FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Kali watched the prince and his entourage depart, clustered together with fluttering laughs and mewls. Tasean's voice rose over the others and echoed down the hallway. Usually, when he left, she felt more at ease. This time, however, agitation tweaked Kali's tail. A persistent flick, even now. Part of her wanted to know what he told Rinzaan. A more significant part of her didn't. She didn't know which to listen to. An effect Tasean had on her–and almost every other cat.

He would be an excellent emperor, if the empress ever let him take the title from her hooked claws–and if he could pull his whiskers out of the palace greenery. Neither of which seemed likely to happen soon.

Rinzaan also watched over his shoulder until the prince's shrill laughter faded away. Both brown ears were still skewed from whatever Tasean had said, but they flicked forward once they were alone. He looked at Kali, a small smile on his muzzle.

Kali didn't quite return the sentiment. She frowned with all her whiskers, stopping short of showing her teeth. “Good luck, your highness? Seriously?"

Rinzaan scratched the back of his neck, and his briefly calmed tail returned to frantic lashes. She didn't show her teeth, but he could hear the bite in her words, regardless. “Well, I thought it might be suspicious if I didn't."

Kali scoffed at that with an added smart whip of her tail. “Stars forbid you not lick his paws for two seconds."

Rinzaan's ears lowered. “I don't really have a choice," he whispered. “Not if I want to stay here."

“And do you want to stay here? Or is that something Tasean decided for you, too?"

“I really do."

Kali hesitated. There was a certainty in his answer, in his voice, that she didn't hear often. It was the first time that night that she truly believed him. Her tail stopped lashing, and her ears pricked forward. “You do?"

Rinzaan nodded once. “A position among the palace cats is an incredible opportunity," he answered. “Few cats get a chance like this, and I'm incredibly lucky Prince Tasean chose me to join his advisors. His, uh, potential advisors. He's not so bad, compared to the fanciers and the other royals."

Kali's tail lashed, though she didn't understand why. It was the answer she expected, but somehow it wasn't what she hoped to hear. After all the times they talked about hopes and dreams for the future, this was what Rinzaan decided he was after. A palace in the Mjau palace. A palace kitty.

He wasn't wrong. From everything Kali had heard, positions at the palace were coveted by Dockies as much as Benz cats. She couldn't blame him.

Kali sighed through her teeth and ran her claws along her hackles. “I know he's not," she muttered. She checked the hall–this time in case Tasean's ears hovered about rather than the empress's. Tasean's ego was bad enough as is. He didn't need any extra flattery. “Look, I get it. He's the only br–prince that I can tolerate. Even if he gets pushy when he's green. He's not the worst cat here." Kali's flattened. “It's not a bad position. I'm glad you found something to aspire for, I guess."

Rinzaan's whiskers lifted at that, his muzzle brightening with a smile. Which, again, somehow sent a disappointed throb through Kali's chest. A strange sensation, while she still felt the warmth radiating from his smile up to her ears. As much as she hated agreeing with Tasean, Rinzaan was incredibly charming. And he might be fit for life as a palace kitty, as much as she hated admitting that, too.

“Just–" Kali glanced over Rinzaan's shoulder. “Don't be afraid to tell Tas–Prince Tasean no, if he's being too pushy about something. Especially when he's minted. He won't hold it against you. If he does, he'll probably forget it in a few hours, anyway."

“Is this about the 'highness' stuff?" Rinzaan asked with a short laugh. “That's only around the other palace cats. It's expected. I'm not actually tucking my tail that easily. It's all for show. Like everything is up here."

“You didn't say no to that drink."

“It seemed sporting to taste it, since both of you were willing to risk frying your whiskers over me. If I didn't want to, I would've turned him down. Maybe not as directly as you would've, but I have my ways." Rinzaan's own whiskers twitched, and his smile twisted into a smirk. “You were really worried about me, weren't you?"

Kali's ears flattened. “No. I was just making sure you knew."

Rinzaan cast another one of his dazzling smiles at her, his tail swishing once. “Well, thanks," he said. “For thinking of me. And, uh, for what happened–" His ears pivoted towards the hall, and his voice lowered. “For everything that happened the other day. With, you know, the fighting and all. Are you doing okay?"

Kali chirped once. She didn't know what surprised her more, that he brought up the fight within earshot of the palace, or that he was worried about her. The latter warmed her whisker pads, though she tried to ignore it.

“Me? I'm totally fine." Kali said. “Never better."

She answered with a forced nonchalance, considering all the days she mewled like a kitten when she had to drag her bruised and sore tail out of bed. With more mewling after, when Mikora applied stinging ointments on her various cuts. Though he didn't need to find out about that.

Kali nodded towards the target nearby, where her bow and quiver both rested. “I'm pretty tough, you know," she said, a haughty lift to her tail. “Since I'm a future Mjauzi and all that."

“So that's why you're here? Because you're training to be a Mjauzi?"

Something about the incredulous note in his voice made Kali's half-perked tail twitch. “Yeah, that's why I'm here." Kali frowned. “I'm sure I've brought it up before."

