so you can throw me to the wolves

Cypress was pink with delight. She knew she was, and that it'd be obvious to almost anyone, but she couldn't help it or hide it. At least her pink face wouldn't give away Thoth's identity to anyone, especially not now that they were outdoors in the cold. She couldn't stop smiling. Thoth was here, for her! And as much as she was worried about his safety, as much as she didn't want him to put himself at risk - especially not because of her - she couldn't help but feel rather touched. She knew Thoth noticed her, sometimes, and that he cared about her because they were friends, but it was moments like these that felt... special, even just a bit. She knew it probably wasn't because he felt the same way as she did, but at least it was one step closer. And it felt... strangely wonderful, to have someone in her corner. Someone who felt protective of her. Her family was used to her being independent and were respectful of both her privacy and preference for doing things on her own; it was nice, that they knew her so well, but at the same time, it did make opening up about things a bit harder. Thoth, on the other hand, hadn't even really had to be told. He observed.

When he gave her a canine-hug, Cy thought she might die of sheer joy. She leaned her head against him, sucking up both his warmth and the affection. Thoth wasn't opposed to hugs - at least, he'd never rejected her when she tried to give him one - but usually she was so embarrassed by her own exuberance that it was a quick collision, wrapping her arms around him for a brief second before letting him go. A lot like how she would hold a cat, always giving it room to escape if it felt the need. This was the first time she felt... a response? Her only wish was that he would do the same thing in human form, but that was her being greedy she supposed. He extracted himself from the hug, padding away, and Cy resisted the urge to call after him. He wasn't going already, was he? She sighed. Even if he did, she didn't really have the right to call him back. He was the one in serious danger, after all.

She didn't have time to pout, though, as she spotted two familiar figures tromping their way through the snow in her direction. Or at least... one and a half familiar figures? Danny was mid-lecture, Cypress could tell that from the way he was moving his hands and mouth, but Cy didn't hear a word: she was too busy staring at him and Sol. Danny was wearing a soft gray Christmas jumper that had a very overweight pug on the front, and the pug was wearing a Christmas sweater himself. Solarius was standing at his side, unusually quiet; he was bright green with red stripes, a glowing red nose, and large reindeer antlers wrapped in tinsel.

"At least someone has some sense," Danny finished, pointing towards Cy's feet. It took her awhile to drop her gaze, but her smile was instantaneous.

"Oh, thank you," she said dreamily, bending down to pet Thoth's head. She put the coat on, then promptly resumed her staring at Solarius.

"That's better. I'm glad you finally found a dog who- OH MY GOD," Danny, who had been bending down to offer his hand towards the "dog" abruptly sputtered and straightened, pointing at Thoth, and then at Cypress, and then back at Thoth. "He, you, what, you can't, that's..." He glanced around furiously before leaning towards Cypress and whispering: "THOTH."

"Oh, I know," Cy said casually, trying to button up her coat with shaking, slightly numb fingers. "Isn't it great?"

"Great?! GREAT?!" Danny sputtered, flapping his hands in terror. The fat pug on his shirt did a jig, making Cypress sputter out a laugh. "Why are you laughing? Don't you realize his life in in danger?!"

"I'm... I'm sorry," Cypress gasped between giggles. "But what the hell happened to you?!"

Danny's gaze dropped to his chest, flushing a bright pink. He muttered something grumpily, which sounded like stupid Dylan, before he resumed his freak out.

Cypress;