Morning had not yet reached its peak, when the slumbering female was awakened by her companion’s desire to wander. It was not often that he called for the pair of them to walk beyond the pack’s borders. In fact, it was hardly a happenstance ever since she was invited into the mountain haven. The excitement was what woke her, and the anticipation kept her fueled even as they trekked from the borders into the heart of the mountain.

Together, they walked the familiar path of the Sunspire until they assumed an upward path leading them to the overlook of the Ridge. And in the morning, it was quite a few. No color of the sky was left unannounced as solar radiance stretched across the growing sky of endless blue. The violet of night fading to naught as it was chased away by warm orange. In pause, the female sighed softly as she beheld this splendor of nature, then turned to her companion to take his impression…

…only to find him nose deep in the dirt of the mountain.

The female grumbled softly as she lowered her muzzle to a scarred ear and nipped at it sharply to garner his attention. It was not often they had the opportunity to walk from the borders together, and while she too was intrigued by the familiar scent of the Creek, she had no intention of spending this time tracking down what was not worth their effort. The trail led away from the borders of the Vale, and that was all that mattered. Before them was the dawn of the new day. The openness of the Ridge to explore at their leisure. “Will you not walk with me, Shadow?” the female cooed lightly, lowering carefully by her front to brush her shoulder against the dark, oily folds. “Or must I slip from the ledge to bring your mind to what rests before you?”

Sharing den with the demon of the mountain afforded the female a kind of courage few would experience. She had seen the beast in his softest light and learned to adore him for it. Then she had seen him at his most terrifying moments and learned not to fear him nor his bite. Because of this his sudden snarl did nothing but roll a chill down her spine and harden her eyes with the single eye ablaze fixed on her. In all likelihood, he could have fought with her then, sought his teeth to her throat to submit before him, and still she would have not feared what would come. While some might assume it a gamble, she called it faith in the male she had come to cherish and adore. Her fear would not, and would never be for him.

Gradually, she gaze did soften when the flames receded and thunder quelled in his throat. In their place was a softer light and low rumble, mirrored fondly by the gentle growl upon receiving the returned touch of his shoulder. “I would not fall,” she whispered as she turned her muzzle inward to lightly touch his cheek. By his nudge she proceeded forward taking one careful step across the treacherous ridge at a time. “If I did, then there would be none to turn you while you sleep,” she jested lightly over his sleeping habits. “And I would not wish to part from your peaceful face while you slumber. It is the only instance where I can almost glimpse a smile…”

Glad now that his attention was on her rather than the trail, endowed with brighter spirits, she boldly slid closer to her companion til not only shoulder, but flank rested comfortably against him. Her tail swayed contently, brushing against him with a well-timed sweep to the rhythm of their step in unison. She was certainly in a mood this morning. Happier and comfortable than she had been in a long while. That he would relinquish his interest in the trail gave her hope that indeed this day from the borders could be theirs to have. Exploration was their only task for the day. And with the early morning to their advantage, they had the day and night to see all and enjoy the time together.

Bubbling over with anticipation, she suddenly turned her muzzle to his own and lavished his cheek and brows with an endearing tongue. Her tail was in a frenzy as she whined in content. Her paws wriggled in place as she tried to keep near him yet threatened to spring away in this newfound glee.

Despite her excitement, she was careful in her footing. Though that was not to say that too heavy a press did not dislodge a stone to go rolling down the mountain face. In truth, the sounds of clattering rock were a comfort. If gave life to the inanimate and produced a song as unique as a wolf’s call that stretched a great distance. Along her spine, it rolled a chill of thrill in knowing that such a sound ended only by the unforgiving depths below their very paws. But none elicited as more penetrating a chill than what roused each time when engaged by her companion.

It was a spark that set fine auburn hairs to stand on end and brought her toes to quiver in glee. It drew her banner to rise and sway with delight, and her heart to hammer excitably for seemingly as something as minute as a touch. She crooned in play as he grasped for her muzzle in turn to her kisses, then released to guide her further up the ridge where the over-look awaited.

