we feel misfortunes deep and keen

[dark_light]

Pensive cuddling goes on a long time.

Path nudges against Kas occasionally, almost like he's testing over and over to see if it hurts, but he never flinches, so it must not.

Comments

[telesonorous]

"That's good," says Kalavar. "But - it wouldn't." She sighs. "I wonder if there's a similar thing that would make sense?"

[dark_light]

"She can pastwatch. But it takes a long time and it's not the same."

[telesonorous]

"It's not," Kalavar agrees. "It wouldn't be like her knowing us. I guess the only way to do that is to... get to know each other." She sighs gustily, her head dipping lower. "I wish we were twelve again so I could be a chinchilla and snuggle up to you."

[dark_light]

"If you wish it very much there's shapeshifting magic. I don't think any daemons who don't already shapeshift have tried it though."

[telesonorous]

"I can snuggle anyway," she says. "It's just - hard."

And she leans forward and turns her head and touches the side of her face against Path's fluffy feathers, keeping her enormous beak out of the way.

[dark_light]

Snuggle.

Inside, Isabella says, "I should probably tell my parents, at some point. Did they know I was going to come back? Did they know anything?"

[telesonorous]

"I don't think Inkeri told her prophecy to anyone but us," says Helen. "Granatee knows about Things now - minting and other worlds and stuff - but Charlie doesn't."

[truthwright]

"I told 'em you were coming back. Didn't say when," says Kas.

[telesonorous]

"Oh, and the queen," Helen adds. "Inkeri told the queen her prophecy. But it just said sixty-six years after you vanished, and nobody knew what day that was."

[dark_light]

"But she'll know approximately, I suppose." Isabella sighs. "Why does Ranata know if Charlie doesn't - she see something?"

[truthwright]

"Sue dropped in for two minutes."

[dark_light]

"And ran into her?"

[truthwright]

He nods.

[dark_light]

"Can you give me any idea what to expect when I go see them, how are they doing?"

[truthwright]

Kas shrugs.

[telesonorous]

Helen also shrugs.

[truthwright]

"Neither of us really knew them before you were gone," says Kas. "I don't know what might've changed."

[dark_light]

"Fair enough." She sighs. "I guess I'll - go find out."

She kisses Kas, briefly, lightly, and away she pops.

Pathalan, however, stays where he is.

[truthwright]

Petaal goes out to where Path and Kalavar are snuggling and flops down next to them as a tiger, nuzzling one of Kalavar's folded wings.

[dark_light]

"Hi," says Path.

[truthwright]

"Hi," says Petaal. She nuzzles him, too.

[dark_light]

And lo, Path was nuzzled. "I missed you," he sighs at her.

[truthwright]

"I missed you too," says Petaal. "I love you." Fuzzy nuzzles!

[telesonorous]

"Awwwwwwww," says Kalavar.

[dark_light]

"Love you too, sweetie."