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"The lions were thrilled to know that dinner was delivered so fresh here," Chayton tossed in over the rising laughter

"The poor leopard, Susie, was just playing, as she always does when she sees hiht him by surprise, and as they rolled and she realized where they were going, she dug her claws in and panicked so he couldn’t immediately loosen her"

Bidzil picked up the thread in his s "Now, he could have gotten away if he’d needed only a blink to get his thrusters beneath hie away to preserve his pretty face But he still had that leopard wrapped around him and the lions would tear her apart in a heartbeat So he tossed her free, like he was hurling a rock, and launched himself onto the head lion"

At Elisa’s wide eyes and horrified indrawn breath, Kohana leaned in, elbowed her "I don’t want to give away the ending, little miss, but he survived I promise" He jerked his head in Mal’s direction, who looked affronted by the whole production, though she saw a faint curve to his beautiful mouth

This hen he came closest to happiness, she realized When it was all about what they were doing here, their bonding together over it The beauty of the night enclosed the that surrounded the house Dispersed on that ere the sounds of the cats, every call a distinct voice to these people, and especially Mal If she had a place where she felt at peace like this, she wouldn’t ever leave, either She’d never wander far, at least She’d felt that way about the station, untilwhat had happened

His gaze shifted to her, and that smile left his face It wasn’t irritation, however She saw that intensity he displayed with her in , so beyond just a physical caress

She looked away, unsettled "So did he pin the head lion and tell hi a bite of the biscuit, she cradled it in both hands Still in the trousers she was beginning to like wearing, she propped her feet up on the edge of the bench, balancing her elbows on her knees as she ate

"Oh, he got ripped up pretty good, just like the other day, but he rolled free and was off and running Of course he left a blood trail that kept theht Took theht hoh it would have been better to use it for the scrap bag, after I washed out the blood"

"Waste not, want not," Mal com it," Kohana gru around the place," Elisa offered "I’oes for the lot of you"

She was ialed with a variety of thanks, and a hint she’d have a pile ofelse she could take with her to the fledglings tomorrow Perhaps she could put needle and thread and a scrap of fabric in the co outside of it Teach theh Even the boys le men had to know the way of it until they found a wife to do for theave her a regretful look "Little sister, toet so the day, and it will put ht work I’ve already talked to the others, and no one has a couple hours to spare to how htened her tone "Of course, if you do all these lazy louts’ o to the ball anyhow If Kohana wasn’t so cluer to take you up on it"

"If you knehat being a woo," Kohana retorted

"You’re enough of a woman for both of us," she returned sweetly, and set off a round of guffaws as the big Indian lobbed a th was such it took Chued past her and Mal caught it with barely a blink Elisa saw they were both grinning, though, and realized such rough play was normal

"What if I drove myself?" She blurted it out quickly "You’ve let er seat a couple times now I’ve been there plenty of tiates, after all There’s no danger as long as I follow the rules"