Amongst Apple Trees
Title: Amongst Apple Trees
Pairing(s): HanChul, various
Genre(s): Romance, wildlife!AU, parenthood
Length: 1659 words
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Heechul is depressed.
Inspiration(s): Sequel to Amongst Orange Trees but can be read as a standalone. I don’t know, I’m not really happy with these two.
```
It was unlike Heechul to be depressed all the time. Normally it was Han Geng who was the depressed one, with the weight of being a not-quite-but-pretty-much-vegetarian black fox crushing down upon him and all.
And this worried Han Geng. A lot. Besides, he knew his mate better than anyone, and Heechul was (on a good day) ninety percent bitchy and ten percent crazy-depression does not make a great addition to his already unstable emotional level.
After all, Heechul was a red fox, a pure Vulpes vulpes through and through. He was the kind of fox that did not duck into the shadows when the sound of human footsteps came into hearing range, the kind that walked through forest trails filled with animal traps without a twinge of fear, the kind that was not afraid to voice his own opinions in a forest fraught with nasty creatures. Heechul could bare his sharp teeth and manage to chase a grizzly bear away with its tail between its legs. He could trick an unassuming rabbit out of its den and then pounce on it once it let is guard down (not anymore, to Han Geng’s relief).
Heechul’s defiant character usually got them into all sorts of trouble.
One of their more dangerous excursions happened during their second spring as mates. Heechul loved apples, and the only apples around in the forest were those planted in the human neighborhood (which was probably why he loved them, Han Geng suspected). Once the red fox had finally managed to convince his mate to explore the outskirts of human civilization, the following night they clambered over the wire fences and trotted towards the first apple tree they saw. Easy as pie, Heechul had commented breezily as they chose the largest and juiciest fruits they could reach.
What they did not realize, however, was that the owner had hunting dogs. Three of them. The minute Heechul managed to snap off the first apple, the irate barking began and the lights in the house turned on. Han Geng was terrified; Heechul was just plain annoyed.
Heechul, we got to go! the black fox whimpered as he snatched Heechul’s apple from his mate’s jaw, heart beating faster as the owner’s footsteps down the stairs came closer and closer. You got your apple, so let’s go!
Not until I get one for you! Heechul snapped, stubbornly placing his front paws on the tree as he stretched his neck as high as he could.
I don’t need a stupid apple! I need you safe!
Heechul ignored him despite his pleas, and once he finally managed to break off a particularly tough stem, he pushed himself off the trunk and got into fight-or-flight mode. Got it! he exclaimed before the two broke into a frantic sprint down the dirt roads. Three gunshots rang into the night, followed by the sound of scraping nails from the hunting dogs that were set loose. Han Geng’s breath hitched when he saw a bullet just graze Heechul’s thigh, and his desperation grew strong as they neared the wire fence.
You climb first, I’ll lead them off! Han Geng instructed, slowing down.
I run faster and you know it, the red fox retaliated, teeth bared over the fruit he was holding. I’ll do the stalling!
But-
Don’t you but me, just go! I’ll meet you at the den! And with that, Heechul tore down the human streets, and Han Geng watched in horror as the hound dogs turned a sharp corner and galloped down after his mate. A few moments later, two more gunshots resonating into the night, and Han Geng’s blood turned cold. It must have taken him over an hour to finally force his limbs to move away.
He was crying by the time he made it back to the den, and he reverently placed his fruit in the very back of his home as if it were the last memorial of his mate that he may or may not ever see again. Then he curled up and commenced his vigil until dawn broke and a familiar red tail swished over the grass. Relief fell over the black fox like a Richter 9 tidal wave and he bounded towards his mate, tail wagging.
Heechul, thank god! I thought you were dead! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
The red fox, still well-groomed despite the circumstances, rolled his eyes and grinned around the apple in his jaws. Do I look like I’m hurt? God, Han Geng, that was the most fun I have had in forever! You should have seen me! I was on fire!
They enjoyed their meal in their den, with Heechul recounting his (overly extravagant and partially made-up) tale about how he tricked all three dogs into the river and managed to pull down the hunter’s pants when he wasn’t looking.
