Siloh nodded, "Yeah, we had them growing all over our village in cycles so we always had a supply but they all burned too. The liquid inside we called blood wine because it has the effects of wine." he smiled as she brought the fruit over and he took it, holding it stem side up as he took a sharp claw-like nail and opened the fruit. At her question he answered without thinking, "Like you smell." he said with a smile but as he realized what he said his cheeks paled slightly and he watched her carefully, hoping he hadn't offended her, his arms held out, offering for her to drink some of the juices that were sloshing inside.

Contessa listened to him and at his question she bit her lip as tears rolled down her face and she nodded, "On.. on my mom and my dad." she said and moved closer to her mother's body reaching over before her hands slapped back and she shook her head, "I can't do it. I can't touch her again. I can't take anything that was hers. I'll have to eventually but I can't for now." she was bothered by this but at his words she nodded and decided to take a chance by setting her hand on his arm as the walked.

Contessa's cheeks pinked with pleasure at his comment. No one had ever said anything about the way she smelled before. She had hoped he meant it in a good way, at least that's how she was going to take it. "Like how I smell? Do I smell good?" She asked, her voice softening almost as if she was getting shy on him. She reached out to the fruit, her finers brushing aginst his slightly. She lifted herself up alittle to drink from the fruit, lifting her eyes to his as she did so. After she had a drink she knelt back down, sitting on her calves. She licked her lips slightly, enjoying the sweet, wine like flavors of the juice. "Oh, that is so good!" She smiled at him.


Kristoff understood her, understood how hard this all is for her. "It'll be fine. She would want you to take it." He said, smiling gently at her as she touched his arm. He had felt cold after he ended their embrace, now at her touch he felt warm again. He had felt the same thing with Hannah, but with Solaire it was different. There was a different desire that was stirred by her touch. One he had never felt before in his life, not even when he was trying to find a mate. He knew that it was because of that feeling he couldn't find his perfect mate, now he had. He wondered if it was the same for her, not that he would mention any of it to her. He knew that she was in pain and was reaching out to him for comfort and nothing more.

Siloh nodded at her question but gave her a wry smile, "Don't drink too much of it. I doubt anyone would be happy if you showed up more than buzzed from it." and drank from the fruit after her, "You tell me if you smell good." he said, his face playful as he broke away part of the fruit and handed it to her, "Don't eat the rind though." he said, handing her a small chunk of the fruit, just enough for her to try it but it wouldn't waste any if she didn't like the sweet nectar like flavor of it. He leaned forward as he waited to see what she thought of it.

Solaire's hand tightened on his arm and looked away, the sharp stinging grief somehow dulled by contact with him, "I can't. She'd want me to have it. I'm supposed to have it by now but-" she cut her words off and looked upset again, the frustration adding to grief and pain. The man she never liked but was going to have to marry had been killed in the lynx attack and it was bothering her because Siloh and Solaire were trying to figure out what they should do because the same had happened to his arranged mate as well. Solaire shuddered at the memory of Peter's body, torn to shreds and in peices and the young woman looked at Kristoff, "I can't touch it." She looked down as if she felt bad for asking the question and hated acting so weak, "Please, will you.. Will you keep it for me until-" she paused, "Until it's acceptable for me to take it. I can't have it because I've not met the standards yet."

Contessa pouted when she didn't get the answer she wanted from him. Maybe she had drank too much from the fruit, she was starting to loosen up with her feelings towards him. Taking the fruit, she stuck her tongue out at him in a playful manner. She nibbled ont he fruit, liking the nectar like taste it had. It reminded her of some of the other fruits she liked to eat. "It's very tasty! I like it!" She said, smiling at him. After finishing off the rest of the soft fleshy part of the fruit, she dug a little hole and buried the rind. She cast a sheepish look up at him, as she played in the dirt.


Kristoff stopped moving and closed the gap between them. He bent, kissing her forehead. "I will keep it for you until you need it." He said. He striaghten himself out, unsure what came over him. He hoped she wouldn't be offended by such a bold act on his part. He looked ahead of them, knowing he'd break down again and kiss her for real if he looked at her. He wondered what she had meant about why she couldn't take it just then. "We should get going..." He said somewhat stiffly. They were losing light and soon the wolves would be out on the prowl.

