It was a bit of a shock to me to discover the truth about Nightfang being in the forest that fateful day, but it somehow made a bit of sense. My mother had a sister who was a bit like Nightfang, cheerful and bouncing with joy, but in actuality, she was struggling with sadness. My mother told me that sometimes the happiest creatures hide their troubles behind their smiles. Nightfang may be quite cheerful, but he has seen many hardships. I feel sympathy for him, but I am happy that he is better now.

Time passes slowly as Nightfang and I talk a bit more about other things before he runs off to mark the territory around us to scare off any other wolves in the area. He tells me to stay put, but I become restless and try to stand, but quickly regret my decision as the pain becomes unbearable. I lie down once more and wait for Nightfang to return.

The evening approaches rather quickly. Nightfang wakes me up just before the sun starts to set with two rabbits and the remains of what I assume is another deer. I eat well, but I am still in no condition to move about. Nightfang makes sure I don’t do anything. He keeps watch and my eyes seem to follow him. His features are even more striking to me now. The way his fur is scruffy and untamed, his eyes piercing yellow, the leanness in his forepaws and hindlegs, the bushiness of his tail, his…um…

What exactly am I thinking about? I ask myself. Although it is not as if he is not sexually inept, I am a bit appalled at my sudden lack of self-restraint when it comes to sexual curiosity. In hindsight, I suppose it is not that unexpected. I am at that age where sexual exploration is normal, even highly welcomed by the other members of my pack. They told me I was strange for not being interested in it at all. Now that I am, I understand why they were all so curious. The male body of a wolf, as Nightfang had mentioned once before, is quite appealing. I understand my female suitors now that I am in their position when facing Nightfang. He is strong and strapping, fit and sexually alluring. He is bigger than me in physique and…um…in other aspects…

I snap out of my indecent thoughts as Nightfang approaches me.

“I kind of noticed yesterday…” He begins as I look away quickly out of shyness and embarrassment. I hope he did not notice me looking at him with lustful eyes. I am a bit ashamed of myself. “You smelled like jasmine.” He says with a smile.

“I was using it as a disguise for my own scent after those brutes were chasing me…” I say as I remembered that awful experience and shudders slightly.

“You still smell beautiful.” He says as he sniffs me.

“You like it?” I ask shyly.

“Yeah, I do.” He and I look at each other for a moment before I clear my throat nervously. I begin to wonder what all this means. I look up at him and whimper a bit before he nuzzles me affectionately. It seems as though we are not merely speaking to each other. It seems as though we are flirting. The thought makes my throat dry with nervousness and my body a bit bothered (in a different sense). I fear that Nightfang might notice this awkwardness of mine so I try to feign my usual demeanor, but feel inadequate as an actor. “What’s the matter?” He says softly almost directly into my ear. His voice sends shivers down my spine as I begin to feel that strangeness again. I knew he would notice and I believe he is purposely trying to make me quake underneath him as I lose any composure just from the tone of his voice and his breath on my ear. I flick my ear slightly from the peculiar feeling of…arousal?

“What are we, Nightfang?” I ask him as I try to recompose myself and not let the beginnings of arousal portray on my face.

“Huh? That’s a silly question. We’re wolves.” He says with a laugh.

“No, Nightfang, what are we? Us.” Nightfang is a bit confused over my question before he turns away from me and sits down. He curls his tail around his body and looks out towards the fields. He turns his attention only slightly towards me when he begins to speak.

“I thought you specifically said there was no ‘us.’” He counters bitterly. I am a bit taken aback by the tone of voice he uses.

“I…” I begin to say but trail off in my thoughts as I wonder what I hoped to gain from this conversation. Do I want to hear him say there always was, indeed, an ‘us’ or do I want him to solidify the fact that perhaps there is beginning to become an ‘us’ or that there is simply nothing between us of that nature? In my heart, I suppose I want it to be the first. “I don’t think I believe that anymore.”

“Oh?” He asks a bit pompously.

“Nightfang.” I say in irritation.

“I suppose we are something, aren’t we?” He says as he moves beside me. “I don’t know. What are we to you?” He asks as he nuzzles me a bit and nips my ear. I nuzzle him back and hum as I feel the familiarity of his warmth and the shape of his body against mine. I missed him more than I realized. I love him more than I can explain.

“We are friends…” I begin. He seems deeply disappointed in this answer. “We are very affectionate with one another…which makes me believe we have become something more without acknowledging it through words…” I pause and sigh. “But perhaps you are like this with everyone.”

“No. I’m not.” He admits. “I’d probably get ruffed up near death if I were like this with anyone else.”

“Then…I am…?” I ask shyly.

“Special?” He asks and I nod. “Yes. Very.” I quickly press my head into the crook his neck under his chin and nuzzle him softly as I whimper. “Were you worried?”

“I was…uneasy…” I admit. “I suppose I have become quite strange.”

“You thinking you might be flawed?” He asks carefully.

“You mean graced?” I correct him again.

“Yes, graced.” He says with a smile. I think for a moment before I lick his cheek.

“I don’t know if I am or not, but what I do know is that I have feelings for you.”

“What kind of feelings?” He asks a bit cheekily. I nudge him slightly with a soft smile.

