May I have this dance? (Keeya ^_^)

[Tay]

Basile needed no more encouragement from his Father. He quickly dipped his large black skull to the gathered pack and was gone. His side brushed Keeya's when he turned, his banner flicking sideways to rub against her for as long as possible before he was too far ahead. His head chest nearly ached with all the emotion that was going on inside it. He glanced behind him to see if she was following, and then he shifted to a run. Can't you run faster then that? I thought you said you liked to run? He was grinning, and he pushed himself faster and faster.

He was sure she wouldn't overtake him, because she knew not where he was taking her. He'd seen this place once or twice as a yearling. It had always brought out the playful side of him. He climbed higher into the Kameskai lands, knowing that they were really only supposed to be talking. Still, if things would go the way he hoped then he'd rather woo her as well.

The slope upward was gentle, for they weren't climbing the side of a true mountain. Finally, though, the ground leveled out and Basile turned and headed to the right. He barked back to Keeya, excited. Hurry. You're going to love this. I swear. Oh, Maker, please don't make me a liar. His paws had yet to tire, so intent on the wooing was he. Then he saw a large boulder and his green orbs lit up. He spun, looking for the fem. Are you ready for the surprise? I've never brought anyone here before. Not even Aisha.

He grinned nervously, then quickly walked around the boulder and looked out upon the meadow. A small dip in front of him lead down to a meadow full of small yellow and white dots. Basile grinned. Years ago, this meadow had housed green lush grass. Then, a dandelion came. It turned to a puff, spread it's seeds and more came. This continued for years, finally ending up in what Basile had lead Keeya to. A dandelion meadow. When the dark brute had first discovered it, late in the season there had only been the puffs left.

He'd ran through them, creating a flurry all his own. The place had stuck in his mind for years, though he never shared it. Now he turned to smile at the silver fem once more, orb hopeful. Would she like it? Or make a lair out of him? His banner waved nervously. I know we were only supposed to talk...but If the conversation is going to go the way I believe...then...I thought I'd make it special. The serious brute glanced around at the meadow. You...you like this, don't you?

[Goanna]

Following Basile’s example, Keeya nodded at the alpha before following him away from the rest of the pack. It wasn’t long before he was well ahead of her, bounding off into the distance. She paused briefly, marvelling at how energetic he had suddenly become, before she charged off after him. There was a vigour to his step as he raced along, and it was some time before she caught him in her sights once more, after following only his scent. He called out to her then, which forced her to narrow her eyes and push onwards. She realised that she would have to stay behind him, else he might suddenly spin around or change direction, and this annoyed her. What good was competition when you couldn’t be a winner?

Keeya followed the male up an incline, which she thought at first was the side of one of the region’s famous mountains. It turned out that this was not the case, as the ground soon levelled out and she was able to bring herself to a halt. Her eyes flickered with interest as Basile grew edgy and nervous when he came upon a big rock. He yapped excitedly about where he was leading her, and then he disappeared behind the boulder. She followed him, her tail wagging happily behind her, and before her eyes was presented a picturesque sight, a grassy green field dotted with tiny flowers. The grey female took in the view; Basile’s special, secret spot that he had chosen to show only to her, and her face lit up. The raven male started stammering then, flittering his tail nervously. Keeya stood silently for a while, playing with him in the way he had played with her on the journey to the beautiful spot, then she decided to put him out of his misery. Basile, sometimes you can say a thousand things with one action. This could quite possibly be...the most beautiful place I’ve ever laid eyes on, but... she couldn’t believe how terribly soppy she sounded, but the female was swept up in a tide of emotions and for the moment, anything went, it’s all the more better because you’re here too.

[Tay]

A grin sprang to Basile's face as Keeya spoke. His banner waved and he stepped closer to the female. He nuzzled her cheek, hesitant at first to reach out to her. Once his fur pressed to hers, though, he wished he could rub his face through all of her fur. She was so soft, more so then he'd every noticed himself being, more so then he'd notice any wolf being in the small touches that came with pack life. She had a delightful scent, though he'd known this long ago. Still up close, right next to it's source it had a sweetness he'd not noticed before. A softness.

