[ P ] two fools in love

The announcement of the King’s Birthday and the opening of his garden in celebration of the event had Nephele more excited than a kid waiting for Santa to arrive. She loved flowers. A whole garden of them sounded like the most wonderful place ever. She had pestered Kylar to take her to the castle town so that she might try to find one of the flowers. She only wanted to find one particular bloom, the only one that was worthy of her wife. The amaralysis. It had only one meaning when given as a gift, a long lasting and passionate romance. They already had that, but she loved taking any opportunity to show Kylar how much she cherished her. It had taken a while for her to find her intended gift and by a stroke of luck she found one her heart had been set on. She held it in her mouth the stalk, grinning and blushing like a lovestruck girl. For you, dearest, she’d said after presenting it to her.

Now they were on their way to the garden. She couldn’t believe that she was entering a real royal garden with her knight. It was almost like a fairytale romance, one that she could never have dreamed of while in the grasp of her mad parents. Her tail wagged excitedly, nose twitching like a bunny’s at all the wonderful scents she was experiencing for the first time. Where should we go first? she asked, leaning dotingly on Kylar. She couldn’t wait to smell and touch everything. Maybe they would even get a few ideas for their own garden.

Art by Ashon

That morning, Kylar had awoken to gentle yet persistent nudges from her wife. A cool nose had pressed to her cheek, then her neck, then her side. Little kisses followed after, all the while Kylar groaned and harumphed in protest. Out of the two, the buttercup was not the early bird. As such, it was not uncommong for a daughter or two to bounce upon her old, crotchety bones until she woke up and wrestled them into a pile of snuggles and kisses. Roar would go the slumbering troll as she smothered them all. Today, it was not Willow. Or Anthe. Or Luca. It was Nephele and, although Kylar's wife did not have eyes, she could feel her staring earnestly. "Whaaaat..." she murmured. ... Next thing she knew, she was standing in Magnolia, the main city of Castle Stuart, blinking sleep from her eyes. A paw would come up to brush away the sleep and eye boogers, and by the time it lowered, her wife was at a different bush (or rotting fence, or cracked brick podium, or flower pot) with her head concealed and her monochrome tail wagging back and forth. Yawning, Kylar closed her eyes and hummed as, steadily, the Fritz generator began to turn on. ... "For you dearest," Nephele murmured and Kylar's eyes snapped open after having dozed off. Black-tipped ears twitched and stared with surprise. And then her heart melted. "Neph," Kylar gasped, realizing at once what today was, what that flower meant. All at once she felt guilty for having woken up so late and yet deeply touched. Kylar hobbled forward and threw her forelegs around her wife. "I love you so much." ... After a couple of sniffles because Kylar was a chronic happy cryer, the pair set off for the garden. At last, she was feeling more awake, and finally she looked the part of Nephele's knight. Although her gait was still a hobbling one, she straightened out and walked side by side with the love of her life. When at last they entered, she gasped. "Let's go to the amaryllis patch," Kylar said at once, nudging her wife toward the wonderful, ruby blooms. "They're so beautiful... but they don't look quite as good as the one you gave me," Kylar sighed, still holding the flower in her maw. Gently setting it down, she began to rummage between the stalks, occasionally casting feverish glances over her shoulder at the soldiers. Perhaps they'd just think she fell? A soft snap was muffled by her jaws as she revealed another Amaryllis, one illegaly plucked. But it was well worth it. "For you, so that we're matching," Kylar whispered as she offered it to her darling wife. "speech"

table by amanda

@Nephele

It had taken some time to coax Kylar from her curled form, but she had been very persuasive. She had woken her sleeping beauty with gentle kisses and nudges, giggling impishly and kissing her on the tip of the nose when she finally rose. She didn't reveal her plans for them, paws tapping excitedly as she and Kylar reached their destination. There had been happy tears and sniffles when the flower was presented. It was such a cute reaction that made her feel so warm and fuzzy. The paws kept tippy tapping a little happy rhythm and she grinned so much her cheeks hurt, snuggling into the warmth of her wife's chest as they embraced. I love you too, she replied, features full of adoration. Could they get married again? Was that a thing?

