Eventually, the four women got to their feet, and Taureen escorted them to the door, holding it open for them as they took their leave. He went back to the living room, still holding me in his arms.

“How was your day?” he asked as he sat down on the couch.

“Not too bad. I was oddly out of sorts once you were gone, but it was mostly controllable. I was just a bit restless and anxious.”

“I was the same,” he admitted. “It didn’t feel right without your weight on my shoulder. I’m so used to seeing your shiny gold scales, that not seeing them put me on edge. I was fairly irritable by the time I got to the meeting. The Elders didn’t seem surprised by my mood and kept the meeting as short and to-the-point as possible. How did the ladies treat you?”

I shrugged. “Aeria kept an eye on me and constantly offered food. The others kept their distance. I wasn’t aware that the discussions female Kymari have were so vastly different from what you and your friends often discuss.”

“How so?” He tilted his head in curiosity.

I grinned mischievously at him. “Well, I got to hear several rundowns and comparisons of almost every male who had shown even the slightest interest in any of them.”

“And...?” He looked really focused, as if he was very interested in what I had overheard.

I was sure my amusement was plain in my mindvoice. “Well, you definitely have Aeria’s attention. You have been on her short list of names long before you ever saw me. Apparently, she saw you help her brother from a friend’s window. Your promotion is an unexpected bonus.”

The skin on his neck flushed a bit darker. I chirped in amusement. “I think your blush tells me your thoughts on this.”

He tilted his head, more serious now. “And what do you think of me courting her?”

I blinked slowly as I considered it. “I think it would be good for both of you. I know you really like her. Aeria was one of the ones who always watched the Morning Song, and I have seen no hint of aloofness that I noticed in one or two of the other females in the park.”

He smiled and said, “I wish to invite her over for supper when she comes by tomorrow morning.”

I tilted my head as I thought. “Then we should stop by a park to grab some of those orange and yellow flowers that grow along certain paths. If I recall correctly, she often paused to smell them. I can even drop them on the table if you want to make it a bit more romantic.”

“Could I possibly convince you to carry them in your mouth and land on her shoulder to offer them to her at a prearranged signal?”

I grinned at his growing excitement. “Yes, but you better fill me in on the details so I know exactly what you want me to do.”

~

Aeria inquired, “This is very good. Could I possibly get the recipe?”

“Thank you. I would be happy to share it.”

I lounged on a wall perch while watching the two Kymari eat their supper. It was a fancy five-course meal. Kymari technology allowed Taureen to make everything and put it in special preservation heaters or coolers so that it was just as fresh as when he had made it. This also allowed him to show off his cooking skills, serve the plates, and eat with Aeria.

They finished their first course, and Taureen got up to take that set of plates away and bring the next ones. He glanced at me and whistled softly. I dropped off of my perch and swooped around a different corner.

I grabbed the small bundle of flowers from their hiding place and flew back into the dining room. Just before Taureen reached the table with the next course, I carefully landed on Aeria’s shoulder, being extremely careful with my claws.

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I felt her jump slightly in surprise as I landed on her shoulder. She hadn’t been expecting me to come voluntarily since I had never done so before. She turned her head to look at me in surprise.

I lifted my head with the bundle of flowers in my jaws. Tilting my head, I trilled prettily at her. Aeria swiftly put Taureen’s quiet whistle together with my appearance and glanced at him in shock before smiling. She gently took the flowers from me and smelled them.

She smiled at Taureen. “Thank you. That was definitely a unique presentation.”

He inclined his head in acceptance of the compliment. I could tell that he was proud of what we had worked out. He placed the new plate in front of her while I sat on her shoulder. Aeria immediately noticed the three sunburst berries on her plate and offered one to me.

I enjoyed the treat and carefully sat on her shoulder for the next two courses. I wasn’t entirely relaxed, but I had told Taureen that I would try my best. Both of them would be able to tell I was somewhat uneasy on her shoulder, although they didn’t say anything.

