Half of a year had to pass for me to get used to such trivial things like the sewing... cooking well... a bit dancing, heh... good manners...not getting all dirty when going out to the forest.

Well, sure, I had to bear with it alone, because parents wouldn't be very happy (they'd be dead terrified if they knew!) and other girls didn't venture in it, only near... and they didn't always encounter one of them that seemed to always end up pushing me around so I always ended up going crazy with him, so I of course always got dirty.

He didn't help me much in this matter, he he.

But since we've been apart I can say I always looked forward to meeting him. I didn't feel lonely in bed anymore, still- when I thought of venturing in and sharing thought, experiences, opinions, maybe a few friendly arguments, it always made a smile on my face.

Yup, he's been a very likeable companion. And hearing some of his complains, heh! That sure was funny. We often did some pushing on the ground after a argument – a kind of making-up.

,,Today I had to take down a bear. A full grown adult bear!" he growled.

,,You alone?"

,,Yes."

,,Oh, well... that can as well mean they appreciate, what a good hunter you are."

,,Yes- but I'm more fast than strong, you know that. I'm fit to chase agile prey, not to a close combat with a bear that big," he showed me with claws. I just had to laugh on it.

,,Don't laugh!" he pointed a claw on me. ,,I've really been almost killed!"

I still chuckled. ,,And did you handle it?"

He snorted.

,,I'm here, ain't I?"

I bursted into laughter again.

,,Laugh once more and you'll be sorry," he growled playfully.

,,Soooorryyyyyyyy, my poor kitty," I said in a bit of mocking way.

,,Hey. And I ain't no kitty."

,,Prove me."

I was immediately on the ground between the claws of the kitty.

,,So?" he smirked triumphantly.

,,Okay, sorry," I raised hands up, as if giving up. ,,You're not a kitty. You're all-mighty fastest of all hunter. Happy now?" I stroked the back of his head.

,,Purring of satisfaction," he smiled and really purred.

Hah-hah. I know your weak spots, boy.

When he loosened muscles a bit, I immediately rolled him down and sat straight on top of his stomach. He made a surprised non-human sound and winked twice, when saw, where is he.

,,So, who's the boss, kitty?" I made a smile and crossed arms.

,,Heh heh. Like this proves anything," he smirked, looking up. Challenging me?

I grinned and scratched him behind the ear.

,,Okay, okayyyy, you are," he sighed and purred again.

,,Thaat's what I wanted to hear," I smiled.

,,If parents seen me now, they'd sooo growl," he rolled eyes and shifted slightly.

,,Mine too."

We both started to laugh.

I found I just made the same mistake as him only when I felt claws behind me, pushing me down. With a squeak I ended up lying on him.

,,Aren't we attentive!" he smirked again, about an inch from my face.

,,Ah, well," I lowered eyes. ,,the hunter caught the prey again, it seems."

,,He wouldn't be interested, it being not such a cute prey."

There was awkward silence there for a while.

,,...And if she didn't scratch me," he added playfully.

The tension faded and I laughed again, raising a hand to his hair.

I heard – or more felt – purring, so I lied down comfortably as well.

It was still early for me to go home, they had the hunt already, so I could be there... just how long I wanted. And I did want to. It was such a comfortable, safe and warm feeling, really...

Woah, so warm.

,,Do you know you have a fever?" I asked softly.

He opened eyes lazily.

,,Do I?"

,,It seems so..."

He only shrugged.

,,Might be. But I feel perfectly good so it's probably nothing," he smiled.

,,Ookay," I lied down again with a sigh.

…...

When I was fourteen, again – for the third time – it was a new routine.

I was so used to routines now that it wasn't tiring for me. It couldn't be tiring anyway!

I always went to the forest with some of my work, but I didn't finish it there anyway. I always ended up laying down and playing around with Ater.

Alright, that sounded weird.

Really. We didn't do anything, it was absolutely innocent fun.

Or was it?

I'm not that sure about it, because... heh. I couldn't miss some faces he made, some small growls when I accidentally touched a place I shouldn't have, some stares I received doing some things or sounds. Maybe he didn't even realize the reactions.

,,You're not a child anymore, Gwen, so don't complain and act to it," mom shutted me, when I said I don't want to do something. It was usually trivial things, but it was in a time when I wanted to go out. ,,make me proud. And anyway, is it proper for a girl your age to go running outside like some eight-year old?"

,,But I love being outside," I plied. ,,and I'm not the only one anyway!"

,,Oh, really. You run around so much! And people say you're often close to the forest."

Oh snap. I hope nobody saw me going INTO the forest.

,,I like the forest."

,,Gwen! You know the forest doesn't belong to us!" mom bursted out, shocked.

,,I know, I know! I'm not a kid. It belongs to Those-we-do-not-speak-of."

Of course I know. If it didn't, I wouldn't be interested in going near or in it at all.

,,So then? Do you want them to go in again?"

,,Ahh, come on. They usually come in winter or spring, don't they? It's summer now."

,,Still. Don't get them angry."

,,I doubt I will, I've been there many times."

,,There?"

Did I just say that out loud? OH MY GOD!

