As Winters walked through the back alleys of the village, the darkness and solitude allowed him some time with his thoughts. While it couldn’t dampen his happiness at the success of his first hunt, Ratha’s behavior was hard to ignore.

“What do you make of Ratha, Io?” He asked clinically, wondering if his companion would have any insight.

‘Well, she all but confirmed that Veera is a source of agitation for her, to say nothing of the first conversation we had when she told us about Veera’s father. Perhaps it is he, and not Veera herself that is the root cause? Beyond that I cannot say. I do not see her as the type of woman to try anything; more like someone who will hurl mocking words from the sidelines while we parade our glory through the streets.’ Io nodded with satisfaction.

“Parade our glory? You sure your subroutines are fine?”

‘Of course they’re fine sir! Let a woman have a delusion of grandeur or two,’ she teased.

“As long as you keep your ego in check. Lord only knows mine is big enough as it is,” he replied with a laugh.

‘After your success today, that’s hardly a surprise. Are you well?’

“Other than being pretty hungry, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

‘There was no reason sir. I just could not help but notice the looks Veera has been giving you all night. I believe this hunt has meant a great deal to her,’ Io suggested, cradling her chin in her fingers thoughtfully.

“Between what happened to her father and the basic significance of…I don’t know…providing for her? I’m inclined to agree.”

‘You noticed how she spoke in passing about her mother? I cannot recall another moment like that,’ Io recounted, racking her memory banks. ‘No, no I don’t believe so.’

“Good sign maybe? It’s all a bit weird though, I’ll give you that,” Winters admitted as he came to a fork in the narrow streets, taking a right after thinking for a moment. “Can you imagine a human woman fawning all over me because I brought home some literal bacon?”

‘Literal bacon? You think that’s what you did tonight? Mein Gott you’re dense. Besides, Veera does not fawn,’ Io insisted, shaking her head. Winters cocked a brow. ‘Really sir? Veera is a most affectionate woman, no doubt. That shone through tonight when she found us, and as the two of you worked together to clean your kill. Talk to her about it if you think me crazy, but she loves you because of the life that the two of you increasingly share, not because you’re some sort of muscled hulk who clobbers space wolf coerul things.’ Winters raised both eyebrows. ‘Oh fine, I guess the musculature doesn’t hurt,’ Io admitted. He gave her a small smile.

“I’m just giving you a hard time Io.”

‘Why would you do that?’ She asked, mildly incensed.

“Because you’re right, as always,” he told her earnestly. Io’s expression turned on a dime as they finally emerged onto Veera’s street, quickly finding their home.

‘Glad you noticed sir. Have a nice dinner.’ She winked away after that farewell, surely to process the mountain of data she’d gathered that day. With a soft chuckle, Winters turned to the side and shuffled through the doorway, his arms occupied with chesko.

“Well, that’s something you don’t see every day,” he whispered into his helmet, standing still as his eyes found Veera. She was sitting atop her bed with crossed legs, licking her arms clean. As they had carved the chesko into finer cuts of meat, she had ditched her gloves in favor of a direct touch. As a result, the fur and feathers of her arms had become matted with blood. With a fire built and chesko stored appropriately, she was finally able to take some time for herself. The movements of her tongue were precise and mesmerizing to him, so he remained still, watching her clean her right arm and finding enjoyment just in looking at her. My alien… He found he enjoyed the sound of that. As she transitioned to her left, Veera noticed him standing there and paused, tongue halfway out of her mouth. Slowly her feathers began vibrating in a pattern he knew meant she was feeling self-conscious. He spoke up.

“No need to stop on my account, I was…enjoying watching you actually,” he admitted. She cocked her head at him, no less embarrassed.

“Why?”

“It reminded me of how…unique you are,” he told her, watching her eyes narrow as she considered a response.

“As long as you like it,” she finally replied, tentatively returning to cleaning herself.

“Where do you want these?” Winters asked, indicating the cuts of meat he’d brought back, feeling awkward in spite of her affirmative response.

