A Cold and Friegn-y Night

“What the fuck, dude! Why did we have to go out when it’s so fuckin’ cold?” Kane wrapped his jacket around his body tighter than before, clearly freezing his ass off. The air felt very crisp around him, breathing in the cold air for a hot second felt refreshing, yet very numbing to his body. 

“What? Did you not listen to Hutch at ALL when they were teaching us how to tame a freign? They said that they only show up during the colder months,” Soleil scoffed. 

He rolled his eyes in response, “Yes, yes, I know. But did we have to come out when it’s dark? It’s even colder than during the day!” 

“Oh, fuck off. Maybe wear something other than a crop top and then I’ll give a shit about your complaints,” Soleil said while whacking Kane’s arm. They’d never admit it but in truth, they were freezing too. But Kane didn’t need to know that. 

Soleil grips the bag of Imp Treats in their mitten clad hands, “Do you at least remember where Hutch said they saw the freigns yesterday? That’s our best bet to finding at least one.” The view around them was oddly striking despite the darker washed over colors of the late evening, the white blankets of snow covering the fields around them. The frozen branches on the trees shined an intricate dark blue due to the delicate layer of frost. 

Kane huffed haughtily, hands on his hips in triumph, “Of course I do! You remember that one clearing we visited during Summer? Hutch mentioned that being a good place to start.” 

They both continued to trudge through the thick snow in the direction of the clearing not even sure if the freigns would be there anymore considering how late in the season they procrastinated trying to tame one. They tried not thinking about it though, this was just a fun outing really as they both had been stupidly busy lately. 

“What are you going to name yours if you manage to tame it?” Soleil asked curiously, looking up at Kane who was still wrapping his jacket as tight as it could get.

Kane hummed in response, thinking about his answer. “I dunno really . . . I’ve heard freigns are reaaaal picky when it comes to their owners. I might not make the cut.” He laughed and nudged Soleil’s arm with his shoulder.

“Yeah . . . It miiight have been a bad idea bringing our own Imps with us, huh?” And as if all of them were waiting just for that moment, all 4 of their Imps popped their heads out of Soleil’s tote bag. Cujo, Kane’s Bonezo, managed to crawl its way out of his jacket and onto his shoulder. Kane lifted his hand to scratch under Cujo’s chin who started grumbling contentedly in response.

“Well, how else are we supposed to make sure the Imps get along with each other? We would be bad owners if we brought a freign home and it hated our other Imps!”

“Yeah, but what if their . . . I don’t know . . . smell? Tips off the freigns and they don’t get close to us?”

“And you think our smell wouldn’t do the exact same thing?” Kane questioned.

Soleil opened their mouth in protest only to close it again, clearly out of arguments. One of their hands drifts down to pet one of their Imps, Lumiel quickly leaned up into the mitten-clad hand before any of the other Imps could.

Kane sighed and grabbed Soleil’s arm. He stopped walking, making them stop as well and look up at him again confused as to why he’s pausing. He placed his other hand on the opposite shoulder, “Listen . . . I know you’re worried about being able to tame a freign. Last year’s attempt didn’t go well and now you’re trying to overcompensate, right?”

Soleil reluctantly nodded in response. As the last bits and pieces from the sun slowly descended below the horizon, Soleil found themself lost in their memories for a second clearly recalling their failed attempt from last year. The gentle breeze slowly picked up and tousled  their hair, carrying with it the elusive scent of nostalgia.

“It’ll be okay, I promise, Sol!” Kane grinned at them brightly. “We’ll keep at it until we find one that’s just right for you, okay? Even if we’re out here all night,” Kane exclaimed with excitement. He took a deep breath, taking in the cool settling night air. With a smirk on his face, he playfully slapped Soleil’s back in encouragement.

“Even if we have to try again next year?” Soleil furrowed their brow, not feeling so sure anymore about this decision.

