Doe wakes to long fingers of sunlight laid across her flank. It yawns, stretches as it can, bare soles pressing against cool metal lattice at the far end of its crate. Comfortable sigh. Settles back into its nest. Crate door's still shut, so Nina's still asleep, so it can drowse in its little pool of sunlight a while longer yet.
Rattle of the lock stirs it back up. Crate door swinging open. Nina's waiting outside in her big t-shirt, hair all messy and eyes full of sleep, prettiest thing imaginable ever. Collar hanging loose from the fingers of one hand, other rubbing at her neck, as if she slept funny and got herself a kink in it again. Clicks her tongue, once-twice. "Up and at 'em, sweetheart," and Doe doesn't need telling again.
Slithers out on hands and knees, stretches all the way this time, spindle-supple play bow, joints pop-popping along shoulders and back. Crate's good, crate's safe, sleeps better knowing it's stuck in there and Nina has the key than anywhere else on Earth, but - a li'l small, just maybe. Knots worked loose, Doe kneels up and waits for her collar.
"What're we doing, today, again?" Nina says, as she slips soft sun-warm leather 'round Doe's neck. Fingers ghost across the place where Doe's implant isn't any more, and it's okay but only 'cause it's her. The thought gets spiked through by the little jaggy pleasure-shiver of Nina threading the buckle, same as it felt yesterday, same as it'll feel tomorrow, and Doe forgets about feeling bad. "It's, mnm. Tuesday, right?"
"As a matter of fact, ma'am, it is Wednesday. Takin' you to the clinic this afternoon. Bloods need doing."
"That's today?" Nina plays up her surprise, just a little, just so Doe can feel that extra bit nice about keeping track for her. God she is the best.
"Yes ma'am," Doe says, wins itself a tousling of its bed-scrambled hair, clever 'n' useful 'n' good-for-Handler playing in its gut like puppydogs. Nina, heading for the door, pats her thigh in the way that means heel, Doe, and Doe heels.
"Your turn to make breakfast, or mine?"
"Your turn, ma'am."
"Aw, darn."
