. Luhan hesitated before responding.
Okay, I won’t.
________________________________________________________________________________
He lied.
The skies began to darken and the sounds of the nightly creatures took over the earth. It felt as though he had been walking in circles for hours.
Are you lost? A quiet melody hummed from his left.
Luhan froze in his tracks, slowly turning.
The voice belonged to a young nymph who looked no older than himself. The sun had almost completely sunk into the horizon, and yet the nymph’s golden skin shone brilliantly amidst the shade.
No, Luhan shook his head forcefully.
But he was lost. Juvenile haste had led the young satyr astray into the very woods that he had been warned not to enter. And now, without any familiar scent to guide him, he had no idea how to get back out.
Why are you here? The nymph almost floated towards him until they were only a breadth away, his deep eyes enigmatic but warm with concern. I’ve never seen you in these parts.
I... Luhan gingerly took a step forward, entranced. The other boy showed grace in his actions, but also a hint of something raw and fathomless just beneath the surface, barely restrained. But who are you? You shouldn’t be out here, either. These woods are not safe.
The nymph smiled rather sadly.
Ah, you are a satyr. Each word was a song, pulling Luhan in like fish on a bait.
Who are you?
The nymph lifted his chin up with two fingers, gently, almost as if he were dealing with a fragile wisp of a dream. His touch made Luhan close his eyes. He felt safe.
I’ll take you back to the edge of the forest. But promise me something. Luhan opened his eyes and the other had backed away, looking off to his side. The nymph hesitated and a quieter voice drifted over his shoulder.
Promise me you won’t ever get lost again.
The two silently walked together to a clearing that Luhan was familiar with. The nymph took one last look at Luhan and walked into the forest without another word.
Wait! You never said your name.
________________________________________________________________________________
Kai.
Luhan decides to get lost again. He wasn’t very good at keeping promises.
Kai.
Four years pass.
And during the nights of every new moon, one source of light always shone brighter in Luhan’s eyes. Even more powerfully than the sun.
Kai.
________________________________________________________________________________
Luhan peeks down from a branch and times his fall just as the other is passing by. The two tumble together among leaves and laughter.
You shouldn’t be here, Kai would often plead. Luhan stared up at the peeks of blue through the dark green canopy, and then rolled over on top of the other in stubborn protest.
Kai, he let his fingers drift through Kai’s hair.
He was young and impulsive, and he wanted more than anything to reduce the distance between the two of them. He was parched for Kai, and he was angry that Kai wasn’t hungry for him.
You’ve grown, Kai said observantly.
Luhan blushed furiously and he buried his head into the other’s chest.
You didn’t see anyone else along the way, did you? Kai methodically asks every time.
And Luhan would wrap his arms around the other’s waist and shake his head, all the while grinning like a madman. How could he have, when Kai is the brightest beacon that washes away all the other tiny specks of light Luhan could ever see?
Why are you always worried?
There are people who want to hurt you.
I better stick with you then.
Kai remained silent. Luhan pretended not to notice his hesitation. He buried his nose in Kai’s hair and breathed in his scent. Kai would smell different every time, and the last time they met he smelled of the soil after a rain shower. He closed his eyes. Vanilla and a hint of honey, he decided today.
________________________________________________________________________________
Kai!
Luhan’s voice cracked in surprise to see one familiar nymph amidst the crowd that had gathered. He struggled to rise, only to be forcefully pushed back down on his knees.
Kai, tell them to let me go, there’s been a mistake--
Luhan faltered when the light from the torches shone on Kai’s uncharacteristically livid face.
Kai approached him, his movements swift and deliberate. He leaned over and gently lifted Luhan’s chin, the storm in his eyes suddenly shifting to a complete calm.
Do you trust me, Luhan?
The satyr heard a final hint of hope in Kai’s voice, a belief he would hold onto forever.
He nodded.
Hold tight, this will only hurt a little.
Luhan closed his eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________
The satyrs searched for seven days and nights. After the eighth night, the guardians accepted the unfortunate fate of their lost one.
Luhan’s story would be narrated to the future generations as yet another soul to meet their demise at the hands of the merciless creatures of the eastern woods.
But if one listens closely, his story has a different ending. For, every new moon, the sound of uninhibited laughter would echo through the land. The laughter of two boys finally free to love to their hearts’ content- ardently, unconditionally, timelessly.