Waul slouched through the cat door wanting to be away from the humans who owned him for a moment. He could have run away again but he found he didn't have the patience to build his empire from the ground up again so he could enjoy the finer things in life. Once he was out of view of the house he jumped up on a rock and glared around. Cattle...cattle everywhere. Still he just had an excellent fish dinner and expensive new clothes so there wasn't much he was missing. Accept the voice of his little diva.

His nose twitched and his green eyes narrowed. Someone was in his territory! Again! He growled softly. If it was that Clay character there was going to be trouble sure enough. Still he couldn't back down. If they got even one hint of weakness they would be upon him like vultures on a dying varmint. He might very well die but he would take Clay at the very least with him. Something told him the big Lynx wouldn't shoot him as he was unarmed. This might just come down to some down and dirty fighting. Fine. He had learned to box with the finest!

He walked lazily around a fence post and paused. There was a silhouette across the driveway watching him. He sat and stared patiently waiting. He had perfected jaded ennui a long time ago. If he looked anymore bored he would be asleep.

After a moment the other feline got down and walked into the moonlight.

For a moment Waul was enchanted. Another desert Lynx, a female this time with long silky black hair that she let blow freely in the wind. There appeared to be a few beads braided in a tiny braid around her face. Her eyes were a sky blue and lined in thick black lines that delicately traced around her nose to disappear into the natural colors of her muzzle.

She was svelte but busomy and she was wearing a plain prairie dress that was hanging off one creamy blonde shoulder. Waul stood up and walked over to her. She shifted as though she might run but then held her ground. He took her paw and kissed it bowing as a proper gentleman would.

Where Clay had stood over him she was his height which still made her large. The wind blew dark strands around her face as she peeked at him from under long lashes.

Suddenly Waul lashed out kicking her feet from under her and twisted throwing her on her stomach to the ground. The air whooshed out of her in a squeak as his weight pressed her down. He kept his mouth close to her throat so she could feel his breath against her nape letting her know at any time he could take her lovely neck in his teeth and hold her in a dominate position until she gave in.

Her paws were pressed close to her body and her heavy claws were digging into the dirt but for some reason she wasn't fighting.

" My dear...no doubt you've been sent by that blackguard Clay to try to seduce me for whatever reason but I assure you...I've been catered to by some of the most beautiful courtesans in England. I'm afraid you're a very sad waste."

He didn't mention none of them had been wild felines and she was wild all the way through. He could feel it in the strength that coiled in her body under him. He had never seen such eyes as she had and he had never seen a Lynx until he came to America. As a breed he had to admit they were striking...much more so then the average house cat.

Courtesan or no this female wouldn't bend over and wait patiently for him to take his fleeting pleasure. Instinct told him she would move like the ocean before a storm and the ride would be anything but fleeting.

At the moment however she didn't move or say anything. He wondered what she was waiting on. Her hair had curled around his arms and the scent was primal and had him sniffing her appreciatively.

Finally he felt her pull in some air. She was very careful to move nothing but her head which only angled so he could see one lovely eye.

"Well? " She asked. He trembled, her voice was husky but beautiful. His own voice was hoarse as his ears perked up hoping to hear that sound again.

" Well what? "

" Aren't you going to take me? "

Waul stiffened in shock " WHAT?! " He leaped off her. He was speaking indignantly while she slowly sat up the other sleeve of her dress falling off her shoulder. The top of her dress seemed in danger of slipping off completely.

" Madam," He said coldly " I am Cat T. Waul! I do NOT, I repeat do NOT have to force myself on any female when there are many that would simply bend over if I snapped my fingers!"

She looked amused " You are so loved? "

Waul hedged around that " Love might be a strong word madam but there are PLENTY of courtesans and tavern wenches who wouldn't turn me down if I so desired female company."

She nodded and then pulled her dress up before carefully getting on her feet.

" My brother doesn't know I'm here."

Waul looked unimpressed " Is that so? Why should I care? Why are you here madam?"

She walked up to him and then walked slowly around him looking him over even sniffing him briefly as she talked.

" My brother say a gentleman challenges him. A gentleman from across the sea. I have never seen a gentleman before. You are as he said...a gentleman. I am pleased to meet you...my name is Moonlight. For my eyes."

He kept slightly tense ready to tackle her again if she made an off move. A fight with her would be just as damaging as a fight with another male cat he didn't doubt. She stood in front of him and studied him with great interest. He didn't take his eyes off her.

" Your eyes are so green...like green stones...Malachite...yes you are like Malachite in the rough."

" Madam..I think you should take your leave." Waul said stiffly.

