timestamp : morning , — of december 1920 . location : the stables tagging : @pakhans
the candles had been new , or just about , last night . nikolai had only changed them out recently , which is why when he woke to see that they had burned completely — wax now frozen in place had reached out desperately towards the ground , as if trying to escape , but the fire lost fuel before it could make it — , nikolai knew that vladimir had not come home last night . the one before that had been expected , nikolai having been informed that something would keep his brother , and he asked someone else within the house to make sure the candles were extinguished . but he should have been home last night . a unfortunate , familiar grasp seized his chest .
it felt childish , the way he shyed from dark spaces despite being mostly shadow himself , and even more so the request that someone else blow out the candles for he could not sleep without them still burning . yet , now it had another use besides comfort : an alarm system , alerting him that the house was empty , cold , and lonely , in a way it should not be . he began whispering prayers , more like pleas , that vova had simply forgotten , that he was safe and nothing had happened to him . wolf pup tries to prowl the estate , room by room , but if any soul was watching they might notice that proverbial tails were tucked , ears back .
the stable . he has to be at the stable . prayer robe is in his hands now , trying to focus on the heart prayer to calm his own — it’s racing faster than any of their mares could dream to . he turns the corner and a ragged breath is let out , one he was unaware he had been holding , when he sees his brother with one of the animals he loved so much . ‘ where have you been , vova ? ’ he asks , slowly moving closer , not wanting to startle either , his voice mixed between relief and anxiety , love and anger .