“You did," Rinzaan said. “I thought you practiced at home or something."

“At home?" Kali scrunched her muzzle. “You've seen my house. I don't have room for that."

“Or maybe somewhere else in the Benz?"

“You've seen the Benz, too," Kali said. “Where am I supposed to shoot arrows there? It's too crowded."

“I don't know. I just thought you had somewhere there to practice." Rinzaan shuffled on his feet, glancing at the target. He did his best to avoid her piercing stare and keep his fur smooth. To no avail, because his nervous tail flicked, anyway. “I didn't think you came up to the palace, because of the–" Rinzaan waved a hand, like he was trying to grasp the right words for it. “You know. The whole–"

Kali's ears fell flat. She wasn't certain which part he referred to precisely, but she knew what he meant. Even if he couldn't bring himself to say it. None of the palace cats ever could, since it was a taboo subject within the palace walls. At least, no one dared speak of it while the empress or any of the royal fanciers were around.

“The bastard thing," Kali finished for him.

Rinzaan nodded. He seemed relieved that she said it, with his tail returning to an easier sway. “Yeah. That. I didn't think you'd, well, be here in the palace, considering."

“I'm not banned from being here or something." She just had to take the servant's passages instead of the front door. And wear a scarf over her ears, at nighttime, and scurry through the palace proper like a vagrant mouse. And avoid the palace fanciers–and the empress–at all costs.

She wasn't banned, but she certainly wasn't welcome here.

Kali's ears stayed low and she hissed under her breath. “It's just complicated. That's all."

She looked over at the hallway, her ears lifting to listen to the faint footsteps, some distant talking and laughter, and maybe even the clicking of glasses or silverware. She watched, like she expected the Empress to turn around that corner at any moment. But the hall was still empty. She could breathe easy and keep her muzzle up.

It was only her and Rinzaan there, alone together, standing at the end of the Mjauzi field. Which Kali was keenly aware of, as he looked at her with those familiar, soft blue eyes, without flinching once. Even if it was more apparent now that he was focusing on her better eye, she still felt a fluttering in her chest. He stole her breath away, just for a moment, and her tail was left a fidgeting mess instead of Rinzaan's.

Kali found her tongue, what was left of it after Tasean's noxious drinking game, and cleared her throat. “So, uh," she said, if only to fill the weighty silence. She hadn't thought of what else to say past that. “Were you actually okay with sleeping with my half-brother, or what?"

She regretted the question as soon as it left her tongue. Rinzaan's ears twisted into awkward angles again, followed by a nervous laugh. “I guess? But, uh, it was going to be a little weird. I–I knew I was sort of going to be thinking about you the entire time. I guess that makes it weirder."

Kali grimaced. “That definitely does."

“Yeah, I'm not exactly comfortable with it, either," Rinzaan agreed. “Not that he's bad looking or anything. He does have a nice pelt–"

“You really don't have to explain it," Kali said. “Really. 'Mere, I've heard enough today. Honestly, I'd rather forget any of this stuff with Tasean happened."

“I, uh, wouldn't mind that." Rinzaan's tail perked slightly, and his ears turned forward again. “Should we start over, then? I can pretend I'm a handsome palace cat who got lost or something."

Kali's whiskers lifted with a smile. “I like the idea, but I don't think all that's necessary. Besides, I should probably get back to training." Kali gestured at the targets with a wave of her tail. “I was kind of in the middle of something before you and Ean showed up."

“Oh."

Kali's ears perked curiously. She expected Rinzaan to be more relieved, now that their little charade was over. Instead, his tail flicked more now than it did before. There was something almost frantic about it.

Kali tilted her head. “Do you have a problem with that? Or–"

“Not exactly, but kind of?" Rinzaan said, “You see, the prince sort of gave me an order."

“And?" Kali scoffed. “We went over this. You don't have to follow it. You said you knew that."

“This is different. It's palace stuff."

“And what's that supposed to mean?"

Rinzaan sighed. “I don't have to do it, but it's something the prince asked me to do, personally. This is a little different from turning down a drink or some, uh, advances. And, I've only been here a couple days. I have to get a good reputation while I can—"

“So you actually have to stay with me all night because of the dumb bet? Okay. Whatever. Fine." Kali pointed at the opposite side of the clearing. “You can go sit over there while I shoot targets. As soon as the sun is up, you can return to Ean."

“That's, um–"

“Really?" Kali asked, tossing up her hands. “What's wrong now?"

Rinzaan shifted on his feet. “That wasn't exactly what the prince ordered."

She didn't want to know in the slightest, but she had to ask, with a preemptive groan, “What did he say?"

“He, well, said that I should, um, that I have to–" Rinzaan's ears twisted and pinned. “That I had better fill you with a, uh, litter of kittens, or that I shouldn't come back at all?"

“With a lit–" Kali's whiskers drew back with a disgusted grimace. “What? No. No, he didn't. No–'Mere, stars, save my ears. That's so–" Kali ran her hands down her muzzle, growling under her breath as she dropped them at her sides. “I can't believe this. I can't believe everyone here thinks I'm the weird one." She looked up at Rinzaan, her nose scrunched. “I can't believe you want to stay in this place. That's so messed up."

