He was pacing, his large paws quaking the ground as they hit, his nails clicking the hard concrete with each step, his massive head held down low, eyes on the floor. He was breathing hard, waiting, waiting, watching, but nothing was coming. He stopped, took a large breath, taking in all the swarming smells that were flowing smoothly into his nostrils. He shook his head, the thick coat around his neck swaying back and forth, orange and black glimmering looking through the bars.
Where was she? She was never late. She always came at the same time, when the sun was high in the sky, bearing meat and extra cold water. But she was not here yet today, and the sun was too far west for his liking. He sat back on his hind legs, leaning against the cool bars, trying to shade some of the heat from being absorbed by the orange and black stripes in his coat. He growled under his breath, a low forceful moan seeping out of his mouth.
A noise. He got up, frantically stomping in front of the bars, the noise getting louder. He could hear her familiar footsteps, the sound of her laughter, a deep throaty sound that gave the immense feline shivers every time he heard it. He stuck out his tongue in anticipation of the treats should would be bringing him today. His yellow eyes watched as the shadow turned the corner, excited. He loved when she stepped inside his enclosure and sat with him on the grass. He would nuzzle her sides as she scratched behind his ears. He hoped she would indulge him with a belly rub today. He hummed softly to himself, still pacing swiftly back and forth.
Two voices. He turned his head, his fierce eyes narrowing suspiciously. Why were there two voices? And another was decidedly masculine. He felt the fur on the back of his neck stand on end, he didn’t like this, sharing his space with someone else other than her. She walked around the corner, trailing behind her was second figure, decidedly taller and more muscular than she.
He growled low, a warning sound moving through the metal bars. She tensed, frowning in his direction. She put a hand on the other’s chest, a movement that made him snarl, and walked over to the bars. He pressed his head against the cold metal, his thick fur pushing through the openings, purring deeply, rhythmically alongside the increasing beating of his heart. She walked to the side of the enclosure, opening the bars deftly and quickly with a silver key tied was around her neck. He met her eagerly, pushing his enormous head against her hip, nuzzling the side of her body.
She was warm, in her shorts and tank top, he could feel the heat of her body against his head, his cheeks, through his fur. She sat on the grass a little ways away from the opening of the enclosure. He followed, sprawling out on his back, laying his head in her lap. He purred louder when she laughed, running her thin, tanned fingers over his cheeks. He opened his jaw to lick her with a bright pink tongue, rough against her leg.
He turned. The other one was coming through the door, hesitantly. He rolled onto his side, the ground shuttering slightly as the weight of his paws hit the soft soil. He looked at her, suddenly furious, jealous, of her sleep smile. Why didn’t she smile at him like that? He got up onto all fours, slowly walking over to the other one. He looked back at her, watched her as she got to her feet, her face changing from pleasure to worry. Good, he thought. The other shouldn’t be in here when she was with him. She was his.
He snarled, and the other stopped. He turned around, his back to the other one, and stood in front of her. She looked at him with suspicious as he began to walk towards her and push in deeper into his world. He heard the footsteps of the other one try to follow, and just turned his head, eyes glowing like fire, baring his sharp teeth, daring him to come any closer. He pressed her farther inward, a little bit harder against her leg. She resisted, but she was no match for him. He looked up at her face, illuminated by the midday sun, her blue eyes sparkling like the pool of water he liked to swim in when it got hot out. She frowned at him, pushing him away from her, and he was suddenly ashamed.
He stopped. She walked around his large body, shaking her head at him, not looking back. He didn’t want her to go and let out a soft mew of displeasure. He sat back on his haunches, and watched her walk away. He growled as she ambled up to the other, hurt and alone. He hung his head heavily, sorrowfully. And stayed there until he felt the coolness of the night creeping up his back from the sun disappearing. He laid down, his back to the bars, sighing greatly as he looked out over the great expanse of his home.
Sometime in the night, he felt soft footsteps on the ground, the vibration tickling his legs and chin. He could smell her skin, freshly washed, though he didn’t like when she did that. She was humming, a sweet sound whispering through the air into his ears. She stood in front of him, and though it gave him great pleasure that she came back to him, he didn’t show it. She huffed impatiently, kneeling into the cool dirt, touching his white belly with her soothing hands, rubbing his fur, her hands back and forth. He sighed contently, still refusing to open his eyes. She curled up against his warm belly, and laid with him.
She came back as he had hoped he would.
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