Giddy. She was definitely giddy. “Might want to slow down” he teased her for the light slurring in her words. “I have had some training in the area, but… I’m not the wolf that first picked up that ledger and forged those trade agreements. I’m also the wolf that watched my people die. It’s important to me that I’m in a position that's vital to the defence of this pack. That is in the need-to-know of threats, so I can find the solution to deal with them.” He said, true seriousness entering his words. “Do you intend for the position to be challengeable?” He asked her. It would make it harder to keep a coherent defence if the position often changed by the whims of a good or bad fight. No wolf could win forever, after all.

Who else would I want? she asked him, and he felt sudden heat beneath his skin. The burning of it made him realise he had drunk a little more himself then he should have. It was harder to remember why it was so important to keep a little distance between them. When the soft tones of her voice filled the air between them, and he could feel the heat of her body. The main source of warmth in the cool gorge. He felt a sudden desire to lean closer to her. Wisdom, what was wisdom? He was forgetting the reasons for his doubts. He let out a soft husk laugh. “ Uncomfortable?” He whispered to her. “Quite the opposite.” he found his eyes moving to hers. To the warm of her aqua eyes, and everything behind them. The friendship and bonds between them. Why was he waiting again? There would be no one but her. That was why he was forging this path for her. Was he leaning forward? Suddenly she seemed so much closer.

"Speech"

"Of course not!" Wren blurted out, despite his caution to slow down. She was already halfway drunk, aware of her actions but at the same time not giving a shit about them. "I offered it to you, Merc" she put the point across, shooing all doubts away in his head "I want you to stay as that" unless "unless you wanted something else down the road." She would not make high ranks challengeable unless there was a lazy wolf in position. She wanted to keep the high ranks for those who worked hard. Mercury had proven to work hard for it.

Speaking of Mercury.

He said it wasn't uncomfortable, her words. He leaned in, and she could smell his scent clearer now. Like the sea, like a storm. Thunder and lightning. She swallowed. "Wait" Wren decided against better judgment of what she wanted "Merc" she lifted a paw to place against his broad chest "is this what you want?" Or is it the booze? She shoved away, the lingering doubts, and tried to focus on him "I don't..." want to pressure him? He was a big boy now. He could do what he liked. She let it die in the wind. Suddenly, the thought of them together was scary.

Not a bad scare but more nervous. "I like you" she said to him, repeating perhaps clearly the words she had tried to say to him previously.

"Speech"

He would never have accused talk of rank as being seductive, but the promises falling from her lips were about more than just a position. They were a promise to keep him near her, to give him the power to help protect her. Perhaps that was what he found seductive about them. Or perhaps it was a mixture of the wine, and the delicious feel of her words stirring the fur about his muzzle. They had gotten closer, he could taste the scent of her like raindrops on the wind. The fruity bite of her scent was all he could sense now.

How could he want anything else? Somewhere along the way, he had started to envision them as a team. A force together. Did that entail more than just Alpha and lead warrior? He didn’t want anyone but her. “I want you, Wren. I’m so scared to lose you, but you're all that I want” he whispered. “I like you too, Wren.” He said, throwing caution to the wind. He craved being closer to her. He needed to wrap his paws about the softness of her coat, to feel her breath on his skin. He leaned closer, eyes darting from her eyes to her lips and back again. A warning, or perhaps a promise as he leaned in closer to her. Pressing his muzzle against her own. Lightly at first, tentative, almost wearily. Waiting for her response.


"Speech"

I like you.
She swallowed. Her eyes flew open.
I like you, too, Wren.
No longer did she envision the dashing pirate that had talked her into joining Asteria.
The one she had devoted her life to. The one she had loved.

But that's the thing about love. It could change in an instant. Like, say, when she was abandoned. When she came fumbling into another land, lost and alone. But she wasn't alone. She had others. They rallied around her. They wanted her to lead them. But at the moment, nothing really mattered but him. So, yes, love could change. But she knew her feelings weren't fleeting. She wasn't just some girl looking to get laid.

Mercury closed the distance, placing his head against her own.

She didn't push or will the picture away. The grey-scale man with light blue eyes. He faded. He began to slip through her mind ages ago, replaced with the storm wolf with an intense crackling thunder gaze. That those eyes focused on her now, softly, was a blessing. Wren moved closer, wrapping herself around Mercury. She let her skull touch his chest, her face buried in his thick fur. She could almost sob. Finally, she felt happy.

It was a peaceful feeling.

She knew Mercury wouldn't abandon her. Pack or no pack, he'd stick by her side. "I want you too..." she murmured, her voice vibrating against his chest. She pulled away, glancing up at him almost with coy shyness. She reached up and gave him a tender lick on the cheek, about as much as she could handle to reach. But was... consent. In a sense. That she was willing. That she was wanting. Desire strummed in her chest.

"Speech"

Was it really as easy as that? Just toss aside the weights around his ankles and give in to the fate he was already lining up his life for. He didn’t want to think how much it would hurt to lose her. Not here, not now. He could dwell on it later, so long as he didn’t let these fears carry him away.

