“I don’t know if I can keep track of all of this!” Veera exclaimed as she wandered among the crowd that had surrounded Winters and Antoth. Her bold bet had earned her no shortage of takers, confident that no alien could upset the guard captain by such an amount. Veera wasn’t sure of Winters’ actual ability, but she had plenty of faith; faith enough to occasionally accept wagers for significant sums of resources. If she did fail, she resolved to make it up on her own. He’d not suffer for her own inflated opinion of him.

‘Don’t worry Veera, simply do what you’ve been doing. Repeat the name and the wager. I can catalog it all.’ Io reassured her, similarly confident that her partner was more than Antoth’s equal. Unlike Veera, she had the biometric data to prove it. As they passed near the two men, Veera overheard them discussing the rules.

“It’s not complicated Winters. Six rocks to each competitor. You get them from here to there.” Antoth pointed to the other side of the linear dirt track, about thirty feet long. “The only stipulations are you cannot roll a rock or throw one. Letting them drop once they cross the line is fine. Only the rock needs to cross, not you. Understand?” Antoth asked, moving his arms about to warm up. Another guard was moving all of the stones into place following the previous round. Antoth would have done it originally, but there was no way he was about to waste energy before this kind of competition. Winters indicated that he understood the rules and was all set, not needing to speak. He was similarly limbering up, rotating his arms at the shoulder and hopping back and forth between legs. The silence suited Antoth just fine. They would talk with their strength. Just before he moved to take his starting position, Winters offered his hand. Antoth hesitated for a moment before taking it, giving Winters a firm handshake. Clearly there was more to this gesture than the guard had imagined, recalling his visit to the human’s shrine. With a nod and a growl they both took their positions. Veera rejoined them, having now made a full circle through the crowd during which she entered into at least fifteen separate wagers. Most had been for small sums, a few vegetables or a cut of meat, things that no one would miss too much but would provide an added layer of excitement to the event. Others had been much bolder. One trade had been with a member of the temple of Tyrdus for several leather tunics or the equivalent labor. No matter the size, all had one thing in common. Winters had to achieve victory by at least half a length, fifteen feet. Standing at Winters’ side, Veera looked up at him. He looked determined, but also happy and eager. She found it endearing.

“You ready?” She asked.

“I was born ready.” He replied, giving her a wide smile that stirred the embers in her heart.

“I may have placed quite a few bets on you.” She explained shyly, dragging a talon through the dirt.

“Good. It means a lot…that you believe in me.” He admitted. Before either of them could get too lost in thought Antoth called out.

“Veera, get us started why don’t you? You’re responsible for this rabble after all.” Antoth barked, bending down to place a palm over his smallest rock. Winters nodded to Veera as she stepped back and took a position at the end of the starting line. Bending down into a sprinter’s starting position Winters placed one hand in the dirt just before the line, the other grasped his first rock. He figured the first and second wouldn’t slow him down too much and could likely be carried with one hand. Those would be full on sprints. As the rocks grew larger down the line though, they would demand a new approach. For numbers three and four he planned on holding them with both hands but maintaining a running stride if he could. The fifth and sixth were massive, and would be much more about strength and endurance than speed. He would not be running with those. His game plan set in his mind, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the rich air fill his lungs as he waited for Veera’s signal.

‘You’ve got this sir. You are my man, after all.’ Io further rallied his spirits, giving him a thumbs up as Veera held up a hand for quiet. The crowd quickly fell silent.

“On three! One…two…THREE!” She yelled, setting them off. Winters tightened into a death grip on the rock in his right hand, exploding off the starting line. He pounded down the lane, arriving at the far finish line where he lunged out with his right leg, placed the rock just over the line, and launched himself back in the other direction. He used the same motion as he arrived back at the start and grabbed the second rock, adjusting his hold slightly to cradle it like a football. As he rushed towards the line again he silently thanked one of his Omega division commanders whose favorite PT exercise had been running suicides. Dropping the second rock off with a grunt, careful not to throw it, Winters took a moment to observe the competition. Antoth’s talons clearly aided him in acceleration and traction, allowing him to keep up with Winters in his combat boots. The human had a lead, but it was slight, certainly not enough to win the stakes Veera had set for him. Arriving back at his rocks, he took the third one in both hands, lifting with his arms and taking off at the best run he could manage. The rock itself was the size of a large medicine ball, though perhaps double the weight. Even so, he managed to maintain a left to right motion with his arms, aiding him in the sprint to the other side. With that rock dropped into the dirt, he sprinted back again and repeated the process, though slower thanks to the increased load of the fourth stone. His breathing was coming harshly now, the plentiful oxygen in Mara’s air a boon to his straining body. It had been a while since his intercostal muscles had been worked out and he quite enjoyed it.

