Unsevered Ties

2.Puppy Days

Chapter 2: Puppy Days

"Naki... Naki! Where are you?" Cerise glanced up and around, his pristine, ice blue eyes searching the magnificently green blades of grass that reached up to his chest. "Why do you insist on playing this terrible game?"

Naki giggled from his crouched position among the tall grass. He wanted to jump out and scare his friend as he came closer, but a blue butterfly fluttered in front of him, distracting him with the way its pretty wings glinted in the sunlight. He rose from his spot, entranced by the way the small creature danced in the air.

"There you are! What on earth are you doing on the ground? Only commoners get on the ground, Naki."

Naki watched for a few more seconds as the butterfly fluttered around before turning back to Cerise with a broad smile. "Don't be silly, Cerise. We play on the ground all the time! Does that make you a commoner?"

"Hey," Cerise came over, his rosy hair braided so immaculately that even the breeze didn't move it. He m playfully flicked Naki's furry ear. "I am still your Prince, you know, and just because we're friends doesn't mean you can go around calling me a commoner."

Naki playfully pounced on Cerise's back, leaning his chin on his friend's shoulder, decked out in his expensive clothes as usual. "Oh yes, your royal conceited-ness, I will never insult you again!" He gently nipped Cerise on the ear, then took off running, "Tag! You're it!"

"H-Hey! Naki, you cheater, get back here!"

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Off in the distance, two tall figures watched from an ornate balcony overlooking one of the lush fields that made up the courtyard surrounding their huge castle. One leaned over the thick sandstone of the balcony's railing and watched the two, which looked even smaller in the distance, play together. He stood at an impressive height already, with long black hair trailing down his back, and had eyes that were blue as glaciers. A small smirk graced his lips.

"Cerise plays with that boy a lot. He's the son of Lord Phillius' new mate, isn't he?" Leion looked over to his side, pale lilac-pink-toned hair trailing over his milky white shoulder. "Why are you looking at him so intently?"

"I don't know," Sega answered his brother, his eyes still trained on the two playing in the field. "I've never noticed him before, but they play together often. He looks interesting, don't you think?"

"Hmm, yes, he has unique coloring for sure. His hair is silver, and his skin tone is not native to any pack I can think of. And I have this vague feeling that I've seen those eyes before, but still, I've never seen pupils that are light like that. Honestly, I thought he and his mother were blind or something. They have very odd coloring." Leion glanced over and smiled at his younger brother, though the world called Sega the eldest son due to their anatomical differences. "That's saying a lot, seeing as our family line has one of the most unique colorings. Well, except your bland ass. Black hair, so unique."

"Shut your pastel ass up. Hm, I'm suddenly intrigued by him. Cerise seems to enjoy his company a lot. He behaves less like an old man around him."

"Hehe, yes, it's true. He's so intent on pleasing our father, being the youngest, that he forgets to be a child. It's good he's found decent company who isn't intimidated by his status."

"Cerise! Come here, will you, and bring your friend?" The sudden, loud call came from Sega as he rose from his leaning stance, his tall and lithe stature towering over his brother. "I think we should meet him, don't you?"

Leion smirked, he knew his brother through and through. "No, not really, but you seem to have some unusual interest in something new, like always, so I'll go along with it. If you turn out to be a creeper, I'll tell our father personally."