Right now, all he could concentrate on was the way she pressed up against him. Feeling the heat build between their joined fur. How soft she felt against his chest. He wrapped his paws about her, pulling her closer to him. He laughed, soft and gentle as her tongue rasped against his check. “Wren. My Wren.” He said, as if trying out the words. Tasting them on his tongue. They felt right, and sweeter than any wine. He drew his own tongue up the side of her muzzle, teasingly before brushing his nose against hers. Just enough to tickle the hairs there. His eyes, hot and burning with desire for her, laughed at her. With her.


"Speech"

My Wren.

A shudder went through her at his laughter, his hold. His words carried such weight, and he didn't seem to care. She felt the beginnings of tears burn at the corner of her eyes. "My Mercury" she said against him, feeling safe and loved in his embrace. She used to look at Dire Wolves with shock and awe, but now? She could only say that it felt natural to be held by Mercury in such a way.

He gave a 'kiss' back, and she felt her heart hammer. Teasing her in his way, like always. Should she tease him right back? Or was she scared of being so damn awkward? "You know where I stand" she said softly "it's beside you" Obviously, tenderly "make it official." She leaned in, searching his gaze for consent before pulling away.

Wren was not a very... seductive individual. She flirted - badly. She made it seem so much more difficult than it should be. Naturally, she could joke. But this? Seemed more important. No jokes. She smiled at him. No smirk.  No playfulness. Just an acceptance of what was to come.

"Speech"

He soothed his paw gently down the fur of her back. Gentle, rhythmic motions in her coat. “so romantic” he teased, but his voice was light, happy. He didn’t mind if she was a little shy, a little awkward. She was his now, and she was perfect just the way she was. After gazing into the deep pools of her beautiful sapphire eyes, he leaned forward again. Kissing her gently. “You taste… amazing. My Wren. I could drink this in for the rest of my life. Far better then fine wines” he slowly blinked, his smouldering eyes meeting hers.

“You are… my first.” He admitted, a little embarrassment in his voice now. He wondered at her own experiences, and if she had any. “My first, and my only.” He whispered into her ear. He wanted to be familiar with the curves of her body. To know her like he knew his own paw. How quickly these desires had built. Once he let himself love her, he did so absolutely.


"Speech"

She felt heat radiate from her body, but most of all her face. Gods, this was going to happen. She let it happen. He let it happen. There was no going back now - not that she wanted to. Sex had always been the forbidden fruit to her. She was young, inexperienced... But so was he. And she found she took comfort in that. She kissed him back, tasting him. The storm. He pulled back, admitting. She didn't need to search his eyes for lies. She knew he spoke the truth.

"You're my first too" she whispered, burning at the thought "and my only" The only one she'd trust with such a thing - her heart, her body "I-I'm nervous" As long as he was admitting, she would too "but I trust you, Merc. We'll just... both go slow. We have all night." No need to rush first times. No need to rush a beautiful moment in both their lives. Wren let it happen naturally.

And sure, they may be awkward and stumbling at first... But their bodies would eventually adjust. Their feelings are pure. She gave in, to temptation. To him. And she didn't look back.

/FTB

"Speech"

-- time skip --

He woke to the faint brush of morning light, and felt the heat of another in his arms. Cracking open his eyes, he saw the soft form of Wren beside him. He snuggled a little further into her warmth, and drifted his eyes around them. To the forgotten and discarded food squashed into the ground, and the comfortable coat beneath them. He gently tipped his head forward and kissed Wren’s crown, wondering if she was yet awake.

“Good morning, sweet one” he said softly, nuzzling behind her ear with a gentle brush of his nose. girls like it if a man is passionate He thought back to words she had spoken days earlier. Perhaps he needed to hatch a plan, show a little passion. Now that he was fully sober he couldn’t bring himself to regret letting down his guard around her, letting her in. They had made a choice yesterday, and he intended to honour it. They had jumped the gun a little, but he intended to woo her. To go the nine yards, and show her a little passion.


"Speech"

"Mmm..."

She wiggled a bit, feeling the warmth of another against her back. Stifling a yawn and a stretch, she let herself relax for once. Her shoulders weren't stiff, her posture not rigid. It felt like she was melting and molding into him. She didn't want to open her eyes, but his kiss on her brow caused her to furrow lightly. Good morning he had said, and goodness... it really was morning. How long had they been together like this?

Tweet. Tweet. The birds sang their song above.

Wren rolled over in his grasp, placing her nose against his broad chest. Her arms wrapped around him, or about as much as she could hold. She breathed in his scent. "Tell the birds to go away" she grumbled, ears twitching against their tune "they're waking me up" I don't want to get up she thought "I'mma throw a rock at them..." But she didn't move from her position. She was still half-asleep but also aware of her surroundings.

The Gorge.
Last night.
The meat. The wine.
Gods. The confessions.
And then. Them. Together.

Her blue eyes snapped open. Well, slowly. Heat returned to her face. "Ah" she remembered fully now, and she didn't really know what to say without making it so stupid "ahhh" she lifted a paw, covering her face with a sheepish and embarrassed grin "don't look at me" she flailed weakly "I look like a mess. I hate mornings." But this one? Totally top ten. Top five. Okay, top everything.

"Speech"