This doesn't even feel like falling
He still felt a bit guilty over springing the promotion on Carletta at the meeting. He should have sat down with her first and explained what it was and what she would be doing, but she had still handled it so well. With everything that had been going on with planning the gathering and worrying about Heather and Roza... he hadn't even gotten the chance to really talk to Carletta since the meeting. To top it off... He hadn't even gotten to talk to her about the other stuff that had been on his mind lately. Leo went looking for her, hopeful and nervous all at once. Luckily he didn't have to look for the lovely spotted woman for too long. His tail wagged gently behind him as soon as he saw her and some of his nerves started to fall away. "Carletta!" he called happily as he trotted up to her. He had really been working on practicing the words she had taught him so far of her language so he grinned proudly as he said, "¡Hola! Estoy feliz de verte." |
Carletta had not spoken to Leo since the meeting… and was still more than confused about what her role as a Duchess was. Up until now she’d been lounging about the pack, occasionally trying to reach out to a member here and there, but still the femme felt distant from the others. The language barrier was still a hard thing, though thankfully Leo had been one who was willing to learn about her language. The femme was curled outside of her den, though the moment she heard Leo’s voice she lifted her head with a yawn, a smile forming on her face.
“Leo~~” She called out happily. "Es bueno verte. Te he echado de menos." The silvery, black, and white dame got to her paws, crossing closer to Leo before nuzzling his shoulder in greeting. His Spanish was getting better, and she was overjoyed to share the language with him.
“You here to explain what Duchess is?” She asked, her blue eyes shining as she sat down again, though her tail was lightly swishing back and forth. |
It was getting easier and easier to understand Carletta with every time that they were together and with every lesson on her language that she gave him. His speaking it was still a bit uneasy, but understanding what she was saying was a bit more manageable. His tail wagged and he couldn't keep the smile from his muzzle as she greeted him with a nuzzle to his shoulder. He dipped his head a bit to do the same while he tried and failed to keep himself from looking ridiculous. Luckily Carletta helped get his thoughts back on track when she asked if he was here to explain what her new position was. "Ah! Yes! Right." He cleared his throat with a soft chuckle and sat back on his haunches, but his tail still brushed lightly back and forth against the ground behind him. "The Dutchess... cuidar algo el um... children and mothers. And makes sure they are healthy." It was a pretty short and sweet explanation of the role, but it was true all the same. "I needed someone I trust to be the Dutchess... Está bien para tí?" |
The femme felt happy, oh so happy that she had decided to join Leo here in Fiori. Even if things got a bit rough in the future she was sure, with Leo looking out for her, for the pack, that things were going to be okay. She could feel her heart fluttering when the man nuzzled her shoulder in return, bringing forth such a sense of joy. Even if Leo seemed silly at times, Carletta merely found it charming. He was truly a man after her heart.
Listening quietly she took in the information about what her new position in the pack was. A wolf who helped take care of the children and the mothers… it sounded like the perfect rank for her! She wasn’t too active, and certainly not that great when it came to fighting and hunting… but caring for others was definitely within her blood. Her eyes sparkled some as she gave an eager nod. “Yes!” The tricolored femme barked happily. Of course it was alright!
“I be delighted to try.” She wasn’t sure why, but she felt a little more confident in speaking in English right then. Perhaps because she knew the common tongue was going to be needed for her to communicate with the rest of the pack. On the plus side her English was coming together thanks to Leo too… so hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard. The femme paused for a moment, and then grinned, gently tapping Leo’s paw with her own.
“Tag!” Her good mood was rising, and she felt playful. With a moment of energy the femme took a few bouncing steps away from the orange and white male, curious if he might follow her. |
It was a relief when Carletta gave him an enthusiastic yes in response to the rank she had been given. He had known from the first day they met that she loved children and was innately caring so he had no doubt that she would be a perfect fit for this role as long as she was up to it. Each time they were together he was more and more grateful for her being there. He gave her a proud grin as she replied in the common language with a confidence that he hadn't heard from her before. They were learning from each other and that was one of the many reasons why she was so captivating. She surprised him when she reached out and tapped his paw, his eyes glancing down at her white-dipped paw for a moment before looking back up to her matching blue gaze. A playful grin flashed across his face and he wasted no time hopping onto his paws with his tail wagging away behind him. Leo followed Carletta's lead and hopped closer to her to chase after her. He wasn't nearly as nimble as he used to be, but he wasn't about to pass up the chance to have some fun with the woman he secretly loved. "Tag!" he responded as he reached out to bump her shoulder with his nose. He laughed lightly and quickly darted away in a quick sprint. He wouldn't go too far, just enough to make the chase worth it. |
Careltta spun, her breathing a bit harder now, but her eyes were bright and eager. There was no denying that the femme enjoyed Leo’s company above all… there was very likely more there too, even if the Spanish dame had yet to realize the words for it. She wiggled again before bursting back after Leo, tongue lolling out of her mouth as she made her way back over to him. In some ways, Car was realizing, Fiori was more than just a home to her. This pack, the wolves within it… they were her family… her life and world now.
Once she had managed to get close enough Carletta gently clamped her teeth around the furry ends of Leo’s tail and beamed at him proudly around his orange fur. “Mmppphhaaaggghh!” Though this was less of a tag and more of a “I caught you, what’cha gonna do about it?”
Leo couldn't remember the last time he played a game of tag. With his siblings when they were kids perhaps? Or maybe with his children at some point? Either way he felt like he had been serious for far too long. As he ran around chasing after Carletta, and of course being chased by her as well, he felt so much younger. Yes, his joints still ached and he could tell he wasn't nearly in good of shape as he used to be, but in his heart he felt like a kid again. It only made him that more sure of his feelings for her and more confident about telling her how he felt. He came to a halt when he felt her teeth on his tail all of the sudden and he looked back at her with a playful grin. He was panting a bit from the brief sprint, but it was beyond worth it. "Oh that's how you're going to play, huh? Well two can play at that game!" He turned toward her with a little jump so that he could tackle her the way pups do when they're wrestling and playing. Of course he tried to be as gentle as he could so he wouldn't hurt either of them. He rolled with her till he had her pinned on her back and he grinned down at her, feeling himself blush the slightest bit when he realized how close together they were. "Gotcha," he said with a chuckle, dipping his head down a bit so that he could lightly touch his nose to hers like he was tagging her again. "Do I win?" |