,,There... near it. Near the line."

That wasn't a lie.

,,Oh," she raised a eyebrow. ,,well... you should stop doing that so often. Really, Gwen."

I lowered sight.

,,Sure, mom."

The same day I went into the forest. This time I brought only a book with me, I had my chores done for today.

,,You've got a fever again," I stated, when he flung himself down into my lap. He's became quite cheeky those past few weeks. But whatever. Harms nobody.

,,Oh, do I? Seems that became a casual thing," he shrugged it off with closed eyes.

,,Well, you do seem fine. Is it a normal thing among your own?"

,,Kinda," he murmured. Gosh, it almost burned, but... not in a unpleasant way. I liked the heat. It sometimes made me blush, but I still liked it.

It radiated from... everywhere. From all his body, like it was off his blood.

He closed eyes and lied comfortably, which gave me a good opportunity to examine him.

He seemed... more at ease, more swift, more confident past this year. Getting adult, heh.

I could feel that... feel and see as well.

I looked into the book again, but somehow my sight always ended up on him, from head to- everything else.

I sometimes wondered, what would it be like, lying there skin-on-skin – which was a thought I always shook away, but the weird feeling stayed.

Damn, I thought about it again.

,,I won't ask again, alright," I murmured. ,,by the way... mom noticed I disappear a bit too much."

,,And?" he opened eyes.

,,I'll probably have to stay away a bit. You know, not go here every day."

He sighed.

,,That's too bad. I' ll be bored here all by myself."

,,I'm still here," I made a small grin and lowered head down.

I stopped half-way, realizing what I just wanted to do- no use. He swiftly got up on his elbows and closed the distance – which meant kissing me.

We only shared about... two or three kisses before. And that was merely a touch, lasting a few seconds.

This time it was longer.

Even if in a awkward position, buuut... strangely, I enjoyed it more than the ones previously.

I let out a small squeak, when I felt his claws behind my head, pushing me down.

I never knew he was so demanding in this! I never had a chance to know.

But I didn't mind that. Not even the sharp teeth I felt and the heat on my face from his breath. I even lifted one hand to push his face up. I didn't even realize it at the moment!

I only got to my senses when I felt a feline tongue on my lips.

I winked, then sat up straight, red as his cape.

He winked a few times as well, as if dazed. He -probably unconsciously- licked lips, then sat up so quickly his stings stand up.

,,I- uh... got to go."

,,Me too!" I agreed quickly, grabbed the book and got up, brushing myself off. ,,I... I still... uh got to feed the bunnies and Scarlet."

,,I've got to help back home a bit."

We stand for a while, one of my feet stretched as if to leave, him half turned deeper into the forest.

,,Are you going?"

,,Are YOU?"

,,I- yes," I winked and looked down.

He turned fully, I did as well- but before I made two steps I turned again.

,,Hey, kitty!"

I jumped up to him and gave him a quick kiss before he got, what's going on; then turned on heel and ran home.

Like a complete coward!

,,You stupid girl!" I whined into the pillow at night.

…...

I came two days later, because I had chores to do at home (mom was sick), but I was glad I didn't have to go there. First; it rained like crazy.

Second; you know why.

I only ventured there the third day with a small pack.

It was after a very good rain, there were pools everywhere; glad I took short old clothes, because otherwise I'd be wet in a minute.

I went very quietly, but I didn't even have to, the forest had many sounds, when wet.

When I got to the meadow where we usually met, so I was surprised at first when I saw the red cape lying on the ground a few feet from me-

So where...?

Ah.

He was bathing in one of the bigger pools.

My chin literally dropped down, seeing him like this. I never did before. To be truthful, I never seen anyone apart from myself like this, mostly not a adult one.

...Embarrassing. Still, it's one of those sights you don't wanna torn your eyes from.

You should have seen my thoughts. They went to such directions I didn't like at all. Or I did, but wouldn't for the world admit it.

He suddenly sniffed and turned head into my direction, his stings standing up like the adult ones.

,,It's just me!" I called, covering my eyes. ,,I... kinda got here unnoticed, did I?"

,,Geez Gwen, you scared me," he rolled eyes and exhaled, the stings becoming flat again.

Like you didn't scare me.

,,Sorry," I shrugged and handled him over the cape.

,,How have you been?" he asked carelessly.

,,Fine," I shrugged.

He looked into the water again, scratching the still wet hair.

,,About that last meeting..." I started carefully, studying the grass below.

He looked on me again.

,,Which one? The one you gave me when you were leaving or the previous...?"

Oh, he knew where I was going to.

,,The... eh... generally."

,,What about it?" he murmured, studying the sky for a change.

,,I just... nothing really. Do you think it's gonna rain again?"

,,Probably. You ain't staying today, are you?"

,,No. It's too wet in here," I turned head to where I came from. ,soo, bye."

This time I only embraced him. He dropped head to the side of my head, inhaling deeply.

,,What are you doing?"

,,Remembering your scent," I heard a whisper in my ear that sent shivers down my spine.

,,I- oh. Alright."

I turned and quickly ran home so he wouldn't see just how red I was.