ooc//sorry for taking so long for this I didn't mean to

The fall morning felt cool and crisp in the mans lungs as he stepped out of his den. A steady stream of sunlight shone upon his pelt, illuminating the highlighted browns upon his features. With a wide yawn, his salmon tongue ran over his lips as he shook out the dirt and moss from his fur before making his way to the nearest stream. For several nights now he had been having dreams of someone...and that particular someone he knew...though as of late, he realized that he had been distancing himself since his return from his journey. With a frown at the thought, he walked slowly; his tail tip brushing the ground slightly. What had happened? Where did the time go? It seemed as if time was against him, all this time and nothing really to show for it...with a sigh, he arrived at his destination. A small stream not too far from the packs main camp. He lowered his head to drink, water dripping from his muzzle in small crystalline droplets. He wondered if he would see her today...it seemed that she had been really busy as of late, training other hunters for the upcoming war. pft...war... he thought bitterly. Why did Liberty have to go and mess with something like that? Now they were all in the sinkhole because of her carelessness. He only hoped that the particular person in his dreams would remain safe...and he would see to it.

Walk | Talk | Think Aside from the happy surprise of suddenly finding herself with a horde of new hunters to command and train, Ashtoreth's life was feeling somewhat awkward. What time she did not spend in company of the sigmas training and learning about each other she spent stealing quiet moments alone for personal hunts and sleeping. And the sleeping arrangements were by far the most complex. Leon shared her den every night, a fact which, upon his immediate return, had thrilled her to no end and made stronger her hidden feelings for him. But lately those feelings had been faltering. They rarely spoke as much as they used to, caught up in either their work or their minds. She had begun to question whether her feelings were worth it, whether she was waiting for something that would not happen at all. Perhaps he truly did see her as nothing more than a good friend. Perhaps that was why he could share a den with her and not try to pursue things further. It troubled her most mornings, but this morning had been worse. They had been first on her mind when she had woken up early and, not wanting to rouse her roommate, she had tiptoed quietly out of their shared den and into the chilly autumn morning, reverting to old habits and patrolling the border for no better reason than for some busy work to keep her moving. The brisk chill helped alleviate some of the left over sleep and the clean air helped clear her mind. As she trotted around in the early light, reflexively scenting for the border and any passers, Ashtoreth considered giving up her hope. So long had passed already; maybe it was best not to cling to something that, it seemed, only she felt. Eventually her wanderings brought her back toward the pack's central location, a quick trip to evaluate the pack's cache of available food before she decided what she would do for the rest of the day. She should have known better; what with there being more hunters, the pile was full and inviting, tempting even her to grab something for a morning meal. With a proudly satisfied smile, the lean grey hunter passed the cache and continued walking, choosing instead to find something herself. She did not get too far, however, before she caught the scent of the man she had been thinking of. Considering she shared every night in his company, if not always consciously, Ash would have been able to recognize his scent anywhere. Naturally it gave her pause. Of all the hunters she had been meant to train, he was the one she had not tried to seek out yet. She had been devoting her time to the others, telling herself that it was only because she knew him so well that she hardly needed the initial interview. But if she had been so confused regarding her feelings for him - and his feelings for her - how much did she really know? Almost forcibly the grey wolf turned her trail toward him, fighting the undeniable sense to hide that crept up within as she approached him beside the stream. She smiled and wagged her tail, though even she was sure it lacked the usual sincerity. She hardly felt herself; surely he could pick up on that too? "Hey," she greeted companionably, coming to stand before him and meet his dazzling blue eyes with her own two-toned gaze. For a second she forgot what she had been meaning to say, torn between the feelings he roused in her and the warning her mind made to distance herself, and after a small pause she found her voice again. "We're going to be doing a group hunt soon," she stated, rather unceremoniously, and instantly regretted not trying to keep things casual. Poor friend she was being if she only sought him out to speak about work. If only he knew how muddled up her emotions were, and how piss poor she was at working through them.

Thoughts would plague the boys mind. Lately he had felt a little off, waking up every morning with Ash nearby always brought a sense of calm to him...but lately, it seemed that he or she were always busy with their duties for the upcoming war. She training the new hunters, and he busy making preparations and stocking up as much food as he could as well as constantly patrolling the borders. It was then that a familiar scent would reach him, and he turned his head in time to see Ashtoreth come up beside him. On instinct, his tail made a small wag...but it slowly died as her words left her lips. His blue gaze searched her, wondering what it was that was bothering her...he had an idea, but he couldn't bring himself to conclude. He wanted to see what she would do next first. He returned his gaze back to the water, a whole new swirl of emotions and thoughts racing through his mind. It always seemed like a constant battle raged within him, arguing back and forth that today would be the day...but then he would flee into the crevices of his mind to escape embarrassment...and though it was a rarity for him, shyness. Lately, a lot of that had been seeping into him more and more each night and day he spent sharing Ash's den. By now, he should have already had his own den...and truthfully, he already found one. He just wasn't ready to leave the warm comfort of having her so close.

