A Fox's love

As the moon rose high over the farm, casting soft shadows across the fields, Shadow and Lone strolled down a winding path, joking and nudging each other playfully. The air was filled with a quiet magic, and Shadow felt his heart beat faster with each glance he stole of Lone under the silver light.

They laughed as they talked, Lone telling him all about her latest mischievous adventures on the farm. Shadow tried to keep his cool, laughing along, but his mind was somewhere else entirely. He had only just realized how much she meant to him — how he didn't just enjoy her company but genuinely cared for her, in a way he hadn't felt before.

Suddenly, his words caught in his throat, and he found himself stammering.

Lone paused, giving him a curious look. "You all right there, fox-boy?"

"W-What? Of course! Me? I'm... I'm great!" Shadow spluttered, mentally kicking himself for his lack of composure.

Lone smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You sure? You seem... off. What, is the big, brave Shadow afraid of a little girl like me?"

Shadow's face flushed. "Afraid? Ha! I'm just... uh... yeah, you know, just really tired. It's been a long day of, uh... matchmaking and... stuff," he mumbled, feeling his cheeks burn hotter than ever.

She snickered, tilting her head. "You're acting strange. It's like you've got a secret or something."

Before he could respond, a fresh wave of nervousness surged over him, and he stammered out a quick "Goodnight!" before dashing down the path toward his aunt's cottage, his heart racing wildly in his chest.

As Shadow pushed open the door to his aunt's cozy home, he was greeted by the warm aroma of a freshly prepared meal. His aunt was waiting by the table, a gentle smile on her face.

"There you are, Shadow," she said, her eyes twinkling with pride. "I've heard all about your day. I'm so proud of you for helping Sushi and Oyster like that."

Shadow gave a sheepish smile as he sat down, taking a bite of the food she'd prepared. "Thanks, Auntie. It was... quite a day," he replied, his mind still spinning with thoughts of Lone.

After finishing his meal, Shadow went to his room. Just as he was getting ready to settle in, a soft knock sounded at his window. He opened it to find Lone, leaning casually on the sill, her grin wide and mischievous.

"Lone!" he blurted, almost too surprised to speak.

"Well, well, well. I thought I might find you hiding out here," she teased, her eyes gleaming. "You didn't think you could escape that easily, did you?"

"Who's hiding?" Shadow protested, trying to sound casual. "I just... needed to, uh... regroup!"

Lone raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, regroup, huh? Sure, Shadow, whatever you say. You're not fooling me. You bolted out of there like a scared rabbit," she said, narrowing her eyes clearly humored and smirking.

Shadow laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I... I was just... I mean, I... Lone, I wanted to ask you something."

Her expression softened, and she leaned in closer. "Oh? Well, go on, then," she said, her voice quiet with curiosity.

Shadow gulped, his heart hammering in his chest as he searched for the right words. He took a deep breath, realizing that this was the moment he had to tell her how he felt. Come on, Shadow, he thought to himself, you've faced wolves, storms, and the scariest roosters on the farm. You can do this.

"Lone," he began, his voice softer now, "I... I realized something today. Something about you."

Lone's smirk faded as she looked at him, her gaze steady and patient. "What's that?"

Shadow took a deep breath, his cheeks flushed but his gaze unwavering. "I... I've never really felt this way before. I thought I was just having fun, you know? Laughing with you, messing around, helping out on the farm. But... it's more than that. You're... special to me, Lone."

For once, Lone seemed caught off guard, her cheeks turning a delicate pink. "Shadow, I... I didn't realize..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shadow, feeling braver with each word, stepped closer. "And... I know it might be a little silly, but I wanted to ask you... Lone, would you... would you be my mate?"

Lone's eyes widened, her face full of surprise and something that looked an awful lot like happiness. "Mate? You mean... like, for real?" she asked, her voice breathy with disbelief.

Shadow nodded earnestly, he pulled out a gift he'd prepared, just in case. He held it out to her—a handmade collar adorned with a small silver tag engraved with her name. 

"It's... not exactly a ring," Shadow stammered, his voice thick with emotion, "but... it's something I thought you might like."

Lone's eyes sparkled as she took the collar from his hands, running her fingers over the delicate engraving. She looked up at him, her expression soft, and her voice was barely a whisper. "Shadow... it's perfect."

He felt his heart leap with joy as he saw the genuine happiness in her eyes. "So... does that mean... you'll say yes?" he asked, a hopeful smile spreading across his face.

Lone grinned, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Of course, you silly fox. I think you already knew the answer." She leaned in and gave him a playful nudge. "But just so you know, you're gonna have to keep up with me."

Shadow's laughter filled the room as he pulled her into a warm hug, feeling as if his heart might burst with happiness. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he whispered, holding her close.

They stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, as the moonlight cast a soft glow over them. For once, Shadow felt like he was exactly where he belonged—right here, with Lone, by his side.