Lifting his creamy white muzzle up into the air, the Pitch Pine Guardian inhaled deeply, letting the sweet scents brush along the roof of his mouth and his tongue. Rabbits, hares, deer....and another. There was a taint on the wind, and it smelled like a wolf, but not one he knew. Was it that strange wolf that had interfered with them at Spectral Woods? Immediately his hackles rose a few centimetres and his lips pulled back just enough for his incisors to be seen. Padding forwards at a fast lope, he made his way over to the source of the scent. If it was that male, the Pitch Pine Guardian would make sure that he never came back to bother them again.

There was a commotion up ahead, and he pricked his ears while changing his course to meet it. He tried to be careful and not make any noise, but once again, his size always ended up making him step on something. His paw stepped right on a stick with his full weight and it snapped. A loud crack echoed throughout the area, and he cringed slightly. Why did it always have to happen at the worst of times? Nevertheless, he kept on moving towards the source of the scent and commotion.

When the Pitch Pine Guardian heard a soft, warning growl he froze, with the exception of his ears which were flicking around in every possible direction. The wolf had obviously heard him, and was now telling him to back off. Well, that was what he thought. Padding forwards at a slow trot, he emerged from the bushes and came upon a black female with light gold and brown eyes. The fae seemed harmless, but they all did, before the struck.

Suspicious, the Pitch Pine Guardian pulled his ears back slightly and narrowed his eyes. He didn't trust her, and wouldn't until he knew why she was here. He hadn't seen her around here before, but she also had a very faint scent on her. One that belonged to the Pitch Pine Trail wolves. Was she a new recruit? Even if the black fae was, he still didn't trust her. She could be a spy after all, coming from the pack that other male had come from.

Stepping forwards, the Pitch Pine Guardian stood a few paces away from her lithe body, staring down at her with his hackles slightly raised and his tail curled over his back. "I am Ace Caravello. Second under Shade Slayer and Guardian of Pitch Pine Trail. Who are you?" His last three words were accompanied by the slight pulling back of his lips. He wouldn't normally act like this, but since that wolf had come along he was extra protective of his family. Especially the young prince and princess whom he had vowed to protect with his life. He would let no harm come to them, whatever the cost. He was a Pitch Pine Trail Guardian, and proud to be one.

500 Words

If I could have you in my heart, I
would protect you forever

When a smile formed on the black faes lips, the Pitch Pine Guardian let a sliver of a growl escape from his muzzle, but he saw her back down anyway. He lowered his tail and stopped pulling back his lips, but was still on guard for anything suspicious. When she introduced herself as Silver Shadow, a small smile crossed his face, before it turned into a sheepish look when she finished speaking. He couldn't believe that he had just acted like that to one of his pack mates. Lowering his head and tail, he spoke in a soft voice, almost asking her to accept his apology. "I-I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't realize that you were a part of the Pitch Pine Trail wolves. Please ignore my unacceptable behaviour."

Lifting his head a few inches, the Pitch Pine Guardian looked at Silver who was now rising to her full height, which only came up to his shoulder. But it was like that with most wolves he met anyway. He was almost surprised when the black fae told him she was sorry about bothering him, before nudging the rabbit over to him. Light grey eyes stared at its furry body for a few seconds before flicking back up to meet Silver's light gold orbs. A small smile formed on his lips as he shook his head. "No, I couldn't take this for myself. You have, it is yours after all, you caught it." Or you could give it to Shade and Anastasia to show your loyalty to them.

Lowering his creamy head, the Pitch Pine Guardian nudged the rabbit back towards Silver. Even though she had the right to give it to him, he didn't feel like he deserved it, after treating her like a stranger instead of welcoming her with open arms. Clearing his throat, he looked at Silver for a few moments with a smile on his face before opening his jaws to speak. "You mentioned before that Shade gave you the option to become a scout. Well, I think that, that you would be good at it."

Smooth, real smooth. Way to go Ace, are you trying to hit on her? Well, you're not doing a very good job at it. Mentally kicking himself, the Pitch Pine Guardian looked away from Silver, with a blush creeping up on his neck. Thankfully he had a thick coat to hide it, but would she notice anyway?

