Natalya
she's a killer, she's a keeper

I cannot help but to be hyper aware of him, as if every strand of fur on my body stands on end just for him. My skin tingles and I long to touch him, but by some miracle, I refrain. To touch him now would only distract us, to greet him as I usually would could only lead us to more...carnal activities. If he did not take the initiative, I would have, and thus I hold myself on a tightly wound leash. Still, my appearance has a rather odd effect on my imprint, his frame relaxing and the excitement in his eyes shows me all I need to know. After five years of shadowing my own shadow, I believe I am capable enough of knowing these signs.

Devil is many things, but uncertain has never been one of those. Oh, how I wish to wrap myself around him, to feel that complete once more, to feel his fangs in my ruff...I blink away the thoughts, trying to maintain a level head in all of this. I see the pain in his gaze before he wipes it away, there is little that escapes me when it comes to him. He makes me feel things that I never understood, and nothing compares to the emotions he produces. Titan could not hold a candle to the dark assassin before me, though he was good company, and tried his hardest to be a good mate, my heart only has room in it for one male. I am reminded of our first litter, of the questions Devil had asked me, and what I told him I meant. He would always be the only male I would take, the only one who's advances I could tolerate. Anyone else would make me feel impure, dirty, like I was doing something wrong.

The desire to touch him, to reach out and kiss any uncertainty from him away, it is stronger than I thought, a for a moment I waver in my resolve. I move closer to him, reaching out to press my muzzle in his scruff, a small bit of contact, a needed breath of his scent. I force myself to pull away, to regain my self-control lest I really do initiate. Hi. He states simply, his greeting bringing a warm smile to my face. ”Hello.” Oh, his smile...it could drive me mad when it is directed at me like that. It has been so long since I have seen the gesture reach his eyes. It is enough to make me believe he is coming back to himself, that his storm is finally passing.

I listen to what he has to say, giving him a soft feminine laugh. ”I am most definitely hungry.” He speaks further, my head tilting a bit as he speaks of a tour. Tour of what? We have both been over these lands a hundred times since the sky fell. Curiosity shows plainly on my face as I move with him, falling into step beside him as we move south along the water's edge. This time, I do not refrain from touching him, walking close enough to him for our pelts to mingle. A funny thought comes to my mind, how fitting we are, like shadows and moonlight. Unconsciously my tail waves at the thought, though rationale quickly breaks the illusion. A hint of doubt winds its way into my heart, and a question comes unbidden to my mind. Why now? After all this time, why now? Is it because Kiska was gone, was this the only reason? I halt these inquiries in their tracks, they will not ruin tonight. I will not let doubt enter my mind, I will be patient and see his mind before I make any judgments.

I walk evenly, though internally my thoughts are full of other questions, thoughts skipping ahead to try and figure out where we are going. The trained killer in me scopes around the area, trying to get my bearings, trying to figure out where he is taking me. Excitement grows, eager would be an understatement, anticipation flows through my veins like it belongs there. The walk seemed to take forever, and I couldn't be happier to just have him here, in his mind, and beside me, and I cannot help but to think this is where he could have been all along. I have come to terms with his reasoning, though it took me long enough I suppose.

Perhaps, he sought to only test fate, to see if he could best her. I hate the heartbreak it has caused him, and if I hadn't hated Kiska before, I definitely abhor the thought of her now. If she still lived, if I found her, heaven help me she would not survive my rage. The wound she caused, the one I helped her to make, seemed to be healing though. Maybe I should thank her before I rip her face from her skull.

When we round a bend in the river, Devil comes to a stop and I halt with him. My eyes land in the midst of the waters, yellow eyes going wide with awe. My ears perk forward and I blink for a moment, as if this is some illusion that my mind has given me. Three crystalline rosebuds, they make me think of the first three pups I gave him, such perfection...It was hardly what I was expecting of Devil, I knew he had it in him, but damn. The scene is utterly perfect, the roses, the snow, the island, and beneath the rosebush there lay two lambs. Dinner and flowers? Oh, my soul, you shouldn't have. I let out an awestruck sigh, looking to him and meeting his gaze, a grin that mirrored his own upon my face. I am sure my eyes are showing every bit of the shock in my being, surprise for us does not always mean death. He speaks again and his words make me giggle like a little girl.

”Oh, Devil...this is...beautiful.” That doesn't even seem enough to describe it. This scene will be impressed on my memory for the rest of my life, and I take a moment to delve into every detail. Even the lambs were arranged perfectly, as if they had been lain to sleep under the bush, the smaller one seeming quite...innocent. I move across the water, pausing for a moment in the flow of the current to decide which one I should go to. I smirk, moving to the younger lamb and sitting, looking expectantly once more to my soul. My stomach gives a growl of protest at my procrastination, but I will not begin the meal without him.