And she still enjoyed being with Shadow, despite the occasional bout of awkwardness or the reminder that he fancied her. The rusty medic had kept a respectable distance from him during the trip - she refrained from too much physical contact (even in the night, when it chill made her yearn the closeness), and did not allow herself to be swayed. The last thing she wished for was to lead him astray, when she herself was not sure what she wanted. But Paarthurnax could not deny the stirring of butterflies in her belly when her silver companion said something that made her feel... desired.
The coast was everything that Shadow promised, and more. When he presented the beach to her, Paarthurnax did not hesitate to cross over onto familiar terrain. The sand was warm beneath her paws in the midday sun, soothing and a fond reminder of where she'd come from. She lifted her head and breathed in the salty air, her copper gaze scanning the seemingly never-ending sea that reached all the way to the horizon. After several long moments, Paar looked over a crimson shoulder at Shadow, excitement and gratitude present on her smiling features. "My birth place was almost entirely sand," she told him, turning back to look at the loose earth at her feet. "So thank you, for helping me find my memories again. I love what I have here, at Swiftcurrent, but once in a while it's nice to have a little taste of what I left behind."
"So thank you, for helping me find my memories again. I love what I have here, at Swiftcurrent, but once in a while it's nice to have a little taste of what I left behind."
The sterling outrider smiled before taking a few steps forward beside her, touching his shoulder to her own briefly before moving aside. He did not ask her about the prey and water in their land, he felt that it wasn't time instead murmured "You don't need to thank me." he stared wistfully at the sea wondering what his siblings were doing now, hopefully they were having a good life.
He took another few steps forward until the waves lapped at his paws and chest before calling softly out at her "It's even prettier at sunset. You wanna stay the night? Unless she wanted to travel back to the Creek, he didn't mind it both ways but they traveled for so long to see the sea, wouldn't it make sense to stay longer to make sure their time traveling had been worth it?
The Sunspire in winter might have reminded him of his brother and sister in their mountain pack but he could never go near their borders again, for a good reason so. The truce between the Creek and the Sunspire was unstable enough, even a Creek or Sunspire wolf near the borders with crossing it would have broke the truce.
He shook the uneasy thoughts away, instead focused on the positivity of the situation.
The lithe wolfess purled softly to her ashen companion as he ventured forth from her side toward the water, though she did not pursue him. Instead she remained put in the sand, her gentle copper eyes following his form as he stepped into the lapping shallows. He looked back at her, asking if she wished to stay for a night before heading home, and she nodded to accompany her smile.
By the time evening came around, Paarthurnx was loathe to leave the day behind. But she lay in the dry sand, happily exhausted, propped against Shadow's strong shoulder and content to absorb his warmth. She rested her muzzle atop his pale paws, bathed in dim golden light as the blue of the sky was replaced by hot oranges and fiery reds. Her day had been wonderful, but her mind and heart were heavy. "I have not been courted before," the bi-coloured beauty started suddenly, finally raising her lovely crown to blink up and meet her companion's platinum eyes. She looked at him for a long moment, trying to gauge his reaction.
"I mean... I have. But I've never really sought anything serious," she managed, somewhat sadly. She'd been foolish as a yearling, eager to discover her own body as she shaped from girl to woman, when she disobeyed her father's wishes and slunk away to rendezvous in private with a young guard. Her few sexual encounters with him had not meant anything to her, not really, and they failed to develop into anything worthwhile when her consort moved on from Samarkand. She never saw him again, and hadn't been particularly bothered by his departure. "Have you ever been... interested, in anyone?"
The brilliant blue sky had vanished, replaced by fiery reds and oranges that indicated the sunset. Paarthurnax was propped against his shoulder, they hadn't had this much physical contact on their journey, he didn't like it but he understood why she was doing it. He was glad that their trip was a success and she was content, now, to lean against his shoulder as she rested her muzzle on her paws. The peaceful silence was broken by her familiar voice although the words left the silver wanderer confused.
"I have not been courted before," the crimson beauty said, raising her head to look up at him and meet his silver eyes. The platinum wolf waited for her to speak, surely that couldn't be the end of whatever she wished to say. He locked his icy gaze filled with warmth onto the female as he waited patiently. Finally she spoke again, "I mean... I have. But I've never really sought anything serious," she said, somewhat sadly. At those words, he felt the urge to strangle the wolf she had been with but those emotions were masked by a kind smile as he leaned down to gently touch his nose onto her cheek before withdrawing.
