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At some point during the fireside meal, Merilwen sits down next to Liliana. Her little wild cat, a fidgety thing with messy fur, rubs up against the druid's legs, its head incidentally brushing Liliana's skirt. She scrunches up her nose, eyes narrowed at the traces of dark fur now left behind on her nice clothes. Then she notices Merilwen looking at her. Merilwen tilts her head and gives Liliana a searching smile. "You wanna pet him?"She's studying Liliana closely. Liliana has never indicated any interest in the cat, so she can only imagine this is a test. Perhaps if she refuses, Merilwen will lose some respect for her. She considers refusing anyway. But in the moment, with everything they've just been through together and everything they're about to go through, she feels a bit... Well, whatever happens, she doesn't want Merilwen to inch away from her, or think she's scared of a small cat. If she acts disgusted, Merilwen will be angry, and this might be one of the last moments any of them have to not be angry or fighting for their lives, and Liliana is tired.She glances up, and Dob is watching her, too. She can tell each time she looks at him - his favor for her is melting away. Perhaps he still respects her in a different way, maybe even still admires her, but his silly professions of affection have all gone. She had found it amusing, then annoying, then perplexing, but without it there was a sort of... Emptiness? Not of sorrow or jealousy but confusion, some queer sense of loss in something she never had and can't be sure she would ever have wanted. But she's not sure of anything anymore. It's infuriating.Liliana snaps her eyes away from him and looks at the cat. It's sitting between her and Merilwen's feet, regarding her. For Hell's sake, even the cat is sizing her up. If she survives this, she may never escape the interest and scrutiny of all of these fools. Is she as much a puzzle to them as they've become to her?Liliana reaches down her hand, deliberately but slowly. She lets the cat sniff it. He does so for a long moment, then licks the side of her fingers with his rough tongue and brushes his head against them so she can pet him. Even as she acquiesces she's not sure she enjoys the experience, especially when the cat lazily walks away, leaving fur stuck to her damp, sticky fingers. She can't stop herself making a face. But when she meets Merilwen's eye again, the smile is satisfied, almost cheeky. There's a gentle warmth in Liliana's chest, accompanied by dry throat and nausea. She looks away and into the fire. Looks back at Merilwen, who's also, blessedly, turned away, the flames gently flickering reflected in her eyes. The druid lets the moment pass quietly. She understands things too well. That makes the feeling worse. It makes her dangerous.Liliana stares into the fire and reminds herself to breathe.