Reese paced back and forth anxiously, her eyes never leaving the gates leading to the chaotic festival. Panic sabotaged her mind as she recalled the violent explosions of dark violet blue sparks battering the night sky like fireworks. After the explosion, silence befell the town. The stillness of the air shook Reese as a dreaded thought crept to her mind.

What if Marina is dead?

A hard lump formed in Reese’s throat as guilt feasted her mind.

What the hell was I thinking letting Marina go?! It’s all my fault! If Marina isn’t coming back in one minute, I swear I’m going in–

“Reese!”

Reese spun around to the familiar sweet voice that she thought she would never hear again.

An apologetic smile shyly spread on Marina’s lips as she approached the taller woman.

“Reese, I’m—“

Reese threw her arms around Marina, hugging her tightly to her chest.

Marina’s voice fell, never finishing her sentence. Her hands reached for Reese’s shoulders, feeling her warmth through her fingertips. Her head rested on Reese’s chest, listening to her heart race.

Marina’s heart pounded faster as she savored the sensation of Reese's warm body against hers. It felt like the rays of the sun was melting a frozen lonely tundra inside of her. It was so comforting that Marina wished she could reach more of it with her hands.

“I’m sorry…” Marina whispered.

Her voice suddenly sounded sweeter to Reese’s ears, bringing Reese to realization that Marina's voice sounded soothing like ocean waves dancing on a moonlit summer night.

Reese's warm breath tickled Marina’s ear, making her flinch a little.

“I was so worried about you,” Reese murmured. “I don't know what I'd do if you died.”

Guilt stung Marina deep. I never wanted Reese to worry.

Marina broke the embrace, gazing up at Reese’s somber eyes. The joy that lit her amber eyes was buried by unknown fear.

“Didn’t I promise you that I’ll meet you at the parking lot?” Marina asked, resisting the grin poking in the corner of her mouth.

A smile spread wide across Reese’s lips, relaxing her serious facial expression.

Marina yelped as hands attacked her hair, ruffling her aqua strands of hair into a mess.

“Hey!” Marina whined. “What you do that for?!”

Reese laughed as a grin shamelessly beamed on her face.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

The two smiled at each other in silence as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Oh, I almost forgot...” Marina fetched something from her pocket, placing it in Reese’s palm.

Huh? Reese stared at a little cute gray cat, made out of yarn, sitting on top of her palm. A copper bell strung on green yarn looped around its neck like a collar.

Reese grew speechless from the cuteness of the miniature cat.

“I thought about you when I was looking at a table,” Marina began. “Doesn’t the charm kind of look like Tiamet? Minus her third eye?”

Reese chuckled, examining the cat in her hand. “It does look like Tiamet. Thank you, Marina, I’ll take good care of it.”