Page 126 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Yoota and Ploom ran ahead in lanky tandem, making for New Saga’s campus. They bypassed the dormitory, circling around to one of the class building’s back doors. Either it wasn’t locked, or they had a key. Then again, from what Tenma had learned, any number of wards or barriers could be involved.
Tenma couldn’t see much in the darkened halls, but the Amaranthine carried him along passages and up three flights of stairs before stopping at a blank stretch of wall. When Hanoo pressed his hand to it, a sigil appeared, and part of the wall vanished.
Pushing aside a heavy drape, he gravely said, “The Nightspangle pack welcomes its friends.”
“You have your own room in the school building?” Tenma asked.
“Den,” Hanoo corrected. “And yes. We’re far from home, as are many of the clans who’ve agreed to help with Twineshaft’s venture. Clans who sent five or more representatives were guaranteed a safe space to retreat.”
Yoota said, “Hisoka-sensei calls them pocket enclaves.”
“Come and see,” urged Ploom, who eased Tenma out of his shoes.
Hanoo lit a lantern, filling the air with the scent of struck matches and burnt wood. A brave candle glowed behind amber glass, revealing a space about the size of a club room. When Lapis set him down, Tenma sank into the coarse rug, which was either incredibly thick or spread over heavy matting. It was like a wall-to-wall futon. “This is nice,” he mumbled, dropping to his knees. “Whatisthis?”
“Fur,” said Yoota.
“Nightspangle fur,” Hanoo added proudly.
That was hard to process. “Like … pelts?” Tenma asked warily.
“We use shed fur,” said Ploom. “Before we left, our families had a good long brushing, and our weavers used everything that was collected. That’s why this room smells like home.”
Hanoo added, “It makes it easier to be so far away for so long.”
Tenma absently petted the carpet, glad to know no Kith or Kindred had died in its making. “I didn’t think a year would seem long to you guys.”
“We committed for the first decade.” Hanoo grinned. “Hisoka-sensei has us repeating your grade ten times over.”
The grin reminded Tenma of little things like fangs, and he gripped the crystal in his hand a little tighter. Whatever Lapis had ordered it to do, it had worked. No qualms. No quakes. His classmates no longer scared him silly. He said, “A minimum of five clan members. I didn’t realize there were other Nightspangles here.”
Yoota said, “My younger sister is with the first years, and an aunt is a teaching assistant. She also helps out in the Kith shelter, since we brought eight of our wolves over.”
“It’s better for them here,” said Ploom. “What with the confusion back home.”
Hanoo rolled his eyes. “Werewolf scares, if you can believe it.”
Tenma couldn’t. “Sounds like the sort of thing Sosuke and his Cryptid Club would be interested in.”
Lapis cut in. “Are you calmer, unsealed boy?”
“Yes. Sorry. Yes.”
The dragon lord held out his hand. “Excellent. Give back my bauble.”
Tenma curled protectively around the stone. “But I need it.”
“More than you need us?” Lapis arched his brows. “You require taming, so I am throwing you to the wolves. They clearly understand the process.”
Hanoo said, “We do. It was our job back home. Although it’s been a few years since we had to deal with a strong aversion.”
“Not since Jiminy.” Yoota rolled his eyes. “What a handful he was.”
Ploom knelt before Tenma, putting them closer to the same level. “Little ones can’t understand why they’re scared, but you do. And you trust us, right?”
“Taming.” He still wasn’t ready to let go of Lapis’ earring. “You mean I’d be cured? No more panic attacks?”
“It’s why young reavers are exposed to Amaranthine early.” Ploom eased a little closer, his voice coaxing. “So they can master their instincts and get a shutter on their shine.”
