Unrequited Affection
When Rino returned, an unexpected but welcomed guest was waiting for him. The sun was rising, so he dismissed the loyal hound and ran to scoop his furry friend into his arms, but Noir dodged it and aimed a kick to his skull before landing gracefully on the cat tree as Rino face-planted onto the wooden floor.
"Noir!"
The lich was too happy at the cat's return to be mad at the treatment even if Mutt was growling in anger in his shadow. Cats always had special treatment, and Rino would be a simp for their existence if he could.
Then again, maybe it was just Noir who was special. This cat always knew when to appear.
Licking his paws, the black cat looked at Rino. The shadow beneath his feet had grown again, and Ace was very sure that if the lich went all out, tearing down the weakest link in their team would be no problem. Stephanie should watch out from now on.