Rinzaan chuckled. “Yeah, I know. But, uh, the perks aren't so bad." He shrugged. “And if it had to be someone, I don't really mind being told to breed you. Since, well, we kind of do that, anyway."

“I guess," Kali grumbled. “Still don't want to hear that from my half-brother. Ever."

“He told me. Not you."

“That doesn't make it any less weird." Kali sighed. She wasn't sure if the bitter taste in her mouth was from the conversation or the wine. More likely the wine, with how ragged her throat still felt.

Yet there was still a curious curl to Kali's tail. With Tasean's intrusion, and their impromptu competition, there was little time to consider it. But with Rinzaan's loose shirt, almost half-chest-out already, she could easily drag her cheek along his creamy fur–or her tongue.

“So, if that's the case," Kali said slowly. “Would you be interested in–you know?" Kali flicked up her tail once. A motion that caught Rinzaan's full attention, by the way his eyes lit at the suggestion. “I didn't think you'd want to mess around here, since that might hurt your new palace kitty reputation."

“If it's on Prince Tasean's royal command, I think my reputation will be fine," Rinzaan said, a clever smile stretched across his muzzle. “If anything, it would prove how loyal I am."

“That's still really messed up."

“But it works in our favor for once, right?"

Kali laughed. “For once, maybe. Either way, at least this can't go as badly as our date did–" Rinzaan's ears jumped. As did Kali's ears when she saw the surprised look on his face. “Or whatever you want to call it," she added. “Not necessarily a date."

“I, uh, don't mind calling it a date," Rinzaan said. “If we ignore the kinda bloody part."

A little trill bubbled in Kali's chest. She fought it back, but she couldn't deny the perk in her tail. “Then it's a date–or was a date?" Kali smirked. “Minus the fighting-in-the-street part."

“Does that make this a date, too?"

“Maybe. I'm not sure." Kali's tail swished left and right. “We can decide after."

“Well, I'm calling it a date."

Kali bit back a laugh. This wasn't actually a date, and he had to realize that, too. But his enthusiasm, the happy jump of his tail at the idea, was too endearing for her to say otherwise. That smile, the happy tail, as Rinzaan held out his hand to Kali, the smooth pads on his palm and fingers waiting for her–he could call this whatever he wanted.

She eagerly accepted the invitation and set her hand in his. The warmth of his touch flowed up her arm and into her whiskers and ears. A nervous burn, not unlike sipping Tasean's nasty wine. Though Kali far preferred this nervous, tingling warmth to that one.

She took a half step forward, and Rinzaan did the same. A slight tickle as their whiskers met. Kali pressed her nose against his and closed her eyes, savoring the moment they had together. Without Tasean or any other palace cats to ruin it for them.

A tranquility only interrupted when Kali felt a quick brush of Rinzaan's tongue across her lips. She chirped a laugh, her tail dancing through the air. He wasn't exactly subtle, but he didn't need to be. She set a hand on his shoulder, running her fingers along the silk sleeve. The fabric was softer than she ever imagined. Softer than anything he wore on the ship–than anything she'd taken off him during their lunchtime activities. Her fingers trailed away into his fur, tracing across his chest up to his collarbone.

His fur wasn't as silky as his shirt, but it felt sublime underneath her fingers all the same. As did the soft, rumbling purr that resonated in his chest.

But her ears were soon drawn away. A faint clicking. Talons on wood floors.

Kali turned to the palace hallway first, but the sound quieted as her ears turned away. The clicking came from elsewhere. Her head whipped towards the stables, ears straining towards the half-open doorway. Though she couldn't hear well, with Rinzaan's nose digging into her neck and his tongue trailing towards her chin with light but persistent licks.

She pushed him away and clapped her hand on his muzzle, if only to stop him for a second. Her ears pivoted about, focusing on the sound. Which Bryburkel moved around? Were they shifting in their stall or leaving the stables? Was it Melganzi?

She couldn't tell. The thought of Mikora finding them had set her heart beating in her ears. Melganzi, too. Melganzi would maul Rinzaan without hesitation, and Mikora would shower the monster with praise all the while.

“Let's get out of here," Kali said quickly. “Where's your room?"

“My room–oh. It's at home," he said. “Eastern quarters. But I don't really think we have time to—"

“You don't have a room here?" Kali asked. “What's the point of being a palace cat if you don't have somewhere to stay?"

“Well, it's, uh, sort of expected that I stay in Tasean's room when I'm here."

“Forget it," Kali said. She pulled Rinzaan's hand, leading him towards the palace halls. “Follow me."

“Where?"

“I don't know! Just not–" Her ear spun around. The clicking talons were definitely leaving the stables. They were louder now. She grabbed Rinzaan and shoved him ahead, stumbling after him around a corner. Out of sight–but not out of earshot.