"Have you ever been... interested, in anyone?" Paar asked, he froze for a moment before relaxing. "I haven't been with anyone," he murmured softly and it was true. The females of his natal pack had always sought him out but he ignored them, there was so much to do back then, he had no time, besides he didn't even like them.
But being interested in someone was different than being with anyone, right? He had only liked two wolves in his two years. One wolf that he had given up on, no longer interested in her because he knew she had someone else that she was interested in. The other, well she was right here asking the question. "Is there something wrong, Paar?" he asked her gently, not wanting her to be upset.
He said he'd never been with anyone, which did not answer her question. For all she knew, Shadow could easily be pursuing the idea of courting not only her but various other she-wolves, and fresh jealousy burned through her veins. Paarthurnax had never really known envy in her life, and although she had no claim over Shadow and although she was unaware of her feelings toward him, she could not bear the idea of him wooing another. The bi-coloured medic opened her copper eyes again, and she met those of her sterling pack-mate as he questioned her. "No," she answered softly, "I just... I haven't stopped thinking about when you told me I was beautiful."
She shyly blinked down, a wavering smile hinting at her lips. Paarthurnax was admittedly nervous about this discussion, as she sought desperately for the right things to say. None sprung to mind, and she felt guilty for it; she knew she liked Shadow, that maybe she could learn to love him, and the idea of losing the opportunity to let their relationship bloom pained her. But she was unwilling to dive head-first into dedication that she did not know she could promise. "I don't know how I feel about it," the lithe beauty admitted, and swallowed her heart as it promptly rose to take up residence in her throat. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is that... I don't want you to give up on me, or lose hope, but I need time."
The sarcastic and witty side of the silver male wished to reply her with a 'Oh no, you've mistakened. I tell every woman I see that they're beautiful.' but he did not say it because no doubt it would hurt Paarthurnax and it wasn't true. He didn't do that, in fact this was one of the few times that he actually said someone was beautiful. He did not speak, instead waited calmly for her to finish.
He watched as she blinked down shyly, he was now growing nervous. Was she going to say she hated him? Unrealistic thoughts swam around his head but he shook them away instead concentrated on the woman beside him. He knew she was probably nervous about their situation and he cursed himself for approaching so directly but it was done and telling her he that he didn't mean it would no doubt hurt her more. "I don't know how I feel about it," Paar admitted, he stiffened but forced himself to relax. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is that... I don't want you to give up on me, or lose hope, but I need time."
The silver prince sighed softly at her words, a faint smile gracing his lips. She didn't hate him. He leaned down and touched his nose briefly between her ears before murmuring softly "I understand and I promise I will not hurry you but I ask for one thing. Please do not avoid me or shied away from me, I will be your friend if I cannot be anything else just yet. And I will never, ever give up on you, my queen." his words like a caress as he finally drew away from her.
"I appreciate your patience," she said genuinely, tilting her muzzle upward to flick her tongue fleetingly beneath Shadow's alabaster chin. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better." And she shot him her most lovely smile, her tail swishing to curl about his haunches.
He smiled gently at the crimson healer, licking her between her ears affectionately. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better." she shot him a beautiful smile that matched her copper eyes. He grinned at her in return, platinum eyes sparkling with warmth as he curled his tail around her lithe body, gaze on the sunset and the calm waves of the sea. He would wait as long as she needed.
"As am I," he said in reply. Gazing at her with warmth filled eyes for a swift moment, she truly was beautiful and if anyone harmed her, they would wish they had never been born. He turned his eyes away from her, hoping that she hadn't noticed him staring at her. He had promised not to hurry her and as hard as that was, he was going to keep that vow.
For that time, however, the bi-coloured medic was content to breathe easy. Her lithe frame remained pressed firmly against the much larger, powerful form of Shadow, and she looked at him with a newfound respect. He was willing to wait for her. Willing to make the effort to win her over, rather than expecting her to fall head over heels at once. Her copper gaze lingered on platinum eyes, adoration glimmering within her warm irises. She ducked her head to tuck herself snugly into her companion's embrace, and turned her eyes toward the sun as it set over the horizon.
