another restless patrol drives blixen from the borders, seeking to escape the edges of the snow. she does not mind the cold much, used to it, but she's never worked good in isolation. and anyway, it's been a few days since she went to check in with @Mallaidh. blix isn't as keyed up as she was the other day, which is maybe for the best -- furi doesn't always respond well to her when she's all hyped up. the fleimkepa pauses on her way towards mallaidh, circling around the lake 'til she finds a suitable duck to take out, its glossy neck loose in her mouth as she carries it toward hougeda (where she hopes furi'll be, but if not, that's fine, she'll wait).

admittedly, it is nicer with rosalyn gone, though blixen, more accustomed to drageda's ways, had not been bothered much by their captive. it's easier to focus on furi (even now, whenever she chooses to sleep with her, even when rose is there, it gives her a secret little thrill). the flurry of movement around them, between trying to coordinate the new branch and dealing with the captive and the thread of rusalka, has made it easier for blix to try to learn how to be there in a way mallaidh wants/needs. she doesn't think she's jealous of rose anymore, at least, not to a point of distress. it's the sort of thing she'd like to talk about at some point but -- she's a little worried bringing it up will push mallaidh away, so for now, she can be chill about it, probably.

"hey, stranger," she says, voice muffled by her catch, and lays it at mallaidh's paws. "how are you feeling?" blix asks, her tail wagging as she reaches out to brush against her companion's cheek, a simple greeting.

there is still that mad, impetuous part of blix that wants to grab furi by the shoulders and shout, what am i to you! though she does pretty good at keeping it under wraps. mallaidh has never responded well to being shoved, even if blix, by her nature, really likes to push. eventually they'll have to talk about it -- surely! -- or she'll explode, but -- right now things are nice between them and she wants to hold onto that as long as she can.

blixen follows her easily, watching the sway of her hips with a mischevious expression (e.g. B) or as close as you can get with a wolf's snout), not minding the trek into the snow. still, a shiver passes through her and she picks up her pace, hoping to steal some warmth from furi's proximity in addition to the sun. "sure," blix laughs, "but you eat first." 

presumably they share a nice snack. blix chews on a feather absently, making a face as bits of it get trapped in her throat. "it's been kinda nice lately," she says, coughing a little, "now that things are -- quiet again? yeah?"

the gentle scene lulls blix into a false sense of security, a drowsy warmth settling over her as mallaidh comes closer, heat blossoming from where that sweet dark head meets ochre thigh. she doesn't want to move, afraid even through her haze that the slightest twitch will fracture the scene. when did she start walking on eggshells, or has she always, unaware?

then furi's words steal movement out of her, surprised enough to turn toward her (not quite pulling her lower body, only curling towards her like a bright red question mark). what's that old cliché? warm amber eyes meet cool and pale, but she isn't smart enough to know if there's another shoe about to drop. "i love you too," blixen says instead, hoping she can convey all of it in those four little words.

furi's qualifications come, but blix is surprised to find her chest doesn't seize the way it once did. something uneasy pricks at her, the lingering worry/jealousy of not being enough, but after all they've been through it's hard to deny that maybe it's just how furi is and nothing to do with her at all. the details of her family make blix tilt her head thoughtfully. she's never been stranger to the idea of unconventional pairings, given her mothers, but she's never seen multiple wolves together like that. that mallaidh is sharing any detail at all feels like a well-won triumph, and it helps to ease some of that lingering worry, though not entirely.

"i don't know if i'm the same," she murmurs, almost shy. "and i don't know if i entirely understand yet, but... i want to." despite her misgivings she isn't as insecure as she once was, and if mallaidh is here, with her, telling her that she wants to come home to her, then it's worth -- figuring out together. "and i want to be your home," she adds, feeling a smile creep onto her face despite herself. taking a beat to scoot closer, she curls so that they're mirroring each other nearly, blixen's head finding mallaidh's thigh. "so..." she starts, and trails off, finding she doesn't have a good way to conclude the thought; instead she laughs a little, a nervous intake of breath, and watches mallaidh's face for a reaction.

somehow, actually, it's not the question blixen is expecting; she could be knocked over with a feather. 

"i," she stammers, "yes -- yeah, of course, furi!" giggling, she shifts, more or less trying to pin mallaidh in a full-body goofy embrace, tail beating a joyful rhythm against the ground. with her head probably somewhere near mal's cheek, she whispers "i always thought i was gonna be the one to ask that," her smile audible.