to have and to hold

She was a little slow to rise to her paws but Hattori sensed no difficulty in the action. She wasn't quite as light on her paws as she used to be but her agility would return with time, of that he was certain. The more laborious parts of expanding Ashen would have to wait, she had more than enough to deal was as it was and Hattori suspected it would be wise if they dealt with matters one at a time. Lest they swamp themselves and waste resources.  Instead he focused on her expression, the softness in her eyes as she reached out and offered him a gentle kiss upon his cheek. He accepted it graciously and even dipped his head a little lower so that it was easier for her to reach-not that there was too much of a height difference between them but he did it all the same.

He then rumbled in acknowledgement as he turned to lead the way, down the winding tunnels and out into the fading light of day. Ushering her into the forest he bit back the urge to remind her to watch her step, the jungle floor was littered with vines and low hanging branches and so the thought of her tripping and hurting herself brought a frown to his face. But despite the sudden waft of humidity it was quite pleasant within the confines of the forest, private as though the rest of the Empire was an afterthought.

"Have you spent much time here?" He wondered aloud as he led the way, the pace slow and relaxed. He wasn't in any rush. She'd spent her whole life within Ashen, surely she knew the jungle far better than he did? But then again his initial assessment of the jungle led him to believe that it was mostly left alone to it's own devices, the place Ashen wolves simply chose not to venture.