Too cute for my toes

Aku was struggling to make sense of the sudden change of events. He had no idea what was happening here. There were countless creatures known to twist the mind and pied piper hapless victims to their demise. He'd grown up hearing stories about beautiful women in the waves and siren songs in the woods. All of these things he'd heard, but never were the lures like this. Or maybe, since he had no experience with their cunning ways, this was exactly what the lures were like and he just had nothing to compare it to. Or maybe this was Boreas. Did he take the woman at her word? That her culture was so different than his? Or did he dismiss her words as a lie to lure him in? Round and round Aku's thoughts went as he struggled to understand.

Her compliment and thanks only served to baffle him further. Was his fur really so soft? He watched as she sank to the floor in gentle repose, her venom seemingly forgotten. "It's Aku," he said without thinking it through. "Do they really mean that much to you?" He was asking in earnest; her mocking escaped his notice. Aku had several half formed theories at play and in juggling them all details were bound to escape him. On the one hand there was a very real possibility he was getting bewitched. On the other it was possible this was a cultural clash. Did the Berengynja not war with their neighbors over such things? While he may not have had any experience with siren songs he did have experience with cultural friction.

She reached out to touch him and this time even though he saw it coming Aku didn't pull away. Her paw caressed his lips, his cheek, and then her paw was around his neck pulling him in. He was slow to commit to surrender but her lips on his briefly drove away his resistance. Those shy childhood pecks paled in comparison. Warmth flowed from his cheeks to his limbs and then the acumen that should have saved him sooner finally kicked in. Aku pulled back, his expression first reluctant, then confused, then firm as he remembered his predicament. If this was a trick and he was already caught he needed to know. Softly he asked, "I have to know. What are you? If you mean to drown me in the fire just do it instead of toying with me like this."