Spotted || The Queen of the Clan pt.1
I absolutely do think about werewolf/dog shapeshifter Johnny every day, because I am a weak little gorilla and want to cuddle a big doggo, but
What if Soap as a hyena shapeshifter. Cuz their manes look like mohawks and he can keep his precious fluffy hairstyle. He's trotting around with his spots and long black socks on those strong legs, round ears twitching when he hears someone - prey, perhaps? But prey doesn't sound so pretty and cute, doesn't laugh and chirp so sweetly. So he keeps his tail high and hurries to the sound source, to find reader there chatting with other people - all with photocameras and other familiar equipment. You're neither prey, nor threat: just a documentary crew here, probably mainly for the lions.
You spot him immediately, his wary stance catching everyone's attention.
"The tail up so high can mean different things, but it might be a sign of agression. Careful, everybody," one of the specialists warns you, and you nod - you're not stupid, that's clear, but the smile you have on your face is so blissfully ecstatic, almost as if every thought left your brain at the sight of a chonky, bulky hyena investigating your filming sight (to be fair, it's probably his everything else sight). But you're just happy to see your first big animal on this trip, and so close!
"Hi, beautiful," you coo softly, brely a whisper, as you pull your camera up and start taking pictures of him - it takes the hyena only a few moments before it suddenly changes his stance to a more imposing one, puffing out its chest, legs wide apart, mane fuffed up. "Aw, are you posing for me, pretty boy? That's right, you're gonna be a star. I can already picture everyone going crazy for these cute pics..."
You tear your eyes away from him to take a look at what you're getting, not sure if the exposition and other settings are right, but when you adjust them and look back up to try and take another picture, the hyena isn't there. You almost let out a disappointed sigh, when you realize that no one of the crew is moving and their eyes are all glued to you - and then something big, fluffy and warm bumps your hip.
"Oh god," you try not to get startled by the hyena so close. It's even bigger that it seemed from afar, probably will be as tall as you if it stands up on its hind legs. Actually, it might be a girl - those tend to be bigger among spotted hyenas, after all. A formiddable force of nature, a deadly predator - not to be fooled by the public perception.
And it's sniffing at you very loudly, fluttering its round ears and bumping your hip again, like a needy cat with its huge wet eyes, before you finally lower your camera - and it shoves its muzzle into the little screen immediately!
"What, you like these? Give me permission to make you famous?" you chuckle when the hyena lets out somewhat of an approving whine. It bumps its head against your palm, but, glancing at your crew, you decide to withhold from petting the wild animal, after all.
The hyena doesn't look pleased with it. It whines again, paws at you, and then huffs, clearly irritated. Leaving you alone and shaking its head to fluff up its mane again, it sniffs around, trotting around your temporary camp, and heads straight to your backpack - your food inside, sleeping bag rolled neatly and resting against its side. While you try to remember if you have anything there that could cause danger to the curious animal, the hyena sniffs around it, making sure it's definitely yours, and then...
"No, no-no-no, please, don't-" it's too late. Turning around with the smuggest smirk you ever saw on an animal's face, the hyena lines up and sprayes your stuff generously. The smell of boiling cheap soap and something else hits you almost immediately on that short distance. No amount of washing will save you. You stand there, absolutely speechless and bemused, as the hyena bursts out into loud cackling, almost rolling on the ground and the sight of you.
And then a response cuts through the air - one, two, three other voices, interrupting that little spotted shit's fit. It immediately stops giggling, casts you one last look with a grin and then bolts away, to its family pack.
What a start to your filming trip. You'll just have to hope that hyena doesn't bring all its friends to your camp to cause chaos...
Another important thing about spotted hyenas? Their packs are matriarchal :)
Part 1.5 | Part 2
Series masterlist | Main masterlist
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<<5 | 6 | 7>>
The relief Eddie feels when Steve agrees to stay is almost like a drug itself. He still rolls a joint for each of them, of course.
The movie is just as bad as Gareth promised, and Eddie finds himself looking at Steve almost as much as he does at the screen. With just a few puffs in, he's loose-limbed and relaxed, chuckling at the more ridiculous of the director's choices. It's a little terrifying that they know how blood looks from their own experience, but they try not to think about it right now.
The movie is slowly coming to an end, when Eddie notices Steve's eyes drooping. He doesn't feel as tired himself, the adrenaline of their encounter fighting with his weed tolerance, but he imagines it took a lot of stress from Steve to come here. He's glad he could provide his friend with a safe space and comfort to finally relax. He plucks the almost finished joint out of his hand and Steve only blinks at him sleepily.
"It's okay man, you can sleep here," Eddie reassures him while snuffing the joint out. "I can play you the end tomorrow."
