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Having returned from a vigorous run, Midnight noticed the large pile of crystals at the entrance of her den. She growled.
Midnight knew who they were from, of course. Haunt, a black and red QuillDog, always left a bloodstone as his calling card. That, and the damn mutt left his scent all over them.
Midnight met Haunt during a hunt. Or, to be more specific, Haunt had interrupted her hunt. Four full moons ago, Midnight saw a deer grazing in the distance. For the deer to brazenly enter her territory, the doe must have been sick or crazed. Just as she was ready to stalk her prey, the deer lifted its head. Spooked, the doe ran.
Midnight cursed. She could feel her quills beginning to lie down as she gave chase. She attempted to herd the deer to the marshland, but to no avail. If the doe continued its course, it would soon leave Midnight's territory and eventually head into the grasslands. Too late, Midnight thought belatedly. They had already passed trees covered in her own claw marks, serving as a warning to any intruders.
The doe swiftly turned right and dashed through the bushes. Midnight was ready to do the same until she caught a new scent. Gearing herself up to drive away the newcomer, Midnight broke through the clearing, finding a male QuillDog with a hare at his feet and a deer's neck in his mouth.
Dropping the kill, he gaped. Then, with a flirtatious smile, Haunt introduced himself. He invited her to have dinner with him. Smiling sweetly, Midnight offered an alternate suggestion. "Leave," she ordered, "and I won't kill you." In truth, Midnight was unsure if she could take him. She was a good fighter but Haunt was the definition of strength and power.
Surprised, the male QuillDog released a hearty laugh. "You'll be seeing a lot more of me, sweetheart," he promised. With the hare in his jaws, he winked as he walked away.
Haunt, Midnight later realised, was a male QuillDog of his word.
In an odd way, it was a nice feeling to know another QuillDog lived in the area, Midnight mused. Although she would never admit it to Haunt. Midnight shook herself back to reality. Her abilities were dangerous, and she couldn't forget that. If Midnight got too close to someone, they got hurt. It was easier, and safer, for everyone if Midnight locked herself away. Alone.
Except she wasn't alone, Midnight thought dryly as she saw Haunt walking towards her.
With mirth in his eyes, Haunt asked, "Did you like my gifts?"
He knew Midnight didn't. "I told you to stop doing that."
"Did you?" His innocent expression wouldn't convince anyone, particularly as his mouth was twitching.
Walking over the pile of crystals, Midnight entered her den. Haunt followed her.
"Go away."
"I believe it's customary to invite friends into your den."
Midnight couldn't decide whether to snarl or laugh. "We are not friends. Understand?"
Looking thoughtful, Haunt countered, "I helped you fight those hunters." And he just had to keep reminding her, Midnight thought.
She hissed, "I didn't need your help!" Midnight took a deep breath. "I had everything under control. In fact," she added, "I was fine before you came into my life and tried to take over my territory."
Confused, he asked, "Your territory?" Haunt's expression darkened. "You," he growled, "are the most aggravating female I have ever come across! You think I want your territory?"
If Midnight didn't know any better, she would think Haunt was hurt. "Don't you? Why else would you follow me and attempt to buy me off with gifts? Or fight my battles for me? Did you do all of those things so I would give you a quill? Or perhaps you thought you could proclaim to be alpha and I would acquiesce your claim?"
Haunt stiffened. "I have never thought of you as weak or stupid. But you're correct; I do want something." The confession did little to ease Midnight's fear. Haunt chuckled. "Let me show you what I came here for."
Midnight readied herself. She'd seen Haunt fight: the match would be long, bloody and brutal.
"I should have done this the first time we met," he muttered. Quills flaring out, Haunt began to sway. What? Oh. Oh!
As Midnight watched, she attempted to sort out the jumble of emotions. Mostly, she was shocked. Midnight was even a little flattered and, surprisingly, she was even considering the courtship.
"I'm not interested, Haunt."
Slowly lowering his quills, emotions flickered across his face. Hurt. Sadness. Loneliness. Midnight hated herself for making Haunt feel those things.
