I Didn't Know That I Could Feel This Way...

Despite that Vixey probably wouldn't welcome his presence, Scamp trailed her and 'Tani into the tent, as if unwilling to let her out of his sight again.
"Anything I can do to help?" He offered awkwardly. "You know, 'cause 'Tani's my friend." And more than that, I hope. The last was added silently. He just was unwilling to say anything aloud until he had a better idea of how she'd react to it.

Vitani heard the tent flap open and closed again, she turned her head, and her heart sped up. Scamp had followed her. Her heart was almost throwing itself against her ribs and she wondered if everyone could hear it, it was almost impossible for her to ignore. She had to tell him.

"How many stitches do I need?" Vitani asked Vixey tentitively. This was going to be painful.

Vixey looked over all the cuts. "You may need stitches on all of them." she replied. The vixen started getting out medical supplies. Turning to Scamp, she said "You can help me by just keeping 'Tani calm."

"Not on my eye." she said "It'll scar anyway...can you just make sure no one sees it?"

She sat down, head bowed so her bangs covered her eyes. She didn't want anyone else to know about that scar...she didn't want anyone to make the connection between her and Scar. What would happen if Simba saw it? Or Nala? Or Sarabi? They'd know...and she wouldn't be accepted here anymore.

"Uh, sure!" Scamp replied, stepping to 'Tani's side. "It doesn't hurt so much." he offered with a sheepish girn, waving a paw at his own stitched muzzle. Hesitantly, he placed his paw atop hers, hoping to give her some small measure of comfort from it.

"Who... who did that to you?" he asked uncomfortably, in a clumsy attempt to distract her from the upcoming stitches. "Was it your mom, like you said?"

"Yes." Vitani said softly trying to focus on something other than the sacr or her impending stitches "Scar wanted her to punish me...and she did."

She remembered being repeatedly slammed against the cave wall and the slash of Zira's claws as she attacked. Vitani let out a small whimper at the memory. She was weak. She couldn't fight back. Zira had just kept going...trying to break her...Vitani didn't know if she had succeeded but something inside her was different now.

"Okay VitaniI'm ready to give you your stitches. Just hold still and this will be over in a moment." Vixey said holding the needle. She got inclose to one of Vitani's cuts and started stitching.

Vitani gritted her teeth as Vixey's needle pierced her flesh and began to stitch her wounds together. Her claws seemed to automatically unsheath at the feeling of pain and were digging into the floor. Vitani also leant more towards Scamp as Vixey stitched her wounds. Vitani didn't honestly know which would be worse, getting them in or getting them out again.

Vitani hissed whenever Vixey hit a particularly sensitive area and buried her head, once more, into Scamp's shoulder.

Scamp looked stunned for a brief moment before gently licking the top of her ear, feeling very embarassed. At least Mooch wasn't here to see it. While he liked Mooch, he couldn't see the older pup understanding.

"It's not so bad, Tani." he muttered gently. "I had to have 'em in my face!" And he'd kicked up quite a fuss about it, too. If Tiana hadn't been so good at what she did, he could have lost an eye to her needle.

"It'll be over soon. It's okay." he whispered again. It seemed so... odd. To see the tough outlander cub reduced to... this. Had what Zira had done to her really been so bad? Not that it changed how he felt towards her, of course, but it was still, well, a little unsettling. He patted her shoulder gently with his paw.

Vixey saw the cubs discomfort but, she had to keep stitching. "Okay, I'm almost done." Vixey told 'Tani. Making the last stitch, she said "Okay and I'm done. You may want to rest for a little while."

Vitani sagged somewhat from relief that Vixey had finished her work. She really hated feeling weak or needing medical attention. She was used to time and her tounge being the only medical attention she required.

"Thanks Vixey." she murmered softly, turning her head to look at the vixen.

Scamp shuffled his paws nervously. Should... should he say something? About his feelings for her? Or would they be best left well alone?

"Uh, Tani, can I ask you something... kinda personal?" he asked tentatively, testing the water, so to speak. Before she could answer, he pressed on: "How... well... how do you feel about me?" His face flushed red again as he spoke, but he hoped his fur hid it. He deliberately avoided meeting Tani's eye.

For a moment Vitani stared at Scamp in shock, her sapphire eyes wide. He had caught her off-guard. She hadn't expected him to ask that...especially now after she'd been taken to the Outlands and tortured. Still her cheeks began to burn once more.

"I...uh..." Vitani hestitated. For a long moment she wanted to say that she thought of him like she did Mooch, like another brother, but that was a lie. She wanted so much to tell him how she felt but she knew she didn't have a chance. They were too different but she had her chance. Now or never.

"I...I like you...a lot." she said hesitantly "I mean, more than I've liked anyone before. I-I...I think I love you Scamp."

Scamp's face turned bright red almost instantly. "Wow..." was all he could mutter, staring speechlessly at her for a moment, a shocked smile plastered across his face. He hadn't dared to imagine that she might feel the same way he did. "I..." he managed to stammer, before falling silent again. All he could do was grin at her, looking somewhat stunned.

It was a long moment before he could snap himself out of it. "I think the same." he replied, before realising the way that sounded. "I mean, I l..." he stalled for a moment. This was really it. "...love you, as well." he finished with a sheepish grin.

When Scamp didn't reply for a minute, Vitani lowered her head and focused her eyes on the ground. She was so stupid to believe that Scamp felt anything more than friendship towards her...especially after what happened with Angel.

Then he said he loved her and her head snapped up to look at him. She looked shocked beyond words but a smile appeared instantly and she slipped her head under his chin.

"When I was in the Outlands I was so scared I'd never see you again...I'd never get a chance to tell you how I really felt."