It isn't too long before I get over my illness. My wound is healing up nicely. Taisley has been a big help to me. She's helping me get over mom's death and this blasted fever.
Right now, I'm kind of sneaking out again. Taisley doesn't really want me leaving my nest yet, but I'm finding it difficult being cooped up like that. I decide to head down to the river for some fresh air.
I dangle my paws in the water, the cool breeze ruffling my fur. "Buckminster!" I cringe at the voice. Taisley only uses my full name to scold me. I may be an adult, but Taisley does hold that power over me.
"Yeah, Tais?" I call back, my ears folding down slightly in anticipation of Taisley's lecture.
I'm not disappointed. "Don't Tais me! You should be resting!" Taisley comes up next to me.
"But Tais, I am restin'! 'm restin' by th' river!" I point out.
"That doesn't count, Buck! You should be back in your nest!" Taisley argues.
"Come on, Tais! I don't wanna be stuck in a nest fer who knows 'ow long! I wanna be outside. I wanna get some fresh air!" I argue back.
"Honestly, Buck! Sometimes, you act like a kit!" Taisley shoves me playfully.
"Ha! Yer one ta talk!" I laugh. I feel a twinge of pain and can't keep the small gasp from escaping my mouth.
"Alright, Buck. I think you had enough fresh air. You should get more rest," Taisley begins leading me away.
"Awww! C'mon, Tais! I don't need any more rest!" I whine.
"Will you rest if I stay next to you?" Taisley asks.
"Oh, fine!" I groan. I love Taisley, but I'm getting sick of my nest. Wait…did I just say…that I love Taisley…in my mind?! Okay…
I lay down in my nest, albeit reluctantly. Taisley lays down next to me. "I guess I can always reason with you, Buck," Taisley chuckles when I send a pout her way.
After a moment, my own face brightens up. "Yeah. I guess ya can…" I laugh. I frown again a moment later. "But I wish I didn't 'ave ta stay in my nest," I grumble.
"Oh, Buck, I know you hate it, but you're not completely better yet. You need rest so that your wound can heal properly," Taisley tries to explain.
I nod after a moment, seeing the sense in what Taisley said. "'kay, Tais," I reply, though I know that Taisley knows that I'm still not too thrilled by the fact that I have to keep resting all of the time.
Taisley places her paw on my right cheek, just under my eyepatch. "Just get some sleep, Buck. Tomorrow, you can go out for a while. I promise," Taisley smiles at the excited look on my face.
I nod my head. I close my eye. I'm asleep almost instantly.
The next day, Taisley and I walk over by the river. Like she promised, I am allowed out of my nest. I pick up a shiny flat stone and skip it over the river. It skips five times before sinking.
Taisley copies me. Her stone skips six times. "Ha! I beat you!" Taisley laughs.
"Awww!" I fake whine.
"Hey, Buck, I'm gonna stay here for a while longer. Why don't you go and see the herd? Spend some time with them!" Taisley suggests.
"'kay," I head off towards the herd.
On the way, I start to think about some things. I think about Taisley. Rather, I think about her and myself. I love Taisley. I just don't know where our relationship stands. I decide that I'll ask Ellie. She might have some good advice.
When I get to the cave, I find Ellie there, alone. "Where are th' others?" I ask.
"They're at the playground with Peaches," Ellie answers.
"Ellie, can I talk ta ya?" I ask.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" Ellie asks.
"Um…well…I…ya know I love Taisley, right? 'm just wonderin' wot I should do ta, ya know, ask 'er ta be my mate. 'm no' used ta lovin' anyone…" I trail off nervously, rubbing the back of my neck with one paw.
Ellie places her trunk over my shoulders. "I get what you're saying. Just trust yourself. Do you think that Taisley wants to be your mate?" Ellie asks.
"I…I think so…I just…I don't…" I shake slightly.
"You're afraid that she won't accept you, right?" Ellie asks.
"Yeah…" I admit after a short hesitation.
"Don't be. Just go out there and tell her how you feel," Ellie nudges me. "And trust me. She will accept you."
"Alright. Thanks, Ellie," I smile.
"You're welcome, Buck," Ellie smiles back.
I turn around and head back towards the river. Hopefully, when I get there, Taisley will still be there. Then, we can talk.
