Firefly Glen Sayin' "who are you and where are you from?"

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Backdated to March 24th.

Well, she might have gotten herself lost.

One moment, she was loitering around a forest that seemed to overflow with shadows, and the next it seemed as if she had been swallowed whole by that very same darkness—okay, maybe not the exact same, and it had definitely been longer than a single moment. After slipping passed Blackfeather, her legs had carried her northwest. She’d crossed a river—oh, how exciting that had been!—and a couple of forests, before finally finding herself beneath a lush canopy, shielded from the moonlight. Since entering the glen, her paws never seemed to grow dry, for she was constantly walking through creeks that gurgled excitedly as they greeted her. It reminded her of the lair, causing a lump to form in her throat. She missed her home, her family, but she refused to return. Until Airi was there at her side, she was destined to continue her journey; she enjoyed seeing so many new sights, but the longing that had settled into her breast never seemed to disappear.

A brief flicker of light caught her attention, drawing her gaze towards it. Seeing nothing, she began to turn away but was stopped as yet another flicker of light appeared in her peripheral. Narrowing her eyes, she stared forward, seeing, at last, the glow just as it appeared. Tilting her head, she blinked several times to ensure that she wasn’t just seeing things, then jerked back suddenly as a firefly lit up right in front of her face. The close proximity allowed her to see that it was a bug, and she grinned shortly after realizing what it was, exactly: a firefly! She had heard of them from her mother but had never actually slowed down enough to see any of them during the previous nights.

Lowering her frontal half so that her chest just barely grazed the damp earth, she sought out another bug. As soon as one lit up, she lurched forward, attempting to pounce onto the small insect. This she repeated several times over, chasing after the glowflies whilst laughter erupted from her mouth, undoubtedly disturbing the peace.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]Brother had gone. Brother had gone without telling anyone; had simply wandered off with nothing to say and nothing to apologize for. Vassago had been waiting for him to return, but it soon became apparent that no matter how long he waited, Pyro would not return. Vassago was his big brother and felt destined to protect him; he was so fragile, unlike the rest of their family. What if he had gotten hurt? The young Rochester would never forgive himself for it. And so, the little hunter began his own journey; a search for his brother and for his own identity. While he felt bad for leaving their stressed mother and clearly old and weak father, his brother went above all else.

The docked young man left with the moon by his side; he knew mother never stayed up long to watch the stars and that this was the only moment he could escape. He made sure to drag his large body through many rivers and creeks to unable BAF to find or follow him and went on in a determined trot.

It was not after long that something felt oddly entrancing; a tingling in his underbelly and a light shining brightly before him. He had never seen the glowing creatures before, and yet now he was face to face with one of them he was barely caught off-guard. He smiled, however briefly, and started following it through the dampness of the evening or of the place itself (how would he know?). He wandered and wandered, free for all to see and in clear view for the little girl of the night.[/td][/tr][/table]

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All around her the fireflies glowed, flickering their lights as they sought a mate. Although Kaori was unaware of the significance of their lights, she appreciated their presence and admired their beauty. One brave soul landed upon her nose, where it rested whilst she observed it, tail gently swaying behind her. As it took flight, she followed from the ground, her gaze focused on the adventurous insect rather than in front of her. She twirled around, twisting and turning so as to not lose sight of the bug; her head was tilted back, nose pointed up towards the canopies. Slowly, effortlessly, the glowfly made its way back down towards the earth, where it hovered above the ground before taking off again. This time, it remained even with the girl’s eyes, allowing her to chase after it without harming herself. In the distance, she could make out two brighter lights, their sizes impressive. Abandoning the one that had landed on her moment’s ago, she focused on the two new insects as they made their way towards her. Crouching, her muscles tensed before she sprang forward, realizing all too late that the lights did not belong to a firefly.

Unable to stop herself mid-spring, Kaori ended up crashing into the other wolf. His mass was impressive, especially in comparison to her svelte physique, and seemingly unmovable. Following the impact, she crumpled to the ground and tried to steady her breathing, the wind having been knocked from her lungs. As she did so, she retreated several steps and pulled her ears back, offering a sheepish smile whilst glancing upwards at the boy. “Sorry,” she murmured between breaths, understanding that she was the one at fault. “I was following a glowfly when I saw your eyes, and…” Looking away, she tried to hide her embarrassment over having mistaken his eyes for a couple of lightning bugs. She wondered what her family would think, had they been there to witness her mistake.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]His eyes never left the buzzing thing - not as it went in circles and not when it stopped to hover or land on the grass for a moment. He lost track of time and reality, wanting the beauty of the moment to never be lost while knowing the sun would rise once again to make the dancing lights flicker and die out. It was here his romantic thoughts could run wild and blossomed under the shine of the moon above him - illuminating the grass and giving his tawny cute a blue-ish shine he had never seen before. He looked at his mane, shifting the different softer shades by moving his body to the rhythm of his own heart-beat when something quite extraordinary happened.

