Let The Storm In

Arcturus let out a slow sigh as he settled onto the furs in his and Vanille's den, his blue eyes quietly shifting to look around the space. He had spent the day hunting and patrolling the borders as he tended to do every day. Day in and day out. It felt like he had fallen into a mundane life and routine and while he knew there were certainly worse ways to live he didn't know if this was really the fulfilling life he had hoped it would be. Maybe it was his mother's illness that had him reconsidering where his life was or maybe it was just the realization that in a couple of seasons he would be five, half way through his life, and he didn't have a whole lot to show for it. He had thought that his mother would be around to help him learn how to be a parent, but with how things were going and how quickly her health was deteriorating that was coming more and more in question. He knew he couldn't have predicted his mother's situation, but he and Vanille had been together for several years now and it felt like he was the only one trying to move their relationship forward.

As the thought crossed his mind, Vanille returned from her herb gathering trip, bringing his attention to her. He lifted his head to greet her with a smile, but she simply kissed his forehead and turned away to go sort her herbs. His smile faded and his shoulders slumped slightly with growing disappointment. He had been so patient for so long as he tried to respect her uncertainty and her boundaries, but more and more lately it felt like they were moving backward instead of forward. He loved her dearly so he thought that he could wait as long as she needed to grow comfortable with him, but he was beginning to wonder if that way would ever come. After a few moments he shifted to sit up as he asked, "Vanille... what are we doing?" he stood, moving closer to her with his ears folding back against his head. "Do you... want this relationship with me? I just feel like... I don't know..." He hesitated and looked away, adding, "Are you ever going to want a family the way I do?"

"Arc & Vanille"