<JETMODE> *It's a warm and comfortable evening down at the stables where Kender is -- where he usually is, in fact, as a fledgling beastmaster. He's checking up on a new mother and her pups, while Cinno sits safely away and grumbles to himself. He picks up one of the pups with a practiced hand and checks it over, chatting cheerfully with it.

<JETMODE> <Kender> No worries, you'll be back with your mother in just a sec.. your ears are okay.. eyes are clear.. yeah, and you've been eating plenty, too. *pokes its small, round belly*

<TIAMAT> *From behind the beastmaster, a familiar, purple-haired figure strolls silently up to the fence, leaning easily against it and watching in amusement as tends to the pups.

<JETMODE> *He sets the one he was checking down and moves on to the next, giving it the same treatment. Cinno finally flicks an ear and yowls, and he turns in astonishment. "Oh! Hey, Whisper, didn't hear you come up!"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grins faintly. "Good, then I suppose all those classes I've been taking haven't been completely for nothing." She nods toward the pups. "Not looking for a replacement for my friend, here, are you?" She clucks to Cinno.

<JETMODE> *Cinno's ears prick, and he darts over to the fence, springing up to talk to her. Kender laughs. "Naw, it'd be hard to replace Cinno." He sets the last pup down and stands up, giving the mother a pat on the head. "She just had a rough time with the babies, so we've been keeping an eye on her."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Fascinating. *She smiles her mysterious smile as Cinno appears next to her, holding out her hand to him a bit. "You wouldn't let him replace you, anyway, would you, little one?"

<JETMODE> *Cinno rumbles, butting his head against her hand, and Kender grins. "He'd hold a grudge forever and find someone better than me to steal food from."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper scritches behind Cinno's ears. "Well, he can always come steal food from me -- though I don't know what Genoa would have to say about that... *thoughtful pause* But if she can have a bat, then I think I'm allowed something as well." She gives Kender a sly look.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *slightly mystified* She has a bat?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs faintly. "Oh yes. Stellalune. Constant companion and avid drinker. He'd probably make a good snack for our friend here, actually, if all else fails."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little doubtful* I don't think he'd do that.. I mean, I try to keep him from eating other people's pets..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs again. "Well, I suppose that's a good thing." She straightens suddenly, coming around the fence to join Kender in the pen. "So...how've you been? Enjoying yourself since you got here?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh, yeah -- I get to work with a lot more animals than back at the ranch. It's really different!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: ... Fascinating. There are indeed some .. interesting .. creatures here. *She leans her back against the pen, laying her arms across the top of the fence. "But you must do something besides spend all your time down here, surely."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh, yeah! *hops up on the fence nearby, glancing over at her with a grin* I've fought in some battles -- doing pretty well, actually.. at least, I think so. It's kind of embarrassing registering for the fights, though.. *scratches head, looking skyward* The receptionists keep giggling ...

<JETMODE> *Cinno makes a faintly disgusted noise.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks amused. "Is that so? Really, I can't imagine why. I've seen you fight, though -- you're quite good, for someone who hasn't been here long..."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blinks, glancing over at her again* Really? You watched one of my matches?

<JETMODE> *He looks up again, then suddenly smacks his fist into his palm. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" He hops down from the fence and trots out of view for a moment, though he can be heard rummaging through a pack.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, about to reply, pauses, watching him curiously from her position near the fence.

<JETMODE> *He trots back into view, clasping something in one hand. "Hey! Catch!" Then he tosses whatever it is he's holding toward her.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks and straightens quickly, catching it and peering at it with growing interest and mystification.

<JETMODE> *It's a small carving of a cat, similar to the one sitting on the fence nearby. It's unpolished, but the workmanship is evident in the fine details -- in some ways, it looks as though it might spring to life.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grins a little -- a real grin, not one of her usual put-on looks -- turning the figure over in her hands several times to study it. "You made this? For me?"

<JETMODE> *Kender nods, grinning a little sheepishly. "Ya like it all right? It took me a couple days 'cause Cinno wouldn't sit still for long -- but I figured you like Cinno so much I could make you a cat to keep you company for a while when he wasn't there --"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: It's... *She studies it for a moment longer, then glances up at him, sly smile returning faintly as she steps a little closer to him. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She slips a little closer to him.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Really? *brightens* I'm.. I'm glad you like it -- I'm pretty good at wood-carving, even though Dad calls me a talentless hack.. he's not so good either, though -- I saw him workin' on a horse once that looked more like a basilisk.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper arches an eyebrow. "Really? I think this looks just like our feline companion -- quite a good talent, if you ask me." She smiles again, sliding even closer, until she's right in front of him.

<JETMODE> *Kender takes a step back, apparently not even noticing. "I dunno if it looks just like him.. but I thought I did pretty well."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks, looking momentarily startled, but she smiles again almost immediately, a little broader than before, and takes another step toward him, bridging to space between them again. "It's very nice, really -- but isn't there something I can...give you in return?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little blankly* Wh.. what do you mean? I mean.. *glances down at her, then at the space between them, realization suddenly dawning* N-now..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper closes the space between them completely, suddenly pressing up against him, purring. "I mean...a guy like you and a girl like me could have a lot of...fun together." She runs a hand slowly down his chest, leaning up to kiss him.

<JETMODE> *Kender swallows hard, suddenly reaching up to clasp his hands over her shoulders and push her gently -- but firmly -- away. "J-just a minute, Whisper. I.. I gave you that carving as a friend -- not to -- I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea --"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper stumbles back a step, looking surprised. She stares at him a little blankly for a moment, then flips her hair over her shoulder, smiling again. "You didn't give me the wrong idea, Kender -- friends can have fun, can't they?"

<JETMODE> *Kender gives a soft sigh, smiling crookedly. "Now.. I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't think you were really pretty -- and if I said I wasn't interested at all -- but it just isn't.. it isn't something I wanna do." He scratches the back of his neck. "Sorry, Whisper."

<TIAMAT> *The smile fades gradually from Whisper's face, and she looks a little vacant for a moment before she straightens, grinning weakly. "Oh. Well .. okay, then."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks a little concerned* I.. mean -- you aren't upset or anything, are you?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks, then laughs a little. "Oh -- oh, no -- no, it's .. it's fine. I just..." She pauses, then shrugs. "I -- I should probably be going. ... Thanks for the figurine. It really is nice."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *weakly* Ri..right. I'll see ya later, then.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods, hesitates, then turns and trots out of the pen and toward the stairs without looking back.