Bearclaw Valley Now you know, all you need is me

Alexander led and @Reigi followed, delving deeper into the valley.

He slowed and backtracked frequently, nudging her with his nose and aiming gentle nips towards her muzzle. He remained alert, half of his attention on her whilst the other was on their surroundings; he was cautious, wary of who else might have caught on. He wanted to hide her away, to keep her secluded until it all passed over, but he knew that he couldn’t do that—not to her. So he settled on his other option: remain with her at all times and defend her—kill for her, even, if necessary.

He led her into the forest and towards his old hideaway—he didn’t intend to end up there, it just sort of happened. And though it was much too small for either of them to fit into, he urged her to lay down just outside it, whilst he stared at her, confused as to what he was even doing. He didn’t want to admit to actually caring for her but, the more he thought about it, had he not already? Through his actions, both earlier and days before, during each battle they fought in together and stranger they greeted.

Did he not make it clear that, against his wishes, he’d started to care?

“I—” he cut himself off—there was no point in speaking, she wouldn’t understand. So, instead, he opted for pressing his muzzle into the fur along her neck, trying to ignore everything and just—just focus on the present, focus on where he was and what he’d done and how it wasn’t a bad thing.