Kohu and Samickle, Reiko's unexpected suitors, were like two sides of the same coin. Both were strong warriors, yes, but otherwise they were almost complete opposites. Samickle was silent and reserved, while Kohu was never afraid to speak his mind.

Reiko had always found the contrast between the two intriguing. But she couldn't deny the fact that they were both handsome in their own ways. Kohu was strong like a grizzly bear, while Samickle had a leaner but well-built frame. Under his tough appearance, Reiko had learned that Kohu had a softer side to him, while Samickle had always been more distant, and harder to approach. But, despite his cold demeanour, Samickle was a gentle soul.

"Okay, what the fuck is wrong with me..?!" Reiko kept scolding herself for the way her thoughts had wandered to places she shouldn't have let them wander. Why was she even comparing the two men in her mind? It wasn't like she had to marry either one! What surprised her the most, was the fact that she had even considered Kohu's offer. The whole situation had caught her off guard. But, unlike Samickle, Kohu was more confident in his actions, and his feelings. Reiko couldn't help but to wonder, if the situation would be different, if Samickle was more straightforward in his actions as well?

"Gods, stop it already..!" Reiko shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. She was acting ridiculous, and she knew it.

"Is that the shrine?"

Samickle's voice snapped Reiko out of her thoughts. She turned her head, her eyes following his line of sight. Ahead of them was the mountain, a tall wall of solid rock. Carved into the mountain was the shrine, the entrance to the cave hidden by a thick layer of branches and leaves.

"That's it." Reiko confirmed.

"Alright." Samickle muttered, then proceeded to head towards the shrine.

Together, they entered the cave. The interior of the shrine was just as Reiko had remembered. The cave was filled with old paintings, the symbols worn away with time. The light from the torches reflected on the smooth surfaces, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. The most eye-catching element in the room was no doubt the large image of a fiery bird that was carved into the stonewall.

"Just look at that..." Reiko muttered, taking in the details of the image. The bird's eyes seemed to stare back at her, the flames licking the surface of its body. "God of fire and flame; Moegami." A wide smile spread onto her face as she stared at the spectacular view in front of her.

Samickle remained quiet, watching as Reiko carefully fixed up the dusty altar, spreading out the food offerings and the incenses. What had caught Samickle's interest, though, was the large kiseru pipe that sat on the altar table. It looked old, as if it had been passed down for generations.

"Is that..?" Samickle frowned.

"Huh? Oh, yes. It's a ceremonial kiseru pipe. I think it's made out of iron or something, or maybe copper." Reiko explained, pulling out a small bag of tobacco leaves from her purse. She took a moment to prepare the pipe, but after lighting it up, she simply placed it back onto the altar table. "Oh, it's not for us to smoke." She remarked when she noticed Samickle's confused look, then turning her attention back to the stone carving. "I'll spend the next few hours here. You can go out and explore a little, if you like. I'll be fine; I just don't want to bore you to death." She added, sensing Samickle's hesitancy.

"Well, alright." Samickle agreed. And with that, Reiko was left alone in the shrine.

Reiko let out a deep sigh, and sat down on the floor. The last few days had been rather exhausting, and she could use some time for herself. For the next few hours, she would focus on prayers and meditation, hoping that the God of fire would listen to her pleas. She was still nowhere near mastering any of the celestial brush techniques, but her devotion had paid off; Taming the blizzard in Wep'keer was proof of that.

"Okay, I can do this..." Reiko muttered under her breath. With a deep breath, she reached into her purse, and pulled out a scroll. Carefully, she unrolled it, revealing the sacred scripture. "I pray for the guidance of the spirits and the blessing of the Gods..." She took a moment to read through the text, before she continued. "...So that I may walk the path of righteousness and truth..." Reiko focused, trying to memorise the words. "May the wisdom of the Gods be with me. May the strength of the spirits protect me. May the fire in my soul fuel my heart."

She inhaled the sweet scent of the incense and the aroma of the burning tobacco leaves, and closed her eyes.

Outside, Samickle was walking along the river bank. His mind kept wandering back to the previous day. His instincts had gotten the best of him, and he had lost control.

"I shouldn't have gone through with it. I should have been stronger."

