Silvertip Mountain It's lonely at the top

@Niita

Steady strolled through the lush forest, stopping every once in a while to smell the foliage on the trees and bushes, and to mark his scent. He was alone, again. He had a few interactions with his pack mates, but nothing very lasting, or easy-going, for that matter. He had been very business-like lately, and he knew he needed some fun times with his pack. It hadn't been easy on them at all during this famine, but, as it came upon the droppings of a deer, it was clear it was over. The herds had begun to return, and he imagined more would come with time. Soon, a hunt would be in order.

He came upon Verde falls at the bottom of the falling river water. Since the season for heavy rainfall was over, the pool at the bottom was rather calm. He stepped into the cool water, lapping it up as he waded into it. The water reached his chest and he paused, letting it cool his pelt from the hot sun. A few more feet, and he was swimming.

With the famine finally over it found Niita near giddy with mirth, putting her faults at not being able to find the pups aside for a few moments to admire Silvertip Mountain as the foliage returned. Rarely had she been seen about the territory, given her forays into the Wilds to search for the pups. Now that she had returned from her most recent excursion where she had run across Anita, Niita was on the search for Steady. 

She found him swimming in the falls, Niita grinning at the sight. She had begun to shed in the heat, swimming often so as not to catch heat stroke. As mucky as it had been, the mud she had previously washed off had done her a favor. Niita was more suited for the colds of the north than heat though it wasn't completely unbearable. 

The pale waif slipped into the water, paddling over to Steady as silently as possible. Coming up behind him, she leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Boo."

Steady swam without worry as to who might come upon him. He was the big, bad wolf of Silvertip who cannibalized his own, after all. He was finding, though, that his pack mates had stuck by him, and he assumed they did that out of understanding, and not just because they would most likely die of starvation if they went out on their own. His threat to Grayday had been harsh, and he meant every word of it, but he never actually hoped that Grayday would fail here. He was glad the male was proving to be an asset, which is why Steady had lifted his probation early. 

A voice that seemed to come out of no where interrupted his thoughts and his head jerked towards the source. A smile framed his maw when his gaze settled upon Niita. Hey, stranger, he said, his voice warm towards her. I've missed you, he confessed easily. She had been gone quite frequently since the pack meeting, and he assumed it was to scout for the pups. Had he thought she might be leaving the pack, it was sure his heart would break. So, he choose not to think of that. His neck extended towards her in an attempt to nose her muzzle, his tongue snaking out to give a quick kiss.

Niita seemed to have startled him, his head whipping to the side so fast she feared he would get whiplash. Niita wasn't worried about him attacking her, she didn't ever think that Steady would truly hurt her. Except maybe that time with Zeke but she had given up on being a Mercenary, that situation would never happen again. Of course there was always the possibility Niita would need to fight but she had learned her lesson: always keep your scruff covered.

Niita giggled slightly, a girly noise that only came out around her boyfriend/lover/friend/whatever Steady was. "I missed you too." Niita admitted easily, moving in to kiss him. Scouting was fun but she always preferred being around Steady, he made her feel almost drunk with happiness. 

"I have to ask you something." It was clear by her easy smile and tone of voice it wasn't big, though she did fear he would say no for whatever reason. Maybe he would need her and Anita around Silvertip for some reason, it was the only excuse she could viably come up with. Though if he said no Niita wouldn't complain even if she had high hopes of going on a scouting trip with her friend.

Her giggle was like music to his ears, but it was her confession that she had missed him, too, that warmed his heart. He felt like the world had meaning when she was around. 

He cocked his head a little at her next statement, wondering what her question was. He swam a little closer to shore until his paws could grip the muddy bottom. What is it? he asked, turning to her. By her expression, it coudn't be bad.

"Anita and I both have hopes of becoming Scouts, with your permission we would like to go on a scouting trip together to see how the areas around have been effected by the famine." Niita explained, hoping silently he would say yes. It seemed like a good idea at the time but now she felt so nervous asking for permission. It wasn't as if they could leave without it though, Steady would definetly notice their absence.

"I think we could get a good idea how the herds are returning, see which places suffered the most." Niita added, glancing around the forest which was already beginning to heal. It would help the two females move towards their trades, which was surely a good thing.

As the look on her face was so hopeful, Steady was expecting a question about their status, as it was on the list of things he thought about on a daily basis. He liked her, and he knew she felt the same about him, but they hadn't had "the talk" yet, and he was a little hesitant to bring it up. He thought she was bringing it up now. 

But, what she asked was a far cry from the topic of their relationship. As much as he had missed her, she was now asking to stay away for an official scouting trip with Anita. No matter how much he wanted her here, it was obvious to him she had other things on her mind. And he would not deny her. His expression was kept perfectly neutral as he nodded once. Sure, he said simply, his voice as neutral as his face. 

Her reasons were sound, he admitted to himself. They would need to know the movement of the herds, and if that had changed from before the locusts came. If it had, it would benefit the pack to know the best places to hunt. Deciding he was done swimming, he waded to shore and hoisted himself out of the water, shaking off the access from his fur. 

He agreed and Niita felt a small rush of happiness, which was soon overpowered by a sense of confusion. He had given her permission rather easily, albeit expressionlessly and no sooner had that happened that Steady pulled himself from the water without a word, turning his back on her. Niita was unsure whether to follow or to stay where she was, opting for a middle ground of moving to stand in the shallows.

