Whales & Wood (Jackson)

[Kunikpok "Kuni" Arrluk]

Kuni had spent his summer vacation back home in Alaska, and it had been wonderful.  Despite how long he had been in the lower states, he had never quite adjusted to the ridiculously (in his opinion) warm weather, especially during the hot months.  Even now, in October, he dressed much lighter than most of his classmates, opting for a tanktop and light sweatpants or shorts instead of layering up, even at night.  He just got too easily overheated.

The Retreat was much the same.  He did dress just a little more practically since they were spending more time outdoors than inside, but it was still pretty warm to him.  Actually, it was very comfortable when he was sitting around or not doing a lot of activity, but as soon as he started getting active, he would start to sweat and overheat.  That was why, after a good amount of time helping chop and gather some wood for the bonfire that evening, the whale-shifter had opted to take his shirt off rather than let himself get it all damp and sweaty from exertion.  They were out in the woods, in nature, doing very primal, masculine things - he didn't see any problem with it other than he might be more at risk for splinters (although he did also have tough skin, which helped keep that from happening).

He grunted as he picked up another heavy load of chopped wood and carted it back towards camp to add to the pile they had building.  Kuni deposited said load and wiped his brow before heading back to repeat the process.  He had almost reached the spot where he had been chopping when he noticed a fellow student - a shortish, blonde guy, someone he didn't think he knew other than passing by in the halls - and gave him a friendly nod.  He almost missed the shadow of a smallish nearby tree shifting until he heard the creak of breaking wood.  Kuni looked up, and his eyes widened in alarm.  "Look out!" he warned the other boy, and raised his arms above his head, slightly bent, as he readied himself for the impact.  The trunk hit his hands heavily and he winced under the sharp pressure, but fortunately it was small enough around that not much harm was done.  "Are you alright?" he asked the other student worriedly as he gingerly placed the tree on the ground, shouting a 'be careful' to whoever had been chopping.  "I think it would be best to stay away from this part of the woods until they're finished," he said breathlessly with a small smile.  "Unless you want to help."  At least the guy would be more wary of it happening now.

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It was too cold.  What sort of madness was this, that it was this cold when it was only October?  Jackson knew the answer to that, he knew logically that yes, the northern states experienced all four seasons as opposed to the two(at best, three) seasons experienced in the desert states.  As far as Jackson was concerned, anything below 70 degrees was cold! 
 
As such, Jackson wore a blue hoodie over his normal clothes, to keep in his precious body heat, and kept his hands stuffed in his pockets.  It was toasty.  Why were they out here again?  Oh yeah, the retreat. 
 
Jackson had looked forward to the retreat.  He wasn’t like some students who have never been out in the wilderness before though.  His uncle used to take him out hunting when he was younger, while visiting his dad’s family.  He’d even shot a gun before, though it was only at empty cans off the outer fence of his abuela’s hacienda.   He never told grams that.  He never told his mother, for that matter.  His uncle told him not to, after all. 
 
Now that Jackson was older, he realized how stupid his uncle was and that that useless fatso was just trying to save his own skin by making Jackson promise not to tell anyone.  Jackson scratched the back of his head.  Why was he thinking about these things right now anyway?  Must’ve been the nostalgia. 
 
That must’ve also been why he was out of it in the middle of a tree-fall area, standing there in a complete daze at the green, gold, and brown scenery.  Or maybe it was because his blood sugar had just plummeted about as hard and fast as the tree that was about to, and he just hadn’t realized it yet.  Damn….he fingered a caramel that was in his hoodie pocket, grabbing hold of it tight and about to take it out when he heard a crack, followed by a ‘look out!’.  Jackson turned just in time to see the shadow of the (small) tree loom over him and then slam right down onto a giant.  Seriously, he was a giant.  Wow, that person was huuuuge!  Jackson stood there, his mouth gaping and risking the intrusion of flies, and wondered just what this guy had been eating all his life to get so big.  The matter of the tree falling on top of the giant registered much more slowly.  “……I’m….I mean….are you all right? Are you okay?  You just----“  The guy should be more worried about himself.  Who just catches a falling tree and tosses it to the side like it was made of plywood??  Did he think he was Paul Bunyan or something?? 
 
Did he want to help?  “Uh….sure….? Maybe…?” Maybe.  Oh, right.  Jackson shook his head rapidly and put up his hands.  “Actually, I’m not feeling great right now, you don’t, uh…you don’t want an axe in my hands, I’ll probably fling it at someone by accident…” 

[Kunikpok "Kuni" Arrluk]

Kuni was fine. It was a pretty thin tree, and he’d readied himself for the impact, so all he had was a slight sting on his palms from the rough texture of the wood hitting them. It definitely would have hurt if it had hit someone in the head, though. Well… Kuni was thick-skulled enough that he probably would have still been fine, but he was glad that it hadn’t hit the shorter boy while he wasn’t paying attention.

“Hm? Oh, I’m fine, no problem,” he replied to the blonde with a smile. “I’m just glad it didn’t land on you, or anyone else.” Kuni was pretty sure there had been an announcement to be careful around this part of the woods while people were collecting for the bonfire, but he could have been mistaken… in which case, he wanted to tell one of the staff to change that, because oblivious students shouldn’t be wandering around back in here until they were done. “I’m Kuni, by the way,” the taller boy offered with a friendly, callused hand. “I don’t think we’ve met before.” He was a generally social person, but Kuni didn’t know everyone, especially those that were a several years younger than him. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t befriend them given the chance, though.