404 Words

If I could have you in my heart, I
would protect you forever

Ace breathed in deeply and froze when Silver nudged him with her muzzle, speaking soft words like a mother to a child. Indeed, he did feel like a child, unsure of what to do and how to act. His light grey eyes met her light gold eyes, and it felt as if his breath caught in his chest. Was this what love felt like? Surely not, he had only met her, but why was he feeling this way? Breathing softly and quickly, he averted his eyes from her face, trying to calm his heart which felt like it was beating a hundred times a second. After a few seconds, the Pitch Pine Guardian finally calmed himself enough to speak, albeit in a ragged voice, almost like it hurt to speak. "It-It's nothing really. A wolf from a neighbouring pack came along and threatened to harm the pups. Ev-ever since that day, I've been extra protective of them."

A tentative smile came upon his lips when Silver said that she was going to give it to Shade and Anastasia. He would have done the same, too. "I haven't met Anastasia either, but I've heard that she i-is really nice." Why was he stuttering all of a sudden? Once again the Pitch Pine Guardian felt a blush creep up his neck and onto his face. Was it because of the feelings he had for her? But he had only just met her, there was no way that he could have a crush on her so soon. Could he?

Looking up again, his light grey eyes scanned over her lithe body. Now that he was looking closer, her could see streaks of tan throughout her pelt, and a scar underneath one of her light gold eyes. She had a slim but curvy figure, long slender legs, bright golden eyes, dark, shiny black fur that seemed to shimmer in the light. In his eyes, she was the perfect picture of beauty.

The Pitch Pine Guardian froze when Silver rubbed herself against him, before he breathed in her sweet scent and relaxed, feeling as if his body would melt there and then. A soft whisper met his ears, and a smile came upon his face as he looked into her eyes. "I know so, Silver." As Silver walked back in front of him, his light grey eyes followed her every move. It was almost a surprise to him when she spoke again, this time asking hm to tell her more about himself. Clearing his throat softly, Ace sat down, still looking at silver before he opened his jaws to speak.

"There isn't really m-much about me. But I guess you could say that I had a pretty good upbringing. The Alpha's were my parents, everyone liked me. Things were going well, that is, un-until a group of rogues came along and ambushed us. Ev-everyone except me and my sister got....Killed." The Pitch Pine Guardian paused and looked down. Tears started to form in the corners of his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. He would NOT cry in front of Silver. Looking back at the black fae, he breathed in deeply before continuing on, letting her sweet scent wash over him and calm him down. "Ever since that d-day I've been searching for her. I know that she's here somewhere, but every trail I followed just lead to a dead end. Even though....Even though I'm not searching for her, I still hope and pray that she is alive and well, and that at sometime in the future she will f-find me."

Ace couldn't believe that he had just told Silver that, she was the only one who knew about his past. But oddly, it felt right. Like opening himself up to her was what he was supposed to do. Looking deep into her golden orbs, the Pitch Pine Guardian gave an uncertain smile and spoke almost hesitantly. "That's me, what about you?"

660 Words

If I could have you in my heart, I
would protect you forever

When Ace finished telling Silver about his past, he half closed his eyes, and was surprised when he felt her lithe body curl up into his broad chest. It didn't feel strange to him though, more like she was meant to be there, and he lowered his head to cuddle her back. Her sweet scent was almost empowering, and he felt almost light-headed from it. When the black fae started to talk about her own past, the Pitch Pine Guardian pricked his ears and listened attentively to her words.

He could almost feel the sadness that was radiating from her, and cuddled closer to her, as if trying to keep everything bad at bay so that she would not be harmed. There was a few moments of silence after Silver finished speaking, and Ace made soft soothing sounds when the black fae buried her head into his broad chest. A whine threatened to escape from his maw, but he clamped his jaws shut, refusing to let a sound out. He would be strong for Silver, protect her, make her feel better.

Looking down into her eyes, he ran his rough, salmon pink tongue across her damp face, and it came away salty with tears. Bending his neck slightly, he held his muzzle to her ear and whispered softly. "I know the choice was hard, and that you regret doing it. But you must not dwell on the past, what is done is done, and there is nothing you can do to change that." The truth was hard, but it was the only way to ease the pain. He knew how it felt. His sister was out there somewhere, looking for him, he just knew it. She would keep searching until she found him, just like he usually would've. But now his loyalty was given to Shade, and even though his heart told him to search for his sister, he had to stay here. He had given an oath, and would stick to it until the end of his days, even if it meant that his heart was calling out for his sister, who may never find him.