He lingered there for a moment, enjoying both, before pulling back. His green orb were a soft warm color, looking upon the female different. It wasn't the season for mating, so he knew none of what he felt was driven by lust. He sighed, shaking his large black skull. Those words. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear them. I know it may not be the season for talk of these things, but I think that makes it all the better. He drew closer to her, gazing into her orbs.

He remembered being a pup and watching his Mother and Father interact. The loving touches, words and gazes. He remembered desiring to one day be big like his Father, like he is now, desiring to find a mate to share those things with. He thinks of his words back with the clan. Of 'twisted hearts'. He decides to explain now. Keeya, when I spoke of twisted hearts...seconds before we had merely been teasing.

I was afraid you were still teasing. Had you been...it would have twisted my heart. Getting hopeful, thinking you might be doing more then teasing. He paused, glancing away from her orbs, to the ground. Not to mention what happened to Father. Mother just...leaving us like that. I can't imagine what Father goes through. He has Luma, though. The fem will never be Mother, but she loves him, and I think her being different is better for Father.

He looks up to her again. Do you understand why I said that? Keeya...I'm sure you've guessed this by now...but I really do think you're the most beautiful fem to have ever graced these Mountains. Everything about you is breath-taking. He smiles nervously. I lead you here in the hopes of asking you and...well and telling you as well, but, Keeya....he stutters over his words, looking to the ground.

He glances up and touches his nose to hers, as effective a canine kiss as any. He then smiles, finding his words once more. There is no one on the whole Isle that I would rather be with then you, dear one. I...I think you've enchanted me. I believe I've fallen in love with you, Keeya.

[Goanna]

Keeya felt herself warm inside as Basile nuzzled her. It was a touch, yes, a connection between the two, but it was like no other contact that she’d ever had from him before. Now that the grey female knew that both of them felt the same way inside, there was less of the play or gentle flirting. Love, he’d said. He loved her, yet she wondered how that one word could convey so much emotion, so many expressions and ideals and dreams. Still, it was enough to dispel any doubts, such a strong word that it was.

She understood that having this conversation in the wrong season made it all the more real, if they weren’t driven by the desire to reproduce, then what Basile was offering to her was far more sincere. He reached up to her then, and when he touched her nose, for the briefest of moments Keeya felt as though their two souls had intertwined. The electric force of the touch made her head and her heart spin, so she dropped to her haunches and sat facing him as his words sunk into her thickly furred head.

He talked often of his mother, and when he brought her into this conversation, Keeya realised more fully how much he must miss her, or be disappointed that she had left. Basile, you talk often of your mother and I regret that the only time I saw her she was forced to back away from the pack. I’d have loved to have seen the other side of her. She remembered another part of his speech and flicked her ears forwards, a crooked smile on her lips, I think... I know now that neither of us was teasing, really. I’m afraid I’ll never be quite so clever enough as to be able to say things without meaning them, at least in part.


The female closed her eyes, the last words of Basile’s and his touch churning around inside of her. When at last she looked up, he had met her gaze and was smiling gently. I want to run beside you, Basile. I want to be with you. I love you too, Keeya said simply, reaching up herself to lick his cheek.

[Tay]

Basile grinned again. A warmness swept his body. One that he had never known before. Greater then the heat of summer sun on his back, but more comforting. Is this what it felt like to be loved by someone? The true kind of love? He sighed, stepping forward to nuzzle her again. I wish you could have, Keeya. Most my memories are from childhood. She was a wonderful Mother, in the beginning. His words were drenched with sorrow and he gazed over the vast meadow. Then he shook himself. Now is not the time to be thinking of the past, though. Now is time to think of the present, and perhaps the future.