So as one could see, Han Geng was worried about Heechul’s current emotional depression, for Heechul was never one to be depressed.
```
After a week, Heechul finally spoke up. Han Geng, when you were with Victoria, did you have any pups?
The black canid’s nose twitched. Yah, we had a litter each spring we were together.
Heechul’s ears drooped down just a smidge. Do you miss that?
Sometimes, the younger answered truthfully. Do you?
I don’t know, the red fox whined. I’ve never had one before.
```
As much as it pained Han Geng to do it, a fox had to do what he had to do. Please, Kangin? I’m begging you.
The red-tailed hawk tilted his head in smugness. I love it when creatures grovel at my feet.
And dammit, I’m groveling, the black fox hissed. Please?
Kangin’s eyes softened. Of course I’ll do it. Remember, before Heechul, you haven’t had a mate in years. It would be sad if he left you just because you had no way of pooping out a pup.
There’s no need to be crude, dear, the hawk’s mate Leeteuk squawked, ruffling his immaculately white feathers. I’ll keep watch, too.
Yesung and Ryeowook were next. The squirrel monkeys were always on top of the latest gossip, and with their small stature and agility through the trees, they were usually the first to know about things.
Ryeowook was easy to convince. I promise to let you know if anything comes up!
His mate, Yesung, not so much. How dare you show your face, you carnivore!
And within a month it was Zhou Mi, the neighborhood apricot standard poodle, who found the answer to Han Geng’s problems. His name is Henry, the dog panted. His parents were killed last night in a fox hunting spree. I don’t know where his brothers or sisters are yet, but I’ve told Kangin to look for them.
Is he weaned?
Should be, Zhou Mi gave a wag of his tail. He’s definitely big enough to be weaned, anyway.
Han Geng looked at the week-old gray fox and took in the miniature grizzly mane and fluffy whiskers. Hey, you alright, kid?
The cub averted his eyes and lowered his head until it rested in between his paws, silent.
Give him a few days, the poodle advised. He’ll come around.
Henry only needed a few hours with the surprisingly paternal Heechul before he immersed into their family life like he had been born into it.
```
Amber, stop chewing my ear!
I’d let go if you’d stop fidgeting so much!
Dad, Donghae’s bothering me!
But Eunhyuk, I just wanted to play!
Han Geng yawned noisily and lazily licked his chops. Children, keep it down, your father is sleeping, he ordered gently, tilting his head towards the red fox who was currently snoozing beside him. Raising kits was a difficult phenomenon, and sometimes the black fox wondered why he had gone through all the trouble to get them in the first place (and then he was reminded why with a glance at his mate).
Leeteuk had located Henry’s siblings several days after the youngest gray wolf was adopted into the family. Eunhyuk was oldest of the litter, and had the best hunting agility. Donghae was second-born and Heechul’s favorite, but acted like the youngest pup in every situation. Amber was the only female, but since she lived in a male-dominated environment, she had already adapted to the extra rough-and-tumble and grew as strong if not stronger than any of her siblings, always able to pin her brothers down despite being a girl. Poor Henry was always last to get his share of food and was always the one pinned to the ground when in a game of Let’s Play-Fight (or Wrestle Each Other Until The Other Is Belly-Up).
Han Geng loved them all. He loved it when Amber managed to steal the bigger piece of raspberry from Eunhyuk. He loved it whenever Donghae collapsed into an Emergency Snooze when he had used up too much energy. He loved it when Henry came back to the den smelling like skunk musk that one time in May (okay, maybe he didn’t love that but it was sure as hell funny when the three other kits ganged up on him and chased him into the nearby pond for a nice and thorough bath).
Most of all, he loved them because Heechul loved them.
```
Several years later, after the four kits were all grown up and wedded off, an apple tree grew in the clearing where Han Geng and Heechul first met, strong and tall and prolific. And even after many years, after the foxes passed into the next life, it remained, stronger and more beautiful than ever, a reminder of a love more powerful than the forces of Mother Nature.
And when he finally mated and had his own family, Donghae would tell his pups about the adventures of his foster parents Heechul and Han Geng, and how they had once danced amongst the apple trees without a care in the world.
