Whitebark Stream became as mad as rabbits, with bushels of bad habits

I care about you too, Korei-- Alarian stopped, then clarified: I love you.
The boy delighted in the further contact between them, turning to plant a few soft kisses on her face; his wounds were temporarily forgotten. He was not normally one for bold displays of affection-- but lately his two closest companions had brought out sides of him that made him wonder if he knew himself as well as he thought. It was not always a bad thing, though.