Chapter Text
Louis was falling.
He was plummeting straight down, back first, looking up at his father’s colossal figure looming down on his helpless form. His father was blocking out half the light that was pouring into the never-ending pit Louis was falling in, and he was saying something, something important, but he was moving too slow for Louis to understand.
Father! Louis screamed. Harsh and straining on his throat, but no sound came out, like his voice was disappearing into water. He kept on shouting, hoping, desperately wishing, for him to pull him out of the nightmare. Father! Father, please. He continued to scream, the strain of it made him tear up. Help me!
His father’s unemotional figure continued to peer at him from above, motionless. Staring and staring and staring and staring—it made Louis’ heart clench and his lungs feel full with ice.
He tried to move his limbs in order to grab at anything to stop his descent but his arms strained under an invisible weight, like he was fighting to cut through water. All he could do was wait for his body to hit the end and hope he would make it.
He kept on falling and falling and falling and—
Louis jerked awake.
He quickly sat up on the bed and tried to catch his breath, urging the lingering feeling of dread away. He stayed there for a few moments, breathing in and out, before realizing his face was wet. He roughly wiped the tears away with his hand. He blindly reached over to the bedside table to turn on the lamp, almost knocking over his phone in the process.
His phone notifications were filled with messages from Pina. The messages ranged from halfheartedly imploring Louis to unblock the entire Keir Estate so the security team can stop hounding him about Louis’ location, to asking for an opinion on clothing designs he’s working on, and to questions on what the town the is like. The latter Louis couldn’t really answer since he went straight to finding a place to stay after meeting Legosi. In which he found the Golden Mane Inn, owned by a more than a little dubious lion named Ibuki, and promptly collapsed on the bed, the strain of his entire journey finally catching up to him.
He flopped back down on the bed, tossing his phone back on the nightstand, and willed himself to go back to sleep.
Just when he was on the brink of losing consciousness, the familiar feeling of dread crept back in, filling his lungs and heart and spreading all across his skin and then once more the sharp feeling of suddenly losing the ground under your feet—
Louis’ eyes shot back open. He groaned, rubbing his face with his palms, and tried to calm himself down one more time.
He tried thinking of the things that usually made him happy when he got like this—his school organization at the university, the garden beside his apartment that he would occasionally read at, the small kitsch coffee shop Pina would sometimes drag him to during lunch, but they only served to make him feel even more horrible. A reminder of how much of his life was actually his, and how the rest of it was eclipsed by his father’s shadow.
Louis continued to scrub at his face, trying to push the feeling out. Eventually he gave up, and let his arms fall on the bed. The town’s quietness felt a little hollow now, with his room only being filled with the monotonous tick of the wall clock and the distant sound of waves crashing.
The memory hit him instantly, accompanied by the the sound of waves crashing a shore, not unlike what he was hearing now. An image of his father appeared in his mind, but it was different from his nightmare. He was softer here, closer. He felt like he cared, and it made Louis feel safe.
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Louis found himself back at Ione Beach.
The moon was out tonight, illuminating the beach in a soft glow. Not exactly bright enough to color the sea white, but enough so a herbivore like Louis could still somewhat see in the dark. The street lamps on the road above the beach helped, too.
He had just settled down just a few inches from the coast when he noticed someone moving on the water. He squinted, trying to make out the figure surfing in the dark. The stranger’s eyes glowed, and Louis could vaguely make out their broad shoulders lined against the moonlight.
Louis was debating on whether to greet the local or just leave them be when a familiar deep measured voice called out across the water, “Louis!”
“Legosi?” Louis tentatively called back. There was a pause, and for a second Louis thought he could see Legosi’s tail wagging in the dark.
Legosi’s silhouette moved toward the coast, and Louis briefly remembered how his arms easily cut through the water when they met this morning, well, technically yesterday morning. He watched as Legosi paddled closer and closer to him. He was wearing the same wet suit from earlier.
“What are you doing out here?” Legosi asked once he stood on the shore, slightly shaking his head to get the water off. “Isn’t it a little late?”
“I could say the same for you.” Louis answered. “I don’t imagine surfing at night is a normal thing for surfers?” He quirked an eyebrow at the wolf, but he seemed to take the teasing in stride.
Legosi plopped down on the sand beside him, laying his surfboard by his side. Louis noticed that it didn’t have a rope attached to it.
“No—what did you call it again? Leash was it?” He pointed at the tail end of the board.
“Oh,” Legosi perked up at the mention of his surfboard, tail wagging slightly. “You don’t really need a leash unless the waves are really big, or if there are a lot of people out surfing.”
