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Catching up with Cyrene is always a pleasure. Travel suits her, and she is a natural storyteller with fascinating tales to tell. Brunch ends with a warm hug and a promise to visit the cubs next time—Phainon and Khaos love their Aunt Cyrene’s stories.
Starting up the car, Khaslana hurries home, always somewhat apprehensive on leaving the kids alone with his husband. Nanook is great with the cubs, but he is lackadaisical in adhering to the organized daily schedule Khaslana puts together for the children: designated snack times that won’t interfere with their meals; a healthy distribution of schoolwork, structured play, and outdoor activities; and quiet time early enough that it won’t disrupt sleep. Khaos, especially, is more at ease when there is a fixed schedule when he knows what to expect.
Nanook also has the habit of doing things that make Khaslana’s blood pressure sky rocket, letting the cubs hang over his shoulder like a potato sack while he walks around the house, tossing them in the air and catching them in the curl of his tail. Phainon and Khaos love that kind of rowdy play, but it gives Khaslana a heart attack every time.
Nanook had assured him these actions were perfectly safe, seeming confused by Khaslana’s panic. Is it a snow leopard thing? It’s definitely not normal behavior for civilized (house)cats. Khaslana tried searching the internet, but the results were unilluminating, no mention of this kind of rough handling, and he doesn’t know any leopards he could ask, their kind being uncommon in this region.
The house is quiet when Khaslana lets himself in. Silently shucking his shoes in the entryway, he pads into the house. As he suspected, there is one big cat and two little kittens napping on the couch, lying in a cozy patch of sunshine. Little Phainon is curled up on Nanook’s chest, his cheek squished against the muscle. A large hand covers the cub’s back, a small white tail wrapped around the large boned wrist. The second head of fluffy white hair rests on Nanook’s stomach, Khaos hugging the thick, furry white tail wrapped around him.
Khaslana’s mouth unconsciously curves at the scent of lazy contentment surrounding his small family.
Sensing the presence of his mate, the snow leopard’s ears twitch. Nanook blinks slowly up at Khaslana, his mouth stretching wide in a yawn. Fangs glint at the corners, catching the sunlight. He extends his hand to Khaslana.
“There’s no space,” Khaslana whispers to him.
Nanook’s considering gaze moves over the couch. Then, carefully, he lifts Khaos with the curl of his tail. When Khaos murmurs indistinctly, the motion pauses for a second, but Khaos just snuffles and hugs the leopard’s tail tighter with his little arms. With the cub settling, Nanook shifts Khaos to lie more on top of him, and scoots towards the back of the couch. It opens up a sliver of space, just enough if Khaslana lies half on top of Nanook.
There are things to be done but… a nap should be fine, Khaslana thinks, joining the pile. It’s cozy and warm, resting his head on Nanook’s chest. Seeing Phainon’s cute sleeping face, Khaslana can’t help reaching out to pet the kitten’s soft ears. Phainon mewls sweetly, snuggling closer to them both.
“Had a good time?” Nanook asks, soft and sleepy, voice low so as not to wake the kids.
“I did,” Khaslana whispers back, smiling, and leans up for a kiss.