Cat Scratched! (7 page)

Snow's fingers clenched the grass as she screamed, her yells of ecstasy echoing through the trees. Several startled forest creatures took flight. But, her muscles did ease around him and he could sink further into her.

She was still reeling when he casually said, "I should have thought of that before."

So, he slid fully into her as he fully
enhanced.
Her wet arousal cushioned his swift passage. Her pleasure-screams soon cascaded around him like an unending waterfall. Unimpeded, he began to move in the moisture-drenched passage. Thrusting deeper and deeper, all the while sending her waves of unrelenting
enhancement
. Salair was never a subtle man when it came to love play. Truthfully, he did not go easy on her.

But he did please her.

Until she screamed his name. Begged for release. Cried out her fulfillment.

Only then did she release her own feline nature–And finally called him her beloved Familiar mate.

***

Salair sensed a non-threatening presence looming over him.

As sleeping cats are wont to do, he lifted his eyelids slowly.

The Dundee that he had seen by the cottage was staring at him. Her wise, old eyes were apparently judging him as he slept with his mate in his arms.

His mate.

His glance drifted over to Snow who was fast asleep in his arms.

Not wanting to wake her up, he nodded his head to indicate her sleeping form before sending his thoughts into the Dundee's mind.

{What is it that you seek from me?}

She rocked on her flat, wide heels and continued to observe him carefully through steady eyes. Respecting his wishes to not wake Snow, she spoke with him using
hiss-words;
a magickal technique perfected by her kind.
Hiss-words
allowed spoken words to be heard only at the ear of the intended recipient. Salair knew for a fact that the Charl wizards had been trying to obtain that craft for years but it eluded their best efforts.

"You have come to take our daughter away from us." The words floated gently next to his ear.

Daughter?
So, he had been wrong when he had viewed that scene in the glade. Snow, apparently, was more than a pet to her. This Dundee had probably saved his mate's life. For that he owed her much.

Many would have sold a Familiar girl off to obtain the enormous amount of clarified stones she would fetch. For that kind act alone, he would be respectful. But, he had no intention of misleading the Dundee as to what he would do. Snow was his now. She belonged to him. The responsibility of protecting her was his and his alone.

He did not mince words.

{Yes. I will take her from you.}

The old Dundee let out a long sigh, then slowly sat her bulky body next to him, sinking into the tall grass. She gazed out at the rippling pond. It was several moments before she spoke. "This will make us very sad." The word 'sad' floated an especially long time by his
ear. Salair looked down, a line marring his normally smooth forehead.
{I am sorry for that.}

The Dundee exhaled heavily, making sure the Familiar
felt
the weight of his actions on her. Then she said, "You are welcome to stay. With us, Familiar?"

There was a hopeful tone in her words. Dundee were reclusive, yet kind people. It had not been his intention to hurt anyone. It was Salair's turn to sigh.

{I thank you, but I cannot. I must return to my home world–and with due haste.}

"So you will leave our Snowflake?" Although outwardly calm, the Dundee squeezed a fistful of grass, and then ripped at it.

Salair took pity on her. She was upset.

{Snow can no longer remain with you; it is too dangerous for her. Sooner or later, others may find her, and they will take her away. Not back to her people, as I will. . . But to a life of terrible hardship. If you care for her, you would not want this to happen.}

"What makes you think she would not be safe with us? We are a simple people, living a simple life, far from the ambitions of others. She is a sweet being, happy and pleased with her life. Perhaps, it is not right for you to take that from her."

{Perhaps not. Yet, it is what I must do.}
The Dundee stared across the pond. After some time passed she finally said, "Sometimes a simple life is best." Salair countered.
{When has living a simple life ever protected those from the ones that would seize power over them?}
The Dundee smiled slightly. "For one not Dundee, you are somewhat wise. Mayhap, Snowflake could have more. . . on your world?"

She wanted reassurance that Snow would be well-cared for.

{Much more.}

She nodded. "Best you leave quickly. I have just returned from the village; there is a tracker asking questions in the square about a tall Familiar who has gold-tipped hair. I am thinking that tracker hunts you. Does she not?" Salair's brow knit.
{A female tracker?}
The Dundee nodded.

A tracker who was female was very unusual. Furthermore, this one was highly skilled; he had barely caught a sense of her tracking him–and he was exceptionally skilled. He could not afford to underestimate her. Trackers were always scouts; there was no telling how many followed behind.

He glanced down at his mate. She was especially vulnerable. His arms tightened around her.
{Neither one of us is safe here. As soon as she learns of Snow, she will come for her as well.}

"Then take her now. Do not tarry any longer." The Dundee gave a rather sad sounding snort. "She is always slow to awaken to her senses in the morning."

Salair grinned.
{Is she?}

The Dundee chuckled as she rose. "Especially so for a feline."

{You will be safe?}

She waved away his concern and tossed him a sack of food. "Fresh from the early morn market. For your journey." He knew how much Dundee disliked going about in the sunlight. He thanked her.
{Tell me, why did you name her Snowflake?}

"No. No name her." The words floated to him. "She told us."

A thoughtful expression crossed his handsome features.

"When the time is right, tell her we will miss her." He nodded, but she was already hobbling away.