The fluttering creature landed on the bridge of his bulky nose - cross-eyed did he look at it with brows raised in surprise and wonder. It flew off faster than he had wanted, making him turn his head when the collision was already on her way. Faintly he could notice her small frame, running into him as if he were a sturdy tree which resulted in yet another moment of silent wonder and surprise. The girl landed on the ground, making Vassago worry about her maybe crushing a bug, before she scampered up and retreated almost shyly. D-uhhh uhh... He tried to speak when he was interrupted by the seemingly glowing raven.

M-my eyes? What about... them? She didn't finish her sentence and Vassago was still a boy at heart - a sucker at conversations with above-average looking girls and a phobia for saying anything even remotely smart or flirty.[/td][/tr][/table]

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Questioned, she became flustered. She could feel her skin warming beneath her thinning coat, whilst her tongue dried out. The words that she wanted to say refused to break out and spill into the night air, ensnared, instead, within her throat. Swallowing them down, her gaze began crawling up the boy, starting first as his paws and then coming to a stop on his eyes. Those eyes—had it not been for their flavescent glow, she never would have been lured in his direction. Quickly, she averted her gaze once again and focused on the earth beneath her paws, examining it as if it were the most intriguing thing on the planet. “Your eyes…” she began, pausing and drawing in a breath to steady her nerves.  “They are like the glowflies.” As if on cue, a bug lit up just beneath her nose and took hold of her attention, only to deposit it back onto the stranger. She gazed at him curiously, her embarrassment rising with each second.

Internally, she shouted at herself for acting so… childish. When around her sisters, she had never acted so shy! Then again, they were her sisters. They shared blood with one another, a home—they were also all girls. Kaori did not have any brothers, nor were there any unrelated males around her age within the lair. She had seen the adults and none others, but it had only ever been in passing. This was all so new to her, unnerving, yet oddly enthralling.  “I’m really sorry for, well…” her voice was once again lost, her tongue refusing to cooperate.  “For crashing into you.” As she finished, the raven’s eyes met his—briefly—but were redirected to a lower part of his face immediately after.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]He looked worriedly at her shy(?) form, feeling kind of bad that he might've made her uncomfortable or something. Then again; he had not been the one to run into her on this beautiful evening. For just a moment did their eyes meet; the stars making the girl's eyes twinkle a moon-dusting blue colour that was hard not to get lost into. When she looked away again, Tryp wanted to make her look at him again, if only for a moment. When she spoke, Tryp was dead quiet, wondering just how his eyes could be confused with the glowing bugs of the night. T-thank you? He asked unsurely,  staring at the stranger uncomfortably.

Yours... yours are like stardust, y'know? The words had fallen off his tongue before he could do anything about it, but he didn't feel like taking it back. It was true; her eyes were equally as beautiful, if not more, as his. She apologized again and Tryp let out an amused sound resembling a low chuckle. It's fine, really... Would've been a shame to spend this night alone. He met her eyes yet again, but he hunkered for more soon after she rejected (or so it seemed) his soul for the second time. He had never talked to a girl his age before... Surely this was not a bond like his parents... right?[/tr][/td][/table]

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It was a peculiar occurrence, meeting the boy. She knew not his name nor whence he’d come, only that he was kind. Into his sturdy frame the girl had crashed, yet it was without aggression that he looked at her. She was curious, wanting to steal several more glances at him—and perhaps hold them for longer than she previously had—but could not bring herself to do so. Uncomfortable, she shifted her weight around before looking up at him through her lashes, hoping to not be caught; regrettably so, she was not the least bit discreet with her inquisitive glimpses. Although she was sure to be caught gazing at him, this she remained unaware of, and so her eyes did not jump to focus on something else. Even as he spoke, his thanks seemingly posed as a question, she did not avert her gaze.

From his lips there fell a compliment, the words causing her head to snap up as her face began to warm. With widened eyes, a result of her shock and surprise, she stared at him. “I...” she stumbled over her words, not quite knowing what to say. It took a moment for her to calm down and remember her manners before she murmured a gentle, “Thank you.” The warmth spreading across her face only worsened after he chuckled, but she refused to look away. She stayed focused on him, fighting every urge to turn her head away jus as they struck. “It is a beautiful night,” she managed to say, eyes drifting away to watch the glowflies. It was marvelous enough to make her forget the reason for her journey away from home, that she was supposed to be searching for her sister. All that mattered right then was the night, how serene it was, and the boy whose voice set her skin aflame.

