Black and Blue

He wasn't quite sure how he'd respond to his comment; some wolves seemed quite predictable to him, and while he generally preferred the sort of company that was free of surprises, Silent was somehow different. She challenged his mind in a way he didn't anticipate and made him think differently than expected, which wasn't something he always liked, but with her it was a pleasant surprise. Instead of brushing off his comment she answered it plainly, describing some of the things she liked about the north. The way the sun reflected on freshly fallen snow, and the way snow felt beneath her paws.

He found himself grinning as she spoke, a rarity for him, but the expression was deeply genuine. Though the bitter cold could be a challenge, snow was something that definitely excited him deep down. "The way a fresh layer of snow seems to make the world completely silent," Bronze added as an afterthought, one of his favorite things about the north, among a list of many.

Apparently she really had meant that he was one of the main draws that kept calling her back. Interesting. He'd believed her the first time she said it but it took him longer to process than he expected. He'd never had anyone admit that he meant quite as much to him as she was currently saying, and he fell silent as they walked together, avoiding her gaze for now. "I feel the same way. About you, I mean," he awkwardly clarified. He'd never met anyone that made him feel seen for exactly who he was, and the feeling was as comforting as it was terrifying. "I've never met anyone like you." His admission wasn't a terrible earth-shattering one but it felt huge for him, and he slowed his pace as he finally tilted his head to gauge her reaction to his words.