Turning to her he greeted her with a nod, his blue gaze softening upon seeing her dual toned eyes...those eyes...he always loved seeing them. The light would often make them appear dazzling with beautiful purples and yellows, to him it was a sight to behold. However, this particular encounter left little room at the moment for him to be thinking such things...something was off. "Hello Ash...I'll be sure to join you in the hunt...ah, the pack could do with more prey since the war is nearly upon us." Feeble words. He knew it was a failed attempt...but what else could he really say? She seemed really bothered, and he wondered if he did something wrong. Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax...but the present situation kept him tensed. With a final thought, he figured he should try and say something else to perhaps get some relaxation for the both of them. "Nice day out so far. How have you been?" He asked gently, wanting to converse with her and hopefully spend some time with her before the pack life pulled them apart once more. His heart thudded, and he knew that today it was now or never...depending on how things went, perhaps he could get his courage up and plow through. Acceptance or rejection, those thoughts crossed his mind continously...

Walk | Talk | Think A kind enough greeting was given in return to her own curt one, and though she should have expected no less still a part of her was disappointed. Could he really only muster up that much happiness to see her outside of their living arrangements? Was he possibly even more weary of her speaking to him like this than she was? She was certain enough by now that the awkward tension she felt was not completely one sided, that he too could feel its weight hanging over them, and it was a very difficult concept to accept. While she wanted to hide, to run from what she felt and deny it all and attempt to put it behind her, she could not bare to turn it away, not when she had finally come clean to herself, not when it had been growing within her for so long. Feeling like part of a joke with her false smile set in place, Ashtoreth listened as Leon responded to her remark, the Psi part of her pleased with his willingness to comply with the request that had gone as an undertone to her words. It meant another able body, another set of skills to add to her arsenal, and one step closer for them to snag something impressive and worthy of a pre-war feast. "My thoughts exactly," she answered with a swift nod, even as she tried not to consider too much the war and whatever sort of effects it would have on their pack as a whole. It was hard enough to simply navigate the present conversation without throwing in another subject that made her antsy with nervousness. She had not been anticipating any attempts at small talk - and had been trying in that moment to determine what she ought to say next to draw the subject away from the impending hunt now that she had gotten his signature upon the hypothetical sign up list - so his question came initially off guard. Her two toned eyes blinked as a small pause passed between them, nothing immediately ready at her disposal to say, though, as she seemed to be making a habit of doing, she recovered quickly. "Good. Really good," she stated, trying to go for the naturally casual tone that she wished would return to her. Since when had she struggled to carry on a casual conversation? "Been meeting with all the hunters, trying to figure out what they'll be good at when the time comes for our hunt. I think we've got a really good group. Much better than me alone." She chuckled slightly at her last words, finally feeling herself just beginning to slip back into something akin to her old self. It was far from the natural comfort that she remembered being able to manage in Leon's presence, but it was still much better than the awkward stumbling she had been making thus far.

Blue gaze would rest unwaveringly upon the beautiful she-wolf who stood next to him. He didn't know why he had gone so long without saying how beautiful she was, nor how she made him feel...her soft laughter broke the spell. And now, he was so drawn to her that he couldn't help himself. Without anymore thought, Leon leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Ash's inky lips, cutting off her musical laugh. The spark that he felt was lit, as it raged throughout his body straight to the core of his heart. He wondered if she felt the same thing, and if not...then at least he tried. Leon's heart pounded hard in his chest, afraid that it might burst through at any moment. He had waited so long, and now was his chance. Whether she rejected or accepted him, was entirely up to her. He at least would have the mindset knowing that he tried. He gently pulled back and gazed at her with such softness, such love now, that he wanted her to know how much he truly cared for her. With a deep shuddering breath, he would speak. "Ashtoreth...I...I want you to know how I feel about you. For a long time now, for as long as we've known each other...I've felt this magnetic pull towards you. I can't say for sure what it is, but I know it's real and I know it's there. I feel a bond, a connection within our souls...I dream about you every night, and when you're not around I wish you were. When I left on your journey I longed to hear your voice and feel your touch...I was so happy that you were the first one I saw when I came back." He stopped, taking in a breath before continuing on as he searched her gaze for her reaction. "I know it seems like I've been drifting away...and I'm sorry for that, I truly am. But I do hope that you believe me when I say that...Ash, I love you, and that's all I really know. I want to know if you'll be with me forever, and in turn I will remain by your side. Not even death will do us part. I've loved you for a long time Ash...Will you be my mate?"

