Three years ago, the Vita League, an international festival showcasing the abilities and potential of various nations' finest talents, was held in the nation of Pyntos. The event served as a platform for demonstrating power, promoting diplomacy, and quelling potential conflicts through competition or displays of dominance.
As the festival's first day approached, Team Noss, representing their homeland, was preparing for their participation. On a plain dotted with relics of the past, including an old wooden shed, the team made their final adjustments. Fenra, one of their members, stood apart from the group, leaning against the shed. Arms crossed and gaze fixed downward, her sharp expression and distant demeanor gave the impression she was in her own world. Her teammates, familiar with her aloof nature, paid no mind, focusing instead on their preparations.
Their focus shifted when another team approached. Alerted by the sight of potential opponents, Team Noss became curious about the purpose of this unannounced visit. Meanwhile, Fenra's sharp senses picked up something else, a scent that triggered an immediate reaction within her. Her heart raced as her nose guided her gaze toward the source.
Amidst the rival group stood Kelson, a striking figure who appeared as detached from his team as Fenra was from hers. He lingered at the back, observing both parties with a calm yet penetrating gaze that seemed to evaluate them silently. The leader of his team stepped forward, raising a hand in a gesture of peace.
"Relax," the leader said with a smile. "We're not here to start anything. Just thought we'd see what we're working with."
Team Noss exchanged wary glances before responding with a few polite remarks and lighthearted banter.
For Fenra, however, the world seemed to fade. The scent emanating from Kelson grew stronger, overpowering her thoughts and locking her focus entirely on him. She wasn't sure what was happening to her. Her gaze, unyielding, betrayed an interest she couldn't explain.
Why… why does he smell so… compelling? she wondered, feeling an unfamiliar heat rise within her.
As if sensing her attention, Kelson turned his head and caught her staring. His teal eyes gleamed with a playful light, and when he smiled, it was as though the ground beneath Fenra shifted. Her face flushed crimson as she quickly averted her gaze, trying to regain composure.
[What is wrong with me?] she chastised herself, willing the heat in her cheeks to dissipate.
Kelson, however, wasn't about to let the moment pass unnoticed. Finding her reaction endearing, he decided to push further.
Breaking away from his team's formation, Kelson strode forward, catching his leader off guard.
"Kelson, what are you, ?" the leader began, but Kelson waved off the question, his attention fixed on Team Noss.
"I'd like to speak with one of you," Kelson announced, his voice calm but confident.
Team Noss regarded him with suspicion.
"What do you need permission for?" one of them asked.
Kelson smirked, his gaze sliding past them to Fenra. "I want to talk to the cute wolf girl over there."
The declaration hit like a thunderclap. Fenra stiffened, her already flushed face deepening in color.
"The what?" one of her teammates exclaimed, staring between Kelson and Fenra in disbelief.
Another member shook their head and said, "You don't know what you're getting into, man. Fenra's not someone you want to mess with."
The words stung Fenra slightly, but she couldn't entirely disagree. It's not like they're wrong, she thought, trying to appear indifferent even as her heart pounded.
Kelson chuckled. "I appreciate your concern," he said, brushing past the warning, "but tough girls aren't exactly new to me."
Without waiting for further protest, he walked through Team Noss, heading straight for Fenra.
Time seemed to slow as Kelson approached. Fenra's senses, already heightened by his overwhelming scent, went into overdrive. She felt an inexplicable rush, her heart pounding in her ears. She didn't understand why she was so nervous, was it truly because of him?
When Kelson stopped in front of her, she found herself hesitating before raising her gaze. Her amber eyes met his teal ones, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink around them.
"Hi," he said slyly, his tone carrying both amusement and curiosity.
Fenra froze, feeling like prey caught in a predator's sight. His features were even more striking up close, his confident smile framed by an aura of calm control. And that scent, it was everywhere, consuming her thoughts.
She swallowed hard, fighting to steady herself. "What… do you want?" she asked, her voice colder than she intended.
Kelson's grin widened, and he leaned in slightly, closing the distance just enough to make her breath hitch. "Just wanted to meet the girl who's been staring at me like I'm her next meal."
Fenra's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly turned her head away, biting back a sharp retort. Her blush deepened as her teammates stifled snickers behind her.
This guy… he's insufferable! she thought, though her racing heart betrayed her conflicted feelings.
Kelson chuckled softly, taking a step back but keeping his gaze on her. "I'll see you tomorrow, wolf girl."
