"I didn't know you were a dog shifter, too," he teased.
My cheeks flared with warmth. There was a hint of friendliness in Meeko's gaze that wasn't there before.
I liked it.
I couldn't respond since my mouth was full of apple, its sour juice trickling down my jaw.
"Well, since you already ate that one, I guess I should grab one more," Meeko mused as he reached to pluck a fruit.
As I juggled trying not to drop the apples in my arms and trying to remove the one in my mouth at the same time, the branch creaked under Meeko's weight.
I glanced up as a twinge of concern ran through me. The branch wouldn't break under him, would it? My muscles tensed. I listened closely to the groaning branch, readying myself to drop everything if Meeko fell.
Meeko reached across the branch to grab one last apple before his foot slipped.
My instincts flared to life. I had to catch him before he hit the ground. I wouldn't let that happen.
Just as it seemed like Meeko would fall, he caught himself on the branch with a low swear. But in my rush to save him, I got myself into a big mess.
Since I needed my arms free to catch him, I dropped all the apples—and as soon as his foot slipped, I gasped.
And then I started choking on the apple in my mouth.
Blood rushed to my head as I realized what was happening. I coughed, struggling to breathe as the apple lodged in my throat. Panic started to consume me. I'd never choked before, not like this. What was I supposed to do?
"Cloud!" Meeko cried.
He launched off the tree without hesitation, shifting into mouse form during the fall as he landed in my hair. Wasting no time, he instantly shifted back to human form and grabbed me from behind. I wheezed, tears forming in my eyes from the lack of air. I was so freaked out I could barely enjoy the feeling of Meeko's hands touching my bare chest.
He did something with his fists below my ribs, then I felt a deep pressure that was almost painful.
The apple flew out of my mouth. I gasped, desperate to fill my lungs.
When I could breathe again, I faced him with wide eyes. "You saved my life."
Meeko was so pale that when he blushed, his whole face turned pink. "It's not a big deal. You were just choking."
"Just choking? I thought I was gonna die!"
"Well, you didn't," he mumbled. As if embarrassed, he went to go pick up the apples I dropped.
"I didn't die because you helped me," I insisted.
Why was Meeko blushing so hard?
And was he… shaking?
"Meeko?" I asked.
He wouldn't look at me. His arms trembled violently as he started to gather up the apples.
I kneeled beside him, wanting to know what was wrong. When I saw his face, his bright red cheeks were streaked with tears. I was so shocked that I reached for him without thinking. I touched his shoulder to try and calm him down.
"Hey—"
I stopped when I realized I was touching him with my talons, which I knew he was afraid of. But Meeko didn't pull away. He didn't seem bothered by my hand at all. To my surprise, he actually leaned into my touch.
"Sorry," Meeko said in a wavering voice. He rubbed his eyes hard, trying to get rid of the evidence. "That really freaked me out."