“Just over there with the rest.” Veera pointed to indicate where she’d deposited the meat she’d carried home. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” He said, later moving to change out of his armor.

“Me too. Would you like to get dinner started then? I need to finish up here.”

“Take your time Veera, I’m happy to cook,” he declared, choosing one of the cuts that Veera had mentioned was her favorite, the equivalent of a T-bone steak. She looked at him hungrily.

“Is that so? Well then I expect nothing but the best, my human.” Her lighthearted tone was comforting to him, dispelling the awkward tension that had built up thanks to his blunt admission. Nodding, he grabbed a couple of extra logs and fed the fire, building up the heat. Contemplating the flames for a moment, he went and put on his gauntlets again. Setting up Veera’s pot stand, he laid two long and narrow logs across it, forming a very rudimentary grill that would allow the fire to lap at their dinner. Taking the ends of both in one hand, he formed a V and placed the steak atop it, soon greeted with the sound and smell of sizzling blood, fat, and muscle. Veera actually moaned.

“Gods that smells divine,” she told him huskily, walking around to him now that she’d deemed herself clean. “We did a good job, didn’t we?” Her question had Winters remembering Io’s words from before, that Veera’s affections seemed to have been magnified as she participated in the aftermath of the hunt with him.

“We did a fine job; no question there. Uh…Veera?” Winters was taken aback as she pressed herself against his back, bringing her arms around him in such a way that wouldn’t prevent him from tending to their meal. He smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. “Hey you…”

“Are you happy here?” She whispered nervously, her question spawning a spark of nervousness in him.

“I…where is this coming from Veera?”

“Just…are you?” She tried again. Winters felt his smile fade as he realized an explanation likely wouldn’t be forthcoming. His reply avoided any sort of obfuscation.

“I am happy Veera. I don’t know what to tell you about the grand scheme of things, about being separated from my people and about losing my friends…but here, now, I’m happy. I honestly never thought butchering an animal would be fun. The tracking, hunting, and killing? Yes, absolutely. That got the blood pumping for sure. But what came after, us working together on it at the temple, I’d never expected that.” He felt the faint rumble of Veera’s purring on his back.

“I was so happy.” Her faint words were soft and lovely in his ear. She said no more, but he thought he had an idea of what she meant. She had participated in a hunt, even if indirectly, something he knew she’d wanted as a cub. They had secured meat, a pelt, prestige, and a large amount of credit with the smiths of the village. They had cleaned the animal, together. He’d come back alive.

“At the risk of giving this chesko too much credit, it was a unifying experience…wasn’t it?” He ventured, hoping to draw a bit more of what Veera was feeling out of her.

“I thought so too Russell.” Her hands moved up his stomach to his chest. “Thank you for relying on me.”

“You know I do Veera. This is your home world after all.” Winters flipped the steak, happy to see a nice amount of char on the meat’s surface.

“I don’t mean that…” she admitted. “I spoke with Gentia yesterday. She tried to tell me about how to become closer to you, that I should complement you in our lives. When you’re out, I should be here. I suppose she’s right in a way. I…I enjoy making you tea and keeping our home warm and everything but…” Veera trailed off; as if she was unsure what she was saying was allowed.

“Continue Veera,” Winters ordered softly, feeling her take a deep breath against him.

“Tonight was so exciting Russell. I know I’ve said that you make me feel alive…that the changes you’ve brought to my life have allowed me to appreciate things again, but this was different. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

‘Then perhaps I might be of assistance?’ Io suggested, appearing above Winters’ gauntlet. ‘By the way sir, I must say I don’t think that grilling was ever listed as a potential function of the B-MASS or the Aegis armor in general.’

“You can update the logs when we get off this planet Io,” Winters said with a mischievous grin.

‘Oh yes, I’m sure other HEL Jumpers will have questions about that one! My apologies Veera, I did not mean to get sidetracked,’ Io spoke to the Cauthan who regarded her with a smile.

“No worries Io. I must admit it is rather humorous, using your marvelous technology for something as mundane as cooking meat.”

