Work Text:
Choose well, she says, and he watches the group of creatures as they approach. They’re smaller than the normal ones, of course, because these ones are children.
He glances back one last time, but she gestures him forward, so he begins to scan the small group for his match. How will he know which one is his?
A companion for life, she had said. A whole life sounds like a long time, but he isn’t really sure, since he’s only a child himself. Any of these seem to be a good match; how will he know which one is the right one? The one who will stay with him forever?
He notices one that’s by itself, and decides to make an attempt. But before he can reach it, someone else swoops in and claims their own lifelong companion. He suddenly worries that there’s not enough to go around; what if there’s too few of them on that side, and he’s the one who gets left all alone?
...Maybe his companion isn’t here at all. Maybe he’ll just have to go home, and come back another time to find them. It would be discouraging, sure, but maybe that was just how it would have to be. He is about to give up hope when it happens -- he locks eyes with one of them.
Again, it appears unclaimed, but this time, it’s looking right at him. It blinks at him for a few moments, and then parts its lips slightly, revealing some of its teeth in what looks to be a smile. He approaches it slowly, trying not to scare it, and then -- after a sniff and a crunch -- the apple is gone.
He moves forward again, less worried this time, and nuzzles into the creature’s head while it does the same to him. In the next moment, they are on the ground.
“I guess this means we’ll always be together!” one of them says with a laugh, while the other chirps playfully in between licks.
This creature’s touch is so soft, gentle, and full of love. He decides that he has most certainly chosen well, and hopes with all of his heart that -- if this really is his companion for life -- his life will be a long one.