Niv stared up at the moon while lying on a cluster of smooth, pale rocks beside the river. The stones still held a little warmth from the day, and the steady sound of water moving past them created a quiet, constant murmur that usually helped calm her thoughts. Tonight, however, her mind would not settle the way it normally did. She lay on her back with her arms resting beside her and watched the bright shape of the moon hanging above the treetops.
She felt… strange.
A little sad, if she tried to put a clear word to it.
For most of her life things had been simple. Hunger meant hunt. Curiosity meant explore. Anger meant defend territory. Her instincts usually told her exactly what to do in any situation, and she trusted them because they had always worked before. But now her thoughts kept drifting back to the human named Juno, and the feelings that came with those thoughts were confusing in ways she was not used to.
Niv had been certain she had finally found her bond-mate. The idea had seemed obvious to her when she first met Juno. The human smelled pleasant, she spoke kindly, she shared food, and she had allowed Niv into her den without trying to drive her away. Those things meant a great deal in Niv’s limited understanding of relationships. To her, that combination of signals felt very clear.
But Juno had said they would go slowly.
Niv still did not fully understand what that meant. She understood the words themselves, but the idea behind them did not quite fit with how she normally thought about bonds. If she liked Juno, and Juno seemed to like her in return, then the connection should simply exist. That was how things worked among her own kind.
Still, she also understood that humans were different. Juno had explained many strange human customs during their long conversation, and Niv had accepted that there were probably other things she did not understand yet. So even though the idea of “going slowly” confused her, she trusted that Juno had a reason for saying it.
After lying there for a long time, Niv finally sat up and stretched. Her muscles extended one by one as she rolled her shoulders and straightened her back, letting out a quiet breath as she did. The night air felt cool against her skin and fur, carrying the scents of wet earth, moss, and the distant traces of animals moving somewhere deeper in the forest.
She leaned down and scooped water from the river with her hands, taking a long drink before wiping her mouth with the back of her wrist. The water tasted clean and familiar, but even simple things like that felt slightly different lately, because her thoughts kept returning to the same person. Juno probably drank water too.
So many new feelings had appeared over the past few days that Niv almost felt overwhelmed by them. She had never experienced this particular mix of excitement, nervous anticipation, and aching impatience before. Normally when she wanted something she could simply go and do it. But this time she had to wait.
And waiting was difficult.
It had been almost four nights since she had last seen the human, and each day without her had felt strangely painful. Niv did not like the feeling at all. Her body felt restless and her mind kept drifting toward the same memories. The smell of Juno’s den, the sound of her voice, and the way she smiled made Niv feel all fuzzy.
Niv wanted to spend every waking moment with the pretty human.
She imagined it often while wandering her territory. She imagined walking beside Juno through the forest while the human asked questions about the trees and animals. She imagined sharing food again, or simply sitting together while the wind moved through the branches overhead. She especially liked the idea of doing the nuzzling with Juno, so she knew how much Niv cared about her.
They could hunt together as well, though Niv was not sure how useful Juno would be for that part. Humans were not very fast. They moved slowly compared to most forest creatures, and even slower compared to Niv herself. The only time humans seemed fast was when they used those loud metal things that moved along the ground.
Still, there were many other things they could do together.
They could explore.
There were parts of the forest that even Niv had not fully explored yet, especially the areas closer to the edges of human territory. And Juno had mentioned something about “trails,” which sounded like the paths humans made specifically for walking through nature. Niv found the idea oddly interesting. Maybe Juno could show her some of those.
Her thoughts began to wander further, imagining all the possibilities, until another memory suddenly surfaced.
When the Mother found out she was going to the big rock.
Niv grimaced slightly at that thought.
That conversation would probably not be simple.
But that problem belonged to the future.
Right now there was something much more important.
Juno had told her to return after four days, and those four days were finally over.
That thought alone filled Niv with a burst of energy. She pushed herself up from the rocks and stretched once more before stepping back toward the edge of the forest. The moment her feet touched the soft ground beneath the trees, she leaned forward and began to move faster.
Within seconds she was running.
Branches and leaves rushed past as she sprinted through the forest, her long strides carrying her quickly across familiar ground. Her heart beat faster with every step, driven by the simple and powerful excitement of knowing exactly where she was going.
She was heading straight for Juno’s den.
