Teàrlach was right, it did turn out for the best. Willa told the fox’s story to the kitchen maids and the cook. The cook in turn told a few of the friars and the keeper of the wine cellar. The friars told the fathers and the scribes, who in turn told the guards. The kitchen maids told the farmers. The farmers told their families and the smiths. By the end of the week not only did all the abbey know about it but all the farmers and townsfolk within a fifteen mile radius.
The members of the crowd that had thrown who had thrown rotting food at the fox began to show up at his bed to apologize. A few of them even shared stories of their own losses. Teàrlach accepted their apologies and listened to their stories, all the while under the watchful eye of Willa. She seemed to spend a lot of time around him after she’d opened up to the fox, and she seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in teasing him at every turn. When she bent over, she made sure he could see. When she needed to adjust her gown, she did it in front of him. It was a little bit like torture.
There were several positives though. When she wasn’t actively teasing him, the large badger would sit on the stool next to him and talk often from sunrise to after sunset. If they weren’t talking, Willa was helping him eat, often spoon feeding him soup since moving his arm put strain on the slowly healing ribs. The more time the badger and the fox spent together, the more they started to like each other and the warmer Willa became, not just to him, but to others.
The change was certainly noticeable. The curvy badger slowly began to smile more. She began to laugh more. She even started to dance and whistle. The friars and the fathers didn’t exactly know what to make of it, and the townsfolk that visited started to wonder if she had been possessed. Ian and his wife, Flora, on the other hand, figured out what was going on; they were the only two who’d ever seen a badger in love. But did Teàrlach feel the same?
Oh yes he did. The fox’s face would light up every time she walked into the room. He loved talking to her. He loved spending time with her. He loved looking at her. There was a major change in him as well. The once mopey vulpine smiled more. He couldn’t do much laughing, but he certainly tried. Father Aldred even noticed that the fox seemed to be healing faster.
“I think you’ll be out of the infirmary within the week,” the old greying mouse had said, a hand poking the bandages, “you’re healing up very nicely.” Teàrlach grinned happily as he sat up in bed. His legs were folded under his kilt as the healer poked his side. A few weeks earlier and he would have been screaming and rolling around in pain, but now, it was just a little sore. “Means I can finally start walking around this place,” he smiled as he looked at the elderly rodent. Well, he wasn’t exactly looking at him, his eyes were really focused on the curvy sow badger standing behind Father Aldred.
“I’m sure you’re ready to get back on your journey as well,” the old man said, looking Teàrlach over. The fox’s ears flicked at Father Aldred’s words as he gazed at Willa. The curvy badger bit her lip as she stared back. She wondered if he felt the same way towards her as she felt towards him. He hadn’t exactly blurted out that he loved her, then again, she hadn’t either.
The vulpine finally spoke after a long silence. “Actually, Father Aldred, I… I’d like to stay,” he said as he continued to stare at Willa, “I’ve finally found something that I’ve been looking for.” The full bodied badger blushed behind the old mouse, her eyes twinkling as she smiled at Teàrlach.
“I see,” Father Aldred said with a nod, finally noticing that the fox wasn’t looking at him, but behind him, “I don’t think it will be a problem if you stayed, though I can’t speak for everyone. However, my infirmary will be very empty with you gone.” Slowly, the old man stood up, “Just remember to get some rest and don’t do anything too strenuous.”
“We won’t,” Teàrlach replied, completely ignoring the Father as he left the room.
He may have been old, but Father Aldred still could recognize a man in love. And like many things, the Father was not going to try to stand against nature, so he shut and locked the door to the infirmary behind him.
Willa had started to move towards Teàrlach as soon as the old mouse had gotten out of the stool. The plump, curvy mustelid’s hands reached out to take his. “You really mean it,” she asked, “you really want to stay here?”
A warm smile parted those soft white lips, tracing back to the edge of his muzzle. “I want to be wherever you are, Willa,” the fox churred at her, “I thought I’d never say these words ever again, but, I love you.” The badger’s cheeks flushed even more as her strong fingers squeezed at the vulpine’s. “I,” she paused, “I love you too.”
Teàrlach’s arms slowly pulled Willa forwards, sliding her in closer and closer until his lips pressed to hers. Their head tilted ever so slightly as they began to kiss. Their eyes closed and long, deep groans were traded between their maws as arms moved to wrap around one another.
