Overdue conversation

Some time after the havoc died down and the children's spirits returned to rest, Lira and Elliott returned to their original alignment and size. They hide behind a tree to catch up with one another.

There was a lot to tell and thus Elliott explains his disappearance and how he survived the harsh cold wilderness. Lira then tells him about her magic learning and how much she missed him.

Which brings him to the current situation. There were words left unspoken that he finally wanted to clear up.

"Lira?" The dark nyulop placed his hand on his chest. "May I...tell you something? It's been on my mind before I went to the expedition..."

Lira saw the hesitation of her friend, and quietly nodded to him. She was aware that it must be something serious.

Here goes nothing...

"Our lives have been...crazy recently. And I'm not sure what the future will bring us. But one thing is certain." Elliott glanced softly to the pink nyulop. "As long as I am with you, I feel like I can take any challenge. And I think you are amazing. You're kind. You're determined to learn. You simply blow me away and..." His face flushed in pink when he chose his next words carefully. "I appreciate you as my friend. I always did. But...what I am trying to say is that I like you. But not...just as my friend. It's...so much more than that."

Seconds of silence followed and Elliott slowly regretted those words. All while Lira appeared to be speechless. Her cheeks seem to blush.

Knew this was a stupid idea.

"I...I'm sorry, I..." As he was about to get up, Lira finally got out of her dazed state and immediately held Elliott's hand. "No! Eli, wait!" The dark-colored nyulop hesitated.

"I like you too, silly!" she remarked after a while, her face being gentle. "Please don't take my hesitation as me rejecting you. I just needed a moment to process it" Elliott sat back down on his spot, resting his hand on Lira's. "I wasn't expecting that you are confessing to me. But I do mean it...I like you too. More than just my friend."

Relief washed over Elliott when he began to laugh, followed by Lira. They both let out the tension from moments ago. 

Eventually there is a calmness between the two nyulops as they rested under the tree.

"So...where do we go from here?" Elliott asked her minutes later. "Like...are...we dating? It's...just that I never had experience in that department."

Lira simply shook her head. "Heh...me neither. But we can figure it out....together."

The answer was satisfying to him. "Okay. Then let's take one step at a time."

"I know exactly where to start." The pink nyulop's eyes gleamed and her mouth opened to a wide smile. "Wanna go to the Starsail Festival with me?"

There is a nostalgic feeling in connection to the festival. It was the first time where they met each other as kits. How coincidental if they would go as. a new couple.

"Yes." Elliott responded with a smile. "I'd love to."