The Clans of Nines

Lovers

Eve snuggled down on Silver's warm back that radiated heat. 

    "Is it okay if I lie down? I'm feeling a bit tired," Eve admitted. Blush suffused her cheeks. 

  "Go ahead." It was lucky that Silver's eyes were focused on the rocky terrain ahead and not on her, because her cheeks felt like they were on fire and that they were glowing with embarrassment. Clearly, her pride did not agree with her request. But her body needed the rest after the two exhausting days of fatigue. 

      Her eyes closed sleepily, the rhythmic sway of Silver's movements lullabying her to sleep. When she opened them again, it was early dawn. Streaks of red and orange crawled across the sky as the sun began to rise. 

  "Silver! You didn't sleep?" Eve asked, horrified as she was still on Silver's back as he navigated through a forest. 

  "Uh..no," Silver replied. "Glad that you're awake. Should we get breakfast?" 

 "Don't change the subject! You've been running for half a day now! That's hours!" 

     "Funny thing is, I don't feel too bad. My dad always used to tell me that once I became an Arcanine, I could run for a day and night straight without stopping." 

  "Without stopping for food? Water? Rest?" Eve asked incredulously. 

 "Er..yeah." 

      "Stop right this instant! You have to rest! Get back your strength!" 

 "But-"

    "No buts!" 

Eve's tone was so sharp that Silver stopped by a stream, reluctantly stopping and lying down. 

  "I'll get breakfast," Eve said. 

 "You're-" 

      "Stop worrying about me. I can handle getting breakfast. You need to focus on resting, not worrying about me," Eve snapped. 

 Silver watched as Eve gathered berries from various bushes and trees, using her Ember attacks to knock them down from the branches she couldn't reach or climb, much to Silver's objection that he could do it. 

      "Here you go," Eve said, pushing a much larger pile of berries than her own towards Silver. 

  "But that's not fair," Silver said, looking at Eve's small pile. 

  "You need your strength," Eve said, waving this matter away. 

     "So do you," Silver said, nudging the pile towards her. 

  Eve sat down firmly. "I can argue all day about this." 

    "So can I." 

    Eve sighed. "We're not going to agree, are we?" 

   "Nope." 

       "Fine." Eve divided the piles into two equal ones, but managed to sneak a few extras into Silver's pile when he wasn't looking. 

  "Ah, that was great," Eve said, sighing. 

    "Yeah. I think I could wash it down with some water, though." 

  Eve nodded to the rushing water. "Go ahead, help yourself." 

      Silver trotted to the edge of the water, testing it, before gulping down the cold water. 

  "Are you going to wash?" Eve asked as she washed herself in the stream. 

  "I guess." 

       Silver hopped into the water with a splash as Eve combed out loose fur and turned his coat of glossy fur from beautiful to stunning.