The sterling outrider smiled softly as he felt Paar's body pressed firmly against his own, meeting her copper gaze with his own platinum ones for a brief moment, noticing the adoration glimmering in her eye. She ducked her head and tucked herself snugly into his embrace, turning to look at the setting sun. He curled himself tightly around her as he too watched the setting sun.
He lowered his head and placed it on top of Paar's crown as he watched the sunset. The warmth of Paar's body flowed into his own as he sat, curled up beside her. His gaze left the sunset to gaze at her beautiful body again before quickly turning it back onto the setting sun. Soon, night would be on them and for the first time on their travel, perhaps they could sleep together.
But for now, he would content himself with staying beside Paarthurnax and watching the sun dip behind the horizon, he hoped she really enjoyed this trip. "Thank you, Paar." he murmured quietly. She had been the first in sometime to bring out his soft and caring side.
Shadow propped his muzzle atop her crown, and she smiled against the soft sterling fur of his chest. Warm night began to envelop the duo, copper and silver, and Paarthurnax was content to let herself go. In the morning they would return to their life at Swiftcurrent Creek, and their week-long trip to see the beauty of the coast would be over. And while Paar was looking forward to normality again, she could not deny that her time alone with Shadow had been eye-opening in the best possible way.
When he thanked her, the two-toned medic lifted her head and made to meet her companion's steely eyes. She looked at him, softness in her gaze, and flicked a velvet ear in curiosity; "for what?" Paar asked, the corners of her mouth tugging upward.
"for what?" he gazed at her, a flash of worry and pain in his eyes before vanishing, replaced by fiery warmth. "For giving me a chance, Paar. I know I can be insufferable at times so.." he shrugged, gazing at the churning yet calm waves of the ocean, knowing that he would have to bring this subject up.
"I need to ask you something Paar, I will not hate you or anything if you refuse." he locked his platinum gaze onto her own copper ones. "If I leave the Creek to start my own pack, will you stay with me or stay with the Creek?" he murmured softly, gazing steadily at who he considered his queen. If she followed him, she would earn that title for sure.
He waited for her reply, curling his tail even more tightly around them and shifting closer to her, as if she would leave him any second. If she decided to stay at the Creek, he might have to reconsider making his own pack. He didn't want to ruin his chance with her.
She adored Bazi, but could she stand to watch Shadow go? She would lose something precious, no matter which path she were to choose. The love and respect she felt for each of her pack-mates ran equal and, with her heart torn two ways, the lithe beauty turned her lovely face away. She looked out at the vast sea, feeling that she would betray each of those dear to her, should she stay or go.
"I can't make that decision right now," Paarthurnax whispered as she closed her eyes, and fought back emotion.
He watched with a sinking feeling as Paar stiffened beside him and he returned her gaze of disbelief with his own, filled with the usual warmth. If she did not follow him, he would let her know when he left, that she would always have a place with him. He watched as the crimson beauty turned her face away.
"I can't make that decision right now," she whispered. If you don't make that decision now, you'll have to make it later. Little did he know that instead of later, it would be soon. "I know, and whatever you choose, I just want you to know, you'll always have a place with me." he whispered softly to her.
How many more wolves could Bazi bear to lose? She'd given Paar a chance, and although in the beginning things had been rocky, the bi-coloured medic truly believed that she was now appreciated and respected among the ranks of Swiftcurrent. Her heart lurched uncomfortably at the thought of leaving everything she'd built over the month she'd been a member of the pack, the bonds she'd made, the work she'd put into earning her place. But could she stand to lose Shadow? Could she stay behind after the whirlwind of emotions he'd encouraged her to feel for him? So many questions swarmed the russet Frostfur's mind, and she wasn't ready to consider any of them.
Again, Shadow promised to be patient with her, and she nodded quietly in response. Paarthurnax had nothing more to say, and after a few minutes of empty silence, she sank against her companion's side again to watch the rest of the setting sun with a heavy heart.
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Shadow sighed softly, wishing that she would come with him but it was her choice. He planned to start his own pack because he felt like he needed a new beginning, that no matter how much the Creek felt like home to him, he had to leave. He leaned into Paarthurnax, encouraging the warmth between them as he thought. He really really hoped that she would come with him.
Even if she didn't, he wanted her to know that she could always come with him. She would always have a place in the pack with him.