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The black cat's whiskers pitched forward slightly as his eyes blinked at her slowly. Nyxali hissed as she jumped up and away. She clapped her paws over her mouth in surprise. Why did he have such an effect on her?

She crouched against the wall where he couldn't see her. She felt incredibly stupid. They'd all heard her hiss and fallen silent. Why didn't the world have an "eat me up" button so she could just disappear?

She heard her mother's inquiring "merp" but couldn't bring herself to respond. Her mother peeked over the top stair playfully. Her tail twitched an invitation. Nyxali felt herself smiling despite her feelings. Ysea dropped her head slightly then looked back up at her daughter with some quick winks before scuttling noisily down the stairs, shaking her tail. Nyxali bounded to the stairs and slid on her stomach to the step's edge to watch her mother race back to the table. Automatically, she hurtled down the steps and into the dining room where everyone's eyes brought her up short.

Nyxali sighed and braced herself.

Her father and sister smiled at her encouragingly.

"Why don't you join us?" Oseeri motioned to the chair between her mother and a normal looking tabby-ish colored male. Nyxali nodded and moved towards the chair. The male stood and bowed slightly as he pulled the chair out for her.

Nyxali wasn't used to this kind of courtesy. She bowed tentatively back, but didn't sit in the chair.

"That's Tchash. He was your mother's mentor. Tchash, this is my youngest daughter, Nyxali. He doesn't bite unless provoked, daughter: sit."

Nyxali started to move forward when Tchash laughed loudly. She jumped back slightly then scurried into the waiting chair.

Tchash helped to guide the chair to the table then sat next to her. He winked and said, "Loud, but not too scary, hey?"

Nyxali shook her head and murmured, "I guess not." She immediately began rubbing her face self-consciously.

Tchash motioned across the table to the black cat. "His name is unpronouncable by civilized lips - lots of growls and scents. He answers to Scratch, though."

Nyxali turned and nodded to Scratch. He stood slightly and bowed to her. She rubbed her face with her other paw as he returned to his seat. She darted glances at him under her paw. He was watching her intently.

"He's curious about you." Tchash's voice distracted her. She turned to look at him. "For obvious reasons, I rarely take him on visits. He's very shy. I made him come along. He's wondering why, which..." Tchash exchanged a look with her mother behind her, "is my cue to stretch my legs. Civilized sitting takes some practice. Scratch, let's hit the trees. We'll be back shortly, everyone."