Kane laughed again, “Of course! If you invite me, I’ll go.” His hand fell down from their elbow to hold Soleil’s. “You know I’ll go wherever you go.” 

Soleil flushed, more than the usual light red from being out in the cold. “Shut it, you sap.” But their hand squeezed his in spite of their words. Despite Soleil’s icy demeanor, there was an undeniable air of strength and assuredness about them now. 

He smiled again but suddenly perked up, noticing something moving behind Soleil in the darkness of the trees and underbrush. “Besides . . . check out what’s behind you, slowly,” he whispered, hoping to not startle the regal Imp that seemingly creeped up on them unexpectedly. 

Soleil jumped a little but quickly settled back down to slowly turn away from Kane and to look at what he was pointing out. As the freign came into their view, they gasped quietly, in awe of the hoofed Imp slowly approaching the two of them.

They started swatting at Kane’s arm excitedly, “Oh my fuck, that’s-! That’s a freign!” not believing their eyes at first, maybe they truly went delirious from the cold after all. 

“It sure is!” Kane exclaimed, quietly though despite holding in his excitement, he didn’t want to startle the Imp they took so long to find, who knew if they’d find another one before the end of the season after all. With the harsh of winter almost nearing, they would be running out of time if they messed this up. 

Soleil quickly, but gently, kneeled in the snow as the freign continued to approach them curiously. They slowly and gently set their bag on the ground next to them so they could focus on trying to coax the Imp closer with the delicious treats from their bag. At least . . . they very slowly tried to get a treat out of their bag, but Soleil’s Imps seemingly had other dubious plans cooked up. Lumiel, Smokey, Ceres, and Lewis all leaped out of the bag, probably upset that they were suddenly placed on the cold ground. The cold seeping in the warmth of the bag too fast, startling them. 

“No! Wait-!” Soleil whisper screamed at them as all four of them quickly noticed the new Imp and made their way over. The freign, surprisingly, didn’t seem to mind the four approaching it. Lumiel, being the friendly and most carefree one of the group, quickly cuddled up to the friegn, seemingly trying to get warmer as they nuzzled up to the fluffy creature. The freign slowly stood there and just took the hug, slowly blinking and looking between Kane and Soleil like it was almost begging for some sort of help.

Kane and Soleil watched, surprised and almost afraid that this interaction would be guaranteed to scare the feral yet seemingly calm creature. This could go very terribly wrong but what could they do now but watch in fear and hope for the best. To the two Succubuns’ delight, the freign started following Lumiel, who was leading it almost proudly towards Soleil like they saved the day and knew what they were doing all along.

Soleil took no time at all to quickly reach into the treat bag and grabbed one cookie that still looked roughly in shape despite their demonic little creatures crushing the other cookies. Soleil’s arm, albeit shaky, stretched out slowly towards the freign, presenting the treat almost like a peace offering of some sort to the wild creature. 

Without hesitation, the freign leaned in and nabbed it out of their hand hungrily. The Imp quickly devoured the treat and sniffed at Soleil’s fingers, looking for another one. The freign found Soleil’s hand empty and turned back to engage with Lumiel who was patiently playing with Smokey and Lewis. 

Soleil and Kane looked on as the five Imps fell into a rhythm of play in the snow, Kane quickly setting Cujo down into the snow as well as it was trying to get down and play as well.

Kane sat down on the ground next to Soleil, leaning his body against theirs as they both watched the Imps get along and roll in the snow.

“See . . . You didn’t have to worry about anything, Sol. You socialized your Imps well,” Kane said quietly.

Soleil rolled their eyes before leaning up to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Shut up, K.” Once again their actions contrasted their words as they scootched into Kane’s side deeper, trying to get warm.

Kane chuckled but wrapped an arm around them, “We’ll see if it wants to come home with us in a bit. Let’s just watch for now.” Soleil nodded in response and so the two of them watched as the Imps ran and jumped. Maybe coming out in the cold wasn’t so bad after all.