I was home, and yet not. While I’d been away just a bit longer than a weekend, it felt like ages had passed since I’d last been at the Seapony. As I trotted up the path, the bar came off as a bit alien, a warm glow concealing the chill of the unknown.
My stop in Canterlot had cost time, time during which information could spread—information which I could very well have given away in Hoofington. Even in the familiar places, where I’d be surrounded by friends, I had to be vigilant.
I drew in a deep breath. Just a little longer and this whole thing would be out of my hooves. Provided I could find someone trustworthy, that is. But if I could just get the Guard to move, they would likely draw any attention away from me, simply by doing their job.
Or it’ll just be the beginning of something worse, my brain nagged.
Frowning, I nosed the door open. Sometimes I didn’t like my voice of reason. I mean, it was probably the only thing that had kept me alive this long, but it would’ve been nice to relax for a night.
Night Flurry, Blizzard, Starshadow and Merriweather sat around our table. Despite the absence of Terra and Mahogany, the table was crammed full of an impressive amount of glasses. I really needed to get used to Merriweather’s contributions.
Starshadow was looking right at me as I entered. She bowed her head. “Ah. Hail, Dusky.”
“D-Dusky?” Night Flurry’s ears perked up and he’d barely spun around before he was waiving his hoof with a vigour that could rival Terra. “Oh! Hey, Dusky!”
I padded in, glancing behind me one last time as the door slid shut. Doing my best to smile through the fatigue, I trotted over to my friends.
Night Flurry stared at me, focused enough that he didn’t shy away when I stared back. Of all the times to start cluing in to details, he had to pick that night. Not that it particularly mattered, since I planned to tell everyone about the analysis, but still... he was making me a bit nervous.
“You, um... you okay, Dusky?” he asked, a hint of colour playing across his cheeks. Perhaps he had noticed my stare. “You... s-seem kind of tired…”
“I'm okay. I've... just been flying for awhile and had a few long nights lately.” I glanced at the others; they didn’t seem all that tipsy. Upon further inspection, it appeared that the majority of the drinks were still full. Which meant, if there was ever a time to break the news, it was now.
I let my eyes settle on Blizzard. “I found a few things out that you may be interested in, Blizzard.”
Blizzard blinked, apparently not quite on the same page. She looked at everyone else before finally answering, “Me? Err… sure. What’s up?”
My eyes flitted over the rest of the room. The other patrons seemed more interested in their drinks, but it’s not like that wasn’t easy to fake. At the same time, I couldn’t wait around forever.
I turned back to the table, leaning in just a bit. “Although, I'd actually like to talk to all of you. In private.”
With everyone informed, I snuck over to Barkeep. He was most cooperative, even letting me have the room for free. In rather short order, I had everyone filing into the room.
I kept an eye on the commons as I closed the door. While no one had been coming our way, that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone waiting for me to let down my guard. Once the door was completely shut, I turned my ears toward it. When a half-minute went by without so much as a hoofstep, I allowed myself to relax, if only a little.
Trotting over to the table, I dug one of the analysis scrolls out of my flight satchel and unfurled it. It proved somewhat uncooperative, and I ended up having to pin it to the table with both forehooves.
Everyone stared around my hooves, although Starshadow was the only one to shed her blank look. Rather unsurprising reactions, really, since I had to ask Ruby to explain it to me twice before I felt knowledgeable enough to clarify in her stead.
“This is a chemical analysis confirming a sample of plant extract I found.”
The confusion in Night Flurry’s eyes only deepened. “A... plant?”
I nodded, hoping the wording I’d brainstormed on the way back to Ponyville would be coherent enough. “The more I thought about it, the harder it was to shake the feeling that the Cartel’s presence and the vandalized ice were somehow connected.”
Starshadow’s eyes didn’t leave the scroll. “Intriguing... then this extract was mixed into the ice?”
