Maddie padded down the hallway, long tail twitching gently. Her nose wiggled and her whiskers quivered. Somewhere, far away, was Vlad. But the smell was different. Colder.
Her ears perked forward, eyes slitting, but it was just the shadow of a bird outside the window. Nothing to concern her.
She watched the window for a long while, just in case, before continuing her search. The bell on her collar had long since stopped jingling, even as she ran into various rooms. It was the only way she could still catch the mice that were foolish enough to try and invade the mansion.
She sat, slowly, tail curling around her paws. She swished the tip, tapping it against the hardwood. She continued to sniff at the air, huffing lightly, body rocking. Vlad's scent was everywhere, and yet the man couldn't be found.
One ear swiveled to the side, picking out the sticky sound of a lizard climbing a wall somewhere. Gentle and quiet, undetectable by even Vlad's sensitive senses. She would turn to look at it, but decided against it. She stood and walked out of the room. She'd explored the entirety of the lower floor and contemplated trying to climb the grand staircase.
Her whiskers twitched and she leapt up to the first stair.
But she didn't land.
Large, warm hands had grabbed her, Vlad's scent suddenly surrounding her in a pink mist.
"Where are you going, Little Miss?" the man asked, and she could feel his chest rumble as he chuckled.
Maddie eagerly twisted in his arms, digging her claws into the fabric at his shoulder so that she could drag herself closer, pressing her nose into his ear. She purred loudly, settling against his chest and twining her tail around his arm as he held her close.
Not even the sound of mice skritching in the walls or birds singing in the trees could pull her away now. She had found him, and she was happy.