Pinch myself awake

Eventually the giggles that had become an outlet for her bottled up emotions subsided and she felt her mother hold her paws between both of hers and her expression softened as Zee insisted that it wasn't as stupid or as selfish as she felt that it was, giving her a promise that she would make sure their birthday was celebrated. Briar swallowed past a lump of emotion that formed in her throat, smiling as more tears started to gather in her eyes. At this point she had given up on expecting a celebration of any kind for their belated birthday, but even just the offer meant something to her just as it had when her struggling father had made the promise as well. Whether it came to pass or not the meaning behind it wasn't missed and she leaned her head down to press her nose to her mother's cheek gratefully. "Your promise doesn't mean little to me... It means a lot," she assured her, smiling again as she blinked away the tears that had crept up on her.

Her ears perked with surprise when her mother mentioned the fact that she had a boyfriend, her face immediately lighting up with a smile at the thought of this love she had found in Artorias. She nodded shyly to confirm the statement, her tail brushing against the floor of the den. She asked if he could keep a secret to plan her birthday surprise and she laughed lightly and nodded more eagerly. "Yes, and that sounds like something he'd love to do. He surprised me with this already," she replied, lifting her leg a bit to show off the silver bangle that had amber topaz stones all the way around its outside edge. She looked at the bangle wistfully, her ears folding back against her head with a bashful grin. "Artorias was the only one that remembered my birthday and he gave me this as a gift. He's gotten really good at restoring things that he finds in the castle - armor, weapons, and even jewelry."

She could brag about her boyfriend for hours if she was allowed to, the pride she held for him so incredibly obvious in her voice. She lifted her gaze back to her mothers' oblivious to the disapproval she might have held for their relationship. "Did dad tell you he's going to lead The Hallows when he's old enough? And he's an amazing fighter and really, really smart and sweet and thoughtful..." She grinned at the other compliments she held back - all the ones about how handsome and strong he was - but she was still her happiest when she thought about Artorias. "Maybe I can bring him to meet you tomorrow?" she offered hopefully, rubbing her mother's paw gently with her own.

"Briar Fatalis"