A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, her thoughts momentarily lost in the night. When she remembered where she was and that she wasn’t alone, the young raven looked back towards the boy, her smile lingering. “My name’s Kaori,” said the child, at last. “What is yours?” There was no denying that she’d yet to fully calm herself, but she was on her way; one step at a time, the process was bound to be a slow one. But, in spite of her worries, she could not be rude.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]Perhaps he had lucked out; the scenery and the girl before him were like pieces out of dreams. An early spring night with the sky clear of clouds; the glowflies buzzing about creating the softest, warm glow he had ever seen in his whole life. And then there was she; a Pied Flycatcher of night-like beauty with eyes the colour of crumbled stars. He found her entrancing; unlike any woman he had met before. That she was the daughter of a man that had so wrongfully treated his mother would never have come inside of his young mind; how could such a monster spawn something so... magnificent?

He smiled at her shocked face - barely noticing her awkwardly tremble over her words. This night was already perfect; at least, for him. His sunny eyes met hers and he could almost swear that something was tickling the softer fur on his underbelly. But no, the feeling came from inside as the gentle thanks came out of her cute mouth - but instead of the butterflies so many referred to, he found it to feel more like lightning bugs. It is - but I don't think it can... compare to you. The sentence had almost strangled him, but he had managed to get it out before he chickened out.

When she looked away, he followed - cheeks warm like if he had come straight out of battle. He couldn't look away for long though and soon sought the cool gaze of... Kaori, apparently. He swallowed, ears dorkily lowering. I'm Tryp. He answered in his low voice. What - uuh - brings you here...? He asks carefully, not wanting her to give up on him just because he displayed no interest.[/tr][/td][/table]

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Kind was, perhaps, the incorrect word to use. The boy—who she now knew to be called Tryp—was charming. He seemed to speak in the same manner as she did, stumbling here and there, but the words always came out. His smile made her want to look away, cast her gaze downwards and hope that he wouldn’t catch on enough to see her embarrassment. Asterr had never spoken to her or her sisters about boys, nor had any of them—to the middle child’s knowledge, that is—gone out to experience them firsthand. The way the elder wolf spoke, the way he gazed at her, were things that she had never experienced prior to their meeting. It made her nervous, almost dreadfully so, and yet... as their time spent together increased, she found herself easing up and, in some way, even enjoying his being there.

They agreed; the night was marvelous. Tryp’s sentence had not stopped there, however. He continued to speak, delivering yet another compliment that made her eyes widen before she quickly looked away, abashed. “I-I, um...” her voice trailed off, quivering like a leaf in the wind. “You are very... very kind...” She couldn’t look at him, eyes gleaming with discomfiture. There was a small voice in the back of head—her conscious—that insisted she say something back, that she return his benignity with a compliment of her own. This only made her feel even more out of place, her eyes inching along over his body whilst she sought something to compliment him on; it wasn’t that she couldn’t find anything to like about him, it was just that everything she thought to say made her stomach flutter.

Thankfully, she was able to move forward with a new topic, one that was far less humiliating than her admiration of his physique. “Oh! I’m, well...” she fell silent, considering her next words carefully. “I wanted to travel and got lost... but I’m glad that I did!” Her words were rushed, not wanting to make the boy seem as if she was unhappy. After a moment of consideration, she decided against telling him about Airi; her elder sister always received the most attention but, even though she loved the young dragoness dearly, Kaori didn’t want to share the male with anyone else. For once, she wanted to be the center of someone’s attention. “If I hadn’t gotten lost, I would not have found this place,” was added a beat later, her eyes downcast whilst a sheepish smile overtook her features. She liked the attention, the compliments, but it was all subconsciously—her conscious self wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it all.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]How glad he had been that he was now old enough to leave home. As a wee pup, it had been all he could think of, but now that he actually had it... It was scary and not like he had planned. His quest was to find his brother, and yet here he was thinking of how he would love to be at the girl's side from now on. Fantasies about beating the wolves of the Brotherhood were set aflame and he watched them burn out with little sadness. It had never been the future for him but... maybe she was. Bashfully did he avert his own gaze for a moment. His mind told him to come closer - reach out to see how she would react - but he dared not scare her way.

Eheh... Was all he could muster at her words. Kind, huh? Mother would've been so proud of him. While Tryp didn't know, his mother had always been fantasizing about her own boys finding some cute girls to "hang" with. He didn't wish for the spotlight to be put on him; perhaps he just wanted her to shine this night, make her shake off her insecurities. That, however, took time; time that he barely had unless she decided to stay with him for the night.