At last, he had confessed. Leon swallowed and waited for her response. He was sure that she felt as shocked as he did, for not even he had expected to say so much in such a short time. But he knew that it was right. After all, he could no longer hold back the feelings that had been growing for a long time. He knew that she was feeling hurt lately...after all, he had been feeling the same way. Then again, seeing her hurt or sad upset him and he never wanted to see her that way again. He knew also that if it ever came down to it, he would die to protect her. That's when his thoughts drifted to the war...he knew it would be on them soon, and as he turned to say something else that's when a short cry pierced the air only to be snuffed out in seconds. His ears pricked back, worry in his eyes. He knew the Glaciems were here now...he could catch their scent mingling with the breeze of his Valhallan allies. Turning back to Ash, a look of concern in his eyes brought forth concern in his voice. "The war...it's begun."

Walk | Talk | Think She had gotten so caught up in just trying to pretend she was comfortable with how things were going that she almost failed to notice Leon was leaning in toward her until he was right there before her. He was so close, much closer than he had ever gotten, and the almost easy laughter that had been on her tongue died as he reached forward and kissed her lips. The touch - unexpected and wholly startling - set off a spark deep within her, the hopes she had been trying to suppress rekindling instantaneously, heedless to whatever reasoning had been behind Leon's intimate gesture. His meaning hardly mattered; she knew what it meant for her. It was a lure, fuel added to the fire of her feelings for him that coaxed and tempted, drawing her to him more strongly now that she had been given just a little taste. And, goodness, did she want more. She was tense as he pulled away, eyes intently focused upon his face in search of answers, in search of a meaning. She had wanted more than anything to give in and return the favor but uncertainty had tripped her up yet again, stalling her from acting on impulse and giving in to something that she feared was completely one sided. But the look upon his face... How could he stare at her that way and not feel something? How could he have just kissed her and feel only friendship and nothing more? "Leon?" she all but whined in a hushed whisper, a quick shudder racing through her as she grappled with the situation. And then he said it. Everything. Everything she had been secretly hoping for and more. It was a flood, a wall of withheld information she had been wondering at for years, and the force of it was staggering. Her chest felt heavy as her heart raced within it, listening as the wolf she had accidentally fallen for admitted to the same things she had taken note of. A strong pull toward each other, an unwavering, unbreakable bond, a sense of rightness that only came with the others' company. And dreams. She blinked, only realizing belatedly that her eyes had started to water and her vision to blur, the strength of his confession hitting her harder than she ever would have imagined. How was she ever going to speak with this lump in her throat? He even touched on the present sense as well, pointing out the poor quality to their relationship with an apology...and a proposal. He loves me... He loves me. Ashtoreth could hardly get over the thought. He had said it, the three words she had been thinking every time she happened to see him in passing, when they had held cordial conversation, when they had shared their den. The three words that had plagued her since she had admitted her feelings in confidence to Meili and wondered if she would ever work up the nerve to tell him. But how did she tell him now? The phrase was there, right on the tip of her tongue, begging to be given a voice, but it failed her. Strangely, they seemed to poorly represent how deeply her regard for him went. Forgoing a spoken response, she instead leaped toward him, pressing as closely against him as she could manage while she nuzzled strongly into his neck and chest, stopping only to reach upward and bathe the underside of his jaw in tender licks. Oh, how long had she wished to do this? To show him how much he meant to her? To give in to those desires which had haunted her thoughts whenever in his presence? It was more wonderful than she had imagined it would be. The lean grey wolf dared not pull away from him but remained sheltered in his embrace, basking in the sense of wholeness that enveloped her there next to him. It was only after the racing of her heart began to die down enough for her to think a little more clearly that she was able to speak, though when she did her voice was nothing more than a heavy whisper. "I didn't think you felt the same," she confessed. "I thought..." But her chance to finish her statement was cut off by a sudden howl, the intensity of it filling the hunter's thoughts with dread and causing her stomach to turn sickeningly within her middle. Ears folded upon her head as Leon remarked upon the war, her heart beginning to race again though for an entirely different reason. The Glaciems were here. The war was starting early. Quickly she drew back enough to peer upward at Leon with anxiety and fear written plainly upon her face, fighting her body's sudden impulse to shiver out of fright. "Leon, what do we do?" she asked desperately. She was no fighter, not by a long shot. If anything, she felt like racing right back to their den and hiding there until the chaos was over, cowardly as it might have been. But rather than draw away in preparation to run, she leaned into him, wishing that they had been given more time, wishing that they had figured this all out sooner.