Moonlight looked a bit defeated and gave him a hurt look her lovely ears drooping slightly " Truly? You do not find me pretty at all? Always I fight off my brothers friends...I do not like them Waul...I do not like them and I do not want them...but you...so different...you are so different you do not want me even a little? "

Waul stayed silent. She slumped a little and lowered her beautiful eyes to the ground. With a defeated bob she turned to leave and he began to back up. Suddenly she stopped and turned to stare at him and he tensed. She smiled widely suddenly remembering something that Clay had said about Waul while he had been alternately cursing him and laying out nasty threats about what he wanted to do to the uppity British cat.

Something about how much the feline had put into his saloon and his Diva and how only the most beautiful voices would be allowed to grace his stage. Auditory beauty over physical beauty apparently. She ran back to the rock she had been on and leaped on top of it then she tipped her head back and began to sing.

" Dream by night wish by day,
love begins this way.
Loving starts when open hearts
touch and stay.
Sleep for now,
dreaming's how lovers lives are planned!
Future song and flying dreams,
hand in hand!

Love it seems made flying dreams so hearts could soar!
Heaven sent these dreams were meant.
to prove once more...
That love is the key!
Love is the key..."

* Flying Dreams by Jerry Goldsmith based on the video /FPkRdtcUsws *

Waul stood staring at her clutching his heart with shock. Her voice wasn't trained but it was wild and beautiful and sent chills up and down his spine and a warmth in his belly that to his embarrassment began to excite him.

She smiled at him in feminine triumph having found his weakness. She leaped off the rock and turned to be on her way purring softly to herself.

" Moonlight! Wait!" Waul started to go after her but she turned to smile coyly at him over her shoulder. He stopped wary again reminding himself this was the enemy. He couldn't allow his love of beautiful music to once again defeat him.

" You stay, I think you like me to come back yes? You like my singing I will sing for you and you will find me beautiful."

" Well..." Waul stared at her trying to think of a way to tell her she was beautiful without ruining his previous pose.

She shook her head. " Not safe for you to go where I go...but for you...I will risk trouble with my kin...I will come back..." She turned to run gracefully into the darkness. Waul leaped up on the rock.

" Wait m'dear! When?! When will I see you again!? "

Her voice was distant and he realized not only was she strong she was fast " When the moon is full!"

Waul spent a good 20 minutes standing on the rock inhaling her scent thinking hard wondering what the devil he was going to do. This could be a deviously clever trap...except he couldn't picture Clay using a woman against his enemy. Clay had struck him as one of those fools who felt like he had to do the dirty work himself or it wouldn't be honorable to him somehow. He was a top cat and top cats always felt like they had to beat the competition themselves or they were somehow demeaned. However despite what she had said she might very well be seeking to help her brother.

Brotherly consent or no brotherly consent.

Still this could work to his advantage. He was a gentleman damn it and he could easily be a gentleman if that's truly what she was interested in. Charm was as natural to him as breathing when he chose to display his manners. A slow smile spread across his face. Yes. This might work to his advantage. He had spent most of his life maneuvering women of every class and seducing a majority of them. He could play the part of a love struck fool while using Moonlight to get the goods on Clay. In fact it might be the safest, fastest, and most pleasurable route to get a paw in the enemy's camp so to speak.

Mentally patting himself on the back he went back inside to his big warm bed in the study. Alice was in there playing the flute. She was trying to do Mozart and cheerfully butchering it. Waul groaned and lay down covering his ears.

Alice stopped playing and looked right at him turning her nose up. " Like you could do better! "

Waul looked at her giving her his ' you're bothering me with your very existence look ' he had perfected in front of a mirror.

" Meowr phssst Rawwr rrrrhhhhh." he said curling onto his back letting her know that HE would like to go to bed now and SHE could stop that infernal noise so he could get his beauty sleep please.

Alice huffed and began taking the flute apart and putting it up. " I hate when you act like that. Momma thinks you're cute but she doesn't know what a...what a..." She glanced at the door and lowered her voice to a whisper " Asshat you are!"

Waul raised his head and gave her a feline expression of disapproval. Such language! Really! America really wasn't good for some of these humans. Just look how low standards were dropping in this house.

Alice looked satisfied though and actually stopped as she passed his bed and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. 'Asshat indeed!' he fumed. She scratched under his chin and he allowed a purr to escape.

" I'll practice the piano tomorrow night. I'll play your favorite! G'night Waul." She kissed him again once more. At least unlike her mother she didn't feel the need to slobber on him and smother him with her little mammary glands and she actually was decent at the piano. At least it didn't sound like a bird trapped in a chimney screaming to get out.

Waul lay his head down as the light was turned out and Alice went upstairs to play with her dolls and read her books. Every muscle in his body when limp. He purred a lullaby to himself his eyes drifted close. He was almost asleep when shock suddenly hit him and he popped up stunned.

" Bloody hell! She called me Waul!"