Moonspear Even Doves have pride

New scents, new faces, new doubts. And Kinusi dashed them just as quick as they surfaced. She knew her worth. She knew herself. And she knew what she had to offer. But more than anything, the girl knew how to not let anyone take her and make her feel small. If nothing else her father had taught her that. Granted he'd taught her a lot. But this heavy dose of self awareness made her do okay as a newly minted leader.

She was marking borders and markings caches. She was watching for enemies and friends. She was working on a spot for a possible new healing Ulaq while working in the one they had. Her mind whirling and her voice breathy as she jumped from spot to spot. Leaving water, claw marks and songs.her voice carrying.

Everything was happening so fast! Katmai was shocked by how quickly the mountain had repopulated, and he was just a little uncomfortable with how little he knew about some of the newcomers.

He sought out Kinusi, hoping for some respite from the uncertainty, and perhaps some advice, if she had any. As he drew nearer and, as ever, heard the sweet sound of her voice, the tension in his shoulder began to relax. He smiled to himself.

"Wanting you the way I do, I only wanna be with you
And I would go to the ends of the earth
'Cause, darling, to me that's what you're worth,"

Katmai sang to her, waving along the uneven ground in her direction.

Kini was oblivious to the doubts and worries that plagued Katmai. Probably something she should work on. 

She was caught up in her movements. Scratch, squat, sing. Move about. When his voice reached her ears. Head lifted ears twitching as she pinpointed.

Voice rising to join him. 

And I, (aaa)
I want to share
(All my love with you)
No one else will do
And your eyes, your eyes, your eyes

Then she turned to greet him with a smile. Heya Katmai.

Endless love Diana ross/Lionel richie

He was flushed when he reached her, not because he'd been running, but because her song filled his chest yet squeezed all the air from his lungs.

"Kinusi," he greeted in turn, a broad grin on his face. He was always so happy to see her. He fell into step, scratching at the dirt nearby, adding his own scent to her patrol.

"There are many wolves on the mountain, now," he told her, his tone contemplative. "Do you know — when we started this, I only imagined it would be you and me. Maybe Kindle, if we couldn't get rid of him."

Kini didn't not realize the effect of her song. Had she, she may have been pleased with herself. 

She looked over at him. Taking the moment to stop her movements. She settled and put her attention to him. He deserved all of her attention, not slivers.

She tilted her head. I've only met Kindle. But ive smelled the others. I knew there would be more. As they say. Build it and they'll come. There's always the homeless the journeyman. Always. Granted I didn't expect this many right away.

She shook her head with a small laugh.

Kinusi seemed confident — amused by the situation, even. Katmai couldn't quite relate, but her lack of concern eased some of the tension in his own chest.

"They all seem like good wolves," he replied. Except for the one that was not a wolf. Cosmo seemed like a good dog. He gave what insight he could, but he was curious, too, what Kinusi might think of them when she came across them. She was less reactive than he was, he thought. More tempered, even if she was also loud and brash.

"I worry I will disappoint them, and you," he admitted, pausing his scratching to look over at her. "What if I am a poor leader?"

He swallowed.

"What if I am bad at being part of a pack at all?"

If Kinusi had anything it was confidence in spades. But that came from growing up with a dad who told you everything you did was great. To not let anyone dull your sparkle. And she wouldn't. Couldn't or that meant letting the one man who had never let her down, down. And she just simply couldn't do that. Fathom it even. 

Only time will tell and hardships. Sometimes those that seem good fall apart.

Kinusi chuckled. I don't get disappointed too often. So, I don't think you'll manage that and if you make a mistake. Who cares. This is your first leadership position. Heck this is your first and only life, unless you believe in reincarnation. So, mistakes will happen. They will. But the important thing is you learn from them, get up from them and fix them. And don't worry I'm sure i'll make my own fair share too. I'm not exactly the sweet and sugar kinda wolf.

She shook her head. You won't be. You already are doing amazing. You know them all, by name even. And i'm willing to bet you already know some of their likes and dislikes and what some of them want to do. You're doing awesome already. Don't let your mind tell you you're wrong, go with the heart.

Katmai frowned at this pronouncement, but he was glad for the insight all the same. He didn't like to think poorly of others — even considering that they might fail him was difficult. But he understood what Kinusi was saying and, reluctantly, tried to accept it as the truth. He nodded, at least, looking down at his paws for a moment.

His gaze slowly lifted as she offered levelheaded words of reassurance and even praise. Katmai let out a soft little breath and tried to shake his anxieties, already feeling better despite being not quite sure of her evaluation.

"I do, actually," he told her, skipping over talk of following his heart with heated cheeks. "Believe in reincarnation, I mean. But that is still a different life, and I feel quite attached to this one."

