WC: 334
Coli hovered near the garden as Niernan returned for his sketches and writing utensil, seeming pleased with her suggestion. She hadn't meant to put him out or anything, but he was more than willing to draw, so she didn't say anything -- merely watched with fascination as he indulged his talent.
Coli watched his skillful fingers grasp the stick of charcoal, twitching and pulling with expert ease as they mimicked the curves of the cat's sprawling form. Blue eyes peered with bright curiosity as the page was tilted toward her, and she caught her breath, smiling in wonder. "That looks just like him! The, the furry tail, and whiskers, and... wow, that looks really great," she said lamely, unable to articulate her praise as eloquently as she wanted to. "You've gotta keep that to remind him later, how silly he was." Shyly she glanced back to Ciaran, watching the indolent cat drooling on his tail, and sank into a crouch to pet him. She hoped he wouldn't mind, but in his drugged state, he seemed like he might not even notice she was there.
As always, the garden helped her relax. It was Colibri's element, the place that brought her peace and helped clear her thoughts. As she stroked the tom's fur, an observation occurred to her, and she decided to voice it. "Nier, you... seem to be in really high spirits today," she commented, and it was true -- Niernan had always been a friendly and kindhearted presence around the pack, but it seemed amplified now somehow. He had an almost giddy quality to cheerfulness, something she had only seen previously when he was playing with his brother. Now, it was something within him that made him beam so, and Coli found herself wondering what could have unlocked such joy in the Stormbringer male. She glanced over her shoulder at the tall wolf, wanting to ask him but unsure if she should -- what was new in his life? Had something happened recently?