Niv grinned to herself as she ran through the forest, her long legs carrying her quickly between the tall trunks while patches of early morning light slipped through the branches above. The ground beneath her feet was familiar and easy to navigate, and she wove between trees and low brush with the kind of natural confidence that came from knowing every part of her territory. With every step she felt the excitement inside her growing stronger, building up in a way that made her chest feel tight and her movements even faster. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
It was not just excitement either. There was anticipation mixed in with it, a restless sort of energy that had been building over the past few days while she waited. Now that the waiting was finally over, she could hardly keep herself from running the entire distance at full speed.
Eventually the familiar scent of Juno’s territory reached her nose, and that made her slow down a little. Her sprint gradually turned into a fast jog, and then into a careful walk as she approached the edge of the treeline. She came to a complete stop just before stepping out of the forest, standing still while she looked ahead toward the human’s den.
Only a few days ago this exact moment had been terrifying.
Crossing that invisible line between forest and human territory had felt like walking straight into the jaws of a predator. Every instinct she had warned her that humans were dangerous creatures that should be avoided at all costs. Her heart had pounded in her chest when she first approached the den, and she had been prepared to run at the slightest sign of danger.
Now the feeling was completely different.
Instead of fear, she could not wait to cross that line.
A small smile spread across her face as she stepped forward, moving out from the trees and into the open space beyond them. The morning sun was just beginning to rise properly, its light finally pushing above the tops of the forest and spreading a warm golden glow across the clearing.
Niv paused for a moment and glanced toward the sky, watching the light slowly brighten the world around her.
It made her wonder if Juno would already be awake.
The last time Niv had seen her, the human had stayed awake the entire time they talked, even though it had stretched all the way into the morning. Humans seemed to be much more active during the daylight hours compared to many forest creatures. Niv herself did not really have a strict schedule like that. She slept when she felt tired and woke up when she had energy again, which often meant resting several times throughout the day instead of having one long sleep.
It was another small difference between them.
She made a quiet mental note to ask Juno about that later, because she was curious how humans handled something so rigid.
After a moment she continued walking toward the den. The structure still looked strange to her, with its straight lines and solid walls that blocked out the wind and scents of the outside world. But it also smelled strongly of Juno, which made the place feel oddly comforting rather than threatening.
When she reached the entrance, Niv lifted one hand and scratched against the covering the same way she had done the last time she visited. Her claws scraped lightly across the wood, leaving a few shallow grooves behind as she tapped and dragged them across the surface.
The marks were small, but they were noticeable.
Niv bounced slightly on the pads of her feet while she waited, her excitement making it hard to stand completely still. In her mind the act of returning here and marking the entrance like that meant something important. Anyone passing nearby would be able to smell that she had been here repeatedly. It was a clear signal that the territory was shared now, not just claimed by one person.
There was no going back from that decision.
After scratching at the door, Niv stepped back slightly and waited patiently, her ears turning toward the den as she listened for any sign that Juno had heard her arrival.
Niv waited.
At first she expected the door to open almost immediately, the way it had the last time she had come to the den. She stood there listening carefully, her ears turning slightly as she tried to pick up any sound from inside the strange wooden structure. For a while she could hear faint movements through the walls, though it was difficult to tell exactly what the human was doing in there. The smells drifting out from the den told her that Juno was definitely inside, but the human did not come to the door right away.
So Niv remained where she was and waited patiently.
The sun continued to climb higher in the sky while the cool air of early morning slowly warmed. At some point Niv sat down on the wooden platform outside the entrance because standing still for so long felt unnecessary. The surface felt smooth beneath her, much more even than the ground in the forest, and she rested her hands beside her while she watched the trees and listened to the quiet sounds of the surrounding area.
Time passed slowly and by the time the door finally opened it was well into the late morning. The sudden movement caught Niv slightly off guard even though she had been waiting for it.
The door swung inward and Juno stepped outside.
The human immediately froze when she noticed the very large figure sitting right in front of her porch.
“Shit, Niv, you scared me!” Juno yelped.
Niv flinched a little at the sudden shout and instinctively shrank down where she sat, her shoulders pulling inward slightly as if trying to make herself smaller.
“Did not mean to do scaring,” she apologised quickly.
Juno let out a breath and rubbed the side of her face with one hand while she tried to wake up properly. She looked like she had only just gotten up. Her hair was messy and sticking out in several directions, and her eyes were squinting heavily against the brightness of the sunlight.