By the time he was ready for his fifth rock he’d opened about a quarter length lead on Antoth. Both were panting heavily, muscles pulling and pushing as hard as their masters willed them. Winters could feel sweat on his brow, accentuated by the cool autumn air. He would have to be careful with his grip. Any slips would prove disastrous with such a small margin of error. Bending at the knees, he got his hands and arms under the fifth rock and forced his legs into an explosive lift that elicited a vocal gasp from Veera. He used that momentum to turn himself and he began more of a power walk towards the other end of the lane, the audible admirations of his feather kitten sending an extra pump of adrenaline through his body. He guessed the rock probably weighed anywhere between one hundred and one hundred twenty pounds. It was tough, but he’d rolled up his sleeves beforehand and was using his forearms and hands to keep the rock secure as he moved. Antoth grunted as he heaved his fifth rock into the air and took off after the human. Cheers and cries of encouragement reached them as Winters dropped the fifth rock to the ground with a loud thud and raced back to the final stone. This one was truly immense, around the size of his chest. Io fed him an estimate: one hundred and sixty pounds. With a deep breath, Winters squatted into a lifting position, making sure his grip was solid and steady. The rocks had been rounded, but were clearly left rough to ensure more stable holds.

“Rrrrrraaaagh!” With a roar from deep in his chest, Winters hoisted the rock and began what seemed now like an incredibly long walk to the other end. Antoth passed him shortly after, bending down to grab his own final stone. Knowing that Veera was counting on him, Winters poured as much strength as he could into his legs, willing each stride to take him farther. He was grunting with each breath, feeling hot blood pounding through his veins. His world closed off, only the finish line visible, only the sound of his breathing audible. Knowing he didn’t have to turn again, Winters went full bore.

Veera, like everyone else in the crowd, was watching with rapt attention, cheering louder and louder as the two men fought closer to the finish. Most were pulling for Antoth, as she’d expected, but that was fine by her. From the outset Winters had shown he was more than capable, growing his lead slowly but steadily over time. As he grabbed his sixth rock, he was about a quarter of a length ahead of Antoth. Veera couldn’t help but feel a slight cord of worry snake through her, even as she reveled in the brutal manliness on display as Winters hoisted his largest stone into the air. The electricity arcing through her was palpable, and she was reminded on a personal level why these events took place. Something almost like hunger grew deep in her belly as she watched her human power towards the finish. His face was drawn up in effort and pain, every muscle of his upper body straining under his tight shirt. His growls of exertion sent shivers down her spine. As Winters approached the finish, everything seemed to happen at once. Antoth, in his rush to draw even with the human, had taken hold of his final rock just a bit too high. After a few steps it began to slip through his grasp, something not even his claws could prevent. As the stone thudded to the earth, Veera leapt and shouted to her human, her darling. As if in response, Winters emitted a final, primal, yell of exertion, launching himself at the finish line and throwing his rock forward into the tilled dirt as soon as he was sure he was across. His sound tore through her, leaving her wondering what it would be like to hear a similar noise in another setting, a more private affair, perhaps…beneath him. Io broke Veera from her admiring trance.

‘Veera! We did it! We won!’ The VI exclaimed triumphantly. It was true. Though Antoth lifted his rock again and finished with pride, his tiny mistake had assured Veera’s success in her wagers. He didn’t seem too upset about it though. Everyone had seen that even without the missed hold, he would not have had the time to draw even with the human. Yet again, the crowd erupted, cheering and yelling all at once as wagers or promises of repayment changed hands and friends immediately began discussing the event they’d witnessed. Winters, in a show of sportsmanship, awaited Antoth at the finish line. When the guard captain reached him, they crossed their arms in the Cauthan manner and nodded to one another. No words were necessary between the soldiers. It was a well fought match. ‘I think he’s ready for you.’ Io informed Veera. Not needing any more encouragement, the young Cauthan sprinted the length of the course to her human and flung herself at him, all else forgotten. Exhausted, he managed to catch her only briefly before executing a controlled fall into the dirt. She ended up atop him, hugging him hard as he grunted from the impact.

