Jack hummed softly to himself as he walked through the woods. It all felt so new and alluring. He couldn't recall a time that he was wasn't trapped behind those walls. He felt so free. The snow that covered the pine trees was beautiful and despite it getting really dark, the stars shined brightly enough that the snow seemed to glow with moonlight. The snow fell in heavier flurries and a chilling breeze swayed the branches, but Jack admired it all from the safety of the road. Upon glancing over his shoulder, Jack noticed that Mark walked at a distance among the trees. Not once had he step foot on the road. Grimacing a bit, Jack told him nicely. "You know... You are making me uncomfortable. I feel like you're stalking me. Can't you just walk with me?" Mark's voice came out low and guarded, when he replied. "I am." Jack stopped and beckoned him over. Mark stopped to lean on a tree but didn't approach him. Sighing, Jack gestured around, telling him. "Mark... There is no one around. We are fine." Mark folded his arms over his chest, informing him in a cool smug tone. "Jack, you're never alone in the woods. There is always someone or something watching. Or listening."

Looking around, Jack saw nothing. There was just trees and more trees. Raising an eyebrow, he looked back at Mark a bit unconvinced. Mark beckoned him over with a finger, his lips trying hard not to curl into a smile. Fearlessly, Jack strolled up to him, holding his chin high in playful defiance. Mark took his shoulders, slowly turning him around. Pulling him back against his chest, he slowly raised his hands to cover Jack's eyes. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered to him. "Just stop and listen." Mark's warm breath moved away from his ear, but his hands stayed over his eyes. Taking a deep breath, Jack listened like he wanted. He couldn't imagine anything was out this late at night. It seemed silly. Was Mark teasing him? Was he trying to scare him? For a minute or two, he heard nothing. He was getting a little bored, until he heard the soft hooting from something in the trees and the soft crunching of snow in the distance. Grabbing Mark's wrist, he pulled one of his wrists down, causing Mark to move his hands off him. He looked around to see them but saw nothing. He didn't understand it. Turning wide eyes on Mark, Mark chuckled out softly. "See? The woods never sleep. They just go silent around predators. They listen to each other. You only see them when they want you too."

Jack bite his lip, watching Mark walk slow and with every other step he stopped to listen to things around him. Walking up along side him on the road where the snow was less deep, Jack asked him curiously. "How do you know that? Is it a wolf thing?" Mark snorted to himself, before answering softly. "No. It's instinct. You have it too. Humans just don't use it like they should. Which is why you die in these woods. You have no idea how life works out here." Mark gestured to the road, sourly growling out. "You think just because someone put a road through it that you're safe? That the animals who live here will just stay out of your way?" Jack shrugged, telling him under his breath. "You grew up in the village though. How do you know about how life works out here?" Mark stopped short and Jack skidded to a stop like he'd hit a nerve. Looking over his shoulder, Mark told him firmly. "I live in the village because... I can't live in the woods." Jack inched closer to him, asking softly. "Why not?" Mark didn't answer. He just picked up his pace and avoided his eyes. Jack hung back from him a bit, wincing with regret for asking. For a bit they walked in awkward silence, before Jack tried to change the subject a little by asking gently. "Did you ever try asking my Granny if you could live with her? I mean... if she likes you, then I don't see her having a problem with it."

Mark didn't look back at him, when he stated flatly. "No. I'd just put her in danger." Jack narrowed his eyes on Mark, asking curiously. "Why?" Mark stopped, exhaling loudly as he dropped his face into his hand. Moving around him, Jack shrugged out innocently. "Talk to me. You know all about me. It's your turn." Mark shook his head, telling him seriously. "You already know too much. More than enough for them to burn you at the stake... or worse." Mark started to move, until Jack slammed a hand on a tree to block Mark from walking off. Staring him down, Jack flashed him a small smile when he told him casually. "Well, if I'm already condemned to go to hell. Then what's the problem?" Mark straightened up to his full height, his jaw clenching with irritation. Stepping off the road to stand in front of him, Jack rested his shoulder on the tree and asked in a sweeter voice. "Mark? I won't tell anyone. I have no one to tell. But I wanna understand..." Mark rolled his eyes, but bowing his head, he exhaled out reluctantly. "The Pack that lives here. They... They think of me like a tamed house pet. A spy for the humans. So... They chase me away. Which is why I make my trips to the woods brief and can't stay. I'm not welcome here and my life in the village is fragile... I'm a person with each of my feet in a different world. And neither of them wants me because of what I am."