Pairing(s): HanChul, various
Genre(s): Romance, wildlife!AU, parenthood
Length: 1659 words
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Heechul is depressed.
Inspiration(s): Sequel to Amongst Orange Trees but can be read as a standalone. I don’t know, I’m not really happy with these two.
```
It was unlike Heechul to be depressed all the time. Normally it was Han Geng who was the depressed one, with the weight of being a not-quite-but-pretty-much-vegetarian black fox crushing down upon him and all.
And this worried Han Geng. A lot. Besides, he knew his mate better than anyone, and Heechul was (on a good day) ninety percent bitchy and ten percent crazy-depression does not make a great addition to his already unstable emotional level.
After all, Heechul was a red fox, a pure Vulpes vulpes through and through. He was the kind of fox that did not duck into the shadows when the sound of human footsteps came into hearing range, the kind that walked through forest trails filled with animal traps without a twinge of fear, the kind that was not afraid to voice his own opinions in a forest fraught with nasty creatures. Heechul could bare his sharp teeth and manage to chase a grizzly bear away with its tail between its legs. He could trick an unassuming rabbit out of its den and then pounce on it once it let is guard down (not anymore, to Han Geng’s relief).
Heechul’s defiant character usually got them into all sorts of trouble.
One of their more dangerous excursions happened during their second spring as mates. Heechul loved apples, and the only apples around in the forest were those planted in the human neighborhood (which was probably why he loved them, Han Geng suspected). Once the red fox had finally managed to convince his mate to explore the outskirts of human civilization, the following night they clambered over the wire fences and trotted towards the first apple tree they saw. Easy as pie, Heechul had commented breezily as they chose the largest and juiciest fruits they could reach.
What they did not realize, however, was that the owner had hunting dogs. Three of them. The minute Heechul managed to snap off the first apple, the irate barking began and the lights in the house turned on. Han Geng was terrified; Heechul was just plain annoyed.
Heechul, we got to go! the black fox whimpered as he snatched Heechul’s apple from his mate’s jaw, heart beating faster as the owner’s footsteps down the stairs came closer and closer. You got your apple, so let’s go!
Not until I get one for you! Heechul snapped, stubbornly placing his front paws on the tree as he stretched his neck as high as he could.
I don’t need a stupid apple! I need you safe!
Heechul ignored him despite his pleas, and once he finally managed to break off a particularly tough stem, he pushed himself off the trunk and got into fight-or-flight mode. Got it! he exclaimed before the two broke into a frantic sprint down the dirt roads. Three gunshots rang into the night, followed by the sound of scraping nails from the hunting dogs that were set loose. Han Geng’s breath hitched when he saw a bullet just graze Heechul’s thigh, and his desperation grew strong as they neared the wire fence.
You climb first, I’ll lead them off! Han Geng instructed, slowing down.
I run faster and you know it, the red fox retaliated, teeth bared over the fruit he was holding. I’ll do the stalling!
But-
Don’t you but me, just go! I’ll meet you at the den! And with that, Heechul tore down the human streets, and Han Geng watched in horror as the hound dogs turned a sharp corner and galloped down after his mate. A few moments later, two more gunshots resonating into the night, and Han Geng’s blood turned cold. It must have taken him over an hour to finally force his limbs to move away.
He was crying by the time he made it back to the den, and he reverently placed his fruit in the very back of his home as if it were the last memorial of his mate that he may or may not ever see again. Then he curled up and commenced his vigil until dawn broke and a familiar red tail swished over the grass. Relief fell over the black fox like a Richter 9 tidal wave and he bounded towards his mate, tail wagging.
Heechul, thank god! I thought you were dead! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
The red fox, still well-groomed despite the circumstances, rolled his eyes and grinned around the apple in his jaws. Do I look like I’m hurt? God, Han Geng, that was the most fun I have had in forever! You should have seen me! I was on fire!
They enjoyed their meal in their den, with Heechul recounting his (overly extravagant and partially made-up) tale about how he tricked all three dogs into the river and managed to pull down the hunter’s pants when he wasn’t looking.