The fourth course had a small bowl of fruit put on the side of the table, and I glided over to enjoy my treat. I had eaten some before supper, so I wasn’t too hungry. I ate slowly, savoring my food. My bowl was empty by the time they finished the fifth course.

I flew to Taureen’s shoulder as he removed the plates. Once he put them in the sink, he pulled out two small plates of dessert. A bracelet with green gems sat along the edge of one of the fancy plates. According to Taureen, if she was truly interested, she would accept the bracelet and him as her suitor, officially. If she wasn’t, she would simply decline dessert, which would also decline his courtship, limiting their relationship to a friendship level.

It had taken a few hours of practice to get the balancing right, but I carefully picked up the fine chains that were attached to her plate and fanned my wings until I was airborne. I gracefully flew beside Taureen as we went back into dining room.

Aeria blinked in surprise as she saw me carrying her plate. I carefully back-winged in front of her until the plate settled gently on the table. A bit more back-winging had the chains arranged behind the plate. I banked and side-slipped away from her as I circled back to land on Taureen’s shoulder.

Taureen was seated in his chair before she got over her shock of seeing me deliver the dessert plate. I lay down on his shoulder and rested my chin on the edge of the shoulder pad while I watched her reaction. She gazed at the bracelet in surprise and admiration.

She gently picked up the bracelet and put it on her wrist before sampling the dessert. They slowly ate in silence for some time.

Once she finished, she asked, “When do you wish to meet my family?”

With Taureen now officially her suitor, it was time to meet the parents. By Kymari custom, this meeting should take place within a week at most; to delay the meeting would be disrespectful towards her father and mother.

“Whenever it is convenient for them.”

“I will ask them tonight and let you know tomorrow.”

They finished eating and went to sit in the living room and talk. I noticed that they were more relaxed around one another now and not quite as formal. I relaxed under the heat lamp as they discussed some childhood memories.

I wonder how the meeting with her family will go? From what I understood, Taureen would also have to impress her father to get his blessing for the marriage. Like any father, he would be protective of his daughter and ready to test any suitor. The Kymari rarely rushed though, so Taureen’s courtship could last for years.

My half-closed eyes opened as a red dot of light appeared in front of me. I tilted my head and reached out with my claws to touch it, but it moved out of my reach. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aeria holding a small device which was producing the laser light. Well, if cats can do it, so can I.

I got up and stretched before walking towards the light as it went over the edge of the table. I moved to the edge and watched the red dot meander in circles on the carpet below me. Crouching down, I observed it for a few seconds before leaping. My claws found plenty of traction on the carpet as I zigzagged after it. If there had been any substance to it, I would have caught it a dozen times in the first thirty seconds.

Both were surprised at how fast I could move my hands when I put my mind to it. Aeria moved it behind the coffee table legs, and I moved into ambush on the other side. It came back into sight, and I darted after it again.

After about ten minutes of intensely chasing the red dot, I was breathing hard. As I passed by Taureen’s feet, I once more targeted his ankle. I wrapped myself around his ankle with careful claws while gently mouthing his leg.

With a chuckle, he lifted his leg before pulling me off of his ankle. He dumped me in his lap and proceeded to try and tickle me. I wrestled with his hands as Aeria watched in curiosity and amusement.

I eventually retreated to a couch cushion between them to lie down and pant while recovering from my exertions.

Aeria grinned before picking me up and placing me on her lap, gently petting my back. “I keep contemplating different ways to steal her from you,” she said, “but I have a feeling that I would be getting into far more trouble than I bargained for.”

Taureen looked amused at her comment. “I advise against it. She can be quite a handful if she gets going. I wouldn’t let anyone take her either.”

Aeria scratched behind my ear tuft, and I commented to Taureen, “Glad to hear you aren’t ready to just hand me off. Besides, if Aeria tried to take me home with her as a joke, can you imagine how much mischief I could get into if I put my mind to it?”

His eyes traveled to me as they shone in warmth and amusement.