The Modern Queen

cats

"Oh my goodness! Can I pet your cat?"

Asa glanced up from where he was watching Duchess Long-Fur-One-Eye (Duchess or Duchy for short) roll around on her back, lazing in the sun as he sat on a bench and texted Aishlynn.

A young woman stood before him, hair in a braid and dotted with flowers. She was brown skinned and brown haired, and she wore a pale yellow sundress. Her feet were bare, giving her the appearance of a forest nymph or some other wild creature.

He squinted a bit. "Do I know you?"

The girl laughed lightly. "Ah, silly me." She held her hand out. "My name is Ava Inerra. I really like animals, and your kitty there is gorgeous."

He took it, giving her hand a firm shake. "My name is Asa Veranus. This here is Duchess. And thank you. But you seem a bit familiar...?"

"I think I've seen you around campus," she confirmed with a nod. "My mother is also one of the department heads. Biology, to be specific."

Asa's eyes widened. "Ah, yes! You resemble her quite a bit," he said. "What are you studying?"

"Veterinarian science," she said. "Though I'm thinking of studying botany eventually as well."

Asa laughed a bit. "How coincidental. I'm studying medicine, in the hopes of becoming a doctor."

Ava grinned. "That is coincidental."

He waved at Duchess. "You're welcome to pet her if you like. She enjoys the decision." He leaned in conspiratorially. "That's why I named her Duchess, see. She's a bit full of herself."

Ava laughed again. "This would be the moment where I point out she's a cat," Ava teased. "But my brother has a dog at home, and she's about as uppity. We called her Lady. Lady Large Paws, specifically. 'Course, that was when she was still a puppy." She offered her hand for Duchess to sniff, which Duchess nuzzled like the glutton for attention she was. Ava's hand buried itself in brown-gold fur. "She fell all over herself a lot."

"I didn't know Duchess as a kitten," Asa said. "But I imagine she was much the same."

Ava smiled. "Do you have any other animals?"

"Two more cats and a bird," he confirmed. "Duchy is the oldest, so I thought I would take her to get away from the younger two a bit. Normally you'll see me out here walking Scoundrel. He's the youngest, and full of energy." Asa rolled his eyes fondly. "Countess comes with me on occasion, but she's perfectly content somewhere high up, where she can judge the rest of us."

"And the bird?" Ava cocked her head.

Asa grinned. "Don't often take him on walks. His name is Baron, and he mostly spends time mimicking the sound the food makes, and watching Scoundrel and Duchy fall for it. Every... single... time."

Ava laughed. "It sounds like you have quite the handful on your hands!" She scratched at Duchy's ears in the way she absolutely loved. Asa could hear her purr. It was a bit broken and overloud, but it always made him happy to hear it regardless.

"Absolutely. Wouldn't trade it for the world, though."

Ava smiled. "No, I imagine not."