“Yes,” I said, glad we weren’t going to spend the whole time with just me talking. “Ghost Leaf’s a powerful hallucinogen. A favorite among the rave crowd. And worth a pretty bit.”
Head held high, Merriweather let out a snort. “We don't have that kind of stuff back in Ostfriesen.”
The way Starshadow looked at her, I swore I could see the question marks passing between them.
Merriweather coughed. “Just... different stuff. Which the queen has outlawed, of course…”
I could feel a pang of curiosity tug at my brain, but now was not the time. Pressing onward, I simply nodded. ”There was another ice sculpting competition in Hoofington. I got a sample from their warehouse, and had a friend in Canterlot confirm my suspicions. That's where that analysis comes in.”
Night Flurry shrunk a bit. “M-monsters…”
Starshadow glanced at the scroll one more time before nodding. “Then you shall have to turn this over to the proper authorities, yes?”
Tired of standing on my hind legs, I stepped back, letting the scroll furl back up. “Yes, I… I think I have to. Especially since there can be little doubt about the connection. Two nights ago, Hoofington's display was also vandalized, and its surplus destroyed.”
Blizzard stared at the closed scroll, her question seemed more addressed to it than anyone there. “Why would they be smuggling it in ice blocks? Why bother sabotaging sculpture festivals?”
I didn’t have a clear explanation. I mean, it was a pretty reasonable guess, but without information from someone in say, the Guard, it was still just speculation. I tapped my hoof against the table as I gathered my thoughts. “I don’t know why they’re using the ice. Maybe their old methods of smuggling just aren’t discreet enough. As for the sculptures… well, my guess is they did it to cover up for the theft and make it look like full-on vandalism.”
Glancing at Blizzard, I took a deep breath, trying not to focus too much on the memory of the Guard’s corpse. “And before anyone asks, yes, there was a Guard detail assigned to the display. I... stumbled across one of the corpses on the way out.”
Blizzard scowled and shook her head. “Bastards. All seems a bit elaborate to me… but I guess I can see the logic. As twisted as it is.”
The room fell silent, though not for long.
“"D-Dusky... th-that means... you…” Night Flurry’s voice was almost inaudible at first, simmering into something I could only describe as a sort of indignation. “You put yourself there? I-into that level of danger? W-without telling us?”
I couldn’t help but glance away. There was really no denying it; as much as I’d tried to plan for safety, as much as it had been necessary, the very nature of my mission had required some rashness.
“I'm sorry, Night Flurry. Time was of the essence. I hadn't expected them to raid the warehouse that night.”
Night Flurry’s voice continued to rise as he propped himself against the table and pointed a hoof. It struck me just then that Blaze and Night Flurry had the strangest similarities. “We... We could have helped! Y-you go, telling me not to play the hero, and... I listen! B-because... I care about you... and then you put yourself back into that kind of danger without even telling us what might have happened?”
I met his gaze and spoke with complete earnesty. “If I had waited, the surplus would have been gone. If I had hesitated at all, they would have secured the perimeter before I could get in.”
He shrunk, suddenly looking more tired than angry. He stared down at the table as he replied, “I... I just don't want anything to happen to you. But... you're right…”
“I understand.” I gave him a sad smile. After all, it wasn’t too long ago I’d felt the same. “If it makes you feel better, my good luck was on par with my bad. They were so surprised that I didn't even need to draw my weapon.”
Starshadow’s nod was firm, a warrior’s approval that made me feel a little better about the situation. “The best kind of luck. I am glad you managed to avoid any significant confrontation.”
“Yeah!” Merriweather chimed in, a mischievous grin spreading up her lips. “You'd have kicked their flanks anyway, right? So what do we do?”
I sighed. While I knew Merriweather was just trying to be encouraging, it only emphasized just how harsh the reality was. “We can't do anything. If our little group tried to oppose them, we'd be crushed.”
