Waiting For You

An Unexpected Night

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the dense forest where Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had ventured for a night hunt. The air was crisp and cool, filled with the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in the underbrush. The hunt had started as a routine excursion, a chance for the two friends to sharpen their skills and enjoy each other’s company away from the formalities of their respective clans.

Lan Zhan moved with his usual grace and precision, his senses attuned to the slightest movement in the forest. Wei Ying, ever the exuberant spirit, darted through the trees with agility, his laughter echoing softly in the night air.

“Lan Zhan, over here!” Wei Ying called out, pointing to a set of fresh tracks. “Looks like something big passed through here recently.”

Lan Zhan nodded, his eyes narrowing as he examined the tracks.

“Indeed. We should proceed with caution.”

As they followed the trail deeper into the forest, a strange tension began to build between them. It started as a subtle awareness, a heightened sensitivity to each other’s presence that neither of them could quite explain. The further they went, the stronger the feeling grew, until it became impossible to ignore.

“Do you feel that?” Wei Ying asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and something else he couldn’t quite name.

Lan Zhan paused, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword.

“Yes. There is something… unusual about this place.”

The forest seemed to close in around them, the air growing thick with an inexplicable energy. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying exchanged a glance, both of them on edge, yet drawn to each other in a way that was impossible to resist.

Without warning, the sensation intensified, hitting them both like a tidal wave. Wei Ying gasped, clutching his chest as a sudden heat flooded his body. Lan Zhan’s usually composed expression faltered, his breath coming faster as an overwhelming desire surged through him.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying breathed, his voice shaking. “What’s happening to us?”

Lan Zhan’s eyes darkened with an intensity Wei Ying had never seen before. “It’s our rut and heat cycles. They’re triggering each other.”

Wei Ying’s eyes widened in realization. “But we’re not… we weren’t supposed to…”

Lan Zhan stepped closer, his gaze locked on Wei Ying’s.

“It doesn’t matter. We need to find a safe place, now.”

Driven by instinct, they stumbled through the forest, seeking shelter. They found a small clearing surrounded by dense foliage, offering a semblance of privacy. As soon as they were there, the intensity of their cycles became unbearable, driving them toward each other with a primal urgency.

Wei Ying’s breath hitched as Lan Zhan pulled him close, their bodies pressed together in a fevered embrace.

“Lan Zhan…”

Lan Zhan’s voice was a low growl, filled with need. “Wei Ying.”