A Little Heart-to-Heart

[05:31] <Chinook> "So do you think it was worthwhile?"

[05:32] <Feldspar> "Yeah, I guess. Couldn't tell what we got though. For all I know, we nearly lost two people for tin"

[05:33]  * Chinook sighs before opening the door "I know, that was no joke back there. You were in trouble too. Really gotta say my thanks to Hidden for that one"

[05:34]  * Feldspar walks through the door "I will too"

[05:35]  * Chinook closes the door "Anyway, I feel like I oughta mention something. You heard about what happened with Sarge right? And Hearth?"

[05:35]  * Feldspar takes a seat "Yeah, I heard. So it's true?"

[05:36] <Chinook> "I'm afraid so, and it's all up in the air as to what's gonna happen"

[05:36] <Chinook> "But I've heard that it was the result of a....fetish...of Hearth's..."

[05:36]  * Feldspar nods, cringing a bit "I can't believe he really did that"

[05:37]  * Feldspar cringes even harder "A... fetish?"

[05:38] <Chinook> "Yeah, I haven't read too much into it, but I gotta ask you. Is there anything you might have that'd put you in a similar situation?"

[05:38] <Chinook> "I think Bob and Hearth didn't talk to each other about these things and I don't wanna make that same mistake"

[05:39]  * Feldspar looks at Chinook slightly disgusted "What? No, of course not!"

[05:40] <Chinook> "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's just, I had to ask. To make sure"

[05:41]  * Feldspar huffs a bit, calming down "Sorry Chinook, I didn't mean to shout. Just a little stressed, I guess."

[05:41] <Feldspar> "Thanks for asking though. I'm glad you care enough to"

[05:41]  * Chinook smiles back "Thank you"

[05:42] <Chinook> "Look, I gotta tell you something"

[05:42] <Feldspar> "Yeah?"

[05:42] <Chinook> "Before you and I got together I was going through a rough patch"

[05:42]  * Feldspar listens intently

[05:43] <Chinook> "I managed to end things with Hot Pot easily enough, but it still didn't remove the scars of the time I cheated on her"

[05:43] <Chinook> "A drunken fling...."

[05:43] <Feldspar> "Oh, I see"

[05:43]  * Chinook looks at the floor "Stupid...stupid..."

[05:44]  * Feldspar hugs Chinook "It's alright, it's alright"

[05:44] <Feldspar> "We all make mistakes"

[05:45]  * Chinook returns the embrace "But you changed everything. You set me straight again"

[05:45] <Chinook> "And a simple Thank You just doesn't suffice"

[05:45]  * Feldspar begins to tear up slightly "R-really?"

[05:46]  * Chinook leans his head against her "Really"

[05:47]  * Feldspar sniffles a bit, pressing into Chinook's neck "I should be thanking you"

[05:47]  * Chinook listens whilst softly breathing

[05:49] <Feldspar> "After Silver's death, I was alone. He mighta been a jerk, but I kinda liked him. He was the only person here I was close to."

[05:49] <Chinook> "The only one?"

[05:50] <Feldspar> "Yeah. Without him, I really didn't have anyone to talk to. Sure, there were people in the inn, but  I really didn't know them all that well."

[05:51] <Feldspar> "I'd finally met a few people I could call friends, but I still felt... lonely. Like something was missing."

[05:51]  * Chinook pulls back and listens whilst looking into her eyes

[05:52]  * Feldspar starts to sniffle again, louder "But then, you came along. You were nice, funny, and you could throw a good punch. I felt better than I had in a while."

[05:53]  * Chinook begins to form a small smile, his lip slightly trembling

[05:55]  * Feldspar chokes on her words a bit, tearing up slightly "A-and then you went further than I thought you would. Th-that night in the woods, when you said it for the first time. I f-finally felt welcome. I finally felt completely happy."

[05:56]  * Feldspar sobs slightly "Thank you Chinook. Thank you for finally making me feel welcome."

[05:57]  * Chinook hugs her again and closes his eyes, a tear running down his cheek "Thank you for showing me the way"

[05:58] <Chinook> "Oh, god I wish I could've been there sooner for you"

[05:58] <Chinook> "But, sometimes. It just clicks, and you realise what you've been missing."

[05:59] <Chinook> "It was you."

[05:59]  * Feldspar throws her forelegs around Chinook, still sobbing "I-it doesn't m-matter. You're h-here now, and we're t-together. Thank you f-for speaking up."

[06:01]  * Chinook looks down and wipes her tears away "It's alright. Thank you for...being so open about it"

[06:02] <Chinook> "It couldn't have been easy but you stayed strong and that's just ONE of the things I love you for"

[06:03]  * Feldspar looks up at Chinook "I don't mind opening up. It was nice to get it off my chest."

[06:03]  * Chinook softly laughs through his snout "Well, I'm glad we both spoke up"

[06:04]  * Feldspar hugs Chinook, chuckling "Yeah, this was nice. We should get some sleep though, it's late."

[06:05]  * Chinook ruffles her mane and lies down on the bed "Yeah, you're right"

[06:06]  * Feldspar follows Chinook, lying on the bed and cuddling up close to him

[06:07]  * Chinook cuddles in close and puts a foreleg over and closes his eyes "Sweet dreams, dear"

[06:08]  * Feldspar wraps her forelegs around Chinook, sighing contentedly "The same to you, Chin"

[06:09]  * Chinook drifts off to the best sleep he's had in days

[06:09]  * Feldspar falls asleep quickly