There was something almost electric about being so near to her, even if they were only in close proximity to one another and not truly touching. This, however, was nothing compared to the feeling that made his heart jump into his throat when she placed her slender, delicate paw atop her own. He swallowed heavily, his mouth had suddenly gone dry it seemed, as his eyes danced from their paws back to her lovely violet eyes. All of this merely from the warmth of her small paw atop her own, what in the world would happen if he were ever allowed to touch her fully as he had so often dreamed, to run his creamy white nose through the dark contrast of her golden brown hues? Her question pulls him from the most pleasant of day dreams, the soft smile playing on his lips growing wider at her response to reciprocate in telling him all about herself. He would never know enough about her, he though quietly.

So true to his word he tells her how he has been, and though it is a simple tale tale, his life rather quiet overall as of late, she seems to enjoy it. The soft thumping of her tail on the verdant ground, the smile that causes her eyes to crinkle slightly at the edges, the soft tinkling of her laughter made him want to never stop talking. The other part of him wants to know more about her and he is pleased that she seems so willing to oblige, though he cannot help but feel the weight of the silence between them as she seems to compose herself causing his brow to furrow slightly in concern. It doesn’t take him long to understand why as she begins to talk of the father whom she obviously loved very dearly, and the lack of his presence here and now makes his heart drop for he was becoming rather sure that this story might not have a happy ending. As her soft words filled the forest air around them full of emotion he lowered his sleek head to nuzzle softly at her feminine paws where they lay draped across his own in the only form of comfort he could offer her at the moment. She needed to say these things, he felt that much in his very soul, to tell someone about what had happened and as always he would be that for her.

The tears that fall silently from her beautiful features are enough to make him feel like his own heart is breaking in two. He long to comfort her, to shield her from the harshness their world too often inflicted on such beautiful souls as her own, but as he felt the strength of her love for her father he could only allow give her his quiet presence as comfort and hope she would find happiness again in time. When she finally continues his red splotched gaze his intense upon her own, seeing the range of emotions playing upon her features as she confirms that her father had passed away. “Of course, you should never regret doing what you can for your family,” he offers quietly, plush ears rotating backwards to show his own remorse.

Finally he can take it no longer, the pull of the intense emotions she is feeling ricocheting in his own soul causing the pull he felt toward her to become almost unbearable. Scooting forward awkwardly with a push of his back legs he draws closer to her, lowering his head so that they are face to face he searches her features for any sign that she might dislike this newfound closeness. Only when he sees none does he allow his pink tongue to wash carefully over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose where sparkling tears had shone before. With great care he attempted to wash her cares away, hoping that she might find solace in the contact as he did. Only once done, and with perhaps a bit too much remorse, he pulled back to look at her beautiful face once more. “There, much better. Your father was blessed to have such a caring daughter, Reian, your love for him is unquestionable.” he said with a soft smile on his features, feeling perhaps a bit guilty that all he wanted to do was touch her once more.

However her next question draws his attention once more, his head tilting slightly to the side with a crooked, amused grin on his ever-young face. The grin falls into a light chuckle as he replies. “Yes, Sinclair live with his mate Cersei, though they have both been rather absent as of late as well. As for myself, I haven’t found anyone willing to put up with me. Yet.” The last words fall from his mouth jokingly but with an undeniable layer of hope as his dark eyes turn to her once more. “You said you had a small family, a sister and a brother, how are they? And what of a…a mate?” The last word sticks in his throat like honey, hoping she would say she had none for his own hearts sake. Though if she did his devotion to her would not change in the least, he would be whatever she needed as long as she wanted.