Try petting a sleepy human, you may be surprised how they react
Going by my household, that reaction can be anything from screaming and flailing to rolling over, hugging you, and purring. -- Anon Guest(s)
[AN: This was in two posts by as many as two Nonnies, so I added the option for a plural]
Companion Hyekk read and re-read the helpful hint in the Companion's Guide to Bonding With Your Human, and considered what he knew of Human Gof. Not merely a wild Human from the Edge and beyond, but also very likely a Deregger escapee. On the rare occasions that Gof opened up about their past, the horror of their birthplace was present in almost every word.
Gof did not give out enough details to trace them back to a precise point of origin, but there was enough there to make everyone around them want to keep them far, far away from that particular gravity well. They were a light sleeper at best and experienced frequent interruptions to their slumber. Their sleep schedule was in a permanent revision state.
That advice, at a minimum, seemed like a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad idea. Human Gof was a bundle of nerves at the best of times and interrupting the precious moments when they were actually sleeping sounded like the worst kind of treachery. Nevertheless, as Hyekk watched over their new Human, he was tempted to run his talons through that soft fluff the Human had covering their head.
He began cautiously, neatening up errant strands that had fallen into disarray. Human Gof routinely slept in a tight knot, huddled under a blanket that they also clung to. They didn't twitch. Didn't murmur. Hyekk attempted gently combing those soft strands, and was rewarded with a miracle.
Human Gof began to relax out of their knot. The white-knuckle grip on the blanket slackened. Encouraged by this reaction, Hyekk continued gently combing their Human's hair with his talons. Every time Gof looked like they were going to stir, Hyekk murmured, "All is well. You are safe. You are with friends."
Amazingly, it worked. Gof relaxed into a deeper sleep and even rolled over, one arm lolling around Hyekk's legs. Then there was The Sigh.
Gof had a way with words, sometimes. They spoke of an afterlife where the truly pure and good were winnowed from the evil. Those caught in-between could spend years upon years purifying themselves in a between realm. Not truly evil, nor truly good. Their efforts there would determine their direction. This was the kind of sigh that would, according to Gof, be weighed in his favour during the winnowing.
Or, as Gof would put it, That sigh would pay for five years off of my time in purgatory.
When Gof finally awoke, many more hours than usual later, they were well-rested and magnificently relaxed.
"Why did you not tell us you liked your hair being combed?" said Hyekk, careful to keep his voice gentle and soothing.
"Didn't know I did," shrugged Gof.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / yuriyzhuravov]
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