"Come on," he said gently, "it'll be fine, you'll see - only the most civilised people get invited to these things."
Kat rose her eyebrows at him quizzically. "Civilised?" She asked.
The Tabby shrugged. "I can be most persuading when I try," he grinned. And placing one hand on her shoulder, he led her into the premises.
Techically speaking, it was a treehouse, but to be more precise, it was many treehouses, strung together with platforms and rope bridges and small shelters. It was clearly the home of an arboreal family of high standing. A spiral staircase lead up the side of the central tree, leading to the first, and largest platform. At the base of the tree clustered a small group of Furrs engaged in social intercourse of the loud and gossipy kind. The moment titus and kat arrived on the scene, they all stopped and turned to stare at them and then whispered quietly to one another.
"What is it?" Kat asked, her desire to turn around and make her escape now increasing.
Titus's forehead creased. "Perhaps we should have hidden your wings," he commented. "Ah well, pretend they're part of your costume."
"You're sure it's not your dress?" Kat asked.
He shrugged, "possibly, but then again, they're used to me."
It was not that Kat hadn't been to parties before - she had, on many occasions. But then they had been friends of Daniel and her, not strangers in stranger costumes. She glanced at the Jack O Lanterns atop the gateposts, flickering lights illuminating their narrow eyes. Halloween had once been her favourite time of year, but now... Now was different. She was changed.
"Hey Titus, how ya swinging tonight?" A voice called, and an Ocelot lad attired in cav shirt and eye patch sauntered over.
"Whatever way you like, Olly," he grinned, "how about you?"
Olly winked. "Very sexy dress," he said, "it shows off your legs something dandy. So who's the pretty lady then?"
"This, is Kataryna. She's my new roomie."
"Hi," Kataryna said, rather shyly for her.
The Ocelot reached out and took her hand, kissing it lightly. "A pleasure to meet you milady," he said, making her blush furiously. "Would you care to come join the festivities?"
It was a barmy October night (being a southern hemisphere girl ^^) and a bonfire blazed in the wide space between the trees. Loud music pumped from speakers wedged in the tree branches and pumpkins blazed from every tree. The music was currently an old 80s hit, "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. With a sigh of despair, Kat remembered how she and Daniel had used to dance to that song, all close and cuddly. But, it was never to be again.
She was dead to him.
Titus lead Kat over to the fire. "The Monster Mash" blasted over the speakers, and about the bonfire danced a colourful array of characters - angels, witches, demons, nurses, nuns and the usual attire found in such places. Kataryna leaned against the tree, surveying the dancers. She saw Titus raise his hand and wink at a lean Hare, atop whose head perched a pair of antlers. They looked wildly out of place, but there was a certain sexiness to the costume. Titus glanced at her questioningly.
"Go," she said, "have fun, I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
He glanced at her a little suspiciously, then the Hare blew him a kiss and he shrugged. "If you need me, I'll be around."
"I told you," she replied, "I'll be fine." She knew she was lying to herself. Yes, once upon a time she had been a right royal party animal - but that was the past. Now she was ... different. Changed.
She may have been given a second chance, but it felt more like a curse to her.
For a moment she just stood there, watching Titus greet his "Jackalope" friend with a hug and a kiss. She sighed. How could she have done it? She had love, and she had thrown it all away in one instance. In one stupid, selfish act. Turning her back to the celebrations, she walked into the shadows. A part of her desired to dance with the abandon of youth, but she knew now that the innocence she had once experienced had failed into a bitter, seething angst.
There was someone else in the shadows, a woman not much older then herself. Far apart from the celebrations she sat, paintbrush in hand, easel before her. What she was painting, Kataryna could not guess, it was almost too dark for her to see. She felt an odd kinship with this female, who was also apart from the social reality.
Should she disturb her?
She was about to slip quietly away, when the woman looked up at her. Her species was not one the Ringtail girl had seen before, with her large batlike ears and pale eyes. Kataryna fancied she saw fear flicker behind those eyes for a fragment of a second. Then the woman applied a fake smile to her lips and spoke: "Enjoying the party?"
"No, not really," Kat admitted.
The woman nodded, but said no more. For a long moment silence reigned as they both searched for conversation. This was ridiculous, Kat concluded, she wasn't like this!
"Hi," she said, proffering her hand, "my name is Kataryna, I'm Titus's roommate."
The woman did not take her hand. "Aranaya," she said, "pleased to meet you," she didn't sound all that pleased - more guarded, "I live here."
"You do?"
She nodded, "Evergreen Terrace Apartments, I'm from that one over there." She indicated a tree with rather more foliage then the others, so thick it almost covered all evidence of it being a den.
Shrieks of merriment drifted over from the bonfire. "Nice place," Kataryna remarked. She was sure she had been better at conversation once. Now even small talk evaded her. "Have you been here long?"
"A few months."
Again, silence.
"So you paint?" Kataryna finally filled up the lacuna.
"Yes."
This was rather hopeless, Kat felt as though she were clutching at straws. This Aranaya did not want to talk, clearly, and she should just be on her way. "Well, good luck with it then, I better make sure my roomie isn't getting up to mischief."
"Nice wings, by the way," Aranaya added as Kataryna turned to make her departure. "Very well crafted - one could almost think they might be useable to fly."
"Well they can't." It was intended to sound joking, but it came out a little too snappy. What point was wings if one could not fly? Kat had not tried it yet - the idea frightened her. Leaping from tree to tree was one thing - but leaping into nothingness was another.