“You did it!” She was elated, pushing herself up so she could look him in the eye. A few cat calls rang out, though oddly enough, perhaps because of the excitement of the whole affair or the spirit of the festival in general, there were plenty of calls of encouragement as well. She was sure the sixteen year olds would be thankful at least. She’d more than broken the ice of this particular courtship and mating season. All of that was secondary though as his eyes met hers, his chest heaving heavily under her. “You were…really amazing.” She told him huskily.

“Thanks…Veera. Any chance we can…get some…water?” He managed between breaths, sucking in oxygen to feed his starved muscles. To say he felt alive would be an understatement. He felt invincible. The wonderful smiling girl atop him only added to that effect. She giggled and stood, helping him to his feet. Winters noticed that Antoth was already in form again, resetting the course for the next two potential contenders and yelling at people to ‘get on with their business’. “I really like that guy.”

“Not that I disagree, but why?” Veera asked as Winters brushed himself off.

“When I was in training you’d usually face off against two types of people in the sparring ring. The first type of person would claim every credit for their victories and inevitably find someone or something else to blame for their defeats. Those people never improved much, even if they were very skilled to start with. Antoth is the other type, the kind who acknowledges the benefits of a good fight, regardless of outcome. Takes a certain kind of man to see that losing can make you stronger than winning.” Winters explained, unafraid to speak well of the surly guard who was receiving his share of congratulations from the villagers. Even finishing the course was a monumental feat.

“You’re quite philosophical at times.” Veera remarked, holding up a finger for emphasis.

“Am I? I guess they did a good job in basic then. You’re not much use to the guy next to you if all you care about is your own glory.”

“See? Case in point!” She giggled. “On the subject of glory though, it was a great match Russell. I think you won a few admirers.” Veera informed him as she took his hand and led him to the nearest water barrel, staking her claim to the human. He received pats on the back and calls of congratulations as they made their way through the now dispersing crowd. He nodded graciously to them, wishing he’d brought his canteen that day. He was thirsty.

Once he’d spent a few moments hydrating himself and washing the sweat off his face, Winters turned to Veera again. “So, how much did we win?” He asked excitedly.

‘Quite a lot. Veera is, as you put it the other day, a shrewd individual when it comes to this sort of thing.’ Io complimented the Cauthan as she brought up a list on Winters’ visor. Winters laughed at his VI’s newest outfit, that of a 1920’s bookie. Admitting her hair looked quite cute under the cap, Winters began reading.

“Let’s see here. Vegetables, vegetables, some meat, couple loaves of bread, cord of firewood, leather tunics…hrrrm…you bet two chairs?!” Winters asked as he reached the end of the list. “Damn, we cleaned that temple out!” Veera waved her hands in front of her.

“I didn’t though! One of the craftsmen thought I was crazy and that it was an easy bet. I took it.” She explained, looking almost embarrassed. “I have to admit that at the end there I almost thought I was. Sorry.”

“Did you just apologize for assuming I’m only human?” Winters cocked his head at her with a smile.

“I feel like that has a deeper meaning than I understand.” Veera admitted as they moved back to their rotation around the stalls. It was time to eat.

“It just means that even the best of us have our limitations. Your plan was bold Veera…I liked it. And I certainly can’t argue with the results!” He threw an arm around her shoulder, still riding high on his victory. He began gesticulating with his free hand. “Nothing like an extra challenge to really light the fire under you, right? It felt great to compete again. Everything’s seemed so…important lately, you know? Everything I’ve done here has been to keep us alive in one way or another. Well…until Zolta I guess. It felt good to just burn a lot of energy with absolutely nothing important at stake. If worst came to worst, we would have dealt with the wagers no problem, even the chairs.” He laughed heartily. Veera nodded at his explanation, feeling immense gratification at his victory, his happiness, his approval, his carefree attitude, and of course, his touch. She’d already flattened him in front of everyone. That particular cat was well out of the bag. He’d eagerly seized that opportunity, to her benefit. “So, food?” He asked with a hungry grin.

“You’re a man who very much knows what he wants, aren’t you?” She ribbed him playfully. He shrugged back, not denying it. “I could use a bite too. Shall we just do a circuit?”

“That’s fine by me. Should we make some kebabs again?” He asked, noticing that a couple of the fire pits had already been lit and played host to various groups of Cauthan engaged in talk, eating, and drinking. “Oh, and I can’t believe I haven’t asked you this yet, but do your people know of alcohol?”

‘That’s actually not so hard to believe.’ Io interjected.

“What do you mean?” Veera asked, unsure as to what Winters and Io were talking about.

