My heart keeps racing

Time seemed to stand still for her as she watched Quelt, her eyes wandering over his scarred visage; how was he going to respond to her? Had she unwittingly stepped over some boundaries, herself? Quietly, he dipped his head below the water, as though biding himself time before he spoke. Waiting for his answer felt like an eternity to her, anxiety clawing at her aching heart. She was willing to leave behind her past, to part with the love she had clung desperately to for so long. Would he reject her after all? She didn't want to believe that, and so, gulping back her fears and doubts, her black auds perked toward him as his head surfaced. She watched him intently, hanging on his words, which began rather uncertainly.

She understood as he stated he wasn't sure what to say, but he continued on, trying to express himself. She felt just a slight flutter in her chest, something she hadn't experienced in so many years she had forgotten the sensation existed at all, as he said he'd also grown fond of her. Vaguely, he mentioned that he was always one to fall fast and hard. Wait, did that mean...? Her tail waving slightly, a gentle smile growing on her face, she leaned forward just slightly as she continued to listen.

At last he finally confessed that he was truly falling for her. Maybe it was all rather forward, maybe it was moving a little too fast, but Bright felt a happiness warm her heart that she couldn't explain. She supposed her bizarre and sudden feelings might be attributed in some way to her season, but she didn't want to believe that. No... she believed that this was special. The relationship she'd built with Quelt, however quickly things had come along, was precious to her. She understood him, and he understood her, and it wasn't just sympathy. It was a true understanding of pain and the scars it left you with, and they each had experienced it in their own ways.

Her cheeks fully blushed, she smiled at him, but now she wasn't sure what to say in return. Where did they go from here? What did this all mean? This was uncharted territory for her. "Quelt... now I'm at a loss for words," she said with a soft laugh, lowering herself onto her belly, her forepaws dangling in the water, "You've just... made me so happy, I don't think I can really put it into words." Her tail thumped against the ground in a gleeful expression - she had become uncharacteristically carefree, no longer worried about the scent she was emitting. She'd been so unfortunate in her life as to never have the choice of who would father her pups, and for so long she had trembled at the thought of being near anyone during her season. But for once, she was at total ease, unafraid of Quelt and anything that might occur being so close to him at this time.