Animal Instincts
Title: "Animal Instincts"
Author: mlady_rebecca ( mlady_rebecca @ livejournal . com )
Beta: Celeste (Thanks!!)
Fandom: Anita Blake
Type: Ficlet
Written: 11/27/05
Disclaimer: I don't own any of LKH's wonderful characters. Just borrowing them for a few moments. For entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG
Pairing: none
Spoilers: none
POV: first person, Anita
Archive: http://home.comcast.net/~mlady_rebecca/ab_fics.html
I shrugged out of my coat and pulled off my shoes. It was pouring outside and I was soaked to the skin.
"Cherry, I know I'm late already, but do you mind if I take a quick shower before we go out?" I called out to the quiet house.
I rung water out of my hair as I made my way to the kitchen to check for phone messages. The house was dark and quiet, but it wasn't empty. I could feel the low hum of lycanthrope energy. Was everyone napping?
"Cherry?" I called more quietly. I found Cherry in the living room curled up on the sofa. She had her arms wrapped around her long legs, her chin resting on her knees. She was staring into space, a sad wistful look marring her pretty features.
"Cherry, what's wrong?"
Cherry finally pulled herself out of her stupor. She tilted her head, resting her cheek against her knees and met my eyes.
"Nothing, Anita. I'm just sad our day out is ruined."
I frowned. "But I'm only...." I looked at my watch. "... ninety minutes late." I sighed. "Sorry, Cherry, I just got busy...."
"It's not the time, Anita," Cherry said with a faint frown. "It's raining."
Now I was confused. I looked down at my dripping suit. "I noticed."
"It's no fun to go shopping in the rain." The pout was back.
"I know it's inconvenient, but...." I didn't know what else to say. I had fought with Bert to have this afternoon off, and now Cherry was just calling the day because of the weather.
Cherry studied me for a few seconds, finally realizing that I wasn't following her train of thought.
"We're cats, Anita. We don't like the rain."
"We?"
"You really haven't noticed? We all try to stay in on rainy days."
I looked around, once again wondering where everyone else was.
Cherry guessed where I was going. "Micah is upstairs in bed, reading. Gregory and Nathaniel are in Nathaniel's room."
I started to speak again then changed my mind. I looked down at myself. "I'm going to put on something dry."
I poked my head in Nathaniel's room as I passed. Nathaniel and Gregory were curled up on the window seat in Nathaniel's room watching the rain drip down the glass. They looked the part of two housecats forced to spend the day in the house.
Choosing not to disturb them, I pulled the door shut and headed for my bedroom. Micah was indeed in bed. He lay on his stomach, his legs kicking restlessly in the air as he read. I had a few seconds to study him before he looked up and gave me a faint smile.
"Foul weather, I see. Why don't you take a hot bath? I'll make you some hot chocolate."
"Cherry doesn't want to go shopping now, just because it's raining." I made it a statement.
"It's supposed to be sunny next Saturday, maybe you can go then."
"But I already rearranged my schedule for today." After a long pause, "You really refuse to go out in the rain? You shower. How is the rain different?"
Micah shrugged. I turned with a huff and headed for the bathroom.
*****
No one was in the bedroom when I emerged from the bathroom. The hot shower had steamed up the room and the steam wafted out into the colder bedroom. I quickly dressed in jeans and a cozy sweater. Despite my displeasure at the last minute change of plans, the hot chocolate Micah had offered earlier sounded good.
I wandered downstairs. All the pard members in the house had migrated down to the living room. They were all curled up in front of the television watching an old Tarzan movie. Micah patted the sofa by his side, then lifted a mug of cocoa. "I heated it up when I heard the shower stop."
I gave up trying to understand my cats and moved to join them. They moved aside so I could snuggle in next to my Nimir-Raj, then they pressed back around me. I had to smile at the group cuddle. "So, I suppose we're getting dinner delivered?" I asked.
Micah laughed, hugging me closer. "I think she's starting to get with the program."