Winter had come to claim the lands. Luckily enough, the south didn't get too much snow this year. However the cool winter air flowing over him did bring on a sense of stiffness. Tail flicking behind him, he was searching around for Zephyra. He wanted to spend some time with her, as criminal as that could sound. After going around the borders, it was something he craved. Her attention as well as giving her his attention. How was she faring? Anything new to report. As well as something, very important that he wanted to ask her this time. And yes, very much so, wanted to ask her. The male would settle among the grass, raising his head for a short call for her. That way in case she was busy she could give him a howl back and he would find something else to do. Moving his paws in the grass he tried to relax. Make sure that his heart wasn't pounding against his chest for certain. As he took in a sharp deep breath, he tried to let it out with ease. Tail flicking behind him as he smiled, trying to seem cheerful. "Talk" "You" Think

There was less snow this winter, to her dismay. Though the temperature had dropped overnight, the ebony and green queen awoke to find little snow upon the ground. As she stepped out from her small nook, breathing in the frigid air, her scarlet eyes took in the sight of the woods. The willows still swayed in the breezes, sprinkled with faint snow, while there were many visible patches of grass underfoot. She took a few steps forward, fluffing her coat. The thin snow wasn't even soft; it only crunched beneath her paws. Some winter this was going to be.

Shortly after her brief inspection of the pack's land, a call rang out from the next territory over. It was a private call, directed for her only. She had some idea of what the alpha may be calling her for, though instead of answering the howl like a normal queen would do for their leader, she remained in the one spot, underneath the willow tree. Tipping her head back, she let out her own howl, calling for him to come to her. The need was evident in her call. The plains just seemed too far to walk to, and she wanted him with her now.

He was surprised to hear her call, but it only excited him a little more. His queen was grabbing her bearings was she? He knew her to be fiesty to begin with, but she shouldn't have been afraid to full fill her own needs in his presence. As the king made his way towards her, it was like watching an angel come out into light. The wavy blue tendrils of the willows brushing over. Some lowering enough to touch him as he looked at her within the dim light of the day. This place was much more private than the plains, and while he didn't mind it. It also was because the willows would always set a special place in his heart. As the boy approached her he would seek to meet his jaw to her right shoulder. His bottom jaw searching to combine fuzzy black fur with his own reddish hue. Only if the gesture was welcome of course. With a moment as important as this, and the yearning of her own presence - it was almost as if these touches and gestures had become natural. However, he would never place upon her something she didn't wish to do. Something that was undesirable was the least of what he wanted to worry her with. "Hello my queen, it's been far too long since I've seen you." while the time had actually been short. It felt like ages, a season even, despite it not being so. It had only maybe been a week to a few days since they had laid beneath the moonlight. Sputtering words in his other language to each other. His two different colored eyes perked up, wanting to meet her own. He certainly hoped that she was doing well. "Talk" "You" Think

She waited a while for him to arrive; precious moments she could have been with him. Each second seemed to grow longer, more painful each time. Her patience sure was short, as she had presumed earlier when Xephyris had pushed her buttons too far. The thought of the grey male with his mischievous inquiries brought the exhaustion back to her, a sign drifting from her lips. Sometimes she needed a break from such canines. An  alpha was meant to be remain busy and committed with their many responsibilities, though there was more to her life than leadership. Balancing it out proved to be a difficulty.

Slowly but surely, the russet male approached from behind the trees. Elongated willow tendrils trailed over his form as he emerged through the dim light; an alluring sight for the girl. She could feel her heart race inside her chest, tail swishing in eagerness. Had she ever seen him this perfect, flawless? Sparks ignited beneath her skin as he reached over to nuzzle into her shoulder, their fur entwining. With her mind clouded in the bliss, she stretched her neck out to gently nibble his left ear, only if allowed to. "Too long, my king," she softly murmured into his ear, then gestured with her head to her nook beside the willow tree, a quiet whine leaving her lips. She felt too exposed in the open woods, now that they shared this space with other wolves. She felt more secluded in her private nook. After all, what was so romantic about standing? She just wanted to bury herself in his form and whisper to him everything she wanted to say, hearing his voice over and over again.

