I'M WORRIED 'BOUT THE FUTURE ♡ joining

[number nine.]

Number Nine had found a strange sense of peace, ever since he had showed up on Palmclan's border, driven by curiosity and a want to be around others again. Of course, that didn't mean he hadn't been at peace when he was with his husband. Quite the opposite, it fact. Lewis was his entire world, and Nine would have given up anything for him, no matter what the consequences of doing such a thing came to be. However, he and Lewis also had an understanding between the two of them, since despite how well they worked together, they lived very different kinds of lives. After all, Lewis had a tendency to be more nomadic and sporadic in where he decided to stay. Meanwhile, Nine had a tendency to move around for his bounty jobs, but also had a tendency to stay loyal to one place. That one place had once been his and Lewis's home out in the wilds, but when he had stumbled upon Palmclan... it had been like something clicked. Maybe it was just because of the simplicity of the group, or maybe it was just because Palmclan's members reminded him of the kinder side of his old home. Either way, he was quite happy where he was, even if he did miss Lewis quite dearly – he had no doubts that his husband would one day come to visit.

Of course, what he hadn't been expecting was for Lewis to come for any extended period of time, let alone join. This was why, when the jaguar spotted his husband sitting at the border, he felt a rush of excitement thrum through him, nearly completely forgetting Foamkit's presence there as well. Nine's large paws spilled up snow in his wake as he went rushing towards the tiger, a happy cheer leaving him, "Lewis! Lewis, you're here!" His aura seemed to shift and glow around him, pulsing and bright pink as usual. His entire manner seemed to change and brighten with the tiger around – not that he was particularly sad or displeased without the other's presence. Without even a moment of hesitation, Number Nine stepped forward to throw his front limbs around Lewis's neck, pressing affectionately into his husband's fluff. He let out a low rumble of joy, a grin curling at the edges of his muzzle as he greeted Lewis, "I'm here... I wasn't sure how long it would be until you came to visit. I'm so glad that you're finally here, though. Everyone here will love you... it seems like Foam already does." He couldn't help the soft and affectionate chuckle that then left him, staying pressed up against Lewis's chest as one of his smaller wings stretched out to pat Foamkit atop the head.

The familiar warmth of love remained in his chest as he reached out to bop quickly at one of the little will-o-wisps, chuckling. He teased lightly as he stayed right where he was, his tail flicking from side to side behind him as he questioned, "Have these little ones missed me? I haven't been able t'regale them with stories of my exciting bounties while we've been apart." Of course, he hadn't exactly pulled off any particularly exciting bounty hunts since he had joined Palmclan. In fact, he hadn't taken any bounties since joining. At some point he would need to go and find some more work, in order to make sure he didn't grow stagnant – he always needed to keep fighting, or he'd lose his skills.

HELLBENT ON MAKING YOU LOVE ME TOO