My loyal cub

Learning the ropes

I was stunned to hear him talk but quickly recovered. I smiled up at him warmly, but he still didn't seem to be able to look at me. Without pushing him, I led him to the bathroom again. "You can take a hot shower if you want, there are fresh towels on that hanger there, and I have put down fresh clothes too. Take all the time you need. I will start making dinner. With that, I turned around and walked out.

Gaella's POV:

I rushed into the kitchen, started to work on dinner. What do Demi-humans even eat? He is a snow leopard, so I figured out meat, but do they also eat vegetables? It didn't matter, I just started making dinner, anything and everything I could find in the cupboards. I heard the water starting to run in the bathroom. Good, at least he is taking a shower.

As I went on with preparing dinner, my thoughts started to wander towards him...

He was tall, like really, REALLY tall, his fur seemed silver, but those golden markings just made it look so much more surreal.

His eyes drew me in. I caught myself staring at them longer than I wanted, and his tail looked so soft to hold.

I caught myself starting to wonder how his arms would feel if they held me.

"Whoaaa" I silently smirked, Let's not go there, Gaella," I quietly murmured to myself. I continued on with dinner and after 20 minutes dinner was ready. I still heard the shower running, so i gave a short knock on the door to the bathroom. I heard the shower turn off " dinner is ready."

I went back to the kitchen and sat down at the kitchen island, after 5 minutes, he shyly walked in wearing the clothes i had lain out for him. His fur was not matted anymore in clumps of dirt and he seemed a bit healthier. He stood in the doorway, head down as if waiting on an order. " Come sit down, enjoy dinner" i smiled warmly at him.

He obeyed, as he sat down on the wooden chair, it slightly groaned under his weight. He didn't move, just sat there. " You are not a prisoner here, you are free to move around wherever you like, feel free to grab food and start eating." With that, I started digging in myself. I noticed him looking at me under his long lashes, observing me and after a few minutes, he grabbed some meat and started slowly eating. The silence that followed was not uncomfortable.

" Kaelen, my name... is Kaelen" i had to stop chewing, thinking i imagined him saying anything but as i looked up he looked at me before lowering his gaze again. " Nice to meet you Kaelen" was all i said and went back to my own dinner, atleast i knew his name now.

After dinner i decided it had been a long day so once i put the dishes away i started making the couch for him so he could sleep on it. I didn't think this though when i bought him on impulse. I have no second bedroom nor really the space for him to stay comfortably, but I'll figure that out over the next few days.

"You can sleep here. I'm sorry there isn't more but I will have to see about it in the next couple of days what I can do to make it better for you". And with that i walked to my bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Once my head hit the pillow i was out, sleep had taken over me fast.

Kaelen's POV:

This woman, why did she buy me? She seemed so friendly and kind, something I hadn't experienced in a long time. There must be something she'd want from me. Once she left the room, i turned on the shower and got in, the hot water slightly burning on my fresh wounds I had earned the day before for not being fast enough in being obedient to the merchant, but it soothed my muscles. I looked at the few bottles on the shower shelf and took the one labeled as shampoo. I had no idea what it was, but it smelled nice, of herbs and pine.

I scrubbed to get all the filth out of my fur, making sure I got every inch of my body scrubbed clean of the filth i had been living in for the past 5 years. 5 years... I had been discarded by my previous owner for losing one battle in the cage, while winning over 100 before. That is when i ended up in the hands of the merchant. He used me to either train the other younger cubs or to fight battles for him, earning him a lot of gold. I never saw anything from that gold. There had been weeks when I had only been fed once or not at all.

I heard a soft knock on the door and a muffled "dinner is ready" before hearing her footsteps retreat again. I turned off the shower and took a towel off the wall, it felt soft and warm. I started drying myself and put on the clothes she had lain out for me; a simple black shirt and some black shorts. I was not used to this, the softness of it all, everything seemed so foreign.

As i stepped out of the bathroom, I smelled delicious food, my mouth started to water instantly. As i stood by the entrance of the kitchen I didn't know what to do, so I just waited for a command. I was taught that you can not do something unless ordered.

To my surprise, I just heard her tell me that i could sit down. I froze for a second, no one has ever invited me at their table. I always had to sit in a corner, watch them eat while my stomach hurt from hunger. If I was lucky, I got some scraps or a bone tossed at me.

I silently walked over and sat down, not sure if the chair would hold and just stared at my plate. The moment i heard her tell me i was not a prisoner there, i looked at her through my lashes, not understanding why she was so kind. I reached out, still alert to the possible threat of whiplash, but i sensed no hostility in her, and took a piece of meat. I took a small bite and it felt like heaven just landed on my tongue. The meat was so tender and juicy, i had to withhold any type of sound.

I looked at her and before i knew it i spoke

" Kaelen,my name... is Kaelen".

I saw her freeze and look up at me, shock blooming in her eyes but she gave me a smile before saying, " Nice to meet you, Kaelen". I lowered my gaze again and continued eating.

After dinner, she started shifting things around the couch and then told me i could sleep there and walked out. I just stared at the couch, slightly pressed one of my hands into it, careful not to cut it with my nails. It felt soft... too soft from what i am used to. I grabbed the blanket from the couch and curled up in it next to the couch in the corner. At least this way i could feel a threat coming if there was one. A full stomach and the warmth of this house made me fall asleep instantly.