Oh my gosh, she’s so kind. She’s either really concerned about my wellbeing or just really nice. I’ll take either, honestly. I catch myself nodding along to her, staring into her pretty pastel eyes. Wow. They’re so soft to match her gentle nature, and as beautiful as she is, inside and out.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I imagine Thalia calling me an idiot again.

She touches me again, nudging me on the shoulder with her nose. My stomach does a few backflips and I feel my heart flutter and my breathing stop, just for a moment. Did Magpie’s parents and siblings feel this way any time they cuddled up to her when she was younger? Surely she doesn’t have a sister who thinks she’s a moron. No one in their right mind could ever mistake Magpie for a moron.

“Y-yeah.” I agree when she asks her question. I’m pretty sure I can stand, probably, although my knees feel like jelly. I don’t think that has anything to do with the river, though. I push myself up onto all fours, wobbling only briefly before clambering clumsily up the river bank and onto dry land at last. “Who’s Zanon?” I ask, imagining that Zanon, whoever he is, must be the luckiest guy alive. I mean, he’s close with Magpie.

Water weighs down my coat, dripping from my heavy winter fur. I back up away from Magpie a little out of respect before shaking myself off, sending a shower of water flying in every direction. At least now I don’t look so much like a drowned rat, although the fur along my back and around my neck sticks up on end. Ugh. I really wish I could have a minute to smooth it all down, but Magpie is watching me like she wants to go. Actually, what I really want is a do-over. I want to go back in time, not fall into the river, and stride smoothly into the party with a suave grin which will surely make Magpie think I’m cooler than I actually am. I pad back towards her, falling into place to her left and a little behind her. I don’t mind her leading. It means I can watch her without looking like a creeper with my head turned fully to the side.

“Where are we going?” I ask, not that I care. I’d happily follow Magpie to hell, quite honestly.

LEFTERIS
homeless two year-old cub. bugs suck.