<blockquote><div><cite>Lilium wrote:</cite>“You let that half pint alley cat do this to you?”  *poke poke*</div></blockquote><br/>"Y-OWOWOW!" Sherani yelps, flinching back from Lilium's unexpected jab. The shifter claps a hand defensively over her cut, and immediately regrets it- sharp as Lil's nails may be, they're nowhere near as bad as having malabar-soaked leather pressed to her wound. She withdraws quickly, and after a moment's hesitation turns her wound back towards her kitsune friend.<br/><br/>Then, Lilium's<span style="font-style: italic">other</span>jab finally sinks in. Sherani returns the fox's query with a pained look, drawn as much from her wounded pride as the stinging mark across her arm.<br/><br/>"Aw, c'mon Lil! That cat was totally vicious! She would ripped us all apart if you hadn't a zapped her with that spell! And..." Sherani stops, or rather pauses, her lips giving a brief twitch as if trying to grasp at an evasive word. A nagging sensation at the back of  her head tells her that there's one more thing that needs to be said- something difficult, but necessary, and definitely overdue...<br/><br/>"And, uh... thanks. You totally saved our bacon back there." Sherani scratches at her neck nervously, glancing away as a tinge of cherry-red colors the edges of her cheeks.<br/><br/><br/>The brush of Lilium's fingers this time is a welcome one; a refreshing chill the numbs and invigorates all at once, like diving into a deep lake. Nera's clawmark vanishes in an instant, taking with it the lingering tenderness, tightness, and the bite of malabar juice. The tigress gives her  arm a quick pump to ensure that everything is in order and flashes a grin at her healer.<br/><br/>"Awesome! Thanks Lil, you're- Lil?" Sherani's gratitude is cut short as she meets Lilium's eyes, and finds the kitsune gazing back at her intently. What's going on in the foxy brain, she can't even guess... Sherani's lips begin to move, desperate to break up the awkward moment, but Lilium's own words pre-empts her:<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Lilium wrote:</cite>“Sherani... Do you prefer female company to male?”</div></blockquote><br/>"Huh?"<br/><br/>It takes Sherani several seconds to muster anything beyond confusion as she tries - and fails - to suss the intent behind Lilium's question. Female company... she couldn't mean...?<span style="font-style: italic">She knows about <span style="font-weight: bold">that</span> time?</span>The tigress's brain shifts into panic mode before a second at the thought of being outed by Lilium, before a sliver of rational thought jams itself back into her through processes: of course, there's no way the kitsune could know about her little slip-up with the twins way back when; she's clever, but not a gods-damned mind reader. Besides, that incident was seasons ago, and it was really the beer's fault anyway... nevertheless, the shifter makes a mental reminder to steer clear of the twins during her visit.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Okay, so... what does she mean? Food? No, food's not company... Maybe friends? Like guy-friends an' girl-friends? Yeah- wait, no!</span>Sherani once again manages to get tangled up in her own thoughts, stalling her response for another awkward moment while Lilium waits for her answer. Or maybe cooks one up for herself.<span style="font-style: italic">Dammit mouth, SAY SOMETHING!</span><br/><br/>"BOTH!" Sherani blurts out. "I mean, uh... both. I get on pretty good with anybody, really. If y'know what I mean?" She flashes Lilium a cheerful grin, and hopes the kitsune doesn't press her question any further. Fortunately, it seems like she's off the hook for now- Lilium has another brand-new toy to enjoy herself with. It's clear what kind of company she prefers...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I wonder if she'll share that later,</span>Sherani muses, glancing down at the impressive bulge growing under Lilium's touch.<span style="font-style: italic">He's got more'n enough to go around, that's for sure.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Speaking of goin' around...</span>the shifter's attention settles on Ureck, who seems to be lost in thought (or willful ignorance) while Rafe and Lil make their 'introduction.' The canine gasps in the background, along with Ureck's shy-as-ever demeanor, bring to her mind a proposal she'd been meaning to make herself the last two nights, before... well, things had intervened, one way or another. Well, no time like the present, right? Sidling up next to the collie, she gives a quick nudge to grab his attention before speaking.<br/><br/>"Hey Ureck, buddy... d'you mind if I ask you a favor?"