He curled into a ball, tucking his nose into the nook of his hind leg. Embracing the darkness of his closed eyes, he plunged into sleep.
Sleep evaded Kasia. She sat on the steps leading up to the veranda of the small faded red cottage, picking at the flaking paint on the railings. A howl echoed down the valley. Looking up at the small summit of the mountain, Kasia tucked her thick brown hair behind her ears to hear better. They’re lonely, whoever they are, she thought sadly. The howl faded away and the flyscreen door banged open behind her.
“Was that someone howling?” Kammal asked, looking around with restless black eyes.
“No,” Kasia lied with innocence.
Kammal believed her. “Going insane...” he muttered, retreating back into the cottage.
Kasia felt bad when Kammal believed her so easily. But then again, why would he accuse her of lying about someone howling? Or a better question, why did she lie about the howl in the first place?
“Be serious, douche,” Kasia scolded. “Things could get ugly.”
“Don’t see how it can get uglier with you involved. The ugly meter would break.”
Kasia wacked Daine over the back of the head but she couldn’t help grinning.
“I’m kidding, cupcake,” Daine chuckled. “Chillax.”
Kasia’s eyebrows shot up. “Chillax? Cupcake? Right, Joseph, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
A blush crept up the back of Daine’s neck. He didn’t like people using his first name. “Honey, it would be funny to see you try.”
She attacked and suddenly they were one. One ball of fur, rolling around on the ground at each other’s throats. She had him pinned in no time. Her blue eyes locked with his and she jumped off him instantly. Scrambling to his feet, he spun around to leave, tail between his legs.