***

Snow felt a toe in her side.

"Wake up,
Kittenfeet
. We are leaving."

"Go with two cloaks and a wizard’s dance," she mumbled incoherently and turned onto her side. The toe wiggled into her waist, moving to just under her rib.
" Snow, wake up now,"
said the firm voice.

She burrowed her forehead into the crook of her arm and actually hissed at him. It was not as if she weren't stiff and sore in places she had not realized one
could
be stiff and sore.

She was positive the direct cause of every one of those
'pings' tormenting her was
him
.

"You are my least favored person at the moment. Go away! I am not moving for another day and a half," she groused.

"As you wish." Salair grabbed her wrist and ankle, and tossed her over his broad shoulders. Like one might a traveling cloak.

That
woke her up.

"What the–?" The tilting sensation surprised her. She soon realized that the forest seemed to be rushing past them. She frowned. That could not be. No, she was the one rushing past the trees! Salair Ner had tossed her over his shoulders and he–
By Aiyah, the man was moving!

He navigated through the trees at a lightening-fast clip.
Away from her home
.

"Stop! You are going in the wrong direction, Salair!"

{Am I?}

What was he doing? She did not realize she had spoken out loud until he answered her.

{I am taking you to M'yan.}

To M'yan? That was it; no discussion? Simply, because he had mated her? What arrogance! She scratched his back.

"I think not."

A slow grin spread across Salair's face. She was feline, indeed. "So,
now
you are the cat?" he teased.

"I have told you before, I do not wish to return to M'yan!"

"That is unfortunate since we
are
returning." As far as this stray cat was concerned–It was time to
scat
.

***

But all did not go as he had planned.

Once Snow realized that he truly meant to take her from her protected home, she fought with all of her strength to forestall him. She banged her fists against him, twisting upon his shoulders as she kicked and scratched.

It was to no avail.

Male Familiars, once resolute, were unmovable. And besides, they were used to their mates carrying on thus. It was part of the female feline nature. He was pleased it was starting to show itself more and more. But, when her energy wore down and the pitiful sobs came his heart was torn.

He tried to soothe her; he understood all to well that he was removing her from everything she knew and loved. Snow had found safety and comfort on Teno. To the point that the refuge was not just a safe harbor–it was a place she could hide away.

Some Familiars were wont to travel and some adored the comforts of home. That was not the issue. Snow had to leave this planet. Not just for her safety; but for her ultimate well-being.

She had never recovered from her wounds the night her parents were lost to her. Nor would she if she remained hidden away.

She had forgotten who she was; where she came from. Most importantly, she forgot how to
be
Familiar. It saddened him.

She could no longer metamorphose into her other form. So she had lived her life cut off from everyone and everything. Including herself.

A life of small parameters.

And even in that she had made herself happy. It was her nature. He could see that–she
was
sweet-natured. Snow had not become "lost". Events had been enacted upon her and she made a place for herself to survive in. She had found a way to live.

His hand stroked her leg. "You are in danger,
Softcat
. We must go where it is safe. Do not be sad. It will be better–much better–for you on M'yan."

"I do not wish to leave my home, Salair." Her soft sobs pierced him. A tear splashed on the hand that was still stroking her. "You can be my mate on Teno." What else could she do? he asked himself. She was terrified, and she was
blind.
He came into her life to remove her from all she knew and loved.

After their incredible night together, he realized how much he already loved her. So, then, how could he be the cause of this pain to her?

She was his own Softcat.

He would have to keep close to his heart that her kindness would eventually allow her to forgive him. It was all that he had.

There was no other path in this situation.

He tried to raise his own flagging spirits by telling himself she would understand it all soon.

"There is no more discussion of this, Snow. We will soon be on M'Yan."

Even as his voice was strong with determination, a tear escaped the corner of his eye. Had his clansmen been there to witness it, they never would have believed it. Salair Ner going
tame
? The Familiar who lived for wild adventure and who was just this side of rogue?

Salair resolutely shook off the painful emotions. He must be strong now–for both of their sakes.

***

It was a horrible journey.

It had taken him eight days to find his way back to M'yan through safe Tunnel points. Snow cried every night. Her pitiful sobs constantly tore at him. She would not speak with him for much of the day.

Salair did not make love to her again on the journey–respectful of her mood and cautious of triggering the Incarnation too soon. Already, his temper was growing short and, at odd times, he was experiencing the wracking tremors of the pre-onset stage.

While some of the symptoms varied from male to male, the general process was the same. Only his iron will, and determination staved it off. Soon, though that would not be enough.

No matter how strong the Familiar, he could not hold back nature's transformation forever.

At several locations, the locals gaped at them. A powerful shapeshifter carrying a beautiful, but sad woman on his back was not a usual sight.

As expected, no one interfered.

No one would be foolish enough to come between a Familiar and his woman. Most preferred to live. Salair had already stepped though the final gate on Aviara that led directly to his home world and was now making his way north to his clan's territory. He had not seen his kinsmen in a very long time, and was surprised to find he had missed them.

He snarled softly, not sure he liked that emotion. He was not the kind of feline who felt sadness when he was not around others. How had mating changed him? Had he been melted by Snow?