The lonewolf's lullaby.

The Winter slammed the door shut. One could simply tell their moods at that moment by briefly looking at their faces. Ahri looked like she wanted to die then and there and Lanius like he wanted to punch a hole in a wall.

"Right...how have I not thought about it." he said through his teeth.

Ahri just lazily lied on her bed, and her right hand gently brushed one of her tails. Lanius went to the window and looked outside.

"Ahri...don't let their words get to you." he said.

The vesani did not reply, so he sat on his bed and said nothing more till they went to sleep.

.

.

.

"NO!"

The fox screamed in her sleep and woke up Lanius. The young man rushed to her bed as she also woke up and began to hyperventilate.

"They...they came for me...everyone I've killed..." she said in between gasps.

"It's ok. It just a dream." Lanius muttered as he tried to calm her down.

"It...it looked so real. Th-They chased me throught...through the whole..." her voice cracked at the last words and the vesani broke down in tears. Lanius protectively hugged her as she cried. It wasn't usual for her to act like that.

"I..Im a monster...made only to kill people."she exclaimed in between weeps.

" That's not true. You're a great person." Lanius comforted her.

"No I'm not. Seduce people so I  can drag their essence and memories out of their bodies and leave their empty, lifeless bodies behind." she continued. "I even tried to take advantage of you once I found this new feeling." Ahri burried her face in the young man's chest and continued to cry.

"Its ok...Vesani cannot do otherwise. You don't need to do it again. You can sustain yourself using me." Lanius brushed her hair with his right hand.

She raised her head and looked at the young man. Her  luminescent amber eyes looked directly at his light blue feline eyes. As the room was dark, being lit only by the moonlight outside, the two set of eyes stood out like fireflies.

"But...I only follow you because of your quirky nature. I  originally viewed you as fodder..." Ahri continued.

"Do you view me now as that?" he asked.

"No...I...I don't know!" she broke down again.

"Hey...listen. First time I saw you back in that forest, I thought I saw a goddess. Ahri, I think you're the prettiest thing in the world. I know that we've known each other for only about two weeks...but I just want you to be happy..." Lanius said. His voice was soothing and she began to calm down.

"What about you? You only give everything you got...you never ask for anything..." Ahri's crying turned into a soft sob.

"I have a task. I told to myself that I must first complete this task and then do anything else..." Lanius simply said. Ahri began to calm down. The sobbing soon enough got replaced by heavy breathing.

Lanius moved to get up from the bed but Ahri grabbed his hand, stopping him.

"Lanius...can you please stay?" she asked him. It was something in her face that made the Winter stay.

The young man smiled and got under the sheets. Ahri lied down again and used his bandaged chest as a pillow. The young man began to brush her head and ears as he calmed her down. Ahri slowed down her breath and began to purr.

"So this is her real personality? The other, strong and seductive one is utilized to communicate with strangers. To fill her needs." The Winter thought.

The two sat there in silence for a few minutes, with the only sounds in the room being Ahri's purrs.

"Can you sing me that lullaby again?" she whispered.

Lanius closed his eyes and lightly sang. It was a lullaby that his mother used to sing to him when he was going to sleep.

"Oh, little wolfy, little wolfy,

It's time for you to go to sleep.

The sun has set behind the mountains,

It's time for you to close your eyes,

And let the dreams take you in the skies.

You'll fly above the clouds...

You'll reach the sparkling, shinning stars.

Oh, little wolfy, little wolfy,

It's time for you to go to sleep.

The moon has risen from the icy mountains,

You'll climb the giant frosty hills,

And go to places far from here.

Oh little wolfy, little wolfy,

It's time for your...small goodnight...kiss."

Lanius lowered his head and kissed Ahri on the forehead. The only thing that one could now hear was her rhythmic breath, as she had fallen asleep from both the lullaby and the exhaustion from crying.

"No wonder mum sang me this song...Im a lone wolf after all. Ever since I turned 17, I left both the Verhea and the Ziraq and lived alone..." he thought. He had a lot to do in the following month. The Winter would soon arrive. Lanius closed his eyes and went to sleep, hoping that he'd dream of something sweet.

.

.

.

Ahri opened her eyes. The sun had risen at least two hours before she woke up. She did not see any more nightmares that night. Usually, if she happened to see one, more would follow. That night tho, she didn't. Ahri turned her head upwards and saw a smiling Lanius next to her, looking at the wall in front of them.

"Had a good night?" he asked her.

"After that..yes." Ahri cuddled up to him. The Winter responded by wrapping his arms around her. It wasn't an affectionate cuddle, but rather a comforting one. One that showed dedication. Lanius currently acted as a comfort zone for her. His body felt relaxingly warm.

"Lanius?" she called out for him.

"Hm?" he lowered his gaze to her.

"I think know how I see you now." she said and closed her eyes.

"How?" he asked.

"Not as fodder...not any more. As a friend..." she began to purr again.

"Don't you worry, I'm here. I got all the time needed." he also began to purr. Today, she didn't want to get out of bed. She didn't even want to get her dose. She just wanted to stay there. With him. For as long as she could. For as long as he wanted.

The nine tailed fox had a warm feeling surrounding her. Lanius was somebody that she could finally trust, neither as an ally, nor as a companion, but as a friend that would stand up to her...maybe even more one day.