Faerie Valley occupies a large expanse of land, protected by major mountain ranges on the north and south side. The south mountains isolate it from the border where the Sorcerer Nation is located. Meanwhile, the northern mountain range is longer, expanding from the eastern forest to Jurell, and a bit of Isgard. Judging by their entry point at the valley and the way they got 'thrown out', Laris though that they're probably somewhere in Isgard Forest, near the border.
Laris wanted to check out if his theory was right but he'd need to get better enough to walk on his own with a makeshift cane.
"Laris?" Atlas looked at his mate that suddenly quietened.
"Ye—" Laris quickly covered his mouth. He was going to smile again to cover his thoughts. Habits were really hard to break. "Yes?" he replied with a neutral face, a second later.
"Laris. Fruit."
"So you've seen one before? Have you eaten one before?" Laris motioned the act of eating and rubbing of his stomach.
Atlas took a bite of hair and gazed at his own stomach, then shook his head.
"Do you think you can bring me one those fruits you saw?" Laris knew he being a little selfish here, but he really could not stomach any more meat than he had already consumed.
Atlas was reluctant to leave Laris; a tad bit suspicious that Laris might leave. Sensing this, Laris pointed at his injured foot and winced a few times whenever he tried to move it to show Atlas. Atlas got slightly anxious upon hearing that winced, staring at the foot as if it was the culprit of everything and not him who dragged Laris roughly everywhere in the forest.
"I won't be going anywhere. I'll be right here when you come back." Laris nodded at Atlas to reassure the other person.
Atlas slowly and hesitatingly inched away into the forest, looking back every now and then to see Laris carving the branch he was given using his sharp claws. When Atlas really did leave, Laris patted the dirt off of his pants and the fur of beasts he had made into a shawl.
Contrary to what others may have done given the opportunity, Laris simply walked out of the cave to look at the surroundings and take a deep breath of air when he was done. His mate had probably already trekked far by then, but what he didn't know was that Atlas was hiding behind a tree a bit far away, smelling the Laris' scent from the distance. If Laris' scent went away, then he'd immediately dash back, but after a long time, it didn't vanish. Instead, it lingered in the air. Atlas could finally put his heart to rest. His mate really did plan to stay with him. His mate was not like those other bipedal creatures that try to run at every opportunity! Although his mate wasn't as strong as he expected him to be, he was still by far the best Atlas could ask for.
Atlas ran away in search of the 'fruit' that would make his mate happy.
In the meantime, Laris hobbled all over the cave to clean it using tied dried grass straws to a stick. He swept the few dirt and leaves that got blown over by the cold wind from the lair's entrance. Despite the looks, Atlas was a very neat person. His cave was spotless and he never liked his cave to smell bad.
By the time Atlas got back, Laris could tell by the downcast expression that his mate could not find any for him. Thinking of this, Laris simply made Atlas look for something else to get his mind wandering. He was better of thinking of the next thing to do rather than wallow in his sadness.
The next day, Laris still wasn't able to stand for a long period of time, but the swollenness of his foot reduced by half. He could at least stand steadily with a sturdy branch as a crane, and walk in and out of the cave, albeit slowly. He also found that Atlas wasn't as he guarding as he used to be. When he inched bit by bit to the mouth of the cave until he set of on the snow outside, Laris carefully watched Atlas' reaction. Atlas, however, just stared at him.
Given this small freedom, Laris could walk a little here and there to exercise. Although that was his excuse, he was mostly trying to avoid being alone with Atlas in the nest bed for certain reasons. Aside from this, Laris was slightly happy of his situation; he could now stand up and walk a bit whenever he needed to relieve himself, or clean the bed, or even cook and eat meals. His guilt upon his etiquette teacher makes him refuse eating on the bed, so he had asked Atlas to make him a table after many, many instructions and a pile of take-home junk.
Searching all time, Atlas was always curious now on what his mate would do of the new things that he asked him to bring home. Unconsciously, Atlas' mind began to wonder and be curious of things he used to see as usual. The following day was when Atlas brought home a large flat-top boulder, and two wooden logs. Laris gave him a rewarding pat on the head and asked him to place it in a steady way that looked like a table.
Besides the pat though, Laris had to well—Laris had to fight hard to convince the other party to throw away the previous junk pile. Interactions like this were priceless to Atlas. So even when Atlas looked reluctant to throw away his little junk hoard, he still did so. It wasn't even bad to ask for a consolation pat on the head.
Unexpectedly, the two of them had reached an unprecedented understanding; or perhaps a sort of harmony in this way of simple living.
"Mate", the Wendigo uttered. His voice used to be so raspy for having not talked to anyone for so long, but now, the smooth pronunciations just flowed so easily from his lips.
