Wild imps & romantic feelings
I wrote awhile ago about wild imps only really having platonic bonds---but I've been rethinking that a bit.
Imps in bonds view their bondmates with an intensity that one would a partner, and yet it doesn't have to be romantic. Within bonds, it is perfectly normal for some to be closer with some than others, much like a regular friend group.
But I have been considering that they are capable of feeling some sort of romantic feelings. Jealousy isn't something that is super common among them, and dramatic fallouts are pretty rare, but these things can and do happen.
In Nona's bond, she has romantic feelings for Lon, and is sort of "paired up" with him within her bond---but she is also frequently found alongside Nia, and truly has no idea if her baby Una is even Lon's at all---not that it matters, but shows monogamy isn't really a thing or important to her.
Sol and Kena have been on the outskirts of how the system typically works. Kena's job as a protector and hunter have always been most important to him, to the point where he never became particularly close with any of the other imps, and so was never asked to join any of their bonds. When given Sol to watch and raise, this only othered him further as he prioritized her over anything else. When hunting, she was left with Nona. This invited him close enough to sit with their bond, but he was never directly invited---mostly because the others knew the answer already without asking.
Sol's situation of "being off limits" regarding mating and grooming othered her, and made it hard for her to become close enough to be invited to another bond. But being left with Nona and her bond did make it so that she (and Kena, by extension) were able to join their bond when going out, for better numbers and protection.
Kena and Sol wound up forming their own bond by Sol's suggestion.
As if these weren't my own characters, I firmly believe that Kena always felt a certain way about Sol, but wasn't aware of it's intensity until Jesper shows up. Jesper shows up, and suddenly everybody's being affectionate with everybody---he introduces kisses and saying that he "likes" them, encourages a lot of conversations that needed to be talked about between Sol and Kena...
Now Kena is feeling jealous when Sol is doting on Jesper, or Jesper is doting on Sol, and it's because he's begun to recognize he has these feelings for the both of them and wants in on that affection.
Kena: I want to talk to you about something.
Sol: What is it? (She sighs, sounding drained already.)
Kena: I have feelings for you, little bat.
Sol: WHAT!!! Who are you! (Sol pushes him away playfully, laughing.) What did you call me!!! You are RABID!!! You are playing! Foaming at the mouth like a filthy, rabid wild dog!!!
Kena: I am being serious, Sol.
Sol: Where did you hear that? 'Little bat'? Humans? Were you listening to persons?
Kena: No... Just have been thinking. You look like one. (Kena stops his thought, and cycles back around.) Did you hear me? I said I have feelings for this one.
Sol: I heard you... Were you reading through our books?
Kena: No. (Kena is puzzled.) I cannot read those.
Sol: Where have you heard about these feelings, then! (She can't help but laugh.)
Kena: I know what feelings are.
Sol: You have never had a feeling ever!
Kena: I do! I do, for you! Jesper! I do, too!
Sol: Bond feelings, nothing more. (She tries to shoo him with her hand, but Kena comes closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him.)
Kena: It feels like a hurt.
Sol: Oh...
Kena: I see you with Jesper, and want that too.
Sol: You just have to ask, you know. Jesper would be more than happy. (She pauses) Or do you mean it hurts to see me with him?
Kena: I want both...
Sol: What do you mean?
Kena: To do what you two do, with both of you.
Sol: You need to include yourself, Kena! You can not grumble about it if you do not join! Jesper would be so happy if you asked anything from him at all, you know that is true!
Kena: Yes. (He doesn't want to look at her. Sol brushes her small horns along his chin.) How do you feel?
Sol: You, similarly as I do Jesper.
Kena: Yes. (Kena nods in agreement.)
Sol: Is it what persons write of in letters? I am not sure!
Kena: How do you think Jesper feels?
(Sol breaks into laughter.)
Sol: It took a lot of time to get the words from him when we talked to him about being bondmates! He has a hard time with words---you know---he can hardly describe what Yarrow is to him. (She begins using lazy, silly hand gestures.) Is something different than us, not at all like the letters I have read between persons, and is not related! That imp feels very big, Kena. That is all that matters. He is our bondmate. How he feels beyond that does not matter!
Kena: True. (Kena looks away from her, then gazes back down.) Will you talk to Jesper? About this?
Sol: We can talk to Jesper, but I do not see the point. Nothing changes. You could tell him how you feel, Kena. It would mean a lot more to him coming from you.
(Kena thinks about this briefly.)
Sol: Imagine his delight... He will scream! And imagine... imagine Jesper trying to call me 'little bat'! (She chuckles, Kena lets out a low, hesitant snicker.)
Kena: Would be very strange. (Kena perks up.) He would send us out on a chase to find bats! To find the smallest, and would say... "Look! Imp found Sol! Found 'little bat'! Is like Sol---yes!" (Kena makes the best impression of Jesper's raspy, ashen voice the best that he can, followed by a botched "hehehe". It sends Sol into a fit.)
Sol: I like when you are silly.
Kena: Yes, when I am like Jesper.
Sol: Is not true. My favorite moments with you are when you are resting.
Kena: Then you like me when I am quiet. (Kena retracts, playfully offended.)
Sol: No! Is not true! You are impossible!
(The two of them share a laugh.)