After about fifteen minutes of peaceful walking, Nathan led them down a small side path. It opened onto a secluded clearing bordered by large rocks on one side and thick vegetation on the other. The spot offered a perfect view of the lake while remaining hidden from the main trail.
"This is beautiful," Harper breathed, taking in the private little haven.
Nathan set down the basket and pulled out their blanket, shaking it open with a flourish. Together they spread it over a relatively flat patch of ground, smoothing out the wrinkles.Harper helped Nathan unpack their feast - sandwiches, fruit, cheese, and cookies, along with a thermos of iced tea.
Harper surveyed the appetizing spread before her, impressed by the careful attention to detail. Each item had been thoughtfully packed and arranged - from the neatly cut sandwiches to the fresh berries and carefully selected cheese varieties.
"Someone knows how to pack a proper picnic," she teased, picking up a plump strawberry.
Nathan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "My parents made sure I learned all the important life skills." He settled more comfortably on the blanket. "Even though Mom traveled regularly with the symphony orchestra, and Dad was always busy running the university's music department, they never wanted me to miss out on normal childhood experiences."
"Really?" Harper crossed her legs under her, genuinely curious.
"Oh yeah. Mom would schedule these elaborate picnics whenever she was home between tours. She'd pack these enormous baskets - way too much food for three people." His expression softened with nostalgia. "Sometimes we'd drive for hours just to find the perfect spot. Dad would bring his guitar, and Mom and I would sing along as he played. We'd spend the whole afternoon eating and making music together."
"That sounds wonderful," Harper said softly, touched by the warmth in his voice as he shared the memory.
"It was. They were determined that I wouldn't feel like I was missing out just because they had demanding careers. When Mom was touring, Dad made sure to keep up the tradition." Nathan handed her a sandwich. "Though his picnics usually involved significantly less food and more impromptu music lessons."
Harper accepted the sandwich, watching as Nathan's face lit up talking about his parents. She could picture a young Nathan, learning guitar from his father on a sun-dappled blanket much like this one.
Harper watched Nathan's thoughtful expression, curious about what had drawn him to his chosen instrument. "What made you pick the cello?"
His brow furrowed as he considered the question, absently turning his sandwich in his hands. "You know, I've never really been able to put it into words exactly." He set the sandwich down, his eyes distant. "There's something about the sound - this deep, rich resonance that just... speaks to me."
Nathan's hands moved unconsciously, as if holding an invisible bow. "When I first heard it played, something clicked inside. The cello has this incredible range - it can be mournful and haunting one moment, then warm and deep, like speaking to the heart, the next. It's like..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Like it has a soul of its own."
Harper found herself leaning forward slightly, drawn in by the passion in his voice even as he struggled to articulate his connection to the instrument.
"I tried other instruments first," he continued. "Piano, like my mom wanted. Violin like my dad. But when I picked up the cello..." He shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. "It wasn't even a conscious choice really. The sound just resonated with something inside me."
Harper could see it in his face - that deep, inexplicable connection that defied simple explanation. Something that existed beyond words, in the realm of pure feeling and instinct.
Harper finished the last bite of her sandwich, savoring the peaceful atmosphere. The gentle lapping of waves against the shore mixed with birdsong from the trees above. She helpedNathan gather their leftovers and pack everything neatly back into the basket.
Nathan carried the basket over to a dense cluster of bushes, tucking it carefully out of sight. "Ready for our hike?" He smiled, then turned and walked down to the water's edge, giving her privacy.
Harper's heart fluttered with anticipation. She hadn't shifted outdoors since the incident at Yosemite, but here, in this secluded spot with Nathan nearby, she felt safe. She carefully removed her clothes, folding each item before placing it in the basket alongside their picnic supplies.
Finally!Reyna's excitement bubbled through her mind.Run with mate!
The transformation flowed easily, her body shifting smoothly into her fox form. Her russet fur gleamed in the dappled sunlight as she shook herself, stretching her limbs. With light, dancing steps, she pranced out of the underbrush, onto the path to where Nathan waited by the shore.
Nathan's face lit up as Harper approached in her fox form. "There's my beautiful girl," he said softly, crouching down to her level.
Reyna's joy flooded through Harper's mind as she bounded over to him, her tail swishing with delight. Nathan's fingers sank into her thick russet fur, scratching that perfect spot behind her ears that made her want to melt.
Mate! Mate! Mate!Reyna rejoiced in their shared consciousness.Walk together now.
Nathan laughed, and rose to his feet, and Harper fell into step beside him as they started up the trail. Her fox senses heightened every aspect of their surroundings - the rich loamy scent of decomposing leaves, the sharp tang of pine needles. The forest thrummed with life around them.
They climbed steadily upward, the path winding between ancient oaks and towering maples. Harper's paws moved silently over the earth, her muscles flowing smoothly beneath her thick coat. Nathan maintained an easy pace beside her, occasionally reaching down to brush his fingers through her fur when the path widened enough for them to walk side by side.
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head as they walked. "You know, this is kind of surreal - hiking through the woods with an actual fox by my side."
Reyna's amusement bubbled through Harper's mind, and her fox form responded instinctively. She pranced ahead of Nathan, her paws barely touching the ground as she moved with fluid grace. Harper felt Reyna's pure joy as she continued her playful dance, weaving between Nathan's legs and circling around him. Her russet tail swished through the air as she showed off, posing for their mate.
Silly mate,Reyna projected, projecting her amusement to Nathan's mind.