Staring at the floor, I did my best to push the fall of the safehouse from my mind. Even so, glimpses of my friends in place of the Guards seeped into my mind. “Trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about.”
The room was still again. We were helpless. It was a feeling I’d never wanted to burden my friends with, but the Cartel had forced my hoof. Now all I could do was offer an explanation, a consolation prize.
Blizzard’s sigh was heavy, a delayed echo of my own. She looked at me, smiling that same brave smile I’d put on moments ago. “Thank you, Dusky. You put a lot of work into this, I can tell… and it means a lot to me.”
She stood, trotting around the table to me. But she didn’t stop there, instead wrapping me in her hooves and wings. I froze. In truth, I didn’t think I deserved a hug for all the trouble I’d brought with me, but I returned her embrace, nonetheless.
“I’m happy that it does. I… I wish I could do more. Really get them into the public eye. But the last time I tried that…” I let go and stepped back. “Let’s just say that it didn’t end well.”
Blizzard pulled back, as well, and sighed again. After a few moments, her eyes found Merriweather. With a guilty smile, she spoke, “I suppose I owe you an apology. I just thought it was you and some drunks being stupid.”
Merriweather giggled and waved her hoof. “Don’t worry about it… Not the first time I’ve been accused of getting drunk and accidentally smashing something.”
Starshadow cleared her throat. This time her glare was accompanied by a short ‘nudge’ in the ribs.
Merriweather coughed. “Oh. But yeah, I mean… I am sorry about what happened.”
“As long as I know it wasn’t just some ponies being stupid, it’s fine.” Blizzard shrugged before giving Merriweather a sympathetic look. “I’ll live.”
After packing the analysis away, I turned back to the others. And while I spoke, it was more to myself than them. I didn’t really expect any of them to have connections within the Guard. “Now, the real tough part will be finding someone in the Guard who I can absolutely trust. Or at least trust enough to not burn the report as soon as I leave.”
Night Flurry straightened up and I was almost worried he was going to fall out of his seat. He spoke softly, the words caught in his throat, “I... I kn-know somepony.”
I felt my ears swivel of their own accord. My first instinct was to be skeptical, but really, I had little to lose by hearing him out. “You do? Someone you'd entrust all of our lives to with complete certainty?”
In truth, it didn’t need to go quite that far. After all, it’d just be my life on the line. But I wanted to know he was certain beyond a doubt.
“I... absolutely,” he replied firmly, with a rare confidence that almost made me more suspicious. “I trust him.”
“A shame,” Starshadow mused as she stood. “It would have been interesting to engage with this Cartel.”
Merriweather giggled, shaking her head in imitation of Starshadow. “C'mon Sis’, weren't we going to practice your whole non-interference thing? They're handling things just fine.”
Cocking an eyebrow at Merriweather, Starshadow sighed. “I suppose. But should our friends be harmed, those responsible shall get the worst of us.”
I stared at Starshadow. Of everyone in the room, I’d never expected her to be the most gung-ho about a fight. It was like I’d temporarily stepped into some weird, alternate dimension where she and Merriweather had switched places. “No. That's too dangerous. This isn't about revenge. I needed to know they weren't after me or my friends. And to soften the collateral they wreaked upon Blizzard. We'll pass on the information to Night Flurry's contact, and then leave it be.”
Starshadow backed down almost immediately, as though suddenly aware of just how worked up she’d been. “So be it.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I was certain I could have swayed the others, but Starshadow was a bit harder to get a read on. If she had been really determined, I doubt there was much I could have done to stop her.
“Good. That's all. Thanks for listening, all of you.”
Turning back to Night Flurry, I smiled. “And could you stay a moment, please, Night Flurry?”
“Er... s-sure?” He settled on his haunches while the others excused themselves.
Merriweather, of course, couldn’t resist throwing out a wink and mouthing “Good luck!” before shutting the door.
