Her figure was light and dainty, almost unnoticeable in the swaying willows. She weaved between the strings of green leaves with natural grace, her pointed nose held high. Kitsune had been tracking a mouse for quite some time, following it half a mile until she had reached this strange oasis. Ahead of her lay a pond that was teeming with life. Frogs rested on green lily pads, little insects droned in the air... But her senses were still focused on the mouse. She had seen it once or twice during her chase, relying mostly on scent as she moved along. But now she spotted a hole in the earth, carved by the paws of a tiny rodent. Kitsune felt an eager smile spread on her silvery face.

Her paws moved fluidly across the ground as she approached the little den, muscles tightening with anticipation. Then, after a moment of pause, the young woman launched her form into the air. It sailed up a good foot or so before curling into a perfect arch. She then dove directly into the hole, her face submerged completely. Her teeth brushed against a patch of fur, which quickly squirmed away. The maiden grumbled with annoyance, her stomach empty with hunger. During the colder seasons, it became harder and harder for the pretty female to hunt. But she succeeded on the skills she was given. After one last try, Kitsune fastened her jaws around the mouse and bit down, ending its life quickly and painlessly.

She then dropped the mouse at her feet and licked her lips clean, whispering a kind apology to the creature. But this was the way of life. Just as the young fox was bending down to enjoy her meal, a rustle sounded from behind her. Fear coursed quickly into her veins. What if a wolf had found her? "Who... who's there?" Kitsune called shakily, cowering down around her prey in an attempt to protect what she had caught.

"Speech."
Thoughts.

Crimson eyes scanned the brush. Stomach growling fiercely. He had made it, somehow, out of that forsaken desert. Now he wandered about, looking for something. Though what, he was unsure. He was, hungry. That much he knew and so he would seek out something to eat. Mismatched paws carried him swiftly, body low to the ground as his tail swept the very top of the soil behind him. Oversized ears remained erect upon his skull, and he walked on. It would seem he was walking about for a while, the prey scent scarce though he figured it was because winter was on its way. He wasn't sure where he would go for the winter, these lands were still completely unknown to him. "Just my luck.." He sighed, stopping next to a hanging willow tree as he frowned. He wished things hadn't ended up as they did back home, but it was something he couldn't help...his destiny had been chosen for him. And perhaps someday, he would be able to return and retrieve the crown that his father so egotistically destroyed. He would sigh, continuing upon his unknown path. There was nothing he could do right now, but perhaps one day. Small paws would carry him over fallen leaves, crackling beneath his feet had surprised him even. Back home, there was always soft pine needles to walk upon, but this was different. Stopping briefly, he would slowly press a paw against the fallen leaves, eyes curious as his attention was focused on his task. His paw would crush down, the leaves crackling underfoot. "who's there?" The boy would jump in surprise, for he had not expected anyone else to be nearby. It was a female voice, that much he was sure. Swallowing away the nervousness that began to rise, he would rise on hind paws to look over a row of bushes in his path. There, he would catch a glimpse of fur though he couldn't tell who, or what it was. Lowering himself once more, he cautiously moved forward. Body pushing through the foliage until finally, he was nearly nose to nose with another. Wide eyed with surprise, he seemed almost dumbfounded. He had not seen another fox since his exile..

Her ears would twitch, searching frantically for another clue of what was following her. She winced as deliberate sounds reached her ears. The crunching of leaves underfoot. Kitsune moved her argent eyes about, fear starting to knot itself in her stomach. Her stare would catch a glimpse of bright fur that disappeared as soon as she focused on it. It had appeared over a nearby shrub, so now she kept her eyes locked there. Deep in concentration, she almost didn't notice the creature that had approached until they were standing nose to nose.

Kitsune would yelp quietly in surprise, tripping backwards and onto her haunches with a clumsy thud. This was uncharacteristic of her. The maiden was normally elegant in everything she did. But now she sat in silence, legs splayed carelessly on the ground as she looked back at the male. He was so small... just like her... it took another moment or two before the female realized that he was exactly like her. Another fox?