Unlike their frazzled first encounter, Louis could clearly take in Legosi’s appearance now. The wolf had grey-blue fur that was colored slightly deeper under the cover of the night. He was large, larger than other wolves Louis has met, with long limbs and broad shoulders, and probably large fangs as well if he were to check. He also noticed that Legosi did his best to hide his claws.
But what stood out the most was Legosi’s subdued facial features. Louis doesn’t think he’s ever met a carnivore with such quiet eyes. It was quite a juxtaposition. He had an intimidating figure but with an aura that made him disappear into a crowd, and yet Louis couldn’t help but notice every inch of him.
Legosi tilted his head at him, “Hm? Is something wrong, Louis?”
“N-no,” Louis said, slightly flustered at having been caught staring. “I was simply wondering why you didn’t answer my question.”
“Your question?”
“Do surfers usually surf at night?” He gestured at Legosi’s surfboard.
“Ah, not really. It isn’t really safe, especially for some herbivores.” Legosi replied, as he looked out onto the sea. “But it’s calming for me. It feels nice to disappear into the waves.”
“Disappear?”
Legosi nodded, “It’s true carnivores can see in the dark, but it isn’t perfect vision.” He looked down on his hands and observed the fur on it. Louis couldn’t help but look, too. “Colors blur together. So when I put my body against the water, it’s like I’m made of waves.”
He looked back up at Louis, and smiled. The same kind he gave the first time they met, all soft with no teeth, his eyes crinkled ever so slightly. It made Louis’ breath catch a little.
“Louis, you didn’t answer me, too.” Legosi said, “What are you doing out this late?”
“Right. I couldn’t sleep.” Louis looked away, an attempt to break the spell Legosi’s smile had on him. “The usual bad dream. I thought the sea would help.”
Legosi nodded again. “The sea is really calming.“ he said, ”It’s nice to just sit and—“
“It’s not that,” Louis interrupted, “It reminded me of a memory.”
Louis wondered why he was telling a stranger about his childhood, but there was something about Legosi’s gentle eyes that made it feel alright.
“It was my first time at the beach and my father was teaching me how to swim. It was nice. I felt . . safe.” He sighed, “I guess I just thought I could get that safe feeling if I were to sit here. Or at least help me feel somewhat calm.”
It was also the first time Louis heard his father laugh. Not a scoff, or a chuckle, but a full, hearty laugh. Louis hadn’t quite gotten how to do proper strokes, so he had flopped around in the water without moving an inch. Louis must have been around 11 years old back then. It was a mild summer day. The sun wasn’t too hot, and the breeze was cool on his skin. They had drove to a private beach his father had rented for the weekend. His father had made a point to send the Keir Security away, so it was just them. For a little while, Louis felt like they were a family.
“Is it helping?” Legosi asked, breaking Louis away from his thoughts.
“A little? Maybe not at all, but I don’t think I’m getting anymore sleep anyway,” Louis shrugged, “Considering I’ve been passed out for the entire of the day so—what are you doing?”
Louis had looked back at Legosi only to find him digging around in the sand in front of him. He seemed excited about it, if the way his tail wagged was any indication. Louis wondered if this was just a thing canines did randomly.
Eventually, Legosi put up his hand in triumph. He was holding a medium sized seashell in his hand, the kind that swirled out until it opened fully.
“Here, it’s something my grandpa taught me.” Legosi offered the seashell to Louis. “I had trouble sleeping when I was a kid, too.”
Louis took the seashell and turned it around in his palm. “And what exactly am I supposed to do with this?”
“Press it against your ear and listen.” Legosi put his hand to his ear as an example.
Louis was a little skeptical but he figured it wouldn’t hurt. He did as he was told and mimicked the wolf’s actions. The seashell was cool against his ear.
He looked at Legosi expectantly, “Nothing’s happening.”
“Just listen. You’ll hear it.”
“Alright.” He closed his eyes for good measure and tried to focus. He was starting to feel silly when he heard it. A steady kind of whispering coming from the shell. It sounded like—
“The sea.” Louis said, opening his eyes to look at Legosi.
Legosi was wagging his tail. He looked like an excited puppy. “What do you think?”
“It’s nice. I see how it helped you sleep.” He looked at the seashell. “I might have to take some in a jar with me when I return home.” He joked.
Legosi looked a little agitated at the mention of Louis taking home seashells. His ears were sticking straight up, and he was shaking his hands as if telling Louis to stop. “Ah, you can’t! The seashells contain spirits from the sea, and those spirits belong home, here.”
Louis raised a brow at Legosi. “Do you honestly believe that?” The words came out a little more biting than he intended. “They’re just shells.”
