In the wings (private)

Mara wound her way unobtrusively through the legs of the people seated at tables in the cabaret-like setting. Unnoticed, or at least, unremarked upon, she slipped behind the bar and down the narrow hallway to a room bathed in the soft golden glow of a single dim lamp.

The smell here was of antique wood, a mix of fiber and polish, each unique piece of furniture taken exquisite care of. Those smells pervaded the room so soundly she had to breathe deeply to scent Amir, who had been here recently. She took comfort in the familiarity of her creator's scent. There was nothing overtly unique about it; he took pains not to stand out in any way. Mara knew him, though, and swore she could have picked out that particular blend of soap and shampoo anywhere.

Unconcerned with modesty she shifted to her human form, skin rippling in to take the place of her silver and black fur. She finally stood.

"So, you've delivered our lamb back home," the basso profundo voice rose from the corner, in the shadows.

Mara didn't let her surprise show but she reached for her abandoned clothing and swiftly covered herself. She was in no danger here, but her body was not for gazing upon. He knew that though. As he turned the lamp up, she found his amber gaze securely locked on her face. A smile came easily to her lips. She liked this man. There were few of that sex she could say that about.

"He's gone," she replied softly, the two words falling softly from her lips like the patter of cats' paws.

"He'll be back." The large man in the chair hardly moved, except to drum his fingers on the old wood of the armrest. "He'll want to know."

Mara nodded. "Of course he will."

Her mind added up the numbers. How many players were in this game? More than even canny, clever Amir suspected. He might be angry with her, when he found out. No, check that - he would undoubtedly be angry with her. But Amir had been her protector and comforter for far too long for her to truly fear any repercussions from her actions. She did not fear him. Nothing she could do would cause him to hurt her. He had built that trust up in her over centuries and she leaned heavily upon it.

The dark man leaned forward, fingertips steepled beneath his chin. "He's going to be very angry at me."

Mara nodded again. Amir's wrath would fall upon this man, not her. Self-serving of her, perhaps, but she was glad for that. She didn't think he was concerned.

He proved her words true, his enormous deep peal of laughter loud enough, no doubt, to be heard over the music outside. Mara smiled though; there was no malice in this man. Just good intentions, same as her.

"I can't wait," he laughed. "This ought to be fun."

Mara just shook her head and kept her opinions to herself. She had a much finer line to walk than he did, after all.