Bearclaw Valley bluegrass

Cole stood near the entrance of the den, his broad frame partially blocking the cold draft that whistled through the trees. The place was sturdy, well-sheltered, nestled between a cluster of thick roots that curled like protective arms around the space. It smelled of damp earth and pine, with just enough room for the two of them to settle in comfortably.
His sharp eyes flicked to @Winslet, watching her as she moved, taking in the way she examined their temporary home. He was quiet for a long moment, letting her take it in, letting himself take her in. The soft glow of her fur in the fading light, the gentle rise and fall of her breath.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low, rough around the edges. You like it? He shifted his weight slightly, tilting his head toward her. Or y'want one by the river?

it was peaceful here, quiet and comfy. though perhaps she'd be comfortable wherever cole happened to be. her cole. what a joyous feeling, being able to call him such! it still felt like a daydream she would never wake from. all slow and rose-tinted. 

but he was real as he stood at the mouth of their den, sculpted by the light that poured through. when she was done with her examination, she took her rightful place beside him, a blissful smile on her lips. brushing against his side, leaning against his bulk, as she gazed out toward the forest. 

surely their home would blossom come spring. flowers, soft bedding and pelts to lay upon. she could imagine it now; nights spent wrapped up together, laughing and talking about all things good. 

the river...it'd be wonderful to fall asleep to the sound of rushing water. she hummed softly in thought, absentmindedly leaning over to groom a piece of his cow-licked fur. 

"the river would be wonderful. i could finally teach you how to fish." she grinned, near playful. then, she sighed dreamily, her eyes soft. "i can't believe it'd be ours. just ours." she murmured in awe. it was a very welcome feeling, one she hoped would never fade.

He led her toward the river, the distant sound of rushing water a steady pulse in the background, soothing in its own right.
When they reached the banks, he stopped, giving Winslet a moment to take in the land before them. The river was strong but not reckless, winding through the valley like a lifeline. The trees bent toward it as if listening to its whispers, and the crisp air carried the scent of fresh water and damp earth.
Cole turned his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at her, his expression unreadable save for the quiet intensity in his gaze. Pick a place, he rumbled, his voice low, steady. It was her choice, after all. Whatever made her happy—that was what mattered.
pindent]Her excitement, the dreamy lilt to her voice, it was contagious in a way he didn’t know how to name. He watched her with quiet admiration as she spoke of soft bedding, flowers, and their nights spent wrapped up in each other. The way she saw the world—how it softened beneath her gaze—made something tighten in his chest. It was a feeling he wasn’t used to.
When she teased about teaching him how to fish, he huffed, shaking his head with the ghost of a smirk. Guess we'll have t'see, he muttered, but there was no real bite to it.
As she sighed, marveling at the thought of something being theirs, he finally turned to face her fully, his eyes dark and steady. It is ours, he said, firm, certain. Ain’t gotta believe it. It just is.
And then, as if to seal the thought, he reached out and nudged his nose against the crown of her head, a gesture both possessive and grounding. They would build their home here, carve it into the land with their own hands. And it would be theirs.

the soft gurgle of the river flowing beneath a thin sheet of ice soothed her. it was bleak now with winter still in its wake, but her vivid imagination led her to picture it teeming with life. lush grass lining the banks, salmon migrating to their old grounds within the water. the trees whispering with the wind. perhaps a few river fowl she could wake up too in the mornings and watch. 

she stepped closer to the rivers edge, where dirt faded into gravel and water-smoothed pebble. being so close to the water reminded her of home, and it made something in her chest tighten. a comfortable, warm feeling; she wouldn't mourn over her home anymore, not when she was on the cusp of finding her own. 

the river was no white-sanded coastline. but it was theirs, and that was enough.

her willowy tail swishes at her hind as excitement bubbles in her veins. a peace she'd been missing. a comfort. 

she scans the landscape then with keen, gentle eyes. searching until...

there's an old willow tree nestled between old rocks, just a comfortable distance away from the water. far enough where if the river were to flood, there'd be no concern. but close enough to still enjoy the scenery from within a den. she flits over to it, small paws pressing into the cold dirt at the base of it's trunk. 

come spring, it's boughs would sway and seal them off from the world. their own little slice of heaven. "wouldn't this be beautiful?" she was beaming, the excitement written all over her features. "relaxing under the willow tree, listening to the river..." 

she wonders if he's as enthusiastic about this all. she leans into his touch, tilting her muzzle upward to press a kiss beneath his jaw. 

 she murmured a soft plea, "help me dig the den out, my heart?"

