Okay! Hey Stinky! Let’s do this huh?
The Wilds
Bailey had to talk to Haigar, and as soon as she and Loki returned. Loki left the human with a fond farewell, once again with that hint of sadness and said they would have to go out again.
They decided to keep the butterfly meadow a secret for the time being.
As soon as Loki had gone, Bailey broke into a run. She had to find Haigar, right now. She didn’t dare ask any of the Steef she passed, didn’t want to feed the rumours that were apparently already circulating, no need to give them fuel…
She needn’t have worried about finding Haigar, as the young Steef found her. Bailey never did manage to work out how he did it, one moment she was running, looking all over for him. The next, a large, warm hand, bigger and stronger then her own, closed around her own, considerably more delicate hand. Bailey jumped and turned around quickly, but broke into a smile, returning the one Haigar was giving her, his blue eyes dancing, he squeezed her hand.
“C’mon, let’s get outta here…” still smiling, the dark Steef led the human by the hand, away from the huts, towards the wild places. For a second Bailey had misgivings, what Loki had told her in the butterfly field, running through her mind. Bailey brushed it away.
She would not give up her friend for gossip. She glanced at Haigar, as they entered the trees, feeling her gaze the young, dark Steef looked down at her and she saw his smile, she knew he wasn’t prepared to give her up either. As soon as they entered the trees, Haigar slowed the pace and then stopped, reached around and placed his hands on Bailey waist, pausing a moment before picking her up and setting her on his back again. Then he set of again,
“I seem to recall that I was meant to take you out, but we never got to go…” he remarked after a moment.
“Can we go now?” Bailey asked, playing along. Haigar chuckled,
“Yes.” Bailey laughed softly to herself,
“M’sorry about that blue.” She amended, “Musta been more tuckered then I thought.”
“S’okay.” Haigar murmured, almost purring, “No harm done.” There was a pause,
“You seem happier now.” Bailey commented. Immediately she felt all the muscles in his back go rigid.
“Bay…” he was using that tone of voice again, the one that Bailey couldn’t quite identify. “There’s somethin’ you should know…about us…”
“I know.” Bailey cut in gently,
“You…know?” Haigar echoed uncertainly, Bailey leaned her forehead against his shoulder-blade and nodded,
“Yeh, Loki told me… Maybe,” she ventured after a moment, “Maybe they’re right, maybe we should stop going off together…I don’t want to be the reason you spend your life alone…”
Haigar stopped dead.
“Bay. Come here.” Bailey slid down from the Steef’s back and moved around to face him. For a moment, Steef and human looked at each other, then Haigar lowered himself down, curling his four legs beneath him so that he and Bailey were at eye-level. “Listen Bay,” he took her hand, closing his clawed fingers gently around hers. “If I couldn’t find a female who cares about you as much as I do, then I don’t want one.”
“But-” Bailey began to object, Haigar put a finger on her lips, silencing her protests, he shook his head, long black braid swinging gently.
“No buts… I won’t give you up because of a load of rumours.” He said firmly.
“Haigar…” Bailey tried to dissuade him but he would have none of it.
“No Bailey. Have I ever given up on you before?” Bailey shook her head mutely, “Have you ever given up on me?” Again Bailey shook her head, but this time she couldn’t remain silent;
“Haigar, think about this please.” She pleaded, “You can’t put your chance of future family and happiness on the line, because of me.” The human pressed her forehead to Haigar’s, “I will always be there for you blue, any time you need me. But I can’t let you do something so rash. I won’t.” the Steef chuckled mirthlessly,
“And how will you stop me little human?” Bailey looked away, knowing that she couldn’t answer. Haigar sighed and rested his jaw against her forehead. There was another silence. “I love you Bay.” Haigar said at last, “No matter what anyone says.” Bailey nodded into his fur,
“I love you too buddy.” She replied. After a pause Haigar rose, he offered a hand to Bailey, she ignored it and put her arms around his middle. “I won’t give up on you.” Haigar let out a quiet breath of relief. He hugged the human tightly and one unbidden through rose up in his mind;
“Let it always be like this…”
Haigar didn’t know what he meant by those words.
¤§¤
“Just a bit further and you’ll see it.” Haigar said, Bailey was walking beside him now as they pushed through the dense tangles of the forest around them.
“See what?” Bailey giggled. Haigar grinned down at her, as they continued to weave their way through the vegetation.
“You’ll see.” he smiled.
They walked on for a bit longer, but finally they broke the trees and came to a small clearing, the canopy was so thick overhead that it blotted out the sky, casting the clearing with a green light. Bailey stared, her eyes wide. Before them was a huge, deep, green-lit pool. Trees grew around it’s banks and there was a thick, fallen log lying across the water, making a bridge, wide enough to cross. There was even a small waterfall at one end that came down from where the earth jutted upward.