He ducked his head, reaching the distance across them to nudge her shoulder.

"Thank you, Kini," he said. "You always know what to say." A tiny, saccharine smile. "I think you are very sugar and sweet."

Not that she wasn't quite a bit of spice as well — but he'd never seen her be cruel. When she was brash or abrasive, he always saw it as her big heart seeking to see things right and fair in the world.

Kinusi felt bad that she had to give Katmai a dose of pragmatism. She was an optimistic wolf, but she was also a realist. Her unique cirumstances in life had made her so. But she hated taking away some of the optism that Katmai carried in spades and she hoped he never lost it. She really truly loved that about him. 

Whoa that thought stopped her cold and she had to back up in her mind. Brain on autopilot, broke down. Straight up. All she heard was static. No lyrics. And she felt hot. Was it hot out here right now. 

He looked at her paws and she had a few seconds to center herself again. Shut the brain down. Way way down. 

She short circuited for a minute, but she nodded at his words. Her words coming out a little breathy at first but growing strong as they usually were in a few second's flat. 

I'm not a 100% sure what I believe yet. But Reincarnation is a nice thought to be fair. I think i'd want to come back as a song bird, but like one that sings really well. Because flying and singing, sounds awesome.

Again her heart stuttered and her brain fizzled. What was up with her today. She laughed then at his next words. Her thoughts of impropriety leaving. A toss of her head. I have some spice in there sir. Trust me. You've only seen my good side.

Kini grinned. Sharp toothed and ornery. She did not show that side unless she was certain the other wolf could handle it. Or she wasnt close to them.

But Katmai wasn't like her. He was a bit softer. Didn't have as hard an edge. Part of her worried she may damage him without meaning too. She was not the best at this stuff.

Laughter peeked out of her blue eyes. I think it's a mixed bag. Both

Katmai laughed, but there was something gentle in his eyes.

"Then I will be honored and offended both," he told her, pausing in his patrol to look at her more earnestly.

"You can be yourself around me, Kinusi," he said, a promise in his voice. "We are friends, aren't we? And I care for you. I care for you deeply."

He swallowed last the nervousness that rose up in his chest. They weren't talking about his other feelings right now.

"You are chief beside me," he said. "I would like for us to be equals. Partners, even — even if that's all you want. I just hope you can feel as safe with me as you make me feel."

Kinusi laughed. Be careful what you wish for fella. But she felt pleased all the same. It was nice to know that her muchness was not too much, for him. She worried sometimes. Not often frankly. She was a bit self centered that way. Feeling that she was who she was and if you didn't like it too bad. But she was finding out taht wasn't always the best thing. 

She blinked surprised and then her stomach fell in one large swoop and her heart tightened. Just friends. Had seh been reading the signs all wrong. Had everyone. Did he like her sort of sibling Treepie or Tiki. Or maybe that girl Kira. She felt strangely unusual. 

And she felt very very sad, which wasn't something that Kini often felt. And she wasn't sure what to do with the emotion or how to handle it. And though part of her wanted to run far away. She remembered her father always said sometimes the biggest misunderstandings arose from lack of communication. 

she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and put a smile on her face. Though it flickered. Yea Friends.

A tilt of her head, a twist of her ear. We can be partners. I was thinking more long term things. You know I was even gonna ask you if you wanted kids and the family the whole nine yards. Because everyone seems to assume, I guess even i just assumed. But.

She kicked teh grass and lifted her head. She flung her chin forward. Alright. No sense in hidng behind a possible heartbreak here. I guess. So what do you want Katmai? I was like thinking we were like gonna maybe get to know each other more, fall in love, have some babies if we wanted. But I never really just came out and asked. And well obviously someone needs to ask. 

She smiled then bright and loud like she always did and she waited. Even though her heart was racing and her head hurt. And she wanted to go lick her metaphorical wounds. She knew he was gonna say no. He pretty much just did hadn't he, but she needed a clear no.

For better or for worse, Katmai was not a particularly careful person. Not careless, to be sure, but led by feeling and intuition more than careful thought. He would not wish for anything less than everything Kinusi had to offer, good and bad, curse or blessing, for better or for worse. "I will not," he half-teased, unflinchingly and without much thought. No, he wouldn't be careful of this. He would do his best to care for her, but a naive part of him believed wholeheartedly that she would never truly hurt him.

But the mood grew more solemn. Katmai's ears pricked forward as he picked up on this change, and he stood steadily before her, ready for her worst. Maybe she would take him up on his urging right away, and unleash some sort of fury. He was nervous, but ready to follow through.

Only what came out was something else entirely.

Katmai blinked at her, his mouth going slack.