Pushing a pebble about with her paw, Niita found she couldn't look at him. "I'm horrid at this." Her confession came easily, it was clear Steady had wanted something else but the pale waif had no idea what. "I've never had a...whatever it is we are. Relationship if you want to call it that. I don't know what you want from me." The last part was quieter, looking up at him finally to see what exactly he had been expecting when she spoke. 

"I'm not stupid." Niita murmured with conviction, knowing many saw her that way for her kind nature. No matter what they thought, Niita knew she was smart. "I know you expected me to say something else. You're gonna have to help me out here, Steady. I don't know anything about dating or whatever, so just tell me. What do you want from me?" She allowed herself to look at him, pleading silently that he would just tell her what it was he expected of her.

Her next words got his attention, and his ears perked as he turned around to face her, finding she had moved a little closer to shore. When she confessed she didn't know what he wanted, his eyes widened a little in surprise, but then narrowed when she felt the need to state she wasn't stupid. He opened his maw to respond, but she continued speaking, and he didn't interrupt her. He could tell she was struggling with this, with them, and he felt horrible that he had given the impression he wanted anything more than what she was willing to give.

He stepped back to the edge of ground where it met the water, laying down as he allowed his paws to hang over the short ledge. I have never thought you stupid, Niita, he said with conviction. Sure, maybe he felt she was inexperienced, but definitely not stupid. And I don't need any title from you, he admitted. I did expect you to ask something else, but that's my problem, not yours. I just... he paused, trying to find the right words. He finally settled on the simple truth. Like I said, I've just missed you. When you said you wanted to leave again, I got bummed out. But, I won't stop you, he assure her. It's good you and Anita are working at trades. He just wished it could have been a trade that kept her here instead of taking her away. 

Niita shook her head, feeling sure he had wanted her to ask him something. Perhaps Steady wasn't lying but he wasn't telling the whole truth at least. Maybe she was reading too far into this but Niita just knew something else was the problem. 

"I know you were expecting me to ask you something else, probably about our relationship." The pale girl looked up at him, hoping she wasn't wrong and that he wouldn't laugh in her face. "I don't know anything about labelling reltionships or what to call this, if you want me to be your girlfriend or whatever then just say so." 

It didn't really matter what she called Steady, he was hers. None of the other she-wolves had this kind of relationship with him, her scent clung to him. If he wanted a name for what they were then Niita would be fine with it.

His expression changed, confusion mixed with a little hurt. He felt he was doing alright in laying out his feelings to her just now, and she just completely ignored it, worried that he wasn't fessing up to what he wanted in regards to a title between them. It hurt him that she seemed more focused on the title, even after he said it wasn't something he needed. But, if he dug deep down, maybe it was their status that had something to do with it. What we are to each other does come into my mind all the time, he confessed to her softly. But, my heart already calls you mine. A soft smile formed his maw. 

It wasn't something he had meant to come up, but it wasn't something he was going to hold back now, especially if she was so adorably hell-bent on calling him out on it. He slid back into the water, his tail wagging with confidence as he waded through the shallows to put his nose to hers. Will you be my mate, Niita? he asked softly, his gaze searching hers. 

What did you do this time? Niita hadn't meant to hurt him, her ears pinning back at the expression on his face. Of course she just had to press on and mess everything up. Niita hadn't cared about their status, so long as he was hers just as she was his. Steady no longer seemed hurt as he confessed to her his feelings, making her smile back at him though she still felt certain she had messed up.

It didn't seem like she had as Steady strode through the water to stand in front of her, pressing his nose against hers. Niita had been about to kiss him, assuming that was why he was so close, when his question stopped her. For a moment she was so surprised that she could only blink at him. Niita had thought that they might be mated one day, if they stayed together that long and Steady ever asked. She never had thought he would ask her so soon.

"Yes." There wasn't a doubt in her mind that she wanted to be his mate, even if he asked her much sooner than she expected. "I'll be your mate." Niita was practically wiggling due to the fast motions of her tail, leaning up to kiss him in excitement and happiness.

omg I was not expecting that =-O

I didn't either! XD

She was quiet after he voiced his question, and though that concerned him a bit that she would say no, he refused to let the hopeful look fall from his face. But, she didn't leave him hanging for long, saying yes. He laughed with joy, returning her kiss. His body refused to contain his excitement, and he pranced around in the water, inadvertently splashing water all around him. When he realized it, he stopped, facing her with a bright smile. He hadn't felt this excited and hopeful about the future in a long time, and it almost felt surreal. 

He buried his nose in the wet fur of her neck, breathing in her scent. You have no idea how happy you've made me, he said, his voice a little muffled against her flesh. His heart swelled with happiness as reality began to settle in. This wasn't a dream, it wasn't another scene he had made up in his head for them. It was real. They were mates.

His excitement was palpable as he returned her kiss, pulling back to splash around in the water. Niita laughed with him, watching him play in the water with an adoring expression on her face. Steady turned, his expression mirroring her own. 

Niita rubbed against him affectionately, licking his chest like she had the first time they were alone and had played together. "Just as happy as you have made me." Niita smiled, her tail wagging softly in pure happiness. Steady was her mate. 

last from me I think!

She seemed as happy as he was, and that made him all the more elated. I will spend the rest of my life making sure that you are safe and happy, he vowed. Not allowing to let the excitement fade, Steady tried to start up a water fight, hoping she would play with him. 

He knew she would leave soon on her scouting mission with Anita, and while he would still miss her, he would be all that more happy to see her return in a few days. 

I'll archive here! <3