Taisley and I have been spending our first days as mates cooped up inside the cave. The injuries that we've both sustained need to heal up. When the Saber attack occurred, Taisley's leaf dress was torn to shreds. That's when I saw her scars. I'm sure that the rest of the herd also saw them. They probably just don't want to say anything that could upset her. That's the reason that I'm reluctant to say anything. However, I need to know. I just want to help her.
The rest of the herd are outside right now. At last, I can speak to Taisley alone. "Taisley?" I begin.
"Yeah, Buck?" She replies.
"Well, when those Sabers attacked, yer leaf dress was torn apart. I saw yer scars. I just want ta know…who 'urt ya?" I ask.
Taisley seems reluctant to answer. "Um…" She trails off. It's as if her throat is too dry to produce sound.
"It's 'kay! Ya don't 'ave ta answer!" I put in quickly.
"No…it's okay. You should know the truth. My dad believed in arranged marriages. Since my mom was no longer around, there wasn't anyone to stop him from marrying me off. When I told him about you, he wasn't happy. He was still going to let me be with you, though, since he hadn't found any potential suitors. After you left, dad tried to pair me up with a bunch of males. One of them was a male named Zorro. He was abusive, always hurting me when dad wasn't around. That's where the scars came from," Taisley explains.
"Wot 'bout th' burn scar on yer chest?" I ask.
"That happened when I had enough. I fought him off. He grabbed an ignited torch and hit me in the chest with it. I grabbed a knife and stabbed him. I…I killed him…At least, I think I did…I never checked for a pulse. When dad found out, he was angry. Not at Zorro for hurting me, but at me for killing him. Dad went crazy and tried to kill me as well. I…I was forced to kill him. I had to in order to survive," Taisley finishes her tale.
I'm surprised by Taisley's past. "'m…'m sorry ta hear that. I wish I was 'ere so that I could stop 'em from causin' ya pain," I sigh heavily.
"Buck, it wasn't your fault. It was mine. I should've been able to stop them," Taisley speaks up.
I place my paw on the side of her face. "Taisley, this wasn't yer fault. 't may no' 'ave been my fault, but 't isn't yer fault either. 't was yer dad an' Zorro that caused all of this," I explain.
Taisley's eyes well up with tears. She turns her face away from me. She's trying to hide her tears from me. I place my paw under her chin. I tilt her head upward to look at me. Her tears have already begun to fall. "Taisley, it's 'kay ta cry. 'm 'ere fer ya," I stroke her cheek. I see Taisley's face begin to crumble. I take her into my arms as she begins to cry. I hear her sobs and heavy breathing. I stroke the fur on her head, hoping to soothe her. I hate it when she cries. I don't like seeing her sad. I only want her to be happy. I want to be the one to make her happy.
Slowly, Taisley begins to stop crying. She sniffles a bit before pulling her face away from my shoulder. She wipes her eyes free of the tears. "Thank you, Buck. I needed that," Taisley gives me a loving smile.
I smile back. I nuzzle Taisley with my face. She nuzzles me back. We lay back on our nest. Taisley moves closer to me. She places her lips on mine. I kiss her back, moaning with pleasure. I stroke Taisley's cheek. She scratches the back of my ear playfully. Our 'activities' increase throughout the night, a night of romance and alluring possibilities.
The next day, despite our night spent of romance, I know that Taisley is depressed. I can see it in her eyes. She isn't even speaking to me. She must be hurting. I can understand, in a way, how she's feeling. I've been hurt by my own family. Abandoned by my birth parents. Lied to by my foster parents. I never knew who to believe. I wish that I could take the pain away from Taisley. I rather deal with it myself than have Taisley deal with it.
I see Taisley go off alone again. I look down, my ears pressed against my head. "Hey, are you alright, Buck?" Ellie asks from beside me.
I jump slightly at the sound of her voice. "'m fine. It's Taisley that 'm worried 'bout. She's been thinkin' 'bout 'er past. It's no' exactly a good one. It's makin' 'er depressed," I explain with a sigh.
"I see…" Ellie trails off with a thoughtful look on her face.
"I don't know wot ta do. I want ta make 'er happy. I just don't know 'ow…" I continue.
"Well, I suggest that you just talk to her. She probably needs you right now," Ellie offers her advice.
I nod my head. I look up at Ellie, a small smile spreading across my face. "Thanks, Ellie. I think I'll do that," I reply. I turn away from Ellie and begin heading towards the direction where Taisley was heading.
I find Taisley a short distance away. She's sitting by the river, looking forlornly into the crystal-clear water. I walk closer to her. Taisley jumps, obviously hearing me coming up behind her.
She turns around. I can see tears standing in her eyes. Taisley turns her face away from me. "Please, Buck, go away. I don't want to be around anyone. I just want to be alone," she whimpers.
"Taisley, please. We're mates, now. I want ta be there fer ya, but ya 'ave ta let me. C'mon, Tais. I love ya. Please, open up ta me," I plead.
Taisley looks at me. Her ears are pressed firmly to her head. "I'm sorry…it's just…I don't want to burden you with my pain. I'd rather deal with it myself," Taisley tries to explain to me.
"Oh, Tais, nothing that ya tell me could evah be a burden. I love ya. I just want ta 'elp ya. I promise ya that, fer as long as I live, I will be 'ere fer ya," I smile softly, trying to reassure my mate.
Taisley looks up at me. "Thanks. I…I love you, Buck." Taisley embraces me.
I wrap my own arms around Taisley. "I love ya, too. Tais, are ya worried that Zorro is alive? Is that why you're so upset?" I ask.
"Yeah. It's also the fact that I killed father," Taisley admits.
"Wot evah ya do, don't feel bad fer killin' yer fathah. 'e 'urt ya. Ya 'ad th' right ta defend yerself. As fer Zorro, even if 'e is alive, I will always protect ya. 'e wouldn't stand a chance," I try to put Taisley's mind at ease.
Taisley looks up at me. "Thanks, Buck. I love you," she kisses me on the cheek.
"I love ya, too, Tais," I smile.
"Let's go back to the cave," Taisley suggests.
"'kay, Tais," I reply. We start to head back. I can already tell that Taisley is much happier. I'm hopeful that, soon, Taisley will be able to move on.