The Name Game
The blue boy didn't stray from his tents for days.
Logan knew because he watched.
Sitting frozen and downwind from the tents and people. Almost as if he was hunting, but he meant no harm. He was only watching.
The blue boy bounced from the same trailer to the biggest tent to the smaller ones, other people joined him at times and other times he walked alone.
His brimstone and cat scent didn't enter Logan's woods and Logan scowled. He missed him. The blue boy was nice. Logan's never seen anyone move the way he moved before. Just on the edge of flying with every flip through the trees. Like he'll sprout wings if he ever goes high enough and fly away.
Logan curled up in the bushes. He saw the blue boy leave his trailer. He tilted his head, the blue boy was tense, his movements more stiff than usual and the tail that Logan usually saw swinging behind him or gesturing to match his emotions was wrapped tight around his leg. Logan thought he might smell fear if his scent could reach him.
The blue boy wandered closer to his woods, he carried something in his hands. Logan moved to a crouch and crawled closer to where the blue boy disappeared.
He heard a rustle and saw the boy leave his woods again in a hurry.
Logan followed his scent to where he went, somethings there. Something that smelled so very good. Logan's eyes drifted closed as he walked. The scent pulled at something in him. Something that felt like someone holding him as they baked, whispering to him and letting him help. Laughing when he made a mess.
Logan growled and covered his eyes.
No no no. In the past. The past.
He reached out for the bundle he found on the forest floor. It smelled like the blue boy. And sugar.
Logan reached out slowly, a blanket. It's soft. Not softer than his furs but it's nice. Logan pulled it away from the things wrapped in it. A basket, the same one he used the day of the picnic maybe? Logan didn't know. Logan didn't care when the sugar smell got stronger.
Pastries, Logan's eyes went wide. He grabbed one and scarfed it down. He pulled the basket closer and kept eating. So sweet, so good. He hadn't had any kind of sweets in so long…
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Kurt couldn't look at the woods for a couple days, shivers down his spine.
But it seems his brain didn't get the memo. He thought of the wolf boy often. Was he alone? Where did he live?
And after missing a catch and almost falling to the net below, Kurt decided he had to do something about his wandering mind.
So he baked, with Margali's help of course.
A boy living in the woods. He had to be cold. And hungry. So Kurt baked.
He left the bundle of sweets in the woods, then he left. Headed for his mother practicing in the sideshow tents.
He could have sworn he heard a noise and he spun. But he didn't see a thing.
Kurt headed back to the circus. Looking for Margali.
He found his mother at a table with some of the other sideshows, playing cards. Kurt sat down on the ground beside her chair. Margali smiled but kept her eyes on the table.
"Tag, Kurt. How did it go?" She said, the other sideshows minded their business and played.
"Didn't see him, but I know he'll find it." He said with a smile. He did hope that the wolf boy found his gift. Living in the woods like that…"I hope he's okay mutti." He looked back at the woods. "He's alone out there I think. Nobody should live like that." Kurt said. Margali put her cards down for a moment and smiled down at Kurt.
"Kurt you are too sweet for this world, and I imagine he knows how to survive just fine if he's been here as long as some say." She said, she put a hand on his head and ruffled his curls before going back to her game. Kurr hummed and leaned his head on his mothers leg. His tail spun around the air as his mind worked.
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Logan stayed in the clearing the rest of the day. He didn't move until he'd eaten everything. When he stood up he wrapped the blanket around himself, not that he needed it, but it felt right.
It smelled like brimstone.
And a few other scents. But it was the blue boys and Logan liked it. He headed for home. Greeted by his pack as he crawled inside the cave. They're used to him running off alone now. He's just a pup after all, impulsive.
Logan hugged the blanket against his chest, trying for once to pull the memories the sweets brought up.
He got flashes. This and that, scents or visions. Nothing he could understand. He doesn't realize he was growling until his brown wolf friend licked his face and brought him back to the present. Logan stopped the rumble in his throat and went silent with eyes closed tight.
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Kurt made a habit of leaving things for the wolf boy. Treats that he didn't want mostly.
The gifts were always gone when Kurt returned. It put a smile on his face. He left notes. But he never got a response. Kurt sat in the clearing to scribble out another note. He really won't let himself admit it's an excuse to stay long enough to maybe see the wolf boy again.
'I'd like to meet again. If you are willing. Thank you.' He wrote. It's short, a simple question. He almost ripped it. But he placed it with the gifts anyway. Kurt could swear he heard a sound and he spun around as he stood.
Brown eyes met his. Nestled in the bushes.
"Hello." Kurt said. He cleared his throat and tried to smile. "My name is Kurt. I don't think I ever said." Kurt held his hand out for a handshake.
The brown eyes disappeared with a rustle. Kurt frowned but he's nothing if not determined.
"I'm not going to hurt you. In fact I'd like to be friends." Kurt said. He heard another sound. Behind him, circling and circling.
Kurt had a shaking feeling that the wolf boy was letting him hear him. If he didnt want Kurt to know he was here he wouldn't make noise.
"We don't have to be friends of course." Kurt spun to look as the sounds went silent. The wolf boy peeking from the trees with his head tilted like a curious dog. "I'll leave you be now." Kurt turned to leave.
Then something fabric hit him across the head. He screamed and fell to the ground with a flail. He flipped the fabric off his face with a gasp of air and-
It was the blanket he gave the wolf boy. Kurt's face went red. Screaming and flailing over a blanket.
He heard a rumble, he looked over at the wolf boy crouched and eating the piece of pie Kurt had given him today. It took Kurt a second to realize the rumble was a laugh.
The first sound he heard the wolf boy make other than growling or howling. Kurt smiled.
"You surprised me." He pulled the blanket into his lap and sat crossed legged. He didn't move closer. "You can keep it friend." Kurt said. The wolf boy grunted and wiped his mouth with his arm when he finished.
The wolf boy moved closer, that crouch walk he seemed to favor. Kurt didn't run away, and he wasn't scared this time. They're friends now, so he's okay. Right?
The wolf boy mumbles something. But Kurt can't hear and he leans closer. The wolf boy says it again. Louder. His eyes avoid Kurt's for once instead of staring almost into him.
"I'm Logan.."