"Kini, I..." Where to begin? "I do want those things," he told her, his voice earnest. "I thought that you knew that, but I suppose I never said. I do want children. Not just ours, but as many as the village can support, so that they'll all grow up running from lodge to lodge with their cousins and siblings."

His cheeks heated under his fur.

"I feel I've loved you since I first heard your voice," he admitted. "And every time I hear it, and every time I see your smile, and every time I shut my eyes and remember that you stand here with me, the feeling grows. I do not know what to do with it. But you always seem to know — and I suppose I've been relying on that. Because I like the way you see the world, and I knew that I'd be happy no matter where I fit into your life — as long as I fit."

He stepped closer to her.

"But I do want those things," he told her, serious until a sheepish smile broke the expression. "You are the lady of my heart, after all."

Kinusi could relate. After all she was as gracefull as a bull in a china shop, both in her physical body and with the way she spoke. It was tell it like it is there it be kind of conversation. 

he stared at her for a beat of a second. Wide eyed and confused. His mouth slack. She wondered if she should ask him if he was okay, because he looked touched in the head, addled maybe. Was he having a seizure, that would just about be her luck. She could take care of him if he did, that wasn't concerning. The fact taht she may have been the cause. 

Kini chuckled. That we will have to talk about. It does not make a good village if there are too many children and not enough wolves to take care of them or feed them. Has potential for some bad times. But there were always a litter or two here every year.

Now it was her turn for her face to burn, and her fur to itch. Talk about bringing out the big guns. Romantic's unite. She was breathless, voiceless, unsure what to say. How did you even, what did you even say to all that. Oh me too, felt so hollow. But she didn't know how to tell him she found his naivety and optimism endearing or that she liked that he cared about everyone, sometimes without worrying about himself. That he could match her singing, that was probably the most important frankly. 

She opened her mouth and closed it. Unsure what to say at first, but she'd figure it out. Give her a second. 

I see the world a little obscure. So I have to give you props for lovin' me anyway frankly. So all i know how to say this is. 

She gave him her usual wink and a toss of her head and belted out a few lyrics of an obscure little song she knew. my heart is made of instruments
that strum this song for you
they bend and twist each simple pitch
in hopes you'll feel it too
and i'm wonderin if you're wonderin
if i'm wonderin about you...

She ran her paw along the dirt. Holding the last note and letting it fall. Hope that suffices, cause i'm god awful at sweet and sentimental, but that's okay you got that down pat. Sir. I think you made my heart skip a beat or two there.

Wondering by Nicole Reynolds.

Katmai hardly noticed that it wasn't the same declaration of love that he had given to her. It was enough she wasn't displeased, and that they were both looking toward the same future. His heart felt full to the bursting as she sang, thumping double-time the way it always did when she sang to him like this.

When he answered her, it was in quieter, gentler song:

"You weren't just a girl that I should meet
You were the girl that I would meet
For walks in the forest,
A beautiful daughter,
Lifetimes of summer,
And love ever after — "

He cut himself off, flushed and pleased despite feeling unusually shy.

"So," he asked her, tentatively, eagerly, "Am I to court you properly, now?" he asked her, already planning a whirlwind of gifts and romantic gestures. He would have to speak with her father, of course. Not that Alaric hadn't seen straight through him from the start, he assumed — it was just the done thing, was all!

Kinusi cared about him near about as much as he cared about her she'd wager. But she wasn't very good at words unless she was singing them. That wasn't something that came to her with swiftness or even any type of gentliness. Honestly she usually sounded half snarky when she did words without songs. She was just a realist.

And there he did it again. She had to wave a paw for aminute. She felt unusually warm. She should probably talk to her dad. Maybe she was coming down with something. Just great. A moment of huge declarations and she was getting sick. Not cool She supposed she could take some of her own herbs, but she didn't usually like to diagnose herself. 

She laughed then, her maw crinkling in delight. If you'd like. I'm not your usual girl. So I don't need to be courted if you'd rather not. We can just sort of fall into some sort of our own little love story.

But she didn't mind exactly if he chose to court her. Not sure what that all entailed, but she could get behind it. Should she be like courting him too? Again she'd have to talk to her dad. Did she take him on dates and get him gifts too? It seemed like the right thing to do after all.

As ever, her smile evoked instant reciprocation. He beamed back at her, dizzy with delight at making her laugh. He meant it, though. He wanted to court her with all intention — but that, too, would make her laugh. Because she liked to laugh, and she deserved every opportunity to do so.

Katmai stepped a little closer to her, hesitating just a little to check her expression. His own was soppy, endlessly endeared. Half-lidded as he breathed in her familiar scent.

"I think that we are already in it," he told her, reaching out to touch his nose to her cheek in a daring kiss. An action he'd performed a few times, by now — but this time he lingered, his heart fluttering like a bird in his chest.