Before I can even see the river, I hear the screams. I rush out in the open to see two Sabers attacking Taisley. I snarl and leap onto the back of the closest one. "Leave 'er alone!" I yowl in midair.
"Buck! Be careful!" Taisley calls.
I sink my teeth into the right side of the Saber's neck. The Saber roars in pain. He begins twisting, hoping to throw me off. I cling to him like a limpet, biting deeper into his neck. My teeth reach the artery. The Saber collapses to the ground. He stops breathing.
I hear yowling. I turn to see Taisley get knocked out against a tree. She has claw marks all over her. Her leaf dress is torn off completely. I barely notice her underlying scars as I snarl and lunge at the remaining Saber. I bite down in the same location as the first. The Saber roars in pain. This one manages to twist his neck around. He bites down into my shoulder. I wince from the pain. Despite the pain, I allow my teeth to sink in deeper. I reach the artery.
When the final Saber takes his last breath, I rush over to Taisley. I shake her. "Taisley! Please! Wake up!" I cry out. Tears of fear are standing in my left eye.
Taisley moans a bit before she opens her eyes. "Buck? You killed them both?" She asks.
"Yeah. I did. Taisley, I…I was afraid that I was gonna lose ya. I…I love ya!" The tears begin to fall from my left eye.
Taisley raises a paw and wipes the tears away from my left eye. "It's okay, Buck. I'm here. I won't leave you," She smiles.
I smile back, before frowning as I remember why I came back in the first place. "Taisley, I came back ta ask ya somethin' important…" I start nervously. I'm fidgeting with my paws.
"What is it, Buck?" Taisley asks.
"I…well…we've been datin' fer a while, an'…I…I want ta ask ya if…if ya want ta be…be my mate…" I finish. I'm shaking like a leaf, looking into Taisley's eyes hopefully.
After the astonished look leaves Taisley's face, she smiles. "Buck, don't be nervous. I love you! Of course I want to be your mate!" Taisley gets up. She wraps her arms around me in a tight, loving embrace. "You could've picked a more romantic setting, though," Taisley jokes.
"Well, the river was s'posed ta be romantic. 't woulda been if these Sabers weren't 'ere." I laugh. I take Taisley's face into my paws. I bring my face closer to hers. I capture her lips in a passionate kiss, my single eye closed in pleasure. Taisley's lips move against mine as she returns my affections.
When we break the kiss, Taisley puts her left paw over my right shoulder. I can't help it. I yowl from the pain. "Buck! What's wrong?" Taisley asks worriedly.
"Th'…th' Saber bit me on that shoulder. 't…'t really 'urts…" I groan.
"Oh!" Taisley exclaims in surprise. She goes around me to take a look at my shoulder. She gasps. "That bite looks nasty! Come on. We need to get back to the cave! You need to rest!" Taisley starts helping me away from the river.
"I'll rest if ya rest, Tais. You were also scratched up," I point out.
"Okay, Buck," Taisley agrees. We continue heading back.
When we get back to the cave, the whole herd is gathered outside. Ellie is the first one to notice us. "Oh! Buck! Taisley! What happened?" She asks.
"A couple of Sabers were attackin' Taisley. I killed 'em, but we were both injured. It's no' that bad, though. I barely feel 't! And besides, I do 'ave somegood news ta brighten things up a bit," I begin.
"Oh? What is it?" The herd asks altogether.
"Well…Taisley agreed ta be my mate!" I smile.
The whole herd erupts into cheers as they congratulate us. Diego punches me in the shoulder, forgetting about it being injured. "Ouch! Watch 't!" I yowl.
"Sorry. I take it one of the Sabers bit it?" Diego inquires.
"Yeah…" I gasp.
"Well, let's get you both inside. We'll get your injuries taken care of," Ellie says.
Taisley and I enter the cave. We basically collapse on our nest from exhaustion. Ellie brings us water. We use it to clean our wounds. Then, Ellie crushes some herbs. We put it on our injuries and bind them. The herd leaves us alone.
Taisley and I lay down on the nest. I flinch and groan from the pain. Taisley strokes my head. "Thank you, Buck, for saving me today," Taisley whispers into my ear.
I glance back at the exhausted form of Taisley. "Yer welcome, Tais," I reply as I curl up next to her. I place my arm over Taisley. She snuggles closer to me. We fall asleep like that, wrapped in a loving embrace.