‘A great many things would have to occur in order for your people to engage in brewing. For starters, one would need micro-organisms capable of anaerobic respiration or a functional equivalent. Second, that compound would have to affect Cauthan physiology in the same way as it does humans. Finally, of course, your people would have to put two and two together, so to speak.’ Io explained animatedly.

“I…what’s she talking about?” Veera looked up at Winters with a very confused expression.

“Well, it’s a shame you don’t know…for me at least.” Winters lamented. “Not your fault at all, not blaming you!” He added quickly as her face fell. “So a long time ago, ancient times really, my people discovered that if you poisoned yourself in a very particular way, you’d feel good.” She shot him a disbelieving look.

“Now you two are just pulling my tail!”

“No honestly! There are actually quite a few organic compounds that when taken in the right doses induce various pleasurable or psychedelic reactions in the human body. Alcohol is one of the most ubiquitous in human society. It’s poisonous if consumed in large quantities or if you consume it heavily over time. Processing non-lethal quantities too often over too many years will do it. But in small amounts, it can be quite enjoyable.” He explained, noticing Veera’s innate curiosity surface again as they moved from stall to stall collecting some of the produce on display.

“So what does it do to you? It sounds very dangerous.” She asked quietly, picking over a few squash-like vegetables before her.

“There are two reasons to drink if you aren’t abusing the substance. The first, actually, is taste. There are many, many ways of preparing alcoholic beverages and most humans develop a taste for at least one variety. Some can be very complex on their own. That’s to say nothing of the pastime of mixing alcoholic beverages with other substances to create what’s essentially art in a glass.” Winters developed a wistful look in his eyes.

“Thinking of your favorite?” She asked kindly, hoping he wasn’t too homesick.

“I guess so, yeah. It’s called an old fashioned. Not sure how to really describe it since bitters and orange likely don’t mean much to you, but it’s earthy and…smoky? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it’s that with just a hint of sweetness and sourness to balance it out. You serve it with a large cube of ice usually.”

“So what happens when you drink it?” Veera continued.

“Right, second reason. Alcohol is a chemical that lowers your inhibitions. I’m sure Io could give us the detailed rundown later in terms of the method of action, but basically it…slows your body down, I guess? Your reactions are slower and less coordinated. Your head might feel a bit light. But for the most part, if you only consume a reasonable amount, you’ll find that you feel confident and carefree. Things in your own mind that hold you back don’t seem to matter as much. I don’t know if I explained it well at all, but there’s a reason it’s so widely consumed back on Earth.”

“You sure know how to make poison sound not so bad.” Veera remarked playfully. “I’m sorry to say we don’t have anything like that here.”

“It’s alright feather kitten. No telling if I’d even be able to consume it here. You never know what sorts of metabolic byproducts on this planet might harm me. I’ll stick with tea, that’s been pleasantly non-lethal so far.” He assured her, enjoying her positive reaction to the nickname as she moved closer to him.

“Ok Russell. I’m glad you’ve found something to your liking. Would you like to find some meat as well? I believe I…well you…we? I believe we won some earlier.”

‘That is correct Veera. You mentioned two names where the wager was some form of meat. Shall we track one down and call it in?’

“That won’t be necessary Io, we’ll just head over to one of the huntsmen’s stalls. They all know one another. Thank you though!”

‘My pleasure Veera.’

“So, I guess the meat isn’t exactly free?” Winters asked as they finished their arc at a stall with various meats on display. Most were cured or smoked but a few cuts were fresh, drawing their attention.

“Indeed, game isn’t as plentiful. Hello there!” Veera greeted the Cauthan behind the stall who gave them both an acknowledging nod.

“Welcome. That was a fine display you put on human.” The hunter addressed Winters who bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. With the competition fresh in everyone’s mind, it was easy enough to call in one of the bets Veera had made, securing them a large, fresh cut of chesko meat. Veera reviewed the pieces on display with a critical eye before selecting a lean cut that appeared to be from the upper leg. This would be her first piece of chesko in more than half a decade and she was determined to select the best for both of them. Winters agreed vigorously with her choice, reminded of a fine steak. Now that he’d come down from the athlete’s high, his body was craving nourishment. The lean red meat looked delectable, oozing a small amount of fresh blood. The stall attendant wrapped it in coarse leather before handing it over.

