Dixie stood there, her eyes locked on Mystery's as she did. Her heart seemed to beat faster with each word he said. Slowly, she began to make out what he was saying. Small tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "Oh, Mystery..." she said softly, her gaze never leaving his. She waited for him to finish his sentence before crying, as she had the feeling it was something important that he was trying to say.
"Dixie... I..." Mystery's mind swirled, but he kept it together, gritting his teeth as with every movement he made, pain coursed through him. "From the moment we met... Well, maybe not that long, but..." He chuckled, though immediately regretted it. "I... love you... I really do... I've never... felt so strong... And I want to know... Dixie, will you..." He inhaled sharply, desperate to finish that sentence. "...be my mate?" He listened intently, his ears tilted in her direction. He managed to pull his paws closer to him, starting to feel cold again. The warmth that Dixie made him feel was overpowered by it. Teal's bite must have hit something. His eyes swam in darkness. He just had to hang on a little longer. But his eyelids fluttered, and that darkness was closing in on him...