Calandra laughed again and flopped back against the stone wall behind her. “It seems you’ve gotten up to more since I left than we did together.”

It was a beautiful night. Warm, a little breezy, and clear without any threat of rain. Inside the den it was warmer, thanks to the two bodies pressed into the space. Calandra felt warm for other reasons as well. They had caught a rabbit a piece earlier, before they had washed and settled in for more stories. She’d forgotten how much fun Possum was. Well, not forgotten, just hadn’t thought about for a long time. Raising pups had a way of taking up most of your ability to process coherent thought.

“Possum, did you really tell the girls about me?” She asked, the smile still touching her face, although now it took on a slightly chastising look to go with the tone in her voice. “You didn’t embellish me too much, did you? I’d hate to disappoint them.”

---

Possum grinned, sprawled against the cool dampness of the stone floor, his thick tail wagging as he took in the sights around him. Beautiful night...beautiful girl. God, he'd missed her. Maybe it was still a boyhood crush, but he wasn't a child anymore. He knew what he wanted...and he wanted her. Not just for one night, not just for a romp in the hay...but for good. He knew better--Gods he knew better--she was on her way back to the Outriders, since news had come back that the pack was rebuilding. That's where her heart lay. But...did his heart lay with her enough to follow her there? Would she even want him to?

He nodded. "Of course, Cali. You were probably the highlight of my teenage-dom," he admitted, albeit a little sheepishly. "I spun the entire litter tales of mystery, intrigue and love. Of course love." He winked at her, then blushed. "But I had to give the story a happily-ever-after, of course."

---

"And what was the happily-ever-after?" She asked, against her better judgment.

Really, she should be paying better attention to her instincts, but she was trying to skirt that issue for as long as possible. The compliment was flattering and his embarrassment was cute, but it couldn’t be denied that Possum had… grown up. He was an adult the same as she was and now that she had been able to reconcile the teen she had known with the adult she was faced with, it was hard to ignore the affection he held for her, blatant or implied.

Having never been faced with such a situation before, Cali wasn’t even really sure how to approach the issue. So, in lieu of that, she avoided it and focused on the stories, on the present. She would deal with the trouble when it came, but the longer she spent with him the less it felt like trouble.

---

Possum smiled, resisting the urge to butt his head against hers, feeling that would be too forward. No...this girl, while older, was a little more wary. He knew what he felt...but maybe Cali would need some convincing. He would be patient--he had all the time in the world, at least all the time she spent in Akiiki Chibale. "Well, of course the valiant Sir Possum had to go on a journey with Princess Calandra...and they fought dragons and Sir Possum rescued Lady Calandra from many a...things." He gave a wolfish smile. "And then we got married and had five kids. Yanno, happy endings."

---

"Dragons, hm? I haven't seen one of those around here lately. I'm sure they were thrilled." Not that Calandra would object to five children, but that would lead down that path of conversation she was trying to avoid. She smiled despite that and let her head rest on her paws. "It's too bad they're too old for such stories now." She'd never told such fanciful tales to Evadne and Indeygo, but she'd had stories of her own to tell. It seemed that Possum was graced with a stronger imagination than she had.

"Will I be fighting any dragons during my stay here? If so I think I'll stay firmly tucked away in here."

---

Possum smiled, stretching out alongside her but never touching. He kept his distance, his olivine green eyes sliding across her peaches-and-cream pelt and the soft glow of her teal eyes. He smiled. "No, no dragons. We defeated the last one, don't worry," he joked. "And they ate it up. Talked about my stories for days." His tail thumped against the stone and he inched a little closer, stretching out a paw to gently brush against hers. "I wouldn't object to spending the week in the den," he murmured, eying her. His heart kicked in his chest. "Cali..." He took a deep breath, wondering how in the world he could get her to catch on. Deciding that honesty was the best policy...and that he didn't want to waste their time together being perfect strangers, he grinned boyishly. "I like you. There, I said it."

---

Inside, Cali immediately tensed at Possum's murmured words, but outside she tried to keep herself relaxed. Still, something about her expression betrayed her wariness, especially when Possum stretched out to touch her. Her eyes flicked to his paw and she could feel her heartbeat speeding up when she brought her eyes back to his. Surely he didn't...

Just before he spoke, she saw it in his eyes and felt herself flush under her fur and not unpleasantly. Oh, he did.

The boyish smile did little to ease her slight panic and her uncertainty with a situation she was unfamiliar with. Males rarely showed interest in her. Actually, she couldn't think of any who had showed interest in her beyond friendship... ever. Now, how much of that was because she avoided them she didn't know, but she did realize this was a new and delicate situation. She wouldn't bother pretending to misunderstand him. That wouldn't be fair to either of them.

"Possum, we haven't seen each other in months. We only knew each other for months," she reminded him, though she didn't move her paw. Half the time she wasn't even meeting his gaze.

---

"I know," he murmured, solemn, all traces of humor evaporated from his face. "But I've come to believe it doesn't matter. My brother met a girl as a pup, found a friend...and they didn't see each other again for years. And when they met back up...well. They have a pack of kids. I'm an uncle. I feel so old," he admitted. He withdrew his paw, peering at her with his ears tipped forwards. "I don't expect you to love me back...not so quickly. But I'd like to think that maybe, with time..." He shook his head. "Even if it doesn't last." But oh, how he wanted it to. This feeling of euphoria mixed with dreadful nerves and bubbling excitement. He couldn't stop a small smile from appearing. "I like you, Cali. I have since we met. Maybe that's premature and foolish and wishful, but it doesn't stop it from being true."

