Faline

I get startled awake when something headbutts me. Wide awake and on my feet in seconds, I look at the leopard who's staring with one green and one blue eye. I meow low in protest as I look over the pale yellow pelt with black spots and rosettes.

The eyes give her away immediately, but since I had to wait for her, she can wait for me. Curling back up and putting my tail over my face, she grunts at me, so I open an eye and squeak at her. Almost get rolled over as I get headbutted again.

I'm surrounded by demanding pussies. Grumbling a protest, I lift my head as I re-situate myself. The leopard rubs her face in my scruff before lowering and laying down, curling around me. Her white underbelly is really warm, so I stuff my face into it.

A noise coming from her has me confused until I realize it's her version of purring. Instinctual fondness has me licking and cleaning her belly fur, moving up her side as she swings her head around. My zombie noises sound even weirder when made while licking something. I'd make for some great monster sound effects.

She starts grunting at me so I start in on her face, front paw coming around and grabbing, claws coming out but not piercing. Lady lets me do this for maybe five minutes before she's making her purring sound and rolling around. My nest leaves get scattered, some even falling out of the tree. I sit back and watch them.

This woman who can please me like no other, yet also scares me like no other.

Not sure if she actually enjoys her job very much since whenever in human form she tends to look tired. Not necessarily sleepy tired, as much as tired of doing the same thing over and over, having seen her slouched in a couple of chairs and gazing off into space. Even with as insatiable as she is, she has on multiple occasions, wanted nothing but to lay next to me.

While she rolls and doesn't pay attention, I crouch down before pouncing, thinking her preoccupied, which totally isn't the case. My pounce has me crouched, then going straight up to land on her side.

Just as fast as I've seen her move before, she shifts to human, grabs me from the air, and takes me down. It's almost like a rotating flip when I land on my side with her arms around me. Dazed for a moment, I do nothing. Seems to suit her just fine as she tucks in close, hands playing in the pale fur of my underside. Since she appears to be enjoying herself just fine, I stay in feline form.

Lady's face is once again buried in my neck. This woman takes the phrase 'necking' way too literally. Hearing the soft sigh coming from her, I stay still. If she wants me human, she'll say so.

A few minutes later, she does just that. Shifting to skin that now feels cold from lack of fur, legs tangle with mine as she presses her lips to the back of my shoulder, arms pulling me tight against her.

"Long day?"

I'm being sarcastic, but she makes a sound of agreement, so I just lay there and let her relax. After a while I turn to face her, head pillowed on her arm, knowing this is what she wants as soon as her nose descends to my neck.

"I want you back in my bed."

"Nicolaus..."

She actually growls at me, so I stiffen. Told her before I will not trade one crazy in for another. A hand goes down my side till it rests on my hip. Not the scarred one, I'm laying on that one.

"I have told him that I will have you doing things for me in my office. He may not like it, but he can't tell me no, so you will be in my bed."

"Oh, I will be, hm?"

Have I ever mentioned I hate the word 'allow'? This ranks right up there with it. My body stays stiff till she sighs and pulls her head back to look at me.

"Yes, you will be, and just like he can't tell me no, neither can you."

"Bullshit I can't."

This woman, oh my God. Pleases me like no other, scares me like no other, and pisses me off like no other. Well, aside from Nicolaus. The Vampire looks at me with a mocking raised brow.

"You know, that's your problem. You're so bored with everybody saying yes all the time. No one tells you no. That's why you baited Nicolaus into attacking you the other night, isn't it? Well, shit, I'll be perfect then, 'cause I'm really good at saying no and making things difficult."

I nod as if I'm doing her a favor, but she just smirks at me.

"Is that so?"

"Most definitely. How do you think I keep driving my bane up the wall? He doesn't like the word no. Hates it in fact. I was so happy when I figured out I could shift into something else that he can't molest. Not really anyway."

She cocks her head at me, a glint in her eye. Oh. Shit. Forgot she enjoys the animal thing. Err, size incompatibility?

"He is missing out, I think."

"No, he really isn't. He won't even touch his dog in that way. Think that may be the only thing that he doesn't do."

The Mistress just laughs. She can think what she likes, and I'll keep to what I think. No problems.

Her hand feathers along my back for a few minutes, my arm draping over her waist. Since she's been staring at me the whole time, I keep my eyes directed at her collarbone. Having shifted, all her rings, loops, and dermals are all gone. No trace left of them having ever been there.

"Your bane?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, my bane. Just seemed fitting."

She chuckles low, shaking her head. We lay there for a while and talk. Light petting aside, all very innocent, even bring up my thoughts earlier on her having critters brought in here.

I just get blinked at so I try to explain that if nothing else it gives you something to look at aside from this tree or that tree. Going all out and listing off animals that I know of that would work; birds, fish, frogs, bats, and lots of crickets. Very little mess.