Her narrow lips moved into a delicate smile as she stared, heat brushing across her cheeks. His coloring, of course, was different than her own. This fox displayed the classic orange on his pelt, albeit with a few unusual black markings on his legs. His eyes were a vivid red, and one was slashed with a series of scars. Kitsune felt her head tip slightly with concern. Who had marked him in such a way? Then she snapped back to attention, her smile briefly disappearing. The girl nervously cleared her throat. "Um, hello. What brings you here?" She managed to stretch out one silver paw and pull the mouse closer again. She didn't know this creature. He could very well decide to steal her catch, and then where would she be?

"Speech."
Thoughts.

Crimson eyes would blink. Surely he was seeing things? An effect of his previous trek across the desert perhaps? He almost laughed at himself for believing such a thing, but no. This was real, made true by the sight of the other creature falling backwards, and he scrambling in mild surprise back into the safety of the bushes. Heart pounded, was this real? Slowly, he peeked out again and noticed for the first time, that it was indeed another one like him. But her fur was different! Never had he seen another of his kind with silver and orange fur, used to the normal blacks and oranges, but never silver. The sight intrigued him, a crooked smile slowly finding its way upon his face without his own realization. The mop of hair upon his head would contain fragments of dead leaves, though it was not his concern at the moment. He hadn't meant to frighten her, though he was just as surprised. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." He would murmur apologetically, ears splayed as he gazed at her. He could feel the steady rise of heat upon his muzzle, for the scars that marked him felt warm. He wasn't exactly sure why, but it felt a little hard to look at her for more then a few moments at a time. Why was he feeling so strange? "Um, hello. What brings you here?" He glanced up again, this time meeting her eyes of silver. It hadn't registered before, but it just occurred to him he hadn't introduced himself let alone said a proper introduction. Though he had been lost for a while, his manners had not. Stepping out of the bushes, he noticed slight movement of her paw. Does she think i'm going to steal her prey? It was then he would sit where he was, paws planted firmly in front of him and tail wrapped around them. He would give no notion of hostility, for he was anything but. "Erm, Hello. Sorry again for...scaring you. My name is Dart, and I guess you can say I'm just a traveler now." He would offer a shy smile, head tilting away when he had realized she was previously looking at his scarred face. He was still getting used to it, but perhaps not for a while...Swallowing back some of the nervousness, he would ask. "Uh...May I ask what thy fair maidens name is?" He would leave out his last name, for it had been stripped of him when his Father had exiled him. And now he was a wanderer, left to travel the lands in search of...well, he wasn't really sure. His story was a grand one, though he didn't want to tell her he was here because he was exiled. He was afraid, so afraid of being rejected again...his heart felt empty, hollow. Just like the pit of his stomach and his life. Born into the only world he knew, only to be cast out into the unknown. Would he go back? He wasn't sure...though not as long as his Father still laid claim upon the lands he once called home. No, someday...he would bring it to an end.

	The woman would continue to stare openly at the male, giving a shy smile as he murmured an apology. "No need to apologize, sir, I only expected a creature much larger than yourself. It's truly... amazing... to see another fox in these lands." Slight blush would paint her cheeks once more as the amber boy emerged from the bushes and seated himself across from her. His scars did not frighten the girl, for his gentle demeanor put her at ease. He seemed almost as embarrassed as she when his eyes lifted to hers. He had such interesting eyes... never before had Kitsune seen irises of such a bold color. She felt a flutter in her chest when the other fox spoke, something that she hadn't expected to feel. Surely it was just the excitement of meeting another like herself. Surely it had nothing to do with how handsome this male was. Kitsune blinked at the thought, the heat in her cheeks flaring up madly. What had he said to her? Her mind was blank for a moment as she regained her composure. His name. Of course. He had told her his name. "My pleasure, Dart." she would murmur, hoping that her expression gave nothing away. After another pause she would realize that she had not introduced herself yet. She opened her mouth to speak at the exact moment that Dart would request a name from her. She laughed at the clumsiness of the moment, her voice ringing brightly through the cold air. Her lips pulled easily into a grin, the anxiety falling away all at once. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners?" The woman did not linger, of course, on the way he called her a fair maiden. To do so would only bring the heat back to her cheeks. "My name is Kitsune."

