Chapter Text
It called to him.
Like a howl on the wind, it sang to him in the rustle of leaves. It enticed him through the sharp prick of pine scent he breathed. And then beckoning to him with the feeling of dirt shifting under his bare feet rather than laid cobblestone under shoes.
Everyone said to stay away from the Umberwood.
And yet he found his feet taking him there in dreams and in waking hours of late.
The Umberwood was always dark, they said.
Even on the brightest of days, they would peer through the branches and thick trunks of the trees and it would become shadowed enough to mimic the night only a few dozen paces in. While the dark itself did not bother Yugi as much as it should, he knew that people feared the unknown of what else could be lurking deep within the depths of the Umberwood.
Because everyone knew that things lurked in there. Even if they weren't sure what.
Few people had the courage to even step past the threshold of the Umberwood. Only their bravest or most daring hunters and the soldiers of the king dared to enter the dark parts past the trees. And the Hunters guild, of course.
Yugi did not think himself as particularly brave…but he often found his feet taking him towards the edges of their village the few times he was allowed out without an escort. It was probably because of this habit of his that he was rarely allowed out without an escort. Each and every time he drifted that way, beckoned by the sharp scent of pine, someone would always spot him and then lead him back on their arm, patting his hand gently and saying he must have gotten turned around again.
But Yugi always knew where he was going. Even in the blackest of shadows, he could find his way. They just didn't know that. They couldn't know that.
Of all the places they'd been in Yugi's nineteen years, they had stayed here the longest. Something Yugi was endlessly grateful for. Before it had been too risky to stay in any place too long, knowing that suspicions could only grow the longer they were watched. But finally they seemed to have found a village big enough that they could blend in with, but not too close to the main kingdom roads where soldiers and Hunters were always on the prowl.
And even better, Yugi had finally been able to make friends his own age. Ones that seemed happy to spend time with him and include him things they did…rather than just whispering about him in passing like many did, not realizing Yugi heard everything they said.
Given all that his grandfather had to do for Yugi all his life, it seemed like a god given mercy to finally let them find a place that they could hope to remain in for more than a year or two at a time. Grandpa was getting older, and moving around would become harder for him. He deserved rest. He deserved everything as far as Yugi was concerned after sacrificing so much for his grandson, but they were happy to settle for this little home and their little shop. As long as they were together, safe…
And undetected.
For now anyway, because Hunters were always a possible threat no matter where they went.
But as long as they were careful…and gave no reason for anyone to suspect anything, they'd be fine.
Yugi sighed as he rested his arms on the windowsill, breathing in the crisp, clean air that drifted over his face and played with the loose bangs over his face.
He could hear the sounds of the leaves rustling in the distance as the branches swayed in time with the wind. He could hear the blacksmith putting away his tools after a long day at the bellows, the sharp clanging of metal being thrown into a box, and he could picture Honda helping his father cleaning up the shop. The musky scent of yeast was growing dim after Anzu's family's bakery had closed hours ago, but Yugi knew it would become strong again before the sun rose when they'd start their morning bakes fresh. There was rough laughter coming from the tavern, and Yugi knew from the volume alone that Jounouchi would be up late running tables and ale for the hungry farmers and merchants that got back that afternoon from the markets.
Everything here was familiar territory now, and it brought some sort of comfort to Yugi. As much comfort as he could get anyway. He'd long ago come to the realization that being truly comfortable meant risking everything. And Yugi just couldn't afford to risk anything then or now. Not with Grandpa getting older, and them finally finding a place they may just be able to linger in.
Survival first. The most basic of instincts.
Yugi rubbed at his arms that felt stiff, and shuffled his legs that screamed at him to move, but wouldn't allow his body more indulgence than that. He'd grown used to the feeling anyway.
"Aren't you cold? That chill tonight is something else. I've lit a fire to keep us warm tonight."
Yugi hid his grimace, but he'd known the fire was lit the moment he heard the flint striking stone, and smelled the pungent scent of burning wood and smoke when it had first been lit.
"Sorry, I wanted some air. Felt stuffy, I suppose," Yugi replied to his grandfather quietly. The scent of freshly chipped wood wafted under Yugi's nose as he listened to Grandpa walking across their little home above the toy shop.
Yugi's skin itched as stretched out to grasp the frame, but he ignored it as he had for most of his life, and pulled the window shut.
"Let's close the curtains too, eh?" Grandpa said cheerfully, and Yugi heard the sound of the drapes being tugged in place and then heavy footsteps padding over to where he sat, "Did you have a good day?"
Yugi shrugged, "The village children are getting a little old for toys, so I was only able to sell a set of dice and cards today."
"I see. Perhaps we'll have to start thinking of new inventory then. Just because we get older doesn't mean we don't want to play. I find we only stop because there isn't as much time for it. But I'm sure we'll think of something to appeal to them soon. Or maybe the village will be lucky enough to be blessed with new babies in the coming year."
Yugi wasn't so sure about that. Their village had not been blessed with any new children in nearly a decade. It was for several reasons that no one liked to talk about, but his grandfather was more than happy to ignore completely.
Yugi chose silence as his response.
"Oh, and I picked up a book for you while I was out."
Yugi smiled at last, eagerly turning his head to where he knew Grandpa was standing, "What kind?"
"A storybook, of course. Your favorite," Grandpa laughed, ruffling Yugi's hair, "We can read it before bed. Let me just finish closing the curtains and you can get cozy."
Yugi was nearly vibrating with excitement as he listened to Grandpa puttering around the single room that made up their living quarters. As he moved around, Yugi could picture it all. Where their two beds were tucked into corners. The single chair by the fireplace that only his grandfather ever sat in. Two small stools under a sturdy table they'd made together years ago. The table would be covered in woodworking tools and wood chips, half finished projects scattered over the surface that they pushed aside when it was time to eat.
They'd lived in so many places over the years, but he didn't find any one place more like home than anywhere else. Yugi had come to believe it wasn't so much the house or even the village they lived in, but it was just knowing Grandpa was there, they had what they needed to survive, and that they were both safe that he needed to feel at home.
Yugi had felt the sun go down hours before, and knew it would be pitch black in their little room if not for the fire in the hearth. The village would be getting progressively quieter as many homes would turn to bed soon, but as always, Yugi never truly felt tired just because the sun dipped away. If anything, he felt more alive for it.
He just knew that he had to sleep at the same time as everyone else so he didn't draw attention…and because he didn't want to keep Grandpa up either.
Warm, calloused fingers traced over Yugi's cheeks and past his ears, "Let's get this off too. You'll be more comfortable that way," came the weathered voice that he adored more than any sound in the world.
The thick cloth tied over his eyes was tugged free, and Yugi sighed in relief as he blinked his eyes open at last.
At the edge of the Umberwood, a pair of slit eyes peered out from the bushes. A nose lifted to the air, scenting it. This hunt had been much too long, his concern for the others tugging him back to his own territory. But after catching that tickle of familiarity carrying on the cold gale, he couldn't return just yet.
Not until he'd found the source of that scent.
But with how quiet the village was, and how still the little houses were, he knew now was not the time to strike. He would have to wait until doors and windows opened, and the humans were less on guard from shadows.
Make no mistake though, his hunt would continue once the sun rose.
Taking to a tree branch, he settled in for a long night of waiting.
He hoped that by morning, it would have all been worth it.