Rey

-Black cat in disguise-

Loess was just the way I’d left her.

Beautiful, unassuming, and exceptionally quiet. I don’t mind so much anymore, especially since I know that this time the stallion bringing me back here is actually invested in spending time with me for a particular set of reasons I’m actually looking forward to. I’m certain he’ll be pleasantly surprised by my natural abilities but for now we’re still lowly chatting to one another. He’d been patient, letting my usually airborne feet rest as we journeyed back and for that I’m grateful: it gives me ample time to work out his personality quirks and adjust my own to match.

If anything, I’m masterful at convincing others I adore them. “Looks like we’ll catch a sunset,” I gleam with a bright smile, once we’ve reached the hilly kingdom’s borders and are passing through. The low scrub and tangled brush will give way to flat grassland soon enough, rocky and smattered with all kinds of flora. “do you want to relax in the steam pools, or maybe head for the beach?” I suggest, really open to doing whatever he liked for however long he wanted.

“Oh Arthas,” I sigh, seemingly overcome with a rush of emotion from being back, leaning against him while our steps lead us into the heart of the country, “I’m so happy to be here … thank you.” I flutter, planting an innocently light kiss against his broad shoulder. “I feel that I’m going to be very happy here, and that you’ll be very happy with me, too.”

Rey

-Black cat in disguise-

Arthas is sweet. About as sweet as can be for someone of his stature and world knowledge. I feel a twinge of the old dog regret nipping at my heels when his reassuring nose brushes against my skin, (what was I doing here?) but like all those times before I kick it away with the help of my memories. Arthas is sweet because he doesn’t know me, and I intend to keep it that way for a good long while.

There’s certainly something reassuring in his kiss; something honest and perhaps hopeful. It strikes me, as we finally find ourselves stopping at the foggy banks of the pools, that the gray stallion belly-deep before me would make an excellent father and protector … and not just for myself. A pleasant, untempered nature such as his was worth returning to Loess so I answer him truthfully as my legs guide me expertly into the thermal waters beside him.

“King, not King ...” I shrug gently, easing closer so that I could tug his heavy, dark mane, “If I didn’t want to want to be here, I wouldn’t be.” I smile, enjoying the way it felt to be near him. It was obvious that his attachment was serious, and I liked him all the better for it. Where else would I go, anyways?

“Are there any other women in your life I should be worried about?” I ask him after a pause, curious to know if I’d be wrecking some other hopeful romantic in the making. Not that I’d be deterred anyways; all’s fair in love and war. “No Maria or Maura to go along with your Dacia?” I laugh softly, pressing the curve of my carnation-colored lips to his neck.

Rey

-Black cat in disguise-

Such an honest bloke, in every sense of the word. I ignore that part of yourself where humanity lives and close my eyes when Arthas reassures me with kindness and affection. It’s simpler just to flutter my lips into a pretty smile and blink my eyes calmly towards him as he does his best to be chivalric. “No, don’t think about it anymore.” I soothe him, pressing myself closer as my lips pepper the handsome angles of his smokey cheeks with kisses.

“I didn’t mean to make you nervous. You’re wonderful, and there’s a shortage of wonderful stallions in our world.” I sigh truthfully, pulling my eager face away from his. We’d traveled all this way, he’d been so open to me and kindly given back the home I so casually left once before. Enough of my teasing.

I focus instead on the way the water feels as it pulls the ache from my muscles. The tension from today’s whirlwind events uncoils inside of me and I let my thoughts wander to other, more engaging ideas of how we might spend our time together here. Casually I angle my body opposite his, so that I’m facing his hind and he’s likewise looking at mine, and from there I let my curious nostrils explore the strong, ashen arc of his back and croup. “I’ll tell you what I do want,” my voice pipes up from behind him, soft and sensuous.

My tail hitches, and the obvious timing of the seasons seems too good an opportunity to pass up for once in my life.

“A miniature version of you, running around here. I think that would do it.” I joke lightly, tilting my head back to pin him with a heated glare.