>>54422578>Zoroark was content to sit and silently watch, now that she’d infiltrated the gathering.>It was hard to tell if Zoroark was studying the men or instead eyeing the heaps of meat about to be lunch.>A groan of frustration rose when the lighter wouldn’t spark.>”Woah, party’s over. Everybody, git!” One of the men bellowed, hardly containing his smile.>Simple as the joke was, Zoroark and some others rewarded him with a chuckle.>Matt called out to Trey, one of his boys running in the backyard.>His son sprinted in, and leapt up the patio steps with practiced ease.>You couldn’t make their conversation over the din of the party, but the boy ran inside.>Glancing at Zoroark, you noticed her gasping for air, mouth open.>For a moment, a pit developed in your stomach.>For a second, you believed she was in severe pain.>Then her tongue drooped out.>It hit you.>Putting an arm around her shoulder, you pressed your head to hers and whispered.“You’re panting.”
“Careful.”
>Realizing her lapse in concentration, she nodded. >She did sweat; but that meant little with this heat and her mountain of fur.>Reorienting herself, she grabbed a paper plate and fanned herself.>You grabbed a water bottle from the bottom of an icy cooler to help.“Wanna head inside?” You asked, opening the bottle. “Cooler.”
>”No, no…” She assured you.>”Last summer was hotter.”>Your hand felt odd, and you examined it.>A few stray, gray and black hairs stuck to your sweaty palm.“Eh, still…” You began, shaking the fur free behind Zoroark’s back.
