Snowfall on the Meadow

[Cascade]

Kanut couldn't help but note the slight ache in his back as he dug deep snow out from the mouth of his den. He was by no means an old wolf, but he could no longer say that he was in his youth either. It was a transitional time in a wolf's life, one that most spent with their mates beside them. This time last year, Kanut had been very close to having a mate. It was not something he had shared with anyone else, but the thought had been on his mind more and more. He really thought that it was right within his grasp.

Of course, as he was reminded every day, it didn't work out as he planned.

He didn't want to think about it anymore. He put his head down and focused on the snow. Not far from him was MoonFlower's den. It had been a couple weeks since she had joined their pack, and he was grateful for her being here rather than buried in snow somewhere as a loner. He would have spent the entire winter worrying about her had she insisted on living on her own.

"I would say our pack's name is rather fitting right now," he called out to her den, where he believed her to be resting. It was early in the morning, so it was a safe assumption.

[Deleted]

A black spot appeared in the snow covered entrance to her den. But it only appeared that way because her snout was as white as the snow was. Her nostrils flared a few times as she took in a few deep breaths of the cold air. Finally two paws poked out and her form, barely seen, emerged.

She smiled at him and nodded. "It appears so."

Quickly, she turned back towards her den and dug the snow out....but then she slipped in and soon dirt start flying from her den too. This also happened the day after she joined, but that was safely assumed that it was just her making her den more comfortable to her immediate needs. But Now she's slept in it many times, and the earth was still soft of her body heat. There was plenty of loose soil to move around, and move it she did. Right out of her den. Soon the whiteness at the entrance to her den was completely covered in a layer of brown. Her tail wagged a bit as she continued her work. After a while, it might be obvious that she wasn't doing any cleaning or just adjusting it. She was making it larger- quite a bit larger.

[Cascade]

Kanut raised an eyebrow as he noticed the brown dirt piling up at the mouth of MoonFlower's den. He walked over, peeking in at her with a look that suggested that he'd appreciate an explanation. As far as he could tell, MoonFlower's den was more than adequately large. How much more space could one wolf need? A few clouds of breath formed in the air as he contemplated asking her directly what she was doing, but he couldn't bring himself to be so forward.

"You know, most wolves save their spring cleaning for spring."

[Deleted]

She paused as he spoke and a quiet chuckle could be heard before her body slunk into the hole and she peeked out slightly, looking at him. "Spring cleaning can indeed wait until spring." she agreed quietly, "I'm preparing for other plans...something I must wait until spring to do."

She layed her chin down on the two paws that were just peeking out of her den. She seemed content and relaxed. Daydreams of her pushing little pups out of her den to play in the green grass with the warm sun above distracted her from the cold, pupless winter.

[Cascade]

He got the slight impression that she wanted him to ask her to further clarify. He could take an informed guess as to what she was alluding to, but he was happy to oblige. "Other plans?" he said, rolling the stiffness out of his shoulders and silently cursing the winter cold, "What kind of plans require this level of home renovation?" He met her eyes, but couldn't decipher the meaning of her gaze. She appeared lost in thought. Kanut wondered if that was how he appeared to her, with all the time he spent ruminating on the past. That wasn't how he had ever wanted to be seen.

[Deleted]

She blinked herself out of her daydream and looked back into kanut's eyes, giing off a small smile again. "Pups do. " she answered. She rolled around in her den a bit, loving the space. In the spring and summer, she would make sure it was the most comfortable den she could make it - with moss and some old fall leaves that had gotten caught in the trees and not cleared away.

"being alone makes you lonely." she said, almost sounding like a pup with that logic. She stretched as she crawled out of her den- a thin speckling of brown now rubbed into her mostly white coat. "I have been planning to meet someone who can give me pups...and a sense of belonging..." she trailed off on that last part, she didn't want to say that she wanted to feel loved, it might make her seem desperate. Even so, she had been wanting to know what it felt like to be in love. "I was busy in the fall...eating as many small creatures as I could...but when it is spring, the first thing I will do is go to the forest where other wolves will be gathering."

[Cascade]

Had he guessed, he would have guessed right. It was perfectly understandable, of course. A young wolf like MoonFlower would be feeling the natural urge to have pups around this time, and it would obviously be easier on her now that she was one of the Eternal Snowfall and had a support system.

The mention of the Forest of Love made him uncomfortable, though. There was no guarantee that the males there would be who they said they were. They could be hiding evil intentions. Something terrible could easily happen, and MoonFlower could be hurt. She could disappear. The fur on the back of Kanut's neck raised as a prickly feeling rose throughout his body.

"I understand perfectly what you mean, but you needn't seek out a stranger to start a family," he didn't stop himself to think about what he was saying, "I would like to be the one, if you will accept me. I care deeply about you, MoonFlower." It was perfectly logical. They had known each other for quite a while now, and they enjoyed each other's company very much. This was what he was supposed to do, he was sure. She would be nearer to him, and he would be able to protect her from sharing Rhiannon's fate. He would redeem himself for what happened to her. If nothing else, she could be safe with him.

[Deleted]

Moonflower stopped and looked at him with deep pools of thoughtfulness. She did enjoy his company, and it would make sense for her to consider it...she would even admit that she had a couple times...but there was that thing that was a bit odd about how kanut presented himself to her whenever they had gathered to meet. He was often in thought, and while she didn't speak much herself, she felt almost like he should be speaking more. It was something that was too vague to her to have brought it up, and there was always the possibility that it was a subject that would hurt him. And Moonflower did not want to hurt her first solid wolf friend.

She slowly moved closer, observing him. "Are you really comfortable with that?" she asked quietly. "I don't know your feelings, and i do want a family i can trust...but I'm compelled to make it clear that I also want a mate. Those are different feelings than what I've felt so far between us." She moved closer and slowly went to rub up on him and nuzzle into him. "are you...comfortable with that?"

[Cascade]

"Yes, I assure you." He said, dipping his head to her, "I know I don't always...express myself as well I should. But that doesn't mean that my feelings are not genuine. I—" he wanted to express to her that he had feelings for her alone, but that name flickered once more in his mind, "—I will never be disloyal to you, MoonFlower. I feel that I belong with you, and I want to make a family with you. You have my word, on my honor."

[Deleted]

She watched him for a moment longer, but she felt her heart flutter up high when he swore on his honor. They did not talk often, but she knew she could trust his sense of honor. So she could overlook his moment of hesitation.

"Then you will be." she said quietly, giving him a small lick on the cheek. It was true, they did enjoy each other's company...and he said he'd give her a family..but she felt like there was still some distance between them.She needed to learn more about him in the time she had left.

"We should do something together, what would you enjoy?"

[Cascade]

Kanut smiled at her, returning her cheek with a nuzzle that he took care to express with extra affection. "It is all I wish to make your dreams a reality," he whispered to her gently as his muzzle passed her ear. "As for what we can do together...perhaps we could take a trip to the Adoette Tree, or to a nice spot by the creek. It won't hurt to get away from the territory for a little while. After all, there will be plenty of time spent here when we are raising the pups."

[Deleted]

His statement was odd to her, having been unaware of such feelings from his end of thier friendly relationship. But that soon didn't matter. Her tail wagged almost vigorously at the mention of raising pups with him. Even so, and even despite the bright sparke in her eye, she appeared calmer than she was. "then to the Adoette tree. I am sure there will be wonderful colors to be seen, if we get there before the end of the day...and then we can return and eat some stored meat."