I got this sketch commission from  KittyDee yesterday during one of the regularly scheduled sketch streams. I'm quite pleased with the result, and so is  Nakomis1 who Mereva belongs to!

Art by  KittyDee
Roxee, pictured on the right, belongs to me,  Rocangus
Mereva, pictured on the left, belongs to  Nakomis1

Please also look at the artist's submission at https://www.furaffinity.net/view/63777220/

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The morning started like many other, with the fox moth waking from her slumber. However, as she got up, she quickly noticed something was different. There was a card on the bedside table, folded so it could stand up and be seen even while sideways on the bed.

Picking up the card, featherfronds and ears perked, Mereva looked it over. ”Happy birthday Mistress Mereva” it said on the front, in scripted handwriting written with a glittering orange ink. What was more, a scent of something sweet like pancakes, possibly, was drifting into the room. The rest of the card was written with the same ink and handwriting, one that Mereva perhaps had only seen once or twice before.

”I wish you a fabulous birthday, Mistress Mereva! If you have the energy, I have a few activities in mind for us to spend the day. At the end, there will be some more treats for dinner!
Your faithful pet,
Roxee Bluescale”

It wasn't often that Roxee left handwritten notes; almost everything was either communicated directly, or through text messages. But now, to honor the day, she had written this herself, with a pen. Last time was for a Christmas present.

Out in the kitchen, Roxee was frying pancakes. Perhaps her timing was just lucky, perhaps she had something else going on, but nonetheless, the batter was hissing in the frying pan as she motioned at the condiments available for one pancake already resting on a plate; maple syrup, strawberry, raspberry and blueberry jam, and finally both toffee and chocolate sauce. All the while, she was preparing another pancake, which the noise came from.

One hug and at least one savory pancake later, Roxee cleared out the kitchen, putting plates, cutlery and other things used in the dishwasher, before offering a tender nuzzle. The sapphire blue dragoness offered a suggestion. ”Miss, want to walk along the river for a bit, watch the creatures around and then go for an early dinner? I'll be cooking, of course.” Her head was tilted in that cute way she had a tendency of doing, with her earfin on the down side folded out, the one on the up side more neatly tucked against her head.

”Oh, I'd like that. Maybe you have any ideas of something to get me while we're out?” she asked, the hybrid's trilling voice melodic and playful. -”Rrrh, maybe”, the answer came, a bit less confident than perhaps was usual for the dragoness. Regardless, hoodies and jackets were donned, along with shoes, and out the two went.

The day was crisp, almost around freezing, but not quite. The thermometer had read 2 degrees C after all. The clouds were scattered but expected to burn off during the rest of the day before a new cover was expected for the evening. For now though, some birds were chirping, and the January Saturday was as it usually was.

Some of the local residents were out walking their dogs as usual – many got theirs during the Plague of the early 2020's and they were still around for now. Roxee gently held her Mistress' hand as they started walking around, one or two neighbors giving a wave, making the fox moth blush quite brightly, as she still wasn't used to this – and especially not handholding out in public being seen by those she knew!

Either way, they kept on walking around, Roxee nuzzling at Mereva several times and smiling, even giving little licks as well. This made the fox moth blush deep, almost beet red, as she got that affection, gently and shyly returning it. They went to the river and listened to a few of the birds that were still around, along with some ducks that were eagerly eating bread they were being fed by a pensioner Springer Spaniel. They didn't stay there for more than few minutes before Mereva complained about being cold, prompting Roxee to agree that they should head back home.

Roxee insisted on taking a detour however, going past a part where some of the younger parents were playing with their children. They then went past the local grocery store, because Roxee mumbled ”I forgot the green beans” after passing by the park.

A short time later, the dragoness was cooking food. She made a sauce with caramelized sugar, orange juice directly from an orange, red wine vinegar, vegetable bouillon and arrow root. Along with this she seared and baked chicken breast filets, boiled jasmine rice, and the green beans, which she added a bit of butter and black pepper to.

The food was eaten and enjoyed by both before Roxee smiles at Mereva, who smiled back brightly.
”There's one more thing left that I would like to present to you”; she says, swaying her tail left and right behind herself. Before she waited for a response from Mereva, she got a chocolate dream roll cake from the fridge and offered it to her Mistress as a dessert. ”Oooh...” the fox moth reacted.

”Miss, did you know this is a Swedish thing?” -”No, not really. Is it?” -”Mhm! Very common where I come from.” They both happily enjoyed the chocolate cake with buttercream frosting in a swirl inside of it before a certain tigress made her presence known.

-”Roxee, don't forget it's my birthday, too. I want to go clubbing for a bit. Is that alright by you?” The dragoness paused for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. It wasn't something she usually did, though there are many things you'd do for such an occasion as a birthday, after all.

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Story by me,  Rocangus