“Alright, follow me,” he initially replied, still smiling as he turned to head back to his own pile of chopped wood. However, when Jackson changed his mind, Kuni frowned in concern and glanced back at him. “You’re not? Was it from the close call?” He hoped the guy wasn’t going to faint or anything, that would be awful. “Maybe you should just go back to your cabin. Do you know how to get there from here?” He could take some time to assist the boy back if he didn’t.

[Deleted]

He was fine… right. The guy just had a tree fall on him and he was fine… “Okay…” he said with a slightly pitched voice, still not quite believing what he saw. This guy was like Hercules. Or some other mythical being, to be able to do that and simply brush it off. It didn’t matter to Jackson that it was a small tree…he couldn’t have caught it with his bare hands. No, if it had fallen on Jackson…well, Jackson would’ve gone splat! for sure!

Jackson looked around, somehow for the first time realizing that he was in a danger zone. If there had been an announcement to the students, warning them about this area, then Jackson completely missed it(he was asleep!). Even so…if he hadn’t been out of it, then even Jackson would have noticed that there were trees falling down in this area. He ran his hand through his hair, sighing at his own stupidity. “Um…I’m Jackson,” he offered in return to the large boy(man?) giving his own name. Jackson shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” Which was strange, you’d think a guy like Jackson, who loved to keep tabs on as many people as possible, would have noticed a good looking giant like him.

It was then that he realized….oh, wow. He was really good looking. Tall…a strong, defined jaw…dark hair….those broad shoulders… Why did Jackson have such a thing for broad shoulders…?

“Huh?” he uttered in slight surprise, his voice pitching again. Oh shit, he’d been gazing at this guy, hadn’t he? Oh, shit, oh shit….. Jackson’s head really was foggy, and not just from the swoon of being save by a gentle giant with amazingly thick arms….

“Um…I don’t know…It’s not that….” Jackson closed his eyes and took a slow breath. “Sorry, I just need to eat, actually…” He attempted a laugh, though that really didn’t make him feel any better. “I…I honestly don’t know exactly where I am. I think I…got lost trying to find the mess hall.” This was the honest truth and totally not a plan to get Kuni to come with him. Though that was an appealing thought, being carried around by those strong arms…. Jackson needed to get ahold of himself…sigh…

[Kunikpok "Kuni" Arrluk]

Kuni used to hunt whales as a kid with his family and neighbors, so trees felt like nothing. He was naturally large and thick-boned, too, so he was built for heavy work. It really wasn’t a big deal to him; it would have been a much bigger deal if the younger boy had gotten smushed, so it was the least he could do.

Kuni wiped his hands on his pants and smiled when Jackson introduced himself. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said pleasantly. “I’m glad it’s like this, and not with any broken bones involved.” Since no one had been hurt, the Alaskan thought it was alright to joke about such things. “Have you been enjoying the retreat?” He was oblivious to any sort of staring that the younger boy was doing, and even if he’d noticed, Kuni likely wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Why would a boy be staring at another one, anyway? He would just assume he was still in a bit of shock.

When Jackson closed his eyes and seemed to be struggling to steady himself, though, Kuni frowned and clasped a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You don’t look very good,” he informed the younger boy, worried. “I think food sounds like a good idea.” Maybe he’d just gone too long without eating? Kuni knew that he never felt good when he was hungry. “Here, let me show you the way back so you don’t get lost. It’s not too far away, but it can get confusing back here.” A lot of people weren’t used to the woods, after all, and all the trees probably looked the same, which could make it hard to navigate. “I could use a snack anyway.” Kuni took a step in the right direction, after checking around to make sure there weren’t any other trees that were being chopped into. “Can you walk alright?” He looked back at the blonde, hoping he felt up to at least a slow walk. If not, the whale shifter would be even more worried.

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Jackson didn’t want to be smushed. Bottom line, that was just not a good thing to be, so it was definitely good that this strong-armed giant had been around to prevent that. “Y-yeah! Definitely!” he stammered nervously. “Broken bones are not good, nope. Never.” Guh, he sounded like a fucking idiot from some stupid children’s television show.

“Yeah, I have, I think,” he replied with a more-forceful-than-he-would-have-liked nod. He was definitely acting stupider than normal and Jackson hated it. This guy didn’t seem to have noticed Jackson’s staring, at least, so it was possible he didn’t think much of how Jackson was behaving?

Or maybe he did? It was fairly obvious when someone grabbed their head that they weren’t doing well, honestly, and this Kuni fellow seemed to pick up on it rather quick. Jackson shook his head. “No…sorry,” he muttered, feeling like an ass for letting himself be seen like this. For needing help. For being sick when hey, guess what! He was sick!! Jackson’s pride kept him from turning it into an issue whenever it happened back at the school…it rarely got so bad that he had to actually ask for help, and he hated when it did. Jackson nodded and followed the easy-to-spot man in front of him. “Yeah, thanks…” he said softly, lowering his head from the embarrassment. He supposed it didn’t matter much anymore, hiding his ‘condition’. Jackson pulled one of the caramels from his pocket and unwrapped it, popping it into his mouth just a moment later. That ought to hold him out for…not very long. Ha ha…

“I’m okay,” he said with a shallow nod and forced smile. “I can walk.” Though maybe it would have been better if he said he couldn’t? Then he could be carried…but then, Jackson wasn’t exactly light and he wouldn’t make anyone other than Rue carry him, and he didn’t think he’d even make Rue carry him farther than just across the room… Still, he may have been just a little bit unsteady on his feet and reached forward to grab ahold of a belt-loop of Kuni's pants. Damn…the things he needed to do to keep himself upright were turning him into a damn needy selfish pansy… “Sorry…” he mumbled, turning his eyes downward.