Wolf [Crowley Eusford x Reader]

✧7✧

August 12, 2016

Aokigahara Forest, Japan

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It was just like the night you had first arrived.

Soft beams of moonlight streamed endlessly through the trees, illuminating a path before you. A gentle breeze seemed to urge your forward, and at your side, Eeriuffi trotted soundlessly, the rest of the pack not too far behind.

Your heart ached as you watched trees and flora pass by, knowing that by leaving this forest, you were leaving everything you had learnt to call home behind as well. Soon enough, the soft forest floor would give way to hard concrete, and soon enough, the safe encompass of the forest would yield to the danger from the outside world.

Despite all of this, however, you knew that what you were doing was right. You knew that, if you stayed, you would never be satisfied with yourself. Leaving was the only way to find peace, and should you feel the urge, you reminded yourself, you could always make an attempt to return.

At least, you hoped so.

Gradually, the trees began to thin out, and you knew your little time left in the forest was near its end. Deciding to wait for just a few moments longer before leaving for good, you stopped in your tracks, lowering yourself down to the ground. You wrapped your fingers around the earth below you, savoring the way it slipped effortlessly through your hands, like silk. Eeriuffi let out a soft bark, and he too lowered himself down to the floor, yellow eyes bright as he gazed at you.

As you looked up at the heavens, the stars burned ever so bright, constellations upon constellations brimming with light. A mixture of azure and amethyst painted the sky with a refined beauty, and the moon glowed with a soft white hue, almost like freshly fallen snow.

You could stay here forever, you told yourself as you watched the sky in all of its glory. You could stay here for eternity doing nothing but watch the sky, and not once would you become bored.

You had decided to wait until nighttime to leave the pack for the sole reason that it had been nighttime when Eeriuffi had taken you in. It only seemed fitting that you left the pack the same way you had joined it, you had decided.

You weren't sure how long you waited before a soft nose nudged you; a few seconds, a minute, an hour. Eeriuffi gently took hold of your sleeve between his teeth, letting out a small growl as he tugged. You let out a soft chuckle, forcing yourself to stand up.

"I never thought you'd be this eager to get rid of me," you laughed as you stroked the fur between his ears. In response, he flicked his tail to the side.

As your laughter slowly died away, you found yourself chocking up. Your throat felt swollen, and slowly, you began to feel tears rolling down your face.

"I'm really going to miss this place," you whispered to the warm, summertime air, allowing your words to drift alongside the wind. "And I'm really going to miss all of you, too," you told Eeriuffi, motioning to the pack. Though you knew Eeriuffi was merely a wolf, you could almost swear he understood each and every word that exited your lips.

Brimming with emotion, you forced yourself to move forward. The trees continued to thin and, through the darkness, you could make out the large, wooden sign marking the entrance to the forest.

This was it.

When you made your way past the sign, you turned around, taking in the full expanse of the forest before you. Only a few hours ago, you had been in this very forest, running around and living your life with the creatures you had come to love more than anything else. Now, you were prepared to leave it for a life of uncertainty.

Shakily, you made your way to your knees so that you were level with Eeriuffi. Through the darkness, you could make out the rest of the pack, coats shimmering like molten silver in the moonlight.

Eeriuffi watched intently as you inched in closer to him, making no protest as you pulled him in close. Silky-soft fur pressed against you, and the alpha wolf let out a small bark.

"Thank you," you whispered to him, pressing your face into his shoulder. "Thank you, for everything." Again, the wolf let out a small bark, and you watched his tail as it once again flicked to the side.

Reluctantly, you let go of the beautiful creature before you, and blinked away the tears from your eyes. Eeriuffi nudged your shoulder, bringing his snout towards your face as he lapped away your tears.

After a few moments, Eeriuffi stepped away, his golden eyes glowing as they peered at you. The wolf blinked at you and lowered his head before turning away, slowly and soundlessly slinking away into the shadows.

You stood in place for a few moments, taking in your final breaths of the fresh forest air. In the distance, though they had traveled further into the darkness of the woods, you could still make out the faint outline of the pack, their eyes a dull, yellow glow.

With one last, shaky breath, you forced yourself to turn around, and, for the first time in years, you began to make your way back towards the concrete jungles and cities of man.

It was only a few seconds later when it happened. A noise, like music to your ears, broke through the silence; a symphony of wolf howls, each and every one an omen of good luck, a farewell from the beings that had become your family.

Your heart swelled, and once again, you couldn't help yourself as tears began streaming from your eyes. It took everything in you not to start sprinting back to Aokigahara, to not run as fast as you could until you were back with the creatures you loved.

With both mournfulness and pride, you threw your head back, letting out a long, powerful howl of your own. Farewell, you hoped your message would come across, And I love you all dearly.

It was when the howling finally ceased that you knew you truly had to go. For the final time, you forced yourself to turn away from the forest and return to the direction of humanity. Each step, however, seemed to become increasingly difficult, your body heavy with sorrow.

Run, little wolf, a voice seemed to whisper to you from the wind, urging you to keep moving forward. Run, and don't look back.

Run.

Head held high, you pushed forward, moving faster, faster, your heart racing as blood pumped through your veins.

You ran.

Hi all! I hope everyone has been well and that you all enjoyed this chapter :D

From here on out, shit will start to get real lmao. A few things still need to happen before all of the real x reader aspect of the book starts, but it's much sooner than it was before >:)

Anyways, hopefully you're all protecting yourself against Covid-19. My school is off for the next few weeks because of the virus and my antisocial self plans to stay home 24/7 and do my schoolwork and write lol. Even though I'm off of school, my school is attempting to have our classes online,  but I don't think that I'll be getting as much work as I did before, but I'll wait and see. Please stay safe and healthy!

With all of that aside, thanks for reading and I'll see you all next chapter!