As she explained, Tryp grew worried. Selfishly, he didn't want her to ever find her way back home. Only then was there the slight chance that she would stay with him for a bit longer. I'm... I'm glad you got here. He said with a sheepish smile. He breathed out calmly, not noticing his muzzle lowering until it almost touched her. Ears lowered, he finally dared to  come closer. You know... You shouldn't be hiding that pretty face. He whispered sweetly.[/td][/tr][/table]

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There was within her no desire to return home—not in that moment, anyways. Since leaving the lair, she had felt the sinking sensation of homesickness several times, but never had it been strong enough to drag her back. Not only that, but her quest kept her out and about, unable to return to her domain without the other Draconid at her side. She could not stand the thought of disappointing her mother, nor could she feel anything less than sorrow over the notion that she might never return home—well, prior to discovering the glen, that is. Now, after all of her terrible thoughts had been shed, she was not overly eager to return. Airi was fine, she was certain of that, and could survive being away from the cavern for as long as it took for the middle child to come back to her senses. Though, with the boy there to speak such sweet words into her ears, it was hard to tell when she might remember the true reason for her departure from home.

Kaori did not—could not—look up for, perhaps, the hundredth time. Her eyes were trained on the earth, studying the soft terrain but retaining few memories of its simplistic appearance. She was glad to have found the territory, and it seemed as if she wasn’t the only one. Intending to look back up at him, she started to lift her head but stopped suddenly, frozen. He had crept closer, his warm breath fanning out over her and sending a chill down her spine. As if that wasn’t enough, he whispered to her—to most, a mere whisper was of little importance, but to her it was something else entirely. It made her heart leap in her chest, pounding against her ribs almost painfully whilst a breath became trapped in her throat. This, she knew, was not at all normal. Never before had she reacted in the same way towards anyone, and so she was terribly confused but, at the same time, captivated.

“I-I... ” she stammered, eyes snapping up to meet his own. “I’m sorry, I—” Cutting herself off, she resisted the urge to hide her face. Kaori held his gaze though her voice would not work, unable to break away. She wondered if her mother had ever been in a similar situation, and even tried to figure out how she would respond, but to no avail. The raven, silent and hesitant, was not her mother. Whatever regal bearings Asterr may have been able to summon during a similar confrontation, her daughter could not. All she could do was stare, losing herself within the light of his glowflies.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]While Kaori knew her sibling would be fine; Tryp did not. Pyro had always been more of a thinker - like mother, only with fewer muscles. While he didn't like to call his brother weak, to say he was strong wasn't right either. He was just so... Pyro, and his big brother needed to be there to protect him. They had been put on this planet together and they would perish together. Until he was found out or had finally found his long lost brother he would not even dream of returning to the boring life he had in Broken Antler Fen. Yes, he missed his parents terribly, but someone had to look out for the littlest of the bunch.

He slowly breathed in her scent - so feminine with a touch of the promise of morning. She almost smelled like home, making him want to press his nose into her raven fur and weep for a little while. He remembered the river - the isle of Arthendal; she reminded him of all that with just her scent... He let his words and worries rest on the silence for a moment, feeling that this was a moment he was supposed to treasure.

When she looked up, he opened his eyes again to look at her with that same sweet smile. His head tilted in wonder as he admired her. See? That's better... He whispered, leaning forward even more for something that had suddenly bubbled to the surface. If she were not to pull away fast enough (or not at all), he "booped" her nose gently with his own. Boop... He said even quieter.[/td][/tr][/table]

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Having another wolf—and a boy, no less—so near to her was unsettling. Her body refused to move, uncertain of where she could go and what she could do. Each time he exhaled, she felt his breath as it warmed her skin, comforting her in a way that she neither knew existed nor that she was in need of. She felt as if she could rest there, that time would cease and allow for her to spend as much of her time with him as she wanted without thoughts of Airi dangling over her like a blade. Time, however, stopped for no one, and especially not a child whose inexperience with simple interactions left her so distracted. She could not understand what was going on, but she also didn’t feel as if it was necessary for her to. As long as she was there with Tryp, his kindness wrapped around her, she doubted the need to evaluate everything that surrounded her. He was but a stranger, a wolf met by coincidence alone, and yet she found herself feeling safe with him there; perhaps it was his size, its sheer mass certainly capable of fending off any and all threats, or maybe it was something that could not be given a name.

