“Look, I know it’s a cliché, okay?
“But the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen…” Bitterntuft’s words trailed off, and she looked pointedly off into middle distance.
“Well? Come on, I told you mine!” Larchmist urged, nudging the warrior in the shoulder with a paw, impatience and curiosity causing the tip of her tail to twitch across the ground.
Bitterntuft looked further away, a faint color lighting up their cheeks. The normally-brusque warrior was blushing! Lichenmist could hardly believe her eyes, but before she could speak...
“What’s all the fuss about? Did I hear correctly, that we’re sharing pretty things we’ve found?”
The voice was
Maplesong’s, the healer’s assistance sauntering off with a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
Bitterntuft looked like she wanted to sink through the forest floor and join the roots of Forest’s Heart. Maplesong looked at the warrior with worry in her eyes, reaching out with a gentle paw to touch Bitterntuft’s own.
“Are you feeling alright, Bitterntuft? You look quite out of sorts,” she asked, tilting her head to try and meet their eyes.
Bittertuft made a soft, strangled sound.
“’m… I’m okay, Maplesong,” she finally managed, raising her head and clearing her throat, cheeks burning bright.
“It’s just that… Well. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is you.”
Now it was Maplesong’s chance to fall to silence, her eyes wide; the confession was unexpected, but not unwelcome, as butterflies stirred in her stomach and her cheeks warmed with a gentle heat.
“W-well, I,” she started, then shook her head and took a breath to regain her composure. “How about we go for a walk? I think I saw some interesting flowers by the river…!”
Larchmist watched the pair walk off with a smile on her face. They were truly perfect for each other…!