Leon's confessions had been made. And there was no taking back anything that was said...though he didn't want to take back the words even if he could. After he had kissed her, Ash whispered his name, but he had continued to speak. He knew that she must've felt confused by his sudden action, but it was all explained in a heartfelt rush shortly after. He closed his eyes and lowered his head to come to rest on Ash, holding her close as she pressed herself into his neck and chest as his heart pounded with the touch of her kisses under his jaw. Oh how he longed to have such closeness with the woman he loved for so long. He would lean down, licking the top of her head with affection as she spoke. But her words were cut off when the distress call rang out. He glanced down at Ash as she pressed himself closer to him, her words striking his heart. He knew she was afraid of what might happen but he knew he had to go to the field of battle. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, he tucked his muzzle into the crook of her neck. He wished they had more time together, now that he knew she felt the same. He wanted more time with her, didn't want to leave her side now. He wanted to stay with her and protect her, but he knew that he couldn't. Not now in his time of need. If he failed to appear then he would never hear the end of it from his cousin Syrinx.

Swallowing back his fears, he forced his voice to sound strong. He couldn't worry her more then she already was, and he wanted to let her know that everything would be alright. "Leon, what do we do?" Her fearful voice drove him to a new level of protective feelings. He would make sure she was safe, and he would return to her as soon as it was all over. He nuzzled her face affectionately, ears flattened as he tried to show her that everything would be alright. "Take the others that aren't fighting, and go straight to Seracia as planned. Everything will be okay...if I see that anyone is after you and the others, then I will do everything I can to keep them from reaching you. I promise I'll be careful, and that I will come find you when this is over." He wrapped a foreleg around her as if he were hugging her, pulling her close to him and taking comfort in her touch. His heart beat wildly, as he did indeed fear losing her. He would make sure that nothing would touch her. With a heavy heart, he would have to pull away from the embrace, staring into her eyes with his blue ones. "I have to go now...I love you Ash, no matter what happens. Don't forget that. I promise to come back to you." He leaned forward, giving her muzzle a few soft licks before reluctantly backing up and turning away to race towards the cries of war.

-EXIT LEON-

OOC// If you want the thread to keep going, let me know and it will x3

Walk | Talk | Think He did not answer her desperate question at first, though she could see from the conflicted expression upon his face that the way his thoughts were going was likely not going to make her happy. Already sensing the challenge that was to come, she reached upward and pressed her face into the thick fur of his neck, only partially stifling the whine that crept from her muzzle. She hated this, hated the war, hated the pressure, hated that she had finally gotten what she wanted only for it to be pulled from her grasp again. It's only temporary, Ash reminded herself as she turned her muzzle to give Leon's shoulder a quiet lick, though it was hardly good enough for her. It was torture. When he nuzzled her face, she did whine without restraint, two-toned eyes closing as she fought not to let her emotions get away from her. Instead she made herself listen, opening her eyes again to stare upward at him when she felt they would not spill over with tears and staying silent as instructions were given. Seracia. She was to take those like herself to Seracia, to safety, and get away from Valhalla and the war on their doorstep. The plan would have been a relief to her had Leon been involved directly in it. But rather than assist with the escape, he intended to fight, to defend their home as his previous station as a warrior demanded. As his righteousness demanded. His paw came around her, drawing her close and encircling her in his heartfelt embrace which she willingly pressed back into. She tucked her head beneath his chin and nuzzled into his chest, willing him to hold her a little longer, to delay the inevitable for just another second. Less reluctant to pull away when he finally did, she lingered there beside him, feeling strongly his absence as he merely drew back from her a step and no more. How would it feel knowing he was fighting on the front lines of Valhalla while she was far away in Seracia? But she needed to do this, needed to guide the other non-fighters to safety, just as he needed to stand his ground with the rest of the pack and ensure they all had a home to return to. It was just another thing for her to hate. Blue eyes stared back into her own, and Ashtoreth attempted to steel her gaze for him, to gather up as much determination as she could to project back at him and hide the fright and longing that were most prevalent within her. This was it. He was going now. When she saw him again - if she saw him again - it would be after the effects of war and combat. Somehow, she feared, he would be changed, and the grey wolf only hoped that whatever the case he would be allowed to return whole. Again he said the magical phrase, promising that he would return to her, and kissed her muzzle once again. Her own tongue reached to return the kiss to his muzzle, and before she realized it he was backing away and turning to leave. For a second the dazed and frightened spell that held her captive lifted just enough for her to realize a rather important detail. She drew in a quick breath, nearly preparing to call after him, to shout just so that he could hear her, but instead it was merely released as a sigh, her heart constricting in her chest as the words she had failed to speak resounded within her mind. I love you too. She had failed to tell him, failed to get the words out in time though she was certain he knew of her feelings for him now. Still, the pain of having missed her chance hurt, and she tried to set it aside, promising herself just as he did that he would return to her, and then she would be given many more chances to tell him over and over again. Consoling herself with that thought, she quickly turned in place and made toward the Valhallan camp, determined to set her mind from the turmoil of her emotions and focus instead on helping the pack. -Exit Ashtoreth-