#8E1717
Nut paused mid-yawn, her hand held over her lips. Her eyes slid to Zuri's screeching. I barely spoke to him for a minute... she lamented in thought as Zuri fled, then looked back at her hand mirror with a sigh. Ahh, this always happens.. It's because I'm so beautiful. What a lonely existence.
Reese's fists balled and her nose poked over her knees. Her ears pricked as she heard the name, 'Vera'. Her face burned and she tucked into the tiniest space she could inhabit, about to will herself into popping out of existence. Why are you blabbering about that, Freddie?! she internally screamed, That isn't any of their business to know from you!!!!
Meridian's scream was horrible, sure, but for Reese it was like being saved by the bell. She deflated as Freddie was distracted. Normally, it was safe to trust her oblivious best friend with her secrets. Because normally, the only person she had to tell was her Dad. This was dangerous.
"Zcome before you catch your zdeath!"
"Don't bother." A monotonous voice called over.
Nut snapped her fingers, and Silvia, Kinera and Justice felt a sudden wave of warmth as all the water on their skin went PHWOOF, evaporating into a cloud of steam that dissipated in an instant. Nut perched atop Reese's shrub, admiring her nails. She shot Zuri a flat look. "Go on then, Eowyn and Lilith are waiting for them." A petty thought sprang to mind. "Tovenaar, aren't you going to praise me? That was super strenuous for me."
Reese stood up from behind the bush, a bit wobbly, her legs had fallen asleep. "W-Well, if Silvia's fine, I'm going back," she announced, but the angry tremble just couldn't be contained and she whipped around with an accusing finger pointed right at Freddie, the fire in her eyes competing with her flaming cheeks, "FREDDIE! My life isn't a gossip column!! SHUT UP!" It re-occurred to her that the other women were in her sights again as well as Freddie and "AH!" She slapped both hands over her face and sped off into the woods.
Reese panted and dragged herself the few last steps out of the woods and into the clearing, looking up at the little party gathered. "Oh cool. Meridian, you're... ok..."
Reese fell onto the ground with her face buried in her arms, exhaustion and (mostly) mortification finally claiming her heart and making an attempt on her life. "Bwaaaaghhh..." she raised a shaking finger, "I came... as fast... as I could..." she lied about the reason behind her current state, and curled into a ball on the ground.