So as one could see, Han Geng was worried about Heechul’s current emotional depression, for Heechul was never one to be depressed.
```
After a week, Heechul finally spoke up. Han Geng, when you were with Victoria, did you have any pups?
The black canid’s nose twitched. Yah, we had a litter each spring we were together.
Heechul’s ears drooped down just a smidge. Do you miss that?
Sometimes, the younger answered truthfully. Do you?
I don’t know, the red fox whined. I’ve never had one before.
```
As much as it pained Han Geng to do it, a fox had to do what he had to do. Please, Kangin? I’m begging you.
The red-tailed hawk tilted his head in smugness. I love it when creatures grovel at my feet.
And dammit, I’m groveling, the black fox hissed. Please?
Kangin’s eyes softened. Of course I’ll do it. Remember, before Heechul, you haven’t had a mate in years. It would be sad if he left you just because you had no way of pooping out a pup.
There’s no need to be crude, dear, the hawk’s mate Leeteuk squawked, ruffling his immaculately white feathers. I’ll keep watch, too.
Yesung and Ryeowook were next. The squirrel monkeys were always on top of the latest gossip, and with their small stature and agility through the trees, they were usually the first to know about things.
Ryeowook was easy to convince. I promise to let you know if anything comes up!
His mate, Yesung, not so much. How dare you show your face, you carnivore!
And within a month it was Zhou Mi, the neighborhood apricot standard poodle, who found the answer to Han Geng’s problems. His name is Henry, the dog panted. His parents were killed last night in a fox hunting spree. I don’t know where his brothers or sisters are yet, but I’ve told Kangin to look for them.
Is he weaned?
Should be, Zhou Mi gave a wag of his tail. He’s definitely big enough to be weaned, anyway.
Han Geng looked at the week-old gray fox and took in the miniature grizzly mane and fluffy whiskers. Hey, you alright, kid?
The cub averted his eyes and lowered his head until it rested in between his paws, silent.
Give him a few days, the poodle advised. He’ll come around.
Henry only needed a few hours with the surprisingly paternal Heechul before he immersed into their family life like he had been born into it.
```
Amber, stop chewing my ear!
I’d let go if you’d stop fidgeting so much!
Dad, Donghae’s bothering me!
But Eunhyuk, I just wanted to play!
Han Geng yawned noisily and lazily licked his chops. Children, keep it down, your father is sleeping, he ordered gently, tilting his head towards the red fox who was currently snoozing beside him. Raising kits was a difficult phenomenon, and sometimes the black fox wondered why he had gone through all the trouble to get them in the first place (and then he was reminded why with a glance at his mate).
Leeteuk had located Henry’s siblings several days after the youngest gray wolf was adopted into the family. Eunhyuk was oldest of the litter, and had the best hunting agility. Donghae was second-born and Heechul’s favorite, but acted like the youngest pup in every situation. Amber was the only female, but since she lived in a male-dominated environment, she had already adapted to the extra rough-and-tumble and grew as strong if not stronger than any of her siblings, always able to pin her brothers down despite being a girl. Poor Henry was always last to get his share of food and was always the one pinned to the ground when in a game of Let’s Play-Fight (or Wrestle Each Other Until The Other Is Belly-Up).
Han Geng loved them all. He loved it when Amber managed to steal the bigger piece of raspberry from Eunhyuk. He loved it whenever Donghae collapsed into an Emergency Snooze when he had used up too much energy. He loved it when Henry came back to the den smelling like skunk musk that one time in May (okay, maybe he didn’t love that but it was sure as hell funny when the three other kits ganged up on him and chased him into the nearby pond for a nice and thorough bath).
Most of all, he loved them because Heechul loved them.
```
Several years later, after the four kits were all grown up and wedded off, an apple tree grew in the clearing where Han Geng and Heechul first met, strong and tall and prolific. And even after many years, after the foxes passed into the next life, it remained, stronger and more beautiful than ever, a reminder of a love more powerful than the forces of Mother Nature.
And when he finally mated and had his own family, Donghae would tell his pups about the adventures of his foster parents Heechul and Han Geng, and how they had once danced amongst the apple trees without a care in the world.