ooc: d'aww

Cancer laughed as she confirmed that he was indeed cuter than Leon. Damn straight! He trotted along ahead of her, then settled down into the moss beside her. As she groomed, he grinned stupidly, especially when she commented on his spots. Yes, he was rather proud of those- secret treasures, only shown when wet. It was what made him a leopard, despite being all black otherwise.

"Thanks. I think so too." He laughed off his shameless joke as he turned to groom his own fur dry. Where Makyna was careful to flatten her fur nicely, he groomed himself quickly, not bothering to flatten the fur he mussed in turn. "When I first met you, you kind of had spots too. They've gone away now, though. Must be an age thing, huh?" He was of course referring to the very faint, already fading-at-the-time cub spots she'd sported on day one. Now, even wet, those spots had faded. In fact, as he looked at her, he noticed a few other changes.

He paws were bigger than his, but she was already growing into them, with broad shoulders and hips and a tail tip that grew fluffier each day. He noted these things with keen appreciation. He noted that stripe again, and then his eyes wandered lower. The way her jaw shifted as she groomed, how he could see her build now that her fur was slicked down. She was bigger than he was, but somehow, it didn't bother him like maybe it might have another day.

"I'm glad you stayed here, Makyna..." His tone of voice was different now, softer, almost dazed. "I mean, Bevy and Midas are cool... and I guess Leon's alright, but they're not like you. It's like, I can't be mad if you're around." He felt that familiar flush across his cheeks and turned his eyes away. "What I mean is, thanks. For being my friend... and stuff."

ooc: 'sharing tongues' xD

Cancer was looking away when Makyna first moved, so when she brushed against him and planted herself at his side, he startled. He blinked in surprise when she pushed her head under his chin, then felt a stupid smile creep up as she returned the compliment. Then, just as he thought he was able to keep his heart from exploding from his chest, the lioness ran her tongue across his cheek.

A sharp, sudden thrill ran up his spine and he felt his face flush more than ever. He didn't move away, but rather, sat stock still, letting her groom the fur on his cheek, and subconsciously moving into it. As he eased into the new, fluttery feeling, a new sound arose.

PurrrrrrRrrrrrrRrrrrrrRrrr...

The cub didn't even seem to notice the rumble in his throat, and he tilted his head down to return the gesture, almost as if by instinct alone. If she'd let him, he'd run that bristly tongue across her forehead, across the gemstone that sat so pretty and perfect between her brow. If she didn't pull away or move, he'd continue, a little rougher than her, but pointedly, all but giving in to that feline pull. Social grooming on a whole other level, but the cub certainly didn't understand the implications yet.

In silence, he hoped that moment they shared would never end. It felt good to be so close to someone, to have that special bond no one else could ever know. He didn't feel the push of jealousy towards Leon now. In that precious moment, it was just the two of them- and no bear or bird or snake could ruin it now.