Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Seventeen

"Minerva!"

She looked up from cleaning the bones of her breakfast to see Tinder coming up, his tail wagging. She felt a flutter in her heart that was becoming more and more familiar. She was happy to see him--and that was so rare with anyone else. "Hey, Tinder," was all she said in response. "What's up?"

"Well, we don't have to go on patrol until this afternoon," he said, "I wanted to ask if you'd come to the pond with me. If you weren't planning on doing anything else, that is."

Minerva shook her head. "No. And I'd make time for you anyway."

Tinder chuckled in response, almost breathlessly. It seemed to Minerva his grin was larger than usual. Did something happen, or...?

He prattled on about a few basic things as they walked up the hill to the pond, and Minerva began to wonder whether she should be interested or concerned. At last they came to a stop at the water side and Tinder took a deep breath.

"Okay," he said. "Great Hunter Dog, I was thinking about this all night. Uh... Minerva, we've been friends for a long time, right?"

"Right." Minerva slowly nodded.

"Yeah, and I feel like we understand each other," he continued. "I really think I've come to understand you. I know you're a little hard to get to know, but you really care about your family, and the whole pack. And the more time we've spent together, and the more I've been thinking about, there's... th-there's something I've got to say."

Minerva felt her heart start beating faster. "Are... you going to say what I think you're going to say?"

Tinder's eyes twitched. "Uh, what do you think I'm going to say?"

"I'm not going to say it if you're not going to say it."

"That's just it!" He swiped at the pond in frustration. "I don't know how. I couldn't sleep at all last night, trying to figure it out."

"I've never known you to be at a loss for words," Minerva said dryly.

Tinder scoffed in response. "Well, no, not normally. But it's just... You're... It's just that, well, even though I love you, you're--"

Minerva's eyes widened. Tinder froze and then cringed, closing his eyes and sucking in a sharp breath. "Merciful Siglitun. I just said it, didn't I?"

Minerva felt an unfamiliar feeling start tingling in her paws. She almost felt... giddy. "I think you did," she said, a smile spreading across her muzzle. "That is... if that's what you meant to say."

Tinder laughed in some mixture of relief and nervousness and genuine happiness. "Yeah, yeah, it was. I was going to do it, you know, better. Something memorable, or... better than that, at least."

"I think that was pretty memorable."

"It was, wasn't it?" He laughed again, and then looked at her more seriously. "But I meant it. I... I love you. I can't stop thinking about you. And I think I want our relationship to be... more."

Minerva said nothing at first, being forced to consider the true ramifications of this statement for the first time. A fear began to replace that initial giddiness she had been feeling. Did she even know what love felt like? She loved her mother, of course, and she would have said she loved her cousins, but a love like this... "I... I don't know," she mumbled finally. "I don't know if I'm... ready."

"That's okay," Tinder said. "I'm not either, really. We can figure it out together."

"Are you sure?" Minerva asked tentatively. "That you want to do it with me? I... I wouldn't think I'm the type of dog someone would love."

Tinder gave an exasperated sigh. "How many times have I had to tell you this? You don't give yourself enough credit. Just because you're quiet doesn't mean you don't have anything to say. I know you, the real you, and I've fallen in love with it."

To her own surprise, Minerva felt tears springing in her eyes. "I don't deserve someone like you," she murmured.

"Yes, you do," Tinder said softly, his eyes glowing with a gentle warmth. "I understand if you're not ready to say anything yet. But do you want to... see if you feel the same way?"

Minerva slowly nodded. "Yes. If it's with you, then I want to."