Swiftcurrent Creek The currents are fast but life is sweet

She was quick to confirm that Arric indeed was her mate, also noting that all of leadership had names that begun with the same first letter. Fred smiled at that, though otherwise remained quiet, listening with clear focus as she gave her experience when it came to raising children.

Arlette spoke of the aid of a mate and pack, and a sense of duty, loyalty, flooded him. Some distant part of him yearned to be a father, and it was all too quickly that the image of the doe sprung within his mind once more. He nodded somewhat absent-mindedly, giving a murmur of an I see.

But then she asked him a question. One that made his eyebrows spring upwards as he was slammed back into the current moment, mind almost silencing as he searched, almost desperately for an answer. He cleared his throat. Ah—maybe. Uncertain. Her voice had been somewhat teasing when she asked the question, but Frederick's mouth suddenly felt very dry.

He sighed, then. Relenting. There is someone I've been... seeing. Somewhat. And he wondered if they would ever do, ever become, anything more than that. Or would they just continue to visit, to talk, and to never breach that level?

In the back of his mind, Frederick longed for a ... different ... type of companionship with the Bearclaw woman.