But her racing heart slowed enough to think again. Enough that she remembered and tugged up her scarf over her ears. “I have an idea," she said, barely a whisper. “There's one place that might work."

“And it's not Tasean's room?"

“Shhh!" Kali pressed a finger to her lips. Rinzaan didn't care. His tail was perked, despite her chiding, amused by his own joke. Kali didn't dare raise her voice for a retort, but she flashed a quick snarl before snatching up his hand. She flicked her tail and pulled Rinzaan along, and, after some stumbling steps, he hurried after her.

The halls were busier now. Even with her nose pointed at the floor, Kali recognized the clicks of claws on porcelain plates and the rushed footsteps. Most cats they passed were servants, from what she heard and saw of their ankles, but there was the occasional voice, a sound of softer, silky fabric, that stood out from the rest. She didn't dare look up, not even to sniff at some of the curious scents that breezed past them, lest her eyes met someone who wasn't from the Benz.

Once they reached the service hallways, the familiar scuffed, dull floors, Kali breathed far easier. She could straighten up again and lift her muzzle. None of the palace kitties ever dared tread here and dirty their paws–none except the kitty that was with her now. And Rinzaan, by his twitching, fretful tail, wasn't half as relieved when he stepped onto the unpolished floors.

“Haven't taken the service route before?" Kali asked, sending a smirk over her shoulder.

“No, I haven't. It's, um–" His jaw hung, while he searched for the word he needed, then he nodded. “Plainer than the rest of the palace."

“It's dingy. You can say it," Kali said with a light laugh. “It's fine. It's not my palace."

“Right."

Kali tugged on his hand, and he followed her down two more hallways to the set of stairs she and Mikora took up. His steps seemed to slow the farther they descended until Kali stopped them at the base of the staircase. She worried he had changed his mind, or the nervousness in his tail had frozen his legs, too. Unfounded fears, she realized, when she looked behind her and saw Rinzaan's muzzle pointed up at the ceiling, nostrils flaring as he puzzled over the new fragrances wafting towards them. When he dropped his nose, he frowned. “Are we heading to the kitchens?

“It took you that long to figure it out?" Kali asked, a subtle smirk pulling on her whiskers. They passed so many scents, so many servers, in the hallways. He should've realized it sooner. She suppressed a grin, swallowed the laugh that followed, and resumed leading Rinzaan through the halls again. “It's the only place I could think of. Somewhere we wouldn't get caught."

“Is the kitchen really a good idea, though? I'd think it would be crowded tonight. Aren't all the kitchen cats gathered there to work on the empress's dinner party?"

Kali turned a curious ear towards Rinzaan. “There's a dinner party?"

She felt his arm bounce, his hand almost lift from hers, as he shrugged. “Almost every night, really," he said. “This one's bigger than usual, though. At least, that's what everyone else is saying."

Kali's ear turned forward, her fleeting curiosity sated. Of course, a dinner party wasn't unusual for a place like the palace–for the empress. And she already knew why this so-called dinner party was more fanciful than usual. All so the empress could flirt with the fanciers and their proposed breeding partners. A detail that Rinzaan likely left out, which Kali rather appreciated. She had already heard more than she wanted to about that minor matter from Tasean. Too many details, which she still wished she could yank out of her ears.

“Even so, it should be fine," Kali assured him. “It seems like they're busy delivering food right now, and there's only so many–" Kali paused at the kitchen entry, waiting as yet more cats carrying large bowls rushed out, and she grimaced. Kitchen cats.

That's what palace kitties, what dockies, called the palace chefs.

Rinzaan had been hanging out with Tasean for too long. But Kali pushed it from her mind with a quick, annoyed huff. “There's only so many chefs," she continued. “I'm pretty sure I heard more than half of them running to whatever side of the palace this party is on. So the kitchens should be clear." She saw the perplexed bunching of Rinzaan's muzzle, showing the tips of his teeth. “Or do you have something against kitchens?" Kali asked with a laugh.

“No, I'm just confused," Rinzaan admitted. “I'm not really sure why we're here. Are we getting a snack first?"

“No, I've got something else in mind."

Rinzaan's frown deepened, his whiskers sinking lower. “Somehow, that's not really reassuring."

“You'll see." Kali grinned from ear to ear, which reassured him even less by his half-tucked, twitching tail joining his disagreeable frown. “Wait a minute, and don't act too suspicious."

“How am I supposed to do that?"

“Just–" Kali waved loosely at Rinzaan's tail. “Don't fluff your tail about it. Stay calm. I've got this."

He was anything but calm, as his tail twitched even worse after Kali pointed it out. There wasn't much helping him. Kali turned to the kitchen doorway, leaning just far enough that she could peek inside. Most of the steaming pots were off heat now. As she expected, few chefs tended the remnants of whatever dinner the empress had planned. The head chef, fortunately, wasn't among them–not a single orange hair in sight. But, among the remaining cats in the palace kitchens, Kali spied the one in particular that she sought. A certain brown tortoiseshell molly, who stayed behind with the rest.

Samirra was on a different side of the kitchen now, picking a new set of leaves off some sort of plant. Prepping another tidy set of dishes for a second course for the empress.