“Wow…” Bailey breathed. Her eyes gleamed as she smiled. She looked up at Haigar and grinned delightedly. “Thank-you blue.” Haigar returned the smile and laid a hand on her shoulder,
“S’not much, but I wanted you to see it.” he explained in a low voice.
“I think it’s wonderful.” Bailey said honestly. With a childish grin Bailey grabbed Haigar’s hand and tugged, “C’mon blue!” she pulled him towards the fallen log.
“Bay,” Haigar said uncertainly, “Bay, be careful…” Bailey put out her arms and moved like a tightrope walker across the log.
“S’ok blue.” She reassured. “See?” she bounced up and down, almost as soon as she’d said it, Bailey wobbled and almost lost her balance. She squawked and Haigar yelled, and vaulted forward.
Bailey had just resigned herself to getting wet, when suddenly a warm, strong arm wrapped around her stomach and held her steady,
“I got’cha Bailey, don’t worry.” Said Haigar’s voice by her ear, Bailey felt a jolt to her stomach. He just sounded like Stranger…and Bailey felt suddenly very safe. She smiled and patted Haigar’s hand.
“I’m not worried blue.” She murmured, “I’m not worried.” She quietly rubbed Haigar’s forearm in small circles with her fingers. “You’re my best friend Haigar. How could I worry when you’re around?” She said at last. Haigar smiled to himself and buried his snout into Bailey’s hair, nudging her fedora up slightly and Bailey giggled as it slid over her eyes, “Blue, careful!”
“Um hm.” Haigar muttered, not really listening, he had his eyes closed as he nuzzled into her hair. She was warm, and she smelt absolutely wonderful. He let out a sigh and leaned his furry cheek against Bailey’s neck. Bailey reached back and scratched his ear and they stood, just quietly stood, by the green pool.
Suddenly, as if caught by a faint breeze, Bailey’s fedora was snagged from her head and landed in the water, where it bobbed, floating.
“Aw
man.” she sighed, Haigar loosened his grip on her and Bailey couldn’t help noticing that he didn’t release her completely. “Well,” she continued, gently slipping out of Haigar’s arms, “I’m gonna have ta go in there and get it.” she grinned at Haigar’s wide-eyed expression before she swan-dived into the pool, disappearing into the water.
“Bay!” Haigar shouted. He dropped down, bending his Steef legs and looked out over the water, “Bay!” he called in concern, scanning the surface of the pool, looking for her. After a moment Bailey resurfaced, flicking back her head, flinging her hair from her eyes. Haigar sighed in relief and smiled.
“C’mon Haigar!” Bailey called, grinning. “The water’s great!” the human paddled over to her hat and dumped the wet dark brown suede onto her head. Haigar chuckled. “You laughin’ at me blue?” Bailey asked amusedly. Haigar grinned,
“Maybe.” Bailey laughed and slapped the water,
“Get in here you rotten Steef.” Haigar stood and put up his hands,
“Oh no, I ain’t comin’ in there.” He said vehemently,
“Aw, c’mon blue.” Bailey wheedled. “ I promise I won’t get back at’cha fer laughin’…” she grinned slightly evilly, “…Much…” Haigar chuckled and explained unabashed;
“S’not that Bay, I don’t know how to swim.” Bailey stared at him.
“You what?” she asked in surprise, Haigar shrugged,
“Not many Steef know how.” He said nonchalantly. “We used too, but since we were driven away from the Mongo…”
“Stranger can swim.” Bailey protested,
“That’s different.” Said Haigar, “And anyway, he was born before Sekto came, he prolly learned when he was a Steefling. Can all humans swim?”
“Most of ‘em, although some of ‘em learn quite late. I can swim though.” She added with a grin, “D’you want me ter teach yer?”
“Hrm…” Haigar looked uncertain,
“Aw, go on.” Haigar sighed and grinned, with a sudden, wordless yell the Steef plunged into the water. Bailey shrieked as the wave Haigar created washed over her, drenching the human in cold water. “HAIGAR!” The Steef’s head popped out of the water, he grinned and shook himself, splashing Bailey with more cold droplets. He chuckled at her noise of outrage. She pointed at him ominously, “Oh you are so gonna pay fer that boy.” She threatened. Haigar chuckled again and caught Bailey around the middle, pulling her close until their noses were almost touching.
“You’ll have ter get away from me first…” he said in a low voice, still grinning. Knowing very well Bailey could do absolutely nothing against a Steef of his size and strength. Bailey scowled at him and smacked his chest lightly.
