[ P ] Dandelion Dreams

C

lover frowned as the Highlander lad attempted to make sense of it all, when it all felt surreal, like some strange dream he had never imagined would be. His own expression was still in a state of utter surprise, as if he had just seen the fae who called this forest their own. The same fae that were responsible for Clover and the life she had led thus far. Cian’s future had once been laid out before him, carefully planned since his infancy, but he had broken free of that for a future of his own choosing. Now, his destiny would be revealed by dandelions.

And… well, it was certainly off to an interesting beginning, if those little plants came back with red dots on them. He could not fathom why or how that was supposed to work, but he trusted that Clover knew. He wasn’t angry, or sad, no – it was a whole bunch of other emotions, all jumbled up inside of him. But the most prevalent feeling, the one that overpowered the confusion and shock, was concern for his companion.

”It’s – we – it’ll be okay, Clove. Okay? We’ll be okay. No matter what happens.” He hoped the words brought some comfort, even if they were difficult to believe in that moment. Flame-colored sights turned between Clover and the fateful dandelions, waiting for a change – but, then again, maybe it was not to be? Maybe the dandelions would remain as they were?



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

T

he sound of her heart beat pounding grew louder as she stated, never taking her eyes off of the flowers for what felt like an eternity. Clover's ears flicked with the sound of Cian's voice, though she hardly heard him, her entire focus on the flora at her feet. Then suddenly, there appeared one red spot, then another, and another, until it spread over the dandelions like a warning.

She said absolutely nothing, simply stared down at them until her legs began to tremble where she stood. Clover sat down and shrunk, her tail wrapping around herself before she even dared look up at Cian, her eyes beginning to water again. "I-I'm s-sorry..." She shook her head as tears began rolling down her cheeks. "Do y-you...s-still love m-me?"

@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

C

ian had fallen silent as the wait lingered on and on… How quickly would this work, anyway? He began to imagine staring at those dandelions for hours. It certainly felt like hours had passed, and Clover’s focus remained fixed upon them, as Cian looked back and forth between the wolfess and the little golden flowers that signified so much in that moment.

At first, his eyes were not certain of what he was seeing, as if it were some impossible optical illusion appearing before him. The green parts of the plants became patterned with tiny spots, red as the boy’s fur. He blinked hard, knowing what this meant without fully understanding. His attention returned to Clover, and the look on her sweet face, the shrinking posture, wrenched his heart. He could feel her reaction, even though she seemed hesitant to make eye contact.

"I-I'm s-sorry… Do y-you...s-still love m-me?" Tears streamed down the girl’s cheeks, and Cian’s expression altered from dazed confusion to apprehension. ”What – I – of course I do! I’m sorry – I’m the one…” He felt the guilt creeping in, that he had done anything to upset Clover at all… Much less something as life changing as this would be. But Cian couldn’t think of the outcome yet, not when Clover was this upset. ”I – I do love you, no matter what. Don’t – please don’t ever doubt that, Clove. And…” He searched his swirling thoughts for what needed to be expressed. ”And I won’t leave. I would – how could I? I won't leave you or – or our–” Pups! He couldn't even say it aloud, it was still too strange, too foreign.

He attempted to move closer, if she would allow it, but he did not know the thoughts that were in her own mind. He did not know if he deserved to be close, after all of this, or if she would want that now.



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

H

e moved in closer to her and she instantly fell into the soft, safe space of his mane, burying her face there for a long moment as she cried quietly. Clover pulled back only slightly to lift her head and shake it as he attempted to apologize. "No, no...I'm sorry...I didn't know..." Tears continued to flow as she listened to him while he stammered, trying to find the right thing to say to her.

All she needed to hear, was that he had absolutely no intentions to leave her...to leave them. She peered up into his face, deep into his intense, yet comforting crimson gaze that she held for a long, silent moment. The only sound was her sniffling, her own pink eyes large and glimmering still full of fresh tears. "Really? You...you're not going to go away?"

@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

H

e closed his eyes, steadying his nerves as best that he could. The questions were already beginning to surface. What happened next? And, how soon? The question that stood out the most, though, that he kept to himself for now was… How many? He had two brothers… But Clover was an only child – sort of? While a cacophony of emotions blared within him, anger was not among them. He was shocked, confused, and rather scared. But angry? No.