As his eyes opened she became trapped, unable to look away for even a second. Again, he whispered, but she was without a response. The fact that he had started to lean closer to her had barely registered within her mind before their noses touched, resulting in the fur along her back raising whilst she jerked her head back. Startled, she hadn’t stopped to consider the way her actions might appear, though the alternate meaning soon settled into her thoughts and made her wince. “I am sorry,” she murmured, hoping to have not hurt his feelings. “I wasn’t expecting that…” In truth, she had not been expecting anything—not meeting him or speaking to him, and definitely not allowing him to get close enough to touch her. For every second that they were together, she seemed to experience something new and confusing, but also exciting and wonderful. However, Kaori could not deny that it was all a bit overwhelming.

Returning her head to its previous position, she gazed up into his eyes, questions swimming in the depths of her own. “Why did you do that?” she asked, not understanding the significance of a boop. From the time she could speak up until she had left, the flightless raven had undergone lesson after lesson in order to prepare her for life; these lessons pertained primarily to her family and culture, and less so towards actual interactions and the like. Out of all that she had been taught, a boop had never come up, thus leaving her oblivious to its meaning and why it was used.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]He didn't know why he did it - perhaps it was a weird way of saying he terribly liked her and wished to be with her for at least the night. It was how his mother often showed affection - their silent way of saying "I love you". He watched her jerk away so suddenly that he himself got a little startled, raising and jerking away his own head in some sort of apologizing way. Her dotted brows were pulled in a worried frown, big eyes staring embarrassedly at her. His breath got trapped in her throat and he coughed softly to the side. When he cleared his throat, he dared to look at her again to see if anything had changed or if his instincts had ruined the moment.

She seemed to be just taken aback, which was totally understandable; not that that took away the hurt he had felt to see her retreat. His ears draped over the back of his skull as the stump of a tail he had left gave a slight wiggle.

I-I don't know... He admitted. I... I wanted to feel you closer - I'm sorry, truly... He rambled softly, eyes never seeking something else to focus on but her midnight beauty. He smiled then, taking a slight step closer again in the hope he could simply forget it had ever happened. Can you forgive me...?[/tr][/td][/table]

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The way in which his ears fell back, laying themselves flat against his crown, made her feel guilty. She had not intended to make him feel bad, or even as if an apology was necessary, she’d simply been surprised by the suddenness of his touch. Her own ears soon mimicked his whilst the corners of her lips were tugged downwards, leaving behind a frown. There it remained even after his answer was given, though a glimmer of shock passed through her gaze. “It’s fine,” she rushed out, reaching towards him with her muzzle. Something drove her to touch him, to offer whatever comfort she might be able to, but the contact was never made. Kaori kept to herself, slender muzzle pointed upwards towards the male, almost as if she truly intended to run it through his fur; this she could not actually bring herself to do, held back by an unseen force.

A step towards her was taken, but the distance lost was never replaced. The girl, however uncertain of the ordeal that she was, remained still. “I forgive you,” the raven spoke with ease, her words genuine. Kaori knew that, no matter his actions, she had—as well as wanted—to forgive him. Tryp had not harmed her, nor had he done anything with the intent to put her in distress. The touch, though unexpected, had not been entirely unwelcome. With a slow shake of her head, she rid her lips of that pesky frown and smiled at him instead, saying, “I cannot be angry at you for that.” It would be an anger fueled by naught, and an anger that she wished never to possess.

In an attempt to prove that there were no hard feelings left behind, she lifted her muzzle towards him and gently pressed her nose to his chin. It was not your average boop, her touch having lingered too long for that to be the case, but it was her version. A combination of his gesture and the way in which her mother showed her trust in others, resulting in a display that meant the same as both. When she pulled away, her eyes never left him, interested to see his response.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]Now she looked sad as well; mimicking him probably because she was disappointed herself... yeah - that's right. She wanted him too, Tryp was pretty sure, but just like him couldn't admit it to herself. The thought brought him hope; especially when the raven moved towards him. He shut his eyes, almost expecting some kind of muzzle through his warm, tawny fur that so nicely shifted colours in the shine of the moon. The touch never came, which left him awfully doubtful of his charms - not that he was very confident in the first place.

He opened his eyes again, hoping not to see her retreat yet again but what he got was even more valuable than her standing so close to him; forgiveness. He brightened up - glowfly eyes seemingly shimmering. He couldn't even reply; the kindness of the raven enough to make him shut up for once. He was the son of his mother and her chatty nature had found a way into his conversations every now and then.