“That’s low blue, really low.” Haigar grinned again and pulled Bailey into a crushing hug.
“I’d never hurt you Bailey, you know that right?” Bailey pulled away and looked at Haigar in surprise.
“Blue? What the heck’re you talkin’ about?” She stroked his cheek gently, “You ain’t sick are yer?” she felt his forehead. Haigar took her hand,
“No, no I’m not sick, I…I just want you to know that I would never, ever hurt you, ever.” He was looking into her eyes intently. He seemed, almost desperate, for Bailey to believe him. “I care about you.”
Bailey remembered a conversation very like this, between her and Stranger. She’d just found out that her father had taken Stranger when he was a Steefling. She remembered how desperate she had been to make him understand how much she loved him and that she would never hurt him. She looked Haigar straight in the eye and smiled,
“I know. I understand. I know you would never, ever, ever try and hurt me and I know you love me. I love you too, very much.” Haigar seemed relieved, Bailey smiled and buried her face in Haigar’s neck, feeling the warm, soft fur caress her face.
Haigar ran a thumb down her neck. He closed his eyes as he hugged Bailey close. Once again, at that moment, Chiron’s voice re-played – unwanted - in his mind, about what people were saying about himself and Bailey. He savagely dismissed the idea, though he cared about Bailey, cared a great deal about, he loved her- His thought train stopped dead and backtracked.
He loved her?
Haigar felt his heart tremor. Yes, he cared for Bailey, cared deeply for her. But did he care about her, in
that way? Did he love Bailey platonically? Or was there something more to it then that? He could feel her arms draped on his shoulders and around his neck and she felt warm against his chest. He felt her fingers running through the fur on his shoulder. She was fascinated by their fur. He remembered with a smile, when she and Stranger had first arrived he and Bailey had become friends, before Loki had even been born…
Bailey had taken to wandering around the winter, underground homes of the Steef and Haigar took it upon himself to be her guide and friend when all others were hostile. When, after a few weeks of mistrust, it became too much and Bailey finally broke down and cried in one of the less used passages, Haigar had been there to wipe away her tears. He’d cuddled her close and whispered that he was her friend, that he would always be her friend.
Bailey pulled away from him slightly and looked at him with red, puffy eyes, she swallowed.
“You shouldn’t,” she swallowed again, “You shouldn’t be here, you can’t be seen, not with me, comforting me. They’ll shun you too.” Haigar brushed her tears away lightly with his thumb,
“Then let them. I will not give up on you. I will not leave you. Ever.” Bailey gazed at him with tear-glazed eyes. Haigar met her gaze and for a moment they just watched each other before Haigar wrapped an arm around Bailey’s shoulders and drew her to his chest, her head just under his chin.
They stayed like that for a couple of minutes before Bailey spoke again, mumbling into his throat.
“What’s that?” Haigar asked,
“I said, don’t tell Stranger I broke down…I…I just…I don’t want to upset ‘im, he thinks I’m settlin’ in…”
“I won’t, if you don’t want me to.”
“Thanks blue.”
“Blue?”
“Yer eyes are blue.” Bailey explained after a pause, Haigar chuckled,
“So I noticed, does that mean you call Stranger ‘green’?”
“Well, no…I mean, they’re aren’t many dark-haired, blue-eyed Steef around…and you’re…special.” Haigar broke into a warm smile,
“You think I’m special enough to have my own pet name?” Bailey giggled into his throat. Haigar couldn’t help notice how much it tickled…
“You would prefer I didn’t?” Haigar shook his head,
“No. No, I’d like a pet name.” Bailey laughed quietly again. She leaned her head on Haigar’s chest and ran her fingers through his fur. Haigar shivered.
“You like that?” Bailey teased,
“Makes my hair stand on end.” Haigar said, still smiling. Bailey buried her nose in the thick fur in the crook of Haigar’s neck, she mumbled something, “Come again?”
“I said, I love Steef fur, it’s so soft and warm…”
“You can touch it whenever you want then if you like it so much…” he murmured. Bailey chuckled again and Haigar joined in.
“Thank you, fer makin’ me feel better.”
“You’re welcome.”
Haigar savoured the feel of Bailey’s gentle fingers. If he ever did find a female, he’d have to get her to do this for him… There was a peaceful pause, Bailey stroked his fur and Haigar gently rubbed her back. Bailey broke the quiet after a moment;
“So, you wanna learn how to swim or not?” she asked playfully.
Looking forward to more Wolfie
Har, har, har Dancin' Steef. 
Now the question is; should he get the girl? 
Oddworld Just Got Stranger
Aloha lobo!
. 
