All characters but the panther belong to Joss Whedon. The panther belongs to Alison Dobell, from her "The Pursuit Series", borrowed with permission.

I'm just writing as it comes to me, so I have no idea yet where we will end up--it's a journey for me too! Trying to slow it down a bit, as requested. Feedback is very, very shiny, good or bad, please be gentle! Thanks for reading!!

*************************************************

Inara’s slippered feet made almost no sound as she walked the metal planking and grating that made up Serenity’s corridors and walkways. It wasn’t that she was trying to be stealthy, it was merely her own innate grace honed by her companion training. Hers was the grace of a lady—or a whore, as Mal thought of her profession—whereas Zoë’s was more akin to Blackie’s and River’s was that of a dancer.

Serenity had her own grace, although Inara didn’t know how to classify it. Maybe it derived from the man who’d made her a home. He had a predatory grace of his own. Yes, perhaps that was the answer. On the ground, the ship looked about as graceful as a fish out of water, but in the air, well, that was different.

Mal was like that, too. Oh, he made a show of bumbling through life sometimes, but when it came to protecting those people or things he considered his to protect, Mal was more like his panther than even he probably noticed.

Inara shook her head clear of such thoughts. She had appointments to keep on Persephone and Beaumonde. She would just look in on Mal in the infirmary, then go to the bridge to consult Zoë about their timetable.

Simon was just leaving the infirmary when she arrived, and looked surprised to see her. “Inara!”

She smiled at him. “Hello, doctor.”

“Was there—is there something I can do for you?”

“No, no; I just wanted to visit the captain for a moment. How is he?”

“He’s not here. He left a little while ago.”

Inara lifted an elegant brow. “Excuse me, doctor, but didn’t you say that he had a conc