Clover apologized again, and Cian was quick to shake his head in an emphatic manner. ”No – please, Clover, don’t apologize anymore. I’m—” But the youth stopped himself before he could utter the word aloud again. If Clover was not to be sorry, then Cian had better do the same. It was only fair.

The girl still did not look or sound much like Clover when she asked, ”Really? You...you're not going to go away?” ”I would never. Never.” He was quiet for just a second or two before he offered his thoughts, along with a smile that was not fake or forced. ”It’s not really – a bad thing, right? I mean, if we just – we just have to st-stay together.” He peered down to see if his words had any impact. He hesitated again, but only for a moment: ”If that’s still, you know, what you want.”


”I know that’s what I want, no matter what. And – and the p-pups – I hope they look just like you. A-and we can – we could give them your last name.” Her family was a lot kinder than his, so why not? His tail had started to wag behind him, slowly at first, but as he considered the possibilities more, he began to feel a genuine sense of excitement. ”And we can – they can travel all over with us. And they’ll – they’ll be loved. And that’s a good thing.”

He pulled away from their embrace, just a little, to see if Clover could believe the same, a smile still crossing his muzzle. "I love you. That won't change, not ever."



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

S

he looked up at him, sniffling and though the tears seemed to have subsided, her pink orbs still glistened with the remnants of them. Cian was telling the truth. He always did. Clover hugged into his larger frame, seeking comfort in his embrace along to go along with his gentle words. What she feared most would not come to pass and she felt as though she could breathe again. Was it all so bad, then?

She tilted her face up to look into his, now knowing that it wasn't just herself who needed words of affirmation. "That's everything I want...you're everything I want...always..." Clover did her best to emphasize her wish for him to stay forever by her side, snuggling into his ember fur that licked at her own sandstone coat like flame. As he continued to talk and now about what their future were look like...she felt her emotions melding all together...the natural fear yet excitement of this unknown journey they were about to go on together.

Clover glanced down at her belly that suddenly did seem to be more swollen than she remembered it. Instinctively, she wrapped her tail closer around herself and nodded in agreement with Cian. "Mhm...they'll be loved...they already are." She breathed, still feeling shocked at learning all of this unexpected news. Her ears perked forward and she looked up at him again, Cian's smile coaxing a small smile out of her as well as she touched noses with him. "I love you too, Cian."

@Cian

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

”T

hat's everything I want...you're everything I want...always..." The feeling of Clover’s closeness, the warmth her small form gave, reminded him of that night, only weeks ago, on the tall summit beneath the Northern Lights. It all felt so new, so surreal, that they had ever been intimate to begin with. And now – it was rather unbelievable, really, how one night could have such meaningful repercussions. But this was not a punishment. Sometimes, the best things in life could be the surprises that are so expected.

And Cian’s life had become just that. From the military to the mountains to this. Pups. So what if someday came a little sooner than anticipated?

His fiery sights followed Clover’s rosy eyes as she inspected her form again. Yes, she did look a little different, but no less beautiful than before. He looked at her belly, half expecting something grand to occur, but it was too soon to detect any movement from whoever it was that was growing inside of there. As he watched expectantly, he heard Clover’s sweet voice: "Mhm...they'll be loved...they already are.” At this, he nodded swiftly. "That's -- that's what matters the most, isn't it? Love."

His focus returned to his companion’s features, and he felt a wave of emotion that was impossible to describe. While Cian had not had the best model there was for a decent father, he knew exactly what he did not want to be – controlling, distant. He was determined to do much better for his own offspring. He would not be his sire.

"I love you too, Cian." A soft sigh escaped the Highlander wolf as he finally allowed himself to relax, his large body sinking beneath him to the ground so that he was laying on his belly on the cool forest floor. He felt as if he had lived through weeks when only an hour or so had passed, and he suppressed a yawn. ”You will be the best mum.” This much, he knew. But for now, he could only dream and wonder about what was next in their shared adventure – when their duo would soon become a quartet.



@Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck