Nathaly:

She strained under the blow, gritting her teeth as Kodiak pressed her further and further to the ground. Maneuvering around her staff, she ducked her head so the staff rested on her back and butted him in the chest. Hard enough to get him off her, but gentle enough not to hurt his wounds. He grunted and in the whip of a second, she arched her staff and whacked him in the thigh. He fell to a knee and she shot her leg out. He caught her ankle with both of his hands and tripped her. Before she could get up again he leaned over her, boxing her in for the five seconds he needed to win. With a toothy grin he pushed himself up and held a hand up. Nathaly ignored it and jumped up, trying not to dwell on Kodiak's closeness. In that moment, all she wanted to do was run her hands through his hair and trace the contours of his face, committing it to memory. 

Nathaly hopped lightly on the balls of her feet, determination swirling in her.

"Again," she commanded, picking up her staff.

Kodiak chuckled, taking the elongated stick from her. 

"I've got to get us some dinner. We've run low on dried meat and I saw quite a few rabbits hopping around yesterday."

Nathaly huffed, irritated. "I need to train. And I can't trust Eithan to help me so you're the only one."

He winked at her, sauntering out of the clearing. "I'll be back, Nat. Don't get yourself in a twist." Nathaly rolled her eyes but let herself smile. Even after Kodiak left, the pitter-patter in her stomach continued. She didn't quite know what this feeling was but it wasn't exactly unpleasant. 

"Nathaly?" She reeled around to see Eithan edging the clearing. She let out a breath and crossed her arms low over her stomach.

"Yes?"

"I need to talk to you about something," he dug his boots into the soft soil.

"Well, you're standing here so out with it."

"I just... wanted to make sure you were okay." 

Her brows kissed. "Where is this coming from?" 

He cleared his throat nervously, looking at her with those intense dark eyes. 

"I know you've been feeling the pressure from this mission and I know how important it is to you, and how you've suffered because of your parents, and-"

"How do you know about my parents?" She asked slowly, tilting her head at him. She had only ever told her parents' story to Kodiak and when she did, Eithan had been gone. She made a safe assumption that Kodiak didn't tell it to Eithan because he despised Eithan. How did he learn of her past?

Red bloomed on his cheeks as his eyes widened. He backpedaled, stumbling over his words.

"I mean, you we-were murmuring about it in your sleep and I couldn't help but overhearing and I've been meaning to ask you about it..." he trailed off as Nathaly glowered at him.

"What did you do, Eithan?" She growled, prowling towards him. 

He held up his hands, taking a half step back. "I didn't do anything, Nat. Nathaly. Truly."

How did he know her nickname? Understanding loomed in her mind. 

"You heard the conversation between Kodiak and I, when I was tending to his wounds." 

"No, I would never-"

"Don't give me bullshit, Eithan!" Her voice rose an octave louder and she fought to control her breathing. Her temper would do nothing for her now. But the realization just caused her ire to stir. How could he intrude on a private conversation? Did he have no honor?

Eithan hung his head, defeated. "Alright, I admit it. I did listen to your conversation." When he looked up, his expression was slightly bitter. "I'm sorry that I heard your intimate, heart-to-heart talk with Kodiak." 

"That apology means nothing to me," she snarled, her rage flaring to dangerous heights inside of her. "You had no right to listen."

"I wasn't listening on purpose! I was going to talk to you but he woke up. Damn Montague ruins everything." Eithan cursed under his breath and Nathaly stormed up to him.

"I don't know what it is with you, but Kodiak is a wonderful man. Sure, he doesn't really like you, but he doesn't ever outright curse your name. And if we were talking, at least he would have enough respect for me to not listen." 

"I didn't have a choice! You are almost never alone and I've been wanting to talk to you for so long! I want to get to know you, Nathaly! I'm also supposed to help you on this mission and how am I supposed to do that if I don't even know you?" Eithan ranted, hurt glimmering in his eyes.

Nathaly threw her arms up at his childish rebuttal. "Why are you so interested in me? Like you said, you are here to accompany me, not to be my companion! I don't see why you're trying so hard!"

"Because I love you, dammit!" Eithan thundered and Nathaly gaped at him. Her mind spun in helpless circles as she watched hope unfurl in his eyes. She prayed that this was just some joke but from the look in his eyes Nathaly could tell he truly loved her.

Why does this have to happen to me?

"I do, Nathaly. I have for so long and it's been eating me up inside." She shook her head in bewilderment as he walked towards her. "You may not see it but in time, you could love me too. We would be perfect together and I could give you a happy life."

She struggled to form coherent sentences as her shock made way for her familiar fury.

She stalked up to him and slapped him. The crack echoed through the clearing and Eithan stumbled back from the blow.

"How dare you!" She hissed. "How dare you plan my whole life in front of me. How dare you presume that you know absolutely anything about me and my life, and assume my emotions. I know what why you are so infatuated with me but it must stop."

"I love you, Nathaly. That's not an infatuation. I've never wanted anything more in my life," he begged, a spark of desire shimmering in his eyes. Nathaly shuddered and backed away from him.

"I could never love you, Eithan, and that's the truth. You'd do better by accepting it."

Eithan shook his head vigorously. "Why, Nathaly? Why do you refuse me so easily without even trying?"

"I already love another!" She heard heavy footfalls coming towards them but Nathaly didn't care. "I feel nothing for you, Eithan, but pity that you feel the need to beg me to love you. That is not love. That is desperation. My heart belongs to another."

Eithan's eyes shadowed, almost black. "It's Kodiak, isn't it."

"I love Kodiak, Eithan. I've never seen you as more than my guardian for this mission and I never will think of you as anything more." He chuckled sharply but Nathaly could see the pain written across his face.

"Of course you do. It's always the Montague." He muttered under his breath, pacing into the dark pine towards the campgrounds. The sounds of fallen wood alerted Nathaly to someone else's presence, and she wheeled around to see Kodiak. Thousands of emotions flickered across his handsome face as he stared at her. Slowly, she approached him.

"It's true, Kodiak. I do love you." She searched his eyes in earnest, hoping that he reciprocated. He was silent and every moment he was Nathaly felt her hope wilt. She must've been a fool to think that Kodiak would love someone broken like her. He probably had hordes of beautiful women waiting for him back in his home. He rested his fingers under her chin and slowly tilted her head up to him. They were inches apart and she could feel his warm breath on her lips.

"I love you too, Nat," he rasped. Before she could respond he captured her lips with his. He was gentle at first, guiding her, but soon she sunk into him. Nathaly clung to him with an urgency as she kissed him with a ferocity. Everything about this felt right. Their bodies fit perfectly together and she let out a low groan as Kodiak snaked an arm around her waist. He growled, deep in his throat, and pulled her even closer. Warmth radiated through her and her heart threatened to burst out of her chest as she broke the kiss to gulp the sweet forest air. He kissed a path from her jaw down to the hollow of her throat. She anchored herself, digging her fingers through his hair.

"I've wanted to tell you for so long," he said hoarsely and Nathaly hummed. This, this was true joy. Every thought vanished as she lost herself to Kodaik.