What came next was even less expected and he froze when her wet nose was pressed to his chin. He grinned charmingly and proud, not daring to move and ruin the moment they were having. The urge to hug her - stroke her pelt with his muzzle and feel her breath in his own - had greatened but this time he would not act in those urges. Instead, he decided to ask; perhaps more awkward, but less harmful too. Uhm... Can - Can I Oh I dunno, Hug... you? He pressed his right paw against the side of his face bashfully, feeling more embarrassed than ever before.[/tr][/td][/table]

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The more time spent with Tryp, the less uncomfortable she felt. He was truly and genuinely kind—a pleasant partner to have in conversation. Although she still held back, unable to treat him as she would her family, she had eased up considerably since their collision. It was easier to speak with him, her voice having decided that it was tired of running off, and she stammered far less. Whether it was her true self coming out or a result of his presence, she was uncertain, but did not mind either possibility. Kaori enjoyed being near to the boy, some part of her mind granting her the ability to trust him. It was most unusual but, at the same time, she wondered if it might actually be normal. To trust a soul as appealing as his, just as her mother so often did when the lair was greeted by guests. Perhaps, she considered, the greatest of beings were the easiest to trust, and that was why she had started to feel so comfortable around her new friend.

A question arose, one of which that she had never heard before. Hugs were not something that she had ever been given, nor was the word and its meaning ever taught to her. With a bird-like tilt of her head, she said, “If... if you would like to, you may” her voice uncertain. The way in which he hid his face made her worry that it could potentially be something bad but, given their time spent together thus far, she assured herself that it couldn’t possibly be anything awful. Whilst his body was beastly with its great mass and sturdy structure, his heart was as soft as moss. For only a short amount of time had the pair known one another, and yet, Kaori could not find a way to distrust him. So, if he wished to hug her, then she would allow it.

Lacking any knowledge of hugs and how they worked, the raven was motionless. She did not situate herself into a sitting position, nor did she lower herself in any way that might make the action easier for him; not that, with his size, he really needed any sort of assistance.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]Malice had raised her firstborn with excellent manners and pride which had resulted in him being almost just like her. Sure, they had had their disagreements, but Tryp still loved her dearly and wished her the best now that she was without children yet again. Whether Malice would attempt for a second litter was uncertain, but he didn't mind if she did; he was and would forever be the first Rochester-Lanius to grace the earth and leave a mark far greater than his parents (or so he hoped). He held amazing pride in his name and his parents who had so bravely fought for his and his brother's life and the thought of never seeing them again hurt his insides deeply. He then wondered; what was her family like? Did she have siblings? Was she a firstborn like him?

He saw her wondering; perhaps still unsure with a not-quite stranger like him. The thought of her not knowing what a hug was didn't dawn on him; never would it, either. Malice was a true hug-bear and with her big frame had she kept him warm throughout so many cold nights of winter. Still, she accepted and Tryp was elated. Silent moments slid by as he waited on a more manageable position from Kaori, but it never came. How strange.

He bit his lip, stepped forward and wrapped his head softly around her neck. With his bigger frame, he had to lower far more than ever before with his mother and father, but he didn't care. His heart thumped in his chest that was only brushing slightly against her. He had shut his eyes tightly, sniffing in her scent even better than before and finally feeling her raven fur against his own. He would only let go whenever she showed signs of wanting some space again and felt an unescapable sadness. Perhaps he was a bit homesick...[/tr][/td][/table]

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Once again, her nerves had flared to life, anticipating what was to come whilst simultaneously wondering what it even was. Hug. The word was simple, its pronunciation easy, but the meaning eluded her. It was either a gift or an action, given the way in which it had been used in a sentence, but she dared not question him. In the next few moments, the answer would be presented to her, she was sure. In the meantime, her heart thumped harshly against her rib cage, disallowing her to forget that she was truly and utterly anxious. That, despite the ease that washed over her only moments ago, she was on edge; the hug was both dreaded and looked forward to—and for the same reasons! Swallowing, she forced an exhale out between her teeth, hoping that it might lessen the intensity of the thump, thump, thump in her chest—it didn’t.

Suddenly, there was a warmth surrounding her, his touch gentle. Initially, she was frozen where she stood, eyes wide and unblinking whilst her mind tried ever so desperately to assess the situation. And when she found that her thoughts would not settle, that her conscious would not cooperate, she abandoned all hopes of analyzing her predicament and chose to quietly live in the moment. Without realizing it, her eyes fluttered shut and a sigh signifying pure tranquility floated out of her mouth. Craving his touch and the attention that came with it, she leaned into his embrace, head finding a place to rest against his neck. “I have never been given one of these before…” admitted the child, speaking in hushed tones. Asterr had always made certain to prevent the heat of their bodies from escaping them, especially during the months of winter, but never had the Chieftess pulled the girls into her arms. It was strange, but pleasantly so.