Siloh caught the pout from her and leaned forward towards her and smiled, "Then you smell tasty." he said with a grin and let himself down on the ground with her, giving her another piece of the fruit and eating some for himself and looked at her with a more serious smile, "That's how you smell though.. exactly how you smell- except you're a little more.." he had to think of a word that wouldn't get him in trouble and settled on the one that he hoped would cause him the lease trouble. "More intense." the word he wasnted to use was intoxicating but he was unsure what she'd think of it. He looked down at her hand and smiled at her as he started tracing lines in the dirt and smiling at her, "More?" he asked, offering her more juice.

Solaire was surprised at what he did and looked down, not following him immediately and staying still as she let the mild shock fade and she gave a weak smile, sad but it was still genuine somehow as she moved to catch up with him, her hand back on his arm. She wasn't angry with him, no, if anything she felt better now, not much but it was an improvement. She'd never wanted to be around someone so badly and the knowledge that he might like her like she did him warmed her. She glanced at his stiff tone though and gently removed her hand from his arm as she crossed them in front of her and courled her shoulders forward as if she were cold, "I have to be back before full light." she said, dreading the talk with her brother.

Contessa's face flushed brightly as he brought himself closer to her. She smiled shyly at him as she took more of the fruit. Contessa got her answer and now she wasn't sure what to do with it. She bit her lip as she played with the fruit. "You smell good to me too. Kind of like fresh earth and warm spices." She said, slowly looking up at him. She nipped at the fruit a bit, eating it slowly. She shook her head at his offer of more of the juice. She wiped a bit of stray juices from her lips, wondering what he would think of what she thought he smelled liked to her.

Kristoff frowned when she stopped touching him. He didn't like the cold feeling he got when she wasn't touching him. He looked at her, wishing he could wrap himself around her to warm her. "Then we have a while. But we should find somewhere safe after taking care of your mother." He said. He wanted to hurry up and bury her mother so they could find somewhere to be safe. He didn't want to leave her alone out where she could be attacked so easily. Truth of the matter is that he didn't want to leave her at all.

Siloh smiled at her and set the fruit aside for the moment so it could be saved for everyone else. He watched her with that smile and realized just how much he liked her, he wanted to be near her, to take her as his mate even but this brought up another realization. One he didn't want to face. There were no women from his tribe left that he could take as a mate. He pushed the thought away as he heard and he nodded, not sure how to react, "I'm glad." he said smiling, "I don't mean to overstep but- you're very beautiful." he said with a small, sheepish smile.

Solaire nodded as she looked up at the sky and sighed, "I don't know where safe is anymore." she was silent for a moment then glanced at him, "We can't bury her yet. The small temple collapsed on our graveyard." She looked to the side as she heard a soft sound and calmly reached down, a small yelp sounding as she straightned back up, a natural fox kit in her hands. She frowned as seconds later a cat ran past them. The kit was no more than a couple pounds and very small but though it was wild it settled in her arms instantly.

Contessa's hands went to her face to hide her excited smile. She hadn't ever been told she was beautiful by anyone before. Well, not anyone she counted. There had been some wolf who had said she was, but he been disgusting about it. Contessa's face was pink with pleasure again. She looked up at him, wishing that she could have him as a mate. No one, not even the panthers who courted her, made her feel this way. She leaned forwards, towards him a little more, inhaling his sent. "I think you're handsome." She said, her cheeks pink. Contessa watched him, enjoying the way his smiled at her.

Kristoff wondered if it would be alright if they buried her at the panther graveyard. "Then what do you think we should do with her? We could always bury her at the panther graveyard." He offered. He wasn't sure if she would take the offer, since the foxes had their own rites of passage concerning their dead. He wanted to put her mother's body to rest and have her near Solaire. He had hope she would stay in his village with him, but he was foolish to think that. She needed a fox mate and he wasn't a fox.

Siloh smiled at her and found her even more beautiful as she pinked up and when she leaned forward he couldn't stop himself as he leaned towards her more, a slight breeze blowing her scent in his face and strengthening it so much more as he got closer. It was so intoxicating he lost his mind and gently pulled her face towards his own kissing her before he knew what he was doing.

