I sighed when I put the tumbler down with a soft thud on my kitchen island. The light drizzle on the window was a welcome distraction as I thought about the events of the day.
The first council, if one can call it that, went pretty smoothly. I was relieved Professor Zhang was on board, although I suspect he's really just there to watch Yizhuo — but I'm grateful nonetheless.
Joohyun's presence was also grounding in the sense that she gives our group more gravitas. The Garden being supported by two princesses — one human and one vampire — should give the Ice Princess, Lady Jessica Jung, pause.
She terrifies me — and I haven't even met the Lady.
I brewed hot chocolate tonight not because of the cold weather, but because if I brewed it iced cold, the conversation, the fear in Chaewon's voice, and the reverence and respect Joohyun and Professor Zhang had when they talked about her only reminded me that we will be facing her one way or the other.
I wrapped my hands around the tumbler's body, feeling its warmth on my palms and my fingertips.
Three senior sorceresses — against students, I thought. Granted, one of these students was the Pale Princess, but could she hold them off by herself? How much can we do to help her? I don't want her to carry all the burden of combat herself.
This just means gathering allies is our primary prerogative – make the sorceresses think that a fight is a waste of time and energy.
The sirens would be a strong choice — considering they also have a seer in their ranks. Madam Son also is considered an equal to Joohyun, so that should multiply our combat power exponentially. But on the flip side, they did trick us in the battle at the amphitheatre, and even though they said they did it with the best of intentions, I'm not too keen to meet with them... yet.
I have no doubt Lady Sooyoung would help us, Yuna and Sullyoon said they'll update me if the Lady will grant me audience — though I equally dread and anticipate this meeting, considering what happened the first time.
This leaves the werebeasts. Chaeyeon already visited last night, and Ryujin said I might have a visitor tonight. So here I am, drinking hot chocolate and waiting for maybe a knock on my door or a scratch on my rain-soaked window.
And in true Night Folk fashion — it came — both the knock, and the scratch.
I was drawn to the scratch first. My eyes snapped towards the window where a girl I don't know was crouched. She wore a hoodie that kept the rain off of her as she tapped and scratched the glass lightly.
I sat, frozen, and stunned.
I hesitated to stand, on one hand, this may be the visitor Ryujin said – Haerin's contact amongst the herbivore werebeasts. On the other — I don't know this girl. Unlike Chaeyeon, I can't draw any connections with my friends. Also, I expected Haerin to be with her — is it Haerin knocking at my door then?
On the flip side, I can't just leave a girl in the rain.
I rushed towards the window and pulled it up.
"Whew. Thanks," the girl whistled cheerfully. I offered her a hand. Instead, she grabbed my forearm, and I pulled her inside.
She bounced on my floor as I peeked out of the window to see if there are others with her — Haerin perhaps, but I saw no one else.
"Did I get here first?" the girl giggled. "I assume I got here first because you went to me first." At that same time, the soft knocks on my door rapped more urgently.
"Oh so I did get here first!"
"Uhmmm... are you —?" I asked cautiously.
"Oh, sorry." The girl pulled her hoodie off and my mind supplied one word before anything else —
Rabbit.
One ridiculously cute rabbit.