The handful of wild root vegetables and even an onion she had managed to find had been sliced and cooked slowly in a shallow pan of boiling water laid on top the coals of the fire. Some fatty trimmings had been added along with the mix for flavor. Meanwhile, Anann worked to prepared a couple of large venison steaks that had been cut from a loin. Seasoning them lightly with salt and even more sparingly with her dwindling supply of black pepper. Taking a shard of obsidian, she cut a deep slit into the side of each steak, effectively making a pocket within the meat, which she carefully stuffed with sliced potatoes and onion before wrapping each steak in large, edible and sweet smelling leaves she had found. Hoping they would give the meat a nice flavor as it cooked. The meat protected with its foliage wrapping, she placed them directly over the ash coated coals to cook. Standing up from her crouch near the fire pit, Anann dusted herself off and headed to the stream to wash of her hands. Pausing for a moment at the fire to flip the meat over before heading around the cabin.

The sun was sinking closer to the horizon and it was likely that Anatoliy would be home at any minute now, but while the steaks were already on the fire, the meal was only part of her surprise for the Russian male. The rest was carefully pulled from one of her packs. The wrapped clothing was place on the table along with a sealed bottle. The drink was not the Tennessee whiskey that she preferred, but the crystal clear vodka that her lover seemed to enjoy. With a quick glance out the door of the cabin before she carefully put on the garment that Strelein had been so kind to make for her. Careful fingers adjusted the fabric so that it laid smoothly over her fur and took a bone toothed comb to her mane. The poor woman was at a loss for what else to do with the long locks other than a combing and tucking the strand behind her ears. She wished now that she had gone to Princess and asked the woman to help her for she seemed to have little trouble styling her own mane in elegant up-dos. A skill Anann had never had need to learn.

Anann had nearly finished combing her mane when Anatoliy entered the cabin behind her. A warm smile spreading on her lips, glad that he seemed to like this little part of her surprise. ”It is.” She said as she set the comb aside and her arms crossed in front of her as she laid her hands over his larger ones at her waist. Her head leaned back slightly and against him for a moment before she turned in his arms to face him. ”And this as well.” She said, presenting the bottle she had found, having snatched it off the table as she had turned. It was marked as an import, though Anann was otherwise unsure of it’s quality, but she hoped it would be suitable for the evening. ”Here,” she said, thrusting the bottle at him to take and gave him a quick kiss, ”you get a head start. I need to go check the meat.” She said with a little smirk. Anann could hold her own when it came to drinking, sure enough but she had nothing on Anatoliy. With a second quick kiss, the golden woman whisked herself from his arms and out the door of the cabin before he could protest.

Carefully Anann removed the wrapped venison from the bed of coals and removed the binding and foliage before placing the stuffed steaks onto the awaiting plates that had warmed near the fire. A plate in each hand, Anann carried them over to a small table she had set off to the side of the cabin. It was cast in the evening shadows of the large trees around her home, yet positioned to give them a view of the evening sky painted in the deep vibrant colors of an autumn sunset.

”Anatoliy, come on. Supper is ready,” she called out, ”and bring that bottle with you!” Anann sat down at her end of the table that was bare, save for their modest place settings. A large cloth napkins laying over shards of obsidian. Rejects from her attempt to make a new dagger for herself, yet still viable blades and would serve as wonderful steak knifes for this special evening.

It was all a little out of the ordinary. The fresh cooking was bit of rarity in it’s own from their diet that was largely smoked and dried meats that were easy to store and even when she did cook Anann seldom went to such lengths. Though it was perhaps the dress that was rarest event of the evening and Strel had certainly out done himself. The garment had the strange effect of making Anann oddly self-conscious and she could feel the heat of her face as it flush at the way Anatoliy was looking at her. ”I just thought we could use a special night of simple pleasures.” She said with a soft smile as she reached over her plate to place a hand over his. ” And because you deserve it.” She said earnestly giving his hand a squeeze before pulling hers back and placed the napkin over her lap. She had spent a lot of thought on how to treat him with something special. A sort of gesture to express what she didn’t necessarily have to words for and to show that she was grateful to still have him in her life. A lesser man would have abandoned her. ”I say we enjoy it to it’s fullest.” She said before placing a morsel of steak in her mouth.

Anann had been fusing over little details of the evening for most of the day and she had worried that the meat might easily be over-cooked, but as she had cut into it, she had found it was still perfectly pink in the middle. As she chewed the first bite, she was satisfied with the resulting flavor that the scant spices had added along with the onion, potatoes, and greens. She watched with interest as Anatoliy took his first bite, hoping that he too would like the slight flare to their meal and she felt the blushing heat in her cheeks again as he complimented the food and cook. ”I’m glad you like it.” She said happily, though from behind a bashful smile. Gods, why did she feel so nervous, it was ridiculous. But then, it had always been Anatoliy that was capable of making her feel this way.

Anann looked up from her plate as he spoke her name. Umber eyes locking on gold. With a mouthful of food, Anann could only shake her head at Anatoliy’s question as he poured their glasses, a smile on her lips as she chewed. ”No more surprises.” she said finally with an empty mouth. ”I suppose since I provided the setting its up to you where the evening goes from here.” She teased, a mischievous smile on her lips. Reaching for her own glass she raised in mimic of what Anatoliy had done with his own. "Do you propose a toast?" That grin still playing on her lips.

