Valentine savoured Dock’s smile, although it only lasted a second. She was so pretty when she smiled, it was such a shame that she seemed so eternally downtrodden by whatever was on her mind. Her blank expression that followed and her confused half-questions made it clear that her head was elsewhere – or at least he hoped so. He did not like to think that their conversation had been forgotten so easily, after all. “Of course it is, silly,” he assured her, his tone remaining energetic as he tried to keep the mood bright and upbeat. “Have you been wandering around with your eyes closed?” The rain continued to beat against the leafy canopy above them, and the odd trickle of rain dripped down along the branches and the trunks of the trees towards the damp ground below. Yet despite the slightly miserable nature of the rain the Forest was sheltered and brimming with rich, green life. It was a beautiful place indeed, although Valentine was not unbiased enough to favour it over the Prairie that he could now call his. Valentine smiled again at her words, and his dark eyes watched her carefully as she seemed to take a conscious grip of herself and give her full attention to their conversation. He shook his head nonchalantly at her concern. “I wouldn’t think so – I’m going to talk to him after I’m done catching up with you,” he explained with a grin. “I’m your new neighbour, you see.” He tilted his head, watching for her reaction to his news. “You’ll come and visit me, won’t you?” he asked, keeping his tone casual even though he meant the words quite seriously. |