Page 34 of It Varies
Time slipped away, Sally kept singing, and Vine croaked along with her.When a bell rang, they ended their song, and Sally smiled at Vine and stood to her full height near six feet.
Sally said, “Thank you for the harmony.I am heading out now.”
Vine blinked.“You aren’t staying to see the winner?”
“Oh, I know she won.She’s still in the first fire of her skills.Nothing could beat her.”
Vine smiled.“Hug?”
Sally chuckled.“This looks weird.”
“I know, but we both need it.”
Sally snorted but hugged her.Vine’s head was face-first in her cleavage, but the hug was comfortable.
Vine tried to track the damage, and Sally tapped her on the head.“I didn’t ask for an injury assessment.Stop.”
“Right.Sorry.It’s habit by now.”
“I know.Go to your friends; they look concerned.Well, except for Tuvel, she’s in the middle of a Celtic knot.”Sally smiled, broke their contact, walked Vine to the group, and then continued walking.
Vine looked at her.“Stay.”
Sally took in a shuddering breath.“I got here.I stayed here.I sang here.I know two people in this crowd, and I stayed for hours.That is enough for today.”She smiled.“Baby steps.”
Vine whispered as she saw the agony in Sally’s eyes.“Baby steps.”
Sally nodded and walked out.The twenty dark elves in the crowd watched her.Vine blinked and looked back at the very damaged woman and back at the elves.A few had sad expressions, one or two had simple admiration in their expressions, and one in particular looked thoughtful.Vine headed back to look at Jennika, and she nodded.“Come on, Jenn.Time to go so that we can watch the finale.”
Jennika sighed and got out of her living chair, and they walked over to the restroom.
Jenn said, “She didn’t want to stay?”She did what she came for and was relieved.
“She’s done enough for tonight.She got herself here, sat alone, sang in defence of Emhara’s side, and then she sang with me.She’s done enough for the night.”
Jennika looked up from washing her hands and smiled.“It is night, isn’t it?”
“After eleven.We are just waiting for Amble to finish.”
“Huh.From what I have heard, that is on schedule for him.”Jennika smiled.“Finishing last.”
“How do you know that?”
“Eudora works for a media company.They work with Amble’s pack-mate’s company.The gossip is extreme.”
“It always is, especially when packs are happy.”Vine sighed.
Jennika asked, “Did you want one?Out of all of us, you are the one most suited for a pack.”
“Nope.Maryella died of an overabundance of rutting alphas.They let her die.”Vine smiled.“If I get pregnant, I just want him to be paying attention and my friends in the room with me to sound an alarm.”
“Well, I want you in the delivery room with me.You and Ivy.Nothing can go wrong.”
“What about Xiroth?”
“He will be there, and he will know if blood starts to show up, but my family is famously good for childbirth, as you know.”
“Yeah, cuz, I know.”
