Page 148 of Every Almost

Charlie wasin the corridor leading to Habitat Wing. Charlie had been to the animal habitats before, but never for a dedicated amount of time. She had learned that Selowen had chosen her favorite habitat to host the tea date, The Comfort Grove.

The grove was a vertical forest contained within a chamber roughly the size of Charlie's JPL lab, with bark-like columns rising floor to ceiling and a carpet of living moss so soft Charlie had instinctively taken off her boots when she'd come upon the entrance. The lighting was programmed to a perpetual dusk, warm and amber, and a misting system kept the air humid enough that every breath felt cleansed.

And it was the most peaceful and quietest area of the Emberkind Charlie had yet to experience.

Selowen was already there when Charlie arrived, seated on a low moss-covered bench with two cups steaming beside her. As always, she moved slowly to greet Charlie, who had to benddown to receive the kiss on her cheek from the older woman. Selowen grabbed Charlie's hands and squeezed them gently, before indicating to the spot next to her on the bench.

"Sit," Selowen said. "Carefully."

Charlie stopped halfway into a sitting position.

"Carefully?" She asked, looking behind her to make sure she wasn't about to sit on an alien cactus or something.

Selowen just smiled. "You'll see."

So, Charlie sat.Carefully. And then she froze as something climbed into her lap.

It was round and covered in moss and was approximately the size and shape of a potato, if a potato had been designed by someone whose primary goal was the softest green potato Charlie had ever had the pleasure of interacting with. It settled into the crook of Charlie's crossed legs with a soft exhale, like a sigh of complete contentment.

"That, my dear, is a Mosskin Niblet," Selowen said. "If you're able, try not to move too quickly." Charlie looked over at Selowen, who smiled warmly at her. "She's chosen you."

Charlie's eyes widened, returning her gaze to the small creature in her lap. It radiated warmth, actual, physical warmth, like a heating pad that breathed. And then Charlie felt as though all the stress she had ever carried had taken a backseat to all the warmth and comfort and good in her life.

"Something's happening," Charlie said.

"Mmm hmm," Selowen answered, her voice adding to the warmth Charlie felt surrounding her.

"What is it doing to me?" Charlie asked. "It feels like all the universe's problems just melted away."

"Calming pheromones," Selowen explained. "The Niblet's entire evolutionary purpose is to exist peacefully and make everyone around it feel the same."

"That is the absolute best evolutionary purpose I've ever heard. Or felt, for that matter." Charlie looked down at the moss-covered potato and smiled. "Can I pet her?"

"I think she would take offense if you did not," Selowen teased.

Charlie lowered her hands to the creature, and began to stroke the moss covering her round little body. But it was pleasant, close to a soft fur like velvet or corduroy. She pet her head, scratching behind her ears, and the Niblet made a noise of enjoyment.

"Does she have a name?" Charlie asked.

"Pinlo."

"Pinlo," Charlie repeated, and the Niblet made the same noise again in response to hearing her name. "You're quite the cutie, Pinlo. I think I'm going to come and see you often." Selowen laughed softly next to Charlie as she continued to pet the creature, basking in the calm that enveloped her.

Before too long, a second creature emerged from behind one of the bark columns. But this one was different. Larger, graceful, and moving on six limbs. Charlie noted that it looked a little like a fox but as if light was burning through the tips of every strand of fur, causing the fur to actually shift colors as it approached, a subtle change that moved from pale blue to soft gold. It paused at the edge of Charlie's space, regarding her with large, luminous eyes.

"Luminthra," Selowen said. "She'll come closer if she decides you're worth investigating."

The Luminthra apparently decided Charlie was, in fact, worth investigating, as it circled once, twice, and then pressed its flank against Charlie's side, laying down and curling against Charlie. The glow from its fur deepened to a warm amber that pulsed gently, and Charlie felt the very last knot of tension to exist in her body release its grip and dissolve.

"Oh wow," Charlie whispered.

"She reads you," Selowen said. "The fur responds to whatever you're carrying emotionally. Right now, she's telling me you needed this."

"Kind of like a living mood ring," Charlie said.

Selowen laughed. "If whatever that is displays your mood when you wear it, that does sound about right." Charlie smiled and shook her head. Eventually, she hoped she wouldn't feel like a foreigner.

"Now, the true purpose of this tea date," Selowen said, bringing Charlie's gaze to her. "You mentioned you wanted to know how someone ends up being both Kaelari and Brontari." Selowen lifted her cup towards Charlie. "I believe you compared it to being half Midwestern and half Californian?"