Her whole body was tinkling with electricity, blood rushing through her veins, so quickly she could hear it roar in her ears. Eyes firmly locked on her companion, she continued slowly forwards, waiting for his answer; muscles tense with nervous energy. Her ears were perked, her smile bright, and her lashes slightly lowered over brightly shining eyes, she felt strangely warm in the autumn chill, and her body seemed both stiff and awkward, and at the same time somehow liquid and light; What’s wrong with me?! The lady was starting to wonder if she might be sick, but her attention, which was already mostly on Coal, was completely turned to the large boy when he suddenly turned his head; attitude suddenly changing dramatically.






Confusion filled the red girls body, and both her ears and shoulders fell heavily, eyes returning to her feet, brushing increasingly briskly through the wet grass. Continuously stealing glances at the sand-pelted male, she desperately tried to get a hold of her thoughts, head spinning like a tumbleweed on a windy day; Why did I say that? I shouldn’t have said that! Idiot, IDIOT! She gritted her teeth angrily, cheeks burning with embarrassment, and continued her march forwards, without realizing that Coal was falling behind.






Only when she raised her eyes to once more look over at the man, did she notice that he hadn’t kept up with her heightening of pace. Coming to a holt, peeking over her shoulder after him, she considered simply continuing - If her company made him so uncomfortable, she could just leave! But wouldn’t that be running away? She wouldn’t run! With a defiant snort, she stood her ground, waiting for the tan wolf to catch up again; If he wants me gone, he’ll have to SAY SO!






So when Coal was back by her side, the two of them once more trotting slowly through the land, and he finally turned to her, she met his eyes with a neutral expression; brows politely lifted, ears attentively turned, and mouth curved in a faint smile, not showing teeth - as those were clenched tightly, to keep her lips from quivering. Aideen noted the brown-mottled boys clear discomfort, a sting running through her chest, anger growing at the sight of his fake smile; Why don’t you just tell me the truth?! She nodded firmly as means of reply, but he had already turned his head away, and she did the same.






For a long time they walked in silence, both bodies stiff, the small lass keeping her eyes on the horizon. Her emotions were in turmoil, anger and sadness mixing with an odd numbness that she couldn’t define; This is ridiculous! We just met, why should I care if he doesn’t like me?! But she did care. And in the end, she couldn’t stand the silence any more. Stopping abruptly in her tracks, she turned to the male and spoke, beckoning for him to do the same; <b style="color:#c7470f"> “Coal, look at me! ...Please...” She felt her throat tighten, eyes stinging at the thought of what was surely to come, but she had to do this! Better to get it over with sooner than later! Taking a deep breath, she searched to meet his eyes, failing to keep her own copper gaze cold as she wanted, but sensing her feelings shining through, as her defenses started to crumble; <b style="color:#c7470f"> “If...” Her voice broke, and she had t start again, <b style="color:#c7470f"> “If you’d rather travel on your own... Just tell me! I...” Damn it! Another deep breath, this one even shakier, but this time followed by a touch of steel, sliding over her eyes and into her voice; <b style="color:#c7470f">"I just wanted some pleasant company for a change, but if you can't give me that then... Let's just part ways here!"






It was said! Now it was up to him... The lady steeled herself, preparing for the inevitable blow that would be his rejection. She desperately wanted him to stay, all though she had no idea why that should be so important to her, but she was also too proud to keep this fake courtesy going any longer. It was in his paws now...






Word count: 695




I'm not stupid <b style="color:#c7470f">”I've got bark!”

She felt tears burn behind her eyes, and fought to keep them back; NO! I won't cry! ...This is ridiculous, I don't even KNOW HIM! And yet she had to blink furiously, to prevent the salt from spilling down he cheeks; but she wouldn't cry! She wouldn't call on his pity like that, if he didn't want to stay, he should go! A lump grew in the orange girls throat, her eyes searing as she forced herself to keep looking at the large male, anxiety flowing through her veins as she waited for his response; his rejection. She could see him writhing under her words, surely feeling trapped by her demand of honesty, and desperately trying to find a way to escape her company; Just say it!






And he did. Voice echoing with strength and agony, eyes radiating a fear unlike anything the girl had ever seen, the man called out one word, one word that made the ladies entire world tumble; No..? Before she had time to ponder on what he meant, Coal himself elaborated on the exclamation, speaking loud and stiffly, but with eyes radiating honesty. Begging for forgiveness. Aideen could do nothing but stare in awe, lips slightly parted, eyes wide. And then, despite herself, and her previous efforts, the tears began to roll. One by one, the salty drops ran through her fur close behind one another, dripping down on her claws, which were digging at the soft grass. It... I... What? Her head was spinning, her eyes seeing nothing but the blur of tears, her body unable to move, even if she had known where to direct it.






It was impossible to say, how much time passed this way, silent and confused, in tears... Eventually, the flame-pelted lass collected herself enough to bow her small dome, blinking at the tears, a faint redness spreading under her light face-fur as she fully grasped what had just passed; Was I completely wrong..? It did seem that she had completely misunderstood the sand-hued man, concluding things from little or even no evidence, other than her own foolish speculations. And then again... Finally she looked up, meeting the lads dark gaze with, slightly reddened, but now dry eyes. Clearing her throat, she asked hoarsely, voice barely more than a whisper: <b style="color:#c7470f">"But then... Why do you act like you don't even wanna talk to me?" Anger and sorrow had now been replaced by puzzlement and emotional exhaustion in the young fae's head. She felt worn out after her short cry, and the feelings-based turmoil she'd just been through; and she was tired of attempting to understand this stranger, who for some reason had made such a great impact on her.






