Oh no! Oh no oh no, oh no! Oh cruel, uncaring Universe, did you not understand the [i]one[/i] thing Étoile had asked for? She said no Lynxes! None! This is two! Two Lynxes! And [i]these[/i] two Lynxes, to boot! Oh no oh no oh no no no no, she'd never live this down. By this time tomorrow the entire House of Marduk will have heard every unflattering detail of this trip. Oh goshies, why had she gone and forgotten her triangles? Er, her ears. H-headdress! 

Étoile's entire body is flushed and red. If she didn't know better she'd swear she was coming down with a fever. What is she supposed to do? Listen to them snicker! She tries to hide her face, but the only place to do that is on Lady's thigh and for some reason that mostly seems to be making things worse? Oh [i]lamassie[/i] you silly girl! Stop squeaking! Can't you hear how much they're laughing? Can't you hear how much you sound like you're mewing?? Ok no, this is not going to work. This was, in fact, a terrible idea and she needs to apologize to Lady right now and take it back before--

The thought, in fact every thought, is interrupted by a series of gentle scritches massaging her scalp right behind her triangles. N-nevermind that they're just something a servant put on her head, the sensation of those long, strong fingers gliding across her scalp is... is... mmmmm~

[i]lamassie's[/i] deepest secret is that she never quite mastered purring. The noise she makes instead is an indecent sort of half-moan broken up by little shivers and a vague crackling to her voice that gives her voice a kind of gravelly sing-song quality. It means she's happy. It means she's safe with her Lady and not even mean, snickering Lynxes can penetrate the absolute zone of perfect defense that is [i]ear wubs[/i]. She bonks her forehead against Lady's legs and nuzzles her cheek against her mistress with a sudden and total lack of shame. Before she knows it her butt is wiggling in the air and her guards are no longer even trying to restrain their laughter, but it doesn't matter. Étoile, [i]lamassie[/i] has no need for pride! She's a good girl, yes she is!

Lady tugs her leash, and Étoile paps her little paws onto the ground to follow where she's led. Of course she can't stand up on her feet, silly! Then she wouldn't be Lady's darling widd... erm, little [i]lamassie![/i] She turns her head up as high as her collar will let her to present her chin for rubs even underneath her veil. It's the prettiest one she owns, sparkling golden fabric that's lined with tiny jewels that add weight to the soft fabric that's even thin enough to offer the tiniest glimpse at her face! Wearing this she's an open book: Lady doesn't even need to look at her eyes to see how happy she is!

The face that looks back at her is pure magic. This is the strongest Tamytha has looked in days! Looking at her tall, wiry frame and seeing all the gentleness she knows is reflected inside the depths of her soul, [i]lamassie[/i] feels the last bits of her doubt melt into a puddle. Lady's tread is feather soft, and [i]lamassie[/i] comes scampering delightedly behind her. To the gardens! To the gardens for Lady's pretty heart! She makes all sorts of silly noises and delights to hear the laughter that follows, but even at her silliest she never comes close to the end of her leash. If it's her time to be a pet, she is the gentlest, sweetest pet in all of Caphtor.

And do you know why? Because she's a good girl. And she's going to fix everything, just you watch!