Silverlight Terrace Rain or Shine (I)

He vehemently declared his hatred for bears. She nodded as if to agree, understanding that it was more fear than disdain that fueled his words. Wildfire brushed her smudged snout beneath his chin as if to say, Chin up, it's all right.

The next words out of his mouth took her by surprise, though in a delightful sort of way. "Wait, you want to be a hunter too?" she repeated in happy disbelief. "Wow, we're really meant to be, aren't we?" Wildfire said in an enthusiastic, offhanded kind of way. She paused, wondering if she should feel self-conscious about the words that had tumbled from her mouth... but she just didn't. She grinned broadly, now bumping their muzzles together.

"Anyway, yeah, I'd love that," she replied in a slightly breathy voice, her heart and her tone gleeful. "Now you just gotta become a Naturalist, then we'll really be two balls in a sack," she said. It was a phrase she had heard her father use and not until this very instant did its real meaning dawn on her, causing Wildfire to choke, then start laughing uncontrollably.