“Thank you.” Veera bid the other Cauthan farewell and they proceeded to an open bench nearby, next to one of the lit fires. Finding two sticks among the stockpile of wood, Veera began whittling them to an appropriate size and shape while Winters used his longer knife to slice the meat and vegetables. The two of them worked in companionable silence as others chatted around them, adding a soothing and non-descript background noise. The two of them were too focused on one another and their shared task of preparing lunch to care much about what else was being said or happening around them.

“This is…easy, isn’t it?” Veera asked, breaking the silence.

“You noticed that too, eh?” He replied softly, unsure if he thought it was a good or a bad thing that she thought the same. He felt like he was in a drop pod again, rocketing towards inevitable contact. It felt good, it felt exhilarating, but the collision was unavoidable now. That scared him.

“I did. I’m glad to hear you feel it too.” She threw him a winning smile before testing a point with her finger. “Well, these are all set. Do you want some help?”

“Sure. Thanks feather kitten.” She’s clearly not of two minds on this. He reflected.

“You’re enjoying yourself with that name, aren’t you?” She nestled up close to him before beginning to work on a couple of kina, skinning her slices while leaving the skin on for him.

“Should I not be?”

“I don’t know Russell…” She trailed off.

“You alright?” He asked, detecting shades of the prior morning that added to the growing sense of foreboding he felt.

“I am, today’s been wonderful so far!” She told him earnestly. What she didn’t add was that between the feather kitten-ing, his competition with Antoth, and everything else that had transpired already that day, she felt like she could barely contain the emotions bubbling under the surface of her skin. She’d been thinking about what he’d told her about boyfriends and girlfriends, about courtship, about divorce. She’d been thinking about the Cauthan way, mating. Hell, she’d been thinking about everything. He was making it impossible not to. Until that point she’d been fine leaving things unsaid, taking him as he was, regardless of what he wanted to give and what he wanted to hold back. A cold ball formed in the pit of her stomach as she realized that wasn’t going to be enough anymore, not after today. She didn’t need them to be mated, but she couldn’t deny any longer that she needed something from him, something concrete. She was thankful for the task before her. Cutting vegetables allowed her to focus and appear as though she was only concentrating on the edge of her blade. Reminding herself of the promise she’d made the morning before, to not sit idly by, she took a deep breath and forced the unproductive thoughts to the back of her mind. Tonight. She swore, feeling a thrilling nervousness take hold. That, she could deal with.

With their meals prepared and seconds neatly piled up on the leather wrapper, the two of them stood and walked a couple steps so that they could hold their food up to the blazing fire. The sounds of sizzling meat and hissing vegetables soon met their ears and they nodded to one another. “I can see why you enjoy the festival so much. This has been fun. I’m starving!” Winters started up conversation again.

“It’s all the better sharing it with someone, isn’t it?” She replied sincerely, earning her a long and piercing look from her human.

“I would have to agree.” He eventually replied. “Though I am worried about something. I haven’t seen Zolta all day.” Veera felt more relief than anything, pleased he wasn’t referring to something about them. All the same, she knew how much helping Zolta meant to Winters and was unable to deny that she’d developed a personal interest in the young Cauthan’s success as well.

“Well, first things first Russell. Let’s finish our food and then we can look around for him, alright?” She suggested, not wanting to ruin the moment they were sharing.

“Agreed. I am concerned, but not enough to pass up this delicious smelling meat, not to mention the company. I don’t even remember the last time I had a fresh cut like this. A man’s gotta have priorities after all!” He winked at her, his tone full of delight at life’s simple pleasures.

“I’m sure Zolta will understand. Now come, let’s sit and enjoy this chesko you worked so hard for.” Veera guided him back to the bench where they ate hungrily, closing their eyes in delight as the flavor of juicy, seared meat coated their tongues. A few minutes later they were in front of the fire again with seconds. “I think I understand now, you know? Us.” Veera informed him.

“What’s that?” Winters asked as they took in the warmth of the fire, taking their time now that hunger was a non-issue.

“Well there’s no pressure, is there? No expectations?” Veera ventured. Io appeared again, a quizzical look on her face. It was clear that Veera’s statement was at odds with what she perceived as the current status of the relationship. She settled down with a virtual notepad as if ready to learn something new. Winters just shrugged.

“You mean, between the two of us?” He didn’t see it that way, not if the nervousness and sense of impending change clawing its way through his mind was any indication.

“Well…no.” She admitted. “I think both you and I have ideas in our heads about where we want…this…to go.” She waved about her to indicate the two of them.