Without question, she followed with a spring in her dexterous step and unbridled mirth in her gaze each time she turned to look upon him. She was a woman enamored, true to its purest sense. And those she offered no words to this truth, expression alone was enough to convey it. She kept close to her lead, shoulder clung to his own as they walked in unison. But with an occasional playful step on her part, letting just the tip of a heavy paw fall over his own before letting it dance away.

Prancing steps soon smoothed to a careful trot as they progressed up the ridge. Shoulder to broad shoulder, contentment following in the presence and wake of the pair as the carried forward. In the few purposeful bounds he had managed to get ahead of her, she adjusted her own steps to become wider, eager, surpassing his own til she came upon the ridge and beckoned him coyly with a playful tap of her tail against his muzzle.

And there they stood overlooking the treasure below. The Vale in its entirety nestled around the endless arms of the mountain and above it, the sky expanding to horizons unseen. The very clouds parting to bathe its light upon the majesty of nature’s creation below. Such a sight was breathtaking, and for a moment she was swooned by it. Her lips curled with a smile as she leaned comfortably against her dearest companion, adjusting only when to fold down to her haunches as she admired the open heavens above them. She did not know if Raheerah new this sight would be theirs in this morning, but she was certainly glad he had awakened her for it. She felt spoiled by the beast at her side.

And yet, the vision of such beauty incited within her a thought of the recent past, as her eyes drifted from the skies to the snaking creeks leading to the floral meadows. “My shadow…” she turned her muzzle to rest upon his shoulder. “I have news for your regarding the Creek dwellers…” Softly, she nipped at his shoulder then withdrew letting her eyes rest respectfully upon his muzzle. “I had encountered their members twice… and in hungered conditions. And both times they were desperate and unyielding. In the hopes that no other of the Vale would meet them in that manner, I spoke with their Alpha in hopes of peace.” As her raspy chords played on, a gentle smile crested upon her weathered lips, not unlike a mother disappointed in the conduct of their child. “My offer was declined…” she uttered, yet it was far from the end of it.

“They would seek to avoid the neutral lands and keep to their own in the hopes that we might avoid each other. We would have the nearest open lands and the Vale to ourselves for game… yet I fear that the decision will make those more in tune with nature desperate. Would the prey of the Creek not flee when the scent of wolves becomes too much to strong? Would we not see them retreat from here?”

Had the brutish male not been displeased with her actions, she might have thought some ailment had befallen her beloved. But upon hearing his grumble amidst her tale, she smiled gently and brushed an assuring shoulder against his side. She knew of the strong reservations he had for the Creek, as they were recited by his actions and portrayed by his diligence to protect the Vale. And as it was, with each demeaning encounter by their neighbors, she too was adopting less of a tolerance for them.

But rather than dwell on what brought her disease of the mind, the woman instead led her conversation to the true purpose of her visit. The reason that she had not yet expressed to the Creek, or even her Alpha. But would allow the ear of her cherished to hear.

“My shadow…” obsidian-lined lids draped heavily over shying eyes of umber and gold, in the hopes they would not betray her truth before the strength was found to reveal it. She breathed deeply, steadily then let her eyes lifts to rest on the chest of her lead. “…I must confess that I did not only speak with them in the hopes of sparing our brethren from their savagery.” Once more she paused for a breath, fighting down the tremble of both her body and lips before gathering her wits to speak. “…It was… in selfish desire that we might hunt without worry of their hostilities. Because… perhaps not all in the Vale would be fit to fight in a conflict. Especially if they carry life… should it happen…”

Perhaps there was some higher power that enjoyed the torment of the creatures below, for it seemed to take pleasure in robbing her of eloquence in the matter of her explanation, and he understanding for the true meaning behind her words. As if warmed by the sun (however obscured by clouds), she felt the flesh of her cheeks grow warm as well as her collar, as if sudden stricken by fever. Like a fool, she had hoped she would not need to say more and that in time sense would come to the male she called her companion. But it was the curious gleam in his eye that told he was at a genuine loss for her meaning. It was disheartening though not nearly enough to divert her course. Rather than abandon it, she held fast to her convictions, breathing deeply and recollecting her tongue to begin again.