‘My thoughts exactly. To your thoughts about this evening though…’ Io paused for a moment as if to consider her words, then smiled broadly and pointed at them both. ‘We’re one giant family of adrenaline junkies!’

“You did mention something about that earlier,” Winters mused, chuckling to himself and trying to keep their dinner stable over the fire. “Finally figure out how to simulate a human adrenaline rush Io?”

‘Yes sir! Thanks to our hunt I was finally able to iron out the kinks in the subroutines that would trigger the release due to environmental factors. It was most exhilarating! Oh…I’m guessing that didn’t answer your question Veera?’ Io asked, seeing the confused look on the Cauthan’s face.

“At the risk of sounding like the ignorant native…what’s adrenaline?” She asked. Winters laughed. “Hey!”

“Veera, can you go grab a plate or bowl, I’m basically done here. We can eat this one together and then I’ll cook another.” She growled lightly at him, giving him a light whack on the shoulder, but complied. When they’d sat down he accepted a large fork from her, a wooden instrument with two longer prongs, and began to carve the meat with his combat knife. The juices ran out into the bowl and he made sure to coat the morsel of meat with them before holding it up to Veera’s face. “C’mon, you know you want it,” he teased. She crossed her arms and huffed at him.

“I’m still upset with you,” she informed him, tilting her head away. He smiled at her adorable defiance.

“Fair enough Veera. In my defense though, I didn’t finish my thought. Ignorance isn’t a fault…only willful ignorance.” His face had become serious, though he still held out the first piece of chesko for her. Understanding his words, she nodded and accepted his offering, taking the cooked food gently into her mouth. He watched as she chewed and tasted it, looking up and to the left as she contemplated the flavor. As her face brightened and she bared her teeth in contentment, Winters knew he had a good idea of how she felt when he enjoyed her tea. “Good?”

“Marvelous! Thank you my human! You should have a piece now,” she insisted animatedly. “Io, while he’s eating, adrenaline please?”

‘Of course Veera, please watch closely,’ Io requested as the B-MASS began projecting video. Winters held it up, eating with only his right hand, and immediately recognized the footage as moments before the hyrven had pounced. Veera’s eyes had gone wide as it slunk out of the underbrush and approached him, growling and snarling. She moved her face closer as Winters and Io challenged the predator and finally screamed and fell backward as the hyrven leapt upon him, holding her hand over her mouth as it bit and swiped at him, uttering a final gasp of shock as Winters punched it square in the jaw and snapped its neck. Io reappeared as the footage cut. ‘Well, how do you feel?’

“You big, stupid, noble human…” she murmured before throwing herself onto Winters, who barely managed to keep hold of their dinner. “Io, to answer your question I feel wide awake and my heart is pounding. Not like when we were at the temple at all!” She licked Winters square on the cheek before allowing him to sit up again.

‘That may be so Veera, but that is a natural reaction and it obeys a similar set of rules. I do not know if it would be correct to call it adrenaline when referring to you, but clearly your body is also capable of placing itself into a heightened state of awareness and readiness when necessary. That’s what you just experienced, and what I’m sure you were feeling out there in the darkness as well. In humans, this response is cause by the production and release of a molecule called adrenaline by the body. There are other such systems as well, ones that govern feelings of happiness and contentment, or sorrow and depression. I believe when you were there in the temple, working on a kill, in sight of someone who seems to loathe your very existence, you were feeling a little bit of everything. It was a mundane and brave moment; one where you and the Lieutenant were able to work as partners as opposed to, as you said earlier, filling separate roles in life.’ Io finished her explanation with a questioning look, wondering if she’d hit the mark. Veera turned her head thoughtfully.

“I think you’re more or less correct Io. So you’re saying we all enjoy the thrill of moments that cause our bodies to release this adrenaline molecule?”

‘Precisely. Why do you think this guy over here enjoys jumping out of space ships?’ Io asked, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. Winters just chuckled and ate another piece of chesko before carving one for Veera. ‘You see? He doesn’t deny it.’

