approaching and whimpered softly in fright.

“Krystal? You here?” It was Rallan’s voice! Krystal felt her mouth curl up into a huge smile and she bolted right out of the den, almost crashing into the gray wolf she knew so well just standing outside.

“Rallan! Oh, I knew you’d be able to do it!” Krystal said, voice and eyes full of relief as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Rallan chuckled softly and hugged her back just as tightly.

“Shh, it’s alright Krystal… Everything’s better now… You’re safe…” Rallan whispered softly. Krystal slowly pulled back and saw the blood on his muzzle, her heart sinking slightly.

“Oh Rallan, please tell me you didn’t…” Krystal said softly, but Rallan held up his paw to stop her.

“No Krystal, I didn’t kill him… I just bit his shoulder pretty hard… That where the blood’s from… I left him unconscious at his den…” Rallan explained, “By the time he wakes up, our scents will be long gone and he’ll more than likely just give up and stay at home for a while…” Krystal smiled slightly.

“Well, why don’t you go lie down for a bit? You look a little beaten up…” she offered. Rallan laughed and then sighed heavily.

“I’ve been in worse shape… Believe me…” Rallan stated with another light laugh, but nodded in agreement, “But yeah, you’re most likely right… I’ll just take a nap and be back up before nightfall…”

Rallan licked the blood from his muzzle, then nuzzled Krystal in a friendly manner before walking off into the den. Krystal smiled at Rallan as she watched him walk inside and fall to the brush bedding. Shortly later, she could hear heavier breathing coming from him and knew he’d be out for a long while.

“Sleep well Rallan…” Krystal whispered quietly into the den.

Krystal turned and walked off into the forest. With Rallan asleep, she figured she’d go for a short walk. After all, she wouldn’t stray too far off, especially not after what had just happened to her. But still, a quiet stroll never harmed anyone… Krystal walked into a nearby grove and smiled as she looked around at the various flowers and plants around her. A few feet away she spotted something that would be perfect for tonight: a red rose bush. She grabbed a few of the bright crimson flowers in her jaws before turning and heading back off to the coast.

From the shadows, another wolf watched as Krystal gathered up the flowers and trotted off. His hazel-colored eyes followed her every move until she was out of sight. He growled lowly as her scent made its way toward him. There was another scent mixed in with hers though… and it was very familiar to this wolf.

“So female, you’ve run into Rallan… And pretty recently as well… Well maybe you’ll just lead me right toward him…” the wolf said silently to himself, a smirk playing on his face, “Then maybe Rayne will forgive my blunder… I may even be promoted… It’s all just a matter of time now…”

The wolf then quietly slunk through the shadows and undergrowth, vanishing from sight.

Krystal laid the sweet-fragranced roses out amongst the other flowers. She took a deep sniff of the air around her, beautifully perfumed by the various flowers. The scents were enticing, delectable, and slightly seductive without being too overpowering to the senses. Everything was now set for the night to come and just in time, as well. The sun was beginning to sink downward toward the western horizon. With a smile, Krystal sat and watched the sun go down for a while before she turned and walked back toward the den.

Once Krystal had arrived at her den, she took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for what to say to Rallan for the next hour or so. This was it… it was now or never, and Krystal knew she would do it now. Nothing was going to stop her. She’d almost lost that chance before in her life and she wasn’t about to lose it again!

Walking silently into the den, she smiled down at the sleeping form of Rallan, the wolf seeming so calm and at peace with everything. It was so cute, as was he. She hoped, oh how she hoped, that he could be hers and that she would be his. So, mind dead-set on finding out the answer, she nudged him gently until he murred and opened his eyes slowly, staring groggily up at her.

“Krystal? How long was I asleep for?” Rallan asked with a yawn and a stretch of his legs.

“All day… The sun’s going down right now…” Krystal answered. That seemed to make Rallan wake up and shoot out of bed. He dashed outside and stared up at the deep orange sky in shock, surprised he’d been able to sleep so long! He chucked softly and smiled at Krystal.

“Sorry about that… I really didn’t mean to sleep all day…” Rallan said, ears folding back against his head in embarrassment. Krystal giggled lightly and approached Rallan again. From the shadows, a wolf watched the two, a large grin on his muzzle.

“It’s alright… It gave me some time to prepare something for us…” Krystal replied, smiling at the intrigued look he gave her, head tilt and all, “Follow me… I think you’ll like it a lot…”

Krystal began to head off west again, toward the coast and the setting sun. Rallan watched her for a couple seconds before following a little bit behind her. So many questions ran through his mind now. What did she do and why would he like it so much? Soon all his questions were answered as they stepped out of the forest, the sounds of the sea greeting his senses as Krystal led him to the cliff where she’d set everything up. The scents of the flowers filled his sense of smell, Krystal occupying his sight and the waves taking his hearing.

“This is it… I thought we could watch the sun set and stargaze again, like before… But this time I thought it’d be nicer with a bed of flowers…” Krystal said, smiling sweetly at Rallan. The gray wolf was in awe, feeling his heart skip a beat as he gazed around at the romantic setting. Krystal seemed to glow in the fading dusk sunlight, entrancing Rallan even further. Ever since she’d found him on the bank of that river, he’d felt something for her, but now he was certain it was a complete attraction to her.

“You were right Krystal… It’s amazing… I love it!” Rallan stated, padding up beside her and staring out over the sparkling sea. He resisted the urge to just add ‘Almost as much as I love you’ to the end and confess his secret right there and then. He hadn’t known if Krystal liked him like that or not, but now from the scenery she’d taken time to set up, he’d guess she did. He’d tell her tonight.

“I’m so glad you do!” Krystal replied joyfully before lying down on the grass amongst the flowers, “Care to join me down here?” Rallan smirked.

“With pleasure, milady…” Rallan responded, lying down beside her.

The sun had vanished by now and the full moon was just beginning to make its nightly rounds across the sky, starting from the eastern horizon and rising up over the forest. Everything was cast into a veil of silver, stars sparkling overhead like a billion floating luminous diamonds. The two lay in peaceful silence for a long time, just watching the stars and enjoying one another’s company, both trying to gather up the courage to speak their hidden feelings. The moon was halfway to being in its midnight position when Krystal finally spoke up.

“Rallan… There’s something I have to tell you…” Krystal said softly, “Something I should have told you years ago…”

“I never thought I’d be able to be like this…” Rallan said suddenly, catching Krystal’s full attention as she stared at him staring up at the sky as he spoke, “Lying here by the coast, a warm breeze, soft grass, being this happy…” Rallan then rolled his head to stare back into Krystal’s amber eyes.

“Being with you…” he finished softly, “… Krystal, for years, I’ve looked for a new life… You’ve given me that… Krystal… I love you…”

There was a long silence between the two as both wolves stared into one another’s eyes. Rallan’s heart froze and Krystal’s skipped several beats. After the long silence, she leaned closer and licked his nose affectionately.

“I love you too, Rallan…” Krystal said back in a soft tone. She licked his nose once again, Rallan too stupefied to say or do anything at the moment. After a couple more moments, Rallan licked her muzzle back. Within minutes, they were embracing one another, licking, nuzzling, and kissing one another voraciously. All their locked away feelings were now able to be expressed, their love for the other being shown in the fullest.

From the dark shadows of the distant forest, their stalker watched with sickening glee as his hazel eyes fell over the gray pelage of his target: Rallan.