"Kitsune..." He repeated her name in no more then a whisper. It was a very pretty name, and he would store it away in his memory. Ears would splay slightly to the side, head tilting slightly as he gazed at her. Her voice, to him was like that of an angel. He hadn't exactly noticed the way she stumbled over her words like he had, but the feeling was mutual. He would register her previous comment, though just barely. For his mind was muddled with the heat that threatened to overtake him. "I must agree...it truly is amazing.." He would murmur lightly, gaze remaining upon her own. He had not realized his posture, nor the way he was gazing at her. She was truly a sight, and if love at first sight really was a true thing then there was the chance he had found it. Though it would not yet be a realization...maybe. His paw would slip from under him, causing him to slip quite ungracefully before he righted himself again. His cheeks would blush with embarrassment, the boy chuckling nervously. It was perhaps he hadn't really had food or rest for the last several days, having just come from the desert and trekking that for a time unknown. He had noticed the mouser she carried earlier, and his stomach would growl. Demanding to be fed, thus causing him to blush even harder as he became more embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry, ehe...I've been traveling quite a while. Please, don't mind me. I won't steal your meal from you, i'm a gentleman unlike many others I've known in the past." Perhaps he would find something to eat as well, though where to start was beyond him...he had no clue where he was after all.

	This was different from anything the little female had ever experienced before. Her heart began to pound as she watched the boy. His scarlet eyes were burning with emotion. He was looking at Kitsune as if she were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. It made unbearable heat spring up on her face. There was an ache in her chest as she imagined the thoughts in his mind. How could this be? Her silver eyes rested on his lips as he spoke, only causing the fire in her cheeks to flare brighter. He whispered her name once, tenderly, and she felt a rush of something entirely unknown. It felt like excitement, or maybe anxiety. Perhaps even both. Attraction? She laughed bashfully to herself and tucked her head away with embarrassment. Her thoughts would stay silent, at least for now. But her eyes would soon move up to Dart again as his paw slipped and he nearly lost his balance. Kitsune would feel her paws dance smoothly forward, a concerned frown already on her features. She had stepped forward as if to catch the boy, but as he regained his composure she only ended up closer to him. Much closer. Their noses were nearly touching again. But this time, the woman didn't flee from him. She was incredibly comfortable in his presence, and a gentle smile touched her lips. "Are you alright, Dart?" Then a noise interrupted her words. It was a strange grumbling sound that at first caused her to flinch. Then she realized that it was the sound of an empty stomach. Dart would seem to be even more humiliated than before, and she heard a timid laugh issue from his lips. "I've been traveling quite a while. Please, don't mind me. I won't steal your meal from you, i'm a gentleman unlike many others I've known in the past." The silver fox listened to the man with a frown, worried for him as he spoke of weary travels. "You are far more polite than any creature I have met in a long time. Please, share this with me," she whispered. One dainty paw pushed the mouse into the close space between them. It really was a nice catch, surely large enough for two. "Don't you dare try to turn this away. I insist that you eat something." Her voice was soft and her eyes were kind as she spoke to him. Their proximity caused every nerve to sing like a live wire, but she swallowed hard and ignored the feeling for now. Those emotions could be mulled over later.

The distance in which they now stood was frighteningly close. She had closed the distance previously as if to catch him when his foot slipped, and now he felt her breath whisper gentle tones upon his visage. He could feel heat rushing throughout his body, a truly indescribable feeling settling in his chest as his heart hammered wildly against his chest. Was it just because of the close proximity? It was also perhaps due to his nervousness and prior embarrassment. He felt like a child again, when he had a childhood crush on one of the most vain creatures his Clan had to offer...she had viciously ripped his heart to pieces when he confessed his attractions to her and let his feelings known, and she laughed at him. Instead, pummeling his heart into the ground before dancing off with the Clan's lazy jock. Classic. But this...this was surely different. "I-I'm alright..." He offered a lopsided grin, one canine protruding from under his lip as he laughed. It was warm, hearty, charming even. It had been quite a while since he had been able to laugh, usually more reserved around strangers. And yet, he felt entirely comfortable within her presence. He found the closeness unnerving, and yet at the same time he didn't want to move away. Her breath smelled sweet, the scent of her fur intoxicating. "You are far more polite than any creature I have met in a long time. Please, share this with me," Crimson eyes would remain upon her form, and upon realization that he was staring at her he would glance down towards the mouse she pushed in the close space between them. Heat flaring up on his face, now visible through the white on his muzzle. "Don't you dare try to turn this away. I insist that you eat something." He raised his head to glance at her again, a hint of mischief and humor in his eyes. "And what happens if I refuse?" Honestly, he didn't mind sharing with her at all. Tail bobbed gently behind him upon the ground, mismatched paws shifting slightly as he seemed to discreetly move towards her, if only to touch her...centimeter by milli-centimeter, he would move. A plan forming in his mind. Yes, he had just met her. But there was something in the air, and honestly, he had never met someone like her before.

