Rei stretched and yawned. When he sat up, Tai sat across the fire from him serving up breakfast.
She sent a smile his direction. "Good morning, Rei."
"Morning," he greeted.
She offered him a yummy and scrambled mess of eggs, meat, and field vegetables. "Hungry?"
Rei took it with an eager smile. "You bet!"
Tai served herself the remains and watched him as she absently ate.
Rei noticed and sent her a smile. "What?"
"How long does it take for Worens to know?"
"Know what?" he asked between bites.
"That they've found their mate."
Rei shrugged. "Don't know. Why?"
"I haven't ever felt this close to anyone before," Tai confessed. She met his gaze. "It's like... I don't know. Like a connection."
Rei's lips twitched upward as he watched her face. "That's why I came on so strong before. Kinda couldn't help it."
Tai's slightly serious expression melted to an easy smile. "I didn't mind. I have a knack for being a little extreme myself. Drove my dad crazy." Her smile softened, and she lowered her eyes.
Rei examined her expression. "You okay?"
Tai nodded and then lifted her eyes to meet his. "Could we talk about it some more?"
"Sure. What do you wanna know?"
"What would it mean for me?"
Rei grinned. "You'd have to put up with me."
Tai purred her chuckle. "No, no. I mean the hard stuff."
Rei shrugged. "What hard stuff?"
Tai regarded him with a wary gaze. "You wouldn't make me stop being a Ranger, would you?"
Rei's jaw dropped. "Of course not! I'd see about going with."
Tai smiled wider. "Really?"
"Well doesn't this just... of course, Tai. Why would you think I'd keep you at home?"
"That's what all the other women do," she told him, matter of fact.
Rei laughed. "They aren't Worens, Tai. I'd take you hunting and fishing and... things like that."
"Is that why you asked?"
"Sure. I don't want to mate with someone who waves her hanky as I go off to work." He laughed. "I'd want you to come with me."
Tai smiled. "Would I live with you? In Cedar Woods?"
"Yep, though I'd have to give Ryu a chance to get his stuff moved out." Rei shrugged. "Seems to me he's been spending more and more time at Momo's anyway."
Tai set aside her plate and brought her knees to her chest to wrap her arms around them. "What would I need to do?"
"Do?" Rei asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do for what?" He put his empty plate onto hers.
"To mate with you."
Rei blinked. "You mean... You mean you know you want to already?"
Tai nodded, and her smile crinkled her eyes at the corners. "I told you I'm kind of extreme."
Rei grinned. "Hey. I like extreme." Tai laughed. "But it's kind of personal," Rei continued. "We should wait 'til we're alone."
Tai nodded, still smiling at Rei as she adjusted her hold around her legs. "Ever had this kind of talk before?"
"Nope."
"Me neither."
Rei glanced over his shoulder at the caravan, which had just started bustling with activity. Then he looked back to Tai. She still smiled at him. "Do you usually have to wait for another caravan to come back to McNeil?"
"Most of the time, but not always. Depends on if there's a caravan loaded for McNeil, or if they've already contracted a Ranger."
Rei nodded as he stood, and then he stepped close and offered a hand. She took it and stood, continuing to hold his hand as she looked up at him. Rei's lips rose in a soft smile. "Maybe we can head back by ourselves?"
Tai nodded. "I'd like that, Rei."
Rei grinned. "Yeah. Me, too."