Rorri

　　After their light supper of fruits and crackers and bits of expensive cheese, the two elves made their way to the giant ballroom where the Gala was being held. Rorri clung tightly to Adar`s bicep, holding Poppy in his other arm to keep him safe in the crowd, all too aware of how close the rich strangers were. Still, for what sensitivity the Snow imbued on his skin, it had a curious way of calming his mind. He could isolate sounds, no longer assaulted by every scrap of noise all at once, and even the void had eased its pressure, giving him some space to breathe. But his high was missing something, he thought. If only he could break into a sprint, or climb over a fence, or jump from a building, or paint a portrait, or pick a lock, or someone`s pockets, or just go for a stroll around town&

　　"It`s so h-hot in here," Rorri said. "Do you think I can undo my t-top button, or is that too sexy f-for the Palace?"

　　"You would be showing a lot of collarbone," Adar said. "Everyone else has their buttons done all the way up. I wouldn`t risk it."

　　"Stupid nobles..."

　　"I wonder if the King and Queen will show up," Adar mused. "I don`t know what they really look like. Only ever seen them on coins."

　　"How p-poetic," Rorri quipped. "Do you think we`re the only p-poor people h-here?"

　　"Almost definitely."

　　"Do you think anyone can t-tell?"

　　"Absolutely. We`re at our booth, by the way," Adar said, slowing them to a stop. "I brought a chair for you. Figured it would keep you feeling rooted, since I won`t be able to cling to you all night. And it`ll add to that disabled-artist` look. Rich people love looking charitable in front of other rich people."

　　"Why would you s-say something like that?" Rorri frowned. "I don`t w-want them to buy my art just to make themselves f-feel better, I want them to buy it b-because it`s good&"

　　"Mau?"

　　"Why not both?" Adar said. "Honestly, if you could see some of what people are passing off as art` here, you would feel incredible about yourself right now."

　　"...R-really?"

　　"Yes. Someone literally has a brick with a chipped corner inside a glass dome front-and-center on their display. They`re calling it Elixir of the Mind. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

　　Rorri pictured the brick suspended in the void in perfect clarity, down to the triangular point of its chipped edge and the reflection of chandelier-light on the dome.

　　"I d-dunno," he said. "I`m sure it has some sort of s-significance."

　　"Artists&" Adar scoffed. "I`ll never understand you people."

　　Rorri sat in his chair, and Poppy curled up into a soothing ball on his lap. Just having him there seemed to slow his heart - it didn`t actually, but it was less noticeable, at least - and Rorri started to think maybe this wouldn`t be so bad after all. The mellow Snow lightened the burden on his chest, and with Adar by his side, he was safe. Even his blindness felt like a gift, for once. The bustle would have surely overwhelmed his sensitive eyes, and he didn`t have to see the reactions on peoples` faces when they surveyed his work, or his skin, or his posture, or&

　　"Oh my," came a low, raspy voice just in front of him. "Your brushwork is absolutely phenomenal. My dear, if I might ask, why are you wearing a blindfold?"

　　"I-"

　　"He was in a terrible accident," Adar said. "Lost his sight."

　　"Oh, you poor thing," the voice said with a lipsmack, emanating the lofty pink color of pity. Rorri imagined them touching their chest, holding a thin glass of bubbly wine, looking very sympathetic, maybe wrapped in a boa with a pearl-studded purse or something equally pretentious.

　　"What is this one called, dear?"

　　"Uh&"

　　"W-which one is it?" Rorri asked.

　　"The one of me in the kitchen."

　　"What - you p-put that one out?"

　　"It`s exquisite," a different voice, deep and haughty, chimed in. "Absolutely marvelous."This narrative has been purloined without the author`s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

　　"Um, c-call it, I don`t know, M-Man in the Kitchen, or s-something."

　　"The juxtaposition of the sunlight and the subject`s desperation&"

　　"Mau?"

