Sophia was more than a little relieved to step out onto the balcony. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she made the last couple steps to the railing. Laying her arms on it, she leaned forward and tilted her head up. Sweat dripped down her neck and cooled, and the beat of the music behind her pounded on and on.
She'd met some interesting people. Had done so despite the noise, and the crowd, and the effort of keeping up a good face throughout all of it. Maybe she'd do one or two more rounds to say goodbye to the friends that had come and then take off. The whole point of coming had been to be seen, after all. (That reasoning didn't feel hollow now, of course not.)
Thinking of the dance floor she'd just come from, Sophia ducked her head and blushed. That had certainly sweetened the deal.
She was glad to have come, she decided, smiling to herself. Very, very glad, indeed.
Her sweat now cold in the chill February air, she shivered. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a remedy: a key chain of a tan cat with bright red stripes. Gripping it in her hand, she called on the magic waiting within it. She felt the warmth and exhilaration of the summon, the air around her was displaced, moving her skirt and stray strands of her hair, and then, standing beside her, was Thuya.
"I didn't think you'd come," said Thuya. His voice was deep and male, perhaps surprisingly so for someone who hadn't heard him before. Living flames leapt from his back, following the bobcat's striped and speckled pattern. Sparks flew from his feet as he walked closer, rubbing against Sophia's hip.
"Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do," she said, petting him. The flames only tickled her skin.
Thuya purred, a chuckle. "Or perhaps you have hopes for something happening at a Valentines dance?"
Sophia gently pulled on one of his ears. :Real funny!: she told him mind-to-mind, not even risking having someone overhear her and her embarrassment. Her red face, at least, she could blame on the cold.
She'd met some interesting people. Had done so despite the noise, and the crowd, and the effort of keeping up a good face throughout all of it. Maybe she'd do one or two more rounds to say goodbye to the friends that had come and then take off. The whole point of coming had been to be seen, after all. (That reasoning didn't feel hollow now, of course not.)
Thinking of the dance floor she'd just come from, Sophia ducked her head and blushed. That had certainly sweetened the deal.
She was glad to have come, she decided, smiling to herself. Very, very glad, indeed.
Her sweat now cold in the chill February air, she shivered. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a remedy: a key chain of a tan cat with bright red stripes. Gripping it in her hand, she called on the magic waiting within it. She felt the warmth and exhilaration of the summon, the air around her was displaced, moving her skirt and stray strands of her hair, and then, standing beside her, was Thuya.
"I didn't think you'd come," said Thuya. His voice was deep and male, perhaps surprisingly so for someone who hadn't heard him before. Living flames leapt from his back, following the bobcat's striped and speckled pattern. Sparks flew from his feet as he walked closer, rubbing against Sophia's hip.
"Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do," she said, petting him. The flames only tickled her skin.
Thuya purred, a chuckle. "Or perhaps you have hopes for something happening at a Valentines dance?"
Sophia gently pulled on one of his ears. :Real funny!: she told him mind-to-mind, not even risking having someone overhear her and her embarrassment. Her red face, at least, she could blame on the cold.