The Truth
I know it took me a good bit longer than I had meant it to to post this one here, but I finally got myself to do it. But this was the last chapter in my story that I was able to type up. Though I don't think it's the greatest in part because I wasn't really sure where I was going with it. That and scanning over it now I noticed how short it was as well.
The Truth It seemed like our storytelling took days, when I knew it was only hours. However the new mornings first rays of sunlight had already began to creep up over the trees, cutting it's way through the early morning mist. Even after sitting there the entire night I still didn't feel tired. Though I began to notice how stiff my legs were. The only thing I could think of was the story he had told me and all of the questions that were building up in my mind. Though after everything that had been discussed that night it would be best to ask some other time. The one feeling I couldn't shake off though is that he was still hiding something from me, but I couldn't blame him. After everything he told me I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. That's when I had noticed the wet patches that were starting to form below him and that he was shaking slightly. Him telling that story to me must have taken a lot out of him. Along with me being the first person he's told it to and it only made me feel even more sorry for him. So I did the only thing I felt I could do. I slowly got onto all fours and crawled over to him, gritting my teeth slightly as my body argued against me, feeling just how stiff all of my joints were and wrapped my arms tightly around him. For a moment I thought he was going to shove me away, feeling his body jerk and stiffen as I made contact with him. I was relieved though as he wrapped his arms tightly back around me. Feeling him burring his head deep into my neck fur as he wept more. Letting out all those held back tears from all his past heartaches. Slowly he began to calm down and was able to finally speak again. "Thank you..." Was all he could choke out as he stared up at me with red eyes. I simply smiled down at him and nodded, wiping away some of his last tears. "Maybe you should try to get some sleep now. You must be exhausted after all of that." And even though he seemed reluctant he agreed with a slight nod as he slowly got to his feet. I watched him slowly shuffle his way over to where he slept as he almost threw himself down, seeming to pass out almost instantly. "Poor guy. Hopefully he'll feel a little better after getting some sleep." However I felt completely awake. With so much running around in my head I didn't think there would be any way for me to sleep. So I thought I'd take this time to try a little running around myself. But before that I would need to take care of something first. Since enough of my strength had returned to me I should be able to completely heal myself. A short while later I felt good as new again. Slowly I began to unwind the stained bandages on my body. Letting them drop and pile on the floor as I flexed and inspected my body. I was still fairly stiff from not moving for so long, but a little stretching would fix that. Before I left I made my way over to where he dozed, smiling down at him as he mumbled in his sleep quietly. I didn't want to wake him, but I figured I'd try letting him know I'd be back. So I lightly put a paw on his shoulder and rubbed it, feeling his soft fur against my pads. "I'll be back in a bit..." I whispered and almost like he could hear me he mumbled a bit more, shifting slightly in his sleep. Still feeling those warm feeling rising up in me again. With that I made my way out of the cave. Not feeling as daring as he was with jumping out of it, along with this was the first time I had actually been out of the cave since he brought me here. Now though I could understand as to why it was kind of hard to breathe. We were high up in the mountains, surrounded by nothing but trees as far as the eye can see. Feeling the wind blowing through my fur and the suns warm rays on me again though felt very refreshing. Almost like it was breathing new life into me once again. In the distance I could see the shimmer of what looked like a fairly large body of water. It was then that I realized how dirty I actually felt. It had been forever since I bathed. But that would have to wait, because I needed to get some of this pent up energy out. "Alright lets do this." I spoke to the open space in front of me as I stretched slightly, trying to work out a few of my kinks. Jumping my way from rock to rock I made my way to the forest floor. Getting my feel again for how my body worked and just hoping I didn't kill myself in the process. "Now for something more difficult." I grinned up at the trees as I shot up into them. Swinging and jumping from branch to branch as I made my way through the trees. "Wooohooo! This is what I've been missing!" Finally feeling like I was free again. I couldn't remember the last time I was able to actually let loose and have fun like this. I actually felt like myself again, to be free and without a care in the world. Just like when I was little every other care in the world seemed to melt away and I was truly happy. Before I knew it I had made my way down to the body of water I had noticed before. It was so beautiful and clear. Everywhere I looked around it seemed to be teeming with life. Whether it be deer drinking from it's cool waters or the dragonflies buzzing past my head. Seeing it up close made me think of home and just how much I missed it. But I shook that off, replacing it with other thoughts. Like how good it would feel to take a dip. So not caring if there was anyone else around I quickly stripped off what clothe I had and dived into the water. Feeling the cool water running all over every inch of my body felt so good. It actually made me feel like I could fall asleep floating in it. Then an idea came to me. I could repay the favor and catch some food for Kep for a change. After all he's done so far it was the least I could do. It didn't take me long before I had a pile of fish sitting on the bank for me to take back. It was almost like I was a fish myself. Shooting through the water and snacking them out of it with ease. "Well that should be enough." Gazing down at how many I had caught. "This place sure is plentiful. Many people must not travel by here." Then just as I was about to slide back into the water again my ears twitched, picking up a different noise coming up from behind me. Though since there was still plenty happening around me I didn't take it as something bad and proceeded to relax some more in the water. But I began to get a growing feeling of something watching me now. Once I had my fill I collected all the food and made the hike back up to the cave. Taking in even more of the beauty of