4 had been going out with Dracal for almost a month now. She loved him she just knew it. She loved being near him and with him and she had taken to exploring the forest with him now. She never went into the forest with out him unless it was just to the river near the tree to get more water and she always took one of his extra staffs with her. She had learned a bit on how to use those to at least keep herself safe and get back to their home. She didn't do that often and only if he was at least near by. She kept a bell strapped to her hip now to ring for help in an emergency. Today though they were going near the human area, she wanted some bread for dinner and they were going to hunt for some where they could and maybe if they saw anything else that she wanted for diner she would get that too. She had mastered most of the signs that she needed to make full sentences and communicate fully with her boyfriend. That word still made her blush but she was happy to know that he had her and she had him. She smiled, holding a bag in her hand to put the stuff they collected in the bag. She smiled as she looked at him and waited for him to make sure the street was clear.

Dracal's ears kept flickering towards each sound that the forest was giving them. He normally wasn't this tense on a gathering trip but it was a special trip this time.. A trip to head to the human area. He didn't want her to get hurt on the account of him. He glanced at various directions every so often while they walked together on the path that he'd created so long ago. He felt like he needed to be protective of her. "Just stay close, love.. You know how some humans can be.." He glanced at her and kisses her on the cheek. Once they got to the clearing, did a hold up sign. "Stay here.." He moved to a hiding spot and sniffed the air. He glanced around the place to see if there was any humans. He'd knew good spots to get food for them but knew the risk. It was the first time he would do this.

She nodded as he told her to stay. She looked around, keeping her ears alert and her nose on the look out for anything that might be human. She turned as a sound came to her ears. small padded kitty feet moving about...they moved in an odd manner though, almost a suffly as they toddled about and seemed frantic. She turned and looked down another aly way and saw a small short legged kitten with some kind of deformity to her face. The poor kitten was trying to scramble away from the aprocing sounds of human feet. Watching for just a moment more she saw a human come around the corner. He was in a work uniform with a catch poll in his hands and was advancing on the small little kitten. She frowned...that didn't look good. Humans did not always care properly for soemthing with physical issues. Ringing the small bell at her side she signaled for Dracal to come to her side and pointed down towards where the kitten was hiding behind a large trashcan as the SPCA officer tried to find her.

Dracal would flick his ears as he looked around the place. The sounds of garbage cans falling down and moving got him to perk up quite a bit. He growls deeply, moving quickly to get back to 4 before she even ran the bell for him. He stood close as he looked at her before looking towards the alleyway where she was pointing. "... That is a kitten!" He lets out a huge hiss towards the worker as he quickly moved to get on all fours. He knew that 4 would go to the kitten while he took care of the worker. His tail thrashed wildly behind him right when he slashed at the worker, hoping to make him fall back.

4 nodded as he took in the situation. She watched as he went after the human and she went to the kitten imediatly. She wiggled under the large dumpster that the kitten had managed to get under now and smiled. The female kit looked at her and made a mewling sound that was almost as sad of a mew as what 4 could make. She motioned the cat towards her and the little kitten hesitated before mewling again and smiling and toddling over to her on her tinyer then normal legs. She scooped the little one up into her arms and wiggled out from the dumpster and watched Dracal to see how he was doing and find her escape that would keep her and the kit from being caught.

As the SPCA worker glared at the new feline that was heading to him like a tiger on a hunt. He never seen such a pissed off cat like he was. Dracal slashed at the human's face which caused the human cry out in pain. He tried to fight Dracal off with the catcher pole. Dracal would only smile and moved out of the way of it. He hissed at the worker, taunting him to add more time for his dear love. He wanted to chew out the male so much for hurting countless kittens in their torment place.

4 caught his eye and showed him she had the kitten in hand and scooted quickly out of the aly way and towards the path they had been on. She moved along it and back to the forest they had left to get to the town. Setting the kitten down she looked over the little one and checked her for injuries. She was dirty and small. Upon closer look she was sure she was a dwarf like cat. She seemed happy and smily but she could not talk much more then simple sounds. She looked at the little girls mouth and saw it was a birth defect for sure. She seemed healthy, if a little under weight, but good. She smiled at 4 as the woman sat down and the little one climbed into her lap and cuddled with the lady who had saved her as she waited for Dracal to come find them.

Dracal flicks his ears as he heard his love heading for the forest. He growls at the SPCA worker once again before jumping off onto a ladder to try to lead him away from the area. He took several minutes to lead the worker elsewhere only to come back through a secret tunnel that led out of the city. He pants gently and stood there to sniff the air for his girlfriend. It wouldn't take him long to find the two and falls onto his knees to get some air. "Damn.. That human really takes alot out of me. Are you two okay?" He glanced at her and the kitten in concern.