“I would agree with that point.” Winters admitted, feeling calm in his answer considering the subject matter. Blunt, direct conversation was always his strong point. It was better than turning it over in his mind and getting nowhere. Veera continued her clarification.

“I meant more like everyone else. You mentioned Zolta and that got me thinking about what he must be feeling. I thought back to the couple of festivals where I tried to find a mate. There’s an immense amount of pressure, not just self-imposed but also from everyone else. I felt awful, pretty much the whole time. Everyone’s eyes on you, looking, judging. With you and me though? We’re just the two village oddballs!” She remarked happily before turning a sultry gaze on him. “I’m sure you could nuzzle me right now and not too many people would care.” Winters swallowed hard.

“That so?” He asked slowly, knowing she had him dead to rights.

“I don’t know for sure.” She admitted. “But after I basically tackled you without causing a complete fiasco I’m fairly confident in my assessment. Sometimes it helps being written off by most of the village, you know? If you’re not starving, you’re free.” She shrugged, testing the meat on her skewer with a claw. Winters said nothing, instead trying to figure out just what his expectations were, to say nothing of Veera’s. His flirting, enjoyable as it was, had a deeper purpose didn’t it? Damnit Veera, why’d you have to go and put that image in my head? This is getting bad, every step she leads me on is another step closer to a point of no return. And she is leading, no bloody question about that now. So here I am, setting myself up as the only person in her life that could well and truly hurt her? Fuck! I don’t think I’m ever going to understand what these Cauthan do and don’t place importance on. I guess they really do just ignore Veera most of the time. She’s not one of them so they don’t expect her to act like them. But she still follows their customs…sort of…unless she prefers mine. Fuck me, what a mess. He looked around at the festival goers, trying to get a feel for the relationships he could see. By in large the older couples engaged each other in light contact: hand holding, casual brushing up against one another, things of that nature. Families abounded, parents leading children through the crowds by the hand. He saw a handful of younger couples as well, perhaps not too far removed from their own harvest festival trials. They seemed more affectionate in certain ways, though that was mainly in the way they looked at one another, exchanging unspoken promises of future deeds in the dark.

‘Sir, target sighted.’ Io had donned a safari uniform, complete with an old British helmet and binoculars. She highlighted a figure in the crowd just as Winters noticed the same. He chuckled at Io’s antics, which drew Veera’s attention. They had just about finished their second kebabs. Once he’d given Io her due, he shot a worried look at Veera.

“I found Zolta. And I’ll be honest Veera, it doesn’t look good.”

“Then I guess you’d better ride off and save the day again. It’s what you do, isn’t it?” She took his hand gently, tilting her head up slightly to meet his eyes. Her look was searing in its earnesty, just like her words. There was no doubt in his mind that that was the image Veera had of him, the white knight. He found himself unable to look away from her dark chocolate eyes, so full of life after a morning at the festival. His heart slammed into his ribs and he acknowledged the fact that her claws were sunk in deep. Unable to say anything he breathed in, catching her scent, leaning in to draw them closer as Veera’s eyes went wide and her body stiffened. With a confident smile at her reaction, he brought his nose into contact with hers and closed his eyes, satisfied as she gripped his hand tight and gasped softly. Her nose was ever so slightly damp and very warm, one of the few parts of her body where skin went uncovered by fur. The exchange had been brief but it had its desired effect, at least in his mind. Veera’s mouth was open slightly, her eyes expressive and shimmering, feathers a riot of her colors, black and gold. He made an act of looking around them. A couple of Cauthan were watching them intently, but he saw curiosity and surprise, not hatred or disapproval. Heartened by that, he turned back to his feather kitten.

‘Ok sir, I think you win this one outright.’ Io remarked, declaring the game of flirtation concluded, for a time at least.

“I’ll be back. Wait for me?” He asked, surprised at how low and husky his voice was. He wasn’t about to make an armed drop, but it sure sounded like it. There was more unspoken in his words than spoken. For Veera, whatever plans she might have had to play coy and hard to get had been obliterated, shattered by the smallest of touches. The warmth inside her was stoked into a raging fire, fed by her quick and shallow breathing. She wondered how something so small and fleeting could feel so intimate. Maybe it was just the nature of her partner, the human force of will. Unwilling to ‘play the game’ in that moment she opened her heart and gave him the answer she knew was the truth.

“Always…” Veera whispered, still feeling wonderful pulses arc through her from the point of contact. With a satisfied smile and a nod, he stroked her hand once with his thumb and departed on his quest.