the area as I went. Spotting some amazingly colorful birds and some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. Some of which seemed to even have a mind of their own as they snapped out at bugs as they buzzed by. The only tricky part was trying to climb back up to the cave opening with all the fish in my arms. Luckily enough I made it up without too much of a problem. Only slipping a few times on some moss covered rocks. Upon entering the cave it seemed that Kep was still sleeping soundly over in the corner. But then I noticed something. Another set of fresh tracks, besides my own, leading back into the cave and over to where Kep was sleeping. Though I didn't think too much on it. I figured maybe he woke up for a short bit and had to go to the bathroom or possibly was wondering on where I went to. I proceeded to sit the fish around what was left of the past nights fire as I caught him stirring out of the corner of my eye. Watching him slowly begin to sit up and stretch, letting out a long yawn as he raised his head into the air. "Well hey there sleepyhead. Did you enjoy your little nap?" "How long was I out?" He said groggily as he rubbed his eyes with the heel of his paws. Watching him shaking his head slightly, trying to shake they sleepiness from it. "I'd say a few hours at least. With how tired you were I'm surprised you're awake already." I said as I poked the fires embers with a stick, slowly working it back up again and throwing some fresh pieces of wood onto it. Smiling seeing how it was coming along and started to stand the fish around it as he made his way slowly over to me. "Yeah, but I'm used to not getting much sleep. Looks like you've been busy while I was out there." I chuckled and shrugged slightly, fishing up on placing the last of the fish around the fire. "Well I figured I'd get some food for the both of us. Rather than the other way around. It's the least I could do for everything you've done for me." That's when I turned and noticed how he was looking at me. Showing me a warm smile as he looked in my eyes, making me chuckle and blush slightly. "Hehe what?" Was all I could really say. "Oh nothing..." Almost bashfully as he kept giving me that smile, making me blush even more. "Anyways lets eat. I'm starving." Rubbing his paws together as he started reaching for one of the fish and quickly biting into it, despite the heat. It was at that moment that I started wondering what was actually going through his mind. He almost looked like I've been feeling towards him as of late. Which made me wonder if maybe that was him I was sensing while I was at the pond. But for now I'd have to push it aside and enjoy some hot food. Over the next few weeks we took the time to get to know each other more. Sharing our different experiences and actually taking the time to laugh and have fun. Which for him seemed almost to be a foreign concept. Though over time he began to loosen up around me and started to show more or his personality. We even tried sparring a bit and despite our size and age difference we were fairly evenly matched. I was even finally able to show him some of my special powers and vice versa. Which we ended up being equally impressed by the other. I was also surprised to find out that some of our fighting styles were actually very similar. Though again every once in a while when he thought I wasn't paying attention I caught him giving me more or those looks. Which after a while of juggling the idea around in my head I finally decided to bring it up to him. So finally one night after we were winding down a bit after a fun day of swimming, actual hunting and joking about how I slipped and fell on my butt he must have noticed something. "Hey Naki is something on your mind?" Though at the time I was still trying to catch my breath from something he had said, suddenly feeling a kind of lump in my throat now. I had been working it out in my mind on how I wanted to do this. But now that it was time, I wasn't sure if I could. That's when he took me away from my thoughts by placing his paw on my thigh and giving me that smile again. Making me feel better about doing this. "You know you can tell me anything. I know we haven't known each other all that long....but I feel like I can actually trust you." All I could do at the moment is return that smile and rub the back of my neck, chuckling softly to myself as I tried to figure out again on how I wanted to start. Finally I was able to pull myself together. "Well there's been something on my mind for a while now. I just really wasn't sure how to say it or what you would think of it...I guess for starters do you remember that one day when I first went out on my own and you were still sleeping?" He seemed to pause a second, searching his memories and then nodded, still giving me that smile. "Well while I was down at the lake that day I was almost certain that someone was watching me down there..." As I slowly looked back into his eyes I noticed his face had turned a bright red and he kept looking away with me and kept fidgeting with his clothe. "Uh...I..." He seemed to be blushing even more as he tried to figure out what he was going to say. Then I slid one of my paws on top of his, which seemed to steady him a bit. Letting him meet my gaze again. "Well I woke up at one point and noticed you were gone. So I went and looked outside the cave to see if I could spot you and I noticed something down at the lake so I went to check it out." At this point he seemed to be speaking a little fast and I could feel his body warming up, seeming like he was blushing everywhere. "So I made my way down there and noticed you swimming in the water...naked. I just couldn't help myself and my curiosity got the better of me. I know it was wrong of me to keep watching you, but I just couldn't pull myself away." At this point he lowered his head a bit. Almost looking like he was a scolded child. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have done that..." I actually thought it was a little funny he had done that and even a bit...cute. That's when I took one of his paws in mine and held it tightly, causing him to look back up at me with those same eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong Kep. Hell if anything I'm...flattered." Hearing this seemed to come as a bit of a shock for him from the expression on his face. "You see like I said there's something I've been wanting to say to you. It honestly came to my mind when you first saved me all those weeks ago now." This was the big moment. I could really feel my heart beating in my chest now. Feeling like it could break through and land on the ground. My paws were becoming incredibly sweaty as well as I tried to force this last bit from my mouth. So taking in one last deep breath I looked him square in the eyes and told him. "I think I have a crush on you..."