"Wrong again, Tenderfoot."

Scamp found himself taking a couple of steps forward as well. He had no more words he could say at that moment, but he managed a greatful smile. The pain was still there, of course, but... somehow, having accepted that he had to move on, it didn't feel quite so bad. Or maybe it was just 'Tani's presence having that effect on him? Either way, he had to admit that, just at this moment, he was feeling better that he had since... well, since before he'd found out that he and Angel were related.

Vitani suddenly was nervous although she managed not to show it. Her heart was throwing itself against her chest and she vaguely wondered if it was loud enough for Scamp to hear it. She wanted to say something...do something but she didn't. She didn't want to make a move in case it made Scamp regress into his previous state.

Scamp swallowed hard, also feeling rather nervous, although he had no clue why. He glanced awkwardly from side to side, trying to avoid meeting her eyes again - although in some strange way, he wanted to, as well.
Finally, Scamp broke the uncomfortable silence. "'Tani... I'm sorry." he began, looking everywhere but at her. "I've been so focused on Angel..." a fresh wave of pain washed over him when he said her name, but he forced himself to ignore it. That... was... the past. Still, he trailed off, although he managed a smile in 'Tani's direction.

"It's ok." Vitani said "The important thing is that you're moving on...it isn't good for someone to be stuck in the past all of the time...it changes them for the worse. This'll hurt Scamp but it's a good kind of pain...it's healing pain and I'll be there for you whenever you need it and so will Mooch."

Vitani placed a paw on Scamp's shoulder with a smile. The worst was over and she hoped that Scamp would pull through because he needed this.

"Thank you..." Scamp whispered, placing his own paw over hers. If it had been Angel, he'd have leant forward and nuzzled her, but it was 'Tani instead, and he didn't feel that way about her.
...did he?
He shoved the thought aside. Vitani was a friend, nothing more... well, okay she was a good friend. A VERY good friend. But there was nothing romantic there.
He looked away from her for a moment. This would be difficult, putting Angel in the past, and 'Tani was right, he knew it would hurt - but he had to do it. He couldn't slip back to his depression again. He WOULDN'T.
His grip on 'Tani's paw tightened in determination. As long as she was beside him, he felt that he actually could do it, that he could beat the depression, that he could leave his feelings for Angel in the past for good.
"I'm glad you're here." he added, letting his eyes drift up to meet hers again.

(OOC: Maybe after your next post we ought to wait for Stitch to get back so that she can make Mooch stumble across them again? What do you think?)

To both 'Tani and Scamp's immense chagrin, Dipstick had trailed after them. He was still giggling to himself, so pleased with his little comments it was almost ridiculous. He did have a wicked streak and it was beginning to show itself. Unwise, no doubt, because Tani was twice as strong as he was and would no doubt show it if he didn't keep his mouth shut. Still, he chose to ignore his common sense yelling at him to leave them alone and keep quiet.
"Awwwwww, you left me!! Whassa matter, Tani?" He spoke in a simpering tone, his face plastered with an irritating smirk. "Don't you LIKE being around me? Oh. No. Wait. I guess you don't..." He turned his gaze to Scamp, grinning. "I guess you'd rather hang around your BOYFRIEND.....SCAMP."

(ooc: lol, hope it's ok for Dipstick to make a nuisance out of himself xD it'll give us something to do until Mooch gets back.)

Scamp bit back his imediate angry response, willing himself not to say anything stupid again. He'd already hurt 'Tani that way once - he wouldn't do it again.
"Don't you have anything better to do than follow us?" he retorted. Do all dalmatians cause problems? he wondered iritably. First that Patch, with Angel... although that was in the PAST... and now Dipstick here...

"You got something better to do than follow TANI around?" Dipstick shot back immediately. "But I guess I can understand, if I had a girlfrend I'd want to have some alone time with her too." His grin became wide and toothy, making him look quite stupid. "Alone time, so we could kiss and make out without Mooch and Dipstick interfering, huh?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "That what you want Scamp, huh? Some...alooone time with Tani?"

"Hey, cut it out!" Scamp shot back, struggling to keep his anger in check. "We're just friends, like you and..." what was that girl's name he'd mentioned? "...and Two-Tone are." Leaning closer to the lioness, he muttered "Help me out here, 'Tani." He honestly didn't want to say anything that would hurt her again, but if Dipstick kept this up, he was liable to say something else that he'd regret later.

Vitani's paw slid from Scamp's shoulder as she give him a sharp nod. Her sapphire eyes narrowed into slits at the dalmatian. He was going to regret opening his mouth, she would make sure of that. She may be a hero but that didn't mean she was above dealing out a severe beating especially to those who deserved it. She approached the dalmatian pup with a murderous look about her.

"I'm going to give you three seconds." Vitani said, her voice eerily calm when it was so obvious she was ready to murder the pup "Exactly three seconds, for you to get your rear end out of here before I give you the beating of your life. This is your only warning and after this I will not hesitate to hurt you. I suggest you leave while you can."

"Yeah?" Dipstick's response was challenging. "I'd like to see you try!! If you're gonna hit me you gotta catch me first!!" He lowered the front half of his body to the ground, tail wagging impishly. He was completely aware Tani was mad...and that she was about to hit him. That was the part he enjoyed to no end, annoying someone to the point where they hit him, or tried to. Usually it was Mooch, but Tani he didn't know so well. He was confident he could outrun her.

Vitani didn't waste a second before roughly tackling the dalmatian pup. He was infuriating to her and Scamp. How on earth did Mooch put up with him. Did this pup need to have the message hammered through his thick skull. She and Scamp were not a couple and probably never will be.

Vitani barred her teeth to make sure the pup could get a good look at the dagger-like canines. Her paws held him firmly against the ground, her claws weren't extended, but she still put enough force down that it would keep him down.

"Woah!! Hey....dude....you could really use a breath mint. Like seriously. Your breath REEKS." Dipstick mumbled stupidly....again not thinking about the consequences. There were razor sharp teeth in his face and all he could think to do was comment about her breath!! Not smart. "Uh I mean uh...geez what's your problem. All I'm doin' is commentin' on the obvious. You two obviously got the hots for each other. At least I got the guts to say it out loud."

Scamp glared at Dipstick. "You don't know what you're talking about!" he retorted angrily. Sure, he may have vaguely felt something for 'Tani... but nothing like what Dipstick was suggesting. He'd only just got over Angel, for goodness sake! There was no way he'd have got another girlfriend so fast after that.
He hoped that Mooch would show up soon and smack the dal back down. And maybe bring his collar back, too.

"I know a crush when I see one." Dipstick stated blatantly, grunting under Vitani's weight. She was bigger than him that was easy to see...and her paws were heavy on his skinny shoulders. "Y-you...you just don't realize it yet!!" Truthfully Scamp was right, Dipstick really didn't know anything about Scamp or 'Tani...but he was more observant than either of them realized. He recognized minor signs when he saw them...and stated what he believed them to signal. Nothing to get mad about, surely!