THE DEFINITION OF PEACE

Chapter 29: Getting Closer

Now that the hunt was over the watchers headed for the SUV’s for the trip back.

“That was surprising at the end there. I thought Feral would get Freeland to run but instead they just talked. Wonder what they were talking about?” A cousin of Sheara’s asked the adults around him as they drove back to the estate.

“Don’t know so we’ll have to wait and ask when we get back.” Liam responded distractedly. He wondered the same thing. It seem rather anticlimactic when Ulysses walked peacefully with Freeland down the hill.

It took about twenty minutes to reach their home and unload. While they had been gone, Darren had his servants set out a large dinner for them all. The delicious scent of food reached their noses as they walked across the yard to the veranda and into the house.

Before the groups arrived, Feral and Freeland paused at the edge of the forest while Feral got his clothes, altered back to his normal shape and redressed.

Freeland was impressed by the ease with which Feral could alter his form. As they continued on to the estate, he eyed the tom that strode beside him.

“I must admit, I didn’t believe all the tales about altered Kats. I stand corrected and must say I’m impressed. Sheara is also capable of this?” He asked.

“Yes but because of her pregnancy, she cannot risk changing shape.” Feral responded politely.

“Is she a tiger like you?”

“Yes, except she’s a lovely shade of silver and black.”

“Interesting.”

They reached the estate and were told by the servants that dinner would be served when the rest arrived. They were escorted to the drawing room and given cups of coffee while they waited. Feral and Freeland talked quietly about each other’s culture and how they differed from each other.

Soon they heard the noise of many voices as the clans returned. Feral and Freeland left the drawing room for the dining room where the others were gathering and talking excitedly about the night’s events. Jericho was there, though very subdued and unwilling to look anyone in the face.

Freeland was told to sit next to his clan leader while Feral took a seat next to Sheara. Everyone was quickly seated and food was served. Feral was very hungry despite having eaten a rabbit earlier. Sheara was aware of this and ensured he got as many servings of meat as he wanted.

Only pleasant chatter filled the dinner time gathering, everyone tacitly knowing discussion of the night’s events would be held later in the study. However, that didn’t stop the younger ones from chattering excitedly about the hunt and staring at Feral in admiration.

Once dinner was over, the kittens and older youngsters were hustled off to bed and the rest were told to be off to attend to their own duties before retiring for bed themselves. Only the Patriarchs of both clans, Feral and Sheara, her parents along with four high ranking clan members were invited into the den to put a finishing touch to the evenings events. Jericho was told to go to bed and Freeland was instructed to go out on the veranda and wait until his leader was ready to leave.

When everyone was settled and it was quiet, Darren spoke first, “Commander, I wish to thank you for handling the punishment in such an excellent manner. I do believe Jericho has learned his lesson.”

“I too wish to add my thanks for the handling of my clansman, Commander. Though I must admit the end was a bit of a surprise. Is it permitted to know what you and Freeland spoke of?” Terrence Firecrest asked.

“Certainly. It appears we were mis-informed on Freeland’s intentions. He did intend to do away with me, that much was true, but his reason was because he thought I, being a foreigner and unfamiliar with your ways, would abandon Sheara and he felt that was wrong and besmirched her and her family’s name so he set out to correct what he saw as a great injustice to her. I, of course, set him straight and explained what was really going on. He was surprisingly accepting of that explanation and apologized for his behavior.” Feral explained easily.

Firecrest blinked at that seemingly simple explanation. “Hmm, I’m not so certain he was being completely truthful but since he admits he was wrong and will leave you alone, I guess that closes this matter.”

“It does for me.” Feral said urbanely.

“Good, then I’m glad we are ending this incident on such a good note. I am very pleased to have had the chance to meet you Commander and I should be on my way home, it is getting very late.” Terrence said rising from his seat.

Everyone else followed suit and watched as their patriarch escorted the other out. Feral and Sheara used the moment to escape to their rooms.

“What a day and night this has been.” Sheara said with a sigh as they walked up the stairs.

“I’ll say and a most pleasant one at that. What have you planned for tomorrow?” Feral asked as they reached her door.

“Hmmm, I don’t know yet but I’ll think of something in the morning. It is your last day here and I would like it to be special.” Sheara said warmly.

“I look forward to it. Have a good night.” Feral said, leaning close and giving her a light kiss.

“You too.” She sighed when they parted. She gave him a soft smile then slipped into her room.

Feeling warm and happy, Feral walked down to his door and stepped into his room.

The next morning shone bright and warm. Sheara stepped from her room wearing jeans, a long sleeved shirt and hiking boots. She went down the hall and knocked on Ulysses’ door.

She could hear him moving around then the door opened. He was wearing a bathrobe as he peered out.

