It was a very busy festive period for the boys. Their first ever Christmas together was a bit awkward because Daryl really had no idea what the hell was going on. The closest Wolves have to a festive season is when they celebrate the Winter Solstice, spending the longest night of the year shifted in their feral forms and celebrating, singing to the Lady Luna, hunting together, usually one large hunt for one large, or significant kill. Instead of sticking to hunting the weak or ill as wolves normally do, they will come together as a pack (or even as smaller local packs joining together for one night of festivities) and take down the strongest prey. The leader of the herd, the deer with the largest antlers, bison, caribou, big horn sheep, elk, moose, wild pigs, musk ox, mountain goats etc. are the ones that are hunted down and killed for a pack wide feast, as a display of the unity of wolves, their strength and as a sacrifice to the Lady Luna in thanks for all she has given. Wolves will often begin travelling from miles around a few days before the Solstice to meet up with one another, joining together, greeting each other and any old rivalries that may exist are forgotten about for the time being (much like human holiday periods). They meet at the ancient wolf breeding grounds, or upon places of wolf importance, stay as one huge pack for a day and enjoy the rush of feral blood through them all. Since it’s the longest night of the year, they of course sing to the Lady Luna, enjoy feeling the touch of her moonbeams upon their fur and have playfights with each other. So Daryl of course spends time away from Shane for a few days before Christmas, being a full on wolf and loving getting to spend time with Merle and other wolves. After they’ve been partners for a while, they of course have the festive period together. When Daryl returns from the Solstice, they finish off the last of their shopping, with Shane sharing little traditions that run in his family. Daryl is a little intrigued with the carol singing that they go to on Christmas Eve, he finds it pretty awesome and very alike to howling, but Shane does try to get him to sing the actual words. It’s enjoyable, wrapped up in hat and scarves, mittens on and the pair of them joining in with the crowd to sing along. It’s enjoyable, and a nice way to end the run up to the big day. They spend Christmas eve night together, hot chocolate, watching Die Hard (Shane’s tradition), eating Christmas candies and making sure they’re ready for the next day, getting presents under the tree etc.Christmas morning, even through they’re both adults, they’re up early, too excited to sleep and wanting their presents. Daryl opens his with relish, tearing at wrapping paper with his teeth, growling and enjoying the act of ‘killing’ the paper before getting his gifts. The fact he’s getting stuff for no reason is definitely enjoyable, and he likes that Shane always gets him the perfect gifts, even Stryker the squirrel gets a mini stocking with new supplies to patch up the hole in his side that’s been getting worse. Daryl may not have had many Christmases before, but he tries his best with gifts for Shane, and none of them are dead animals this year. New clothing for them both, some new wolfie/dog things for Daryl, framed pictures of them both for the apartment, joke gifts, some stuff for the car, tickets to that football thing Shane likes, loads of different things for them both to enjoy. Breakfast is usually Christmas chocolate and candy as they get ready to head off and enjoy visiting family. First stop is Shane’s parent’s house, both of them getting a lot of cuddles and kisses, Shane’s mom always worries about them and mentions having to fatten them up. Every year they get a new matching pair of Christmas jumpers to wear, and of course they oblige and wear them, posing for festive photos together to add to the collection. Shane’s mom always makes them a Christmas hamper full of food, and Shane always has it for that awkward week between Christmas and New Years where you don’t want to cook real meals and instead live off junk food. They get gifts, see various members of Shane’s family that turn up, including a great aunt that insists on kissing on the lips for some reason, and Shane always has to remind Daryl that no that doesn’t mean he can lick. After a couple of hours they say their farewells and go to the next stop on their busy Christmas day, armed with a Christmas cake made by Shane’s mom to bring along to dinner. The Grimes house is of course very alive with excited Carl who needs to show Shane and Daryl all the awesome things Santa brought him, and a babbling baby Judith who is more than happy with wrapping paper and boxes let alone the gifts inside them. There are more presents to unwrap, festive crap on the tv that no one likes but they have it on in the background because it’s tradition of course, and Lori is always teasing about their matching sweaters. It’s a little frantic, a little hectic, there are gifts being taken out to the car, food ready to be taken along, and somehow in all the insanity they manage to get everyone in the vehicles and of to their next stop. The Greene’s family farm is always everyone’s stop for dinner. Everyone has brought along something to add to the table, the turkey is almost ready when they arrive (and Shane has to keep an eye on Daryl to make sure he’s not sneaking any before it’s carved), and they assist in getting the table set up. Everyone is there, from Maggie’s other half Glenn, to people from the Greene’s church group like T-Dog, Jaqui, Andrea, Amy, Dale, Carol and Sophia. Fuck it, I want all of Team Family there, and the Greenes are the kind of family where more is the merrier, and they always have space for one more. It’s crammed, Daryl is practically in Shane’s lap (not that he minds) at the table, everyone is knocking elbows, passing plates and the chatter is so alive and warm and friendly, a true big old fashioned Christmas with Hershel carving the turkey after they’ve all said grace. Daryl isn’t really used to having such a big pack around him, but he loves it because in some ways humans and wolves are not very different at all. Just as in his culture, they all come together at this time of year, feast together, share smiles and play games together, as one big family unit. In some ways it’s so new and exciting that he doesn’t know where to look, but in other ways, it’s so comfortable and feeling like home that he doesn’t miss being with other wolves at all. Of course, after dinner everyone is sitting around, stuffed full of good food and talking, playing crappy party games and opening more gifts that everyone bought each other. It’s manic, but it’s real and alive and he loves that. So usually as the evening draws in and everyone is settling to watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, Daryl has crawled himself into Shane’s lap, arms around his neck, face buried into his shoulder and giving a happy whine about it all. He’s still not too sure on some of the traditions, there isn’t really a kill like there is at the climax of all wolf events, but even if it’s knew, it’s awesome, and he loves spending every second of it with his mate. Shane pets him, scratches behind his ears and holds him close, letting him nuzzle and groom him in the lazy evening. They share small kisses, and usually by the end of it they’ve fallen asleep in the chair, Shane snoring lightly with his puppy in his arms, and Daryl still with his tongue poking out from where he’d been grooming him. Yeah maybe it’s not the most conventional Christmas in the world, but it’s perfect, and they love it.
romaincrisis
gummygunk
jacobvanloon
kaledo-art
dededos
janainaart
discoholicmusic