“Guilty as charged. Here Veera.” He offered her the piece of meat as the two of them settled into a more subdued dinner routine. When the first piece of chesko had been consumed and the bone set aside for soup, Winters grabbed a leaner piece of meat and returned to his ‘grill’.

“So Io, how did the two of you kill the chesko then?” Veera asked, again finding herself at her mate’s side as he worked. Io gleefully winked away, bringing up the appropriate feed along with audio. Veera was soon laughing as she witnessed the banter between man and machine before crying with laughter and clapping her hands together at Winters’ comical headshot. “I wish I could come with you,” she stated wistfully. Winters looked over at her.

“I know you do. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for keeping you here. I just…don’t think I could lose someone else Veera,” he admitted, feeling ever more comfortable with sharing his weakness with her. She nodded and leaned lightly against him as he turned over their next steak.

“I know my love. Just know that I feel the same…it’s just as hard on me.”

“Understood Veera.” His expression hardened. “I’m under orders to survive…orders from a superior officer. I won’t fail you, or her. That being said, after tonight I won’t hesitate to rely on you when I’m in over my head either. Sound fair?”

“Yes darling. I can agree to that.” Veera kissed his cheek and left his side, gathering a couple of vegetables to slice up in order to diversify their meal. By the time they’d finished Winters felt like he was on cloud nine. His stomach was full, he was warm, and Veera was snuggled next to him by the fire after making them both tea. Might not be typical, but at least in this moment…life is good, he thought.

“Hey Io, shall we have some music?”

‘Of course sir, what would you and the lady like to listen to tonight?’

“Can you bring up my drop playlist?” He asked. Io looked at him with disapproval. “Oh don’t worry, I’m not going to go too heavy. It’s just been that kind of day.”

‘As you wish sir. Veera, shall I translate?’

“No that’s alright Io. I think it would be better if I get an idea for how Russell’s language flows. Besides, not knowing what’s being said won’t really be an issue if it’s just music,” Veera reasoned, earning her an approving look from Io.

‘A most reasoned answer Veera. I concur.’ She looked back at Winters as he selected a song. ‘Oh…that’s what you wanted to play…interesting,’ Io winked at Winters who shrugged, sporting a bit of a sly grin on his face. He began tapping his foot to the opening drum beat and bobbing his head, enjoying the ability to just relax for the first time in what felt like weeks. Io looked conspiratorially at Veera. ‘Keep this between the two of us Veera, but the title of this song is called Touch in the Night

.’ Veera’s eyes went wide as, surprisingly, a female vocalist began singing. It was a very odd mixture of sounds, but in the end she decided she liked it more than what she’d heard of the ‘metal’ genre previously. Part of it, she suspected, was her newfound knowledge about the song’s subject matter. Looking up into her human’s eyes she found a bit of everything staring back at her. There was love, contentment, a bit of lust, protection; many emotions in one. She purred at him and craned her neck to lick his cheek, happily surprised when he held her there and kissed her lightly.

“I think I like this song,” she told him, resulting in a broad smile on his face.

“Why’s that?” He inquired, eager to understand her tastes better.

“Well, I do enjoy listening to a woman singing. That and it’s a bit less crazy than that other song? Sorry, I don’t really know what else to say. I don’t even know what many of these sounds are or what sort of instrument would make them.”

“No worries Veera, we’ll keep trying things out. Io’s got plenty of music in her databases.”

‘Indeed sir. Though with all of the data I’ve been compiling lately I may need to make some space. Requesting permission to delete country music and Gregorian chants?’

“Absolutely granted.” Winters approved with a bark of laughter as Veera got up and added another couple logs to the fire. Between the delicious dinner, the events of the evening, the music, and the proximity of her human she was beginning to feel very warm. Taking the opportunity, Winters stood and stretched, closing his eyes as his muscles responded well after their day of exertion. As he sat back on the bed and re-opened them, he was greeted by a most unexpected sight. White fur… “Holy mother of-”

“Shhh, there’s no need to yell darling.” A very naked Veera informed him, bending over to place a finger on his lips and throw her dress onto the bed behind him. Winters’ chest promptly attempted to implode in on itself and force his heart out of his body via his windpipe. With an immense amount of mental fortitude he managed to hold his girlfriend’s gaze and not explore the lower reaches of her body that she’d unceremoniously opened to him.

