“Yes, hunt. There are many delicious small creatures in the woods for us. And I can see that you are hungry.” Aspen gestured towards the trees. Felix looked out, then looked back at Aspen, the ear flaps of his borrowed hat giving him a comical expression.
“Are you saying we should shift and go into the forest??” Felix’s voice rose in alarm.
“It is quite safe,” Aspen assured him. “I do this all the time. Where do you think the rabbit came from last night?”
“I…” Felix shook his head. “Look, uhm, that might be your thing and all, but I am not a snow leopard. I’m ahouse cat. You want me to hunt mice when there’s not two feet of snow on the ground, that’s one thing, but I’m basically prey out here, myself, so no thanks. No.”
Aspen stepped closer, snapping Felix’s attention around. “I will keep you safe.”
Felix flushed, but shook his head again. “No. I’m not comfortable with that. And besides, I’d freeze my ass off! I’m like 8 pounds soaking wet when I shift.”
Aspen’s mouth lifted in mirth. “Eight pounds? That’s all?”
Felix glared at him. “Don’t youdaremake a size joke!”
Aspen coughed a laugh, but held his hands up in surrender. “I said nothing!”
Felix sniffed, “Fine.”
“Well, if you will not hunt, then would you consider shifting to make the walk back faster? I can go first and break the path for your little paws—” Aspen couldn’t help his laughter this time as Felix turned on him with fire in his eyes. He backed away, still laughing as the other man pinned him against a tree, a single finger poking into his flannel-covered chest.
“Listen, you…you MISCREANT,”Felix growled mildly. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re teasing me just to try & get me naked!”
It popped out before he thought about the words, but the moment he did, his anger switched to embarrassment and he stepped back.
“Maybe I am,” Aspen replied, causing Felix’ body temperature to skyrocket. “It would mean lunch in twenty minutes instead of two hours.”
The amusement on his face was clear, leaving Felix to scoff, roll his eyes, and stomp away down the path.
“I’mnot shiftingin themiddle of a snow storm!” he called back over his shoulder.
Aspen grinned and followed. He contemplated feeling guilty over throwing ‘professional’ conduct out the window with his blatant flirting, but the house cat was just too cute. Besides, an embarrassed Felix walked faster than a tired, grumpy one, and Aspen was also hungry.
He kept up their banter as they walked, keeping Felix distracted with lewd jokes and mild size comments until they reached the bottom of the hill behind the bed & breakfast. They paused, looking up at the beautiful building. Felix groaned unhappily.
“I forgot about this stupid hill!”
He looked truly dejected and Aspen realized the cat-shifter was, in fact, far more tired than he had let on. Well. There was one way to solve that.Andto keep flirting. He grinned and reached for Felix.
“Shall I carry you?”
Felix sqwawked as Aspen threw the slightly smaller man over his shoulder.
“Aspen?! WHAT THE FUCK, PUT ME DOWN! You’ll hurt yourself!”
Aspen just laughed and hoisted him farther up. Felix wriggled.
“Hold still!” Aspen warned him.
Felix wriggled more, “You stubborn jerk, PUT ME DOWN! I CAN WALK!”
“Felix, don’t wiggle!”
Felix turned into an absolute squid. Aspen’s boot slipped in the snow. They tumbled down with a flail of limbs, claws, jackets, and one puffed up tail. Aspen raised his head and spatout the mouthful of scarf he’d inhaled in the fall. He glared at Felix, those rounded ears of his taking on an annoyed slant.
“Really?” he said to the other cat. “Youdoknow I am quite strong.”
Felix pouted and pushed at the snow leopard. Aspen didn’t budge.
