Awkward conversations aside Calvin enjoyed the night air. He ruffled out his wings with a stiff little snap before furling them again. He grinned, considering what she'd asked about Peets enjoying the remnants. He shook his head with a smile, raising his hands devilishly. His eyes were still a bit unfocused from too much beer and his walk didn't quite carry him straight, either. That only made the story more amusing in Calvin's estimation. He began telling in his colorful, brightly ranged voice. Peets was a little less amused, snaking her neck in front of him with ears pinned, yet Calvin continued to talk around her.
"Oh, I can't say I wasn't a little alarmed, but Peets, well, she thought the sky was falling! No, seriously, that the stars were raining down and they might burn where they fell. So of course she started running, me clinging on for dear life as she was sure the air was going to follow and we had to run somewhere safe," Calvin spoke, pretending to be unaware of his familiar's displeasure as he waved away her threatening teeth with an irritated aside, "Stop that, I'm only telling the truth." He continued on to Whimsy, "So, we were running all helter skelter and when one drifted right in front of us, we couldn't stop! I think we both closed our eyes." He let the idea of running into the bizarre remnants hang in the air.
"As you know, it all worked out okay. For the first time ever Peets let me look at her long enough to groom her up proper and while she was still a bit shy, she allowed others to look at her without instantly running away," Calvin said, knowing Whimsy would understand what a big step this was for Peets. "Somehow, it had eased her phobia, something I never was able to do," Calvin said appreciatively, "Now we make it a bit of a game to see how many we can catch up to in a day." The green-skinned boy put on an impish grin, "You know, by the time things are back to normal I think I'll have pet every piece of magic in Shaman." This thought seemed to please him, even if it wasn't his to handle.
As they got farther from the light of the marketplace Peets stayed close. The Arabian mare was much more easily spooked than her dear bonded and she was sure she had heard the creak of leather wings in the air. Now in the darkness she was almost on top of Calvin and Whimsy, her eyes looking overhead for signs of danger. Calvin's playful mood addled by the alcohol still being absorbed into his system didn't give her any illusions of safety. Shaman could still be a dangerous, unpredictable place.
"I don't want you to ever sing that song again," Peets said, speaking aloud with uncommon courtesy to the knowledge that Whimsy wouldn't be able to hear what she said if she kept it in her mind, "Half dead people give me the chills." |