Things in the kitchen floated around Jack, going this way and that while he overlooked some notes scrawled onto paper. By the time Annika got downstairs, a piece of fresh, seasoned garlic bread and a glass of orange juice waited for her. He would’ve put something more together for her, but he knew Annika was old enough to make her own food if she ever wanted. The kitchen smelled good, and it always did. When Jack was Annika's age, he never would have dreamed he'd be cooking food this nice for anyone at all.

Nochalla scampered in after Annika, and hopped up into a chair that had a cushion on it. That chair was for her, and her alone. No one was ever allowed to sit in, or even move that chair. The last time anyone did, Nochalla spent the next week not as a housecat, but as a panther.

Annika wasn't here when that happened, but Jack warned her about it.

[color=6644ff]"I suggest you avoid any intense use of your magic today, Annika,"[/color] Jack told her. [color=6644ff]"You should rest, but you did well yesterday."[/color]

"Mrp," Nochalla commented. Her ears twitched. Something weird was going on.