ohhhhh lover boy!

The whole bear thing was... crazy. That was putting it mildly, but she was better now. Her side was healed thanks to her Aunt Gwyn and the rest of the healers. While there was still some light bruising, it was nothing she wasn't already used to. To help combat the stiffness, Bramble jumped at the chance to get back into her daily routine. Rising early, setting off on patrol, and then heading off to practice in the outdoor arenas all before lunch. It was a symptom of her peculiarness that she couldn't sleep. Except after the first night she met Tate. Whatever he had in that pipe had helped her sleep so well that she had slept through breakfast the next morning.

Speaking of Tate, the young Carpathian Princess had happened upon him during her morning patrol. Twilight still sparkled over the eastern horizon as she trailed along the far edge of the grove. He was still asleep which for most wolves was to be expected. But it had been a week or so since she'd seen the boy and she was excited to see him. All wagging tail and bright smile. After rousing him awake, through his gurgles of what the hell is going on, Bramble made him promise to meet her that night down at Shimmering Shore. Since the whole bear incident, her father didn't want her to leave without at least informing him first so staying with Tate at that moment wasn't a choice.

So as the sun spread rays of warm hues across the sky, Bramble attempted to saunter her way down the stone steps to the sparkling beach. In actuality, she was as nervous as she felt on her first birthday. She wanted to know if he was okay. If he was healed up alright. If he needed help. If he missed her. Would he have? Bramble had royally embarrassed him that day and she wasn't so sure he would even show up now. Yet, she hoped and because of that hope, she carried with her a basket of smoked meat, honeyed peach juice, and even a thin but comfortable fur blanket for something to sit on. Was this what her father had called a date? Ew. Okay maybe not, but she wasn't going to admit that. No, no. Not yet.

Setting down the basket, Bramble and her companions helped set up the little dinner for two on the far end of the beach. Just in enough view of the castle that someone could keep a distant eye on her but still have some sort of privacy. After she stepped back to make sure all was ready to go, Bramble shooed her companions away without much effort and then sat herself down upon the blanket. Stretching out her legs, she decided to drag her toes through the sand in the meantime. Trying to ignore the way her heart raced and her cheeks felt hot as the seconds ticked by.

B R A M B L E