Solaire looked over at him with a surprised look before looking at her feet, "No one would mind?" she asked, wanting her mother to be buried as soon as possible. The foxes believed that the spirit was trapped in the body until it was buried. She couldn't possibly make her mother's spirit wait until they got their graveyard uncovered to pass on so she'd do just about anything to get her mother properly buried. "She always loved the way panthers looked, she'd be happiest there..." she trailed off, chewing at her thumb and looking at him with questioning eyes.

Contessa let out a soft noise when Siloh kissed her. She slowly melted into him, returning the kiss. Her heart started beating quickly in her chest. His taste was like his scent, strong, earthy and with a manly spice to it. She gave a soft whimper of enjoyment as she slipped her arms around his neck. She lost herself in his kiss, never feeling that way before. Her head was swimming and her heart was pounding, desire rose up inside her. She forgot all about the world around them, there was only them in their private little world.

Kristoff smiled at her softly. "No one will mind. They will understand and welcome the chance to honor your mother in the way she needs to be." He said gently. He wondered if Solaire shared the same love of the panther look as her mother did. He decided not to ask at the moment. He glanced at her for a moment. "Shall we return to the village?" He asked her, shifting her mother's body in his arms. He didn't want to lose his grip oh the body and drop it, he carried it as if it was a sleeping child.

Siloh grew bolder when she didn't push him away and his pulse quickened as he grew bolder, pulling her closer and wrapping his arms around her gently. He could taste the fruit still but her taste was sweeter, better, stronger. Her smell and taste filled his mind completely. He'd felt this way once before but it had never been this strong, this wonderful and he reveled in it. His arms tightened slightly around her as he deepened the kiss.

Solaire smiled slightly at him and just a reaction to his own smile and she looked at the limp form in his arms as he shifted her mother's body and the vixen sighed, "Yes. That would be best, I don't want us to be caught out here like this." she said, holding the small kit in her hands. She'd had a pet fox once before but after raising the kit it ran off to have its own life. She smiled a bit as the kit purred in response to her scratching its ears and she glanced at Kristoff quickly to see if he'd heard it. She blushed a little at her excitement of the sound, knowing that it was probably a common sound to Kristoff and she looked idiotic to him to be so excited over a simple sound.

Contessa pressed herself closer to him as he moved his arms around her. She let out a soft purr when he deepened their kiss. She nipped at his tongue and teased his with hers. Her fingers twisted in his hair as they kissed, her body aching to be as close to his as it could be. The explosion of desire course through her body, she had never kissed anyone and felt this way. It felt so right to her, like it was meant to be. She never wanted this moment to end for them.

Kristoff smiled at the sound of the little kit purr at her touch. He never heard a fox purr before, then again he never spent a whole lot of time with them. "I didn't know foxes could purr like that." Kristoff said, smiling. He caught the excited expression on her face and like it. It made her even cuter than before, he wondered what other expressions she will show him. He knew all of them would make her even more attractive than she was already. He bet he would purr too if she touched him in the same way.

Siloh put his hands at her waist and pulled her with him as he leaned against the rock. He wanted her closer, as close as they could get and he just kept pulling her closer. His hands moved up her back on stopping at the back of her neck and the other running through her hair. He'd never wanted to be with someone like he did her, he never wanted someone like he did her and he realized she was what he'd been looking for, for so long.

Solaire smiled at him, it wasn't near as bright as anything she'd ever given, "We can but the natural ones are best at it." She lifted the kit and rubbed her cheek against the small creature's fur and caught a wiff of roses and held it over to Kristoff, saying, "Smell. It's one of mine. I have a family of natural foxes I take care of." she said and was oddly comforted more by it. She couldn't be truly happy while the death of her mother was so fresh in her mind but she could let herself smile at least.

Contessa moved with him, allowing him to pull her against him. She welcomed his body and embrace. She dug her fingers gently in his back, arching hers so her chest pressed against his. Without breaking their kiss, she moved her body so she was straddling him, resting her body slightly above his. She gently bit his lip and smield against them. Contessa knew she had found the one she was meant to be with, no matter who likes it or not.


Kristoff found her actions adorable and alluring. He smelled the kit she held up, noting the rose smell as well as her own personal scent. Pulling away, he looked at her, his eyes lit with desire. "You take care of wild foxes? That's pretty cool. We don't see any wild panthers around here." He said, trying to calm his raging heart. He was glad to see her smile a little bit, he didn't want her to be haunted by the death of her mother. He could see the fox village coming into view, knowing that soon they would be passing through it and heading towards his village.

