Forest
Forest could already hear the increase in Taro's heart beat as he pulled her close, resting her head on his chest while one hand squeezed her rear end. His heart sped up against her ear as he held her there. She was about to raise her eyebrow and tease him about his apparent fondness of her rump until he spoke.
He swayed back and forth, to the rhythm of his own increasing heart beat as he spoke. Heat filled her cheeks as she felt her pulse race as well. Then he slammed her against the tree hard enough that she felt it buck and nearly knock the wind out of her. She gasped as he bared his fangs before bending to rest his head against her chest.
She stood still for a moment, not as deathly still as she could have less than 48 hours ago, but still for the beat of her heart. One of her hands reached up to stroke Taro's silvery white hair. She curled her fingers through it and gently combed it out with them.
"Before I came here, my heart was a cold, dead thing. Perfectly silent and unmoving in my breast, no matter how hard I fought or raged or despaired, it remained quiet. I could hear the heart beat of people far away, but never my own. Not since that night so long ago."
She sighed, looking up at the night sky and the leaves flickering in the breeze.
"There was no song in my heart, I was a blunt instrument for righteousness and justice, never giving into anything I wanted. Then I came here."
She blinked as the realization hit her and she felt her knees go weak at the sudden force of it.
Her voice was whisper soft as she said, "And then I met you, and you gave it the means to beat again."