Naaghai Lowlands a pretty girl with bouffont hair

Her emphatic response earns a blink. Bushtit tries to puzzle out what she means—is she speaking metaphorically?—even as Journey breaks from her circling and moves toward the water. Then she elaborates, letting him know she’s speaking of a literal cat, a panther, named Balarina.

He stares after her, wondering if it’s all some joke, but he decides she’s serious. His brain whirs. She’s friends with a big cat? Maybe even several big cats? And she’s in a band? Bushtit knows he should probably be afraid, though he’s absolutely gobsmacked with intrigue.

What? Oh, he says inarticulately, what? He pauses, then decides aloud, I definitely need to hear all about this, Journey.