Shaking my head, I eyed Night Flurry up and down. It was time to find out more about this contact who inspired such confidence in him. “All right, about your contact in the Guard: you're sure they can be trusted?”
Night Flurry thought for a moment. “Y-yes. I do. He's a Captain in the Solar Guard. I... I would trust him completely.”
I blinked. Captain? Hmmm, could it be… one of his estranged family? This could be problematic.
His ears drooped. “H-he and I... we just…”
Freezing up, he seemed to become lost. My skepticism grew with each second.
With a sigh, he found himself again. “We haven't spoken in a long time.”
I narrowed my eyes. As I’d suspected, he was making assumptions based on a dormant relationship. “How can you know he’s trustworthy if you haven’t spoke to him in so long?”
“He… he never let me down. I know he’s trustworthy… A-and we lost touch because…” Night Flurry shrunk down. “I was the one who stopped reaching out.”
Unsure whether that made things better or worse, I sighed inwardly. It wasn’t like I had a better choice at the moment. I supposed that, as a Captain, Night Flurry’s contact was significantly less likely to have Cartel affiliations, but still, I could never be too careful. There was nothing left to do but judge him myself and decide whether or not he deserved to have my information.
“Then, as long as you're comfortable setting up the meeting, this should work.”
“I... Yes. I don't mind. I... I'll write a letter tonight. And... I'll let you know once he wants to meet with us.”
I raised an eyebrow, uncertain if he felt obligated to be there. This could get awkward fast.
“Us? You sure? You wouldn't have to come, especially if you're uncomfortable.”
“No, I'll come too... if um... if that's all right with you?”
“He's your contact. If you think it's best, then sure.” I gave him my best reassuring smile. “I think I'll go and get a drink. I've had a long last few days. I could use a little relaxation.”
I trotted toward the door.
“R-right.” Night Flurry said, trailing just a bit behind me. “I'm... I'm going to h-head home. Get that letter written.”
“Thanks again, Night Flurry. You have a good night.”
“Y-you too. And Dusky... t-take care.” Colour filled his cheeks. “B-be careful.”
“You too.”
---
I was nervous. Not that I was trying to be ungrateful or anything, but Night Flurry’s description of the state of his and his contact’s relationship left me worried. What if this other family member didn’t want to talk to him? We could be waiting for something that would never come. Or even if something could be arranged, there was the risk that I was walking into something that could collapse into an argument at the drop of a hat.
I’d sent word to Lockbox, of course, exploring my options for alternatives. He was the only one I fully trusted to find a Guard contact, as he had as much reason as me, if not more, to be careful. So when several days went by without any news, I began to worry.
There was just too much at stake and nothing to do but wait.
I began to plan for worst: if the Cartel really was on to me, if my sniffing around had put them on guard or even if there just wasn’t anyone willing to help.
There was just too much to consider. Each night I found myself staring at the ceiling, mincing the details against it.
I was at the Seapony more and more, admittedly, binging a bit on a second or third drink. While the extra cider did little for the fatigue, it did wonders to keep me calm. Somewhere in there, I think I reassured Terra and Mahogany that everything would be back to normal soon enough. My own hope was the only thing that made it wishful thinking, rather than an outright lie.
Eventually, on the fifth or sixth night, the exhaustion caught up to me post-shift. I’d barely gotten home, hadn’t even had supper yet and couldn’t have cared less. I collapsed onto my bed, fading away into blissful nothingness.
The next day treated me little better, as I woke with my muzzle buried so deeply in the mattress that when I pulled away, the indent kept its shape for a few moments. I'd also flipped upside down, such that my flank was squashed up against the headboard. Somehow, I dragged myself out and through the light flurries of my shift. I wanted to collapse again, but my worries and desire for company won out.
And so I trudged toward the Seapony, my hooves not so much leaving hoofprints as cleaving paths through the fresh powder. At this point, I was pretty much ready to talk about anything, even Terrabona’s matchmaking wisdom. Or at least, so I thought.
