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" Wahhhhhh! Mommmy! Make him pay! " A younger Mikaila grabbed to her mother's steady hand and pointed an accusing hand to a young Xennek. Her ear had a hole in it, thanks to his practicing aim. As she cried and cursed, a smiling elder bandaged up her ear, said a word of warning to the young foxtaur and left with her babe. Mikaila, however, was not pleased. " Where are we going?! Go back there and make him pay! "

A teen Fiore chuckled. Since he had joined this particular cervi group, he'd known that the pink zebra taur was just a ball of spite. It seemed that nothing was good enough for her. She was a princess and worst of all, she knew it. Her older brothers couldn't handle her. It sent rivers of amusement through him just to watch the adults try to quiet their sister. Even their own young ones didn't whine as much.

He followed them back to the village. Since his coming by he always suspected that he would be tossed to the curve. This wasn't the case. They opened their hearts and homes to the orphan. He had as much as any normal child should have, maybe even more. Fiore waved to a group of children playing outside of his hut. No doubt they'd taken up his offer to come and go as they pleased. When he pulled back the reed flap to enter, he was shocked.

Raised like the warriors their parents were, most of the children couldn't understand his passifistic ways. They just sent him condisending looks and walked away to train. So it was a welcomed shock to find his hut filled from floor to ceiling with flowers. Large, pink buds sprang around his desk. Wine like white flowers wrapped around his wash pale and around the fireplace was a cove of violets, blues, and whites. He couldn't help the tears that flowed down his face.

" Welcome back. " Fiore jumped. When he turned round, a smiling lilac cervi held a bowl of veggies out to him. Her gentle green eyes made his heart flutter. Everything about her made him smile. From the way she always seemed to know where he was to the way she always knew what to do to make him smile. Being an orphan as well, Petunia had latched onto Fiore. What started out as a companionship had turned into much, much more. By next spring they would be adults and then, they would mate. " Dinner's served. "

Brushing his short hair away from his eyes, Fiore followed her into their small dining area. It was all that was left of the old house, her old house. The fire had taken it all down, even her parents. He still couldn't understand why she'd want to stay here but she wouldn't answer his questions. It was something deeper than memories.

He enhaled deep and sighed. " It smells heavenly. " And it did. My my, how she could roast those turnips! " I can't believe you made this all yourself. "

Petunia giggled and waved a flower covered finger at him. " Just make sure you eat it all, got it? We don't want d'em wild cats comin' in 'ere stealin' it. "

Fiore chuckled. " I can just imagine it! " He shook his head and sat at the custom made table. " A bunch of panthers making it past the mighty huntress Petunia! " His laughter filled the whole house with warmth.

Petunia merely sighed and sat a steaming bowl of vegetables in front of him. Before her sat a fine meal of rabbit, squirrel and fox. Compared to Fiore's puny meal, it was a monstrosity. Eagerly she set in on it. Pieces of meat flew out from the corners of her mouth as saliva dripped down the sides. For such a gentle looking girl, she was anything but.

Fiore, on the other hand, ate with patience and grace. He ate only his fill before pushing off to wash up the dishes. Almost all the pots were scrubbed up by the time Petunia was done, which meant he'd have to empty out the dirty water and start anew. " I can help you with those, " She whispered, arms circling his waist.

His breath hitched. " Your to much of a distraction to be of help, " Fiore rasped, voice deep with lust. How they would survive the winter he couldn't fathom. Reluctantly, he let her go. " Your going hunting tomorrow, correct? You'd best retire early tonight. "

Petunia mumbled something before nibbling on his neck and slinking off to her bedroom. He shook his head with a laugh. As the hours rolled by, the small hut became cleaner and cleaner. It was his nightly ritual to purge their merry little home of dust and grime alike. Most of the flowers were set out back, seeing as they could be replanted again but what was left was taken up to his room. Petunia wouldn't stand for all the frilliness to cover up her weaponry for much longer. As night gave way to morning, his tired muscles ached. However, he was determined to plant the flowers before he went to sleep.

So, sneaking out back to his private garden, he set to work. With no particular pattern in mind, he dug out holes with his hands in the cool earth. Placing each one in it's proper spot, he was almost finished with something hard hit his temple. He cried out in pain, doubling over as spots over took his vision. Then, the darkness came.

~*~*~*~

" -Appologize-"

"-way! "

" -come to. "

Fiore groaned and rolled over. What happened to the ground? He was on his bed with the worst migraine ever. It felt as it ever little sound, every shred of light was sending tiny needles into his skull. Taking a chance, he opened his eyes. Light blue orbs were staring into his own. He screamed.

Mikaila leapt off the side of the bed with a cry and raced out of the room. A moment later, he heard glass breaking on the floor as her steps became further away.

A cool, cold cloth was placed on his forehead. Petunia smiled down at him. " Who says gardening isn't dangerous? " She looked like she was about to start laughing at any given moment.

He closed his eyes. Why couldn't she just be nice to him without taunting him? " Petunia. " His hand shock out to grab hers. For a moment, he just relaxed and rubbed his fingers over her callouses. He would have stayed like that forever, had she not decided to attempt to wake him.

" There's a big ruckus in the town square and I'm going to go see what I can do to help. You stay here and try to rest. " She bent over to peck his cheek. " I know you haven't been sleeping, so don't try to weasel your way out of it. " As she left, he saw her hand linger on his doorknob way longer than necessary before actually shutting it.