[74.4] The Start of a Love story between a Panther and a Bird

[Author's note: This part of the chapter isn't from anyone's perspective.]

Lovi sat in her room, frantically scribbling the answers to the homework from the piece of paper she stole from Atta's room. She was careful to change the grammar in order to pass it off as her own work. As she scribbled, she heard a soft tapping noise come from the window facing outside.

*tap tap*

She paused but didn't hear anything else.

"Maybe it's the wind?"

She started writing again when the tapping resumed. When she stopped, it also stopped.

Her bird left the top of her head and started flying around the window chirping. Confused, she got up and slid open the window.

She came face to face with a pair of green and yellow eyes.

Before she could scream, fuzzy paws covered her mouth and pushed her to the ground. The panther morphed back into a human, still covering her mouth.

Her eyes widened at the sight of Bale smiling at her, flashing a pair of sharp teeth.

Irritated, her eyebrows twitched and she pushed him off, "Get off!!!"

He allowed himself to be pushed off and sat beside her, his panther tail swinging back and forth as he wore a goofy grin.

She quickly shut the window and whispered accusatorily, "What are you doing here?!"

His ears lowered, "I haven't seen you in a while…"

"It's only been two weeks!"

"Exactly!"

She groaned, rolling her eyes in frustration. She glanced at her door then went to the window facing the courtyard to ensure her guardian didn't notice anything. She came back, gently slapping the top of his head, "You idiot! Master is going to give me more homework if she finds out you snuck into my room!!!"

He giggled happily, not at all minding the soft slaps. It was clear Lovi wasn't putting any strength behind it and he took that as a sign of affection. He pounced on her, nuzzling the top of his soft hair onto her chin, "I've missed you~"

Lovi flushed red and struggled to push him away, "Stop it already!!! Why did you even come here?!"

"Oh!" He exclaimed then pulled out documents from his shirt, "I brought you this!"

She received it in confusion and started reading it slowly, "What… What is this?"

He shyly scratched his head, "I found your father. After he moved, it was hard to find his new location. But luckily I was able to track this big box that he shipped and found him."

Her eyes lit up in surprise as she looked at him, "You actually tracked him down!? How?!?"

He grinned, "I just followed the box through the towns. It was difficult because they worked so hard to hide it, but luckily I have a good nose."

"You-You actually followed it in human settlements?! These towns have Holy Priestesses in them!!! Do you have a death wish!?"

He tilted his head in confusion, "What's the problem? I went in my human form."

She was shocked, "You can do that too? For that long?!"

He nodded, "Yeah. It's not hard."

"Weren't you scared?! These are still humans! What if they figured you out!?"

He perked up confidently, "I can fit in quite well with humans. I grew up around them and I even went around in my human form after the circus until I found myself in the Macrabre forest. I don't get scared being around humans."

Lovi was still shocked, but she felt as though there was a stuffy feeling in her chest that she couldn't explain. She glanced away, "But… What if you got hurt?"

His smile faded as surprise reflected on his expression, "You… You are worried for me?"

Once she realized what she said, her face turned bright red, "No! I wasn't worried! You got it wrong!"

His ears and tails raised in excitement and he hugged her, "Oh, Lovi! I knew you loved me back!!"

She pushed him away with a wail, "I didn't say that! Stop putting words in my mouth!!! I just felt moved you did all this work for me!!!"

He leaned back and flashed his teeth in a smile, "Then do I get a reward?"

She paused and suspiciously glanced at him, "A… Reward? What kind of reward?"

He grinned mischievously, "It's nothing major. Just close your eyes."

She gave him another suspicious look before slowly closing her eyes, "Okay? Now what-"

Bale leaned forward and placed his lips against hers.

Her eyes shot open in shock and she threw her hand forward.

*SLAP*

Bale fell to the ground, rolling around holding his bright red cheek, "Ow ow ow ow!"

Lovi panicked, "Ahhh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that!!!"

A knock came at the door, freezing them both. A voice called out from behind it, "Lovi? Are you okay? I heard noises."

Lovi called out, "It's okay, Master! I just got frustrated with a math problem and slapped myself!"

"...Okay."

Once she heard the footsteps leaving, Lovi let out an anxious sigh. 

He looked up at her aggrievedly, "Did you hate it that much?"

Lovi flushed from a mix of guilt and embarrassment, "It's not like I hated it… I just… Didn't expect it…"

He sat up abruptly with a bright grin, "Then can I have another one?"

Seeing the bright handprint on his face, Lovi glanced around guiltily. She bit her lower lip and gave a small nod.

She was suddenly pounced on by an excited panther who no longer held back. As he kissed her over and over, she felt as if she was getting smothered.

Overcome by a strange sensation, she panicked and pushed his face away, "Enough!!! You said one! That was more than one!!!"

He didn't press further and stared down at her, his breathing heavy. When she looked into his eyes and flushed expression, her heart seemingly stopped. 

The predator who had her pinned whispered, "Lovi… I love you. I really, REALLY, love you."

She averted her gaze shyly, "I-I get it already… So get off of me-"

He laid on her, hugging her tightly, "Just a little longer~"

Lovi let out an irritated groan but didn't argue. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him and found that she didn't mind the position. In fact, it was even comfortable.

It was like hugging a giant plush panther.

She indulged his snuggling until she found him getting closer, nuzzling her neck. Then, without feeling her push him away, he started licking it and hugging her tighter.

Lovi couldn't handle it anymore, "Oi! Okay! Get off!"

She heartlessly pushed Bale away and sat down on the floor to look at the documents. He sat behind her and wrapped his arms around her to embrace her entire body. He affectionately nuzzled his head against her neck.

She rolled her eyes at his clingy nature and went back to reading the papers. She mumbled to herself, "I wonder what's in that box… My Father seems to be treating it so delicately."

Bale perched his chin on her shoulder, "I don't know, but it smelled like something that's alive."