Just as I neared the Seapony’s doors, they flung open, red light hanging off the edges. Terra shot out of the bar, practically a green blur as she nearly bowled me over. I stared, having never, ever seen her move so fast before.
I didn’t get a really good look, but fear, framed by streams of tears, was plastered across her face. Before I could open my mouth, she was already disappearing down the street. Something had terrified her and she wasn’t even sticking around to tell me what.
My body snapped to, the exhaustion suddenly gone. The Cartel had surely found me this time and my friends were suffering the consequences. Time slowed down as I turned my ears forward and edged up to the door.
There was chatter, lots of it. But for some strange reason, it seemed normal. Someone was complaining about spilled beer, another bragging about hauling a house across town.
“What? Wait! Terra! Aww, c’mon!” Mahogany’s muffled cry barely reached me through the door.
Finally, my brain couldn’t take it anymore. Nothing added up, so it was time to see for myself. Nosing the door open, I was not greeted by a room full of thugs, but a perfectly normal bar.
Mahogany was lumbering away from our table, squinting as he waved.
“Oh, good! Y’heard me!” he shouted about twice as loudly as was necessary. Meanwhile, at the table, Merriweather was laughing while Starshadow shook her head at the both of them.
I cringed as I stepped inside. Despite the newest excitement, my fighter’s instinct was settling down, leaving me with a sense of relaxation that just didn’t feel right.
Turning to Mahogany, I raised an eyebrow. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Oh! Oh!” His face contorted as he fumbled for words that weren’t meant for Terra. “Dusky! Y’gotta talk some sense into Terra!”
“Depends,” I said, glancing around in case something external had scared Terra. “Does this have anything to do with why she ran out of here crying?”
“Yes! Yep! Yeah! But, uh, I dunno why.” Mahogany’s face was clouded with confusion and concern.
I shook my head. Way to give me a heart attack.
“You don’t? You… sure? She seemed pretty upset.”
“We were just talking about her foal!” Merriweather chimed in.
“Her… what?” I blinked. Something definitely didn’t seem right. While Terra was a romantic, she was not the type to go getting herself pregnant off of a one night stand. And besides that, there was no way she had a secret foal with some secret stallion; she’d have been gushing over him to me the moment they met. Or even before that.
“Last night she ran off with dis foal,” Mahogany answered, flailing his hooves in the air in a way that might have been him trying to indicate the approximate size of the child. “Dint come back ‘til late. So I said she was like a… a Matron!”
Ugh... This is what I get for taking a break. I pressed a hoof to my head. “Okay… you sure you didn’t say anything else? Because this really doesn’t match her reaction.”
“Ahem!” Starshadow said, waiting for all our eyes to be on her before breaking into a strangely convincing Mahogany impression, “I believe you said, and I quote, ‘Matron Terrabona. All prim and proper-like, wavin’ a ruler aroun’. Keepin’ all dem foals all in line ‘n’ stuff!’”
I moved my hoof to my mouth just in time to stifle a snicker. “Thanks, Starshadow.”
“Happy to be of service.” She bowed.
It was my turn to clear my throat, although in a much less dramatic way than Starshadow. “Right. If I had to guess, it might be because you indirectly called her old. I mean, I doubt that’s the core issue, but it might have touched some other nerve.”
“Oh. Right...” Mahogany stood completely still, as though his brain was still processing. It could have been my imagination, but I thought I heard his brain creaking and groaning under the effort. “So, uhhhhh…”
“Yes,” I sighed. “I’ll go talk to her.”
“Thanks, Dusky! I’ll getcharound when ya come back!”
I smirked. “I’ll hold you to that.”
---
Terrabona’s house was small and simple, much like my apartment, except, well, an actual house with a real yard. Some of the paint was looking a little worn and the faint odor of half-frozen leaves made me question the last time she’d cleaned her gutters, but otherwise her house was always reasonably presentable. At least, the walkway had already been cleared right down to the gravel.