　　"I need this!" another stranger crowed. "It would look stunning over my mantelpiece. How much?"

　　"Oh, no no no," yet another voice cut in. "This one must go to auction."

　　Rorri gave a nervous laugh. "Th-thank you, everyone&"

　　"How provocative! Those scars - I am just dying to know what that silver fellow has been through!"

　　"A lot of bare-knuckle boxing, mostly."

　　Laughter bubbled all around. Rorri wondered how large a crowd he`d attracted, suddenly simmering with nerves.

　　"What`s your name, dear?"

　　"Rorri T-Tip髇," he stammered. "And, um, this is Adar-"

　　"Such a lovely couple!" said someone speaking to somebody else. "How I admire the elves` culture for their ability to love freely&"

　　"We`re not-"

　　"Why does he have a blindfold on? Is that part of the composition?"

　　"That one said he was in a tragic accident."

　　"Poor thing! And a forest elf, no less. I wonder if he came from, oh, what is it called&"

　　"Belethlian! I`m from B-Belethlian!"

　　"...bit of a stutter, doesn`t he?"

　　"...about two-hundred, if I had to guess, though I`m no expert on elf hair&"

　　"...love that color!"

　　"...a cat?"

　　It quickly became obvious that the wealthy guests at the Gala were no longer talking to him, but rather about him, as if he were just another thing on display. He gritted his teeth, made grittier by the Snow, which provoked a headache before long. Adar answered questions for him, since the nobles were mostly talking to him anyway, and Rorri resigned himself to his role as an exotic plant, giving the occasional false smile and nod when he thought someone might be complimenting him directly. At least he didn`t have to woo anyone, he thought to himself, though he wasn`t sure if it was a fair trade for whatever this was.

　　Suddenly, a shock rippled through the air, like a psychic spear aimed straight for Rorri`s mind. He twitched violently - nearly ejecting Poppy, though he managed to catch him in time - and looked up, as if compelled by the force of someone else`s gaze. A short distance away, a clear silhouette of a person faced him dead on. It emanated a dark purple glow, at first, its head disturbingly blacked out, and then a bright white light swelled within the darkness between where its eyes would be. The body burst with the same yellow-colored fear he saw among so many market-dwellers, and then, it darted away and disappeared, presumably behind an object or something else Rorri couldn`t perceive. As soon as the person fled, Rorri`s limbs went heavy with dread.

　　"Adar," he said, groping to his side to tap what he hoped was his friend`s leg.

　　"What?"

　　"W-we have to go," he said, hushed. "We have to go, n-now-"

　　"Is it the thing again? I told you, don`t freak out-"

　　"No, it`s s-something else-"

　　"Mommy! Kitty!"

　　Poppy hissed and bolted from Rorri`s lap, jerking the leash away, just before a child collided with Rorri`s chair.

　　"Poppy!" he cried, shooting upright. "Adar, help!"

　　"Already on it!"

　　"Colton! You apologize to that man this instant!"

　　"I`m sowwy&"

　　Some well-meaning stranger put their hand on his shoulder and started to coo some comforting words, but the sudden touch startled him, and he pulled away, stumbling backwards into the stand.

　　"Oh, no!"

　　"Somebody catch him!"

　　Someone else pawed at his arm.

　　"Get your f-fucking hands off of me!" Rorri shrieked, recoiling. A loud crash set him off further, his head rattling with nerves.

　　"Language!" someone gasped, but Rorri didn`t care. Nothing else mattered. He spun in a desperate circle, searching the void for anything at all to guide him&

　　Have you done any magic?

　　Shacia`s voice answered his call, the only bright spot in the whole room. He didn`t even have to think about it. The solution came clear as day. The Snow hastened the flow of magic as he collected it into his eyes, every shred of adrenaline he had, every scrap of Will he could harness&

　　F I N D M Y C A T

　　And his mind`s eye snapped open, revealing more of the world than he`d ever seen before.