(Quick chapter before sleeps)

Are you okay with doing the chores for the day? Heian invited me out on a trip.

He waited uneasily until his brother replied a few minutes later.

Sure, Marsh and I can handle things here. Go have a good time.

Ranger let out a stressed breath, relieved that he wasn't needed for the day, but also that his brother was secure enough with whatever had happened with Marsh that he didn't feel the need to confide in him. Of course, if Walker really did need his help, he would definitely be there for him, no matter what, but even just sensing him through their bond, he was clearly relaxed now.

He stepped outside after tugging on an extra light coat and his worn boots, and was a bit surprised to see the pile of spare clothing Heian had been wearing folded up on the swinging chair to his right.

Grinning, he walked over and retrieved it, but instead of heading down the steps, he turned and brought it back inside the house, then exited again. His reappearance was greeted with a snort as Heian's beautiful stallion walked up to the steps, tossing its head a few times. It was a gesture that he had grown familiar with over his time around the man. He wanted him to climb onto his back.

I guess I can finally accept a ride from him...

He was suddenly nervous as he walked down the steps. Heian's horse met him at the bottom and immediately nudged its nose into his rising hand. It snorted with excitement before spinning in a quick circle. When it came to a stop again, its large chocolate brown eyes settled on his own.

"Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming," he said with a hint of laughter to his words as he reached up and tried to get a decent hold on his shoulder.

"You're making me feel short," he mumbled as he tried to climb up, but failed miserably, barely managing to land on his feet as he slid from the massive animal's back.

Hang on, came Heian's voice in his mind as his horse hurried over to stand on the opposite side of the railing that wrapped around most of the porch.

"Oh... that might just work," Ranger said as he hurried up the stairs, then carefully climbed over the edge of the old railing. It creaked from his weight, but held steady.

Once he was on the other side, he waited for Heian to move a little closer, then leaped.

Perfect!

He was actually pretty proud of himself for not falling off the other side. It wasn't that he hadn't ridden a horse much, he rode his daily, but he was just super nervous finally being on top of Heian's giant stallion... and without a saddle, reigns, or really anything that could help him be more comfortable.

I'll gladly let you saddle me if you wish.

Ranger's face burned as he quickly reached forward to grab fistfuls of Heian's mane as the horse began moving.

"I'm a pervert," he muttered to himself, earning a snort from the horse beneath him as it began to trot.

You are my pervert and I love it. I love all of you.

"You are far too forward," Ranger replied out loud as Heian jumped one of their lower fences.

Ranger braced himself correctly, but without a saddle, he slid a bit before righting himself.

Would you like me to stop some of the things that I say?

Shaking his head, Ranger leaned forward and wrapped his arms most of the way around Heian's horse's neck.

"No, I don't want you to stop. What you say is who you are. I'm not going to censor you just because it makes me a little uncomfortable. No situation is ever going to be perfect," he said, hoping that he'd used the right words.

Heian took some time to reply, but Ranger made himself relax and sit back up so that they could make two more jumps, putting them on Heian's property. The horse beneath him slowed at that point, but was still moving at a reasonable, yet comfortable, pace.

I appreciate your honesty. I am not used to holding back my words, but I am also not used to having many people to say them to, either. It has just been Nia and I for so many years.

Ranger reached down and ran his hand along Heian's soft coat.

Huh?

"Your coat feels like soft velvet."

He wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that it hadn't felt as nice the last time he'd pet his horse. Of course, his horse's coat had always felt nice, but it was surprisingly soft this time.

Nia wanted to try grooming.

Ranger's eyes widened as Heian's horse slowed to a walk as it stepped out of the forested area and into a quiet meadow.

"She did this?" he asked in wonder as he gently ran his hand over Heian's horse's coat again, impressed.

She did. She had wanted to try for a while, but I doubted that any of my horses would have wanted to lie down for so long, and shift positions multiple times so that she could work safely... so, I volunteered.

Damn, the guy really was a blessing to the world. His shift, too. It wasn't abnormal for horse shifters to not completely agree with their animals... especially stallions. They could be as hard to handle as their wild counterparts.

"Hey Heian?"

Yes?

Ranger sifted his fingers through a few lengths of the horse's mane, noting that it, too, felt much softer. Almost like silk.

"Have you ever not agreed with your shift?"

The question was a little far away from his comfort zone, but considering how bad his shift had been before he'd met Heian, he was really curious about how the man interacted with his own inner animal.

We have disagreed many times in the past. It was especially hard when I lived with my ex wife.

"Oh?" Ranger said quietly, wanting to know more.

Things were extremely stressful before she left. She... honestly wanted me to give Nia up for adoption so that me and her could start over and still make our dreamed-of happy family.

"Damn..."

I could tell that raising such a special needs child was wearing her down and that it was not something she could mentally handle, but I loved her. I became greedy. I wanted her to stay more than almost anything.

"But not if it cost you your daughter," Ranger said, earning a snort of agreement from Heian's stallion before it easily jumped over a portion of fencing.

My horse didn't understand at the time. It's mind was simple and we were both young. If its mate didn't want the offspring they produced, then they would just make another.

After watching so many nature documentaries, Ranger couldn't be mad at Heian's horse for thinking such things. It had been a young male stallion in its prime. Hell, it was still in its prime, but back then, it seemed like it was a novice to understanding actual relationships between its human counterpart.

Exactly. He didn't hate Nia, at all, but the rules of nature are cruel. We fought internally everyday after I took care of Nia, the farm, then tried to calm my wife's growing frustration. I am not sure how I managed to eventually convince him that the little girl relying on us was more important then our mate but I feel like Nia had been the one to truly win him over, though. I could argue with him all day long, but in the end, every time Nia wrapped her arms around his muzzle or kissed him on his nose... she built herself a home in his heart.

"Hey Heian?"

The man's horse slowed to a stop and looked over its shoulder, its large brown eye catching the moonlight perfectly. Ranger smiled at it before carefully slipping from its back and reaching forward to accept the familiar nuzzle from its warm nose.

"Can you shift back please?"

He could sense Heian's confusion, especially considering that they were just standing in an open pasture a mile or so from his house, but he complied after only a few moments. As soon as he was back in his human form Ranger launched himself at him, taking him by surprise and knocking him down into the damp grass.

His arms were soon wrapped around the guy's head in a gentle but strong hug, while Heian's arms found their way around Ranger's middle.

He wanted to tell him that he was sorry about everything that he'd had to go through alone, but he knew that such words weren't always welcome. Of course, he doubted that Heian would ever be upset with whatever he said, as long as he was being honest, but he'd learned long ago that honesty could hurt just as much as dishonesty if it was spoken at the wrong time. So instead, he simply pushed himself up on his elbows and smiled down at the man looking up at him with curious, tired, hopeful eyes.

I hope you don't mind if I kiss you until you can't breathe," he whispered as he leaned closer, but not quite far enough to actually press their lips together.

He might just have to run his fingers through that damned soft hair as he did it, too.

Heian's unsure expression changed steadily until he was smiling warmly up at him. One of his hands was already sifting through Ranger's own shorter hair before he settled that hand at the back of his head and guided him downward.

"I would never mind such a thing from you, love," Heian whispered as the cicadas and crickets chorused around them.