"What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid I'll hurt you?" Haunt tilted his head. Midnight knew his next question. "Or," he said, quietly, "are you afraid of hurting me?"
Midnight snapped. "Don't talk about things you don't understand!"
"Make me understand, Midnight. Put your trust in me," he pleaded. Haunt was met with silence. He sighed. "You may not trust me tonight, or even tomorrow night. But someday, Midnight, you will want to trust and love somebody as much as I trust and love you."
Midnight was determined not to cry. She knew Haunt would leave. Somehow, deep in her heart, she knew he would leave. Midnight had lived perfectly fine before Haunt entered her life, she could survive when he left. She hoped.
"Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot more of me, sweetheart," he promised.
"No," Midnight said as she felt her heart breaking. "No, I won't."
***
"What do you want, Haunt?" Midnight cringed. Desperation and loneliness haunted her voice.
Dropping the deer carcass in front of her den, he replied, "A chance." Midnight opened her mouth to speak. "A chance," Haunt added, "to be a friend. Or even an ally to call upon. Nothing more unless you want it to happen."
Midnight turned and headed to her den.
"Midnight?"
She looked over her shoulder, not quite meeting Haunt's eyes. "I believe," Midnight said conversationally, "it's customary to invite friends into your den."
A careful raised brown. "Indeed?" Then, Haunt grinned. "And would a boy friend receive any special privileges?"
Midnight laughed. "Don't push your luck, Haunt."
Midnight knew who they were from, of course. Haunt, a black and red QuillDog, always left a bloodstone as his calling card. That, and the damn mutt left his scent all over them.
Midnight met Haunt during a hunt. Or, to be more specific, Haunt had interrupted her hunt. Four full moons ago, Midnight saw a deer grazing in the distance. For the deer to brazenly enter her territory, the doe must have been sick or crazed. Just as she was ready to stalk her prey, the deer lifted its head. Spooked, the doe ran.
Midnight cursed. She could feel her quills beginning to lie down as she gave chase. She attempted to herd the deer to the marshland, but to no avail. If the doe continued its course, it would soon leave Midnight's territory and eventually head into the grasslands. Too late, Midnight thought belatedly. They had already passed trees covered in her own claw marks, serving as a warning to any intruders.
The doe swiftly turned right and dashed through the bushes. Midnight was ready to do the same until she caught a new scent. Gearing herself up to drive away the newcomer, Midnight broke through the clearing, finding a male QuillDog with a hare at his feet and a deer's neck in his mouth.
Dropping the kill, he gaped. Then, with a flirtatious smile, Haunt introduced himself. He invited her to have dinner with him. Smiling sweetly, Midnight offered an alternate suggestion. "Leave," she ordered, "and I won't kill you." In truth, Midnight was unsure if she could take him. She was a good fighter but Haunt was the definition of strength and power.
Surprised, the male QuillDog released a hearty laugh. "You'll be seeing a lot more of me, sweetheart," he promised. With the hare in his jaws, he winked as he walked away.
Haunt, Midnight later realised, was a male QuillDog of his word.
In an odd way, it was a nice feeling to know another QuillDog lived in the area, Midnight mused. Although she would never admit it to Haunt. Midnight shook herself back to reality. Her abilities were dangerous, and she couldn't forget that. If Midnight got too close to someone, they got hurt. It was easier, and safer, for everyone if Midnight locked herself away. Alone.
Except she wasn't alone, Midnight thought dryly as she saw Haunt walking towards her.
With mirth in his eyes, Haunt asked, "Did you like my gifts?"
He knew Midnight didn't. "I told you to stop doing that."
"Did you?" His innocent expression wouldn't convince anyone, particularly as his mouth was twitching.
Walking over the pile of crystals, Midnight entered her den. Haunt followed her.
"Go away."
"I believe it's customary to invite friends into your den."
Midnight couldn't decide whether to snarl or laugh. "We are not friends. Understand?"