She raises an eyebrow at that one, but I just smile. More bugs than that would have to be introduced if the bats aren't fruit eaters. Same for the birds and frogs. Need food for them to thrive.

I'd said crickets because they also have their own sounds at night and my sister's love for them. They and jumping spiders she finds adorable. If you ask me, adorable and spider do not go in the same sentence.

Even if it isn't done, I put the idea out there. That's all I can do really. You'd think the fish angle would work just from the whole cat thing, but maybe not since it's not like they can be eaten. Totally going to ignore the fact that they smell too.

We're there for at least another hour talking. Well, I'm doing most of the talking, she just listens and smiles, so I have no idea if she actually heard anything or not. One thing I make sure to bring up is her lack of clocks.

"What is the point of knowing the time? Everyone has a set schedule."

"Point is to make timing things easier, I never know if it's day or night here."

She just looks at me.

"Why would you need to know if it is or not?"

I sigh and give up for now. Honestly can't tell if she's serious or deliberately being obtuse. Have a feeling the introduction of time in this place could be either really good or really bad.

"Avina has your clothes, you are to head to my rooms."

Lady sits up while giving her order. My turn to look at her with a raised mocking brow, which gets ignored. Alright then, we'll see about things when I get there.

"Go back to the door you came in at, she is there waiting for you."

Saluting her obnoxiously, I then shift right there. She does the same and headbutts me in the side till I get knocked over.

You know, I think the cats around here like picking on me because I'm small, what do you think?

Yowling at her, I stand and bite her tail. I get a roar-growl from biting deeper and harder since she doesn't react at first. Sniffing at her, I jump out of the tree and start on my way.

I might get ten feet before I'm dropped on from above, heavy cat taking me down again with my scruff in her mouth. An innocent meow slips from me to get the grumpy leopard off. I'm given a few facial licks before she lets me go on my way. Some seriously moody pussycats around here.

Trotting back to the door where Avina was said to be, she's indeed waiting with my clothes, sitting in the usual submissive way with the articles folded on her lap. Since I haven't seen her in so long, I headbutt her arm in greeting. She smiles at me, but there's something different about her.

As I shift back, I realize what it is. She'd always worn the typical 'slave' outfit of loincloth, nipple clamps, and hair pulled back, the one thing she didn't have was the collar. She does now. I want to ask about it, but I don't want to come off as being rude. The girl stays kneeling as I dress, once my pants and shirt are on, I kneel down with her and take her hands in mine.

"What is it, Avina? I was told the patron you were with was one of the gentle ones. Did he hurt you? Is there anything I can do?"

Her eyes widen when I mention being told about her.

"You asked about me?"

"Of course. At first I just thought you were back with the Mistress since she told Maii and Kerry to stay with me, but after not seeing you for a couple of days, I asked where you were and was told that you were requested by an older patron who was known to be gentle. 'Liked to cuddle', I believe was one way he was mentioned."

Her head inclines, eyes unsure. Hurts to see them like that again. Raising my hand to cup her cheek, she winces. I back off, showing the hurt on my face that she'd think I'd hit her.

"Have I ever given you reason to think I would ever strike at you?"

The hurt in my voice is thick, she just keeps her head down.

"Thought I had shown you I wasn't like everyone else, that we could be friends. Are you telling me we aren't anymore?"

Avina can't make up her mind if she's nodding yes or shaking for no. She won't speak up either, so I just leave her to her...whatever her issue is. She'll talk to me when she's ready, or she won't. Up to her.

Pulling the boots back on only takes a few seconds, once ready and heading for the door is when the submissive stands and trails after me. When we get to the hallway, I motion for her to go in front of me since she knows the way, and off we go. We go by an open door, so my head automatically turns. The healer and Danica are inside, the older woman talking low to the girl about the herbs she's holding and the book in front of her. Having been told normal drugs don't work very well on the animals, the usage of old homeopathic remedies are used instead of modern-day pills.

I pop my head in and wave when they look up, a couple of bright smiles make me feel better as I smile back, then leave just as quick so I don't disturb anymore than I have already, but it's too late. Hearing running steps behind me, I turn. Danica skids to a stop behind me, blushing. A little confused, I just look at her till she thanks me for helping her, head tilted down all shy. Smiling, I lift her chin to look at me.

"If you ever find yourself in trouble like that again, make as much racket as you can and run like hell. If you can, get to the kitchen, if I'm not there tell everyone there that you are under my protection. As long as I'm here you can always come to me for help, I promise."

I know I have no business in making a promise like that, but I hope it's true. The girl looks at me with stars in her eyes before running back to the healer. Hero worship is something I don't need right now.