As if suddenly remembering where she was and what she was doing—as well as with whom she was doing it—she pulled away. Smiling sheepishly, it was away from him that Kaori looked, granting herself a moment to recollect her bearings. When it seemed as if she was with a clear mind, at last, eyes of muted blue found his, lips pulled upwards still. “You’re—you are—very warm,” she noted, unable to keep a certain fondness from seeping into her voice. The raven, though born into the nippy world of fall, favoured the warmth over the cold. The warmth, she realized, that he could provide just as well as her mother had.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]At first, he felt a bit frozen in place - despite the warmth their bodies then shared. It for a few moments like this; just him with his tawny intertwining with her raven coat, nose nestled in it even more like he had done with Malice. He did not seek to replace his mother; he simply didn't want to be alone on this journey anymore. While it had only been a few days since his escape, already did he feel terribly alone without his family or brother. Perhaps that was why he was so affectionate towards the beautiful Kaori; she was like a little angel sent from the stars above. He knew for sure that her star whenever she passed would be placed somewhere very special - sparkling like no one else's. Maybe she would even outshine Absinthe, his grandmother, but he dared not tell this all out loud.

When she leaned into him, her own head resting against his thick neck and silver-streaked fur, he relaxed. His legs stopped quivering, his breathing slowed and his eyes were finally at peace. He declared it the best hug ever and let out an affectionate, satisfied growl that was more a purr than anything. Her comment surprised him. Never ever? He asked, voice slightly muffled by her midnight locks of dew-scented perfection.

When she pulled way, he did as well, feeling more fuelled and heated than just moments before. Malice had taught him well about... contact with girls, but he thought he much preferred the hug over what she had told him. His ears slid down goofily and he chuckled sweetly. You are too - beautiful, I mean, warm - both! He tried to compliment her, stumbling over his sentence like a weak fawn. He sealed his lips then, afraid of saying any more stupid things.[/tr][/td][/table]

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As they were wrapped in one another’s embrace, scents intermingling, she could think of no other place that she’d rather be. Yet, as there came a rumbling from his chest, she couldn’t keep her figure from tensing up. The sound, deep but without anger, sent a shiver down her spine. It was similar to a growl, the depths and origins identical to one another, but the noise itself stemmed not from aggression. It was different, and delightfully so, gradually filling her stomach with over a thousand butterflies. Her body, once taut, was slackened; for it to be anything but had turned into a challenge, the trust she put in the boy disallowing her frame to remain rigid. This she could not understand, however, for her conscious insisted that she should not be acting so recklessly. It was only moments ago that she had crashed into him, and yet, when she thought of their sudden meeting, it felt to her as if the events had taken place years ago. At the thought, she smiled, pulled from her mind moments later as his voice—muffled but recognizable—filled her ears. It seemed as if he needed to be assured of her comment, and so she gave a slow nod of her head.

When they pulled away, the sudden loss of warmth delivered a harsh slap to her whole body. A shiver, which she had tried to suppress, ran the length of her spine without any care. Her body, though having grown used to being without another at its side, rejected her decision to move away from the male. It ignored the warmth of the spring night, deciding, instead, that it wanted more—a desire that could not be fought, for how could she possibly act against her own soma? Before she could bury her face back into his fur, she was stopped by yet another compliment; surely, if he kept this up, she would become spoiled! Becoming flustered, she looked passed him, avoiding eye contact. “I-I don’t know what to say,” she admitted, struggling to find her voice. “Thank you.” Be mindful of your manners, she reminded herself, wishing not to come off as conceited. The longer she remained with the boy, the greedier she felt, looking forward to each and every compliment that he could think to say. It wasn’t the least bit like her, she was sure of that, and yet she could not help herself.

From the night she stole a breath, inhaling its essence with the hope that she might be bestowed with a surge of bravery—and the courage to speak was exactly what she’d been given. “You—” her voice faltered, only to be recovered with the swiftness of a fox. “You are very handsome!” Rushed, the words came out in a jumble. Soft eyes snapped up to meet his own before disappearing less than a second later, her face being hidden away in the thick fur of his chest. A compliment was often paid for with another compliment, but to say such words was far more difficult than she ever would have imagined—and awfully embarrassing, too!

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[table width=80%][tr][td]His whole family, safe for Burke and "his side of the family", was so affectionate. Well... Malice was. He now saw why she had never let him beyond the river when he had been young and rebellious. She wanted to protect him... and  now he had left her at home so close to the Blackfeather wolves. Still, she was a fierce lady and sure to survive anything - right? His sunny eyes grew wide at her nod. But she was as old as him, more or less! How had nobody ever gone out of their way to hug the sweet, beautiful and shy Kaori? He couldn't make sense of it.

