Moral to the Story

He narrowed his eyes as he watched her trembling form hidden in the darkness. He could barely make out the reflection in her eyes as she looked up at him and then closed her eyes. What had caused this new reaction in his slave? She had not tried to hide from him since that day on the decrepit human island.

She at least shook her head, but it had not been visible for the other to see.
He tempered his impatience for her to come out. His ear was still on the prince in the water. He couldn't help his tail swish though as she lingered. He stepped back to allow her space to return to him, her shuffling, a reaction he had not witnessed in her before.

Something had scared her... and it made her scared of him. He tilted his head as he tried reading her. His heart rate had come back down from his fight, a spar really, it barely weakened him and he didn't even break a sweat. It was perhaps the first time he had raised a paw towards another with her near him. Had that been it?

He bent close to her as she finally slunk to his feet, her body braced as if to bolt.

"My Kitten, surely you don't think I'd leave you friendless and alone to raise these children, do you?" He asked her with a low purr in his chest, His nose gently reaching to brush her cheek, "I can't leave you and the little ones by yourselves while I hunt." He huffed. Perhaps he was testing Ganymede's mettle, perhaps he was testing how spicy he was. His true motives were his own.

"No, I suppose not." He replied to Ganymede, his voice growing in volume again to reach him. "Maybe I like this new title. Demon Prince. She doesn't think I am one. My father though..." He replied, trailing off and looking again at his girl's scars, perhaps with fresh eyes, "She'd probably call him a monster for sure." He said, taking his paw and tenderly caressing her blue-gray cheek.