[Gift] Coyote

The night had a chill and a soft breeze, dark clouds in the night sky that blanketed over the stars that shine so brightly without the presence of the moon. They moved like ships across the sea, making the sky look like an ocean of stars for the lovebirds that camped in the grassy prairie below and pointed out different patterns in the sky. 

A small fire crackled softly at their feet, a cowboy and his city lover laid quietly- well, as quiet as it got with the little songbird humming a soft romantic tune in his throat. 

A soft nicker came from nearby, the mare's breath able to be seen in the cold night air. Her white coat sticking out in the dark- spotted with red as if someone had spilled whine and stained her coat. She huffed a few times, tempting another throaty nicker as she looked over the dark blue stallion 

The stallion turned his dark face to snort in her direction, his white star on his head looking like a cyclops eye in the contrast of the night and his starry night coat. He reached his head towards her before he stepped closer and bumped his nose against her snout. The mare pressed back against his snout and then let out a heavy sigh as she started fussing over him.

Valentino looked at the horses, a blissful smile on his face as he watched Caspian return affections to his clingy mare. 

“It's a nice out tonight.” Valentino muttered softly. 

“It is nice.” Jackson agreed with a yawn and then looked over at him, blinking with tired eyes. 

Valentino tilted his head to look back at him, smiling wide as he saw his lover already looking back at him with those rich brown eyes. His sweet butero, he always looked so tired. 

“I have a never been camping.” Valentino admitted as he stared with adoration, reaching over to scratch at Jackson's chin. “I'm a glad, it's a with you.” 

“I wish I could bring you with me every time.” Jackson said as he closed his eyes and leaned in to press his head into Valentino’s. 

Valentino didn't know it yet, but he was going to miss the luxury of city living by night two. His legs were already a bit sore from the riding and the most he had traveled had been by boat or on foot. For now, he'd get lost in his lover's warmth.

‘SCREEEEE woooAAoooooWAHHH AH-AH-AH’ 

Macchiare snorted sharply, raising her head and flashed the whites of her eyes. She bobbed her chin, taking a step back and bumping into Caspian. She was as inexperienced with coyotes as her handler and she did not appreciate the howls coming from the darkness. 

The stallion, he let out a heavy sigh and lipped at her chin as he swayed his tail. It seemed to ease her enough, but she remained stiff with swiveling ears and snorting at the air. 

“What is that?” Valentino asked with a startled breath, grabbing Jackson's arm as he sat up stiffly. His heart started thundering in his chest, his eyes snapped to the tree line and searched desperately for what it may be. Did he want to know? What a horrid sound to hear at night, with their daunting howls and screeches. 

“Songbird-” Jackson placed his hand over his lover's, trying to ease the tight grip he had on him as he was interrupted by more screeching, barking and, of course, Valentino.

“Butero mio what is that?” Valentino hissed out with fear, his other hand snatching Jackson's a handful of his shirt and pulling. 

“Valentino, it's just coyotes.” Jackson finally managed to answer, grabbing Valentino’s wrists and squeezing them. 

“Coyotes? Will they, will they hurt us?” 

“They could, but they'll leave us alone. They're just letting each other know where they are.” Jackson comforted and let out a soft sigh of relief as Valentino’s grip had loosened. 

Valentino slowly rested back on his elbows, looking around still with worry but decided to trust Jackson. He'd been camping out here before, he would know. 

He slowly laid back down and looked back up at the stars as he took a deep breath and listened to the animals as they screeched out and got a little quieter- sounding further away as they carried on with less frequency. 

Macchiare had started to settle, huffing and puffing nervously but turned her nose to lip back at Caspian’s face for a moment and then lowered her head. 

At least, until Valentino started barking out, imitating the coyotes that were hidden in the trees. Macchiare stamped her feet against the ground, turning to look in their direction with stressed eyes and snorted with frustration. She side stepped and bumped into the dark stallion, letting out a disgruntled grumble from her chest. 

Caspian seemed annoyed, his tail flagging slightly and giving a flick as he sniffed and snorted at her nose and jaw to settle her down with a soft grunt. 

Jackson cupped his hands around his mouth and joined in with his lover, barking into the cloudy dark sky and endless stars. 

Valentino stopped, only because he was starting to smile too wide and giggling too hard to bark out anymore when Jackson had joined in. He listened to his howl fade and started grinning from ear to ear when Jackson pulled his hands from his mouth and turned to look back at him. 

Jackson sat up as he heard startled huffing from the mare nearby, watching to make sure he wouldn't have to end up chasing after her. She didn't seem to want to run, yet, but he felt Valentino's eyes on him and looked back down at his lover. 

Valentino closed his eyes as Jackson pressed a warm hand against his cheek, leaning into it with a hum in his throat. 

“I don't a think a they like it very much a?” Valentino asked him, tilting his head to look at the mare that stared right back at him with flared nostrils and swiveling ears. The Italian man choked in his throat and giggled at her expression. 

Macchiare, in response, tilted her head forward, extended her neck and let out a scolding whinny at him for the sounds that came out of his mouth. 

Valentino cackled as she scolded him. “She is a not very happy with a me.” He giggled out as he looked back over to Jackson. 

“It doesn't seem like Caspian is too happy with you either.” The cowboy pointed out. 

Valentino had to squint to see the stallion in the darkness, spotting that white patch on his face before he was able to focus and see the very unamused and rather grumpy expression on the horse's face. 

Valentino wheezed, shaking his head with tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. 

Jackson's laugh echoed in the night before he put his hand over his mouth to silence himself. 

Valentino backhanded his chest with a light tap, “Butero mio,” he giggled out, “he look a like he stomp a me like a coyote.” 

“He would never do that.” Jackson said with a shake of his head, looking back over and dark eyes focusing on his lover next to him. 

Valentino laughed, then giggled, then let out a soft sigh as he wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. 

“Let's get some rest, we have a lot of riding to do tomorrow.” Jackson suggested, knowing he'd be traveling slower than usual for Valentino’s sake. 

The Italian man hummed, turning his body to scratch at Jackson's beard. 

“Okay~” Valentino purred as he caught his breath from his laughing fit, “I love a you so dearly.” 

“I love you too songbird.”