A thoughtful grin flies across his muzzle for a moment. Thoughts of families and dens. Thoughts of little gray females with green eyes and black brutes with blue. I agree with you. Though I may have been teasing in the start...I think it was in the hopes of something along these lines resulting. He could still feel where she had licked his cheek and he returned the affection, licking her cheek and then her brow.

Now is not the mating season, dearest Keeya. We have seasons to wait before our vows can be...consummated and official. He paused over the word, finding it foreign and strange on his tongue. He'd never considered mating season before. For one, he'd never had a mate or anyone who he was interested in. He'd thought over it this past season. He and Keeya racing off into the snows. But he was not one to make such a serious decision so hastily. Nor was he one to expose himself so openly. He continued his point, trying to ignore the embarrassed feeling he had gotten.

I do want to spend the rest of my days with you and I will gladly wait years to bear the title of you mate. So while I cannot have that privilege just yet. Nor do I wish to run the chase, even if we plan to...uhm...skip the end. I do, however, wish to run with you. Through this meadow over the lands. Anywhere you would lead or run along with me. While we will not mate until the time is right, and Father has given permission, I will consider myself promised for you. He dipped his head in a bow, smiling.

Will we run now, my beauty? Will you dance with me, Keeya? In the way that only wolves truly can? He spoke of running alongside each other. Their steps synced, and light. Weaving their steps in a beautiful pattern, crossing, bobbing. Leaping over each other, one drawing forward, the other falling behind and then switching. Leading to a calm exhaustion. Some wolves would run this way before mating, then the fem would draw ahead, leading into the chase that could result in new life. Basile and Keeya's run would not be like that. They would merely dance and weave until they grew tired and rested.

That is, if Keeya accepted Basile's proposal?

[Goanna]

As Basile spoke, Keeya rested her head underneath his chin, closing her eyes as she felt the vibrations of his voice. She could barely believe what was happening, everything was becoming a beloved blur, though it seemed decades ago that they were back with the pack. She hoped that the next few seasons would also seem like a blur, as though she herself were racing through time, but in her heart she knew it would be a long wait, especially with the impending long summer days. At least she wouldn’t have to spend the time waiting or wondering. An answer now was better than at the start of the season. The wait was not going to be hard because of suppressed urges; rather, it would be taxing waiting for those urges to emerge.

Keeya grinned at his awkwardness, finding it all the more attractive. The rest of our days are going to be many more seasons than these few we have to persevere through now. Though she spoke of patience, it was one of the virtues she did not agree wholeheartedly with, preferring to plunge into things. For the most part anyway. That she had waited so long to confirm her feelings was odd, though perhaps they had just needed confirmation from the object of her interest first.

Of course we can. Consider it a practice run then, and I believe you are going to need the practice, if you want to catch me. She bowed towards her handsome friend before lunging forwards into a sprint across the meadow. The wolf travelled some distance on light feet, her pads tickled by the flowers they tread on, before doubling back and circling Basile. Coming?

[Tay]

Basile grinned at her response, he watched her run across the meadow, marveling at her beauty and grace. She was the epitome of beauty for Basile. She was the opposite of him. He was large, barrel chested, frightening looking to some. She was smaller, thin, long legged, beautiful. He shook his head. He must have done something good in his life. The Maker had smiled upon him when he'd sent Keeya his way.

She circled around him, throwing out her teasing comments. Practice? Oh, my Keeya...you are mistaken. His green orbs traced her form. Horribly, horribly mistaken. He laughed at her light-hearted nature, her playful words. Keeya, my sweet, while I may not be as fast as you on other occasions, with the heat of the season in my veins and you racing right in front of me.... He smirked in a devilish way. Consider yourself caught, my dear. Nothing could keep me from making you my mate. Not even my larger, slower body.

