“You got a dick, a hot body and you don't run screaming or grab your knife at the sight of a mamono. Believe me, that makes you ideal.”

Van felt flushed, “well... regardless I hope things work out. It's not like I'm sure or anything but maybe if you tried following a guy around for a while you could find out enough about him to slowly seduce him later instead of just ‘jumping’ him first chance you get? It'd help you avoid people who hate mamono."

“The subtle approach huh?" she replied, cocking her head.

“Not an easy thing for someone who is going into heat soon. Still... I guess I can think about it."

“Please do," he continued, wanting to help and hoping he wouldn't regret what he was saying.

“If you can find out its safe and you really like the guy you could even follow him home. I bet there aren't many lonely guys who would deny a sexy woman showing up in their bed and confessing to them, even if she wasn't human. Sort of what happened to me actually."

Takara gave him a bright smile.

“Now that would be something to purr about. Thanks again Vanny!" And with that she took a flying leap from the branch into the next tree, swinging and jumping from one branch to the next so quickly that she was out of sight in seconds.

Van continued on, feeling quite positive and emboldened after the encounter, though he didn't like the nickname "Vanny" much. Relaxing with the knowledge he really was safe from being taken, his inner musings started again full strength. His head was positively buzzing with thoughts on his encounter with Takara, his analytical side siding with his hormones so that he went over in detail the features of the werecat he had just seen. The coloring of her skin and fur was a good deal darker than what he had seen in books, and figured it must have been part of Living in a dense forest, or perhaps just a regional variation. Her hands and feet were also a good deal less paw-like than he'd seen and her fur shorter. That must have been more regional variation.

Her breasts were of course one of her more obvious attributes, but there was more to them of interest than their shape or size. That is while they did move in response to her own body's movements, they didn't "jiggle" as much as one would expect. He recalled he had once read that the breasts of mamono, especially athletic ones, were designed for specialized muscle Linkage. These muscles were integrated with the base of the breast tissue quite deeply, the result being greater support for the breasts and slightly greater upper body strength than a similarly-proportioned human would have. This was part of what gave mamono their infamous gravity-defying breasts. The breast tissue itself was also firmer, often becoming soft and sensitive only when the mamono was aroused. He wondered what Serafina's would be Like, but those thoughts halted as he realized he could have asked the werecat about what Serafina was and what she looked like. He sighed, what was done was done... Besides, why ruin the surprise?

Soon leaving the woods and standing before the rocky expanse that was the Great Labyrinth he sat down to quickly eat the Lunch he had packed, and waited out in the open for Serafina to find him as she said she would. He had just finished relieving himself in some of the tall grass that grew through the rocky terrain when the distinct feeling of being watched came over him. Hastily putting his pants back on, he packed up his bag and stood, hoping to present a fairly dignified figure to whoever was out there. He felt refreshed and energized. This was it. He was ready!

"You're Looking the wrong way silly boy," came an amused voice from behind him.

Van spun around, trying to hide his embarrassment. He recognized that voice instantly. "Serafina!"

But rather than being in front of him she was above him, a gray-cloaked figure standing atop a vertical rock face a short distance away. Her hood hid her face, though her cloak was held tight enough to show the clearly feminine body shape under it, and loose enough lower down to show that her bare legs ended in equally bare feet. He had to admit, he was a bit surprised at how human she appeared, although many mamono could be mistaken for normal humans at a distance.

“Oh Van, I'm so glad you came! I was starting to worry you might have changed your mind," she said excitedly. "Yet here you are, just as I asked."

Moving to get a better Look at her, he found himself briefly blinded as the sun came out of the clouds behind her. In that instant Serafina took a flying leap from the rock face to land behind him. Van, still rubbing his eyes, had barely registered this impressive display when she grabbed him from behind, wrapping her arms around his chest and holding him tightly. He could feel her breath at his ear.

“Now please, sleep for me."

“Wha-?..." he could feel his eyelids getting heavy as soon as she said

“sleep" and for no apparent reason he couldn't muster more than a few sputtered words of protest and confusion. In her arms he found himself barely able to even struggle, she was strong and her voice was so beautiful, it would feel so good to do as she asked, that was all he seemed able to think about.

No. He needed to focus on staying awake. Focus.