Kali glanced at Rinzaan, whose half-whipping, fluffed tail was still anything but nonchalant. A tail that was noticed by two cats with loaded hampers that walked past, by their furtive glances and whispers. “Can you—" Kali sighed. She grabbed her scarf, tugged it off her shoulders and ears, and tossed it over Rinzaan's instead.

That wasn't much better. Even as he settled the hood over his ears, the nervous twitching of his brown tipped tail gave him away. The fancy silk clothes didn't help, either. But it seemed like fewer cats were paying attention to them now, with Rinzaan's colorpoint ears and face better hidden. A few cats brought empty pans back into the kitchen, and they didn't spare a glance at Rinzaan.

The half-hearted disguise would have to suffice. Kali leaned into the doorway again, her eyes fixed on Samirra.

She chirped one time. Short. Soft. Enough for a cat to hear, but not enough to draw any other stray ears.

The same way they practiced when they were kittens. Chirping and squeaking, trying to get each other's attention while Jorian or the other Mjauzi lectured them on their doctrines or etiquette–boring stuff that neither of them had the attention span for.

It didn't work. Samirra's ears didn't even flick. She was too focused on whatever she picked at with the tips of her claws.

Kali tried again. A louder chirp this time.

She thought Samirra heard her for certain, with the way Samirra froze and her hand hovered in the air. But, no, Samirra resumed picking.

“Should I do something?" Rinzaan whispered.

“Give me a second." Kali licked her lips and leaned farther forward into the doorway, halfway over the threshold. None of the other chefs, or Samirra, spared her a glance. She waved an arm, but Samirra didn't twitch an ear at that, either. The chirps and waving? Apparently, none of it was as interesting as shredding tiny strips of lettuce with her claws. Kali's tail lashed, every ounce of silent frustration poured into it. There was one thing Samirra, any cat, couldn't ignore. Kali pulled her whiskers against her cheeks, lowered her ears, and she hissed.

Samirra turned around this time, as did the other chefs, whose tails raised in alarm. An alarm that turned to a swift rage when Samirra saw Kali half leaned into the kitchen, smiling like a nefarious idiot and waving her over.

Samirra slammed her leafy bundle on the counter. The few strips she had set on a plate went flying, scattered across the countertop. Kali barely had time to step out of the doorway. Samirra charged out, hackles bristled, and her white sharp teeth bared. “What are you doing?" Samirra asked with an incensed hiss of her own. “You can't just show up and do that! That's so rude. You know I'm working right–" Samirra paused when she saw Rinzaan. Confusion furrowing her brow when she looked at Kali's scarf first, then at Rinzaan's clothes and fur. “Who is this?" She turned to Rinzaan, her nose wrinkled up to her forehead. “Do I know you?"

Rinzaan stared hard at Samirra, blinking only once, before he answered. “N-no? I don't think we've met before."

Samirra's lip curled. “And why does he sound like a Dock–side, um, cat?" Samirra corrected herself, quickly dropping her snarl and straightening her muzzle. “Sorry, erm, sir?"

“You don't need to be all formal," Kali said. “He's a friend–or something." She glanced aside, but Rinzaan didn't seem perturbed. Not any more perturbed than he already was by Samirra's brusque questioning. “Don't worry, it's fine."

“No, I'm gonna worry," Samirra said with a wary sidelong glance at Rinzaan again. “What are you up to now?"

“Why do I have to be up to something?" Kali frowned, affronted by the accusation. Even if it wasn't entirely wrong. “I'm not always up to something."

“I know that look," Samirra said. Her muzzle wrinkled again with a renewed scowl. “If you're after wine again, that's not gonna happen."

“I'm not here for wine," Kali said. Her tail flicked twice. A tell that she couldn't quite hide from Samirra's sharp eyes. “I need a different favor. Are you still in charge of the pantry?"

“I am." She patted her pocket, which made a weighty clink. A delightful sound to Kali's perked up ears. Samirra saw the slight bounce of Kali's tail and narrowed her eyes. “Why are you asking?"

“So you have the key?" Kali asked, if only to confirm. “The key to the pantry."

“Why do you need to get into the pantry?" Samirra growled. “If you don't want wine, then what are you after? Does the Dock–" Samirra pursed her lips. Another pause before she continued. “Does your friend here need a snack or something?"

“Not exactly. I need ten–" Kali's ears flicked. Ten didn't sound right. She glanced at Rinzaan, considered, and then nodded to herself. “Twenty minutes."

“Twenty minutes for what?" Samirra raised her ears, her head at a slight tilt, as she tried to understand. She looked at Rinzaan, whose twitching tail, once again, gave them away. Disgust curled Samirra's lip, and she turned a half-puckered snarl on Kali. “No! I'm not letting you in the pantry for that."

“Sam–"

“Don't 'Sam' me! No way," Samirra growled. “I'm not doing it. No."

Kali hissed a sigh through her teeth. She gave an apologetic shrug to Rinzaan. “Can you give us a minute?"