“Good morning, Ulysses. I wanted to tell you to dress like me for a day of hiking.” She said brightly.

“Oh, alright. Give me ten minutes and I’ll see you downstairs.” Feral said warmly.

“Good enough!” She said turning and going downstairs.

Feral quickly went to his suitcase and pulled out his own pair of jeans and a polo shirt. He pulled on his tennis shoes and quickly left his room and hurried down the stairs.

Reaching the dining room, he found Sheara sitting down and eating breakfast. Beside her was a picnic basket. Smiling at her, he took a seat beside her and tucked into a hearty breakfast.

“So where are we going?” He asked as he reached for his milk.

“You’ll see. I don’t want you to have any preconceived ideas.” She smirked.

He raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t respond. They finished in companionable silence and were soon heading for the stables.

Feral got Jimmy again as Sheara mounted Dagger. She led them off at a firm trot away from Bender’s Point and headed toward the main entrance of the estate. Puzzled, Feral kept pace with her as they headed down the road toward the city.

They hadn’t gone more than five miles when Sheara turned from the road and headed for a barely seen path through a thick forest. They rode for some time. Feral looked around, spotting a great many prey through the underbrush. The path was only wide enough for them to go single file so they didn’t speak. The world around them was filled with the sounds of many creatures calling to each other and birds flying through the branches.

An hour’s ride brought them to a sudden opening in the forest wall. The sun beat down on them after the long ride through the coolness of the trees. Before them lay a huge valley with a lake. To their left was a rose a huge mountain range, it was in this direction Sheara took them. Riding some thirty minutes more, Sheara turned her horse into a narrow opening in the mountain side they had been riding parallel to. He followed her and stared at the steep walls on both sides of him. Water dripped down their sides and he could smell more ahead of them.

When they came to the end of the narrow corridor of rock, he was stunned by the sight of a mini-jungle wedged in a tiny clearing with a small waterfall at one end of a small pool. Mist filled the air as the horses paced slowly forward over a grassy verge.

Sheara stopped and dismounted. Feral looked around then did the same. She showed him where she usually tied them up then she removed the picnic basket from behind her saddle and walked toward the falls.

She made for a small sheltered area covered by the broad leaves of some kind of huge plant. It afforded them some cover from the constant spray of water. The sun still beat down from directly overhead, warming the area pleasantly though he was certain once it was gone it could get rather cold here.

Sheara put the basket down, pulled out a blanket and laid it down. “Well, what do you think?” She asked as she settled onto the blanket and began to pull her shoes off.

“It’s breathtaking and so private.” He said sitting down beside her.

“It’s my most favorite place to get away from everyone. No one knows of this place but myself and my great grandfather. He’d shown it to me when I was very young......said he saw great things for me but that I needed a quiet place so he brought me here. He died a few years ago, so I’m the only one who knows and now so do you.” She said.

“Well I’m impressed. It’s like a mini paradise.” He said admiringly.

“I’m glad. Since this is our last day together for a while I wanted it to be extra special and perhaps allow us to be closer and see if the ties I feel toward you are as strong as we think without all the civilized problems rearing their head. I want us to just feel and let the rest take care of itself in its own good time.” She said seriously.

He stared at her a long moment then reached a paw up and cupped her face. “I think that’s an excellent idea and to help that along........” He murmured as he leaned close and gave her a long kiss.

She sighed and surrendered to it. The kiss held for a long breathless moment before they slowly parted. She smiled at him impishly, “How about a swim after that long ride!” She said, her heart pounding a little faster.

“I didn’t bring a suit...” He said in surprise.

“Neither did I.” She smirked, suddenly standing and stripping off all her clothes. Her pregnant belly leading the way as she made for the water and jumped in.

Feral blinked in stunned surprise. The sight of her, even pregnant, had stolen his breath away then he shook himself and stripped his clothes off as well following her into the surprisingly warm water.

He realized there must be a hot spring beneath the pool and that explained the heavy mist overlaying everything. He looked around for her as he tread water and was taken by surprise when he felt paws running up his body then she popped up in front of him, grinning wickedly.

The next few hours were the most wonderful moments of his life. They made love in the water several times before climbing out and doing it again on the blanket.

They ate lunch in the buff then took a nap under the warm sun with him spooning her from behind, his arms wrapped gently around the kitten in her belly. They woke when the sun finally disappeared over the mountain and began casting long shadows into their little oasis.

Feral was loathed to leave but knew they needed to get back before dark. They dressed quickly then mounted their horses and rode back to the estate.

No one asked where they’d been but many could see the new closeness the two shared as they walked through the house to change for dinner.

Liam cast a knowing look toward his wife and she gave him a smile and a thumbs up. He nearly laughed at that but he was sure she was right to feel triumphant. It might take a while but he was fairly certain a wedding would be occurring before too long.