"You're welcome, Myanna. Might I just say I am really glad you are
shifting still? I was worried that I might have dreamed it up. But
you are still much too intelligent to be the average Bengal tiger,"
Amadeus chuckled, smiling warmly at her.
Benji studdied it a moment. Wiggling excitedly before running
around in little circles. When he finally remembered to shift so he
could speak, Benji found himself speechless.
Myanna tilted her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm
not sure I understand what you're saying... I mean, I get the part
about dreaming it, I've dreamed things too, but... What makes you
really glad?" She was glad she could shift as well, then she could
speak with him properly, but there was something that she couldn't
quite pinpoint. Something about being the same as him.
Jabrielle giggled and smiled broadly. "I'm so glad it's being
received so well!"
"Well...have you ever heard of a thing called love at first sight?"
Amadeus asked, fidgeting but keeping eye contact for the polite
amount of time. "I think the feeling I have a connection to you.
More then just knowing your secrete..."
"It is amazing! That is me! All of me! And it looks so lifelike!"
Benji nearly shouted, managing to keep hois voice lower in case
people were listening.
Myanna blushed softly and turned her head to look up at the moon,
her smile slimmed into a more serious line as she nibbled on her
bottom lip. "I have heard of that..." She let her head fall
forwards slowly as she thought through her feelings and the
tingling sensation in her stomach. "I feel a connection of sorts as
well... Not just having let you see me..."
Jabrielle giggled, her smile starting to hurt her cheeks. "It is
you!" She chuckled a moment before falling silent, her smile
falling with it. "Benji," She paused as she worked to find the
right words. "I would like to draw you in this shape..." She
reached up to cup his jaw, but didn't make the contact. "I try to
put the personality of whatever I'm drawing onto the page... I
would like you to see yourself as I see you when you're in this
shape..." She hoped that he got the right message from what she had
been trying to communicate.
Amadeus' heart skipped a beat. She potentially like him like that?
He certainly was falling hard for her. How would this work? Inching
closer, he placed a hand on the small of her back. "Well...we don't
have to go rushing into anything. But if you wish to give this a
try, we can. Let it grow where it may."
Benji reached up, holding her hand to his cheek. "I would like
that. I know how I see me in my human shape. But I want to know how
you see me. I see you you see me in my animal form and I really
like that. I trust you and know you care about me. I hope you know
I care about you too," he murmured.
"Let it grow where it may..." Myanna whispered, still looking up at
the moon. A silvery tear slid out of her eye and trailed itself
down her cheek. "I like the sound of that." She turned enough to
face him before moving forwards, wrapping her arms around him, and
placing her palms on his shoulder blades.
Jabrielle nodded slowly, her smile soft and gentle, but no less
honest. "I," She paused, her smile falling for just a moment as she
fumbled with her words. She chuckled as she realized that no matter
how she tried to think of what to say, all that she could think of
was 'I love you.' She shook her head and pulled him into a hug.
Amadeus smiled, hugging her back tightly. "Glad you like it,
Myanna...you deserve happiness and love. Even if we don't get
romantic, you have my love and I wish to make you happy."
Benji happily hugged her back, nuzzling his head into the crook of
her neck. "I like hugs like these. You are so warm and kind. And
your drawing is amazing!"
A few weeks have passed, and Myanna had truly found a friend and
partner in Amadeus. Her cage had gotten the upgrades and
installations, and now she had a much more comfortable nest-like
bed, and her pool was a decent size, and there was a door that she
could open that led outside into a mini enclosure with a tree-like
structure for climbing and scratching. She was looking forwards to
seeing him today.
Jabrielle sniffled as she packed her bag from class and headed to
the animal rescue. She just had a bad cold and knew that she
couldn't give it to the animals. She also knew she should rest, but
she wanted so badly to see them all, especially Benji.
Amadeus went about his morning routine like normal. But he could
tell he was off. By noon, he was ready to crawl into bed and not
get up for a week. Or two. Snagging a box of tissues, he brought
Myanna her meal. "Hey there, gorgeous," he greeted.
Benji had healed up nicely but refused to go anywhere. He liked
Jabrielle and wanted to stay where she was.
Myanna hopped up as soon as her door was opened. She smelled
something somewhat off about him, but she wasn't quite sure until
he spoke. Was he sick? She ignored the food, sat down and stared up
at him, her head tilted to one side silently asking him her
question.
Jabrielle grabbed a few pieces of mango as she headed to see Benji.
"Benji? I brought you some mango." She smiled as she stepped in and
shut the door.
"Did I grab the wrong thing?" Amadeus asked, vhecking her bowl
before returning her gaze. "Something wrong? Oh! You're trying to
ask about me? I'm...eh. Not feeling good right now. I think I may
have to call a buddy of mine to see if he could come in and feed
the group for a few days. I'll get some ginger ale later. For now,
I just want to sit down and rest a bit with my favorite person,"
Amadeus explained to her, his voice squeaking at the end. Coughing
to clear his throat ended in him snatching a tissue to actually
have a coughing fit in.
Benji had heard her voice and was at the door, waiting for
Jabrielle. The mango was a nice treat but he was more interested in
her. Especially since her voice sounded off. And she smelled a bit
different. Not bad. But not good either. Just different.
Myanna's eyes widened slightly as he had his coughing fit, but once
he'd finished that, she got up and moved forwards to gently take
his hand in her mouth and lead him over to her soft bed. If she got
sick, resting and being warm were the best things to do. She would
make sure of that. The others and her could wait a little
while.
Jabrielle held out the mango, having to sniffle a couple times
before she reared her head back and sneezed into her elbow several
times. "Oh goodness..." Another sniffle and one last sneeze.
Chuckling, Amadeus didn't fight Myanna as she led him to her nest
of a bed. "You taking care of me, sweetheart?" He asked, sitting
down with a sigh. "I should rest for a bit..."
Benji had jumped at the first sneeze and starred up at her
curiously before jumping onto her and curling around her neck,
rubbing against her in comfort. Was she okay? He needed to take
care of her!
Myanna nodded, and once he was sitting, she curled herself around
him so he could lay back and rest on her. She waited for him to lay
down more so she could lay her head next to his.
Jabrielle chuckled as he jumped up, and she lifted a hand to rub
under his chin. "Yeah, I've got a bit of a cold... I'm fine though.
Here, I brought you some mango." She held a piece up to him.
Amadeus smiled, one side of his face warm against her fur. "Thank
you, Myanna. This is really nice. I think I will sleep here
tonight," he told her, brushing her fur with his fingers.
Benji took it, watching her a moment before taking a bite. Then he
chittered a long list of suggestions for what she should do with a
cold. Most of witch included him helping her feel better. Patting
her shoulder, he nuzzled her again.
Myanna nuzzled her head against his before laying it down. He
needed to rest and needed to be kept warm. That way his body could
work to rid him of the sick.
Jabrielle giggled as she heard him chittering. "Oh really? Is that
what doctor Benji suggests? Even though I can't understand you, I
still get the gist of it." She sat down with her back against the
wall and pulled out her pad. She had drawn an entire page full of
sketches of him running around and generally just being adorable.
Amadeus was out like a light in a few moments. He breathed
peacefully, curled against the woman he had fallen hard for.
Despite the fact she was a tiger.
Benji stilled, trying to look innocent. He nuzzled her, enjoying
just being with her.