“Oh. Sure." Rinzaan's ears swiveled under Kali's scarf. He surveyed the various hallways around them, but his feet didn't budge. His ears only skewed farther. “Uh, where should I go?"

Kali twirled her finger. “Just turn around and shut your ears for a minute."

Rinzaan looked at her strangely, but he did as she asked. He turned, with a slight huff, and flattened his ears.

With his ears folded down, her scarf smooth across the top of his head, Kali turned around again. Her own ears and tail low, a silent plea, when she faced Samirra's scowl again. “Samirra–"

“It's not happening."

“Sam, listen," Kali said, dropping her voice to a whisper. “I really like this guy."

“Nope." Samirra shook her head. “Don't care."

“Just–Look. I really, really like this guy," Kali insisted. “And he–" She peeked behind her, making sure Rinzaan's ears were still down. “He actually likes me, too. This one's different. And I'm only–"

“Asking for a quickie in the palace pantry!" Samirra hissed back. “Kali, there's food in there! Cats eat that stuff."

“Palace cats do," Kali said. “Not us."

Samirra's ears perked. She didn't disagree with that. Instead, there was a light flick of her tail. A quick consideration, before she shook her head this time. “That's true, but–" Samirra's tail flicked again, and Kali couldn't help but smirk. “If you get caught–if I get caught, the head chef is going to pull out my whiskers."

“Easy. You stand watch. If someone is coming, you knock and we'll hide." Kali rapped on the wall next to her with her knuckles to demonstrate. “See? I've got it all figured out."

“There's no way that'll work."

“If it doesn't, then pretend like you caught us," Kali said. “Easy."

“You keep saying easy," Samirra hissed. “Just saying that isn't gonna make it work."

“We don't know unless we try, right?" A broad grin spread across Kali's muzzle. She could see, by Samirra's tail, the sliver of doubt ebbing away like sand rinsing off the docks. One grain at a time, that staunch work ethic was faltering. Just to tip Samirra over that edge, Kali added, “I did the same for you that one time. At the stables? Remember that?"

“Okay! Stop!" Samirra growled and ran her hands over her muzzle and whiskers, pulling on the ends. “Okay, I'll do it." She pointed a finger down Kali's muzzle. “Don't mess anything up or break anything. If you do, you're dead."

“Totally dead," Kali agreed, her whiskers lightened with a gleeful smile. “As dead as can be. Got it."

“Can I turn around now?"

Kali's ears spun backwards. Rinzaan was so quiet, she had almost forgotten he was there. His ears half lifted, as he waited for a response. “Yeah, we're good," Kali said.

“Are we?" He started to look over Kali's shoulder at Samirra but seemed to think better of it. His attention snapped back to Kali, though his ears didn't pivot forward. They stayed at fretful angles, his tail fluffed and ready to tuck, if needed.

“We are," Kali assured him. She grabbed his hand as he turned and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks. For letting me sort it out and all that."

Rinzaan's tail perked higher. “Anytime," he said, a smile spreading across his muzzle. “Even if it's really hard not to listen. I kinda like hearing your voice."

Kali swallowed a nervous trill. “Yeah," she mumbled. “I–I don't mind yours, either."

“Are you two done?" Samirra groaned. “Can we get this over with? The other chefs are gonna come back for the next course soon. We don't have a lot of time for this."

Kali rolled her eyes, but, as she pivoted to face Samirra, she smiled and waved her tail again with a forced cheer. “Sorry about that," she said, trying not to let the sarcasm drip off her teeth. “We're done. Lead the way, Sam."

Samirra threw one last surly glare at Kali, then at Rinzaan, before turning with an annoyed flip of her tail. As soon as she did, Kali rolled her eyes one last time, to get it out of her fur, and took Rinzaan's hand. Another reassuring squeeze, one that he returned, and Kali followed after.

Samirra darted past the kitchen doorway, down to the next intersecting hallway. Kali pulled on Rinzaan's hand, gesturing for him to follow, and she did the same. Crouching, keeping her footsteps light and quick as she trotted after Samirra. Though their sneaking wasn't as effective, with Rinzaan's heavy tread echoing behind them. Fortunately, they didn't have to travel far. Samirra checked around the corner, her whiskers pulled tight against her muzzle. Once the route was clear, they crossed one hallway over, and they arrived at an unassuming door–apart from the large steel lock built above the handle.

Samirra dug through a pocket on her apron and pulled out a thick steel keyring. She picked out a single copper key and pointed it at Kali's chest. “Ten minutes," she said. “And if you break anything–"

“Dead," Kali answered. “Got it."

Samirra nodded. She unlocked the door and shoved it in. “Ten minutes. That's it."

“Yeah, sure."

“I'm serious, Kali–"

“Me too," Kali said. She pushed Rinzaan ahead, propelling him into the dim room, and smiled at Samirra in passing. “Ten. Got it. Thanks!" Kali stepped inside and shoved the door shut before Samirra could get another word in. Though she did hear an exasperated sigh on the other side. Kali turned and leaned her back against the door, sighing with relief. Finally, they were somewhere safe and truly alone.

