Avatar: {Hybrid and Alien]

{84}

It was confusing why the anthro thanator wanted Asim to accompany her to the same place. The Tree of Voices being the place, but he knew that soon the reason would be given.

The scenery of the beautiful place hasn't changed since the last time Asim was here with Layontsin. In fact it looked the same as before, filled with light and with life all around them. The woodsprites continued to float around, swimming in the air as they traveled around gracefully. Above the place in the night sky, the large blue gas giant, Polyphemus, along with several of the other moons visible, helped light up the forest night. Layontsin and Asim traveled across the forest ground, making their way towards the sacred glowing trees up ahead. The anthro thanator sped up a little as she looked back at Asim and smiled, letting out a chuckle as if she were instigating Asim to catch up to her. Which worked as Asim gave a smirk and sped up to catch up with her, not worried about anything now. When Asim got close, Asim used his hand to tug on the flat tail from the anthro thanator, making her yelp a little and turn at him with a glare. They momentarily stopped as Asim made an innocent gesture, not dropping his smile as Layontsin stared at him. The anthro thanator didn't lash at him, but instead continued to smile and then nudge him with her tail before they both resumed traveling. Once they made their way over the river that surrounded the place thanks to the root bridges, they began to slow down and eventually stop. "So...why did you bring me here again?" Asim asked, curious as they have already arrived at the place once again. The anthro thanator glanced back at him and gestures with some of her four hands to follow her as she made her way around the trees, Asim resuming following her.

They slowly walked into the large group of glowing trees until they came upon the largest of the bunch at the center. It was bigger than the rest, but way smaller than the Tree of Souls. Layontsin went to that tree and sat down near the base of it, looking to the side at Asim and gesturing him to sit with her. So, obeying, Asim made his way and sat down in front of the anthro thanator, settling down comfortably. "Now that you are part of the clan, I wanted to tell you something. It is very important, and I am not sure if I have told you." Layontsin said to Asim. "What is it that you wanted to tell me?" Asim said to the anthro thanator. Layontsin paused for a moment, observing the woodsprites that slowly floated around the place they were in. "Asim...you have grown to be very important to me. At the start, I didn't care a single bit if something happened to you. Now...it's different. I care about you. And...I....I have grown to love you. As a mate." Layontsin said, face seeming flustered as her tail twitched nervously behind her. This didn't come to a surprise to Asim, as he himself and Mikhail have already known about that. Yet, hearing this confirmation from Layontsin herself, was a bit more surprising than before. However, Asim understood; she was like him, trying to find a connection with one another despite being vastly different from each other. Now, things were more clear now as the majority of his doubts and worries were cast aside. This wasn't something related to what he has been trained to do or something he should avoid. What mattered now was what he chose for himself like he and his friends have done long ago. So yes, thanks to what he has gone through and that he has been given a chance at a free life like the rest, Asim came to one conclusion:

Compassion and love that he has grown to feel once again were now within the reach of understanding. And Asim truly liked it.

The sudden rambling of the anthro thanator is what snapped Asim away from his mind zoning out. "If you still think that I am not worthy of being your mate, that is fine. There are others in the clan that can be good mates. Or, if there is any luck, we can go out far and find a good skyperson—" Layontsin began, becoming excursive as she looked down and clenched her hands a bit, before Asim reached to her hands to stop her. He held on to her hands tightly in order to stop her from continuing, successfully making her look at his face again. "Stop it. Please. Layontsin. I...don't want anyone else, be it na'vi or another human." Asim said, loosening his grip on the anthro thanator's arms and moving them to hold her palms. "Really? Then...if I choose you...then what would you say?" Layontsin asked as she looked him in the eyes. Her predatory eyes were softened once again, and were noticed that they still had some doubt in them. It was then that Asim understood that she wanted him to confirm that he loved her. So, moving his hands to hold the anthro thanator's hands up a little, he gave a nod at her as to say "Yes. I choose you as well". When Asim saw Layontsin see this, he noticed all her worries that were shown in her face vanish in an instant. Then she opened her mouth to speak, and to his surprise she spoke in the best learned English she could: