She woke with heated skin, far more than the usual. 

Kicking away the pelt that had covered her in sleep, a soft, long while echoed throughout her sitik. A sickly sweet scent surrounded her like a powerful aura, drowning her nostrils and dampening what was left of her exhaustion.

Her time would come, she knew. But she had not expected it so soon! 

If this even was what she thought. 

Was it? What was she to do? Call sunset to her? 

No... she couldn't yet. Could she? 

She wanted to. But at the same time, she was reluctant. 

Would he turn her away if she sought such a thing from him?

He knew the scent of honey and sugar. He'd smelt it before, another season ago. A man was drawn to it as he was, but first - he must check upon Winter Song, as he made routine.

There were many who would smell of it at this time of year, he thought - within moonpack alone, even. 

A questioning glance gazed upon the source of the scent. 

A head tilt.

Winter Song? Are you alright?

Scrambling to her feet rather awkwardly, she crouched low, turning to face him. 

Tail thumping against the earth, she whined once more. But then showed her teeth. 

A contradiction of her own design. Of her own wants! 

But he was man, intruding upon woman's space in the prime of her heat. 

This could not be allowed.

Sunset had proven himself companion. But could he prove himself partner?

Would he even make the attempt?

Her smell was intoxicating, and he clung to his ma's teachings with the hope that she knew what she was doing.

But Fallen Sun was a quiet gentleman, or at least he thought himself something of it - and did not intrude farther. Not a pawstep more. This was new, but perhaps she did not like men near her when she smelt sweet. 

His nose twitched. 

Another head tilt. 

You certainly do not seem alright...

He wished to soothe her anger, but how?

He made no move to come in further, but he did not leave either. 

She whined yet again, this time louder. 

Her body shook, vibrating with need. 

Need for something... for him. 

Tentative, she took a step closer, chin lowering to brush against the earth. 

Then another step. And another. 

But just as quickly, she retracted her advance, moving back again to the farther corner of the den.

He drew closer, one hesitant paw at a time. He wanted to hold her, to keep her warm-

Purposely leaving the door free should she dislike the darkness. 

Stopping halfway.

A whine - You're acting strange - are you ill? Is it... something else?

He came close, then stopped. 

No! Why did he stop!?

A snarl replaced the whines she had produced. 

Ears peeling back, lips curled, she snapped her teeth in his direction. 

So many emotions at once, and she couldn't decide which to focus on. Which was most important.

Lust warmed her body, urging her to close the distance and become one with him, as they were meant to.

Anger throbbed in her veins, a fury caused by the sudden rage of unfamiliar hormones. 

Hope, that he might truly be the sun to melt her ice, and chip away every barrier leading to her heart. Where he could take it for his own, and keep it forever. 

And the counterpart of that hope. Fear of his rejection. Simple as that.

It all swarmed, flowing within like an unstoppable river. Never to cease. 

Not unless one of them put an end to it.

Wow, she was not like Wind Flower, at all. And that was good. 

But he'd never seen a snarling she-wolf like this before, so forgive the hesitance. Perhaps a word or two would calm her? Or at least... offer clarity for the confused man? 

No words came come to him. He was on his own.

A detail. 

She snarled when he stopped. 

Was that it? Did she want him near? 

Again, he drew closer, her scent swirling in his nose.

Neither spoke. And for once, she did not mind. 

She did not need his words. But only him. 

Finally, he crept closer. 

Was he understanding? Was he accepting? 

Slowly, her tail thumped in steady tandem, pleased by his advancement. 

Keep going. Come to me, my sunset!

Her eyes pleaded, the beat of her tail increasing the closer he got.

She definitely liked that, and her snarling ceased. 

He got close enough to touch her, and with this, he gave her a sniff of greeting. It was also a way to make sure she was alright. A happy wuff as he decided she only smelled of honey and sugar.

Winter Song wanted him, he thought - and he wanted her in turn.

And for this, he asked, with a lick of her head between her ears.

He touched her, and she melted. The first chips fell away. 

A whine came, but this time soft and wanton, nearly inaudible.

Curling her body toward him, she nudged his flank with her own. 

Her head ducked low, twisting, so that her tongue could lavish his chin with affection. A gesture in which she hoped might spur him on. 

She needed him! But how to say this in a way he might understand?

Memories of Wind Flower during the time she smelt the same flashed in his mind. Experience, Winter Song would get.

It was replaced by more of ma and da's teachings; he knew many things but could not repeat them. A curse or a blessing, he had yet to decide. But one did not need words for this.

He knew what she wanted! She wanted him. Her kisses said as much. 

One paw was drawn upward and held above her, another ask. 

This, he wanted for sure to know.

He asked her of her want. He knew, but needed her to be sure. 

And she was!

Moving from his chin, she kissed his paw reverently. 

Then, her body moved, another gesture to show she meant it. 

Lowering herself further to the ground, she carefully pushed her hindquarters closer into his side, tail flapping against his backside in open invitation.

He was glad there were no words that needed spoken - his heart beat too loudly in his ears for her voice to cut through.

She was sure, that much was clear! 

And his paw lowered on the opposite side of her. He needed to hold her. To be her sunset.

Ma would be proud!

A kiss to the back of her head, for good luck.

He needed her too. But was it more than she needed him? They may never know!

When she was wrapped in his embrace, she softened against him. Accepting of him, as he was of her. 

And together they danced in the way nature bid them. 


A time later, she stirred, humming softly as she stretched against his side. 

Her body ached, but deliciously so. She wouldn't have had it any other way. 

Turning her muzzle, she kissed his cheek, then his ear, and then his nose.

Even after their time together, she couldn't get enough of him. She needed to show every ounce of growing affection she held for him, in any way she could.

He lay beside her, sleepy and content. 

This was it, he supposed! She was all he wanted, his thoughts were consumed by her. 

A kiss, another. 

All he could do was show her his affection.

And he would, as long as she wanted him to.