An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
A lot of questions came in other languages too, and the wall of noise drew my attention in every direction. Giant faces, so many of them aiming pure astonishment at me, and I couldnβt escape it. I wanted to melt into the floor.
Stratt, meanwhile, was as unbothered as usual. When she stepped closer to the table, I patted her palm urgently as if it might convince her not to bring me into to that lionβs den, but she didnβt heed me. She sat at the head of the table and lowered me to the surface, and when I didnβt clamber off right away she tilted her hand so I had no choice.
I scrambled to my feet, though I really wanted to collapse, or maybe scurry and hide behind one of the many coffee cups standing nearby on the table. Most of them were taller than me. None of them would hide me well enough.