Rinzaan wandered into the narrow room, nose lifted and sniffing at the shelf on his left. “This, um," he said softly, a single ear twisted towards Kali as he perused various jars on the middle shelves. “This sure is a pantry."

Kali chuckled. “Yeah, it is, isn't it?"

“Now that we're here, do we need to start ripping our clothes off or something?" Rinzaan gestured at his silky shirt and pants with a lazy wave. “Like old times?"

“Old times? That was only a couple weeks ago."

“You know what I mean."

Kali smirked. She leaned off the door, similarly tilting her muzzle to a shelf she passed. Most of it smelled like grains, some dried greens, and hints of dried meats here and there. Not much that smelled appetizing. Though, that might've been a residual aftereffect of Ean's wine, which she still tasted in her throat.

“We have longer than ten minutes," Kali said, as she swiped her fingers along a cloth bag. “Samirra is just messing around."

“I'm not sure that she was." Rinzaan frowned. “That snarl seemed pretty genuine to me."

Kali shrugged. “She's not going to barge in here and drag us out. Really, we have as much time as we want–" Kali sighed. Except for the bit where Ean insisted she return Rinzaan at dawn. Which she rather didn't want to, now that she had him. “Whatever," she said, more to herself than Rinzaan. “We'll make the most of it."

“In a pantry," Rinzaan added with a laugh. “Of all places."

“Hey, this is as good a place as any."

“There's no room." Rinzaan gestured at the narrow strip of floor and the walls covered in shelving and various goods. “This is as bad as the galley's pantry."

“No, it's not," Kali said. “It's a little bigger."

“How are we supposed to do anything in here?" Rinzaan paused. His nose left the shelf he was sniffing, a slim smile on his face as he turned to Kali. “Hold on, is this about that one time we were on galley duty together?"

“What?" Kali chirped. “No."

“You told me. Remember? A few days later, you said you wished we had a chance to sneak off into the galley pantry."

“No, I didn't," Kali scoffed. “No way."

“You definitely did. I'm not going to forget something like that."

Kali tucked her tail behind her, though there was only so much she could do to hide its mischievous curl. “Fine. Maybe you're right." She slipped past Rinzaan, squeezing behind him, and sauntered to the far end of the pantry. A quick sniff didn't turn up much. Some heavy bags were piled on the lower shelves. Bundles of dried greens were stacked in the middle.

She leaned over, lifting her tail higher than necessary to counterbalance. A motion that drew Rinzaan's eyes onto her rather than whatever glass jars were in front of him. She flicked back an ear, listening. She waited until she heard him take a step, the light creak of a board underfoot, then she straightened up and whirled around. All while trying not to grin, when she turned and almost bumped her nose into his.

He was right. This room wasn't much bigger than the ship's pantry. But she refused to admit it–since that's really what she wanted all along. A small, cozy place to curl up with him. Nose to nose, as they were now. Fur against fur.

Which she could finally indulge in, as she set her hands on Rinzaan's chest, stroking through his exposed fur up to his neck. Her scarf slipped off Rinzaan's ears with a single push. A brush along his shoulders, and the rest tumbled onto the floor, with a rumbling purr greeting her as she wrapped her arms around him.

“Well, you got us here," Rinzaan said. “What's next? You said you had some sort of plan for this."

Kali chirped. Her attempts to hide her smile failed, and she laughed. “I really don't," she admitted. She stroked along Rinzaan's neck, a light shiver under her fingertips as they drifted down his shoulders, nudging aside his loose sleeves. “I thought we'd figure it out when we got here."

“Didn't you have a whole fantasy about this or something?"

“It's different when it's real," Kali said with another laugh. “And when you're actually here with me."

Her ears felt warm the moment she said it. But Rinzaan didn't laugh. Instead, he smiled and pressed his nose against hers, their whiskers meshed together.

Their lips met. Kali melted into his arms, her tail high and dancing happily through the air. Being there, with Rinzaan, all the frustration from the past week vanished. The raised hackles and snippy remarks, the awkward silences and unspoken arguments–none of it mattered. The tension in her fur ebbed away, feeling the soft fur of his muzzle against hers and the light stroke of his tongue slipping past her teeth. Her pelt felt as smooth as his did underneath her fingertips–for the first time in a long while.

Rinzaan's shirt slid off his shoulders, with some fidgeting to get his arms free from his sleeves. Once they were, his hands dove at Kali's belt, prying her shirt loose and drawing up along her stomach. His palms dragged through her fur, brushing across each nipple. Only the hard press of his muzzle on hers stopped Kali from trilling all her delight, as she squirmed against his touch.

Another trill, as his fingers pressed in, digging into her fur. The leathery pad of his thumb traced a hard circle around one of her nipples. He idly stroked across it, massaging the hard nub as he pulled his muzzle away to catch his breath. “How, uh, are we going to do this, again?"

