Tugger sat on top a cardboard box alone in the clearing Misto practiced his magic. The Tom had been watching his smaller friend practice the same trick all day as the smaller Tom tried tirelessly to get it right. Misto stopped practicing and looked up at Tugger.
"Uh, Tugger, do you think I could talk to you about something personal?" He asked uneasily.
"Sure, what is it?" Tugger asked eager to know, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"You can't tell anyone, Tugger!" Misto accused.
"Alright, alright. I won't tell. Now please tell me what it is." Tugger said, giving him his most innocent expression.
"Fine." Misto sighed, suddenly thinking this was a bad idea. "How do you tell someone you love them when you're too scared they might reject you?"
"Uhm, shouldn't you be talking about this to Demi or someone else with experience?" Tugger said,
suddenly very uncomfortable at the whole situation.
"No, I want your advice. You deal with love all the time, how do you think I should tell them?"
"Well, I don't have any personal experience in this area, but I think it would be best to get them alone and talk with them about how you feel and see where it goes from there." Tugger shrugged not really sure how to answer his question.
"Ok, that makes sense." Misto said, thinking to himself. "Tugger, what are your thoughts on love?" He asked curiously.
"Me personally?" Tugger asked and with a nod of confirmation from Misto went on. "Well, I think it's great for everyone else, but I've never really felt it, well, except once. What do you think about it?"
"I think it's the greatest feeling in the world, but it would be better if I could share it with them." Misto said, thinking on how he had felt the last several weeks. "Who was it?" Misto asked, after a moment's silence.
"Oh, it's someone in the junkyard. I still feel that way; I just never wanted to risk the friendship we already have, so they still don't know."
"Do you think you will ever tell them how you feel?"
"I hope so, I don't want to live life wondering what would happen if I told them. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I didn't."
"Ok, I see, well it's starting to get dark. We should probably head back now before Munk comes to make sure we're home." Misto said, starting to head back to their shared den.
"So when do you think you'll talk to the lucky cat?" Tugger asked following him.
"I did." He said, avoiding Tugger's questioning gaze.
"When? You've been with me all day."
"Just now." He said, as Tugger stopped a moment to think over that statement. He hurried to catch up to the smaller Tom, wrapping his arm around his waist. "Tugger, wha…?"
"That's a coincidence, so did I." He said, smirking as they continued home. Misto was silent a moment before snuggling up to Tugger as they walked.
"Then it looks like neither of us will have to live life wondering what would have been." Misto said, smiling up at Tugger as he entered their den.
"No, we won't. We'll find out for sure soon enough." Tugger smirked, a mischievous look in his eyes as he followed Misto inside. Misto and Tugger's hearts felt lighter after that day's discussion and the others had noticed a distinct change in the Toms. Misto was hardly ever seen apart from Tugger, and Tugger had stopped his nightly visits to Bombi, who had taken to skulking around.