Herbalists' Cache An Escape

asdfk; FINALLY

Let bygones be bygones. It was time to apologize to Pema for his behavior over the past moon, first for blowing up at her and then completely and utterly avoiding the woman, who he'd once considered a good friend. A number of things had weighed on his conscience over the last few days, but most heavy was that he'd hurt her, without really meaning to, and he wanted to make things right.

Oddly enough, he tracked her to the place they'd last exchanged words. Shale ducked his head under a low-hanging branch, the sweetness of herbs and flowers an aromatic cloud around him. Thorns tugged at his pelt, but he continued on, finally coming across a small clearing. A lavender bush. And. . .her.

Her scent stopped him dead in his tracks.

He'd forgotten about her heat, being so far from her, but now that they stood only paces away, it was a smack in the face. Swallowing, he stood, indecisive, trying to take shallow breaths. One good whiff of her and it was over; he knew it would be over. Even the barest hint of it slipping through was enticing enough to bring him closer, first one step, then another.

"Pema," he said roughly, his normally high, clear voice pitched nearly an octave lower. With one more long swallow, he blinked at her, trying to muster enough blood to his brain to say what he needed to in this moment. "I. . .I came to say I'm sorry. For my behavior."