I see you, Tails

This weekend has been great.

We went to see some friends, and Tails quietly lay next to me on the couch the whole night.   No mischief at all, she was just very very cuddly.  I could tell she was a little cold when we left there to go spend the night at some other friends' house, but I brought her bed, so once she snuggled into it she was comfortable and slept well.

Something else happened this weekend that was quite exceptional, and while I very much enjoyed our little excursion it was eclipsed by this wonderful experience.

I gave her a bath.

That, in itself, is nothing new.  I've given Tails baths before several times.
This time, however, something new happened.  She didn't merely comply with my direction, she anticipated it.  I felt a connection to Tails' true being in a way I've only felt in small glimpses previously.

When I first took her to the bathroom and she understood what was going on, she made happy noises and got in the tub with glee.  She watched as I tested the water, and prodded at it to check the temperature with me, clearly understanding what I was doing.  When we were both happy with the temperature she put herself under the water stream, getting her fur wet with pleasure.

Tails is not very happy with the water spraying directly into her face, especially not if it gets in her nose, but I think I managed to avoid that entirely.  She enjoys being washed, and even plays with the wash cloth and soap, but this time it was different.  She wasn't playing to pass the time while being bathed, she was completely present in her bath and didn't seem bored with it at all.

After her bath she really enjoyed being dried, and it turned into a fully fledged cuddling session.  She gives as much as she receives in such situations, and it is deeply satisfying to me.

Yes, she is an animal, but that doesn't stop me from really connecting with her.