it’s a little odd to be leading a strange boy through territories they themselves aren’t exactly familiar with, but everytime Spider begins to second guess themselves, they look over their shoulder at the filthy kid and remember why this is so important in the first place. he needs help, it’s clear as day: aside from the filth, he’s too thin and too shy, watching them warily as though expecting Spider to strike him any minute. as if they’d do such a thing! Spider doesn’t go around hitting strange boys for no reason. “it’s just this way,” they call over their shoulder, ensuring the boy is still behind them. the crash of waves on sand begins to sound in the distance, sending a chill down their spine, but Spider pushes it determinedly away.

they won’t be going into the water, they’ll just…watch over the boy and make sure he doesn’t need any help. once they’re about half way down the beach, Spider stops, unwilling to go a step closer. hopefully the boy won’t question why. “there we are,” they chirp, looking at the boy expectantly. “the world’s biggest bath.”

"Speech"

Beau had been trailing the other wolf through the terrain for a little while now, and each step he took away from the swamplands was… amazing. the fear of leaving his brother behind has still there, sticking to the roof of his mouth like blood; but Beau told himself that he wouldn’t think about it, and well, it was working so far.

“there we are,” chirped the young wolf, leading Beau out into the clearing of a beautiful, crystalline water that Beau could only ever dream of. “the world’s biggest bath.” once again, the world was proving to be anything but what Lucian had condemned it was, and Beau was too excited to get to know it than remember he was supposed to be afraid. “it’s so… not-swampy,” Beau settled, only a little awkwardly. he then paused, titling his head in the direction in the other wolf. it had suddenly occurred to him that he didn’t know what to do with himself in a place like this, and sheepishly admitted, “what am I supposed to do here?”

"Speech"

Spider is watching the boy, so they catch the blatant awe flickering across his pale face. it surprises them to see how wondrous he seems to find a bit of water, and a part of them half expects this to all be some elaborate prank of some sort. just how sheltered is this kid? “yup, not swampy at all!” they announce brightly, trying to inject enough enthusiasm into their voice to entice Beau into actually entering the water. “isn’t that great?” they take another trembling step closer, but are unable to make themselves approach the water any further. “um, so…why don’t you just hop and get clean, and i’ll…stand guard.”

hopefully the boy wouldn’t notice the faint shudder of terror that racked their spine everytime they so much as glanced in the ocean’s direction. no, they think to themselves sternly, trying to ignore the nausea roiling through their stomach. no time for fear right now - not when i’m helping someone out. “go on, then. what are you waiting for?”

Speech

Beau blinks. twice. three times. he continues to stare at the other wolf. it should make sense. if the world can be clean and nice and safe and beautiful, then Beau should be, too. however, the idea of jumping into the water, making himself visible, making himself known is something Lucian would never approve of. always be hidden and unremarkable, he’d hound, again and again and again – but fuck it. fuck Lucian. Beau had decided that today he will explore! after all, Lucian was wrong about it all, wasn’t he?

“nothing! i’m going, okay!” Beau said, shrugging at the other wolf’s… weirdness, all of a sudden. they remind him of Lucian a little bit, the distant expression, the weariness of something, the anxiety. he doesn’t know what to do about it, so instead he chooses to ignore it. it’s often how he deals with Lucian and his strange moods most of the time, anyway.

Beau walks forward into the sand, the gritty texture familiar, like dirt almost, but finer. he brings himself to the water’s edge where the white foam is crashing gently onto the earth. Beau asks excitedly, “can I drink it?”

"Speech"

the boy tramples recklessly through the water, and the utter joy on his face sparks something in Spider’s heart. joy lights their gaze as they follow his route, beaming as the muck of the swamp bleeds away from his pale coat. all clean like this he is snow-white and striking in appearance, standing out amidst the cerulean water. but his next words jolt them out of their reverie, eyes widening as they truly study the boy before them. “what do you mean, you didn’t know oceans were real?” they demand, uncertainty spilling into their tone. just what is this boy’s deal? is he…okay? “Spider,” they add, expression still wary. “my name…it’s Spider.” they search the boy’s blue gaze, as though trying to pull the truth just from his face alone. “what’s yours?”

Speech

“i just… i’ve been with just my brother so long that –“ shit. he’s made a mistake somewhere. he can’t pinpoint what it was, but there’s a tension to the air that wasn’t there before. “oh, and. it’s Beau. like beautiful,” he says and cringes. nope that definitely didn’t help, especially from a boy that Spider had called ‘grubby’ and deemed ‘needing of a bath’ upon meeting him.

with the air suddenly cold, beau comes out of the water, leaving all the mud and grim behind it. all at once, it occurs to beau how… /exposed/ he is. it was the point of course to get clean, but being noticeable, being known is crashing into him like the ocean waves, and beau is painfully aware of how stark white is fur is.

“i’m not hidden anymore,” he whispers. “the world can see me. this isn’t right.”

"Speech"

Beau. beautiful. Spider snorts, unable to help themselves. “bit, ah…ironic, that one,” they offer, hoping they haven’t offended the boy. only…now that he isn’t completely covered in slime, he’s undeniably…decent looking. pretty, even - if one were into that kind of thing. “your brother?” they press, confused. if Beau has family, why does he seem so neglected? so…frightened? perhaps Beau’s brother is like Spider’s Ex-Mum, the very idea of which raises their hackles. if this is the case then Beau definitely needs their help. “you’re right,” Spider whispers, coming over to meet Beau now that he’s excited the water. there’s real fear in his eyes, and Spider wants nothing more than to assuage them the way Hazel had assuaged theirs. “you might be vulnerable,” they whisper, hoping he can read the earnestness in their gaze, “but…you’re also…real.“ they hope Beau will understand what they mean?

Speech