a moment's breath

Audra wasn't stupid. She knew that Tika worried, a lot. It was just a part of her that she accepted. Things had been different since the Long Night and especially after the raid on the Hallows. Tika was different. That wasn't lost on the petite girl that tried to enjoy the festival around them. Even with the laughter and shouts surrounding them, she could sense the rigidity of Tika's steps. Even when Audra had asked if there was anything Tika wanted to do, the answer had been clipped.

Furrowing her brow, Audra glanced over to Tika. Now, Audra wasn't a confrontational sort of wolf. She preferred peace and calm and all the good things in life. Bravery and forwardness weren't her things. But, at this moment, as she noticed the displeased expression upon her girlfriend's face, she knew this wasn't right. Halting her tracks, she turned to face Tika with a firm line across her lips instead of a smile. "L-Look, I-I appreciate you s-so much," her words stumbled as she fought to find the courage to speak.

"Y-you do s-so much more th-than protect the pack. Y-you p-protect me," tears started to brim around her eye that still worked. "I-I know th-this is hard for you, b-but I-I want y-you to know that I r-really appreciate you," Audra's tried to be confident and sincere as she fought back those tears. "O-our life h-has ch-changed so much, b-but my feelings haven't," she inhaled deeply now. The crowd around them disappeared as she focused solely on Tika. "Th-that day we met, my l-life changed f-forever and I wouldn't w-want it any different. I-I've fallen in love with y-you and I h-hope one day we can find a way to h-have pups together," it was then that the tear fell and her chin curled into her chest.

Audra wanted nothing more than to embrace Tika and wash away all the stress that her girlfriend felt. "Will y-you please try to e-enjoy today for me and we can h-head back tonight?" Her stressed tones pleaded as she tried to get the words out. Oh, how this had ended up exactly how she didn't want them to. Yet, the worries and concerns of her girlfriend were so much more than enjoying a stupid festival. Gritting her teeth together, Audra hoped Tika would find appreciation in her words and not be angry.

"Audra & Avantika"