“I'm thinking." Kali stepped forward, pushing against Rinzaan's hand–until her hips could meet his. He wasn't as aroused as some of their longer, heavier petting sessions, but she could still feel that lusty pressure behind his silky shorts. Shorts she rather enjoyed grinding against. The thin material left little to her imagination.

Kali glanced behind her. A tricky dance, trying to stay pressed against Rinzaan, churning her hips against his and stroking her fingers along his chest, all while she tried to feel behind herself with a free hand. His tongue didn't help, either. Even if they both still tasted a bit like that foul wine, she couldn't help but continue lapping her tongue against his. Every bristly stroke sent another ache, another shiver, down her pelt.

“Wait," Kali said. She grinned, when he ignored her with another long, sultry kiss. She had to take her hand off Rinzaan's chest and press her fingers to his muzzle to stop him. “Let me figure this out."

“The floor works."

“No, wait–" Kali laughed, as he protested with a coarse lick across her fingers.

Kali shuffled backwards, bumping against the shelves behind her. A slight pain behind her ears, where her head hit a shelf. Her tail lashed across one of the lower shelves, with a quiet rustle of leaves. Another, more purposeful lash, and several bundles of various leafy vegetables scattered across the floor.

Rinzaan's tongue tucked back into his muzzle. He frowned, ears skewed, as Kali wormed her way onto the shelf behind her. One more swing of her tail, and her seat was clear. Although that didn't help her spine or neck, as she hunched between the two shelves.

“How's this supposed to work, exactly?" he asked.

“I'm figuring it out." Kali squirmed until she could look at the shelf above her. She ended up having to trust her nose more than her eyes, with the awkward angle, and the wobbling she felt from the board across her shoulders. She shoved upwards.

The shelf flipped. Whatever was on it toppled. Heavy thuds, as sacks of grain slid and fell onto lower shelves, and a rattling cascade of dried leaves. Kali could sit upright now, though she knew Samirra, as promised, would likely kill her for this later. But the broad smile on Rinzaan's face made it worth the risk, as did all his rumbling laughs that he muffled behind his hands.

Kali bit back her own laughter, as she grabbed Rinzaan's hands and pulled him close again. Though neither of them continued laughing, when she brought their lips together again. Though she felt the lift of Rinzaan's whiskers combing along hers, as he smiled anyway.

She fumbled with her belt, muffled clicks of the buckle interspersed through Rinzaan's steady purrs. A few kicks, and she wiggled her way out with some help from Rinzaan, who clawed the last length off her ankles. Then his claws trailed back up her legs, along her calves and up her thighs, around to her rear.

He pulled her forward, pressing their hips together again and ground his length against her bared, damp fur. A sultry growl, as he nosed against her neck, nipping at her fur. Kali could only squirm against the shelf, trying to stay quiet. Failing miserably, as she trilled and chirped, regardless.

She wriggled her hands between them and reached Rinzaan's waistband. His shorts fell far easier than her pants did, once she pushed them past his sheath. The silky material didn't resist.

A hand slid off her bottom and down her leg, pulling Kali into the edge of the shelf. She chirped once, her tail flailing and smacking into the wall. She grabbed onto Rinzaan's shoulders, steadying herself, as he pressed between her legs. A smooth glide between her damp thighs. Kali gasped as he pushed farther in between her folds. He didn't tease her this time. An immediate thrust. The hooks sank in with a short, quick rake. Pins and needles prickling from her thighs up her spine.

Kali slipped her arms around Rinzaan's neck. She pressed her chest against his and buried her nose into his shoulder, mewling for more. His claws dug into her calf, and she didn't even feel it. Not with each steady thrust, each drag of his barbs along her flesh. Each faster, deeper, as he leaned harder into Kali, pressing her back against the shelf. His breaths a ragged pant beside her ear. A slight growl in his voice, as he pressed farther in and ground his barbs into her, his balls rubbing against her drenched fur.

Kali trilled into his ear. Her claws kneaded into his shoulder and neck, as she bucked against him. Writhing as she could, trying to wring every ounce of pleasure out of the deep, prickling sensation. Riding every spark they drove into her loins, driving a coiling tension farther and farther in.

Rinzaan slid back, barbs grazing through the length of Kali, and thrust one last time. All the way to the hilt again, as he bit down on the side of her neck. A final twinge, a pulse, and Kali yowled into his neck. Loins throbbing, tensing around Rinzaan's length, clinging onto the coarse barbs and coaxing out every last drop. A final release, as she climaxed with him, her voice dwindling into frantic panting against Rinzaan's shoulder.

A climax that hadn't completely dwindled, when she heard rapid, furious knocking on the door. Kali lifted her muzzle, blinked, and the door slammed open.

Kali stared. She couldn't do anything else. Pantsless. Still hooked onto Rinzaan, with her numb legs starting their reluctant recovery. Struggling to wrap her head around what was happening, as light from the candle lit hallway filled the pantry, flooding in around the cat standing in the doorway.

Mikora stared back at them. Hackles already bristled and lips drawn into a furious snarl. “I swear to 'Mere," Mikora growled through her gritted teeth. “You have to be kidding me right now!"