He gritted his teeth, frustration building inside him. He had always been able to manage his urges, and now was not the time for him to lose focus. They still had a long way ahead of them, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake. It wasn't even mating season yet, and he was already struggling with his desires. He should've seen this coming; It was foolish of him to tag along with Reiko, knowing he'd be spending his nearly every waking moment with her, alone. Spring was definitely the worst time of the year for someone like him, and it had become clear to him that this year he was getting hit the hardest.

"What the hell is wrong with me..?" Samickle muttered, shaking his head. "I have to pull myself together. I can't allow my feelings to distract me." He was determined to ignore his desires. "Reiko has no idea what she's dealing with. I need to make sure she doesn't find out, no matter what." If he wanted to have any chance of her accepting his proposal, he couldn't risk her finding out about his urges. It would only scare her off.

"She'd never accept a man who has trouble controlling himself." The mere thought of Reiko being frightened of him, hurt Samickle. She would be disgusted by him. She'd never love him, and she'd certainly reject his marriage offer. "No. I can't let that happen. I have to control myself."

From the very moment he first saw her, he had been taken by her beauty, but now it was different. Despite his hormone fumed thoughts, his attraction towards her was not based on physical appearances alone. Reiko was smart, and resourceful. She was determined, and her courage was admirable. She had a beautiful soul, and a kind heart.

"Reiko..." More he thought of her, the more frustrated he became, his emotions getting the better of him. He couldn't help but to picture her under him, her body pressed against his, her moans filling the air…

"Damn it..!" Samickle kicked a stone, sending it flying across the water. He could feel the heat building again. He took a deep breath, and his hand dropped down onto the front of his trousers. "Again..?" He couldn't believe it. This had to be a record, even for him. How many times had he relieved himself already? He was going mad, his body was on fire, his senses clouded by lust. His heart was racing, and his breath was coming in ragged gasps. His mind was spinning, and his body was trembling. It was only a matter of time before he'd be reduced to nothing more than a feral beast.

"Fuck! Get a hold of yourself!" Samickle scolded himself, jerking his hand away from his groin. He couldn't keep this up.

His thoughts were a complete mess, and ever since that morning, he hadn't been able to shift into his wolf form. At first, he thought it was just because of his mental state at the time... but even after calming down, he was unable to do it. It was almost as if his body was rejecting his every attempt to shift. "It's the heat, and the stress. That's all. It's nothing more than a physical reaction. I'm not even thinking straight." He kept telling himself, trying to rationalise his current condition.

It was frustrating, but also somewhat disappointing to him that he was unable to change form. As a wolf, spending time with Reiko was much less nerve-wracking. His canine instincts and senses had kept him alert, and in control of his urges. Not to mention, that Samickle had always found it easier to express his thoughts and feelings in his wolf form. When in his human form, his shy, timid nature prevented him from being completely honest with her. He felt vulnerable, even with his mask on.

"And to think that I hoped that she would marry me, when I can't even bring myself to tell her how I feel. When I can't even..." Samickle felt his chest tighten, and his throat went dry. "No, it's pointless. There's no way she'd ever agree to it. Not when I'm like this." Samickle felt his eyes burning, and he blinked away the tears that were threatening to spill. He could feel his heart break, the pain in his chest almost suffocating him. He wanted nothing more than to be with her, to hold her in his arms, and to kiss her... but there was no chance of that happening. It was a fantasy. He was a fool to even think of it. "Maybe she would've accepted me, if I were stronger. But, no. I can't even shift right now. How could I possibly expect her to marry someone like me..?"

A sudden wave of anger washed over him, and he clenched his fists. It was pathetic, but he was jealous. Of course Reiko would choose a man like Kohu over him. He was strong and brave, and more confident in his actions. Reiko would be an idiot to reject a man like him.

"Kohu..." Samickle gritted his teeth. He couldn't stand the thought of another man laying a finger on her, much less claiming her as his mate. The jealousy and anger was overwhelming him, his rationality slipping away. "I have to stop this." He hissed. "If I can't get a hold of myself, I'll lose her for good."

A low growl escaped him, and he quickly bit down on his lip, the taste of blood filling his mouth. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. He had to pull himself together. He needed a distraction. Something to get his mind off things.