Lunar Heart, Shadow Bound ✓ [when the moon lies]

Ch.12.2: An Unexpected Reunion

Edited: Sept, 17, 2020

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After the meal, Galag showed her to the second floor and pointed out the bathroom and then his study.

"In case you need me for anything, I'm usually in there. I have my bed in there, too. Can't keep away from reading old books and pouring through ancient history." He winked and then he took her to a quaint room and left.

The room he gave her was filled with rose-colored everything. She would have rather not stayed in such a pink room, but she didn't feel like asking for a different one. So, she settled for becoming a blue fluff on a pink bed feeling the soft cotton under her paws and breathing in the scent of roses. It was certainly better than sleeping on the dusty floor of the inn in Nuaka.

Pinti smooshed her nose into the pillow, taking a deep breath of the rose scent and feeling the silky material against her face. It was the most comforting place she had been in a long time. She couldn't remember the last time she was in a proper bed. It would certainly be a first that a Human—although Sorcerer—let her sleep on their bed.

"Goodnight, Pinti and Lalina and Galaaag!" Deel called from somewhere in the house making her ears twitch at the sound of his annoying squeaky voice. Just when it had gotten quiet and peaceful, Deel had to go and ruin it.

"Heizak, Deel," she muttered. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to relax her body, but something bothered her, and she wasn't sure why. Maybe she just wasn't used to sleeping in someone's house and on someone's bed. Pinti regulated her breathing to a slow rhythm and curled up on her side, but even her favorite sleeping position wasn't calming the unsettled feeling that made her restless.

She sat up, went to the window, and slid open the curtains. Stars treaded the black sky with two moons—one smaller than the other. They were poking their faces out from behind a few clouds, illuminating the dark sky into a lighter shade. Indigo. The color of her stripes and bangs.

Maybe a bit of meditation would do me good. She decided to go outside under moonlight. Despite that she was a firm non-believer of the Lunar Goddess, she still found something rather therapeutic about moonlight.

Without making a single sound, Pinti crept downstairs and out the door into the crisp night holding a slight chill. Behind the log house was another little hill near a fragrant herb garden. She chose a place among some lilac bushes in full bloom next to some cherry blossoms that were also bursting with flowers on their brown branches. Lilacs were summer flowers and cherry blossoms were early spring. It seemed seasons were disregarded here. Probably magick.

Sitting with her legs crossed, she slowed her breathing and closed her eyes, focusing on sound and scent. An owl hooted a single note somewhere in the distance with crickets humming a soft lullaby on her right. A breeze with a chill made her shiver as it passed through leaves making them whisper. Taking a deep breath to fill her lungs, Pinti smelled lilacs, cherry blossoms, wisteria—which she liked the best—honeysuckle, peony, and daffodils, and the sweet fragrance of fresh soil unearthed nearby.

But then, something made her whiskers twitch, disrupting the moment of peace. Her fur bristled without her control. Her heartbeat increased and her breathing became faster. Something was coming. She flung open her eyes.

The world before her was slowed down. A single leaf floated about in front of her face and a breeze hit the tip, sending small ripples through it. But the ripples didn't go away. Curious, she watched the ripples and her vision blurred.

Blinking her eyes rapidly, she focused again on her surroundings. A freezing wetness seeped into her fur and she jumped up, making something splash beneath. Her paw hit a rough wall and she felt it's shockingly cold, slippery surface.