"Yes! It would be the perfect date for the two of you. Just imagine it, the three of us walking around like a family," the cub smiled, with her canine teeth sticking out of her mouth.
Echo ruffled the cubs fur, as she petted her head, while thinking 'A date… so this is a date. He didn't say anything about it. Does that mean he takes this as a date too.' A small smile creeped on her lips.
Damon stood up with a broad smile, "Let's go shopping then." He stretched his hand out to Echo, and with a smile she accepted. His heart leaped as she reached for his hand. Once her soft palm was in his, he smiled sweetly, and picked up the cub. It hadn't left his mind that she did not say anything when the cub called their outing a 'date'. In fact he was delighted by the thought.
The three went to the market, which was a large area inside the Protectors Manor, where there were all sorts of vendors, from blacksmiths to florists lined the sides. The roof of the area was made of glass, letting the sunlight in.
Hand in hand, the two walked along, admiring items in the shops from afar. Echo did not want to hide her smile. She had the most handsome man walking beside her while holding her hand. How could she not smile?
Damon did not glance at any of the shops, because he was too busy admiring the woman beside him. Hunter hopped off, and ran to look at the items, but she was not too far from the couple.
Echo turned to Damon, and with a sweet smile she asked, "Don't you want to buy anything?" She gently swung his hand.
Damon smiled at the sight of her sweet smile, he just stepped closer, and wrapped his hands around her waist, kissing her gently. "Do you want to buy something?" She replied with a nod, while staring at his face.
Echo wanted to buy a rose for Damon, but not wanting to be too obvious, she asked him first.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked, as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She was so beautiful, and her smile was leaving him breathless.
Echo looked around, breaking eye contact with Damon, "Let's go over there," she pointed to the florist, continuing, "I want to see the flowers."
"Okay!" Damon couldn't even reply, Echo had broken free from his hold, and dragged him to the florist.
The young lady at the shop smiled at Echo, but once she saw Damon, her smile faded just a bit, "What can I get you two?"
Noticing the change in the florist's facial expression, Echo smiled, "I would like a red rose."
The florist picked a rose, and gave it to Echo, who smiled paying a few coins.
Immediately turning to Damon, she smiled, "Let's go! Unless you want to buy something too."
Damon looked over Echo's shoulder at the florist, who visibly gulped in fear. "Do you want another flower?"
"No."
"Then let's go!" he grabbed her hand, and they left the florist.
Echo was too excited about her date to worry about the florist's reaction to Damon. She couldn't believe that she was really on a date with Damon, it just felt like a dream. She needed to pinch herself a couple of times to make sure it wasn't.
Hunter ran up to the two of them, "I found something cool. Follow me!"
Echo and Damon glanced at each other, meeting each other's gaze. They smiled, and followed the cub.
Hunter stopped in front of a small pet shop. She glanced at Echo, and rushed to the man in charge of the shop.
"Can I have a bed?" Hunter asked, climbing up on the counter.
The man stared at the cub in shock. His gaze moved to Echo and Damon, who walked in behind Hunter.
"How can I help you?" the man asked, he glanced at Damon, gulping, but still keeping the warm expression on his face.
Echo did not notice his reaction, since she was looking around the shop. But Damon did, but chose to ignore him. He simply waited for Echo to window shop, in hopes of not causing any trouble.
Hunter growled, "I asked you for a bed! Are you just going to stand there and not even help me find a bed??!!"
"Hunter!" Echo called out, "Be nice." She walked to the counter, and smiled at the shopkeeper. "I'm sorry. She's still learning how to fit in with the Protectors."
The shopkeeper glanced at Hunter, and then at Echo, "Is the cub your familiar?"
"Yes," Echo nodded.
The shopkeeper inhaled and smiled, "No way! It's been centuries since a Protector has had a familiar." He petted the cub, who swiftly moved away from him.
"Don't touch me!" Hunter growled. She jumped off the counter, and walked to Damon.
"My apologies. I'll bring a small bed for you right away," the shopkeeper walked out from behind the counter, and picked a black round bed. The bed had a soft material when Echo ran her hand over it.
"Hunter! Do you like it?" Echo asked, turning to Hunter. The cub walked closer to her, and then jumped on the bed. The bed was so comfortable, that the cub immediately curled up, wanting to sleep again.
Damon walked to Echo, and put his arm around her shoulder, standing beside her, "I think she likes it."
Echo smiled sweetly, "We'll take it. How much?"
"No. No. No need to pay," the shopkeeper replied, "I'd be more than happy to give it to you for free, and I'll have it dropped at your house."
After giving directions to Echo's house, the couple left, with a drowsy Hunter in Echo's arms.
They walked around the market, neither of them spoke a single word. They weren't stuck in their thoughts either. Instead they just admired everything around them, including each other.
Damon stopped, once he saw a shop selling masks and gowns for the masquerade. His eyes went wide when he realised he had not told her about it. He needed to ask her to masquerade ball, that was tonight. How could he forget something so important?
"Echo!" he called out. Echo turned to him, a little confusion on her face. "Do you know about the ball tonight?"