Bearclaw Valley rolling in and caught again

between the two of them, a primal focus came to life. in that moment astara forgot about the struggles of establishing their pack, of enforcing their claim -- even of fording the stream.

for in that moment she was beheld in merrick's glittering eye -- and in that eye, his world entire reflected back at her: dark and black with two pointy ears, and indigo gaze.

i love you, he breathed into her fur and she breathed back. with no tongue in which to answer she preened the goldspun fur of his neck, a growl of affirmation purling in her throat.

i love you also.