This was a big deal, he told himself, and when that made his heart threaten to beat out of his narrow chest he squeezed his eyes shut and tried to tell himself perhaps it was not such a big deal. He swallowed hard, a feat considering there seemed to be a pine cone lodged in his throat somewhere. It was the early hours of the afternoon when he finally talked himself up enough to leave the den he had dug for himself on the side of the mountain, the sun just beginning it’s steady decent as he padded quietly toward the river. He follows the trails with a practiced ease these days, his gait almost graceful were it not for the jaunty swagger that rolled his hips and lifted his small paws high. Often his sister had called him an anomaly, that he should be so tall and slender and yet still such an utter klutz. It had been weeks since he’d tripped down the mountain though, so that had to count for something.

The mention of his sister caused him to pause midstride, an ache that was all too familiar branching across his heart. Seasons later the rift torn between them still hurt like new, it always knocked the breath out of him. If this worked, then he would go see his sister next he decided with sudden determination. If he could do this he could do anything, right? With a shake of his dark head he was off again, bright blue and golden eyes dancing off the changing landscape as he went. There was no doubt winter was coming, the days had begun to shorten and the oaks had begun to turn their leaves which painted the mountainside in brilliant hues or red, orange and yellow some of which already crunched beneath his paws as he walked.

It didn’t take long to reach the riverside, and bracing himself he dove into the chilly waters. He didn’t linger, dunking himself once or twice before retreating to a sun-soaked spot on the banks and giving a hard shake which sent droplets of water flying through the air like diamonds. Satisfied that was as dry as he would get at the moment he plopped down on his hindquarters and proceeded to lick and pull at his dark fur until it lay in an at least acceptable fashion. His pink tongue was methodical as it worked, from fighting the cowlick that constantly tried to stand out on his slender chest to soothing the longer strands on his tail so they fell gently atop one another. Standing he circled once or twice, head turned over his shoulder to try and get a good look at his work. It wasn’t perfect, but odds are it was the best he had ever looked and it would have to do, for with a flick of his two-toned gaze he saw the sun was setting faster than he had expected.

Like a flash he was off again, his pace more hurried than before but he took great care to steer clear of the reaching brush that might lodge a leaf or twig in his hard work. It took time but he finally stumbled upon one of the last beds of wildflowers that dared bloom so late in the season. A sea of color they were, brilliant yellows, deep reds, and vibrant purples they dotted the small field and he took great care in picking a few of each until he had a decent sized bouquet. Smiling to himself, around the stems clenched delicately in his mouth, he took off once more at an easy trot following what was to him the most familiar path in all of Spirane.

The sun was just beginning to hover over the distant horizon when the comforting sight of the den came into view. He paused a few feet back from the entry, sparkling eyes dancing and trying to see within to no avail. His throat was thick again, the pine cone seeming to have returned even as his heart rate picked up. Had he eaten butterflies? He couldn’t remember, but they were now fluttering in his stomach as if he had ingested a group of them this morning. This was it, he had almost messed it up before, downplaying their relationship and thinking that's what she wanted, but it had come down to this. He sighed deeply, drawing in as much breath as possible before leaning down to place the flowers at his dark paws and looking at the den once more. Opening his mouth he tried to speak, but all that came out was an unflattering, decidedly unmanly squeak. Looking at himself in horror he shook his head, get it together man! Trying once more he cleared his throat before letting out a gentle “Haven?” He couldn’t tell if she was inside, at this time of day she typically was, but the densite was so saturated with her scent he couldn’t tell. All he could do now was wait, wait and pray Taliesin didn’t find him first.