Steve makes a noise that sounds like agreement and wraps the borrowed flannel shirt (double borrowed, since eons ago it used to be Wayne's) tighter around himself.
Eddie watches him settle against the back of the couch and wonders what he can do to make this man feel loved and wanted. How he can overwrite whatever cruel thoughts the world has taught him. For now, all he can do is reach for the blanket on the back of the couch and hand it to Steve, who gratefully pulls it over himself.
====
The memories of going to sleep are hazy, but slowly Eddie comes to while scratching the dog sleeping next to him. He hums in contentment, happy to wake up close to a warm body, even if it's just a pet. He nuzzles against its nape while scratching along its spine, his senses slowly clearing up.
"I'm gonna go make breakfast," he says eventually. "I better see human Steve in the kitchen before I'm done."
Despite how cozy the bed is, he steps over the dog, whose tail pats loudly against the mattress. Eddie eyes him, unamused.
"I'm serious. Only humans are getting scrambled eggs on my watch."
Twenty minutes later, he's happy to see Steve sitting at his kitchen table, dressed in the same sweatpants from last night. His chest is bare, but he'll let it slide this time. He picks up a mug from the cupboard.
"How do you take your coffee, buddy?"
Both of them freeze.
Eddie lets out an awkward cough, pouring coffee into the mug.
"Sorry about that. Force of habit I guess. Uh, milk?"
"Yes, please." Steve nods so Eddie leaves enough space in the mug to pour in some milk. "No sugar."
Eddie nods, and he can feel Steve's stare on his back.
"I don't mind," he says, and Eddie whips around to stare at him. "You calling me that. It's nice."
Eddie hums, adding milk to the coffee.
"Yeah?" He cocks his head, handing him the mug. "Here you go, buddy. Enjoy," he says and reaches out to scratch the back of Steve's head.
He doesn't back down, even when he realizes what he's doing, and he can see that Steve reacts just as instinctually, leaning his head into the touch. But then he jolts away.
"Fuck, sorry."
Eddie frowns.
"Don't be sorry. You're my friend, just like the dog. I can scratch you a bit."
Steve doesn't look convinced. He sips on his coffee to focus his attention elsewhere.
"It's good, thank you," he says, licking his lips. "Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on the pan?"
"This conversation isn't over, Harrington!" Eddie declares, skipping back to the stove. Thankfully, he has a habit of making his eggs on a low fire so they turn out as creamy as possible. Scrambled eggs were the only thing in his life he was able to find patience for.
"Any plans for today?" he asks later as he sets the plates for Steve and himself. He pours them both more coffee, remembering to add milk to Steve's. He smiles at him thankfully.
"Not really," he shrugs. It looks like he's trying to find the right words without incriminating himself too much, so Eddie patiently waits for his next words. "All I've been doing lately is walking around the dog park, so..." he trails off.
He's implying that it's all been dog-Steve lately, human-Steve making no plans to hang out with his friends or go on dates. Eddie feels like it's his mission to change that. For whatever reason.
"We could start preparing for the end-of-summer party," he offers. "Make a grocery list and shit and go shopping."
"It's almost a month from now," Steve points out.
"Good, plenty of time for planning."
Steve just stares at him over the rim of his mug.
"Robin was going to help me," he says in the last-ditch attempt at being difficult.
Eddie raises his palms.
"And I'm not stepping on her toes, but you gotta spread your friend circle a bit, man. The more the merrier."
Steve sips on his coffee, thinking about Eddie's offer. Eventually, he nods.
"Okay. Do you have something to write on?"
Tags: @noodle-shenaniganery @jaytriesstrangerthings @imaginary-maggie-waggie @samsoble @croatoan-like-its-hot
@dragonmama76 @storyranger @scoops-aboy86
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Epel Felmier - 4/7
Werewolf Subspecies: Greenland Wolf
While not everyone in Harveston is a werewolf, everyone is family and there's regular intermingling between the wolves that hunt and the humans that forage and farm. Harvestonites, while very open to outsiders, are surprisingly private about their personal lives. The humans of Harveston fiercely protect their werewolf community members, including the current youngest member of the village: Epel of the Felmier Werewolf family
Epel, despite being ecstatic to be enrolled in Night Raven, finds extreme difficulty in adjusting his rough-and-tumble lifestyle and attitude to the pristine halls of Pomefiore. It doesn't help he doesn't quite fit the standards of beauty Vil and, by proxy, the dorm subscribes to. His heterochromia, crooked teeth, and the scar across his lips, as well as his less-than-savory personality, find him in frequent odds against his housewarden. He finds his solace and freedom with his fellow First Year werewolves during their "weekend outings".
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