She was wrapped in a long piece of fluffy skin that covered most of her body and tied loosely around her waist. The fabric looked soft and warm, and it hung down around her legs while she stood there blinking at Niv.
In one hand she held a hard thing and a faint curl of steam drifted upward from the liquid inside it.
“I was about to have my morning tea outside,” Juno said slowly, her voice still thick with sleep. She paused for a moment while her brain caught up with what she was seeing. “But… did you want to come in?”
Niv’s entire posture changed the moment she heard that.
Her face split into a wide grin and she immediately sprang up to her full height with a burst of energy that made the wooden porch creak slightly beneath her feet. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
“Yes. Much, please,” she said enthusiastically.
Juno gave a small amused huff at that reaction before turning around and stepping back into the house. She held the door open and gestured casually for Niv to follow her inside.
Niv carefully ducked her head and angled her antlers so they would not catch on the doorway as she stepped through. Once inside she straightened up again, though she still had to lean slightly to avoid brushing the ceiling.
Juno shuffled down the short hallway toward the same room they had sat in before, still holding her cup while she walked. Niv followed close behind, glancing around the den again with the same curiosity she had shown during her first visit.
When they reached the lounge area, Juno lowered herself into the chair across from the couch, letting out a quiet breath as she settled in. She still looked a little sleepy, though the morning tea in her hand seemed to be helping her wake up bit by bit. Niv, meanwhile, moved over to the couch and carefully sat down on it again the same way she had the first time she visited the den. The furniture gave a soft creak under her weight, but it held together well enough.
For a moment Juno simply looked at her, clearly organizing her thoughts before speaking.
“Okay,” she began slowly, taking a small sip from her cup before continuing. “I’ve had some time to think about this whole situation over the past few days, and I’ve decided that I’m willing to give this… courtship thing a try. If you are.”
The reaction from Niv was immediate and impossible to miss. Her entire body seemed to light up with excitement. She straightened on the couch and began practically vibrating in place, her shoulders bouncing slightly while her tail smacked the couch beside her. The expression on her face made it very clear that this was exactly the answer she had been hoping for.
Juno raised a hand slightly before the excitement could get completely out of control.
“But,” she added carefully, “I can’t really help doing it the human way. Sorry about that.”
Niv’s bouncing slowed as she tried to process what that meant. Her ears tilted slightly while she looked at Juno with a puzzled expression.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Juno shifted in her chair and rested her cup on one knee while she explained.
“Well, like I mentioned before, dating for humans is usually kind of the preamble to something more serious. It’s a way for two people to spend time together and figure out if they really work well as a pair. So before we decide anything about making the relationship official or permanent, I want to spend time getting to know you properly. And I want you to get to know me too.”
She gestured vaguely between the two of them while talking.
“Basically we hang out, talk, learn about each other’s habits and lives, and see how things go.”
Niv listened carefully and nodded along while Juno spoke. The explanation mostly made sense to her, even if it was still different from how her own kind approached bonding. Doing things the human way clearly meant moving slower than she normally would, but that was not a problem.
In Niv’s mind the situation was already very simple.
Juno would eventually love Niv, and Niv already loved Juno, so everything would work out eventually. The human simply did not realize that part yet.
“Okay!” Niv said enthusiastically.
Juno smiled slightly at that response and took another sip of her drink before continuing.
“That said, I was thinking about possible things we could do together. You know, date ideas.” She paused briefly while considering how to phrase the next part. “And I thought maybe you could show me around the forest a bit. I like hiking, but if I wander too far off the normal trails I usually end up getting lost. If you were guiding me though, I’m pretty sure I’d always find my way back.”
The suggestion seemed to excite Niv even more than the previous one.
Her ears perked up and she began nodding so quickly it almost looked like her head might fall off.
“Yes! Yes! I know forest really good,” she said eagerly. “I show you all the best spots!”
The idea clearly delighted her. Showing someone around her territory felt natural, and the thought of exploring the woods together sounded perfect.
Juno smiled again at the enthusiasm. Then, almost immediately afterward, she yawned widely and covered her mouth with one hand before taking another sip of her tea.
“Cool,” she said once the yawn passed. “I just need to get dressed and ready first, then we can head out.”
She leaned back slightly in her chair and stretched one arm.
“I made sure to smash out all my work again over the last few days so I’m free for the next four days,” she added. “So we’ve got plenty of time.”