“Ok…not going to yell but…Veera?”

“Yes?” She replied coyly, helping him to remove his gauntlets and very much avoiding the issue at hand.

“Why?” He managed, giving in and allowing his eyes to move lower to her exposed chest and abdomen. As she placed his armor aside he was able to breath a partial sigh of relief. Between her nature as a female and the fur covering her body, he wasn’t able to see anything that looked like her womanhood. Nevertheless, the slow drip of adrenaline returned as Veera promptly sat sideways in his lap, crossing her legs and wrapping her arms around his neck, her tail taunting him as it swished back and forth behind her.

“Why what darling?”

“Ok, now you’re just being difficult,” he informed her, deciding to fight fire with fire. He nipped her ear and allowed his hands to move to her body, one circling her shoulders and the other playing with the downy white fur of her tummy. “Why are you naked Veera?”

“Because I like it when you play with me, and I know you enjoyed it too. After everything that’s happened to us…I wanted you to know that all of this is open to you…well…” she looked away for a moment, pressing her thighs closer together. He understood immediately.

“It’s alright Veera, I didn’t see anything. And I won’t touch you there until you’d like me to.” Winters assured her, removing his shirt so that they were more even. She immediately took the opportunity to run a hand over his core.

“Is that what comes next?” She asked in a husky whisper, kissing him firmly as his hands continued to roam over her body and light her senses ablaze. His fingers left trails of fire as he used just enough pressure to stimulate her fur and the skin underneath.

“It’s…a bit more complicated than that,” Winters informed her between nips and kisses, paying close attention to her lower lip. “It can be, but some people would consider using your fingers or mouth there to be more intimate or erotic than the actual act of mating.” Veera groaned deeply at his words, feeling her insides coil around themselves at the deviant images he’d just put into her head.

“Your mouth? There?!” She asked, knowing that a bit of fear would reach his ears. Winters reassured her.

“Completely unnecessary and not something we ever have to do.”

“I didn’t mean that Russell…it’s just…very, very alien.”

“I understand. The same rules always apply Veera. We won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he comforted her in a low voice, moving to bite softly at her neck. As he clamped down lightly, he ran a hand down and over her thigh, earning him another dulcet purr as he tested the muscle beneath.

“I promise you the same, my love,” Veera replied despite not having the faintest idea of what her male might find uncomfortable, shifting herself very intentionally on top of him. His tortured hiss was music to her ears. It was the first time she’d ever gone out of her way to stimulate him in such a way. In that moment she considered that Io was certainly correct about them. The utter thrill of it made her feathers quake and her head light. “It may just be because of your clothing but…you feel quite large,” she informed him in a sultry tone, feeling the unmistakable straining of his manhood beneath her. It was scary, thrilling, and empowering all at the same time. Io chose that moment to wink into existence behind them. The VI’s face was flushed and her chest was rising and falling with each simulated breath, straining the tight tank top she was wearing.

‘Oh Veera, while this is all very lovely and…smoking hot to be honest, please don’t feed his ego anymore. He’s the avatar of death, the defeater of sun guards and Antoth, slayer of hyrven, bane of Ratha…I could go on, but I won’t. So please Veera, the last thing you need to do is compliment his…endowment in such a way. His ego won’t be able to fit indoors anymore,’ Io concluded with mock concern and an apologetic look for interrupting them. Winters felt his face going beet red as Veera wrapped both of her arms around him in order to hold herself close and get a good look at the VI behind him. She gave Io a feral grin, absorbed at how the ‘avatar of death’ was currently writhing beneath her, because of her.

“I don’t have anything to compare it to Io. It feels big to me,” Veera stated matter of factly, causing Winters to growl loudly and dig his nails into his own thigh in an attempt to bring his body under control. There was no doubt in his mind; tonight would absolutely be painful without release. He groaned again in discomfort. “What’s wrong love?” Veera asked, shifting her attention back to him and encouraging him to again run his fingers through the fur of her chest. He bore a pained smile on his face before kissing her fully.