When they entered the garden Nephele's nose was working double time to remember all the perfumey scents. She leaned over to sniff each passing flower, enough to cause her sneeze and let out a small achoo. Oops. Hopefully she hadn't sneezed on the king's property. Kylar suggested they go to the amaryllis patch and she nodded eagerly, skipping joyously all the way there with her tongue lolling. Not as beautiful as you, Nephele bashfully remarked, cheeks warming with a shy blush. Flirting still made her heart race even after almost two years of knowing Kylar, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

She had to muffle a happy squeak when she was given her own amaryllis. She peppered Kylar's cheek with kisses, and nuzzled her gently with her nose. I'll treasure it, she whispered in her ear.

Her eyelid twitching and wrinkling in a sort of eyeless wink. I didn't see anything, she giggled playfully, making sure to discreetly tuck her flower under her armpit so she could smuggle it out without getting caught.

Art by Ashon

It was difficult to remember that there were others in the garden—in the whole of Castle Stuart even. From the gentle rhythm that Nephele's paws tapped out to the way she shoved her nose in every stray flower, every action was adorable. Not only because they were cute in essence, but because they all were tied to memories. Memories of watching Nephele teach Anthe to dance one precious night when the pup was cold and weak spot in the top of their den had introduced a draft. While Kylar slathered mud over it, Nephele distracted Anthe. Not only that, but she helped their daughter learn to laugh, even when everything was going wrong. There was the time Luca had first learned to sign I love you before going to sleep... and the day Willow accidentally breathed in a moth while smelling flowers with Nephele in the meadow. Their sweet bee still stuck her whole nose in things—just like her dear mom—and it brought a fuzzy glow to Kylar's chest. Could they just get married all over again? Nephele's compliment made Kylar giggle, partially because Neph had never seen her, and partially because she felt bashful. For all her tough act about being a "knight" to the kids, Neph sure had a way of making her go all soft. Warmth burned along her cheeks and up to the tips of her ears. A silly smile danced upon her mouth and nothing seemed to be able to chase it away. When gifted a stolen Amaryllis, Kylar's wife squeaked with joy and suddenly Ky could barely keep the little pixie off of her. Kisses painted her cheeks and Kylar laughed, shaking her head and weakly pressing her paw against Nephele's shoulders. "Easy, easy!" Ky giggled, "the best has yet to come!" At Neph's joke, the giggle turned to a snort and her smile widened. "Now come with me here!" Using her side as a guide, she brought Nephele swiftly to one of the great oak trees growing by the garden wall. "I have one last dastardly plan," Kylar confessed. "Shall we scratch our names into this tree? I can help you with the letters." Her cheeks warmed at the suggestion. If they did it well enough, Nephele would be able to feel the texture too. "speech"

table by amanda

@Nephele

The adoring wife relented her assault of kisses upon Kylar’s face at her insistence. It was a temporary cease fire, the rest of the kisses would come in installments when she least expected it. The thought caused her plush cheeks to puff out when her lips curled together in an impish grin. Waking her up with a flurry of kisses, greeting her when she came home with another attack. There would be no escape, not until she counted at least one hundred kisses. I’ll give you the rest later, she promised unable to stop herself from giggling, but she didn’t tell her that it wouldn’t be all of them.

She was practically vibrating with excitement when Kylar suggested that there was more to come. How could this date possibly get any better? The little nurse bounced by her wife’s side, enjoying the feeling of being swept away to another surprise. Her ears gave an excited wiggle when Kylar described her criminal scheme and she grinned in approval. Nephele had never been so naughty in her life and she was loving every minute of it. It would be a fun story they could share when they were both creaky old ladies. Maybe they would even visit this same tree as creaky old ladies. Kylar, she clicked her tongue as if she disapproved and then snorted. Let’s do it, she whispered, feeling so utterly devious and wicked that it was giving her a tingly thrill.

