skill: flowerchild 3/3 BWP - howlentine's!]

It seemed that the invisible thread binding them to each other pulled Foxglove right along after Fable, his mind also thinking down to what the kids would do if they managed to find some of the fae wine. He couldn’t help the little giggle, and if he’d had a hand to do so he might have run it through his hair. Our girls can hold their own, Mama he reminded her. Foxglove hadn’t really put any thought to saying ‘our’ and maybe that was how it should have been. Natural. Like their progression from acquaintance to a daily fixture in each others lives. They've got better blood for it than I do anyways! He pointed out quickly - because hadn’t Fable warned him about the advantage she had over him, a lowly commoner who didn’t have magic blood and ties lifetimes over? He hadn’t had any adverse effects after all - aside from an impressive headache the following day.

His green eyes were twinkling with their own brand of mischief, and maybe he liked to tease her from time to time about the girls. He didn't want to take it too far, though, because Fable did love her kids enough that she sometimes landed herself right in the middle of a little tizzy when her thoughts got away from her. Fox felt like he managed not to completely destroy himself by remembering that time would go on regardless of what they might do to change that. His eyes fluttered when she spoke so soothingly, almost as if she’d reached up to brush her fingers through his hair. There had been more than one occasion where he had actually drifted off to the touch while she read and absentmindedly pet him like a cat. Who could blame him, honestly? A pretty girl and a soft touch were about all that it took.

He could almost feel it now, the sun warmed grass beneath him, Fable reading out loud with occasional bird songs in the distance. He was shook back awake by the words she said after, explaining he had gotten the meaning wrong. Foxglove had probably annoyed each of the Goldencourtes with constantly asking for definitions and translations. His brow furrowed, and his jaw snapped shut when she continued on to explain the actual meaning. Oh - a deeper meaning? The heavier connotation might have been exactly where Epona had been aiming. He had probably been rambling on when trying to ask for her help.

Still, the matriarch was completely innocent and incapable of any wrongdoings as far as Foxglove was concerned. The moon-kissed grandmother had always been available to help him, and he saw Epona put the same love and purpose in every aspect of her life. From the food she cooked, the stories she told, the legacy she built for her children of love and acceptance that had encompassed even the lands she kept and that included every soul on the farm - except maybe not that one ram who really hit hard. That bastard certainly didn’t deserve it, if she did. Regardless, Foxglove trusted Epona and if there had been a miscommunication, he was certain it was on his end. Im sorry I meant — And then he fell silent again. His jaw snapped shut again this time almost taking the tip of his tongue, certain that he hadn’t heard her right. Perhaps it was the strange feeling the fire had brought on. Was it confusing him? Had to be. Because if he had heard her - if she had wanted that from him. He couldn’t see her intention, though, and the way she couldn’t even look at him confused him more.

She hoped?

First thing he did was swallow, trying to free himself of the cotton that weirdly had filled his mouth suddenly. She hoped. Hope, the most beautiful thing, this most treasured occupant of Pandora’s Box Fables herself hung onto. And Fox had kept her hoping. Ohiumididntmeanareyousure— Foxglove.exe has crashed. System restart required. During his boot up loop Fox no doubt looked so befuddled. Briefly he licked his lips, anxious in a way that made him feel almost shaky. His touch was deliberate as his muzzle brushed hers and then guided her chin up a bit. He wanted to see her eye to eye. She probably could hear the way his heart pounded. Did she feel that too? Did it ripple down their bond? Fable, do you think I called you Abhaile and was wrong? Maybe the fire had him thinking so slowly that he needed the second confirmation. Maybe he was waiting on her to correct herself.

I am so sorry if somehow I gave you the wrong impression - and I don’t want you uncomfortable with me at all. If she was no longer at ease when he was around Fox honestly didn’t know what he would do with himself. The worry shown clearly in his eyes despite the thick feeling in his head. Maybe the cotton he’d swallowed when his mouth was so dry and managed to replace his actual brain. Maybe that was the reason that he wasn’t able to keep up.

Maybe it was just the realization that the girl he had been chasing since they’d met might have actually wanted to be caught that was responsible for his current dysfunction. Poor boy. Hopefully his head wouldn’t explode.