Catnip [romance]

American Shorthair

"Hate being here already?" Freya teased Nathan as she observed the zoo packed with families, visiting school children, and tourists and locals alike. She could hear the giggles of children and adults instructing them on safety rules as soon as they stepped into the entrance of the Central Park Zoo.

"Dislike, not yet hating." He shrugged as they made their way to the first animal enclosure.

"Yeah, me too. I'm gonna start hating it when I see the animals in cages." She said.

Nathan couldn't help but look down at Freya's wrist every minute, since the memories of the Tiffany charm bracelet just loomed over him. Every tinkling sound the charms made had an impact on him, reminding him about someone who wasn't Freya. One part of himself was trying to guilt-trip him about giving this particular bracelet and the other was simply saying that he was on the path to moving on. He was torn— until he felt Freya's hand slip into his.

"Are the sea lions doing something?" She muttered with a frown, bringing up the small brass binoculars in her free hand to her eyes to magnify the image of the animals in their enclosure. "Nathan, can you see anything the sea lions are doing that I can't see?"

He stretched his neck a little, peering over the crowd who were marveling over the sea mammals. "Nope, nothing, unless you count the animals eating fish as entertainment." He responded.

Freya grumbled under her breath. "I don't know what people think they will see if they keep wild animals in limited spaces like this." She tugged on his hand, signaling that they were going to the next batch of animals.

As they whizzed through the zoo, Freya didn't realize that she was holding Nathan's hand. It was cold, and the warmth of his hand was as welcoming as the transition from spring to summer but she didn't want Nathan to think that she was interested. Well, she would be, if he was even a tiny bit into animals but now, there's nothing. She just didn't want to give the wrong idea, so her hand pulled away from his.

Nathan noticed as well, but didn't say anything since he thought that the action was nonchalant. He instead slid his hands into his pockets as she pretty much led him throughout the zoo.

Suddenly, Freya stopped in front of the snow leopard enclosure, gasping. "Oh, finally, felines!" She grinned, walking up to the big cats until she found that there was a barrier. Her face soured. "Oh, they're in enclosures. I almost forgot." She turned to Nathan who simply didn't enjoy being at this particular enclosure for some reason. "You know, my grandmother always said that I have a way with cats, both big and small." She told him eagerly.

He frowned. "What do you mean?" He asked, walking to her side to scrutinize the snow leopards further.

"Whenever I'm around, they can sense when I'm near. They're lazing around now, but when I call for them, they'll be more active. Here, watch this." She said, then lifted up her D&G oversized sunglasses to her hair. She hummed a certain tune and Nathan couldn't help but notice all of their ears perk up.

Freya caught one of the snow leopards' eyes and it stood up from its lying position, stretching as it opened its mouth, making a echoing throaty sound that sounded like the in between of a meow and a roar. The crowd clapped and became more energized as they watched the barely-entertaining cats turn into the active snow leopards they could have been.

Nathan blinked once, then looked at her. "Well, maybe it's because you have cat ears." He joked, referencing to the enamel Kate Spade hairband on her head.

She just amused him. "Maybe." She then looked back at the snow leopards who were now pacing around the perimeter of the enclosure. "You guys have so much potential in the wild." She smiled wistfully before they headed off to the next.