“Let’s just say it’s been…a very long time since I’ve had release.” His words had Veera’s tail flicking rapidly behind her.

“Is that a problem?” She asked, though without any sort of hint in her tone that she was teasing him.

“That isn’t a problem for your men?” He asked incredulously.

“No? At least I don’t think so.” Veera paused her exploration of his upper body to think before shaking her head. “No, I wouldn’t say so. My knowledge is only second hand at best, but I really don’t think males ever suffer pain from not mating. Is something wrong with your body Russell?” She asked with concern, shifting atop him again. He groaned.

“No, nothing’s wrong! It’s behaving perfectly normally for a male of prime breeding age who’s got a naked female atop him grinding her butt on him!” He ground out sarcastically, unable to help himself and laughing at the situation. Veera soon joined him, standing to allow him some relief and making sure to keep one leg in front of the other, obscuring his view of her womanhood. She reached down and took his face in her hands, tilting his head up so she could look at him again.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” she whispered, letting out a small cry as Winters nodded and wrapped his arms around her and rested his forehead against her chest.

“Your fur feels really good. The discomfort is more than worth it,” he murmured. “And I should have told you. It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have assumed it was the same with your people. When human males get aroused our body knows what it has to do. When you deny it that, it rebels. It hurts. That’s probably why we’re so goddamn horny as a species. It feels amazing when you indulge yourself and it’s painful when you don’t. You’re just the opposite Veera,” he explained, idly rubbing her sides with his thumbs and breathing deeply as her scent filled his lungs.

“Russell, you make it out like I don’t want this…” Veera sounded hurt. He shook his head, stood, and held her to him, knowing she would feel just how much he wanted her.

“It’s not that. Come, lay down with me?” He requested, guiding them both onto the bed. “It’s just that if a human female removed her clothes like this it would be…different.” Veera felt herself recoil internally at that word again.

“Why?”

“We have no fur. You’ve said before how you like that there’s nothing between you and my body when I have my shirt off, right?”

“Yes. Are you saying you don’t-” Winters kissed her immediately to silence what he knew was coming and to banish the worry in her voice.

“No, I’m not. I love your fur. It’s just different. I know in my mind that this is you, as you were born, that you’ve bared yourself to me. I’m sure you felt what that knowledge did to me.” Veera smiled and nodded, licking his neck and nipping at the tender skin there as he continued. He sucked in a breath through his teeth as he felt her canines.

“Aaah, damn! That’s…bloody good Veera. Gods, you make explaining this hard. Anyway, all I meant was that your fur makes you mysterious, like there’s something still to discover between the two of us. Your nakedness is subtle and compelling. Mine would be blatant and obvious. Does that make…any sense?” He asked, breathing heavily as Veera continued lavishing attention on his neck, even venturing up and nipping at his ear. She whispered back.

“Yes, I believe I understand now. Just promise me that you will not hold yourself back from me when the time comes. I am sorry for putting you in a position where your body wants to mate and my refusal is causing you pain, truly. But I don’t want to stop exploring you, or being explored. It’s too nice to give up,” she was practically pleading with him. In response he lifted her fully onto him and kissed her deeply, figuring that if he was going to suffer that he’d do so on his own terms, running his hands down her back and taking a firm hold of her ass as he shoved his tongue into her mouth. The combination of soft fur and taught muscle underneath was heavenly to him. It might have been unfair, but he decided to vent a bit of his frustration on her. Veera gasped and cried out at his rough attentions, feeling his arousal press into her belly. Her claws dug into his shoulders as she thought she might explode from the various sensations assaulting her body.

“You have nothing to worry about on that count. I’m nowhere near done exploring you,” he growled, enjoying how she was totally powerless despite resting atop him. In his periphery he noticed Io had projected herself and was watching them cautiously, clad again in her seemingly preferred lacy green lingerie. He took a deep breath and eased off, moving his hands back up to Veera’s back. Maybe this is for the best before I go well and truly insane? “What is it Io?” He asked as Veera whipped her head around, moving her tail to cover her intimate parts. Io had the decency to look hesitant.