Jack's heart went out to him, raising a hand to stroke his fingers over Mark's cheek. Trying to be gentle, he asked him a little confused. "But... I thought they turned you? Why would they turn you away?" Mark grabbed Jack's wrist, pulling it from his face, when he finally looked up to answer in a broken voice. "You can't be turned into a werewolf, Jack. It's something you're born with. It's like a second puberty. It hits people at different times, but when it does. It is always the night before the rising of a full moon morning... that's when the woods call you home. And when the dawn rises... for that whole day... you're reborn. Any transformation after the first is nocturnal based. I don't know why." Jack turned his hand over to hold Mark's wrist, staring into his bright watery yellow eyes. Looking to their embracing hands, Mark added gruffly. "They reject me because they can smell the human in me. I'm not pure. My father was human, and my mother wasn't. She was a purebred like them. So, they call me a mutt and want nothing to do with me." Mark released Jack's wrist, telling him softly. "Now you know." Mark tried to slip around him, but Jack set down his basket and moved into his path.

Wrapping his arms around his neck, Jack hugged him and whispered against his ear. "I accept you as you are." Mark hugged him back, before carefully prying him off to say a bit grimly. "You say that... but you haven't seen ALL of me." Mark shook the snow from his hair, walking off. Snatching up his basket, Jack jogged after him, stating out defiantly. "I haven't seen it YET. But on a full moon. Show me. I think my reaction might surprise you." Mark snorted, turning his eyes on Jack as he retorted through a sarcastic grumble. "I'd never expose you to that." Jack rolled his eyes, telling him bluntly. "I've come face to face with a werewolf before. And it was out to kill me! I think I could handle you." Mark suddenly grabbed his arm, pulling him close before pushing him up against a hillside. Jack dropped the basket, his hands grabbing the rocky wall to keep himself upright in the uneven snow. Bracing his hands over his shoulders, Mark brought his face closer to his as he told him seriously. "What makes you think that I can control myself? Especially around you. I told you that you bring something out in me... you really want to find out what that is at the cost of your life?"

Jack blushed; he hadn't thought about that. Wincing a little, he was about to apologize, but found himself asking instead. "Can you control yourself?" Mark narrowed his dark eyes on him, whispering lightly. "I think you're missing the point." Jack shifted his feet to stand up better, before whispering back coolly. "I understand perfectly. But I'm asking. Can you?" Mark stepped back from him without a word. Jack saw a tiny smirk pull at his lips though, when he snatched up the basket and continued walking. Jack smiled to himself, then jogged off after him. Reaching out to take the basket from him, Jack's fingers brushed over Mark's. For a few seconds their fingers intertwined before he let go. Jack swung his basket a bit, his attention drawn to the way Mark was dressed. He hadn't really noticed before, but he was dressed nice. He usually wore clothes that were comfortable and easy to work in. Most of his clothes worn and patched were the wood or tools he worked with cut or nicked them. These looked new. The dark shirt beneath his open flannel sweater stood out against the bright colors of the snow and his hair looked fluffy and groomed. It was a good look on him. He'd always seen Mark as his age but dressed like that he looked older. More mature and confident.

They continued to walk along the road, when Jack noticed that the animals stopped making any noise. Pointing it out to Mark, Mark stopped to listen before telling him uneasily. "The temperature is dropping... The storm will hit in a minute." Sure enough, the wind began to pick up and Jack stopped walking to shiver as the cold cut right through him. The snowflakes clung to his clothes, making the chilling cold seep right through his thin pants. The storm was fast approaching now as thick grey storm clouds shrouded the night sky. Jack couldn't believe how brutal the snowflakes in the wind were. Mark hung back to walk with him, trying to block the wind from hitting him, but even Mark started to shiver as he told him a bit anxiously. "This is another reason why I wanted to take the shortcut... We're going to get caught in the middle of this." Jack huddled close to Mark as the trees swayed and the wind grew loud enough that it started to whistle between the trees. They walked on a bit further, before Jack started to chatter out. "M-m-mark? Any c-c-chance we can t-t-take that s-s-shortcut now?" Mark sneezed, then raised an arm to keep the snowflakes from hitting his face. Shivering, Mark managed to tell him over the wind. "Too fucking late for that."

