Bearclaw Valley for every life,

taken place after this thread !! limit two in case anyone else wants to crash >:3

snowwoman returned, now, side-by-side with @Dolce, scents thick on eachothers pelts. her tail swayed high behind her, idle chatter spilling from her lips with little thought to rambles or over-stepping, for he had once said to her ; you talk as much as you want, darlin', and so she would do just that, happiness clear on her expression.

she said to him, then: have you dug out a den, yet? we can walk together. as was becoming a shared hobby. twice they had walked together. she hoped, once she grew old, that number would rise to the hundreds. more so. if you will have me, that is.

but a playful smile grew upon her face - she knew he would not say no.

breathless but joyous, they'd stepped foot back into bearclaw land. fur windswept and cow-licked from the run, while his dove's looked perfect, plush. as if she could never look anything but. he yearned to lean over and sink into that silk and warmth, to breathe her in until his lungs burned and ached. but for now, he was content on being at her side, even if his legs ached, even if bones felt considerably older. 

with a crooked, wolffish grin, he shook his heavy head. he hadn't even thought about claiming or digging a den; not when the first thing he'd done, when accepted into bearclaw, was seek her. "afraid i don't. s'alright, i'll dig one out quick." he chuffed, his docked tail waving at his hind. he'd lay claim to earth close where she laid, should that be acceptable. 

"dove, there ain't nothin' i'd like more." he assured her, dipping his head to gently nudge at her shoulder. "you lead this time. got this old fool outta breath." he chuckled, low and rich, teasing.

for reference; rala's den looks like this !!

i will take you to mine, she invited, nudging into his shoulder before beginning in a trot, though his size, his longer legs would allow him to simply walk beside her and continue to match her pace. rala's den, a hollow that dipped beneath the earth, protected by a boulder at its' entrance, was close. she could smell her own scent within it.

there were other hollows, other dips in the ground that dolce could easily dig out with his firm, large paws, and nanuralaaq would be happy to help, too. her tail swayed as she went, occasionally drifting in front of the man before reminded herself to keep pace. gaze sporadically flicked over to dolce, her glances sidelong; interpreting his approval.

they eventually arrived to her place of rest. nanuralaaq shuffled, and said ; it is not much. materials are sparse in winter, but @Milan came by to lay a pelt for me to sleep on, a smile upon her face as she thought of they shy, yet incredibly helpful woman. if you ask her, she can sort one out for you, a lovely girl, she is.

then, as typical, she begun over-explaining, though there was nothing anxious about her words, she simply wanted to be known, to be seen, inside and out: and, come springtime, i hope to decorate it, a smile as she thought. flowers, grasses, pelts of my own making. little things to make it look nice. maybe some stones or gems if i can find any, a hum left her maw, a head tilted as she envisioned it ... thinking.

her gaze returned to the man. rala did not apologise for her abundance of words, as she knew that she did not have to when it came to dolce. taking comfort in such a thing, she said: where would you like to make your den, siqinniqtillugu? smiling.

i will take you to mine. he knew she hadn't meant in the way he'd hoped, and yet, it still made his dormant heart throb. nearly painfully so—an invitation that one day, heaven be so kind, that meant he could stay. he found himself at a loss with words, maw agape like a fool. she still continued to surprise him, to sink those little hooks of hers into his skin. 

she knew now that he'd follow wherever she'd lead him, as if she was a siren guiding him out to sea. he'd happily drown. with a wag of his short tail, the outlaw lumbered after her, oaken eyes shamelessly admiring the sway of her hips, the grace of her steps. what a woman. 

he knew better than to leer, though. with practiced restraint, he let his eyes fall to the hollowed hearth she claimed as her own. her sweet scent, now stronger than ever, was one he inhaled greedily, selfishly. he admired how simplistic it was, and already in his mind did he imagine that come spring, she'd truly make it her own. 

he would help. "reckon i could catch ya some nice pelts. dunno 'bout flower pickin', but..." dolce trailed off with a chuckle. she'd know very well that if she wished for him to help her collect flowers and other pretty things she likes, all she'd have to do is ask. she deserved the finest silks, the freshest foliage and lillies. perhaps he was already becoming too soft, but that's what hooked him; she'd brought out parts of him he didn't know existed. 

his den. right. that was the question. his eyes searched, and the brazen man found himself near tentative, bashful. he found himself wanting to respect her boundaries, found himself caring if he'd come off too strong in hoping he could den beside her. near her. 

so he lumbered to the right, a few paces away, conservative enough to not cross any lines she might have drawn. earth between two boulders, a chasm that he could dig too accommodate his size. he'd never had a den. always just slept in the open plains, beneath the stars. he didn't know if he'd like such closed quarters, but he'd give it a shot. 

"this look good?" he grumbled, shooting her an inquisitive look from over a broad shoulder. he sought her approval, before he'd get to work. if she agreed, he'd grin. "let's get to work then, dove." a silent invitation for her to join him in digging his new home.

the image of the broad man flower-picking made her smile, thinking of his wide, strong paws or his fangs trying to pluck the pants at their stems. a breathy laugh left her lips. i will take you up on the pelts, her voice came with a sense of finality, as if silently saying that the flower-work could be left up to her and her smaller frame.

he moved, then, further away from her den than rala truly wanted. but she would follow nonetheless, approving his selection with a firm nod of her head. comfortable, she smiled, testing her movement between the boulders that would soon protect his place of rest. with her on one side, and him on the other, she used pale paws to scoop the dirt away, claws digging into the earth and the remains being left beside the boulders.

how big do you want it? she asked while digging, eyes ever focused on the task at hand, jaw tightened ; brows furrowed. a face she made while she worked. her snow-kissed tail flicked and swayed behind her, the only part of her body that was not completely still, asides from her still-digging, similarly snow-touched paws.

with a smile meant for only himself, he watched as his dove dug into the cold earth, small paws slowly but surely making their indents. it was disarming, how affection bloomed in his chest at the sight of her determined expression. cute, he found himself thinking, staring hopelessly down at her. something he never thought he'd utter, but it felt right. 

"well i'll be damned. lookit' you go." a deep rumble of a laugh, though short, before he too began to paw at the ground. larger paws flung larger clumps of dirt to their flanks, though perhaps he wasn't trying his hardest. savoring the odd, domestic bliss of digging beside her. something so simple that somehow meant so much. "atta girl."

"big 'nough for two." he grunted. he hadn't meant it the way it sounded; he was a large man, simply needed more space than she. but he let the words rest between them, perhaps in hope it'd spark and light a flame. "ain't exactly all dainty like yourself, dove."

atta girl, and the praise rumbled from his chest and floated to her ears, a sweet whisper that grew a smile upon her face. a warmth flooded her face, and she would only look down, almost attempting to hide her bashful face - a change in pace, considering how open, how easily talkable she typically is. it was when affection came that she grew shy.

his next words, too, only warmed her further: big 'nough for two, and her brows raised, looking over at the southern man with a curious, tilted head. when she looked away, still grinning, she would flick his tail against him, as if to say 'oh, stop it, you', in a way that did nothing to discourage the behaviour. rather, her expression encouraged it, white fur almost pinkening on the empty space below her eyes. her ears would face him, now.

i am glad you are not dainty, she mused, almost flirtatious, in a way. she turned her head slightly, a sidelong glance pointed towards his face, then eyeing his figure rather shamelessly, before she looked away and gave a satisfied hum. nanuralaaq's paws slowly grew tired, and yet she continued nonetheless, soon standing so that she may better dig. if they sped up, now, it would be over quickly, and they could test if he fit.