“Who of the Vale…” leaning forward, she slipped her muzzle within the crook beneath his jaw then so carefully drew deeper in to coil against his chest. “If you… and if Tenzin would allow it… I had hoped that…” she whined softly. “…that I might carry life. Not just for the Vale… but-“ her heart hammered relentlessly in her chest, and stronger still as she mustered what strength she could to lift her gaze to meet his singular probing eye set ablaze. “-for you. If you would have me, Raheerah… my shadow. If our bond is true, and we are bound to one another… if you favor me, truly… I can think of no greater show of this than to remain at your side and carry for you the life you would give me. B-but if you would not have it… if your eye is elsewhere…” as insecurity became to seep into her heart, she felt her tongue loosen as she prattled on with apparent doubt. “…I would understand… I would not fault you… nor would I stray from your side, even then. I would… hold true and remain as warrior under your faction…”

His silent muzzling for silence left her on edge somewhat, both rigid and uncertain but compliantly quiet. Weighed by uncertainty, she gathered what more strength remained at her disposal to keep herself come collapsing due to fright. She feared not his bite nor physical scolding… but his word of rejections, however braced she believed herself to be. A heart that delved in solitude now emerging into the light of possibility was a fragile entity, and she feared it breaking beyond repair. She felt it hammer away, speaking of both its physical strength and fragility of its core. Her body quaked to the rhythm even when fixed against the stability of her companion. She had never been so frightened… so fearful of another’s words.

Quivering ears slanted forward to receive the inevitable verdict. Her breath stilled as he spoke, unwilling to let even the soft sigh of her breathing overtake his low voice. Both eyes were transfixed on the signal luminous impression of light, wavering only slightly in their radiance when the gentleness of his gaze reached her and was felt. Then at last she breathed… though a smile did not yet reached her lips. Yet her eyes shined with beautiful hope for the future that lied before them.

“…not only what I wish,” she whispered, wiggling her muzzle free in an effort to pressed her nose against his cheek. “-but you as well, my shadow.” She would not look at the life created between them as a gift if it was only she that desired their existence. “Would it… make you happy, Raheerah, if we shared this life together? Would you be glad… would you want me, to carry this life for you?” Her gaze remained gently upon his but it was not without an expectant light within them. Once more her breath was bated in wait, her body stiff as she waited for his reply. In a matter of minutes, the world had fallen away, and it was only the pair of them still within this moment in time.

Little more than a few seconds of silence felt like an eternity as she waited for reply. She could feel the rhythm of her heart in her wait, each beat reverberating through the whole of her until she was consumed by it. Rocked by it. Were it not for the anchor she found in her companion, undoubtedly her resolve would have shattered in an instance. She was not born a creature comprised of confidence and inner strength, it was an inner fiber gradually woven and mended into what made the woman whom she was. It was not natural, but made of the experiences both survived and endured, yet when it came to matters of the heart, she was weak; fragile at her core.

But she need not fear the breaking of those fragile chords, for a singular word overwrote the doubt the carried. As a cloud would part from the face of the sun, so did the uncertainty drift away to reveal only the warmth and sureness in her eyes. And the glowed so brilliantly with hope and adoration for her beloved.

And then she sprang. Already so close but fueled by her elation she rose swiftly to her hind legs and curled her front paws over his shoulders. Both muzzle and tongue became a pale blur across his face as she kissed every corner, every tuff of fur, nibbling ear and brow and muzzle and nape as she burst in song with her excitement. “My shadow…” she sang softly as she fell again to all fours, twisting in place as if to catch her lashing tail before unwinding to settle once more against his chest. “You have made me… you have made me so happy. My shadow… my mate.”