ORIGIN

Clover watched as more and more gems came pouring in, feeling a mixed feeling of awe and pride and happiness as everything progressed. She watched the bride come through, beautiful and shining, radiating love for the only one who caught their eyes, and Clover watched as Leon mirrored their bride completely. She felt tears choke her, happiness welling up in her. How beautiful all this was! Oh, she was so glad she came!

With her hoof, she edged Bartos closer to her side, leaning her long neck over their shoulder to hug them. The lioness and the bear stood together, their eyes only for each other, as the small little bird gave an absolutely beautiful speech. Throughout it all, she smiled with this pathetically happy expression on her face, tears pricking the corner of her eye, and she snuggled her cheek into Bartos' thick warm fur, feeling them purr through it all.

Love and marriage....the former concept she rarely gave much thought to, the latter having thought nothing about it at all. It was a new idea for her entirely, and it sounded absolutely magical to her, a state of being she wanted to achieve with someone who would love her as much as these two did for each other.

She sighed, her breath rustling Bartos' fur. Maybe....

What was once a dumbfounded look had been replaced with a smile - warm, reverent, in awe entirely of her. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her, even as Bevy unveiled her wings and revealed the glowing crystal that Leon had crafted for her. The bird fluttered up and relinquished the necklace to Makyna, allowing it to fall gently around her neck, and Leon's grin broadened - a bright expression, proud and delighted all the same. Then Bevy returned to her position and began the ceremony. Her voice rang out through the cave, delivering a speech of love and joy, eternal loyalty, trust, and honor. Each word she spoke Leon felt that feeling reflected in his chest for the lioness before him. And when Bevy turned her attention to him, asking him to speak his vows, Leon finally tore his eyes from her. It was hard, but he cleared his throat and bowed his head, then gazed back up at her with that familiar boyish grin.

"Makyna... I love you unconditionally and without hesitation, and I have since the moment I held you above the snow in my arms, the day you stepped free from your chrysalis. This day, I vow to be yours wholly and without pause. Every waking moment I spend for you, and you alone, for I am bound to you by fate: you as my home, where my heart will eternally lie. I vow to love, cherish, and respect you as you truly deserve to be, and work with you to foster a life here in this cave and beyond with passion and equality. For as long as my fire is burning and every day after that, let us be partners, friends, and lovers; let me be yours."

His bright eyes lingered on her as he spoke, pushing every word with modesty welled up from his heart, every feeling that he had ever experienced finally formulated into his ultimate wish: to be hers and hers alone.