I shouldn’t have told him. He says he needs some time, that he just needs to sort out his thinking. But anyone can translate that statement. I avoid his gaze throughout the next week, and I’m almost certain he’s doing his best to avoid me. Luckily, we share only two classes out of seven or eight (depending on one’s individual schedule), and it’s easy to hide in the courtyard or on one of the fields. I spend most of my free time doing quads or working on a reference sketch of a barn owl mask. One evening, the fire in our fire pit is still burning strong when my parents go in, munching on their last handfuls of marshmallows and chocolate, and I sit there, watching them dance for a long time. A while later, I pull out my phone and go on my Etsy account. I used to sell masks and tails, and paw gloves, since I had a lot of gear-making material, but that business tapered off about a month ago when I decided I wanted to have some spare material for repairs and things like that. But right now, I have a ton of tails I no longer need. What I do want are wings. I douse the fire and go in, too, and take pictures fifteen out of sixteen of my tails, then set prices on each one according to their conditions, anywhere from 5 to 15 dollars. The last one is the tail Eliza left me, all those years ago. It looks very familiar for some reason. Didn’t Sam…? I scroll back through my messages, and then I see. OH. This tail looks exactly like that of the gray fox image Sam sent me. I narrow my eyes. When is Sam’s birthday, I wonder..?
>:D Comma if you make his birthday within two weeks you'll be ruining the plot development just know
