Lunar Cycle

Voices were the first thing that floated through Garrinnes black consciousness. One was the withery voice of an old man that seemed familiar. That was peculiar, but the other voice drew just as much notice, not because he recognized it, but because the timbre of it was unusual. A low tenor that carried softly, but with an expressive strength behind it that gave musical qualities to its inflections. He focused on these voices as he began the long climb back into full consciousness.

As his eyelids peeled back the first sight to confront his eyes was a mane of fluffy blonde hair. As the light hit off it he noticed red highlights and he almost wondered if he had perhaps fallen asleep next to a collie. His eyes flicked toward movement as they began to focus. They widened, in front of the shaggy haired human (he noticed) was a person he’d never thought he would see again.

“Kennielle Everette.” He gasped before he could stop himself.

The conversation stopped. The blonde swung around in his seat fast enough to become blur. Garrinnes focus, however, was entirely on the seemingly doddery old man. Kenny gave a hesitant smile and glanced significantly at the blonde, his eyes seeming to say they would catch up after the human left. Garrinnes gave a small nod in understanding and turned his attention toward the human hovering over him who was radiating concern.

The first shock came when he gazed into the blonde’s eyes. They were two different colors. His left eye swirled in a myriad of bright blue tones with flecks of navy and royal in them before giving way to the black pupil. His right eye reminded Garrinnes of an evergreen forest as it was a deep brown with flecks of rich green strewn throughout. Thick blonde lashes brought out the colors well and expressive eyebrows shaped his forehead in a way that they brought attention to the eyes. Garrinnes finally tore his gaze from the eyes to the mouth, light pink lips moved with a grace all their own as they formed words that he was too dazed to hear. The fluffy blonde-gold hair fell around the face and slightly into the worried eyes like a cloud, while the hairdo seemed outdated, it suited the man before him, even if he did feel a strange twinge of regret at seeing part of those unique eyes covered up. The blonde’s entire face was handsome with a strong chin and high cheek bones. His gaze slid lower locking onto the well toned body that the almost skintight, black tank top did little to hide. The black shirt complemented the man’s pale skin tone well. He let his eyes slip even lower to take in the faded jeans that scrunched up a little on lean hips. He looked back up to the face and noticed with odd satisfaction a slight blush forming on the pale cheeks.

“Uh, I think he’s checking me out…” Lyle said after turning to check on the animal that had made a low whimper noise and felt his cheeks heating. He then realized what he just said and his blush deepened, how could a dog check him out? It would be more like sizing him up, right? Since his back was turned to Kenny he failed to see the amused expression that rose on the man’s face. Kenny knew Garrinnes was, indeed, checking out the young human and the thought made him want to smile and frown at the same time. He decided a distraction was in order.

A sharp metallic clink sounded behind Lyle. Without even turning around he knew what the doctor had picked up.

“Don’t even think about it.” Lyle said in mock-icy tones, since his back was turned to the doctor he allowed himself a small grin. The man was persistent.

Kenny sighed and set down the scissors, “But I really do think you need to cut that hippie-eighties hair of yours. I mean it must get in the way! And your eyes are too magnificent to cover up.” Kenny grumbled in almost-disappointment. Lyle’s grin took on a bitter-sweet quality, he knew that his eyes unsettled more people than intrigued them and most of the ones they did intrigue usually didn’t turn out to be as nice as Kenny or Sam.

“Yeah, well, I need this hair-cut for the band.” Lyle half-lied, turning a little to look at his would-be
Uncle, a lop-sided grin overtaking the bitter one. Kenny pursed his lips and shook his head.

“You little brats and your loud noise! I still can’t believe Sam talked you into that thing he calls a band.” And he almost couldn’t, when he had first met Lyle the man had been reserved to the point of rudeness. Thinking about Lyle on stage, pouring his heart out in a song with multitudes of people watching seemed like a small miracle. Lyle’s grin faltered a bit before he picked it back up with new intensity, although Kenny wasn’t sure if it was real or not.

