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As he relaxed against her, the fear and stress she had been feeling seemed to drain from her body, and her voice grew stronger. She continued to sing, losing herself in the song. The lyrics were very relaxing, and she could tell he was getting sleepy. As the rain continued to fall outside, the atmosphere in the burrow was one of comfort and peace now. She was very glad that Naito had agreed to come back with her. He seemed very nice, and as his body rested against hers, she began to feel a heat building up within her.

She felt his sudden absence against her body as she continued to sing. She wondered if the warmth she was feeling was being felt by him too. As she approached the end of the song, her mind started racing. What if he decided to leave? Did she want him to leave? Or did she want him to stay? She'd never really been this close to a male of her kind before. Was what she was feeling what some people called love? If so, was he feeling the same thing? She finished the song and laid their in silence for a while, listening to his breathing. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, she finally decided to ask him. "Naito, would you like to stay here with me for a while? You don't have anywhere to be right? I would really like it if you did. I rather like having you here. I feel all warm inside right now, and I've never had this feeling before. Do you feel any different?" She truly hoped that he would say yes. What would she do if he said no?

Her heart skipped a beat. He would stay! That was all she could think about at the moment. Was this what love felt like? Had her parents met in a similar way? She looked at Naito and imagined them together for years and years and it made her very happy.

"I don't exactly have those same feelings, but I do know that I too don't want you to leave after tonight. I want to know everything there there is to know about you, and one night would not be enough time. I want to tell you about my family, and what it was like growing up with a brother and sister." Her wings seemed to flutter as she spoke. She still found it interesting that he didn't have wings, but then again, her father had not had them either. She supposed it was a trait she had inherited from her mother, and that not everyone was blessed with them.

As he continued to speak and pace about the burrow, she became concerned and frightened that he might suddenly bolt outside and she would never see him again. He was asking so many questions, so quickly that she couldn't answer one before he asked another. The look on his face told her he was at odds with his feelings, and if she didn't say the right thing quickly, she could lose him forever. She looked around her small burrow, the only place she had known since leaving her family to live on her own, and realized it was only a place to escape the weather, and to sleep in. There had to be other burrows out there where they could take shelter, and spend the night together. She knew what she must do if they were to have a future together.

"Naito calm down. It's going to be fine. You don't have to stay here. I don't have to stay here. I want to see new places, taste new foods, meet new people and have adventures, but those things won't happen if I stay here. And I too do not wish to do all of those things without you by my side. So, I will leave my burrow, and we can travel the world together. I cannot think of anything I would like more than that."

She watched him closely to see what his reaction would be to her suggestion. She could only hope that he would agree to it.

"But don't you see? I have never had the chance to travel like you have. And I have not lived in this burrow so long that I truly think of it as my home. It is more a place to escape the rain and snow. I actually find sleeping out under the night sky much more enjoyable." She paused to take a breath, as she had not taken a breath since she began speaking. "Maybe it is not a good idea to travel with kits, but I see no reason why we could not travel until such time as kits arrive. I am sure we could find some place adequate to raise them until they are old enough to travel with us, or go off on their own." She walked over to where he was sitting, nervously smoothing the fur on his tail. She sat down next to him and continued. "And Naito, I too would like to have kits with you some day, but until then, I would like to see what the world has to offer, and I would very much like to do that with you."

She leaned into him as he nuzzled her cheek. "Oh Naito, I know what you mean. I've never felt this way about another male before. My stomach feels like it has butterfly's in it, and I feel all giddy. We can stay here tonight, and tomorrow we can decide what we want to do. It sounds like the rain has stopped. Maybe we should go outside and see if we can find something to eat. I'm feeling a little hungry."

She stood and followed him to the opening of the burrow. "My favorite thing to eat are berries. There are some bushes not far from here with sweet berries. I haven't gone to see if there are any ready to eat yet, so we could go together." She passed him, and walked out into the cool, evening air. She looked around, and marveled at how everything looked so green after a rainfall. The air was crisp and clean, and she took a deep breath as she waited for Naito to follow her out.