There was a sense of permanence about carving their names that made Nephele love Kylar all the more. It was almost as romantic as a proposal, a statement that cemented their love within the bark of an oak tree.

Art by Ashon

"There," Kylar announced (softly), her tongue tsking as she leaned back. It had taken some trial and error—her nails hadn't been dextrous enough and her teeth hadn't had the best angle—but an inscription had been made. It was Nephele's suggestion that they use one of the thicker branches to make their engraving, and it had done wonders. Both of them had worked on tandem, and now a beautiful little K+N lingered in the bark. "Go on," Kylar breathed, black-tipped ears twitching as she stared proudly at the tiny hierogylphics. She had learned to sound them out painstakingly at the college. She still wasn't terribly literate but she knew enough to get by. "Feel them, it's us." It felt like they were professing their eternal attachment to one another all over again. Tying the knot, so to speak... and she couldn't help but blurt out her question. "Will you marry me?" ... Suddenly feeling bashful, she laughed and leaned back. "Again, I mean?" "speech"

table by amanda

@Nephele

The engraving had taken a lot of work and Nephele was certain her nails were a little shorter than they had been before. It was the stick that managed to break beneath the surface of the bark and mark the tree with their initials. She sat back and sighed in relief when Kylar verbalised that they were done. It was worth the taste of tree bark in her mouth to know that they would live on forever in memory etched into this special tree.

Kylar urged her to examine their work and Nephele felt a flutter of excitement tingling through her body. With her nose she delicately traced each letter and felt a swell of love in her breast. This was theirs, a statement to the world that they were together. K + N. A love that would last a lifetime. She knew that Kylar was her soulmate, someone who truly knew her and loved her. Her best friend and her lover. It's us, she breathed out, brushing her paw over the words and then touching her heart.

Nephele's attention turned to Kylar when an unexpected question was asked. A sharp surge of excitement prickled through her and she suddenly launched herself at Kylar, aiming to tackle her and smother her with kisses. Yes! she squealed with delight, her tail wagging furiously and most likely whipping Kylar. I would marry you again everyday, Nephele declared, a tender smile touching her soft features.

Art by Ashon

"It's us," Nephele murmured and Kylar's gaze warmed with love, affection, and all manner of adoration. It was the sweetest kind of drowning for the wave that washed over her was one of vanilla and cinnamon spice. Comforting, soothing... everything that Kylar had lacked in life until now. The wave drew to a crescendo and soon she was lost in it—but she did not want to be found. Especially when that crescendo brought kisses and squeals with it. Kylar couldn't help but laugh as she was tackled, kisses peppering her face and cheeks and brow and chest. A soft yip of surprise left her lips before it devolved into giggles and laughter. She fought the urge to look behind her and seek out the bemused glances of the soldiers that, most likely, heard them. Who knew what ran through their imaginations. The onslaught was brutal, inescapable—loving. Even if Nephele's tail was lashing her knee quiet forcefully. "What a relief," she breathed. "I was going to ask every day until you said yes," Kylar mused through a giggle. - exit Kylar - "speech"

table by amanda

@Nephele

They were like a pair of lovestruck teenagers on their first date, giggling and stealing kisses from each other. Whether it was the adrenaline of committing her first criminal act or the excited buzz from the impromptu proposal that had her feeling so bouncy she couldn't tell, but she was as wiggly as a rambunctious pup regardless. She had completely forgotten they were in a public place so enthralled she was with her beloved. She was on a dopamine high and she wanted it to last forever. Today was amazing, she spoke softly, knowing that it would be over soon and feeling the bitter sweet regret of having to return home. Her treasured amaryllis was still hidden beneath her armpit and she knew she would be sleeping with it tonight so that she could take small sniffs before she fell asleep and think of how wonderful of a date they'd had.

She pressed her paw to her mouth and giggled bashfully when Kylar revealed her plan to ask her everyday if she hadn't agreed. It's my turn to ask next. Don't be greedy, she playfully chided her wife, although she wondered how she could beat Kylar's romantic proposal.

Fade to exit

Art by Ashon