[hr][center][h2][b]N i k k i[/b][/h2][color=808B96]the site of Max's crash[/color][/center]
[hr]

"Hey, /hey/!  You okay?"  Nikki was alarmed to see the poor draconi wobble, and the sight of blood welling under his nails was downright alarming.  And then he said something about killing her.  [i]Triple-cursed druggies![/i] she thought.  [i]Either half-crazed or entirely stoned.  Ugh.  Won't catch me melting my brain like that, no sir![/i]

Still, she did wonder what "more" he thought she knew.  There wasn't anything, was there?  Which made her terribly curious as to just what he might be hiding....

Trust a cat to be curious.

But then his manner turned more normal, his eyes returning to blue -- when had they changed?! -- and refocusing on her.  Nikki tilted her head at the thanks, but just nodded, wondering why he seemed down.  "Yeah, sure," she replied, falling in not quite next to, but close enough that she didn't seem to be avoiding him.  "Don't think I caught your name, though."  When he gave it, she flashed him another smile.  "Right, nice ta meetcha."

The lutroi 'let was munching a granola bar by the time she and Xell rejoined the group properly.  Nikki hadn't intended on being out so late -- she'd meant to nose around a bit, get a feel for the forest's mood, and then return home and get an early start the next day.  Not that she was entirely without supplies, but she'd been so stung by the outcome of that conversation that there was nothing for it but to do something [i]right then[/i].  "He's in Woodsedge, then?" she asked the other girl, tail swishing.  "That's where I live -- my bike's up by the road but I don't have room for everyone, or I'd offer to drive y'all back."  It was a shame, but she greatly preferred the rush of wind and the mobility of the smaller vehicle to most cars.  "But I can walk back with you guys.  I'll just grab it another time."

She glanced at the youngest in the party, then took another, longer look as they started moving.  "...Hey, didn't mean to upset you or nothing," she offered, looking sheepish.  He seemed ill at ease, even though she'd left the heavy extinguisher behind. "I just figured better safe than sorry, yeah?  Didn't want you hurting yourself any worse than you already have."  The catgirl waved a hand at his various injuries.  "So no hard feelings, alright?"