He leapt at her and nipped at her cheek. He smiled, then licked the corner of her muzzle, where he knew a smile would bloom. Then he turned and dashed away, making sure to let his banner tickle at her nose. He knew he wouldn't stay in front long. Keeya was a skilled runner. Hadn't some of her first words to him been: I can run? He shook his head. Funny, how Aisha had wanted Keeya to be her sister, and now should would be in a truer sense. His powerful dark pillars propelled him over the dandelions, some of the puffs bursting as he hit them.

[Goanna]

Keeya chased after Basile, her mouth curled up in a snarl in mock fury at his comments. The charade was difficult to keep up, so by the time she caught sight of him once more the grey female was grinning away. She could not remember a time where she hadn’t brushed off his teasing, or responded with some of her own in an almost puppylike manner. It was odd that she had never seemed to take his banter to heart, for from the mouth of anyone else it had always been that Keeya would think it a challenge. She remembered her first meeting with the suave Jaden, how she had been put off by his casual joking. Perhaps Basile had never been competition then, but an ally. Funny how the brain worked, how her instinct had dictated that the stranger that he once was would not be like the others. She powered forwards and sneezed as some of the dust Basile had scattered disturbed her nose.

There was some severity in Basile’s words that Keeya could not pick up on. Despite knowing the season for what it was, and understanding in part what would take place, the snows of winter were light years away, and she, being her more practical self, could not imagine the future. Instead, she could see in her mind the winters of the past, and as these held nothing of what was in store, she could not possibly hope to comprehend how either of them would feel when that time came. Because of this, she could tease and play about what was in store, but none of it would really make sense to her yet. In a year’s time, she would never take the male’s words so lightly, but for now it was all a strange new world. Still, what he spoke of was enough to send a shiver of energy running through her veins. Right in front of you? I’m afraid I’ll be so long gone in front of you that you’ll be lucky to even catch my scent. She drew herself up alongside him and matched his steps with her own as they raced over the land.

[Tay]

Basile could almost picture the winter snows swirling around him. A chill crept up his spine as he thought of it. He could half imagine the scene, but he didn't pursue it. He didn't want to think much on it. It would make the real experience all that much better. One thing he knew for certain though: He would catch Keeya when the time came. A mountain could spring between them and he'd climb it. His tongue might hang out all the way to the rocky face of the mountain itself, but he would get to the other side, and his lovely Keeya.

He noticed her shiver and then grinned when her pace matched his. He knew not what to say, so they continued this way for a while. Merely enjoying each others company. He glanced to her, green orbs glowing with happiness. He knew that if she panned to become his mate this coming winter, then she must also plan to bear his children. Or...at the very least hope to. It boggled his mind to imagine his own pups, and he shook his head.

So...er...will pups of your own...I mean, have you wanted to be a Mother? I've always kind of liked Pups, I always love meeting new siblings. I've never really thought of my own pups though. I think I'll like being a Father though. You do want pups...right, Keeya? He glanced at her, waiting for her answer.

[Goanna]

Running alongside the dark male, Keeya could do nothing but admire him. Muscles glistened under his coat, yet his face glimmered with happiness. He exuded a sort of gentle power, even now in the relaxed atmosphere. The female flicked her ears up and glanced across at Basile as he began to speak. Travelling in silence had been fine by her, but the female was glad to hear his voice once more, even if what it spoke of startled her slightly. She slowed her pace a little to think briefly before answering. Well...I guess I’ve never thought about it before. Never been any cause for me to think about it, she turned her head towards him to read his expression, I think it’s rooted in everyone though, parenthood, and if we do have pups, well there’s no one else I’d rather have them with.

The sun was beating down upon their backs, and as Keeya was running by his side, every time they bumped against or touched each other, another shiver of adrenaline was sent through her body. In this way the run was more tiring than any other she had been on, yet she was enjoying every minute of it. Her mind kept flickering back to his question. What he spoke of was again too far into the future for her to comprehend, but she thought of the pups she had met before and became excited at the thought of more of them in the pack. Her and Basile's. It's still a long time away, we could just see how things work out.