Nathan's laughter joined Reyna's vulpine giggles. He stopped walking to watch her performance, his eyes sparkling with delight at her antics.
"Okay, okay," he said between chuckles. "I get it - you're enjoying this."
Reyna responded with another series ofheeheesounds, continuing her prancing fox dance with even more enthusiasm. Her paws kicked up small puffs of dirt as she twirled, her movements a perfect blend of vulpine grace and playful showing off.
A chipmunk darted across their path, and Reyna's instincts surged with predatory interest. Harper felt her muscles tense, every instinct urging her to chase, but she kept her focus on Nathan instead. The joy of running through the woods while Nathan hiked beside her far outweighed any urge to chase prey.
Good hunting here,Reyna noted appreciatively as they crested another hill.But mate better.
Nathan crouched down beside her, his gentle fingers stroking through her thick fur. His touch sent pleasant tingles down her spine, and Reyna practically purred with contentment in their shared consciousness.
"I'm glad you'd rather be here with me than chasing chipmunks," Nathan murmured, scratching that perfect spot behind her ears.
Reyna leaned into his touch, responding naturally to the affection. Through Reyna's enhanced senses, Harper could smell Nathan's unique scent - a blend of pine, fresh laundry, and something distinctly him. His fingers moved down to stroke along her neck, and she felt herself melting under the tender attention.
Happy mate,Reyna sighed contentedly in their mind.Good scratches.
Nathan's touch was reverent, careful, showing the same gentle consideration he displayed with Jill. Through Reyna's keen eyes, Harper could see the wonder in his expression as he petted her, still marveling at this magical reality they now shared.
Nathan straightened, and they continued along the trail. Harper's paws moved silently over the earth as she kept pace beside him. Through her fox senses, the forest came alive with vivid details - the sweet perfume of wild honeysuckle, the distant drumming of a woodpecker, the rustling of small creatures in the underbrush.
The path narrowed as it curved around a massive oak tree, forcing Harper to fall behind Nathan. She watched his sure steps, admiring how naturally he moved through the woods. His hiking boots found purchase on the uneven ground without hesitation, as if he'd walked this trail a hundred times before.
Mate moves well,Reyna observed approvingly in their shared mind.Strong, careful.
The trail opened up again, allowing Harper to trot forward and walk beside Nathan once more. Her fur brushed against his leg occasionally as they walked, each brief contact sending pleasant tingles through her body. Even in her fox form, she felt drawn to his presence, comforted by his nearness.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating shifting patterns on the ground before them. A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of the lake, growing stronger as they climbed higher along the ridge. Harper's keen ears picked up the sound of water lapping against rocks below, a soothing rhythm that blended with their footfalls.
Good trail,Reyna commented, her satisfaction clear in Harper's mind.Many interesting smells.
They wound their way through a stand of white birch trees, their pale trunks creating natural pillars in the forest. Shafts of sunlight pierced the canopy, dancing across her fur as she moved. The earth beneath her paws grew rocky as they climbed higher into the hills, then back down into wooded valleys, but Reyna navigated the terrain effortlessly, her fox form perfectly adapted to the woodland path.
By the time they made their way back to the secluded clearing by the lake, the afternoon sun had shifted, casting longer shadows across the ground. Her fox muscles felt wonderfully stretched and limber after the long hike through the varied terrain.
Nathan paused on the path, giving her privacy to transform and dress. Harper padded into the cluster of bushes where they'd stored the picnic basket. Her transformation flowed smoothly, and she quickly pulled on her clothes.
Good run with mate,Reyna sighed happily in her mind as Harper emerged onto the path, basket in hand.
Nathan's face lit up at her appearance. He stepped forward, taking the basket from her. "That was incredible," he said softly, his free hand finding hers.
Their fingers intertwined as they started the walk back to the parking area. Harper's legs felt pleasantly tired from the long hike, and she leaned slightly into Nathan's solid presence beside her. The contact of his palm against hers sent warm tingles up her arm.
They walked in comfortable silence along the shore trail, their footsteps crunching softly on scattered pine needles. The late afternoon sunlight sparkled on the lake's surface through the trees. Harper breathed in deeply, savoring the mix of pine, lake water, and Nathan's familiar scent.
They reached Nathan's car, and he placed the picnic basket in the back seat. When he turned around, Harper's breath caught as he drew her into his arms. His lips met hers in a tender kiss that lingered, soft and sweet. Her hands slid up his chest to rest against his shoulders as warmth spread through her entire body.
When they finally broke apart, Nathan's fingers traced along her cheek with infinite gentleness. His brown eyes held a mix of affection and uncertainty as they gazed into hers.
"I got a call from my parents this morning," he said, his thumb brushing lightly across her skin. "They're coming into town tomorrow afternoon for a really quick visit - they're heading out again Sunday morning. I'd love for you to meet them. Maybe you'd like to come over for dinner tomorrow night? But I don't want you to feel like there's any pressure."
"I know yesterday was rough," he said softly. "The last thing I want is to add any stress right now. They come to visit pretty regularly, every couple of months or so. There's no pressure to meet them tomorrow if you're not up for it." His fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face. "If you prefer, we can wait until things settle down and you're feeling more yourself."
The care in his voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Even after such a short time together, he already understood her so well giving her space to choose. His thoughtfulness in giving her an easy out made her want to say yes even more, even though the prospect of meeting his parents sent nervous energy skittering through her limbs.
"Mom's all about taking care of oneself first," he went on, amusement creeping into his voice. "She'd probably lecture me if I didn't make sure you were feeling okay enough for a big event like meeting your boyfriend's parents." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he added, "Once I skipped breakfast and lunch before a big performance, and she drove forty minutes to bring me a homemade quiche and vitamins. She's wonderfully overwhelming in the most motherly way possible."
A small laugh escaped Harper at that, and Nathan's face lit up at the sound. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, touch feather-light and soothing.