With that, he turned and rejoined his team, leaving Fenra to grapple with the whirlwind of emotions he had stirred within her.
As the teams parted ways, Fenra leaned back against the shed once more, but her usual composure was nowhere to be found. Her mind raced with thoughts of Kelson, his teasing words, his confident demeanor, and, above all, that intoxicating scent that had awakened something primal within her.
What just happened? she wondered, her hand brushing against her nose as if trying to erase the lingering impression of him.
Unbeknownst to her, Kelson felt similarly intrigued. As his team moved on, he glanced over his shoulder one last time, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
[This is going to be interesting] he thought, already anticipating their next encounter.
And so, amidst the backdrop of the Vita League Festival, a spark was lit between two unlikely individuals, a spark that would soon ignite into something far greater than either of them could have anticipated.
---
For Fenra, seeing Kelson was like seeing a ghost. It had been three long years since they were forced apart, torn away by circumstances neither could control. Now, here he was, standing before her as if fate had decided to bring them together again.
For Kelson, the sight of Fenra left him momentarily speechless. Despite the miles and time that separated them, he couldn't help but smile, a genuine expression that softened his usual teasing demeanor.
"Well, you're still a feisty little puppy, aren't ya?" he said, his eyes narrowing playfully as he teased her.
That smile. That familiar, warm scent that was uniquely him. It all came rushing back, hitting Fenra like a wave. Her body trembled as emotion overwhelmed her. She couldn't stop the tears that welled up and spilled down her face.
Before anyone could process what was happening, Fenra leapt from her position with a force that startled everyone, including Kelson. She closed the distance between them in an instant, crashing into his chest with enough power to knock him to the ground.
"Ow!" Kelson groaned, wincing as he hit the dirt.
But any pain he felt vanished the moment he looked up and saw Fenra straddling him, tears streaming down her face and dripping onto his cheeks. His heart softened at the sight, and without thinking, he reached up, brushing his fingers gently beneath her eyes to wipe the tears away.
"What's gotten into you?" he asked with a lighthearted laugh, his tone a mix of confusion and affection.
Instead of answering immediately, Fenra leaned in closer, her movements slow and deliberate. Her amber eyes shimmered with sadness and longing as she brought her face closer to his. Her voice cracked as she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, "I missed you."
Kelson's breath hitched, and before he could respond, her lips met his in a kiss that was as tender as it was unexpected.
The kiss sent a ripple of shock through everyone present. The surrounding crowd froze in stunned silence before the murmurs began.
"Oh my…" said Eva, Mel, and Ayane in unison, their eyes wide with surprise. Though stunned, Eva's lips curled into a smirk, feeling a strange sense of pride.
Meanwhile, cameras and phones clicked furiously as spectators captured the moment. Whispers filled the air, speculating about the nature of the duo's relationship and the suddenness of such a passionate display.
Kelson, his eyes half-closed, debated for a fleeting moment whether this was the best time or place for such an intimate reunion. But then again, who was he to reject this? He allowed himself to savor the warmth of her lips, the raw emotion behind the kiss.
But the world around them hadn't stopped.
In the distance, her target, the reason for all this chaos, had begun to stir. Taking advantage of the crowd's distraction, it attempted to slink away unnoticed.
"Not so fast!"
Bonnie, alert as ever, tackled the figure to the ground before it could escape. The impact sent a resounding thud through the area as she pinned the target beneath her.
The figure groaned, emitting a low sound that startled the onlookers, it sounded almost human. But Bonnie didn't hesitate, her focus razor-sharp as she tightened her grip to keep it fully immobilized.
"You're not getting away that easily," she muttered under her breath, determination burning in her eyes.
Back on the ground, Fenra and Kelson finally broke their kiss. Fenra's face burned with embarrassment as she realized what she'd done in front of so many people. She quickly scrambled off him, avoiding the eyes of her teammates and the crowd.
Kelson propped himself up on one elbow, looking at her with a crooked smile. "Well," he said, his voice laced with amusement, "if I knew you missed me that much, I wouldn't have stayed away so long."
Fenra's ears flattened against her head, and she glared at him, though her flushed face and trembling lips betrayed her true feelings. "Shut up," she muttered, turning her face away.
Kelson chuckled, the sound low and comforting. For the first time in years, he felt like he was exactly where he belonged.
And though the mission wasn't over, this reunion felt like the beginning of something neither of them could have anticipated.