The rain was pouring down on his den... Inside, Shaper sat waiting patiently for the downpour to stop. He wanted to go out and do something useful for a change! But most of all, he wanted to see Moss; or even better, to feel her touch!

Moss was the only elf he had ever had such feelings for...

Every time she was near him, he found it difficult to speak. Sometimes he even got paralyzed, and could only sit staring at her! He wanted to tell her how he felt but he was too scared. Whenever he spotted one of the other males coming out of her den, his emotions would always get completely out of

control! At those times, he'd find tears running down his cheeks, and be overcome by the urge to just run away and hide. He became lost in his own morose thoughts, until he was startled out of his reverie by a shout from outside! He swiftly ran out to take a look, and saw that the rain had finally ceased; and the other elves where emerging from their dens as well.

He couldn't help but to notice Mossy coming out of her den with Flamedance!

He couldn't bear to look at them again so he ran off into the woods, feeling the tears fall once again...

The insecure Shaper settled by a small lake, not far from the holt. There, he picked up a small vine from the ground, and began forming it into a bracelet.

He couldn't help thinking about Moss, and how he felt about her...It had all started about two moons ago, when he'd been having some trouble with his plant-shaping abilities... He was so frustrated that he'd wanted to give it all up for good! Everytime he was feeling his worst, though, Moss had comforted him, and encouraged him to keep going. Most importanly, she soon became one of his closest friends. From that time on, his feelings for her had blossomed, like a small sprout growing into a tree...

And now he loved her, perhaps even more than he did his precious trees! As he thought of her, Shaper put his entire soul into making the bracelet. He summoned all of his plant-shaping powers, wanting to make it the most beautiful thing he had ever created. It was to be a present for his treasured Moss! While he was busy performing this task, he failed to notice the form lurking quietly up behind him...

Suddenly, he felt something jump onto him, pinning him down! He didn't fight back, however. He could recognize that smell... the lovely, sensual aroma of Moss! When he turned his head, he saw her sitting atop him. The moonshine shining aluringly through her hair. She wore her green, short top; that she always looked so beautiful in! As their eyes met, she sent to him, **What are you doing out here?** He couldn't even respond... He only lay there, looking up at her. **What's the matter? Have you been crying?** her voice coursed through his mind.

He had to do something, so he managed to send, **I... I made this for you.**

And he fastened the organic jewelry around her wrist.

"For me?", she beamed, "It's beautiful!" He couldn't hide his smile at her compliment; both because she liked his gift, and because her voice was so beautiful when she was happy.

"That's the face I like to see you with," she told her friend. "It's been a long time since I've seen you smile."

"I have to tell you something, Moss," he blurted out, mustering the necessary courage.

"I l-lov..."

Suddenly, his confession was interrupted by a howl from the holt... The tribe was gathering for a hunt.

Moss gave Shaper a little kiss, then rose to her feet and helped him up. "What were you about to tell me?" she asked casually.

"Never mind... it's not important," he replied, losing his nerve.

Shaper asked to be alone a little while longer, so Moss went back to join the pack alone. Once she was gone, he cursed his own cowardice... //Why didn't I have the courage to tell her about my feelings for her?!//

------------------ To be continued... ---------------------