The sun has gone down, out of view, letting the waning winds grow ever colder. Luke and Ollie are about to finish putting the tent together, the former not even resorting to hammers to stake it down, opting instead to burrow it down with well-placed stomps. Hammers would be a much easier solution, but Luke would rather not disturb the hushed wildlands with banging noises. Plus, he forgot it anyway...

Sitting beside them is Claire, clutching her staff, eyes closed as she tries to think of just the right spell for the job. "Come on, I know this one, I did it just the other day," she whispers to herself, trying to remember the motions. Her hands may be full of fur, but as the night comes, she feels the cold, too. It wasn't that long ago that summer nights were comfy enough for sleepovers to happen outside. Now, especially around these parts, that's no longer the case. Maybe writing the spell down would've helped.

As luck would have it, the tricky situation makes something in her memories tick, and her eyes dart open. "Right!" she says, climbing back up to her feet. "Okay, okay. Now I remember! Just gotta warm myself up a little, first." She drops the staff, and rubs her hands together before holding it again. "And, here goes nothing..."

Both hands gripped, and a steady flick of the wrist. "And, there!"

Nothing happened. She clicks her tongue in frustration. "Crap! Oh dear, maybe I should..."

As she tries to warm herself up again, Umbra sneaks up from behind, helping out by rubbing Claire's hands. "Don't worry, I got this," she says in a playful tone. "I've totally seen you do this spell before. Claire, honey, you gotta remember to keep yourself warm, alright? If you don't, though, that's okay, I can do this all night..."

"I, well..." Claire keeps her voice low. "If that was the case, I definitely wouldn't mind."

She picks the staff back up, and as she grips it again, Umbra puts her own hands over hers. Feeling a little warmer than before, Claire takes a tiny step back, and readies her stance again. Another steady flick of the wrist. This time, an ethereal glow shines through the staff, lighting up the little corner of the woods where the group will rest. The light also brings much-needed warmth with it, making it a bit hot to the touch, but certainly bearable.

Tonight will be a lot comfier from now on, and now that the tent's finally ready, Claire and Umbra head inside, with a helpful item in tow. It's still somewhat early to be sleeping, sure, but it's been a very long day, and nobody here has any strength left to stretch out their waking hours with a late dinner.

The staff, with its magic helpfully lasting well into the early morning hours, is neatly placed by Claire in the middle of the tent, separating Ollie and Luke's bulky sheets and mats from their own. They've already bundled up and fallen asleep -- at least judging from Luke's tired breathing -- so they'll be sure to appreciate the added heat.

With a job well done, the two creatures that are still up take their sweet time falling asleep, amid some inspired cuddling and barely-contained giggles. Of course, they're making sure they stay quiet-ish.

"Hey, Claire," Umbra whispers, "whatcha think of the trip so far?"

Claire can't help but smile, like she's done so often lately. "Well, I've already walked way more than I thought I would. And it felt darn good."

"I'm so happy to hear that," Umbra says. "I bet tomorrow's gonna be even better. Once we reach the river, by the way, that's when it's gonna get interesting. I wanna try catchin' some fish down there."

"Oh, that would be so fun," Claire whispers back, salivating at the thought. "I hope they're big ones. Wait, I hope they're slow, too. We'd have to catch them by hand, and my instincts can only help so much. You'll be doing the same, and right next to me, right?"

"Yup. Wouldn't have it any other way, honey." Umbra ends the chat with a couple of brief, but eager kisses. "I don't tell ya this enough, but... I love you."

Claire puts her arms around the bat, nuzzling up to her and letting the purring be heard. "Love you too. Let's hurry up and sleep now, okay?"

With those words, the two dozed off into the night, huddled together as close as they've always been. The purring quieted down, and the wind followed suit shortly after. All the reason not to rise back up until the morning came back.

Yet, about half an hour later, Ollie was still up. Not entirely kept up by the girls' whispery fluff, really, but more by his mind racing due to some slightly-related thoughts. Namely, Luke.

They've been close in the physical sense, as even while his mind wanders through the night, his body's being kept still, from behind, in a tight hug. And they're certainly close on an emotional scale, as Luke is always putting Ollie's needs above his own, even when there's no need to.

So why is Ollie's heart thumping against his chest, thinking about what could come next? It seems every time he sees Claire and Umbra, so together in both senses as well, but especially in their displays of affection, he gets that feeling, too. He wants to see what that feels like.

But, Luke... does he feel this way, too?

When they spend so much time next to each other, does that cross his mind? When they talk about hiking and cleaning house, does he have that set of words ready? And at this moment, so, so much like every other night, when they sleep all snug in each other's arms, and constantly feel each other breathe into their fur, does he let that one stray idea spread around the mind? Or is Ollie simply thinking too much into this whole thing?

"Oh. You still up, too?" Luke mutters behind him.

Ollie's heart skips a beat, due to his thoughts having to grind to a halt and the scare that hearing a voice you weren't expecting gives him. "Y-yeah?"

Luke's ears perk up. "Somethin' wrong? Felt your heartbeat gettin' faster all of a sudden."

Ollie tries to wave it off. "I'm fine. Just need some sleep."

Luke, however, is being his usual self. "You sure you're fine? If something's bothering ya, y'know you can tell me, straight up. I'm all ears."

Ollie doesn't budge all that much. "It's not a big deal or anything. I'm just all jittery, 'cause, like, I need sleep..." He nudges backward a bit.

Luke sighs. "Hey... can you turn around?"

The bobcat complies, turning around... only to see Luke facing him, separated by a few inches. He looks puzzled, but determined to ease whatever's got him like this.

"It's alright. Tell me what's really on your mind, Olive."

Ollie tries his best to keep it together, though the use of his full name implies that Luke knows something he doesn't. "Do I... have to? I don't want you to think less of me if I say it..."

"Ah, if that's the case, then don't sweat it." Luke chuckles, stroking the bobcat's head. "Whatever it is, I get the feelin' you won't say it with plain ol' words." The subject appears to be put to rest until Luke continues. "But, y'know, as long as we're facing each other... do you mind if we go back to sleep, like this...?"

Needless to say, Ollie is in favor the idea, and it's one thing he doesn't back out of in the slightest. He starts nudging forward to signal his response, and as he does this, Luke hugs him close. Much closer than what the two consider routine.

While Luke is calmer than ever, Ollie is having the reaction he expected; his breathing's harsher, his eyes are avoiding contact, and if his heart wasn't racing before, it sure is now. Yet, he longer he holds on in this position, the safer he feels, and the surprised reaction goes away smoothly.

It's at this point that he realizes, even without looking, that Luke has been eyeing him this whole time. "Psst. Ollie," he says. "I've been meanin' to do this for a while. Look at me."

Ollie looks up.

Luke's muzzle is inches away again, but this time their eyes meet, and neither looks away. Ollie quickly leans forward.

They share a lengthy kiss.