	She felt the steady thrumming of her heart as Dart did not move away. The maiden still didn't know what was happening here, but she was loving very second of it. Never before had her heart swelled in such a way, never had this pleasant heat coursed through her veins. The fur on her face was burning as he stammered out a response. He was alright. But he was so much better than alright. Kitsune blinked, continuously surprised by her thoughts about this male. Everything felt electric when she was this close to him, able to make out the depths of his scars. But still she was not frightened away. Dart was gentle. He would never hurt her. The silver lady would take in a shaky breath as his scarlet eyes released her. How long had he been staring? And how long had she been holding her breath because of it? She watched him expectantly as he looked at the mouse, his eyes returning to hers with a new sense of humor. "And what happens if I refuse?" he asked. Flirting was entirely new to Kitsune, but already she liked it. Her grin was sparkling as he spoke. But then something changed. She hardly noticed at first, but suddenly the space between them was getting warmer. She could feel his breath on her face more intensely than before, and her heart was going crazy. Dart was leaning in, an intimate curiosity on his face. Was he going to... kiss her? He didn't know her. What was happening? Her muscles moved involuntarily, bringing her face closer to his as well. They were centimeters away. Then millimeters. Then you could hardly squeeze a strand of fur in the space between them. Her breath was quickening. What would it be like to touch him? Would something magical happen? Before she could banish the ridiculous thought, the distance was gone. Their faces touched with the tenderness of a spring breeze, and something really did change inside of her. She drew in a quick, silent breath, unable to contain the butterflies inside of her. Kitsune closed her brilliant grey eyes and felt the warmth of his face against hers, just for that moment. Hopefully that moment would never end.

Things had definitely gotten hotter in less then a few minutes. He had playfully asked her a question, and she had yet to answer. The distance between them was nearly palpable, he could nearly taste her breath. She smelled sweet, his body and mind feeling higher then it ever had before. Perhaps she was making him high, in a different sense of course. His heart would pound, everything screaming at him to stop and yet he wanted to keep going, to touch her at least once...else she dissipate like a ghost. His breath seemed to hold as he closed the gap at last, nose reaching out to touch hers as gently as possible, as if she would break with anything more forceful. She felt so velvety smooth...he would close his eyes for a moment, relishing in that single touch. He swallowed as he steadily pulled away just a bit, wondering if he had done something wrong. He missed the touch of another, especially of one such as himself. He hadn't meant to invade her personal space, and almost instantly ears would fall back as he realized his potential mistake. "I-I'm sorry!" He would murmur, embarrassment flooding him as he apologized. Although from the look in her eyes, he felt that perhaps she didn't mind...what if she felt the same as he? Then again, why would she? He was too beat up, too scarred and ugly and broken for another to love. He came with the problems of the world, his father a dangerous tycoon that would stop at nothing until he was dead. But perhaps, just perhaps....Dart would find a reason to fight. He would not stop breathing, if he only had a reason. "Kitsune? Would..would you like to eat now?" It wasn't that he was hungry, but perhaps just trying to break any potential tension or even break the ice.

The moment ended, as she knew it would. His cool nose brushed past her, tickling pleasantly as he pulled away. The electricity remained, however, even as the space between them reappeared. The woman ached to touch him again, yearned for more. For anything. But the moment was over now. She watched as Dart began to apologize, tripping over himself adorably. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong."

You did everything right, her mind whispered, but her lips remained sealed. She would never dream of admitting such a thing. But something special was finally happening to her. There was a strange connection here, something she couldn't ignore. Did he feel it too?

Then his lips moved again as he suggested that they eat. She hesitated for a beat before nodding, a faint smile touching her face. Her eyes fell to the prey at his feet, and her head dropped to pick it up. Once the mouse was securely in her jaws, Kitsune tried to speak. "We can share," she offered, her words a bit muffled. "If that's okay with you, I mean. You can decide how we split it."

"Speech."
Thoughts.