"Huh?" Laris distractedly looked up at the bright face of the Wendigo. What did he do that made this person so excited?
"Mate! Mate! Mate!"
"I hear you, I hear you, Atlas!" Laris calmed him down. "What did I tell you to call me?"
"Ah?"
Laris bit the inside of his own mouth to stop the corners of lips from rising.
"Laris", Atlas called out once more. In his hands was something pinkish green.
"A fruit?" Laris took the fruit that Atlas offered and inspected it. Placing it under his nose, he took a gentle sniff. The fruit smelled sweet but not overly. Had Atlas already tasted this? "How did you find this?"
Atlas' gaze shifted to a piece of brown fur somewhere in a small pile of furs to be cured. Usually, Atlas would throw the furs to be treated in a lake or pond for the fishes and creatures to eat away at whatever leftover meat there was. Then after a few days, he'd fish them out and clean them some more before drying and curing. Unfortunately, it's winter. All bodies of water had turned solid days before.
Noticing Atlas' line of sight, Laris guessed, "You saw one of this tree-climbing creatures eat this?"
Atlas nodded, "Laris!"
"Oh." So safe to say, this fruit shouldn't be poisonous.
In front of Atlas' expectant gaze, Laris bit down on the fruit cautiously, the juices leaking at the corners of his lips. He tasted the sweet thing in his mouth and savored it. It's been so long since he last ate something sweet like this. He can no longer fault his twin at wanting to eat decadent sweet things. Laris' face twitched at having forced them to stay impassive. He even swallowed the moan coming up his throat. This was his first time wanting to moan because of food. And it was because of a fruit Atlas scavenged in the woods in winter.
Oh, how far had he fallen. Instead of feeling sad about, Laris oddly found it funny. This fruit was simple, and compared to what he used to eat before as a noble, this was simple commoner's food, but… how is it that he felt that having this fruit was already plenty? Laris only dwelled on the odd feeling for a second.
"It's good." Laris licked his lips, only to find that Atlas stared at his tongue. He knew very what that look meant so before the other person could do what he thought he'd do, Laris bit his Atlas' chin.
Laris had concluded that biting the face was something Atlas saw as an act of affection and acceptance, hence, he was always happy and easily distracted whenever Laris gently bit his face.
Atlas snapped out of his trance, the atmosphere surrounding him looking pink and happy. Internally, Laris gave a sigh of relief. He had evaded yet another tossing.
Laris did not let the remaining fruit go to waste and ate with relish. Since it was winter, there were few fruits, and lesser hunts. Atlas kept hunting for two people for the past days, and by now, having eaten only flavorless grilled meat for three consecutive days, Laris couldn't swallow the taste of it anymore.
He threw the seeds outside the cave lair. The seeds could die this winter or they could grow in the spring.
Spring, huh? Laris wondered where he'd be by next season. Hopefully, he'd be home.
"Laris." Strong arms wrapped around Laris' waist, pulling him up front the ground. "Warm."
"You sure know more words now. Put me down and I'll teach you more."
Atlas brought his mate over to the nest, never easing his hold. He clearly did not feel cold, and yet the feeling of having this warm body in his arms brought great satisfaction to him.
"Am I a cuddle pillow now?" Laris looked up at Atlas' face. "I should teach you how to cook more delicious things. Ah, but I'd need salt and spices for that."
"De, deli..."
"Delicious. De-li-ci-ooohh—" Laris grabbed Atlas' mouth and shaped his lips while demonstrating.
"Ooohh."
"Deli—repeat it after me, come on—Deli—"
"Deli—"
"—cious."
"Deli, cious."
"That's right. You did good", Laris praised.
"Laris! Delicious! Laris! Delicious!" Atlas repeatedly yelled for the world to know.
"That..." Laris didn't know where to start correcting Atlas' habit of saying his name in every sentence he speaks. Most times, if was fine, but hearing Atlas proclaim to the world that he was delicious just...
"Never mind, never mind", Laris shook his head. Atlas saw and copied him by vehemently shaking his head.
He was like a sponge absorbing as much as he can learn from everything Laris but at the same time, Laris feels like Atlas didn't learn anything at all, since he'd still be the same. Surprisingly, it didn't bother him. He liked Atlas the way he was, better than those scheming people he had met a lot in his life. Had his mate been someone else, Laris may have never been able to let his guard down at all.
Maybe it's because of the years of having to walk over broken glasses and unsheathed knives. From a very young age, he'd been careful with how he acted and reacted to people and situations.
Yet with Atlas, life was simple. If you're happy, you smile or laugh. If you're sad, you frown and cry. And if you're angry, maybe you'd yell or throw tantrums at your mate. Like a small flame born from dying embers, the simple life Laris secretly wished as a young child were reignited.