Stranger

Caught in the wave of the boy's silver-eyed charm, Vanta felt a pleasant unease wash over her. His eyes held a certain allure that she found hard to resist, even as she tore her gaze away. Why did she feel so strangely drawn to him? A part of her screamed caution, but the rest of her gave the warning deliberately little consideration.

"Ah, yes, that's a good idea," She gave back, nodding as he suggested the warm water of the hot spring might aid in dislodging the embedded thorn. His wince, though subtle, had not gone unnoticed. She felt a pang of sympathy for his discomfort and while she hadn't intended to join a stranger in a hot spring anytime soon, it could make the extraction less painful.

Krae's careful removal of his bracelet caught her attention. His casual mention of its importance was a small thing, but in the vulnerability of his situation, felt significant. Like trust. Her gaze lowered to her own cuffs, a precious memento from her mother and father. Her paw grazed over each embedded gem and landed upon the well-worn strip of cheetah fur, an affectionate caress borne out of sentimentality. While her combat bracers were made to get wet with sweat, blood, or whatever else they might encounter, the leather of the cuffs would surely swell and disfigure within the water's warmth. Vanta hesitated, torn between the desire to safeguard her cherished possession and the need to reciprocate the openness of the male before her.

"I guess I should do the same," She conceded, removing her cuffs with a quiet sigh. She carefully placed it next to Krae's bracelet, mirroring his cautious distance from the water's edge.

With a gentle smile and a surge of newfound courage, she glanced back at the stranger. "Shall we?" Stepping lightly into the steamy embrace of the hot springs, she prepared to help him with the thorn.