The male wouldn't mind going to something more private. These woods were very secretive anyway and he was glad she had found a nice place to settle. Though he hoped eventually they would share a den if that were to be possible. Rivaxorus would gently push into her, following into the nook within the tree's. Seclusion at its finest among these blue waving branches. Even Zephyra's deep green wouldn't be able to be seen. He rested upon his stomach, waiting for her to join him. Carefully evening out his breathing as it was a bit easier. His tail curled at his side as he looked to Zephyra. "I wanted to ask you something Zephyra, unless you had something to say first?" he told her. Wondering half out loud. After all he wanted to give her a chance to speak if that's what she wished. He just liked spending time with her after all. "Talk" "You" Think

She followed him like a shadow into her little nook, her body always pressed up against his. It wasn't until she was curled up beside him, feeding off of his radiating warmth, that she felt truly content. Prying eyes or wandering souls would never find them beneath the tree, protected by the draping willow tendrils. The outside world just seemed to fade away. Her responsibilities, her duty, Myriad and its members - they all just ceased to exist. It was just her and him.

Her eyes closed for a short moment, perhaps a second before his velvety voice made her flutter her eyes open. He wanted to ask her something, and by his tone, it seemed to be of high importance. Though not before allowing her to ask any of her own questions. She thought about that for a moment. By the way their encounter was heading, she could assume what he was about to ask her. That might very well be what she had planned to inquire. "Fire away," she answered softly, perking her ears.

The male would try to relax himself. The days had been long, and he was happy enough to find the time to separate from work and spend with her. Whether she was his queen or not, there was something special about her that he wanted to know was his only. This was what that was. She seemed to read his mind though, it sounded like she knew what he was going to ask her. He wanted to stay calm, he really did. However the fear of rejection was a big thing for him. As he took in a deep breath, he supposed that he should just get out with it. "I've been doing a lot of thinking." he started by looking off to the side. Then came to meet in Zephyra's gaze, "Zephyra - will you marry me?" The words just spilled out of his mouth. Uncontrollably, there wasn't a way to avoid them. However her answer hung on the very balance and the tip toe of his tongue. He really did want to spend the rest of his life with her. "Talk" "You" Think

There was a short pause until he asked his inquiry, a moment of serenity and total content laying beside him in her nook by the willow tree. And when he finally asked his question, her reply was almost instant. Unlike the time before, she didn't process the question entirely. She didn't consider her options, her possibilities. She didn't doubt or second-guess herself. She didn't think about her family and pack and their opinions. It all seemed so irrelevant. She just knew, and said that one, powerful word. Like him, it just slipped from her mouth, though she knew it was the truth. Thinking about it only created doubt and a tendency to lie. "Yes," she replied in a breathless murmur, burying her head in his chest before looking up into his bicoloured gaze - the eyes of the man who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. This was what she wanted, and she was certain of it.

There was only one emotion moving through his body at the moment. Her touch was electrifying, and he cursed himself. The gods had blessed him with something that was far to precious. At such a young age, he was wondering if it was alright. However, he wanted everything for her. He wanted to be by her side, and granted that much he wanted to make sure he could do what he could for her. She was his queen, there wouldn't be a moment where he didn't want to think of her that way. He breathed easy, her word one single word made his emotions feel like they were going to explode. "Thank the gods I met you." he whispered. Pushing his head into her shoulder. Embracing her as he shut his eyes tightly. "I won't ever let you go." Rivaxorus hoped she didn't take that the wrong way either. "Talk" "You" Think

And so it was official. Well, not entirely official, but finally confessing her true feelings was official enough to satisfy her. The rest of the pack would have already assumed they were mates, even when she hadn't been totally onboard with the idea. Did they need some sort of celebration? A marriage ceremony? Was it required? She supposed such festivities could wait for later; right now it was the least of her concerns. In fact, she had no concerns. No worries, no stresses, not even the tiniest, insignificant dilemma. When she was with him, everything was perfectly simple. All her problems just ceased to exist, faded from her clouded mind. She only thought about him, concentrating on his caressing words and his electrifying touch. He would always be with her, and she would always be with him. Their lives were connected, intertwined. He had set his anchor upon her shore, and without realising it she had fallen for him. "Aishiteru," she murmured into his ear, the foreign word leaving her lips eloquently.

He couldn't deny that she made his heart suffocate. In all the right ways of course. The words that left her mouth, he wanted to get emotional over it. Rivaxorus shut his eyes, as he settled his head on top of hers. He refused to leave her side, in a way that at least it was how he thought it should be. He found his own heart pounding against his chest and he just didn't want to leave from this spot that he was in. "Aishiteru." he returned the words. Glossy eyed as he slightly pulled his head back hoping to meet his nose with hers. If she ever needed anything, he would be here for her. That was for certain. With the sun growing dark, it was a day spent well he had to say so himself. "Talk" "You" Think