”Surely, it’ll be worth your while.” She said with a smile. It had been so long since she had smiled so much; since either of them had. Her glass raised, Anann wanted to squirm in her seat so badly. Strel had done a wonderful job with the dress and it fit perfectly, but the feel of the fabric was unfamiliar to Anann and it felt as if it bunched terribly as she sat. Still she smiled sweetly as she watched from across the table as he licked his lips as he thought on the toast. Slight traces of emotion playing across his face and most notably his golden eyes. Her hand moved unconsciously to smooth the fabric over her belly even though there was barely the occasional wrinkle or fold. ”To lubof.” She repeated as they clanked their glasses together lightly, a warm smile on her face. Downing the shot, her nose crinkled and she gave a light cough. It’s bite on the way down was a bit different than the amber whiskeys Anann preferred, but the spread of warmth in her belly once it was down held the same familiarity.

There was a certain nervousness to the evening air, or so it felt. Though Anann was beginning to think it was only her and she did not understand why she felt this way. It felt as if their relationship was so young, so new again. But surely they were past the butterflies she was feeling as he looked at her from across the table. His smile causing her own to grow. Her ears perked as he spoke and her head tilted slightly in curiosity. Her mind pondering the possibilities upon a couple different tracks. Anann looked at him as he placed his hands on the table, her own expression growing more serious though not enough to pull the smile from her lips completely. She gave him a slightly perplexed look for his statement. After all, until she knew what he was up to it was impossible to know how it might go. Still she doubted that it could go too horribly. ”I guess we will just have to see, won’t we?” The soft smile once again on her face as he poured another round.

She should have known he would put her on the spot for the next toast and she wished she had been thinking of something to say for now her mind felt blank. Though after a brief moment, she raised her glass and gave Anatoliy a moment to do the same. ”Patience.” They had both been left waiting and wondering at one time or another.

There was no denying that the Russian had patience. It must surely be boundless. The proof was in the very fact that he sat across the table from her on this very a evening. Anann could only give a slight smirk to his comment before she downed the shot. The second was not nearly as harsh as the first had been. Those that followed would be even easier.

They had both finished eating by the time that Anatoliy had risen. A smile of contentment on her face as her eyes wandered between her lover and the vibrate colors of the fall sunset. The meal had been good and the vodka had left her with a rather comfortable buzz that had left her forget about awkwardness of her dress. That was until Anatoliy rose and asked her to wait as she had already made to rise from her seat. She gave him a curious look, but quietly obliged.

As he quickly walked off to the cabin, Anann once again fussed over her dress. Running her hands over the fabric to smooth it over her fur and golden fingers brushing a few stray strands of hair back behind her ears. She was curious what he might be up to and her mind couldn’t help but come up with a few ideas of it’s own. A bright smile greeted him as he came striding back, faltering only slightly as she was puzzled by Anatoliy’s sudden nervousness. He was not alone, as he knelt before her Anann felt her own nerves make her skin tingle and her heart race.

Her jaw dropped, stunned, as the necklace was presented to her. ”Oh, Toliy.” A trembling golden hand raised to her lips and she gave the Russo a look of disbelief. Those dark brown eyes so filled with emotion. Where.. but how? I..I thought it was.. lost..” The hand left her lips and reached for the shining trinket as if to ensure it was truly real.

She did not mind, nor care how it was he had come to once again hold the silver necklace and its horseshoe pendant. All that mattered was that it had been safe and not forever lost as she had thought it. She had remembered seeing it on the table, where it had not belonged in the first place, when she had returned home from Anatoliy’s after the storm. From there her memories of what transpired hazy and fragmented. She had not known what had become of it and she had not been able to find when she had returned and had feared that Keese had gotten rid of it.

Strong emotions swelled in her chest and threatened to choked her, even before he started to speak. She might have refused him the last time, but she had still treasured the necklace and the love it represented. She gave his hand a tight squeeze as it grab hold of her’s. Anann was unable to look away from his eyes as he spoke. She knew with out a doubt that he loved her. It was in his touch and the way he looked upon her. In all the little every day things. She leaned forward to give him a passionate kiss. ”Yes, I am yours.” She said with a broad smile and watery eyes. She wanted those arms of his around her and so she stood, pulling him to his feet so that she rest her head on his chest, tucked neatly under his chin. ”I love you too, Anatoliy. I always have. My heart has never belonged to any other.” She said softly as she listened to his heartbeat in her ear. Their hands were still clasped together around the necklace, trapped between them. Her free hand came up to rest against his chest, fingers tracing random patterns in the pale fur.

Anann let down her hair as she felt weight of pendant resting against her chest and the hands of her lover pull away. Golden fingers falling to brush over the silver treasure as she looked down at it with a blissful smile on her lips. A soft, purr like murmur rose in her throat as she felt Anatoliy’s arms wrap around her and his head resting against her shoulder. She leaned back into him just lightly as his own body pressed against her, brown eyes drifting shut. A content sigh left her lips still curved in a smile. In this one moment it felt as if all was right with world. Things always felt right when she was in his arms. Simple bliss. She wished she could hold on to this feeling for the rest of her life.

The feel of his hands running over her body was even more teasing than usual. The layer of fabric giving the sensation a whole new feel as his touch caressed her chest. Anann knew it wasn’t just the alcohol, but it could have certainly been helping, a soft moan leaving her lips as his hands trailed to her hips. ”Thank you, he did. I’m glad you like it.” she purred, voice laced with a light, playful growl. She wanted to turn and face him to give him a sweet kiss, but things felt so good, so right as they were now that she dared not move.