Jack pulled his hood down to keep it from blowing back as he shouted out desperately. "I was wrong, ok! Let's go back!" Mark glanced around, then grabbed his arm and pulled him off the road. Stepping into the deep snow, Jack whined as his legs buckled from the cold. He was losing feeling in his legs and fingers. Shaking snow off himself, Mark quickly scooped Jack up and carried him as fast as he could to a little cave set into a hole in the ground. Setting Jack down, Mark peeked inside the cave, before pulling Jack in out of the wind. Jack stood shaking violently but was thankful to have the wind and snow off him. Mark pulled him toward the far back of the cave to where there was more dirt than rock. Huddling up in the corner, Jack curled himself up to try and regain some body heat. While Mark collected some broken sticks and roots from around the carve. Getting them all together, Mark worked to make a fire with a flint and steel that he pulled from his pocket. Jack was going to ask about it, but Mark beat him to it as he got the fire going and informed him with a chuckle. "I learned this the hard way too. Always carry it when I go out here. Makes cooking my kills that much faster."

Jack smiled, watching him work the fire into a nice crackling campfire. Jack quickly rushed to the fire, but Mark grabbed him to keep him back before he got too close. Jack was just so desperate for the heat that wanted to get as close as possible. Mark took his hands though to keep him from practically putting them into the fire. Holding Jack's frozen fingers, Mark told him calmly. "Easy. You want to warm up slowly. Your blood gets thicker in the cold. Warm your blood too fast and your heart could give out." Jack raised an eyebrow, prompting Mark to add a little guiltily. "Something I overheard the doctor say once. Freezing to death is pretty common way to go here apparently. If you aren't... eaten by wolves first." Jack chuckled lightly, his fingers already feeling warmer in Mark's hands. Filled with regret though, he told Mark weakly. "I'm sorry. I should have listened to you..." Mark rubbed Jack's hands, telling him rather nicely. "It's alright. We all have our moments. Nothing we can do now except wait it out." Jack shook his head, mumbling out with disappointment in himself. "I should have known better... I just... I wanted..."

Mark lifted his chin, finishing sweetly. "You got excited and wanted to see her. I get it. I was overwhelmed by the woods on my first time out. I got so excited that I fell into a mud hole and played in it in the middle of a rainstorm. When I finally cleaned myself off and got my butt home... I was so sick the next day that you couldn't get me out of bed." Jack shared a light chuckle with Mark, before Mark asked him softly. "Feeling better?" Jack still felt cold, but he was no longer shaking or chattering when he spoke. So, he nodded to him. Letting go of his hands, Mark gestured for him to try warming them by the fire now. Sitting at a better distance, he propped his hands out to feel the warmth. Mark did the same, then looked out at the blizzard just outside the cave. Shaking his head, he told Jack softly. "Besides, even if we had taken the shortcut... We still would have gotten stuck in this. Maybe it was better we did it this way. More caves on this route." Jack wasn't sure if he was just trying to cheer him up or really meant it, but it made him feel better. Trying to lighten the mood in return, Jack chuckled through a light blush. "I guess you were right."

Mark turned furrowed brows on him, causing Jack to playfully admit. "What you said before about snuggling up in a cave? I'm glad I chose you." Mark grinned with a slight blush of his own. After the warmth settled in, Jack began to yawn. The dark atmosphere of the cave mixed with the warmth and sounds of the blizzard was making him sleepy. He'd never stayed up so late before and just sitting around wasn't helping. Mark sat propped up against the wall, his eyes closing but his deep humming echoing throughout the little cave to a nice slow song. He only stopped when Jack yawned a little louder and started looking of a place to lay down, upon asking. "Do you think the storm will let up soon?" Mark didn't answer for a moment to look outside, before telling him. "Not likely. Which is bad because we're going to run out of firewood soon." Unbuckling his cloak, he draped it over himself like a blanket and asked Mark curiously. "Well, I think I might try to sleep. Wanna share my body heat before we lose the fire?" Mark looked a little reluctant, before crawling over to lay behind him. Jack made sure he was able to share his cloak and in return, Mark laid out his arm for Jack to rest his head on. While Jack snuggled back against him, Mark whispered over Jack's side. "I'll stay up." Jack nodded, but he was already drifting off. To Be Continued...