Siloh smiled but as she readjusted he pulled back slightly, afraid she's accidentally bump his leg. It was still very tender and sore but not like it'd been the first day when the smallest bump made him want to yelp. He never fully broke the kiss though and his arm went around her waist and held her close to him, preventing her from sliding or leaning back on his leg. He did however break it to ask, "How does your tribe feel about dating outside the panther tribe?"

Solaire smiled at him and sighed as they started to see the village, looking down and starting to walk closer to him. She didn't notice it but she did. If she didn't like him so much she would've shifted and had the fox kit follow her but she liked him and wanted to be able to talk but with the fox kit she couldn't grab his arm so that's all she could do. "Foxes are everywhere. plus it's really easy when they come to you for help." she said softly. She didn't understand but ever since she was little the wild foxes would come to her when they were hurt or injured.

Contessa made a soft whimpering noise when he broke the kiss. She frowned at him for a moment, her head still hazy from their kiss. "They might be a little upset, but it won't matter. The tribe is thriving and a lot more cubs are being born. They don't really need me to find a panther mate." She said, resting her forehead on his. "What about yours? Your tribe just got attacked, many died...are they going to be mad?" She asked, her voice started to tremble at the thought of not being able to be with him.

Kristoff noticed how she got closer to him. He smiled to himself as they continued to walk through the village. "I've noticed. I used to see foxes everywhere when I was a cub." He said. He remember when he and his sister used to venture out of their terrority and play in the wild fields between the lands. He and she would see the wild foxes and playfully chase them. He would try to scare them, where as Contessa used to try to be their friends.

Siloh nodded as he heard and felt better for it but at her question he sighed and looked at her gently, "I don't know. They can't exactly object. The only suitable vixen is still utterly and inarguably unsuitable." He smiled at her and kissed her again but not for long, "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't hurting anyone or stepping on any toes."

Solaire smiled at him and looked at her feet for a second, "You chased them?" she asked but explained how she knew, "When I was little I'd go with my mom to the panther borders to watch the ones on guard." she smiled at him sheepishly as her voice dropped shyly, "And sometimes tease the cubs we saw running about. Getting them to chase us."

Contessa moved off him, realizing she was sitting on his lap. Her lips were red and slightly puffy from their intense make out session. She curled herself up close beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I wouldn't care either way. This feels right to me. Does it feel right to you?" She asked, looking up at him. Her heart had started to slow down in it's pace, returning to a normal pace. She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, making a soft purring like noise as she did.


Kristoff rised his brows at her in surprise. "Really? Wow, that's pretty cool." He said, shocked. He had remembered going with his dad to the borders and watch the neighboring tribes in their daily lives. Their father had told them that it was a good way to see that as they may be different outside, they were still the same. They all did the same things. "Maybe that was me and Tess. Chasing you." He said, smiling at her.

SIloh smiled and nuzzled her as he listened, curling his fingers through her hair and playing with it a bit before answering, "It does. It feels more right than anything I've ever experienced." He smiled as he heard her purr and closed his eyes, just sitting with her, his hand playing with her hair and absently moving up to her ears, starting to rub her ear.

Solaire blushed a little and looked at him, "It was only because she liked panthers... and I did, well, do too." she said, walking close enough her arm was against his as they walked, the fox kit asleep in her arms and her trying her best not to look at the form in his arms. "It might've been. It'd be neat if it was."

As soon as he touched her ear she let out a long purr. No one has touched her ears this way, it felt so good to her. Contessa couldn't speak, her body was washed over her in waves. She stretched her body out as she purred. "Oooh...Siloh." She purred into his ear.


Kristoff watched for her a moment, seeing her reaction. He smiled, keeping his thoughts to himself. He had learned alot about her and was glad Tess made him go after her. They had already passed through the fox lands and was now entering the panther's lands. "Do you want to go find Siloh to let him know?" He asked gently, glancing at her.