I stood on her porch, my hoof raised to the magenta door, as I tried to think of a non-awkward way to broach the subject. Not wanting to stand outside all night, I settled for ‘least awkward’.
Of course, that was assuming Terra was even in a mood to answer the door. Drawing in a deep breath, I gave the door three firm knocks.
“Go away!” Terra responded instantly and loudly enough that I was pretty sure she’d just been sitting by the door since she got home. She was also obviously drunk—I could even smell the whiskey from there.
“Terra, it’s me! Dusky!” I called back.
“I’m not home! Go away!”
I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at the door, useless as it was. “Come on, Terra! Don’t be like that! Do you really want to lie on the floor moping all night when I’m here for you?”
A heavy silence fell between us. My concern grew with each second until finally, I just couldn’t wait any longer.
I tapped a little lighter this time before calling out, “Terra?”
The lock turned and I felt my breath catch in my throat. A few excruciating moments later, the door eased open just the barest of cracks. One bloodshot eye peered out at me. It was actually a little disconcerting, as the moonlight was too weak to reveal the rest of her face.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine. Shee? Now go away.” Terra mumbled, her voice fading as she progressed. There was a slight waver to her voice, nearly lost beneath her breath.
I caught a glint in her eye, one that continued to hold the moon’s light as it trickled down her cheek.
With a sigh, I leaned in closer. “Then how come you’re crying?”
The door opened just a little more, this time held in the red aura of her magic. There were obvious dark spots under her eyes and her forelock was completely frazzled, as though she’d been grinding her hooves against it.
Still, she tried to smile at me, that sort of ‘innocently guilty’ look a filly gives when she’s caught with her hoof in the cookie jar. She couldn’t even hold it for three seconds before her eyes fell to the floor.
“Fine. Come on in.”
Terra’s house was just as cluttered as her shop, with boxes and cartons of something or other stacked against the walls in no particular form of organization. And just like her shop, Terra could find anything she needed without a second thought.
She led me toward the living room. The scent of old whiskey was already wafting into my nostrils by the time we were halfway down the hall, but it wasn’t until we rounded the corner that it really hit me. I wrinkled my muzzle, trying to adjust a little before pushing onward.
The living room was still laid out more or less the same as always with more boxes and cartons ringing the room. I was certain they’d have swallowed the room whole if Terra didn’t need space for her sofa and loveseat set. They carved a hole in the very centre, where the sole large window would have deposited the majority of its sunlight. However, Terra and sunlight didn’t appear to be on particularly good terms these days—the heavy curtains were drawn tight.
A long coffee table sat between the two seat sets, sporting a couple candles. They illuminated the floor just enough that I thought I could see some hardwood patches beneath the sea of whiskey bottles.
I stared at Terra, suddenly feeling guilty I hadn’t picked up on this earlier. “Have... have you been drinking all day?”
She scuffed the floor, forehoof knocking aside a bottle with a hollow tonk. Terra opened her mouth, but it was several moments before she actually answered. “Yesh.”
Trotting over to her, I took a quick survey of the bottles. There were a lot. Too many, in fact, which was in a strange, twisted sense, a relief. Even Terra’s legendary alcohol tolerance wouldn’t have stood up to this cache. If she’d really binged that hard, I’d already have been dragging her to the hospital or… well, I didn’t want to think about the alternative.
“This isn’t just about tonight, is it?”
Terra shook her head. “No.”
“How long?” I asked, not really looking for the answer itself as much as how she said it.
“I…” Terra slumped. “I don’t know.”
I circled around so that I was facing her head-on. “Terra. What’s wrong? I want to help.”
Once again, I already had an idea of the answer, but I’d rather have her reach out to me than press the issue. Things had better odds of working out that way.
Terra continued to slump until she was sitting on her haunches. “I’m old an’... an’ pasht my prime!”
