the young Satiset was being groomed and fussed over by her dear handmaiden—for that day, they would be meeting with the people of that beautiful Nebets clan. she must look immaculate—mother and father had both determined that this would be her first diplomatic meeting, without their intervention! she was quiet and compliant as teeth combed through her fur with meticulous precision—pink berries would rouge her cheeks, some, and allow her to smell even sweeter. she had lay, the evening prior, in warm waters decorated in sweet things, her furs massaged with flowers after she had soaked and while she had dried!
she was groomed to gleaming, she felt. an ear twitched as the sound of her darling Osiris approaching drowned out the rest of the buzz beyond her rooms, where her people also prepared gifts for the foreigners they would visit. fellahin plated things upon large leaves found elsewhere in practice, and Neferseba knew others were preparing theatric acts that they might perform.
made ready, Neferseba emerged and saw her feline companion with… what have you brought me this day? she could not yet tell! but she regarded her companion with ample love and adoration without having yet even receiving it!
she was the first in her family to hold so many companions that were not her own species—to any but for her mother and father, and even brothers, that might seem strange. but always had the young girl been fascinated by wild things different than herself—she learned to speak different dialects, chirping with the birds and chittering with the earthier critters! why, upon learning of lions, she had learned of chuffing—immediately upon first seeing Osiris, did she try to do such a thing herself!
(she was not so great at it then—but she prided herself upon her consistent improvements—the girl made a good mimic!)
she moved to bump up against him, as lions would, though earned a panicked verbal, “your coat!” from the one that had groomed her. she peered sheepishly back inside, promising we will fix it, in an apologetic voice.
yes, she must remember herself and also this day—the little princess turned back to her Osiris with a lifted head and a warm smile. she could not regret the true affection she had showed him, after all!