“It’s a local belief.” Legosi said sternly, his puppy-like demeanor now gone. “The water, the sea animals, they’re incredibly respected here. You might not believe in superstitions, Louis. But I’d really appreciate it if you respected ours during your stay.”
Louis was a little taken aback at how serious the wolf was. Legosi’s eyes were sharp and unwavering, a contrast to how gentle they usually looked. His tail was stock-still behind him. Louis wondered if Legosi had fought someone over this. He thought it was kind of stupid to do so, and yet somewhat endearing.
“I suppose I’ll have to suffice with alternatives then.” Louis finally said, conceding to his request. He still thought the whole ordeal of spirits living in a shell like some sort of ghostly hermit crab was ludicrous, but he supposed it wouldn’t be too much for him to play along.
Legosi softened. The sharp look on his face faded away, and his tail wagged slightly. Louis tried not to think about how seeing the wolf happy made him feel.
“How did your grandfather manage to do it anyway? Wouldn’t it have been easier if he simply recorded the sound of the sea?”
Legosi nodded, Louis noticed it was a thing the wolf frequently did. It was kind of charming. “It’s kind of like when you ask your parents to get you a glass of water or milk in the middle of the night, you know? And maybe you don’t really need the water, but just the knowledge that they’re there.”
Louis was taken aback. He couldn’t imagine a comfort like that, the kind that was so aggressively present. He doesn’t think there was ever a time when his father came and soothed him when he had a nightmare, it was mostly Mrs. Cecile or any other maid that was available. Sometimes, it was just him.
“And your grandfather would do this every night you couldn’t sleep?” He stared at the seashell in his hand. “It must be nice to have someone like that.”
“Hm? Wasn’t it your father’s memory that made you go here?”
Louis clutched the seashell, “My father is a complicated deer. That must’ve been my only good memory of him. Don’t misunderstand, he wouldn’t leave me for dead, but he’s just not present.” Louis had to scoff at himself, “It’s kind of ironic actually. I came here to run away from my father, and yet here I am, my first day away and using a memory of him no less, to calm myself down.”
Louis waved a hand in dismissal, as the topic was starting to feel invasive. “But enough about me. Does this town have any more customs I should be aware of?”
Legosi regarded Louis for a moment, like he was debating on whether or not to push the topic. Louis silently hoped he wouldn’t. Legosi was friendly enough, but he’d rather not open up to a stranger, even if he did have kind eyes that almost makes Louis be honest.
“We have these festivals,” Legosi finally said, but he still looked like he was pondering on whether to ask about Louis’ life. “Every summer and winter. We celebrate out goddess’ arrival and departure.”
“A goddess? I—” Louis stopped himself before he could say anything else, “I see. That’s interesting. Does she have a name?”
“Ah, but you might be familiar with her already, Louis. This beach is named after her.”
Louis thought back on the signs he had seen on his first day in the town. “Ione? I’d have imagined the town would have been named after her, instead of just a beach.”
“Oh! But the town’s name is really nice, too. It means ‘wave.’ So Ione leaves for the ocean but still returns to the waves.” Legosi had that soft smile on his face again. “She’s always home. Isn’t that so nice?”
“It is.” Louis breathed, not entirely sure on what part he was agreeing on, or maybe it was that damned smile that was messing with him again. “I might have to come back someday and witness the festival for myself.”
“You might not have to wait that long. The summer festival starts on the 28th.” Legosi thought for a moment, “Hm, if today is the 12th, it’s around two weeks from now.”
Louis immediately perked up at the mention of the two week wait for the festival. He could have two weeks for himself, and this time he actually had a somewhat valid reason for disappearing.
“Alright then, it appears I’m staying until September.” Louis declared, a statement mostly directed at himself rather than Legosi. “This festival better be worth my while.”
“Ah, Louis, please don’t be pressured to stay!” Legosi’s eyes were wide in panic, “You might have school or work to go back to. It’s fine really, you can come back—”
Louis interrupted Legosi’s rambling with a wave of his hand. He had already began mentally planning how to get Pina to lend him some money without his father finding out. “My university’s second term doesn’t start until the end of September and I don’t really work so it’s perfect.”
“Well, if you say so,” Legosi hesitantly said, “If you’re really sure—”
“I am.”
“—The summer festival lasts for three days, maybe even a week but those extra days are mostly unofficial.”
“That’s even better.” Louis figured if he tried hard enough, he could push that two and a half weeks into an entire month. He turned to fully face Legosi, newly invigorated with his plan. “Now, tell more about this summer festival and what it entails. Actually, tell me about the winter one as well.”
“Uh, you’re getting really excited about this, Louis.” Legosi’s brows furrowed, “Should I be worried?”
“Isn’t it a good thing for me, a tourist, to participate in local festivities? And to be fully informed of its customs?”
