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Tastes Like Summer could be considered Snow's opposite, perhaps in most ways. She relished the company of others, and was always tender and kind. It was her nature to believe that if she opened her hearts to others and treated others with kindness, the swamp would lead her to those that would bring her the most happiness. It was perhaps because of this open disposition that had led her to much confusion at times, but in the end she considered herself all the better for having done what she did.

Not lazy by any stretch of the imagine, Starburst had been crouched low in the field, paws sinking softly into the swamp flour readying herself for a race and competition between her and Waltz, who was at the moment hunting, when the doe came charging through. Blinking at the doe's actions, Starburst came forward, watching the dandelions disappear in the puff of white, dispersing in the wind. It reminded her of Sun's markings and as if on cue, her cheetah came racing towards her, wanting to play.

That had most certainly given her position away, though it might not seem too strange for two cheetahs, one male and the other female to be meeting in the field, except that one of them had glowing eyes. She would have revealed herself soon enough anyways, for she never could quite ignore expectant kin.

Starburst certainly hadn't meant to scare the doe. She nearly gave chase to apologize and to offer the doe some kind words when she realized that those actions would probably look exactly like she was hunting the doe down. Still a little unused to her new abilities, it took Starburst a moment to realize the solution to her quandary. She called out using her mind, projecting her thoughts to the doe at the edge of the field, "Please! Don't go! We don't mean any harm!"

Starburst made a soft whuffling when Sun bumped his head against her side. Her tail flicked from side to side and waited until the doe had made the first approached before padded, slow and quiet, up to the doe before staring up at her with large, glowing eyes.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. My name is Tastes Like Summer," she projected quietly into the doe's mind. She nudged Sun who flopped onto his side to lounge lazily next to her. "This is Leading Light."

Starburst accepted the apology with a nod and smile, though it probably looked strange on a cheetah's mouth. Still, there was a softness to her eyes that could not be mistaken for anything but kindness.
"Don't worry about it. This is not my field, not only mine; it is yours as well, and any kin in this swamp."


"Tell me, what is troubling you about this buck?"

"Sometimes matters of the heart can be rather unexpected," Starburst agreed easily. She smiled at the thought, thinking about Waltz before asking her next question, "Tell me, if you can, why do you try and keep your heart hidden? What terrors or tragedies do you think will befall you if you open your heart to others?"

Starburst sat down quietly, watching the doe pace for a few moments before answering. "Certainly, the risk is there, but along with that risk comes great opportunity."

"If your heart is always hidden and no one can find it, then so too will your heart be unable to find the pleasures that lay waiting for you because it is so far removed."

"Sometimes it is worth it to follow your heart. It knows things that your waking self cannot know because it feels more freely than we can anticipate or control," Starburst begins. She thinks of how long it took her to do exactly what the doe was contemplating, well, not exactly that, but in some ways very similar. Starburst had been afraid of committing even though her heart had told her she was ready, so she had refrained from telling the buck that she loved how she felt. "Your feelings for him, your heart no longer hidden, are not the weakest parts of you. They can be strong and powerful, and if he chooses to spurn you, then grow from the experience. Hearts are not so breakable as you might think."

"But there is no need to rush on my account. There is time enough in this swamp to do what you think is right. If that is to stop and think, or to get away from him, then ultimately you should do what you think is best for yourself."