"Yes..." she stated after thinking for a while on how to describe what she was going through. "It is strange... so many things seem different now. I've seen so many sunrises, yet only now do I realize how beautiful my forest is, and how much better it is to see it with you rather than alone.”

She laid her head on his shoulder and shut her eyes.

“I wish... I wish to see many more sunrises with you."

He put an arm around her. "I'd like that too. Thanks to you I... I don't feel alone any more.”

She moved to look him in the eye, her stoic expression somehow mixed with a great passion in her eyes.

“Then I shall make sure you never feel alone again."

Still too fatigued for more sex, the intensity of her stare was still enough to stir his desire, and he kissed her compulsively. She flinched back in surprise for a moment, though not enough to break the kiss, and soon melted into his arms. The remains of their breakfast forgotten, they continued to gently make out for quite a while.

For the first time, the two could concentrate on enjoying life.

Carter hummed to himself as he strode down one of the forest paths he had come to know quite well. He felt quite proud of the basket of apples he held in his hand, having found and gathered them himself. Yes

Taki would be unlikely to eat any of them, much preferring meat, but it still made him feel useful. He was pulling a bit more weight around here if he could provide for at least some of his own food.

Maybe it was the nightly mind-blowing sex talking, but he had really started to believe that building a life here would be worthwhile. He felt more and more confident each day in moving about Taki's territory, both in his knowledge of the area and in the knowledge that he was no longer a target for unmarried monster girls.

Then there were the changes Taki had undergone. She was still much the same much of the time. With rare exceptions she still couldn't care less for him becoming overly emotional, and she was still short and curt quite often. Yet at the same time that hidden warmth in her eyes would appear whenever she gazed at him, and he had learned she really was capable of blushing and smiling, if only slightly. Their kisses were truly hot and passionate, and no matter how serious she appeared she was almost always up for receiving or giving one. The kiss they had shared upon finishing the stairs yesterday evening, and the sex that followed, had him still tingling. Every day felt fresh and new, he felt like he was getting to know Taki's heart right alongside her, and in turn was learning more about himself.

So caught up in his own happiness, he almost didn't notice the figure approaching him from further up the trail. When he did he froze in shock.

“A man?!*

He knew that some of the neighboring monster girls had mates, but they stuck to their own territories as Taki wasn't the type to care much about visiting with or even talking to the neighbors. That was changing, in fact she had remarked on wanting to go on a sort of double-date after a conversation with a neighboring centaur that she had described as “enlightening and enjoyable." They had met on the border of her territory while patrolling and after exchanging respectful greetings had talked for some time on hunting tactics and prey habits. Still she and her husband were not supposed to visit today were they?

He raised a hand in greeting.

“Hello there stranger, what brings you here?"

The man didn't answer but continued to approach.

Carter began to feel uneasy.

“Uh, is there something I can help you with?"