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Sunbreak was walking through the forest under the silvery light of the full moon that floated fat and happy overhead. While the moon appeared to be happy, Sunbreak was not. Things had gotten pretty complicated the more he'd grown up. His best friend for the longest time had been Oddeye. As pups, they'd been pretty close. They'd spent a lot of time with one another, exploring their packlands together.

Things were so much more complicated now.

Out of pure irritation, Sunbreak kicked a stone that was in his path, watching it as it rolled up to rest against the steady feet of another dog.

Slowstep loved to walk. Walking allowed him to think and clear his mind. Well, kind of clear his mind. There was always one thing that lurked on his mind despite his best attempts to clear his brain -- Skygaze. He would talk to her soon. He had to. He didn't think it was fair to either of them for him to ignore the way he felt about her.

His thoughts were interrupted by the softly rolling rock that came to rest almost apologetically at his toes. Lifting his gaze, Slowstep recognized one of Skygaze's extensive family -- a nephew, if he remembered correctly. Sunbreak?

"Something troubling you, friend?"

Sunbreak recognized Slowstep. His aunt Skygaze was forever talking about the orange-eyed male. Sunbreak shook his head and wrinkled his nose. Well, his aunt never had anything bad to say about this guy, so maybe Slowstep could be trusted with his girl problems.

"You could say so," Sunbreak admitted grumpily, shaking his head at the thought. "Getting older sucks. You know what else sucks?" He didn't wait for a reply before instantly stating, "Girls."

Oddeye had this new fascination with some other dog, and she'd been spending more and more time with him. He was younger than she, but she was so hung up on the fact that they both had mismatched eyes. Sunbreak was half in love with her already, and this was slowly but surely shattering his heart.

Ahhh, what a topic.

"I know how you feel," Slowstep said carefully. "I've been having some of my own, and I'm even older than you are." He shook his head, those vivid eyes of his almost glowing in the iridescent light of the moon. "If you need to talk about it, I'm hear to listen. I'm Slowstep, by the way. I know you're related to quite a few dogs in the pack."

Smooth, Slowstep.

"I know who you are," Sunbreak smiled softly, the gesture almost reaching his troubled violet eyes. "My aunt Skygaze talks about you a lot. She was real happy when you helped her find all those mushrooms." It just so happened that his aunt was working with the mother of the dog that had taken Oddeye away from him. It was obvious that the young dog's mind wasn't right -- if Skygaze found out that he'd told Slowstep of his aunt's fondness, Skygaze would thump him a good one. Sunbreak's brow drew down in a frown as he continued.

"I'm Sunbreak," he added, figuring that he should introduce himself.

Slowstep's brows rose as Sunbreak spoke. Skygaze was talking about him to her family? He couldn't help but allow his imagination to run rampant. His immediate reaction was to blurt out all the questions that filled his head, but the time for that would come later. For now, he felt obligated to help the younger dog with his female plights -- if he could help, maybe then he could persuade Sunbreak to answer the questions he direly needed to ask.

"What kind of girl problems are you having, then? Maybe we can share the ones we're having, it might make us feel better."

"I like a girl that I grew up with but she doesn't feel the same way," Sunbreak said sullenly, shaking his head. "She was my best friend and now she doesn't want to do anything with me. I really think I love her, but she's only got eyes for one of the healer's sons." Sunbreak exhaled loudly and met Slowstep's gaze.

"It really hurts, you know? Liking a girl and knowing I don't have any chance with her because she's only interested in another guy." He shook his head and gestured with a nod that Slowstep should share his girl problems. "Your turn, Slowstep."

Slowstep knew exactly how Sunbreak felt. It was eerie.

"I like a female that is ... she's amazing. She's smart but she's clumsy and she doesn't recognize that she doesn't have to be just like the dog she admires -- she can forge her own path in the pack and do great things." He fell silent and looked thoughtfully at Sunbreak.

"I've loved her forever -- since we were pups -- and yet I can't figure out the way to tell her that I'm mad about her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I don't know how to tell her that she's everything I need and more." Slowstep shrugged and sighed quietly, toeing the rock that Sunbreak had kicked earlier.

"You just have to tell her," Sunbreak said, shaking his head. "You might be surprised at her reaction, actually." Sunbreak had kind of figured that Slowstep was speaking of Skygaze, and he offered Slowstep a brotherly smile. "Just tell her, already. Each day that you don't is a day wasted. I should take heed of my own advice," he said with a smile in his voice, "but Oddeye is already planning her forever with Strangesight and I can't bring myself to ruin the happiness she has with him, no matter how much it hurts my heart."

He shrugged and smiled at Slowstep. "Your secret is safe with me, by the way, Slowstep," he said gently, "but tell her soon before you lose her." He shrugged again and turned to move away before tossing one more bit of advice over his shoulder, "She's worth the chance."

Slowstep gaped after Sunbreak after the younger male padded away. He certainly hadn't been expecting the conversation to that that turn -- and he certainly hadn't been expecting to be on the receiving end of advice. Once the younger dog was out of sight, Slowstep turned his gaze towards the rock that he'd been fussing with.

It seemed to be obvious to everyone but Slowstep that Skygaze was fond of him, and he'd be willing to bet that if he approached Skygaze and frankly told her how he felt, well, maybe he wouldn't be disappointed with her answer. Each day that passed and he didn't tell her how he felt, he was losing one more day that he could've spent with her.

Kicking the rock off of the path that he was on, Slowstep slowly padded back home. He had a lot to think about, and a lot to plan.