The girl paled and her partner stepped forward offering a soft smile. "She looks so well cared for that it didn't seem necessary to use a wide tooth comb." She tried to explain and Kyera just stared at her, tail flicking back and forth in annoyance. Her lies were so easily seen that she couldn't help but wonder who wanted to annoy her.
'What was there to gain if my skin was tender and raw? How would there be any use to that?' Kyera wondered, her senses ruling out accidental. Clovis seemed uncertain about the response as well. He raised his eyes to her in the tree.
"Come on down, Moon. I won't let them groom you." He replied waving her down. Kyera took a deep breath considering her options. Honestly, obedience was the last thing she considered but it seemed the best option. She raised to her feet and poured herself out of tree, landing gracefully on all fours. She could have climbed down, it wouldn't have been as dramatic though.
"My lord, should we send for our teacher? He is much better at grooming tigers than we are." The girl offered and Clovis sighed.
"No, I think it's best I do it myself." he replied taking the larger bristle comb from the roll. The girls watched in shock as he approached her. Kyera stared at him, blinking blankly as she tried to decide what to do. For a moment she glanced back up at the tree. She sighed deeply as he met her eyes. "Please, Moon?" He whispered speaking to her directly.
After several moments, she tilted her head to the side so he could easily reach her shoulder. The comb glided through her hair, from shoulder down to elbow. It felt good, his pressure was a bit heavy and in all honesty his tendency to ignore the grain of her fur was annoying. There was a certain discomfort to it. As he passed from her shoulder to her haunches pain caused her to nip at him in response. The comb had bit into her hip, where the soft skin connected her waist to her haunches. He pulled back instantly kinda surprised by the feel of her teeth nipping at him.
"Ouch, crap what did I do?" He asked seeming fairly confused by her response.
"Daddy, you hurt her." A familiar little voice accused him indignantly. Kyera looked up and couldn't help but feel her heart leap for joy. She was saved by her favorite little princess. She stood and ran over bumping her great furry head into the Princess' chest. Raina laughed merrily, petting Kyera's head.
"Oh Moon… I missed you." She greeted kissing the tiger's furry forehead. Kyera smiled chuffing back warmly, trying to say the same. Clovis watched the pair and smiled, shaking his head as he settled back, sitting on the ground where she had been.
"If you know so much darling, Why don't you brush her?" Clovis offered holding out the comb. Raina grinned happily taking the comb from him. She turned to Kyera whose heart sunk. As much as she loved this little girl, it didn't bode well.
"Lets see if I can brush you out, Moon." She spoke softly, but it wasn't in the baby tone that the groomer girl had used. Kyera waited for the pain, but was pleasantly surprised. Raina didn't sit down, she used the brush to follow Kyera's fur. With the flow of it, careful not to pull in the wrong direction. Her tiny hand followed behind each stroke as if soothing the hair behind it. It felt surprisingly amazing. A soft rumbling sound started to fill the air, it took Kyera several moments to realize the noise was her.
"She's Purring." Clovis pointed out with a chuckle. Kyera looked at him with heavy lidded eyes that seemed to stare daggers at him. However, it was hard to take the look seriously as she purred like a giant house cat. For a moment the Tigress loathed herself, but then decided she deserved the pampering after everything she had done in the last two days. She laid back and let the Princess continue.