ORIGIN

Something in the doe's voice suggested that she didn't believe him entirely, or at least she hadn't been expecting his words. If she'd been stringing him up because he wasn't good enough, then she wouldn't be surprised about what he said, would she? That made sense. He couldn't help the small smile on his lips that tugged ever wider, and he raised his head to peer back up at her, big blue searching for the light yellow of her eyes. What did she mean, rude, bossy, forward? "No!" He blurted, smile turning down into a look of deep concern. Why would she ever think that way of herself? She certainly wasn't - had somebody told her that she was? Well, anyways, he liked it because she was brave enough to do things that he'd be too shy to do. So she was brave in her own way, and that was just fine. I'll have to tell her that.

Yet she insisted that she had done wrong, especially in embarrassing him, which caused the cat to utter a short, nervous laugh. "It's not your fault! I get embarrassed easy! I was afraid I said the wrong thing because... because... well, I didn't want you to not like me... I don't think you're any of those things! I think you're the opposite." He explained quickly, looking around as if there would be something that would help him explain his words, but really it was all coming from the heart. This wasn't like explaining rocks or anything - he had to dredge up the feelings inside of him without example. "You're very nice and warm, and I liked it when you kissed my forehead, it just startled me a little, but its okay!" Bartos nodded and laughed again.

For the most part though, and he hadn't realized it, but his paw had extended out to touch her leg as if in some subtle effort to keep her grounded in case she decided to leave. He didn't want her to go, especially now that he had just barfed all his feelings at her. "Please don't leave. It's hard being brave all the time." He admitted, flattening his ears.

"Oh Bartos," She said, her heart a tangled, snarled mess. She was happy, confused, regretful of herself and shivering all at once, and she felt so strange. She found herself biting her lip again. "How could I not like you? I adore you, clever cat." She said frankly, frowning slightly. "I..." She swallowed.

"I normally - I don't act like this normally, I promise. I normally am very polite and not bossy or rude, and I don't know why I'm acting like this." She said, frustration leaking out in her voice. "And I thought-" She blushed. "I thought you didn't like my kisses. I've never felt so awkward in my life," Her brows furrowed as her long lashes hid her eyes. "And I don't know why."

Then Bartos said, "Please don't leave. It's hard being so brave all the time," And she smiled a strange smile at her clever cat. "I know."

She knew she had to leave to go and protect Pounce...but now that this utter confusion between them was somewhat cleared, maybe she could stay a little longer. She felt so comfortable and jittery and warm with Bartos, and she liked this weird excitement running through her when she thought about staying. She would try to keep her thoughtless actions under check, but....

She liked Bartos and their jaunty exuberance for their earthy passion, how every feeling showed in their clear blue eyes, how charming and witty and funny and powerful they were matched only by an equal amount of humbleness and honesty. The wonderful cat had no idea how they confused her so, making her as comfortable and ill at ease with herself and her thoughtless actions as possible. She never acted this way with anyone.

She leaned her forehead against Bartos', smiling, her eyes closed. "Forgive me for being so weird."

"This is how I speak."

Her voice sang into the air, and his name rolled around on her tongue, touching the air light as snowflakes. The way she spoke his name made his heart quake and something flutter around in his stomach. He wanted to bashfully avert his eyes again, but he knew what had happened the last time he did that. He summoned the strength to keep gazing up at her, and he found that after a few seconds it was a lot easier - if he just ignored the fact that he was shy and nervous. She already knew that he was, there was no use in hiding it any further. Then she admitted that she adored him, and his grin returned, a low purring starting up in his chest like a constant engine.

He still couldn't fathom what she meant, because he didn't see her being bossy or pushy or anything. She explained her reasoning, and any worry that she didn't like him immediately slipped away. She'd never thought of him as cowardly or lying about being brave at all, she was just shy like him! His grin broadened at this realization. She made him blush too, she made him flustered and stumble over his words and indecisive, because he wanted to cuddle and be close to her, but he also wasn't sure if she'd like that - it was hard to tell what was okay to do, considering what he wanted to do. But she was feeling the same as him.

Then he admitted that he didn't want her to go, and she smiled and said that she knew. There was a strange serenity that fell over them at that point. It was like he could see her processing the information and, what, coming to terms with it? Or realizing something else? Bartos gazed at her curiously trying to extract a meaning behind her expression, behind her words. But she only leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his. His purring surged louder, and he barely even realized that he was doing it. He couldn't restrain the small chuckle that pushed forward. "Your weirdness is the best thing about you!" He wrinkled his nose with a smile. It wasn't meant to be an insult - he just meant the whole, pushiness and kisses and blushing. He liked that weirdness.

She liked the purring that got stronger as they got closer - it made her feel a wonderful slurry of feelings, warmth, appreciation, adoration - and she laughed at Bartos' response.

She wanted to promise herself to be honest with her cat just as Bartos was. There were no machinations or subtlety to them, and while this led to awkwardness and embarrassment, she wouldn't have them any other way. She didn't want to feel confused or upset with herself again, because she had convinced herself that everything she was doing went unappreciated and wrong in context when in truth Bartos had....liked it. She would just speak if she felt in the wrong from now on, and even if she felt embarrassed, she would say so.

It was the first time that being her normal polite self felt inadequate and useless in their company. What an odd feeling. Her heart was dancing a jaunty tune, with awkward, off beat steps, but enthusiastic all the same.

"If you like my weirdness," She said, leaning into their purring, "I'll be weird. Just for you."

"This is how I speak."

She leaned into him, at least, that was what he was feeling. It was a slight pressure against his side, and the warmth of her body touched him all over. It wasn't uncomfortable though - it was welcome, encouraged even. He loved the sensation of it. If he could, he'd let himself be entirely consumed by it. Her voice was a lilt in the air, dancing like a generous and humble fire as she promised to be weird just for him. Just for him. And finally, Bartos was given something that was his and his alone - it wasn't just a rock or a gem or a trinket, it was far more special than that. It was a promise. "And I'll be brave, just for you." The cat gazed up at her, wide blue eyes gleaming with utmost adulation. He didn't know how long they'd have to continue sitting here and being dorks, but he wanted to make it last forever.

With a warm smile, he settled down on the ground and withdrew his one extended leg, tucking it back under his chest. His fluffy tail curled up next to him and the cat made himself comfortable next to the deer, pressed into her side and purring steadily. Whatever happened next, he was eager for it. He could probably take on the world at this point.

She gazed back into those beautiful blue eyes, and thought that they were the most wonderful things she had ever seen. She wanted...she wanted to give something back for their splendor, their bravery, their kindness. Something. It was a compulsion to do so, to show them something just as lovely.

"And we'll be brave and weird together. My clever cat." She said softly, cuddling up close to them and settling herself comfortably. She could spend forever here with them.

Slowly, she gently called to her magic for something new, something brilliant and exciting. She touched her nose to the lovely twinkling gem set aside a little ways from them both, and watched as little shoots of fabulous colors burst forth from the stone as if bursting from the ice, little white sparkles shining here and there. It was a very small working, but to her, it was precious. A small pink flower bloomed from it with brilliant gold leaves, and as it unfurled, it had a sparkling bright blue center that caught the eye perfectly.

She smiled at it, making more and more of these flowers appear as she spoke quietly with her clever cat as time slipped away. They enjoyed one another's company, their stories, their laughter, all the while keeping close, warm, and safe with each other side by side. To the both of them, nothing could be better.

[end thread]

"This is how I speak."