She nodded as she looked at him and checked him over visually to find nothing wrong with him other then he was tired so she smiled. She handed him a bottle of water fromt he bag she had and smiled at the little kitten in her lap, who was now napping. 'she is a stunted kitten. smaller then she should be. dwarf i think is what they call it. shes healthy but needs some food. With her mouth i think we'll need some of that special soft stuff or human baby food. She has almsot no teeth.' she signed to her love as she smiled and looked at the little one sleeping in her lap. 'Can we keep her? she needs family...i think she was tossed out by the humans cause shes different. She makes little bubble noises...' She said as she pet the little one and smiled. 'Bubble...bub...our little bubble. What do you think?' she signed to him as she smiled happily.


Dracal sighed happily as he was happy that his love is safe with the kitten. He took the bottle and signs thank you before taking a sip of it slowly. He glanced towards the kitten and moves closer. ".. I have heard of this genetic trait in some felines. They are naturally kittens.. forever." He nods softly. "I do have a blender and whatnot at our place, love. Anything for her and for you, I would do it for you." He smiled at her question. "I think Lil Bub would be good, dear." He moves to nuzzle her, watching the kitten sleep. "She is too cute. She'll need alot of special things. You do realize that, love?"

4 smiled and nodded as she nuzzled him back and carefully stood up and held the little one to her chest. Signing with one hand carefully she nodded. 'yes. she is special. and we love her. can you collect things for her while i take home?' she signed as she smiled and kissed him softly. Signing thank you with her free hand she smiled as she nuzzled the little kitten. She needed a bath. She smelled like she had been out for more then a few days. Poor thing needed washing and food and quickly.

Dracal tilts his head towards her and nods. "I would wait awhile before heading back to the town. We will need to make due with her for the next few days. I'd reckon that they have a flier out by tomorrow of me. It wouldn't be the first time that I messed up a damn human." He scowled slightly. "Come.. Lets get her home and we all clean up... starting with her." He grabs the staff and then helps her up. He was tensed a bit due ot the fact that he wasn't sure if the humans could find them. "I'll get some soft kitten food going as well for her. Good thing I know how to make a good beef mush for when I am not feeling good."

She smiled and nodded and let him lead the way back home. She wanted to get the little one safe and it took so long to sign with one hand so she didn't bother right now as they moved home. She worried for a moment that they would have a much harder time getting into town for things now if the humans were going to be looking for him. 'will it be ok?' she asked with her hand as she headed down the path back towards home. 'safe to keep going to town?'

Dracal opened the front door of their home and helps her get inside. "I am not sure, sweetheart. It is all depends on their stubborn and stupidity. I would need you to stay with her while I check the various paths to the town to see what is the best." He glanced down at the kitten and smiled. "Get her to the bath first. I'll lock the door." He moved to lock the door and head straight to the kitchen to make some soft beef and milk for the kitten to be able to eat.

4 nodded and moved to the bathroom and smiled as she slowly woke her up. She smiled as the little kit looked about happily and 4 set her in the tub. She was a bit sad cause she couldn't talk with the little one right now but she pet her face and smiled. Bub sat in the tub and was still watching 4 and showing that she trusted her. 4 happily went to washing the little girl and only had a small fuss from her about the water. 4 couldn't blame her for it but she needed to check her better for injury and for fleas. She didn't see any bugs but found a few bruises and scrapes. She washed her well and cleaned all the bits and parts and folds between the girls toes and on her belly. She had to empty the water once when it was so dirty and then wash her again to make sure all the dirt was gone. She had taken off the sweater and wrapped lil Bub up in a towel and smiled as the girl nuzzled into 4 and let her do what she needed to do. 4 walked to the couch and sat and dried the girl off as she smiled. Looking at Dracal she smiled. 'can you tell her who we are? I think she understands but cant speak any more then i can.' she signed to Dracal as she held Bub so she could face him as she rubbed the towel over the little one to keep her dry and warm.

Dracal took the time to make what he needed to make for the small kitten. He had also made a bottle of tea for his love. He moved out to the living room where they were. He gave the kitten a smile then at his heart, nodding softly. "I sure can, sweetie." He then looks down at the kitten. "My name is Dracal and the beautiful feline that is holding you is 4, my girlfriend and my heart. She has no voice due to a bad past that shall not be spoken about. She does have several ways to communicate. We can teach you since you are similar to her. Do you have a name, little one?" He kneels down to offer a bite of the milky beef that he made for her. "This is for you as well."

