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Falling on your feet ... |
Suddenly, a figure steps out of the lightning. He is like lightning, dancing in the swirl of the storm. He strikes down the messengers of death and they scatter before him like fallen leaves.
She is breathless, exhausted.
She huddles in un-sheltering shelter.
Watching. Watching as the fear is driven back, the terror sent howling into
the dark.
She is trembling. Afraid to run again. Afraid to stay.
Lightning flares. He is there: crowned with gold and
the lingering of Zeus' anger.
Smiling a warm smile beneath eyes as blue as her own.
He speaks soft words and they soothe the frenzied pounding of her heart. They
promise hope. Promise safety. Promise refuge from the night.
So, all a tremble, she creeps into his welcoming arms.
Curls into their warmth and comfort, nestling into his strength; he cradles
her with hands that stroke and soothe.
She's safe. Safe at last …
"So," Hercules asked with amusement as his partner reappeared out of the night, shaking rain out of his unruly locks. "Did you find what those dogs were after?"
"Yeah, I did," Iolaus answered with a grin, moving across to sit by the fire. "Told you someone needed help." He'd been holding his arms up close to his chest and, as he sat, he carefully lowered what he'd been carrying onto his knees. Two bright blue eyes peeped over his supporting hand; whiskers quivered as their owner succumbed to a sudden and startling sneeze.
The son of Zeus chuckled softly. "Damsel in distress huh? Well," he decided warmly, "she's a little young, but - I'm sure you two will be very happy together."
"Ignore him," the hunter advised, gently petting his new friend as she made herself comfortable in his lap. "He's just jealous. I have this way with beautiful women, you know?"
Hercules grinned. "And I always thought it was beautiful women who had their way with you …"
"That too," Iolaus admitted, matching the grin with one of his own. "You think Jason might take her in?"
"Don't think he'll say no. The mill can always use a good mouser."
"Hear that kitty? We'll get you adopted. Whatdya say?" The kitten yawned and lazily stretched out a soft paw. The man's hands were gentle and his lap was warm. The terrors of the chase seemed far away. Was that fish she could smell?
Oh, yes.
She licked her lips and began to purr.
Somewhere very distant, an ancient goddess paused to take note of her youngest daughter's contentment. Bast smiled quietly to herself, marking a fellow hunter and the service he'd performed. One life owed, she decided, and carefully reached over to scribe the man's name on Anubis' reckoning slate …
