#baronyofthesilverwolf

Pearl is on an adventure! The scrawny sack-kitten is now a thriving kit-teen, long of body but still round of face and silly of brain.

All the world is his to explore - even if certain rooms get him scolded or shoo'd.

What's this, though? A smell of cat... and not his own self? Pearl sniffs at the door, and then peers under the crack beneath.

Oh yes, pawsteps. Heavier than Pearl

Sniff sniff, and then he fishes under the door with his own paw. Swat swat? Who is there?!

A pause, is that a little paw aka target? Mmm

Sniffing from the other side

And.. then a bigger paw shoots through

JUMP back! His back arches and tail poofs up!

Hop, hop!

Can one give a sense of satisfaction through a door? If there is a way - cats know it

And then the paw shoots back under the door again!

Tap whap

something touched her paw!

Tail swishes eagerly.. and light footfalls, almost as delicate as a cat, approach on Pearl's side of the door. "Found some mischief, small hunter?" And... the door knob is turned, opening a touch, so that not just a paw shows, but an ENTIRE OTHER CAT?!

Bluebell smiles and serenely glides on her way.

To the little snowshoe mix that is Pearl, the new cat is immense! A giant! A somewhat overfed Maine Coon

Eyes get big, and his tail poofs up.

Such that it can... the new cat is far, far poofier...

The maine cat yawns, and falls on his side

Pearl scoots back, then takes a tentative step forward. Leaning in to sniff.

Clawless CLUTCH and Pin

Squirm squirm! "Mah!"

How pathetic, this kitten doesn't even have a proper Mrow yet.

The grooming begins, mostly at the top of Pearl's head

FUSS! Grooming is for wee pointy-tailed kits with eyes not yet open! He squirms for a moment, but then realizes that his own traitorous body is betraying him, as a purrrrrrrr rattles unrequested in his throat.

This goes on for about two minutes, and Pearl is released. The bigger cat lets him go, yawns, and seems to be ready to go to sleep. That's enough activity for him.

Whether Pearl agrees or not, is nother matter

Pearl backs off, giving his face a furious wash with a paw to clean his dignity. And then... POUNCE, on that oh-so-fluffy tail!

What's this? This is alien to the big cat. Before, when he slept, in a sunbeam or moonbeam or dark beam (He's not fussy about sleeping), it just happened. This.. this is different. Sleep disturbed? He rolls with a perplexed look. Where did the sleep go? He hadn't even started.

Of course, this technically counts as a retreat. Any humiliation brought on Pearl by being clutched and licked is made up for by this 'victory'

And so it continues! Groom, nap... POUNCE!

And finally, after some fun minutes, the big fellow slips out into the halls ... the cycle must be broken, there must be a place to sleep. Besides, he's curious

He finds a kitten trotting at his heels! Then, in front of him, darting down the hallway, tail up and curled, on a mission. There is a good smell coming from that direction.

Oh hello food! Maybe sleep can wait. He rubs himself around the corner of the entry into this room that makes smells

Pearl has made himself flat against a wall, as he creeps into the Food Room. He pauses to sniff at the bowls of little brown kibbles and water set by the door, and keeps moving onward. Something smells fresh and interesting...

Indeed, Fresh is best, and the Maine Coon ,who often seems letheragic, picks up speed to an actual cat trot

And here Pearl becomes a shadow, flattening against the side of the counter, as feet walk past. His tail tip twitches, as he considers... and then takes a different tact. Moving into the center of the room, in plain site, he sits, wrapping his tail around himself, and lifts a paw to wash in a cute manner. "Mewwwwrrr?" He calls up at the round lady. "Mewww-wwwwwrrr?" A most pathetic kitten sound! Where is this one's dignity?!

Watch and learn, kid, the big one seems to suggest. Whether it is more dignified or not to do figure eights around this food bringer's feet is a subject for felilne debate. A low rumbling purr... I am a friend to you, you are afriend to me, even though we have not met. Friends give friends food

"Oh, none of that, naughty thing." A finger shakes at the kitten, not fooled by his 'starving baby' act this time... but then she notices the larger cat, and pauses, hand on her hip.

"Well hello there, Mister Puss. Are you here to teach this ragamuffin a lesson? And NOT to jump on my counters, mmm?" Marigold reaches down, offering fingers to sniff, and then a soft scratch on the head if accepted.

A sniff, and the purr grows more sincere as he's attended to.

She gives him a final scratch, and then turns away.... oh, but soon she turns back! And this time, with a plate of scraps!

"I don't know if you've the palate to appreciate Sole Meunière, but you probably won't turn your nose up at a nice bit of fresh fish, Mister Puss?"

A louder purr, and a hopeful look

And yes, a lick lip

The plate is set down.

WIDE EYED GLANCE from the Kitten.

"There's enough for two, wee devil." She says at the kitten, more often naughty than not, but she still cannot quite resist his charms.

Pearl winds over to the bigger cat. I showed you where to go, His blink seems to say, Isn't that worth some fish?

Weelllll... The big cat takes the lions share for himself, but, as a matter of fact, the opposite side of the plate, is left open ...so hey, kitten will get at least a third of this... a quarter if he doesn't keep up the dining pace

Rattle-purr in between bites!

Perhaps, the beginning of a great and glorious partnership.

Later, the big cat will show Pearl that you reward the food giver with more rubs and purrs. This trains them properly to behave so in the future

But what about ankle-swats? It is ever so tempting to attack the feet as they shuffle past unknowingly...

Well, that can be a good way to get folks to drop things. the bigger cat had forgotten about those. Mmm kitten hood seems so far away

Youth and vitality (and cuteness) paired with Age and Skill (and fluff!)? An unmatchable team!

"Where the hell is that furkin cat?" A voice calls out

That furkin cat has a kitten half-sprawled over his paws, snoozing and purring.