Bub looked at him and then moved her head to look up at the woman holding her and laughed happily. She looked back at him and smiled as she reached her paws out and reached for the food. "Bub bubbubbub! Fuuds." She said as she looked opened her mouth and smiled witing for the food. 4 took the tea and sipped it and smiled. She liked it very much and signed thank you to her boyfriend. She bluhed when he talked about her but liked it. She looked down at Bub as the little girl ate what Dracal put in her mouth. She ate slowly but happily. "fufufufuuus!" she said as her body wiggled happily in 4s arms and she kept eating.

Dracal's eyes widened at the cuteness that is just pouring out of the girl. "Oh, my.. I don't think anyone would be able to take her from me, love.. She is a keeper." He moved to pet her gently, feeding her slowly. "You are welcome for the drink, love." He was glad that the girl was cleaned. "Her fur is so soft now. Good job, love." He laughed softly. "We will call you Lil Bub.. What do you think?" He shakes his head, giggling softly. There were no words to be said as it was hard to talk due to the cuteness coming from the little kitten alone.

4 smiled as she looked at her love. She was so happy to see him looking so excited about the little girl. She had known she wanted the little one for her self when she had seen her in the aleyway. She was so happy to see that her love wanted to keep her too. 'she did real good for her bath too. better then i would do most days. Shes going to be a wonderful thing for us as a couple im sure.' she said with a smile. It made her want a family, something she had never thought of for her self before, but she was looking forward to it eventually now. She watched as Bubs paws waved about and she laughed. "Bubbububububub!" She said as she wiggled more with her mouth open for more food. 4 made her own giggle, or what passed for a giggle with the small amoutn of sounds she could make. She smiled at Dracal and nuzzled Bub, using the towel to clean some of the food off the girls chin.

Dracal looked up towards 4 and smiled widely at her. He moves to kiss her on the nose. "I am proud of you, love. You did a very brave thing by saving her." He moves back down to continue to feed the kitten. "Yes. Bub is your name." He giggled softly and perks up at the sounds that his love was making. He smiled at her, loving the cute sounds from her and Bub. "You two are too cute for words." He looks down at Bub. "Want to get some rest now that you are safe in your new home, little one? We have a bed that you can use if you like."

4 smiled as she got the kiss on the nose and she smiled as she watched Dracal. She was so happy about having him there with her and in her life, and now having lil Bub. She was happy to have this new one in with them both. 'you like to be the hero all the time i had to help with the hero stuff too.' she signed at him as she watched as bub carefully licked her lips and nose and then yawned big and leaned back to nuzzle into 4. 'i think thats a yes. I don't think she has been comfortable and warm in a long while.' she said as she stood up and walked to the bedroom that would now be Bubs. She lay the little one down in the bed and tucked the warm blanket around her happily and held the wet towel. Kissing the little one on the head she watched as the kit curled up in the blanket and on the pillow and purred as she fell asleep. 4 took her loves hand and wlaked out, putting the towel with the dirty stuff, and smiled as she leaned against his arm and nuzzled him. 'one day we might have our own kittens.' she said with a smile.

Dracal watched her with him once he finished feeding the little kitten. He stood up and walks with her to the bedroom. "Good night, little one.. Sweet dreams, my little Bubble gal." He smiled before his hand was pulled to walk out of the room. He sighed with a heavy sigh and nuzzled 4 lovingly. He moves to put his arms around her once they got to the living room. "..." He looks into her eyes when she had said that and felt tears forming in his eyes. "My love.. you don't know how much I have wanted a family of my own. All of my siblings out there and even my own mother have a family. It is hard when you have years of pain within my heart that has finally made its disappearance when you showed up." He reached up to caress her cheek softly. "I want to have a family with you. I want to give you what you need.. and wants, 4." Tears slowly rolls down his cheek. 'I finally got my heart back...." He whispered.

4 smiled as she looked up at him and listened. She nuzzled into his hand and was so happy that he seemed willing and happy to have her in his life. She knew that he was her everything and she smiled. 'Dracal i love you. i know i do. And i...i might be slow going for a little bit longer about...the whole...' she blushed deeply 'trying for a baby thing. Im new at that...i don't...im not sure how to go about that. And my..body...so i...i will be slow but i want to learn. I want to be with you Dracal and we will have a family.' she signed as she kissed him and looked at his tears. She felt her own tears filling her eyes as she nuzzled into him. She knew she had never had a reason to feel like she had a heart. She had never lost it that she knew of, she jsut had never felt real love like this to know what it felt like to have one in the first place. She nuzzled into him and her silly little purr came back as she smiled, a few tears falling free of her eyes.