Roses and Thorns

12- The Coming Storm

Alabaster is awfully quiet in the mornings.

As a rule, I prefer to come to him in the afternoon, when everything is in order and he's already meditated, but I have no idea how late my duties at the Table will run. He lets me in regardless, eyes warm, and invites me to sit down next to Calliope before the hearth. She looks smaller than when I first met her, if that's possible, and as I give her a closer look I get the impression that a majority of her body weight is probably her long, whispy fur. She looks like a Canis and a kaanin had a pup together.

"How are you today?" Calliope asks. "We'll be spending the day together, won't we?"

"I suppose we will," I grumble, and her eyes light up despite my tone. Her enthusiasm is uncanny, but what really bothers me is her eye color. The dark midnight blue increases in intensity as it draws closer to her nearly indiscernible pupils, but the edge of her eyes is a startling icy color, bright like a clear spring beneath a blue sky.

"I've done my best to stray from management best I can," Alabaster says. "It seems to be the art of saying much as possible while getting as little as possible done."

"As you've mentioned. I'm glad of the position, though- it's the best I can provide to secure my place here, as well as that of Ivy and The Hunter."

"Rose." His tone is grim. "This is only going to get harder and harder as the starving moons wear on, and when that's over, not only will you have no reward to show for it, but you'll also have the scorn of everyone who has to suffer for the waste of food."

"You think I haven't thought this over?" I ask.
"I think you've come to some disturbing conclusions." He replies evenly.

"I'm close."

"Are you?"

I grumble, "It's not as if anyone has been helping."
"I've helped best I can. The only remotely suspicious character in the whole Glade is down in the prisons, Rose. Think about it."

I get to my paws, feeling my fur grow hot with indignation. "Come on, Callie. We should go."

Calliope looks at Alabaster, then to me, and then to Alabaster again. "Okay."

Fuming, I pace out of the cottage and into the cold morning air. The stale scent of the Cloud Chasers informs me they left long ago, and between that and my upcoming run-in with the law, I could hardly be less excited about that day. However, I also have a chance to patch things up with Calliope, and I need to stay calm.

Luckily, I won't be doing much of the talking today. Tammory stands outside the Table, eyes squinted and tail waving slowly. She notices us first, and nods to us as we approach. "Good morning to you both. I'm glad to have you."

"Likewise," I tell her.

"So, welcome to the Table." Tammory tells me as we walk in together, with Calliope still pressed against my side. I'm almost sad to come inside, seeing as the weather is rather pleasant for once, and as usual, the Table is freezing and unnervingly uncomfortable.

"I know what the Table is like." I scoff.

"Starting this out on the right foot, aren't we? Good to see that you're enthusiastic. Hope you'll really be bringing that winning attitude to the job." She retorts, but her fur has clearly been ruffled somewhat.

I take a deep breath and reel myself in. Calliope is still watching me with her strange eyes, which are large as oranges. She looks almost puplike. Did Alabaster ever mention her age?
Tammory continues, "So today we'll be checking down the inventory, and then making plans the next day. Hopefully we'll have you on board then as well." She passes me some scrolls, which clatter out to their full extent on the table, revealing long rows of text and scratched markings. "This is what's been done so far."