Nova had spent the few days of Camio's absence wallowing in her own pity. At the time, she had no greater wish and there was nothing that she wouldn't give just for his return. So when she smelled his heady scent freshly gracing the land of the thicket, she was surprised by her own reaction. She had thought she would be overjoyed when he'd come back, as he promised... Instead, the bundle of nerves and tension that had taken up residence in her gut only intensified. She wanted to give him as much distance as he needed and wait for him to come to her, as the whole cause of this mess had been her selfish desire to hold on tight. She'd assumed he would come around eventually, holding onto a hope that he was just taking his time to gather his thoughts.

Days had passed, and she could only wonder why Camio hadn't sought her out yet. She almost felt like he was actively avoiding her. She was running out of excuses for him and why he was taking so long, and was starting to wonder if maybe it was all over. That she was unforgivable, and he had had enough of her. That she was not even worth the time to tell. If that was the case and they were through, what more harm could she do by trying to get closure?

She mulled over her decision all day, finally making up her mind as the sun set. She could wait no longer. Her heavy, weary stride brought her to a quiet corner of the thicket. The little glade was a place she had come to enjoy during her time in the Woodlands pack, as the branches of the dense forest opened up to allow a clear view of the sky. The moon's full shining face lingered up above the tree tops, and Nova quietly admired it, almost trying to absorb some of its ephemeral power. The cold light of the moon lit the snowy ground with an eerie beauty, which was partly but not the sole reason she had chosen this place. Furthermore, it was isolated. She didn't want any witnesses to something that was just between the two of them. Who knew how this would go.

Nova stepped to the center of the clearing, settling her haunches down into the snow. Wide dark muzzle tipped back, Nova released a long mournful note calling for her mate. Letting her song drift off, she tilted her ears foward and kept her eyes alert. As much as she dreaded what he might say, and even more dreaded that he might not make an appearance at all, a part of her was excited just to set her eyes on him again.

Nova waited for him, as patient as the stars slowly inching their way across the sky. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but could feel something so certain that Camio would find her. Her claws worked into the snow, trying to burn some of the nervous tension that threatened to overwhelm her. She was worried what he might say, how he would react to her now, but also felt an undercurrent of excitement to just be in his presence again. If nothing else, that was all she needed.

Deep in thought as she watched the milky way, she hadn't noticed the quiet approach of someone at her back. Her spine straightened rigidly and a gasp escaped her lips as she heard a deep voice purring behind her. Immediately she recognized it was him. Electricity trickled up her limbs, but she was frozen in shock at first. His apology, so earnest, finally broke her free. Wasting no time she rose, curling about to face her love.

"Camio," She whispered, her voice barely a breath on the wind as she closed the little distance between them, her paws moving without thought. Her yellow eyes found his, dark but sparkling in the moonlight, before her dark face brushed past his own mask of mottled rust and grey. She pressed her neck into his and settled her chin upon his shoulders, simply breathing in his intoxicating scent.

But something wasn't still right. Camio wasn't the one who should be apologizing. "No, No... It's my fault. I'm so sorry... I pushed for too much from you, and I shouldn't have." She murmured into the thick mane over his neck. Her embrace slipped as she pulled back, her spine lowered ending in the curl of her tucked tail. Her wide ears pinned back and she averted her eyes from him though she was loathe to ever look away for long.

"Forgive me." She squeaked softly.

With Camio's touch everything felt right again. Nova made a long, pleading whine as her low-draped tail flicked side to side, brushing powdery snow up at her ankles as it picked up speed. The memory of the painfully lonely days she'd spent without him were nearly dissolved by the sounds of his soft voice. Even more than that, she cherished his words. He had forgiven her. What more could she ask for? If it was in her power, she would wish he would never leave her side again, at least not for long. But she was mindful that her grasp had already been so tight she had nearly crushed him. That could never happen again, and so she kept these selfish desires to herself. She had to be content with what she had, and in that moment she was sure there was nothing in the world that could have made her happier.

Nova wriggled in place as Camio tickled her ear, taking her own chance to lay a volley licks across his tufted face. She pulled her head back back, looking into his eyes only as long as she could resist nuzzling her face back into his neck and shoulders. "I don't think I could have stood another night without you. You're everything to me. I just don't know what to do with myself, without you." Nova told him, voice muffled by her incessant nuzzling.

"Where did you go? I-I mean, only if you want to tell me..." Nova asked, still keeping her head low and not sure where Camio would be drawing the line. He seemed to have one, but she wasn't sure where it was or when she had crossed it last time.

"I feel exactly the same way my Nova dearest, exactly the same way." Nova felt a shiver run down from the top of her crown to the tip of her tail as Camio's honeyed words trickled into her ear. He had such a way with words, and if he kept talking like that, Nova was sure she'd... Well, she actually wasn't sure what she'd do. With him, everything she felt was both so comfortable and so new. Just being with him, nearly close enough to hear the strong thrum of his heart, was enough to nearly forget she was still waiting to hear if he would answer as to where he'd been.

She stilled as his answer finally came, holding nervous tension at hearing the name of her old pack, and her old 'Pa. It wasn't something she liked to think about, and nonetheless visions of the grisly scene still haunted her in her dreams. Camio's gentle touch across her brow was a welcomed comfort. While Camio had answered for where he had gone, Nova still wondered at the why, but she was willing to be content with only as much as he was willing to offer her.

Like a shadow, Nova needed little urging to trail after Camio. His energy was contagious and she couldn't help the quick sway of her tail behind her. At first she thought he simply wanted to play a game, and wasn't sure what to make of his words. She tilted her head, her dandelion yellow eyes peering at him curiously.

It only took a few seconds longer for Nova to trot up to his side, her shoulder brushing along his flank as she walked to stand even with him. She looked at him out the corner of her eye, a smile somehow managing to be both mischievous and innocent curling the corner of her lips. "Camio, you're all I want. Anywhere you go, I want to be there at your side." She turned her head to look at him more fully, seeking into his rich brown eyes to see what thoughts dwelled in those mahogany depths. "But, where will we go?"

Nova couldn't help but laugh as Camio bluntly referred to her sister. Nova had spent enough time trying to mend the relationship between them, and it turned out to be wholly unsalvageable. "Bitch" was just about right. For all Nova cared, Aponi could go fall off a cliff. If she never saw her again, it would be too soon. She listened to his ideas, slightly bobbing her head along as she considered.

With his eyes on her, his head quirked at a tantalizing angle, Nova felt her heart beat faster. It was hard not to get distracted by the warmth of his flank, or the rich scent of his fur. Camio had promised her the moon and more, and Nova had no doubts that he could and would provide it. Releasing a small whine, Nova couldn't help but nudge her head against his neck, teeth raking through his fur as she nipped at the base of his skull. "That shouldn't even be a question," she murmured, "Forever doesn't even seem long enough."

As Nova pulled away she hummed as she thought of where they could break out into the world. Where they could not only survive, but thrive. The sense of adventure was tantalizing, and while familiar was also comfortable, Nova found herself wanting more than that. "I want to see something new..." She said. "Maybe... Maybe we can go South? I've never been that way before." She had no idea what lay in that direction.