“I became restless when you weren’t around. I felt empty and sad. I missed you more than I could have ever thought I would.” I admitted honestly. “You bother me, but I suppose I prefer that than you being away from me. I feel strange in my stomach when you look at me or give me affection. It’s a warm feeling…a good feeling…” I look at him and notice how he is looking at me with thoughtful eyes. I feel that exact feeling as I look at him. I press my head underneath his chin again and whimper. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you…” Nightfang nuzzles the top of my head with his chin and whimpers with me.

“This is a first for me.” He admits softly. “I’ve never had someone say something like this to me, especially for someone I feel the same feelings for…” My heart suddenly feels like it’s racing and I feel unbelievably happy. Nightfang licks me gently and nuzzles me as I rub my scent on him in response. I whimper and paw at his chest before I lick his face and nip at his ears slightly.

“Oh my! Am I interrupting something?” We hear Ash say as he flies in front of us.

“Ash…” Nightfang grumbles. “We were having a moment…”

“Well, I brought back something useful for the boy’s leg.” Ash says with a huff. He hops towards me and places the object that was in his mouth on the ground. “It is a needle with a string attached. I can sew up this nasty hole for you, my boy.”

“Thank you, Ash.” I say happily as he begins to preparing for the task at hand.

“Guess what, Ash?” Nightfang asks excitedly as he points his tail to the sky, his upper body lowered to the ground as if about to pounce.

“Hmm?” He says as he begins to stitch the open wound. I wince at the pain but endure it.

“Snowheart and I are mates!” He says loudly before howling happily.

“Nightfang.” I say as I feel a bit embarrassed.

“Oh, congratulations.” Ash says simply. “You’ve finally found the thing you’ve been looking for.” He continues to sew me up before he pauses and looks at Nightfang. “But to think you’d end up charming the one we all suspected wouldn’t ever have the same affections for you!” He laughs and then his laughter dies down to a nervous coughing as Nightfang glares at him. “That is to say, it’s a miracle.” Ash finishes with sewing my wound and happily flaps his wings. “There you go, all set.”

“Thank you, Ash.” I say before nuzzling him.

“Oh, goodness. You must have changed him quite a bit.” Ash says with a chuckle. “I would have never thought you’d be so affectionate to a bothering buzzard such as myself, my boy.” Nightfang looks at me and smiles softly. His eyes are alight with love and I can’t help but feel happy as I look at him lovingly. “Anyway, I just came back for that. I don’t want to interrupt a moment for young lovers.” Ash says before winking. He flies off and I feel a bit better from the stitches.

“Young lovers.” Nightfang hums as he sits beside me. “I like the sound of that.” I chuckle as I lie down and put my head on my paws. The night is approaching and I don’t feel tired, just restless. I am not accustomed to idleness. I love to move about and be free to roam and wander. I feel trapped in my own body as I sit to heal. Nightfang seems to notice this and nuzzles me. “Don’t worry, it’ll heal up fast. We can try travelling a bit tomorrow just to exercise your body a bit.”

“I feel like a rock.” I say sadly. “Motionless and dull.”

“You’re a very sexy rock.” Nightfang comments slyly. “Probably the sexiest rock I have ever seen.” I nudge him and chuckle at his remark. “Snowheart, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable about this, so if you’re not ready…to be mates…I’m okay with that. I was a bit excited and got ahead of myself with Ash.”

“I’m okay with it. I’m okay with being called your mate as well as you are mine.” I say happily. “Unless, you aren’t okay with it.”

“No, I’m okay with it.” He says happily as he licks me. “I’m really happy, happier than I think I’ve ever been.” He says as he lies closer to me, resting his head atop my neck.

“I feel the same way.” I say dreamily. I begin to feel a bit nervous as I sense his restlessness. Being mates means that we will be together for a long time, but it also involves us being intimate. I feel a bit nervous about the thought. I am sexually aroused by Nightfang, his presence, his scent, his body, him entirely, but I am not sure about mating. I am scared and inexperienced. “Nightfang…?” I ask softly.

“Hmm?” He asks as he lifts his head and presses it next to mine.

“I’m not sure about mating…” I say shyly.

“Oh…” He says nervously. “Heh, I wasn’t really thinking about that…” He says with a soft chuckle. Somehow, I don’t believe him. He is young and has already shown that he does have interest in mating. He has even become sexually aroused in my presence. I am not judging him, nor would I reprimand him for it now that I am just as interested in it as he is. “We don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.” He says as he nuzzles me.

Now, I am most pleasantly surprised by this. He is being considerate, which is admirable and heartwarming to me. I find myself feeling even more attracted to him by his words. I am most surprised by my earlier assumptions about Nightfang regarding mating. Although he flirts, he is, at his core a gentleman, more than I have been to him even. I smile at him for his words and lick him softly.

“I do…want to…” I manage to say nervously. “I’m just not sure about it all. I’m inexperienced and…a bit scared about it…I’m not confident that I can be a good mate in that aspect for you.”

“For me? You don’t have to be anything for me. I like you for you, just the way you are.” He says as he licks me. “Don’t worry about all those things. We don’t have to jump into all that right now, or anytime soon.” I feel my heart swell with happiness and press my head back into the comfort of his chest.

“I’m really regretting all that I’ve said and done to you, Nightfang.”

“It’s okay, I was being a bit of an ass myself. Teasing isn’t the right way to treat someone you like.” He says as he sighs contently. “We’ll both be better.” I smile and close my eyes as I drift off into sleep.