Roses and Thorns

15- Sunset

"To feel is to live!" I tell Blitz on the last night before I resume work. "Do I really come off as cold or calculating?"

"You do hang around with Eris and Tammory, and everyone thinks they're cold and calculating." he says. He's already heard several versions of this complaint, yet somehow, be it bar worker tolerance or genuine concern, he's managed to keep entertaining me.

"They're certainly calculating, but they're not cold! Even Tammory is quite warm and dare I say friendly when she wants to be, even though that happens every once in a blue moon."

"I appreciate it, Eudica." calls Tammory from another table. "Enjoy your break, because as soon as you get back, I'm going to work you until your tail falls off."
I melt into the table. "Well, I'm dead."

"Maybe the 'feeling' thin was advice for someone else?" he suggests. "Necaris probably doesn't even know the difference between you and your sister. She's too busy sticking her head in a beehive and thinking of cryptic proverbs."
"I don't know. My head feels like a beehive." I tell him.

"Rose." Blitz states, a dark patience in his eyes. "You should probably go to bed. It's late and you'll be hunting tomorrow for the first time in a quarter month. Are you really sure you want to do it with a tremendous headache?"

"I'll be fine. My tolerance has gone way up since I started taking all these jobs- I bet I could drink against Nimbus if I so desired." I tell him.

"Now I know you've had too much."

"Probably have." I tell him. "Now, will you tell me about your emotional turmoil, just to balance out the score?"

"Me? Turmoil?"
I stare him down.

He shrugs, then admits, "Rye's been absent a lot as of late. Morgan's out tonight looking for her. If we ever find where she's sneaking off to, we're going to have a firm chat with her."
"Can you really do that? Isn't she your boss?" I ask.

"She's more of a mother, or a big sister. We're just worried, in all honesty. Surely you know how that feels."

"Do I ever." I tell him. I get up, stare around, and see that Ace is still vacant. I feel a little emptier without him here to keep me calm, to keep me reasonable, but Blitz is often just as good when it comes to advice. I sigh. "You're right. I should go."
"Knew you'd come around." he tells me. "If you see Morgan, tell her to come back. Business is booming tonight."

I nod, then turn to pass through the crowded tables. Hirina is talking idly with Alabaster, who watches me the whole way out, and the Cloud Chasers all give me pointed stares in a stunning display of hypocrisy. If they're worried about me, they should be asleep, but I digress. I'm just happy to know I'll be back soon.

I step into the night air, which is chill but not freezing. It's almost pleasant, and since the snow has close to melted, I can step without my paws burning off. Instead, the ground is dry in some places, and the grass grows fickle about my paws.

It's the type of night you could disappear into.

In the distance, I see another straggler opposite me, almost indistinguishable in species and size. They do not speak, but I know we've made eye contact almost at once.

"Who's out there?" I ask.

They turn to go.

"Is there a problem?"

My heart picks up. I can smell fear on them. They dash and without warning, without my own consent, I'm after them. We barrel headlong through the freezing forest, beneath a crisp night sky. The trees blend into a tunnel of darkness as I pick up my pace, each muscle tensing and relaxing in perfect harmony. Up ahead the mysterious other moves with a similar, practiced grace. Though I've never moved so fast in my life, I never seem to grow closer to them. It's as if I'm chasing my own shadow. I snarl, but I'm winded and tired, and they spring away across the river. I stop short, panting, and look around. I'm freed from my adrenaline, and I feel just as confused as I did the day I tried to catch that first squirrel with the Cloud Chasers. I squint into the distance, watching the figure disappear into the woods.