Can't Beat the Element of Surprise

The description of Dalila's attacker was filed away. Every little detail that she gave him would be remembered and only forgotten after the bastard was dead. He didn't deserve to be remembered, even in such a small regard. Every part of the fucker would be erased if it was up to Chimera. No one would remember him and every little trace would be extinguished. That's what he deserved.

One he had Dalila in the water, they both worked to clean the grime and gore from her fur. He noted that a lot of it wasn't hers and, though it was unfortunate that her mastiff companion had been slain, he was thankful that she hadn't been damaged more. Again and again he splashed water over her matted fur, using his claws to gently separate the bloodied clumps until she was eventually clean. She'd had to lean against him the entire time due to how weak she was. That alone was a testament to just how much damage his strong little woman had taken.

After he gave her the option to hide away for a little while, Chimera could see the hesitation on her face. Of course she wanted things to just go back to being normal right away, but Ruse would ask questions. They both knew it. Eventually, Dalila agreed and the two-toned brute nodded. He knew just where he would keep her sequestered. "No one is supposed to know about it, but I've fixed up one of the ships as a kind of refuge for myself," he admitted a little sheepishly. He hadn't told any of the women about it. It was supposed to be a man cave. Dalila was much more important than that though. "It's stocked with food, fresh water and lots of comfortable beds. A few days there to regain your strength should be enough."

Dalila gave him an exhausted smile and kiss and the brutes heart thumped against his rib cage. Again he marveled at how much they had hated one another once upon a time. How things changed... Dalila questioned him and he could see just how tired she was. Carefully, he slid his body under the water, positioning her paws so that she could hold on around his neck. "Don't let go, love." Dalila didn't weigh much to begin with and the water made her lighter still. The powerful strokes of the dire brute took them across the channel and back to the island that they called home. Rather than let her down, Chimera kept the waterlogged fae upon his wide back. Slowly and carefully he made his way to the opposite side of the island away from the compound where he padded up the wooden dock and onto the massive boat.

Rather than place Dalila on the bedding that was upon the deck, he took the woman into one of the many rooms that the ship possessed. Gently he slid her from his back and onto a fur covered mattress that had withstood the test of time. One paw rose and he stroked the fae's cheek lovingly. "Do you want me to call for Aliana or Erystotle?" He hadn't said Siren's name. He wasn't sure that his sister would be much help in a situation like this.

"Chimera Klein"