“Um, okay. How about we talk about it tomorrow? I promised you that tour anyway.” Legosi stood and picked up his surfboard. He then began walking towards the stairs the stairs that led out of the beach.
Louis stared at Legosi’s retreating form. Was Legosi going home? Is he supposed to follow? This couldn’t be another local custom, right? He distinctly remembered Legosi bidding him goodbye when they first met.
“Where are you going?” His tone was accusing. He had stood up as well, and was staring Legosi down.
“I’m walking you home?” Legosi asked back, a little confused, as if the idea was obvious already.
“Without informing me, the person you’re walking home?” Louis huffed, “Is this another local thing?”
“Do you not want me to walk you home, Louis? I know I’m a carnivore and all, but—”
If Louis was confused at first, now he was offended. He wasn’t even listening anymore. Did this wolf think he couldn’t hold his own against him? Or worse, that he needed protection? He had his fill of arrogant carnivores growing up, especially since he was quite small compared to the typical male red deer. He wasn’t having any of that typical ‘protect the herbivore’ trope.
He pushed past Legosi, “You are not walking me home. You will accompany me home.”
Legosi stumbled to catch up to him, “I-Isn’t that the same thing?”
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They were lost.
But if Louis was being honest, he was lost.
To be fair, at the beginning he thought knew where he was heading, but by the third turn into a random alley, he had found himself face to face with a dead end. They were quite far from the main street, if the woods that lined the houses at this part of town were any indication.
“Uh, Louis? Are you sure you know—”
“I told you, I do.”
Legosi had been quietly trailing behind him for the last few minutes, looking mildly concerned the entire time. “But Louis, this is—”
“Maybe I simply wanted to take a detour, and how are you so sure this isn’t where I’m staying?” Louis snapped.
“Because this is where I live?” Legosi pointed at a building by the edge of the woods. It was two stories high and the pale brown paint on the walls were slightly worn. Louis could make out a bottle of some sort of disinfectant placed beside the door.
“Fine, damn it. I’m lost.” Louis crossed his arms. “I was trying to find that Golden Mane place.”
“Ah, you kinda went in the opposite—”
Louis put a hand up to stop Legosi, “Just. Please lead me to the inn. Thank you.”
Legosi promptly turned around and headed out of the alley they were in with Louis following close behind.
As they walked, Louis couldn’t help thinking about how he had reacted. He could almost hear his father telling him to curb his arrogance. He could see that look on his father’s face, the one that told him the conversation was over, even though Louis barely got a word in. He rubbed a hand down his face. Maybe he did get ahead of himself back there, especially over something so simple. It was weird for Legosi to take off like that, but Louis supposes he should have heard him out first before jumping to certain conclusions.
He glanced at Legosi’s figure walking in front of him. In the few moments he’s gotten to know Legosi, he always seemed sincere, even a little air headed. A contrast to the fake politeness he’s used to back home. There was none of the quick, disdainful looks some carnivores, and even sometimes larger herbivores, would throw at him once they realized how small he was for a red deer. He had to smile to himself, maybe he could relax here, maybe even feel a little better.
“We’re here.”
Louis abruptly stopped walking. They were right in front of the Golden Mane Inn with Legosi standing by the porch entrance, looking at Louis expectantly.
“Hm? Is everything okay, Louis? Did you forget something?” Legosi tilted his head questioningly.
“No, I was just thinking of something.” Louis quickly said. He walked up to the front door, but before he put his key in, he turned back around to face Legosi.
He was about to apologize for being stubborn when he realized that the wolf was watching him. Legosi’s fur was colored warm under the soft porch light. He smiled when their eyes met. “Oh, don’t mind me. I was just making sure you were safely inside before leaving.”
Louis rolled his eyes, but the sentiment got to him a little. “This is a small town, how dangerous can it get?”
Legoshi scratched the back of his neck, “Well, not much. It’s a habit, I guess. My grandpa always taught me to stay until I was sure people were okay.” He looked back up at Louis, “I think it’s better to be sure.”
Louis went back to open the front door. When he was halfway through he turned to look back at Legosi.
“Well, I’m safe.” He gestured vaguely at the door, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Legosi gave a short nod, and despite his neutral face Louis caught the brief wag of his tail. “I’ll be at the beach like always.”
He gave Louis a small wave before finally walking back up the path to the main road. Louis watched as he went. When he couldn’t see Legosi anymore, he proceeded to go inside. He tried his best not to wake Ibuki, wherever he was, as he crept up the stairs to his room.
He flopped back down on his bed and tried to squeeze a few more hours of sleep before the morning came. This time, his sleep was devoid of any bad dreams.