I frowned. Then the spell still wasn’t gone and I suspected her ‘sexy’ wasn’t the only thing it had affected. We’d just been too distracted by the obvious.
“C’mon, Terra. You’re a beautiful mare and you know it. And I’m sure everyone who looks your way knows it.”
“But, Dushky, ish not just about beauty. The shexy is more like the thing in your thing.”
“Um... what?”
“The thiiiing,” Terra replied. She stood, dejectedly shaking her rump—and almost toppled over.
As I rushed to steady her, it hit me just what she’d been getting at. A chill formed on the back of my neck, sliding down my body, through every hair in my coat. “I think I see now. Terra, this… this isn’t just stopping you from feeling attracted to anyone; it’s preventing you from feeling attractive. Am I right?”
“Yeeeeeesh! I’m jusht an old maid now!“ Terra whimpered, as she threw her head and hooves into the air, her lament suddenly several times more unsettling. This wasn’t just about relationships or an urge between her legs; it was an alienation of self. She knew how she wanted to feel, how she was supposed to feel. And yet, this magic wouldn’t give her so much as an inch.
I could feel renewed anger toward Starshadow rising in my cheeks, wondering if she’d truly known what she was casting. But there would be time for that later.
“Old maid? Terra, why would you say that about yourself?” I stepped up beside her and gave her a quick wing-hug.
“Ashter,” she whispered.
My mind drifted back to the park, where the purple filly and her attitude problem had so kindly introduced themselves.
“Foals sometimes say mean things Terra, try not to let it get to you.”
“She didn’t! I mean, she did, but thash not it!” Terra milled the air with her forehooves and just about fell over again.
“Okaaaaay, let’s get you on the sofa before you hurt yourself,” I said, guiding her over. There was a small fleece blanket draped over the back that I hadn’t quite noticed, most likely because it was the same colour as the sofa and practically on the floor behind it. I pulled it over her before continuing. “Then what is it, Terra?”
“I… I… I rehpra… rehpre… reprimanded her!” She buried her muzzle in the blanket.
“Um…” I blinked. “What’s so bad about that? She’s not exactly tactful. As in, not at all.”
“‘Caush I’m like… like…” She burrowed again.
“Like what?” Leaning in closer, I nudged Terra.
“A moooooo-therrrrr!” Terra burst up from the blankets, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What?”
Terra didn’t seem to hear me. “A-all naggy and chashin’ her around crampin’ her shtyle!”
“Okay, now this is about what Mahogany said, isn’t it?”
She looked down. “Yesh.”
Propping myself up on my hind legs, I gave her a tight hug.“I know this doesn’t change that it hurts, but he wasn’t trying to be malicious.”
“It hurtsh caush he’s right.” Terra slumped again.
“Just because you’re being kind and responsible, doesn’t mean you’re over the hill, Terra.”
“Responshible ish the end of the shexy.”
I couldn’t help but pull away a little. Her words weren’t malicious either, but they were certainly unexpected. Quickly collecting myself, I smirked. “If that’s true, then what does that make me? Certainly not someone worth trying to set up on dates with an endless list of people, right?”
Her eyes were drooping, practically closed. Still, she somehow mustered the energy to stick out her tongue. “Crazy.”
“Uh, huh.”
“Yeah! ‘Caush you… you gotsh the shexy an’... an’ you don’t….” And then she was snoring.
I let out a chuckle as I shook my head. “Right. I might be crazy, but I don’t think it’s because I don’t use my ‘sexy’.”
Terra’s only response was more snoring. With another giggle, I adjusted the blanket, ensuring it covered as much of her as possible.
After checking to make sure the door was bolted, I settled down on the loveseat. I decided I’d wait a few hours to make sure she was okay. Then maybe I could see if I could find her spare key and slip out.
Of course, plans don’t always work out and as I drifted off, I couldn’t help but think that this was our weirdest ‘slumber party’ to date.