Sleepy Fox Hollow Watch the lasers dancing through smoke on a stage far away

He came across a particularly compelling scent and stood there, nostrils flared and snorting as he drew it into his nose. He was so caught up, he didn’t hear Alstroemeria approaching. He glanced sideways rather absently, caught sight of her and startled.

Shit, he hissed under his breath, his heart pounding. Trying to quickly recover his cool, Atreus answered, I was just snooping on the neighbors, with a too-casual shrug.

His eyes dropped to the bundle of leaves at her feet. It reminded him of his momentary misunderstanding at their original meeting. Atreus drew in a breath, still intimidated by her appearance even if she was only a Plebeian. He wanted to say it’d had nothing to do with the jump scare a moment ago, but…

What are you up to? he asked, genuinely curious.