Once he felt better, Metas and Myranda were back on their feet. The Prince was felt great, but Myranda's head was still stuck on the word 'mate', and how sweet it rang in ears entirely against her wishes. She hadn't even heard his voice until he pawed at her gently.
"Myranda? You don't have to hide the fact you are hurt - just show me where, I want to return the favor. How are your paws?" He repeated to her.
"Oh - no, I'm okay. I've got worker's paws. This is nothing. I once stepped on a shard of ceramic when I was a young pup. I hadn't been able to control my shifting entirely, and I went head-first into a storage pot," she shared with a smile, but wiped it away when she realized the warmth that came from her tone.
He couldn't help but chuckle as he visualized her story - and once she glared at him, the action ceased and he let out an apology instead. "Sorry... I was just picturing you do that, and it was cute."
"Forget I even said anything, please" Myranda asked and sank her head down towards the snow.
"Not a chance. It's too cute," he teased and then turned to survey the area (and also to hide the laughter coming from his chest).
"Any idea on who would set such a trap?" She wondered as she joined him as he scouted the grounds.
"Maybe the demon clan? I heard they've eaten a lot of stock of meat recently. They've been coming here more and more to prey upon own livestock. They'd rather start war than curb their appetites," he answered with disapproval.
"Do you think they were trying to trap one of us to eat? ....They... wouldn't...right?" She wondered aloud as the implications of her own words dawned on her heavily.
"I don't want to lie to you, because you're going to be my future Luna, but yes - they would, and they have" he was frank about it, and hoped she wouldn't slap him when they returned into their mortal forms for his suggestion at her fate to be at his side.
"First of all - you /wish/ I was going to be your future Luna. Second of all, that's absolutely terrifying. Is that why you take a run each morning?" She tried to hide the bubbles that had floated up in her heart at his words, and failed.
'You need to stop being charming, or I'm going to push you down the next large cliff we come to,' she thought proudly and looked away from his handsome wolf face before he could catch her.
"Yes, among other reasons - but mostly to make sure no one else has become victim. My father used to, but he's become old and tired, so I picked it up," he stated proudly.
"Why don't you just take the throne from him? You're clearly strong enough to do so," she inquired curiously, and turned her attention back to his face in hopes he'd give her an honest answer.
"I can't do that. Not without a partner. There is reason my father is still in power despite his age. He has very loyal, very terrified supporters who would lose all prestige and power my parents granted them in order to keep their stronghold on lower classes. I told you, Myranda - I am quite aware of their behavior. What good is taking something if it is just going to be stolen from you in instant?" He answered her with valor in his tone. He may have been a prince, but he sure did talk like a warrior more than a politician.
"I understand. Well, I hope you find a partner you can trust," she offered the platitutde in hopes it may fend him off of her tail.
"I have. The only problem is that she doesn't trust me, and from what I hear she's going to be very hard to catch," he looked over to her as he spoke, and tried to plead with her eyes to accept him.
'Curse your sweet-talking and its effectiveness! Stop being so great,' she thought with a sour disposition. He really was persistent, and she kind of liked it, but refused to admit it.
"Ha-ha," she let out in a monotone reply, unsure of what else to say to his little jest.
"Are you sure you want to keep running with me? I can take you back if you'd prefer," he offered when really he just didn't want to see her hurt.
"Psh. I could make it back without you, and yes I am sure. I said I would run with you, and I am. Besides, who will help you if you get hurt out here? Do you know how bad regicide is, your highness?" She asked with a little bit of a mocking tone.
"You should call me Metas. I'm not your highness, we're equals and we always will be," he answered her mocking with his own sincerity.
"Is that just woods talk? Will that not apply anymore when we get back home?" She accused him with a real nasty undertone that she did not hold back.
"It will never not apply, my mate. You will always be my equal in my eyes - no matter how much you rebuke me" Metas promised with steady eyes that made her feel safe.
"We'll see, but honestly - you're not /that/ impressive," she lied. Not just him, but to herself as well.
"If you insist so. Your heart betrayed you earlier, though. Just so you're aware," he revealed coolly and offered a toothy grin.
"Come on, we go this way - and now we look for more traps. It would not be acceptable if anyone else got hurt outside of me," he added and craned his neck towards a thicker collection of trees.
She did as he directed, but trailed just behind him to follow his path as well as to look for anything suspicious. Although she couldn't confess to herself that she liked him, she could admit that maybe he wasn't as bad as she had initially thought. That was the biggest win Metas was going to get for now.
They found nothing more, but the sun had risen into full view and lit up the earth around them to where the snow nearly blinded their view. As promised, Metas returned her back to her belongings and luckily, they were exactly how they had been left.
"So what did you come out here to collect? I'm sorry I distracted you for so long," he apologized and watched her transform back into her former self with awe. Just to see her put her boots on caused him to fall into a mesmerized dream.
"Berries. I needed them for tarts...ah, fucking shit! I forgot about my pastry dough on the counter. Awwww. It's going to be too warm to use now," Myranda was genuinely disappointed and her frown quivered a bit as she was reminded of her rough morning.
"Ah, I distracted you from your goal I see. I'm happy to help you gather more if you'd like," he offered with a smile as he stood taller than her and stretched out his hand as if he would carry her basket.
"No, I think I'm fine. We had our run, so why don't you return to the castle before your parents think you're goofing around?" She tried to make him leave with her flat tone, but with minimal effort.
He could hear her hold back her vitriol, and figured he'd let her have a little space for now. All good hunters would let their prey think they were safe before they pounced on them by surprise.
He'd grant her the solitude she half-asked for, and conceded. "Very well then, I'll go - but if you ever want to see me again for any reason - you can always catch me here at same time each morning. Having you at my side was best feeling I've ever had, and if you'd grant me pleasure of your company again I wouldn't complain."
"I'm sure you wouldn't. Maybe you'll see me, maybe you won't. We'll both just have to find out, won't we?" She played as cool as possible, even though she echoed his sentiments silently within.
"Very well - I shall miss you until I see you again my mate," Metas said with finality and gave her a gentle bow of respect before he left her there alone to attend to the berries she had inflated the importance of.