Cole felt the weight of her plea settle into his bones like something inevitable, something right. His lips quirked slightly before he bent down, pressing his muzzle against hers, returning her kiss with quiet intent. She spoke of beauty, of a future beneath the willow, of the sound of the river lulling them to sleep, and for a moment, he allowed himself to see it through her eyes.
It would be theirs.
Without a word, he stepped past her, his broad frame casting a shadow over the frozen ground. He studied the base of the willow, the way its roots curled deep into the earth, anchoring it firm against time and tide. A good place. Strong. Sheltered. He let out a low hum of approval, then pressed a heavy paw into the cold soil, testing it.
Yeah, he finally murmured, voice gruff but certain. It’ll be beautiful.
And with that, he began to dig. Slow, methodical movements, his strength cutting through the earth with ease. It wasn’t the first den he’d made, but it was the first one that mattered. Pebbles scattered, dirt churned beneath his paws, and every motion carried the quiet weight of devotion.
For her. For them.
His heart.

she watches with quiet satisfaction as he begins to dig their home. and she hopes that this den will be the mark of a new chapter. a new journey, to embark on with him. in her minds eye was a vivid dream; summer nights spent at the river stargazing, naps beneath the willow boughs, perhaps a few children who's laughter would liven their home. 

it's a beautiful dream, perhaps the best she's ever had. a smile graces her, and it's much warmer and livelier than the last. eagerly she places herself beside him, her smaller paws digging into earth to fling it aside. slower than he, but she wished to do this together. 

it was still a marvel, how the winds had brought her here. to the valley where she not only found purpose, but a love she'd been wanting for years. a man to spend the rest of her days with. a man who could potentially be a father, guardian, and second-half wrapped in one. 

it was with haste their home was dug out. a hollowed space beneath the trunk of the tree, spacious enough for two. she stood back, staring down at it with eyes full of tenderness. 

"it's perfect, don't you think? i can get some soft pelts for bedding," she exhaled dreamily. oh, how wonderful it would be! to spend her nights curled up beside him, to await his return when he'd leave for his duties. to be the softness he returns to each evening...

her giddiness was infectious. and yet she forced herself to calm; she didn't want to scare him away already! her last fiance used to scold her for excitement...and so she'd quietly celebrate her victory with a swaying tail and bright smile.

Cole huffed, stepping back to admire their work, his sharp gaze sweeping over the den they had carved beneath the willow. It was sturdy, well-placed, safe from the elements—everything it needed to be. He wasn’t much of a dreamer, didn’t let his mind wander to far-off hopes and maybes, but damn if he didn’t feel a sense of pride at what they had built together.
His gaze flickered to Winslet as she spoke, her voice filled with a warmth that settled something deep in his chest. Soft pelts for bedding. The thought was nice. The idea of making this place comfortable for her, for them, was something he could get behind.
Furs would be nice, he murmured, voice low and sure.
And then, without much thought, he reached for her, drawing her into the broad plane of his chest. His hold was firm, steady, his chin resting atop her head for a fleeting moment. She was smaller than him, but she fit—perfectly.
His lips quirked in the barest ghost of a smirk, a rare thing, as he murmured, Though there is enough warmth for us both.
There was a finality to it, a promise in the way he held her, the way he let himself lean into her presence. Cole had never been much for words, but this? This he could offer her.

"perhaps we could hunt together one day?" winnie offered softly. she wasn't as good as a huntress as perhaps rala or ameline; both women were much more proficient. stronger than she, too. but she would certainly give it her best shot, especially with cole at her side. "i could skin the kill and turn it's hide into a soft blanket." 

and, truth be told, she wanted to prove to her heart that she wasn't as helpless as she looked. she adored his providing nature, of course...but she wanted to be able to provide for him. it didn't feel fair to only be on the receiving end of things. 

they could make a day out of it. a nice long walk, a kill, a pelt secured. though really, winslet would enjoy his company no matter what they'd get up to. even if it was just lounging in their den. 

she came willingly, when he pulled her near. pressed her slight form against his barreled chest, eager to feel the softness of his fur contrasting with the firmness of his muscle. each touch never failed to get her heart racing; it was if he spoke to her body and soul in a language sacred. enticing, enchanting. 

a soft sigh escapes her. for the first time in what felt like decades, the world wasn't so frightening. not with him by her side. nuzzling into his warmth, his fur hides her beaming smile, though her elation is evident with how her tail swishes and thumps against the earth.