Feeling the blush grow on her cheeks, Aideen once more turned her warm coppers to her, now rather wet, paws, adding in a voice more clean, yet just as quiet; <b style="color:#c7470f">"I'm very happy to share your company as well. But... Not if we can't speak honestly, without assuming things that haven't been proven..!" At these last words she glanced up at the large wolf, wondering if he too had taken her words for something other or more than they were; I wanna be your friend! SO badly!






Word count: 537




I'm not stupid <b style="color:#c7470f">”I've got bark!”

The slight woman's eyes were on her paws, but her attention was on Coal, his huge body beside her, radiating warmth, embodying sincerity, security. She saw her father in the man, a faint echo of his kindness and emotional strength; and along with it so much more! Who are you Coal Bielski? Why do you make me feel this way?! And what was this way exactly? Warm, confused, light, awkward... As if to underline the girl's puzzled wonderings, the tan male moved closer, his warmth growing more evident on her fur. She looked up to meet his eyes, wide, honest, kind... A mirror of her own, and a quivering smile shaped her lips. Then she felt his tongue against her hot cheeks, and gasped silently, closing her eyes to the unexpected caress. Surprise filled her head, but she didn't pull away. Rather she stayed, still as a stone, feeling nothing but his warmth and the roughness of his tongue on her pelt.






It was as if all other parts of her body had gone numb, leaving her head alone to sense the world, and yet all it noticed was him; and it scared her more than anything else had ever done, but still, she didn't want it to end. Of course it did though, his heat pulling back to a less intimate distance, and Aideen opened her eyes, looking at the man with shining, copper eyes, breathing heavily. She felt like she'd just sprinted for several minutes, heart hammering against her ribs, head spinning, unable to catch her breath. Coal was watching her as closely as she was him, head turned in... Sympathy? Something else? And a kind smile curving his lips. When he spoke, the red girl held her breath, feeling his words as much as hearing them, a small, slightly melancholic, smile grazing her face.






Then silence spread between them, Aideen's eyes still keeping hold of his, never wanting to let go. She felt deeply overwhelmed, unable to muster any kind of response. Words, which otherwise came so easily to her, were all but gone from her head. But she had other ways of communicating, and after a little while, she walked up the large man and rubbed her head against his chest, stretching her short neck to reach up and touch his chin; breathing in deeply to fill her nostrils with his scent. Something about this felt utterly right to the lass, and she pushed her body gently against the sand-brown of his, whispering in a voice that trembled faintly with emotion; <b style="color:#c7470f">"Thank you Coal."






And this was a thank you for so much more than his words, more than his caress and the unspoken things that rung in his statement. THANK YOU!






Word count: 456




I'm not stupid <b style="color:#c7470f">”I've got bark!”

Feeling is strength as his wait pushed against her back, writhing slightly when his breath tickled her neck, Aideen felt warmth build within her; This is nice! She thought, pushing even closer to the large man, sighing contently while his odor wrapped around her; like a vice! An avalanche closing over her, locking her in. The lady's copper eyes shot open and she gasped for air, suddenly she felt like she was being smothered, like the closeness was robbing her of oxygen, and she pulled away from Coal, backing up several steps to put distance between them. Her eyes were strained on the giant male, brain spinning wildly; What am I doing? I hardly know him! The whirlwind of feelings seemed to, finally , have left her, and her common sense returned, ringing loud alarm bells in her head; What are you doing Aideen?! He's a STRAGNER! One thing was being friendly, treating each other with honesty and respect and forming friendships, but this!






Aideen felt like a spell had been broken, the haze she had been walking in since meeting the tan brute finally lifted, and her head clear for once. Watching the man, with eyes slightly narrowed, the girl speculated wildly, trying to decipher what had happened, how had he driven her crazy like that? What did you do to me?! She had never felt that way before, completely enthralled by such strong emotions, seemingly out of nowhere.






Looking at Coal now, the lass felt a strange knot form in her stomach, and as their eyes met fresh warmth flushed through her body; This... What is this?! I can't..! Her breathing was growing shallow, wheezing quickly like after a long run. What was happening? I need to get away from here! She had to be alone, clear her head! Looking to the brown-mottled giant once more, a sudden pain went through her chest; she didn't want to leave. But she had to! This was too much, too fast!






Looking to her paws, unable to hold the man's gaze as she pushed him away, Aideen sputtered in a choppy, rushed manner; <b style="color:#c7470f">"Uh yeah so... Uhm, thank you. It was... Nice talking to you! But I... I really gotta get going, so... Yeah." Swallowing, she glanced back up at the lad, guilt filling her every fiber; I just... I can't handle this! Her whole body tense, ready to spring from the place, and wanting nothing more, there was still something that kept Aideen locket on the spot, something that made her entire being ache. With a strike of extreme effort, she met Coal's eyes shortly, spurting out a hoarse apology: <b style="color:#c7470f">"I'm sorry I just... I can't do this! I'm sorry..." Then she turned, eyes once more flooding with tears, and ran off in the first open direction, away from this boy who had made her feel so... Alive!






Word count: 477




I'm not stupid <b style="color:#c7470f">”I've got bark!”