Siloh smiled more as she purred and kept rubbing her ears as he held her and kissed her head, laughing softly, "Feels good, yes?" he asked rhetorically, smiling at her and rubbing his face gently against hers. He could tell by the way she reacted she'd never had anyone rub her ears before and with a start he realized that maybe not all tribes are as close knit as the foxes.

Solaire walked beside him quietly and playing with the fox kit's ears again, drawing a weak sound from it in its sleep. At his question though she shook her head, "I'd love to tell him but I want to bury her first. She's stuck in that body until she's buried and I can't make her stay like that any longer than necessary." she shook her head and looked down at her feet with a saddened look before shifting the kit to curl against her chest so she could grip his arm again.

Contessa was in heaven at that very moment. She purred as he continued to rub her ears. "Oh! That feels so good." She said, purring again. Contessa's ears were very sensitive and she began to get goosebumps all over her body. "Do..Oh!..Do you think we should head back?" She managed to get out between her purrs. She knew that the other foxes needed him as much as she felt she needed him. She hated the thought of breaking this contact with him, she didn't know when she would be able to be alone with him again. She was scared of what the foxes might say, she didn't want to upset them.

Kristoff nodded to her, understanding her need. "Understood." He said, fighting back the purr that threaten to escape his lips from her touch. They soon rounded the corner to the village, seeing other panthers prowl about. He nodded to them as he lead her to their graveyard. The massive graveyard loomed ahead of them, the chruch building that sat neatly at the back was eerily quiet. There was a man tending to some of the graves in the graveyard as they neared. "Father Fredrick, we need to bury someone." Kristoff said as they got closer to the man. Father Fredrick turned around and smiled at Kristoff. He was old, his face weathered and lined heavily. His left eye was milky white and he had a long dark scar across it. "Right this way." He said in a soft gentle voice as he lead them towards an empty spot at the graveyard.

Siloh's smile went soft and he looked at her gently, drinking her and her smells in again. He was lost in it when she asked her question so kept staring at her for a moment before mentally shaking himself, "Oh, yeah. They'll be wondering what's going on." he said as he hugged her, still rubbing her ear, "You know, they like you enough I really think they'd accept us like this even if there was another available vixen for me.

AS they came into the village she couldn't help herself from starting at the first panther she saw, her hand tightening on Kristoff's arm but other than what she seemed fine. She looked nervous as they went to the grave yard and moved even closer to Kristoff nervously, always having feared the places. She looked to Kristoff often as she followed him and gave the grave sight a look.

Contessa smiled at him. "You think? I adore you guys so much, I'd hate to upset anyone." She said. The only person who might be upset over this would be her brother and it wouldn't be because of the different speices, it would be due to that she was his little sister and his only real family left. Contessa chewed on her bottom lip, still tasting him, as she sat there. She really didn't want to get up, but she knew that she had too. She started to get up, smiling sheepishly at him, bending to kiss him. "I don't think I can ever get enough of you." She said, laughing as she helped him up.

Father Fredrick smiled gently at them as he moved the tarp that covered a freshly dug grave. He motioned for Kristoff to place the body inside. Kristoff looked at Solaire before laying her mother into the fresh dirt. "Anything you need before laying her to rest?" He asked. Kristoff's voice was hoarse from strain, he didn't want his voice to break. The emotion was heavy in his throat, remembering that last time he came here. Kristoff knealt down next to the ground, laying her mother's body on the ground, his coat still covering her.

Siloh smiled and nodded, hugging her, "I really think so. You're the reason we're not all dead right now." He paused to think but continued a moment later, "And if they don't like it they'll get over it. This won't change how I take care of them." He returned the kiss with a soft chuckle as he responded, "And nor I you." putting an arm around her shoulders and grabbing the fruit. He was going to make sure to keep all the seed from it and give some to the panthers, wanting to share something of the foxes' with them.

Solaire nodded and looked at him, looking on the verge of tears, "Her collar." she croaked, kneeling beside her mother's body and starting to reach over but her hands stopped just before and she pulled her hands back away, "I-I can't. It feels so wrong b-but I need it." she burst out and started crying, noisily, sobs wracking her body. She felt like she would be stealing from her mother if she took it but she knew she was supposed to have it once she came of age and give it over to Siloh's mate when he chose one. The tribe leader and the tribe leader's mate had the gold whistles. The only ones that would produce the right sound to call the whole tribe, or what was left of it.