//------------------------------// // Just Try Again // Story: The Young Warrior: Apex's Choice // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Apex had been avoiding Zenith for a couple days now. He was currently training on his own in the training hollow, when a familiar antlered shadow fell over him and the scent of lemons reached his mouth. “Did you wan’ me for somethin’ Uncle Pharynx?” Apex asked, turning to look at him. “Why are you avoiding Zenith?” Apex’s eyes widened. “How d’you-” “Hunter told me Zenith has been asking for you.” Pharynx sat down in front of Apex, gesturing for him to sit as well. “Want to tell me what’s going on?” Apex sighed and looked down at the ground. “I tried to tell ‘Nithy twice, bu’ i’ didn’ work… I can’ be ‘round him righ’ now…” “Okay, you didn’t get to confess, so what?” Pharynx asked “So now Zenith won’ e’er know I like him.” “...Grub, do you know how I originally planned to confess to Tempest?” “No… how?” Apex asked, and Pharynx pulled him close. “I originally arranged a lunch for us to go to after our sparring match, but it started to rain, so we had to go back to the Hive. I ran out into the rain to get the food back, but when I got there I found wild animals had eaten it, and the wind had blown away most of the other stuff. All that I managed to save was a bouquet of flowers I’d stashed under a bush. I took them back to the Hive, but the rain ruined them.” “So you didn’ ge’ to tell Tempes’ tha’ day.” Apex concluded. “You didn’t let me finish, grub.” Pharynx said, and Apex blinked in confusion. “I had one left, a blue flower I’d scooped up by accident when I grabbed the flowers out of the bush. I made it back to the Hive and found Tempest waiting for me. She asked me what I ran out there for and I decided, well, might as well try.” “Bu’ e’erything go’ ruined.” Apex objected “I still had the blue flower.” Pharynx shrugged. “It wasn’t in the best shape, but it was there, and it may not have been fancy, but I knew I couldn’t let what might be my only chance slip by. So I gave her the flower and told her I loved her.” “Wha’ did she do then?” “Laughed.” Pharynx chuckled, smiling slightly. “Looking back, can’t blame her, I was soaking wet and all I had to show for it was a blue flower with a broken stem. But once she was done laughing at me, she stepped forwards and kissed me. Once she pulled away, she said ‘as if I need a flower to prove you love me, silly bug’.” Apex giggled and Pharynx cuffed him over the ears. “Yeah yeah, I get it. Point is, it wasn’t fancy, and it certainly wasn’t anything like I imagined it. But it worked, and that was all that mattered.” Apex giggled, then fell silent. “So… i’ doesn’ hafta be fancy… ‘s long as ‘Nithy knows I love him.” “Exactly.” “Thanks Uncle Pharynx! I know wha’ t’do now!” Apex hugged him tightly, then rushed off. Pharynx chuckled, standing up. “Glad I could help, grub.” ----------------------------- “Zenith?” Apex asked, entering the room, and his eyes widened. “‘Nithy!” “‘Pex!” Zenith trotted up to him, beaming. “I can walk again!” “Tha’s grea’!” Apex said, hugging him. “Remember Zenith, Cilia said not to jar the wounds too much, so no running around and training just yet.” Hunter said, walking over to them, and Zenith groaned. “I know Hunty.” “A-Ac’ually, I came ‘cause I wan’ed to take ‘Nithy somewhere…” Apex said, and Zenith looked up at Hunter pleadingly. “Please can I go with ‘Pex, Hunty? Please?” Zenith asked, and Apex added his own pleading stare. “I… um… oh fine.” Hunter sighed, rubbing Zenith’s head, and the golden colored nymph giggled. “I’m sure Apex-legatus will look out for you.” “I will! Promise!” Apex said, and with that the two nymphs trotted off. “So where are we going?” Zenith asked “I’s kinda a long walk so I though’... maybe so Hun’er doesn’t get upse’... I can carry you?” Apex suggested, blushing. Zenith also blushed, but nodded. “Okay… Hunty would probably feel better about me not walking too much…” Apex blushed and crouched down, letting Zenith carefully climb onto his back. He giggled and stood up, carrying his fellow nymph off. Zenith giggled as well, settling on his back. Apex carried Zenith out of the Hive, and off towards the trees near the edge of the territory. Zenith gave a soft gasp as he recognized where Apex was taking him, and Apex smiled. He carefully opened his wings and flew them down the slight hill, alighting on the ground and trotting towards the circle of willows. They were back in the glen, their secret place. “N-‘Nithy, do you know why this spo’ is so special?” Apex asked, letting Zenith get off him. “Because it’s beautiful?” Zenith asked, and Apex shook his head, leading Zenith to the center of the clearing. “‘Pex…?” Apex sat down and took Zenith’s hooves in his. “‘Cause i’s where I firs’ figured ou’ ‘m in love with you.” Zenith gasped and he blushed furiously, and Apex blushed as well, staring straight into his eyes, ruby red meeting purple and yellow. “I fel’ somethin’ tha’ day.” Apex held Zenith’s hooves tightly. “Fel’ like somethin’ was guidin’ me… tellin’ me tha’ you were the one… I think i’ was our ances’ors.” Zenith’s eyes widened, but he stayed silent, letting Apex continue. “I’ doesn’ ma’er to me if you ‘lieve in them or no’ as long as you’re happy. Bu’ know tha’ while no one may know for sure if they’re e’en up there… I think tha’ some’imes they do look af’er us, guide us. But they can’ tell us what t’do all the time, or pa'e the way for our paths. If they did, they pro’ably wouldn’ be letting us really live, would they?” Zenith watched him, eyes watering, then hugged him tightly. Apex hugged back just as tight, smiling softly, eyes watering. “I like you ‘Nithy... really like you...” “I-I like you too, ‘Pexy... a lot.” Zenith leaned in, nuzzling him affectionately. Apex nuzzled back, smiling widely.