‘My apologies. I believe this can be discussed in the morning. I just thought…” She averted her eyes. Winters looked back at Veera.

“That alright with you?”

“I suppose so. Even if it is about us…mating…”

“I know, you aren’t ready.” His voice was kind and understanding, making her wonder what she’d done to deserve such a human.

“I’m sorry Russell, I know that-” Veera was silenced with another kiss.

“You know what I’m going to say to that, don’t you?” He asked slyly, moving a hand south.

“That I’m not allowed to say I’m sorry for something like that?” She smiled as she felt him on her hindquarters again. He was less insistent this time. “I take it you like my ass even more now?”

“Yes and yes. It may be painful in a way, but don’t you dare think I don’t enjoy these moments as much as you do. No idea what compelled you to do this, but I sure as hell don’t mind.”

“You know full well why I did this Russell,” she insisted, tenderly kissing his nose with her own and feeling his touch lighten in response. “I felt so very close to you tonight.” She held his gaze as he nodded.

“Yeah, I do too Veera. Looking forward to replacing this?” He asked, patting the old chesko fur beneath them. She grinned incredulously at him and gently raked his upper chest with her claws.

“You just had to bring it up didn’t you? But yes, I am.” They both laughed, taking a moment to revel in their good fortune before continuing to kiss and explore, very slowly climbing down from the peak that had almost broken Winters’ resolve. As Veera eventually felt sleep coming for her, she nestled against him and sighed happily, feeling wonderful as her fur rubbed fully against his skin. “Goodnight my human.”

“Goodnight my feather kitten.” Winters kissed her head before shooting Io a look, ensuring her that she wasn’t forgotten and that they would catch up on the morrow. With a fierce blush Io silently waved goodnight and blinked away, leaving the spinning moon in her place.

-----

“Hmm,” Winters sighed as he slowly drifted out of slumber. His body was ensconced in a most pleasant sensation, which his waking mind finally ascertained was Veera’s body, which she’d draped over him during the night. The proximate cause of his awakening was made clear as he felt the warm, smooth surface of her tongue sweep lightly over the base of his neck, a few inches above his heart. He opened his eyes. “Didn’t have enough last night?” He asked with a chuckle. Veera raised her head and looked at him lovingly.

“Sorry. I’m just used to waking up early and…I don’t know. I just felt compelled to,” she tried to explain, closing her eyes and purring with contentment as he rubbed the base of her ears.

“It’s fine Veera. I slept well last night too, so it’s probably better to be getting back on an early schedule anyway. That and…it feels nice. What would you like for breakfast? I’m cooking today,” he offered, much to her delight. She rolled off him to allow him to sit up and stretch, laying herself back on the straw and allowing him to run his eyes over the full length of her body again, cleverly concealing the valley of her hips with thighs and tail.

“I’d love eggs and meat. At least one of us should take the chesko innards over to the shen coops this morning.” His eyes finally met hers again, giving her a look she couldn’t quite fathom.

“How do you do that?”

“What?” She cocked her head to the side and fluffed her feathers.

“Manage to make the exchange of guts for eggs sound sexy.”

“Natural talent?” She proposed, waving a hand idly before making to stand. Winters placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back down.

“You look comfortable. I’ll handle this one. Just let me know where you stashed them and where to go, yeah?” Veera was taken aback for just a moment, but eventually nodded at him.

“There should be two leather wraps out back. The cold overnight should have kept them unspoiled. The shen coops are to the left and right of the north gate. There should be someone there tending to them. I’m sure they’ll be happy to exchange.”

“You got it. Be back in a bit, alright?” He promised, rising from the bed and replacing his shirt, vest, and boots before grabbing his canteen and walking out into the street. Io immediately popped into view and met Veera’s eyes eagerly.

‘I believe it’s time for some girl talk.’