“Yeah, surprised me too! But, I guess it’s kinda like, well,” Lyle stopped, a little embarrassed and almost shame-filled, “well, uh, you probably wouldn’t be interested in silly reasons for singing noise, right? So, uh, what should we do about the dog?” Lyle glanced quickly to the dog, who was studying him with an intensity that made him feel like even the dog knew he was dodging something.

Kenny pursed his lips at the quick evasion, he had thought for a second that Lyle was going to open up a little. He sighed and let the distraction go. “I think you should leave him with me for the night and come back tomorrow afternoon.”

“He’s okay, though?”

Kenny nodded, back to his distracted doctor look, “Yes, yes, just worn a little thin. Now go on, shoo, you need your rest too.” He made shooing motions with his hands as he harried the young man towards the door. Lyle grinned and let himself be herded, pausing at the door as a thin hand held onto his arm. “Make sure you eat something, yes?”

Lyle patted the hand affectionately, which was more contact than he was used to, and said, “Of course, doctor’s orders, right?”

“Darn tootin’!”

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Kennielle turned from the now closed and locked door with a more serious expression as he moved back into the exam room. “Now, Prince Garin, I believe an explanation is owed as to why you have interrupted my exile.” The Rottweiler sat upright on the table almost as if waiting for him to return.

The dog inclined his head a little before speaking, and unlike Lyle, Kennielle understood every word, “I apologize for disturbing you, Master Kennielle, I had not intended to make contact, I didn’t even realize you were in this realm.”

“One of the terms of my exile, that no one would know.” Kennielle sighed, “My prince, I would like to know how you came to be in this state.” There was an uncomfortable silence as Garin’s liquid brown eyes glanced away. Kennielle almost resigned himself to the fact that he would be left in the dark again by another youth he cared for, but Garin glanced up again with something akin to frustration and shame.

“They picked my partner. I found him distasteful and ran away, only I don’t know this place and I got lost.”

“From your form, I take it the seal hasn’t been broken?” Kennielle asked both surprised and really not. The young prince he knew would have found all forms of arranged marriage disagreeable, but would have suffered through one for duty. To have him actually run away from said duty, well, that left little doubt as to the nature of the partner chosen for him. Garin half-barked a laugh out.

“Most definitely. I ran away well before the last cycle was completed.” He snorted haughtily, “I would have torn him to shreds had he tried to break it anyway.” As he finished his sentence he pulled back his lips over the canine snout revealing sharp teeth in a dangerous grin.

Kennielle raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure you would have. I suppose I should send you to the portal holder in this world, so you can report back your reasons,” he ignored the way Garin winced and continued, “however, if I send you straight-a-way Lyle will be all over me asking questions I can’t answer about the poor doggy he saved. So-”

“That blonde? His name is Lyle?” Garin interjected without exactly meaning to, but the human had piqued his interest. The oddities of his eyes as well as his personality were both things Garin would have liked to have time to muse over.

“Yes,” Kennielle said warily, “why?”

“He-wait, you said he saved me?”

“Apparently you passed out in the middle of the street and he rushed into oncoming traffic to grab you, getting a pretty nasty wound on his arm in the process.” Kennielle shrugged nonchalantly and he smiled softly as he thought of the young man, “Not that you’d ever hear that one complaining, though.”

“You approve of him? A human?” Garin couldn’t stop some the surprise or even some of the envy from coming through in his voice. Kennielle looked over at him sharply.

“He is an exceptional young man, and yes, I do approve.” His gaze softened as he looked at the young prince, “You know I approve of you too, right? You didn’t do something stupid like think you were the reason I left, did you?” He pursed his lips.

Surprise flitted across the Rottweiler’s features before he gave another canine grin. Kennielle shook his head. “Master Kennielle, you-”

“Please, call me Kenny.”

Garin swallowed a lump that formed in his throat, effectively swallowing the words he was about to say. For a moment they simply stared at each other until another grin came across his face, “I have an idea as to what to do about our predicament.”