Maverick

150g

Maverick had been single his whole life, so it was nice having someone to come home to. It saddened him that the reason his friend had to take refuge in his den was due to a stalker though. "Did you catch a glimpse of them today?"

Jaded shook her head. "I'll get this feeling like I'm stuck in a small space and when I look up something will move behind a corner and the feeling is gone. When I look around the corner there's nothing."

They fell quiet, both thinking of ways to solve the predicament. "You should probably come back before dark until we figure this out." Maverick decided he'd follow her around for a day too and see if he noticed anything off.

"I suppose I should. See you at sunset then!" Jaded hesitated and then leaned over to kiss his cheek before leaving.

Maverick touched his cheek, still not used to the change in their relationship. Jaded was on her way to her part-time job at Ozzie's silk stand in the market area. He remembered her asking if it was okay to keep her job since she had had a relationship with the guardian before. Maverick said it didn't bother him, but Jaded looked almost sad that it didn't. He was new to all this relationship stuff and wasn't sure how he was supposed to feel.

He waited an hour before leaving the den as well. It was quite easy finding a hiding place where he could watch Jaded, but if she was getting a claustrophobic feeling from his gaze then she gave no indication.

It was noon when Jaded dropped the silk she was folding and rushed over to an alley. Maverick rushed out of his hiding spot and over to her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as they both stared down the empty corridor. Only the canopy of a large tree moved in the slight breeze.

"I've been watching you all day. You didn't notice?" He looked at her startled face as she shook her head slowly. "I guess it's just this one person that's triggering your alarms. I'll keep a lookout and follow you home." Jaded didn't reply and returned to work. Maverik debated if he should stay in the alley or return to his original position.

"I saw you staring. Are you researching the Naomis too?" A raspy voice called out from above him. A skeletal looking Wildclaw dropped down from the tree. He looked more haggard than when Maverick last saw him, but there was no doubt it was Jaded's ex, Uriel.

"Are you the creep stalking Jaded? Look, YOU were the one who left her. If you have something you need to tell her then I'll relay the message." Maverick barely finished speaking before Uriel flared his wings and took a swipe at him.

"The Naomis are MY research! MINE!"

Maverick was on the smaller side, but he was heftier than Uriel's emaciated form. When he flared his own wings they were much more impressive.

"You better not be fighting back here." A large green Wildclaw jumped between them and spun around, her tail forcing both males to step back. "I have the authority to penalized you if this continues."

Maverick lowered his wings, but not because of the penalty. He was in awe of the green Wildclaw's muscular beauty. Uriel on the other hand did not appear to care about penalties and continued to charge at Maverick. The other Wildclaw kicked at Uriel's leg with such force that it buckled immediately.

"I see you want a confinement vacation. Alright, get up." The Wildclaw turned to Maverick, "You're free to go."

He nodded and returned to the original spot he'd been watching Jaded from. She seemed unaware about what just went down. Maverick was thinking of how he'd tell her, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the green Wildclaw. In no time at all it was sunset.

Maverick followed Jaded back to his den and recounted the alley scene.

"I can't believe it was Uriel! And what did he mean about Naomis?" Jaded looked so sad and small. He awkwardly hugged her. "You said he was acting deranged?"

"He was ready to attack me." He nuzzled her shoulder. "But enough of that. What are your plans now?"

"I'm going to find out what these Naomis he's apparently researching are. But first," she looped a silk scarf over his neck. "I'm going to do this," she pulled him closer for a kiss.

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After this story is She/Her

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