He was glad his blunder of words had landed well. They felt the same then; not knowing what to say was all he had felt ever since meeting her. That, too, wasn't true; he had felt much more than what had resulted in the awkward muteness. He felt all warm inside; even with their embrace now history. It felt funny and he could not help but smile his brightest smile. N-No problem, eheh... He chuckled softly, averting his gaze as well.

His ears perked at her voice - head whipping toward her and nearly-golden eyes staring hopefully at her. When the jumbled bunch of words were finally decoded in his head, his cheeks grew even rosier and hotter and he had barely noticed Kaori moving forward to burry her face in his chest. His maw was left open, begging for him to make up his mind as to what he wanted to say, but nothing came out. Thank you... His voice was soft and unsure, but there was no denying the sincerity of his words. Handsome... even with his docked tail that displayed his recklessness for anyone to see? K-Kaori... Her name came out low. We - I - I mean... He stuttered. ...D-Don't leave... She had shown no signs of a desire to go farther with her journey, but he selfishly wanted to claim her presence for himself. He had no one besides her for now, and he was not about to let her wander alone in the night.[/tr][/td][/table]

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Heat flooded her cheeks, her ears, her chest—her everything. Embarrassment was a terrible thing to experience, especially when it was one’s self that threw them out into the open. She could accuse no others of having made her feel as she currently did, for it was by her own doings that she’d been sent spiraling downwards. Her remark hung in the air, tickling her ears whilst slowly driving her mad as it replayed over and over again within her head—handsome, handsome, handsome! Oh, how she regretted the comment, yet, was simultaneously glad for having spoken it. She pushed her face further into his fur, wishing that she might vanish, thereby ridding her of the stress that she’d forced onto herself. The world was not so simple, however, and the magic necessary to grant wishes did not exist. She was forced to remain there, to accept the consequences of her words, whether they be negative or positive.

Thank you.

It was a simple phrase, one that she’d heard more times than she could count, and had said it herself even more. Yet, in spite of that, it impacted her. Her comment was not read too far into, nor had the actions following her words been ill-received. A step back was taken, allowing enough of space between them so that she could tilt her muzzle upwards and gaze at his facial features; he didn’t appear to be the least bit unhappy with her sudden approach, which she was thankful for. Rather, it almost seemed as if he might be confused, which, to her, wasn’t a bad thing; it wasn’t perfect, but it was better than the alternative. For a long moment, she did little more than watch him, curious of his thoughts. It wasn’t until he said her name that she was snapped out of her daydreams, his voice causing another wave of heat to roll over and off her body. Similar to a raven, whose feathers were not unlike her fur, her head tilted to the side, an inquisitive look in her eyes. The girl could have considered what next her might say, could have made an attempt at predicting his words, but never would her mind have steered itself towards what was actually said—how he didn’t want her to leave.

A frown slipped across her maw, though she was not unhappy. “I…” she trailed off, needing a moment to figure some things out. It was by her mother’s request that she had left the lair, tasked with locating her sister and returning home with her. This she was still aware of, but… spending a single night without searching for her wouldn’t change anything, right? Airi would be fine, the sable lamb assured herself, she could wait until the morning to be searched for. “I can stay the night,” she eventually replied, convinced that all would be well. “But I have to leave in the morning.” For the night, the eldest of the Draconid children would be fine, but, come morning, her sister’s quest would have to be continued.

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[table width=80%][tr][td]He almost felt sad when the warmth of Kaori left his chest and he watched her mournfully retreat. What he didn't know was that she was simply studying his face like a page out of an old book, filled with lore and mystery. Instead of feeling completely disappointed, he decided to stare at her the way she stared at him - making and breaking eye-contact as he went. When his words drifted on the cool night's air, he held his breathe as a shiver ran down his spine. It was getting rather chilly, which made the desire to cuddle up with her for the night even greater.

When the raven did speak, it was only one chomped off word that was hard to even understand the meaning of. "I" what? Did she found her duties more valuable than his company? Did she wish to spend the night lonely and cuddled up with some leafs instead? Almost sinfully did he think of simply refusing her to leave, but he knew it was something his good heart would not allow. He averted his gaze, finding that their fate had settled and that it was time to let go, but then did a reply come that he had not expected. He was allowed to have her for one night, and perhaps that was long enough to quench his thirst for her affection.

A bashful smile was all he could give her, which turned into a grin not long after. He was too happy and flustered to speak much and, frankly, quite tired of the day. Where... Where do you want to rest for the night? Secretly, he wished her answer would be "close against you, right here and right now".[/tr][/td][/table]