Rudyard had finished his night’s hunt and brought in his prey.  It was the day after the festival and the majority of the guests had left if not all of them.  It was time to talk to Fern if she was awake.  Their schedule did have a tendency to be different from how he tended to hunt at night.  There was just no denying how the evening's shadows improved his efficiency at hunting.  Rudy was one with shadows in the darkness, able to sneak up closer to his prey.

Tonight his prey would be the sleeping Fern but he wouldn’t jump her as he would Art.  At least not when she might be asleep.  Slipping into their room he noticed that Reddy had already made it back to his perch and appeared settled in.  The bird always followed Rudyard home but once he was in the safety of the castle Reddy would separate himself.  The bird kept a close eye on Rudyard ever since Ox happened.

Rudyard made his way to Fern, lowering his head to gently nudge her muzzle with his nose. “Hey, Fern,” Rudyard spoke softly, “I wanted to ask you something, have a bit of a talk.”  Maybe he could have woken up early and asked her then or at some other time midday but Rudyard’s mind had been circling around the questions he had for her.  If he didn’t ask it would take longer to sleep.  She wouldn’t mind.

"Rudyard Carpathius"

The day after the wedding and, the following reception, had left Fern feeling like when all the air has been let out a balloon. Even the castle seemed a little a less brighter when she had awoken that morning; the buzz of excitement no longer thrumming almost tangibly through the air. It had been a struggle to detach herself from Rudyard’s arms and roll off the plush furs that covered their bed. For a long time, the gray girl had considered staying there and she might have remained there, wrapped in Rudy’s arms, if she did not have to train. It had taken a great amount of effort for her to roll out of bed and make her way down to the training fields but, once she started moving, the aches and pains from the fighting tournament lessened and she was able to do her daily routine.

Still, as soon as night had started to darken the sky, Fern had retreated up to their room and bedded down. She is soundly asleep when Rudyard makes his way over to the bed, gently nudging her muzzle to awaken her. It takes some effort to rouse the sleepy girl but the motley boy is finally rewarded with ocean-hued eyes blinking sleepily open. Confusion clouds her sluggish mind and darken her eyes as she tries to figure out what time it is. Eyes dart to the open doors of their balcony to find that the nighttime has deepened since she closed her eyes and she looks back to Rudy as he speaks softly of wanting to talk. A huge yawn pulls her mouth apart as she stretches while still laying on her side before rolling up her belly and giving her head a hard shake.

Without a word, Fern slides off the bed and moves to the piled furs in the middle of the floor where she sits and pats the spot next to her. Once Rudyard takes his seat, the gray girl will turn around and scoot back toward him, fitting herself into the crook of his front legs. Turning to plant a kiss on his cheek, she softly says, “What do you want to ask me Rudy?” A smile is blooming on her lips as she wakes up and the fact that something is bothering the motely boy is becoming clearer to her. Leaning into him, Fern settles in as she listens to him talk.


"Fern Lark"

She was tired but she was also pretty when she was tired.  She had dragged him up early enough at times that this was perfectly fair in Rudyard’s book besides, it was probably a talk she’d like having when her bleary mind woke up a bit more.  When she was finally awake she didn’t just lay there to listen but instead got up and moved to a different pile of furs and Rudyard moved to sit where she directed.

She moves to sit up against him, and her eyes show more signs of truly being awake by the moment.  When Fern licks his cheek Rudyard nuzzles his muzzle into her own cheek before planting a gentle kiss of his own, “So, you won the match.”  He’d have to give her some light jab comments later on that not happening again but he’d hold off those comments for this conversation.  The jokes could wait, this time. “So, do you know when you want the marriage?” Rudyard's voice was soft and tender. It was an important question in multiple ways of which Fern would mostly be aware of just one.

Rudy and Fern could both look forward to the wedding.  Only Rudyard knew to look forward to the present he aimed to get her off a season of exploration.  He’d check again with Art to see if he was satisfied after their hunt lessons.  Of course, they could still make traps for the others to use as well as prepare a stock of meat to stay good for a longer period of time.  Fern would have to wait on learning that secret but there was still another discussion after the wedding details.  The wedding recircled in his memory, still the key point that tied everything together.  A statement of eternally keeping with Fern and that she would eternally be his.

"Rudyard"

Fern blinks her eyes open to look at a blurry Rudy, sleep muddled mind trying hard to wake up. A dreamy smile crosses her gray lips before she yawns and stretches, finally realizing what the motley boy asks. But soon enough, she slides off their bed, moving to the pile of furs that are spread out in the middle of the floor. This talk must be very important to the gray boy if he has awoken her at such a late hour. Signaling for him to join her, he moves to the designated spot and she scoots into his arms, giving him a gentle, loving lick. Rudy nuzzles her cheek, giving her a kiss of his own and Fern sighs contentedly before asking what wants to talk about. He states that she won the match and the gray girl hums softly in acknowledgement, her grin growing with each passing moment.

Then Rudy asks when she wants to get married and the grin blossoms into a full-blown smile. His voice is soft and tender and Fern places her head into the fur of his chest, her nose pointed up toward his face. For a moment, she just listens to his heart beat, allowing herself to revel in this special moment. Softly she says, “Well, I already consider myself your mate Rudy. I say we make it official as soon as we can. What about… next season?” Lifting her head off of his chest, Fern catches his golden gaze with own ocean blues, a soft, loving smile curling her lips up. Is this real? Are they really talking about getting married? Happiness zips along her nerves as she looks at the love of her life and awaits his answer.


"Fern Lark"

Rudy raises his brows, grinning playfully, “you sure about that?  Next season is almost here.” Rudy bumps her head gently against his own, “maybe you just want the present I already set up for you once we are wed.  Maybe that’s what it is…” The last sentence playfully drawn out.

“I guess we need to tell Art then.  The guy’s as lazy as you and probably asleep right now.”  That’s how this went, they could call him lazy in the morning but who was the one still perfectly awake?  Fern certainly wasn’t one to waste time. “mm, by the way, when you win I still win.  Both as your mate, and it proves that I knew talent when I saw it.  To think, you didn’t want to come here at first.” Rudy grinned, hen licked lightly at her ear, “See? Always listen to Rudy is the lesson here.” He lost the match so hey maybe he’d tease her a bit in private, especially when she was tired and wouldn’t be as quick on the comebacks.

Still, she probably was going to wake up early tomorrow, “Alright, if you can go back to sleep why don’t we both do that.” Rudyard had his answer and now he’d be able to go to sleep happy.  He’d be perfectly energetic whenever he woke up in the morning.

"Rudyard"