Something about the statement Sila made sent her heart fluttering, blushing scarlet beneath her dark fur. She chuckled, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "I figure I'd be more keen to look at you than the sunrise, anyhow." The words were accompanied with a sly wink, remembering the feeling of Sila's teeth nibbling at the fur behind her ear-- and her face seemed to grow even hotter. But in a single moment their teasing each other seemed to come to a pause, Sila turning towards her with a serious expression to match her own. Samus blinked, tilting her head at the hesitancy and nervousness that seemed to roll off of the other woman in waves. She flashed her a small, encouraging grin, toothy but expectant.

There was a seriousness to her words that made Samus prick her ears forward, cocking her head so it rested lazily towards one side. Ah, so perhaps she wasn't completely misguided in her earlier thoughts about what a home meant. The mountains were a part of her, a part of both of them, but she understood what Sila meant. Being tied to a pack was limiting, especially when the world seemed so uncertain. But a large part of her ached, for she couldn't imagine Sila leaving without her following along-- and what if the woman before her didn't want that? What if she needed time to herself-- what if this was the breakup of whatever it was they had? Those words, however, never came. Samus was slightly taken aback by her following question, but the surprise on her face was not one of anger or refusal.

A grin spread across her face, mahogany eyes excited, rimmed in fire from the rays of the rising sun. "Oh, honey," She said, laughing. "I'll stick to ya like a burr." Perhaps it was all that needed to be said, but it was not all that Samus was going to say. Her heart felt like it was going to sink through her chest with the weight of all her feelings. And for the first time, she felt as though she could be sure that Sila felt the same. It was a curious thing, this love that she felt-- it was unlike any other kind of love. It was not the obsessive love of an imprint bond, nor the warm love of a family. It was fiery and passionate, but it was also whispered and slow. It was everything she needed and everything she wanted, too.

Looking at Sila in the early morning light, Samus realized that it was perfect.

"I'd never leave ya." She swallowed, nervous, but still grinning. "The mountains might be where I rest my head, but yer my home, my home that walks on four paws and 'ken keep me warm at night." There was something akin to pride in her dark gaze. "What we got is perfect. Sila, I love ya, and no matter what happens, you'll always have my shoulder t' lean on."