"you have made me so happy, cole. i hope i make you feel the same way." she cooed.

Cole listened, his heart softening with every word. The idea of hunting together—of her skinning a pelt with delicate care, making something they could share—warmed him. She wanted to give back. To stand beside him, not just beneath his protection. He admired that about her—her gentle spirit, but also the quiet strength she didn’t always see in herself.
I’d like that, he said, his voice low, steady. Hunting together.
His chin brushed over the top of her head as he held her close, breathing her in. She fit so perfectly against him—like she belonged there, like she had always belonged there. Her words made his chest ache in the best way, and his grip tightened ever so slightly, as if to hold onto this feeling, this moment.
You do, Winslet, he murmured, voice soft but sure. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be.
He shifted slightly, so he could meet her eyes, his own gaze full of quiet affection. I want this—with you. All of it. The den, the hunts, the quiet nights by the river. You and me.
There was a finality to his words—a promise. He was hers, and he wanted her to know it.

her heart swooned. it swelled, fit to burst, and she'd never felt so elated. it was pure euphoric bliss that thrummed through her veins. she couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so happy, and surely whatever memory it may be could not outshine this. 

cole was her purpose. to love him and to be loved by him is all she needed. so to hear him reassure her that he too was happy...well, if she was struck down, she could die a very happy woman. 

"you have my everything." she murmured. her heart, her soul; all of it now cradled in his palms, for him to protect. and he would, as this she knew without a shadow of a doubt. tilting her head back, she'd skim his jaw with feather-light kisses. 

"i used to dream about this," came a gentle admission. "about having a home to share with the one i love. having someone to call mine, and for me to be theirs." she'd dreamt about calling a man her husband in due time, one who wouldn't hurt her. cole dulled the ache her last fiancé had left, and he would heal the scars that crossed her heart. 

there came the question; should she reveal her old lover? the man that drove her away from her home, the man that had caged her? despite the serenity of the moment, an inkling of anxiety chilled her. would cole still want her, knowing she'd been used and tossed aside?

she calms herself, as she sinks into his side. all would be revealed eventually.

He held her like she was the most precious thing in the world—because to him, she was. His arms wrapped firm around her, rough and steady, a shelter against the cold. That weathered face of his softened, lines of age and hardship easing as she pressed those feather-light kisses to his jaw.
Her words stirred something deep inside him—something he hadn’t dared to hope for in years. That kind of future…a home, a love that stayed…he had thought it was beyond him. But here she was, offering it freely. Offering herself.
His hand found her cheek, calloused thumb brushing over her soft skin. He tilted her face up to meet his gaze—those golden eyes of his, warm like dying embers.
You got me, Winslet, his voice was low, gravelly, roughened by time but gentle for her. All of me. Always.
A pause—his gaze lingered, searching her eyes like he could read every hurt, every doubt she buried deep. He didn’t need to know it all now. He’d wait. He’d earn it.

the promise they'd made to one another—it weighed more than anything ever had. it means more than anything else. he would not let her down. and she wouldn't fail him, not like she'd failed her ex, or her family, or her kingdom. 

"forever." she hummed. she would be his until they grew frail and old, and she would be his when they be buried side by side. 

content she falls, nuzzled up against his chest, cradles in his arms. "shall we hunt soon?" came the gentle, soft question. she was eager to make their den feel like a home, one worth spending the rest of their days in.

Cole exhales slow, steady, his chin resting against the top of her head as she settles against his chest. Forever, he murmurs, a quiet vow, one he means with every part of him.
She is warmth against him, something good, something his. He’s never been a man of pretty words, but she knows—he makes sure she knows. The weight of his arm around her, the way his nose drags through her fur, slow and deliberate.
At her question, his lips twitch—just barely. A hunt. Building their home together, making something out of all this. It sits right with him.
Soon, he answers, voice low, thoughtful. Got to keep you fed, don’t I? A tease, but there’s truth in it. She is his, and he will provide, always.