Gabriel finds Molly sat on top the snow-capped mountain, looking out over glistening inland lakes. Smiling, his light brightens and the snow shimmers in reply. Molly looks up. He hadn’t been looking for her, but when she spots him and waves, he feels like he’s exactly where he should be; even if he’d never admit it.
About to land Gabriel notices she has company, and his wings falter. Flapping hard to regain his composure he eyes her feline companion. The Form of Cat is stretched out over her legs, play fighting with the laces of her sandals.
His light shivers, but he refuses to acknowledge the fact that he doesn’t like cats.
“Are you going to land?” says Molly, “Or are you too busy being Glorious.”
Determined not to show he’s afraid, he steers himself to a suitable spot away from Cat. But because he’s concentrating on watching the feline he’s not looking where he’s placing his feet and he stumbles.
Watching, Molly laughs.
Gabriel frowns, which only makes Molly laugh more. The sound is like happiness bursting from bubbles and sparklers fizzing brightly on a dark autumn night, but he’d never admit that either. Pretending nothing happened, he stretches out on Molly’s other side from the Form of Cat, who is now sitting upright and licking herself, with the epitome of feline vanity.
Positioning himself several feet away, Gabriel lies back and pretends to go to sleep.
“Seriously,” says Molly. “You fly all the way up here just to go to sleep.”
“I’m not asleep,” says Gabriel, “I’m simply resting in my spot. Normally it’s a lot quieter than this.”
“I was here first,” says Molly.
But before Gabriel can offer another retort, the Form of Cat has slunk round to the prone glorious form and pounced onto his chest.
Two oddly similar yowls break out from both the Cat and Gabriel. The latter jumps up, but the former is attached; her claws ripping at his tunic.
Laughing again Molly stands up and unhooks the Cat saying, “You big oaf, you scared her!”
“She pounced on me!” says Gabriel brushing his tunic and finding several loose threads, which he’ll have to fix later.
“Because of course big Glorious Gabriel can’t defend himself against a small itty-bitty-kitty,” says Molly using a soppy voice that grates on Glorious, mostly because he finds it so adorable.
“If I didn’t know any better,” says Molly, still talking to the form of Cat. “I’d think Glorious was afraid of you.”
“That’s ridiculous!” says Gabriel, brushing back his hair, without denying it.
“It would be ridiculous if it was true, but since it’s not, why don’t you have a cuddle to make up,” says Molly the mischievous, holding out the feline.
A moment ago, Cat had been purring loudly in Molly’s arms (another reason for Gabriel to be annoyed with the creature) but now Cat hisses; fangs and claws out at Gabriel.
“The feeling is mutual,” mutters Gabriel.
Placing Cat on the ground, Molly laughs.