When a soft whisper met his ears, saying words that he never thought he would hear, the Pitch Pine Guardian paused, before leaning backwards and locking eyes with Silver. His breath caught in his chest as he stared into her golden orbs, they were hypnotising, and he felt like he couldn't look away. His heart felt like soaring into the sky, she liked him! After a few silent moments, Ace nudged her muzzle with his, and spoke in a soft voice that was only meant for her to hear. "I feel it too, like I can't bear to be apart from you." He paused, gauging her reaction and letting his words sink in before he continued. "And to answer your question....Yes. I do like you, even though I just met you."

Whether it was what he had said, or if she had been meaning to, Silver got up and walked out from under him, leaving him sitting there alone. Looking at her curiously, he cocked his head slightly to the left, watching her every movement. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips when Silver glanced down and started pawing at the ground, as if unsure of how to act. As like before, when Silver looked back up and stared at him, her golden eyes seemed to draw him in. They stared at each other for who knows how long, before the Pitch Pine Guardian lurched forward to stand in front of her. Lowering his creamy white muzzle to rest near her ear, he spoke in a soft whisper with a smile on his face. "Now that I've told you how I feel, I think I ought to know how you feel."

641 Words

If I could have you in my heart, I
would protect you forever

A shocked expression showed clearly on the Pitch Pine Guardian's face when Silver put her paws on his shoulders and rested her jet black nose against his. They were now level with each other and face to face, and his eyes locked onto her golden orbs. Her soft whisper reached his ears, causing them to twitch and turn forward, trying to catch every word. Each word that came out of the black faes muzzle warmed him to the heart, and a wide smile showed on his face, betraying the happiness he felt. At her last words: "So yes, I do like you." Ace felt like jumping around in joy, but forced his muscles to stay still, keeping his face close to hers, and letting her sweet scent wash over him.

He was almost saddened when Silver took her paws off of his shoulders, but it was only a moment before he felt her smaller form curl up under him and her head resting lightly on his chest. Sitting down slowly on his haunches, Ace cuddled closer to the black fae and lowered his head so it rested next to hers. His eyes were half closed as he sat there with Silver, enjoying the silent moments with her, no interruptions, just the two of them. The silence was shattered when the Pitch Pine Guardian heard the soft whisper of Silver's voice near his ear. A few moments of silence passed as Ace thought of what to do. What would they think of him and Silver spending time together?

No, it didn't matter what the others thought, all that mattered was that he and Silver were together. Taking a deep breath, Ace pushed his muzzle against Silvers neck, and spoke in a soft voice. "What they think about us spending time with each other doesn't matter, as long as we're together, I'm happy." Nothing would keep him from being with Silver. Nothing. She was the other half of his soul, and he would keep her safe and close to him at all times. Only death would keep him away from her.

The Pitch Pine Guardian listened attentively as Silver spoke again; a smile gracing his features and a chuckle escaping from his maw. He didn't mind that she was asking many questions, it just gave him more reasons to express his love for her. And as for what he saw in her? Well, she was beautiful, not afraid to stand up for herself, funny, a huge flirt, but most of all, she was compassionate and knew how to make a wolf feel better about themselves. Pulling his head back, Ace stared into her golden orbs, a low rumble in his chest that sounded like a cat purring. He was content to be here with her, feeling the warm sun beat down upon them. Her next words made him smile, he really didn't mind that she asked many questions. Nudging her black muzzle softly with his own creamy white muzzle, the Pitch Pine Guardian breathed in her sweet scent before speaking. "What I see in you is a beautiful woman who stands up for herself and who makes me laugh. You are also compassionate, but the best thing about you is that you know how to make a wolf feel better when they are feeling down or sad."

What he was feeling for Silver was more than a crush, it was love. He had never felt it before, and knew that there was no other wolf that could make him feel this way. She was his other half, the second part of his soul, she completed him in a way no one else could. Not even his sister. Thinking of his sister made tears threaten to emerge, but he blinked them away. He wouldn't cry in front of Silver, he would be strong, for her. Nuzzling her neck with his creamy white muzzle, Ace spoke in a soft whisper, his voice low and husky. "Now that I've told you what I see in you, what do you see in me?"

671 Words

If I could have you in my heart, I
would protect you forever