Before the words had even faded,
with a loud thump, Hayes and Albert tumbled together onto a vast patch of unusually lush ferns.
Hayes landed like a lazy big cat that had found the perfect soft mattress, rolling half a turn in contentment.
Then, as if the movement had tugged at a wound, he frowned slightly. A rare hint of grievance and displeasure appeared on the snow leopard's refined, beautiful face.
He lifted one front paw and, suppressing the pain, gently licked the spot that had been stung by the poisonous caterpillar. It was already red and swollen, and a soft, rumbling purr escaped from his throat.
As if he had grown tired, the snow leopard reached out and hooked Albert with one paw, pulling the young man—much smaller than himself—into his embrace.
—A satisfied lick, then another.
From Albert's cheek to his chin and all the way along his pale, clean neck, he licked him like a cat savoring a sweet dessert, unable to let go.