---

She got a thrill from hearing him put it that way, but the logical part of her-- the adult part-- told her he was right. It was foolish, because if he was seeing her through the haze of a boyhood crush instead of with open eyes...

But is it wrong to want a little companionship when both wolves are adults and honest about their feelings? She wondered, piecing her thoughts together and trying not to let the wash of flattery and hope blind her. She barely knew Possum.

But you know him better than most wolves. Better than many of your packmates, she realized. He was a good wolf, she knew that. Although part of her wondered how much of his honesty was manipulation. He seemed to have grown into-- pine stumps, he had always been a confident-seeming wolf. For once, she felt completely out of her league and it was in the face of a wolf a good eight seasons her junior. If he wanted to manipulate her, Cali had the self-deprecating thought that it wouldn't have been too difficult.

---

Possum offered a warm smile, pulling himself up into a sitting position. "I know that's a shock to the system," he murmured softly, green eyes hooded. He watched her, ears pricked and focused on her every breath, her every move. Oh, he could be so much to her if she'd just let him. But he wouldn't push her. He wouldn't. Ambling to his feet and feeling a little foolish, he wagged his tail. "I'll give you space. I understand," he murmured, then proceeded to pad into the beauty of the night, headed for the stream to wet his now-parched throat. Surprisingly, he wasn't panicked about her surprised response; he was calm, under control. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had time. He could work on her. She would love him...someday.

---

His exit was a surprise to her. She hadn’t expected him to leave after such a… an unexpected revelation. If that didn’t show her how poorly they knew each other she didn’t know what did.

She couldn’t help her immediate reaction to stand and face the way he had left, her sharp eyes following him as he wandered off to give her the space he felt she needed. Really, if she thought about it, space was probably a good idea. She couldn’t feel logical when he was giving her that look, when he sounded as if he was pleading with her to accept him as… well, a mate. There wasn’t a way to misinterpret that.

Does he even understand what he’s asking? Of course he does. But does he understand the permanency of what he’s asking? Cali didn’t do things by halves if she could help it. Whoever she mated with, unless it was a complete disaster, that was it for her. If he took her—or she him—and they were unhappy… It wouldn’t matter unless the situation became dangerous for either of them—or for any future children. After hearing Possum talk about raising Orient and Jaff and their sisters, Calandra had no doubts about where his mind lay on that.

Feeling unsettled and suffering from a mind in turmoil, she stood in the den entranceway long enough for the now-unfriendly wind to chill her.

---

Possum glanced to Calandra, scenting the air, which did hold a chill to it. "Of course," he smiled, his thick tail giving a lone wag. He dropped his head and lapped at the water for a moment, wetting his throat before easing back into a sit, facing her, his tail wrapped around his hindquarters. "But it doesn't make the view any less beautiful..." He took a breath. "Cali... I'm sorry. I've made things...a little awkward. But I'm not sorry I said it. I mean the words, Cali. I promise you that--I'm not a boy who takes a passing fancy to random girls. My heart's in it for good."

---

“I know.” In a way, she could hear his sincerity, but she still held that niggling doubt that he didn’t know what he was getting into—and she wouldn’t either if she went along with him. However, he was sure in his mind and they had time to figure things out. They didn’t have to handle everything tonight.

“Why don’t we see where things go. I’ve only been here a short while. There’s a lot to catch up on… and a lot to learn.” She glanced over at him, as if trying to assess the wolf despite the dark. “We don’t need to decide this now, do we?”

---

Possum tipped his head to the side, as if considering her words. She was right. They had all the time in the world... They were here, in Akiiki Chibale...for who knew how long. She was here, with him. He had plenty of time to show her that he could be a loving, doting mate. That he could make her happy, even though her wandering heart thought otherwise. Maybe, in time, they could even have a litter of their own. His smile brightened at the thought of Mini-Possums running around Akiiki. Slowly but surely, he nodded his head. "Of course. You're right," he murmured. "Nothing has to be decided. I...just wanted you to know I care for you," he said.

Standing, he gently butted his head against her neck, catching a whiff of her scent. "It is a bit chilly...but morning will come too fast. Perhaps we should turn in for the night?" His green eyes glimmered like stars. Determined not to make it awkward, he wagged his tail and broke away, not lingering.

---

When he backed away Calandra immediately stood and pressed herself against his side, tucking her head briefly under his chin and nuzzling him slightly. It was almost instinctive, but part of her couldn't stand the loss of such a brief, yet intimate, contact. Like him, she moved aside after, but added a casual avoidance of his eyes by turning them back toward his den.

Maybe it was wrong to encourage him when she wasn’t even sure how she felt, but she just… needed to do it. Wanted to. He didn’t have to shy away from physical contact just because he felt things had become awkward. She rather liked the contact, actually, and the particular attention he gave her. It was the warm glow of pack intimacy on a wholly new level and Calandra, at her core, would always be a pack wolf.

“There is no conversation we can have here that we can’t have in a warm den out of the cold,” she agreed and, now that she was on her feet, easily turned toward the den and started back, keeping her pace steady enough that he could fall in beside her.