Bitterroot Valley Enter, Pursued by a Memory

she followed him with her eyes as he circled the willow, her own posture loose, ungainly, very much someone who’d just had the wind flattened out of her.

“guess so,” she breathed, quieter this time. “sleep better here than i have in weeks. nobody else ever bothers with it. close enough to the dens that they don’t go looking any further for a spot to rest.” a pause, her gaze flicking over him before it crawls up the base of the tree, up to the branches where light tries to filter in.

He made note of that, the 'better than I have in weeks', and after hearing it, there was a small, yet clear shift in his expression. Curiosity. Concern—not that she could not hold her own, but rather, that someone who had boosted his mood in such an extreme way was one to have any reason whatsoever to not be sleeping well. To him, it seemed quite unfair on the lady.
Yeah, he hummed. Eyes searched her, for a moment. Wanting to ask, and yet, not wanting to pressure, to scare, to fuck up whatever quiet, peaceful moment this was, because, however temporary it was, he was enjoying it. Truly. Genuinely. So, he started carefully, saying: You ain't gotta talk to me 'bout nothin', his voice was low. Intimate, almost. As if sharing a secret. But I got ears on ma'ead n' a brain, so, what I'm tryna say is, I'd listen.
He spoke once more. If ya wanted to. No pressure, o'course.

Barrett stood, now. Looked to the lady. You were talkin' 'bout that lake, yeah? How 'bouts ya show me the way, nodded forwards. Smiling, still. And it would be his goal to try and make her smile, too.

twitch stared up at him as he spoke, and in a blink, the looks she gives him is half-glazed over. she flushes with a laugh, something embarrassed in tone—always the same with her. a flower that can bloom in a heartbeat and wilt in the same breath, petals closing the moment someone steps too close to the softest parts of her.

his offer is kind on all fronts. familiar, too—he’d put it more bluntly than sega did, but no less gentle, not cornering. the tightness in her chest shifted, and she swallows once, twice, to get rid of the feeling. “s’not that serious, i don’t think. that, and i don’t do tragic backstories on the first date, but thank you.” it’s a half truth that she sweetens on the way out, even if it tastes bitter as it goes. as sweet as he was, some things were better left unsaid.

others, however—..“brain is debatable, by the way.” she murmurs with the twitch of a smirk.

when he stood, she dragged herself upright right after him with a loose shake, bits of leaf litter falling from her scruff. her legs wobbled once—still knocked half-senseless from his tackle—but she steadied, turning her muzzle toward a narrow opening where sunlight hit the grass in a long seam.

“lake’s this way,” she said, stepping past him with a flick of her tail against his shoulder, light but intentional. a few strides, then she glanced back with a lopsided, crooked smile. “keep up this time?”

this thread got very long very fast ;w; do we wanna open a new one? these two are very sweet

Tragic backstories, hey? He rumbled, giving a tilt of his head with a half-amused expression. Well, fancy me intrigued. Anotha time, then, and southern accent rolled on through. She didn't need to reveal all of herself to him. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if that was her choice. He'd be happy for her company all the same. And her comment—he chuckled at this.
Gave her a light whack with his tail. You speak kindly 'bout yer elders now, girl, came gentle teasing. I got me a mighty large brain in this 'ead. Can't know if I can say the same 'bout yerself, though, looked her up and down rather pointedly, brows raised and all. Studious in gaze.
He watched, now, as she moved to lead. Watched her sway, the way in which she walked. Watched very politely, in fact. She glanced back his way, and something boyish, and young, and innocent flickered inside him, and his face warmed at this. Keep up? He laughed back. He sprung to his feet and moved to chase. But it was not a challenge, this time. Rather, a promise.
Well, I'd reckon I'd follow ya to the ends of the earth, princess, if you knew where you was goin', a tease, but, a swear, as well.

They're my babiessss!! I'd love a new one, if you'd be happy setting it up <3