Kate relaxed as she pet Horen. She had told him he was not a pet. In this state he did seem to mind and she loved trailing his fur with her hands. For the first time she took notice of his coat and Ann's cooking had turn it from a dull lifeless color to brilliant luster. She examined each of his pads on every paw and thought back to their first meeting. His pads were cracked and bloody. Now she could hold Horen and he was no longer terrified to be touched. His claws were nubs a few weeks ago were thick and sharp to tear a man in half. All that power was pressing against her.