Looking thoughtful, Haunt countered, "I helped you fight those hunters." And he just had to keep reminding her, Midnight thought.
She hissed, "I didn't need your help!" Midnight took a deep breath. "I had everything under control. In fact," she added, "I was fine before you came into my life and tried to take over my territory."
Confused, he asked, "Your territory?" Haunt's expression darkened. "You," he growled, "are the most aggravating female I have ever come across! You think I want your territory?"
If Midnight didn't know any better, she would think Haunt was hurt. "Don't you? Why else would you follow me and attempt to buy me off with gifts? Or fight my battles for me? Did you do all of those things so I would give you a quill? Or perhaps you thought you could proclaim to be alpha and I would acquiesce your claim?"
Haunt stiffened. "I have never thought of you as weak or stupid. But you're correct; I do want something." The confession did little to ease Midnight's fear. Haunt chuckled. "Let me show you what I came here for."
Midnight readied herself. She'd seen Haunt fight: the match would be long, bloody and brutal.
"I should have done this the first time we met," he muttered. Quills flaring out, Haunt began to sway. What? Oh. Oh!
As Midnight watched, she attempted to sort out the jumble of emotions. Mostly, she was shocked. Midnight was even a little flattered and, surprisingly, she was even considering the courtship.
"I'm not interested, Haunt."
Slowly lowering his quills, emotions flickered across his face. Hurt. Sadness. Loneliness. Midnight hated herself for making Haunt feel those things.
"What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid I'll hurt you?" Haunt tilted his head. Midnight knew his next question. "Or," he said, quietly, "are you afraid of hurting me?"
Midnight snapped. "Don't talk about things you don't understand!"
"Make me understand, Midnight. Put your trust in me," he pleaded. Haunt was met with silence. He sighed. "You may not trust me tonight, or even tomorrow night. But someday, Midnight, you will want to trust and love somebody as much as I trust and love you."
Midnight was determined not to cry. She knew Haunt would leave. Somehow, deep in her heart, she knew he would leave. Midnight had lived perfectly fine before Haunt entered her life, she could survive when he left. She hoped.
"Don't worry, you'll be seeing a lot more of me, sweetheart," he promised.
"No," Midnight said as she felt her heart breaking. "No, I won't."
***
"What do you want, Haunt?" Midnight cringed. Desperation and loneliness haunted her voice.
Dropping the deer carcass in front of her den, he replied, "A chance." Midnight opened her mouth to speak. "A chance," Haunt added, "to be a friend. Or even an ally to call upon. Nothing more unless you want it to happen."
Midnight turned and headed to her den.
"Midnight?"
She looked over her shoulder, not quite meeting Haunt's eyes. "I believe," Midnight said conversationally, "it's customary to invite friends into your den."
A careful raised brown. "Indeed?" Then, Haunt grinned. "And would a boy friend receive any special privileges?"
Midnight laughed. "Don't push your luck, Haunt."
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Request for VexFox who wanted a story about her QuillDog, Midnight.
Wordcount: 1,034
While looking at references, I noticed Midnight's mate was a QuillDog named Haunt and I just loved, loved, loved the idea of writing a back story of how they met/became mates!
Since Midnight is somewhat solitary/distant, I imagined a cheeky, flirtatious Haunt would be the perfect catalyst to bring her out of her shell.
Due to placing a maximum word count of 1,000 words on myself, I had to allude to some bits of the scene and story.
That's also why I had to fast-forward some scenes e.g. the ending.
Wordcount: 1,034
While looking at references, I noticed Midnight's mate was a QuillDog named Haunt and I just loved, loved, loved the idea of writing a back story of how they met/became mates!
Since Midnight is somewhat solitary/distant, I imagined a cheeky, flirtatious Haunt would be the perfect catalyst to bring her out of her shell.
Due to placing a maximum word count of 1,000 words on myself, I had to allude to some bits of the scene and story.
That's also why I had to fast-forward some scenes e.g. the ending.
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I absolutely love this! I honestly might make this canon! You got their personalities almost spot on! This is wonderful, thank you so much!