The morning dawn crested over the terracotta arch of East Holding, its first rays pooling like molten gold between the stone tiles. The air still carried the cool hush of night-shift fatigue, settling into bone and fur alike.

Raskor leaned against a supporting pillar, letting his weight sink into the sun-warmed clay. His spear rested across his knees, thumb-claw tracing the long scrape etched down its haft. His tongue clicked thoughtfully against a fang, tasting a memory better left forgotten.

Raskor
By Solaris' wet ball sack, I think I still taste that Velvetglade Wine from Amarissa’s Lounge. Either that, or I bit someone...

Tavrik, carefully smoothing a stubborn ridge of fur along his jaw, snorted. His tail twitched, betraying irritation and a lingering headache. He angled his spear toward the light, hoping morning clarity would reveal a version of last night he could deny.

Tavrik
Oh, you definitely bit someone. Your breath reeks of their perfume… like you drank it straight from the bottle.

Raskor’s ears perked, grin spreading with shameless confidence.

Raskor
Hah! They didn’t mind. I swear I heard purring—

Tavrik’s claw shot up like a stop-sign, cutting him off.

Tavrik
Don’t. I already spent long enough trying to scrub that smell out of my coat.

Raskor chuckled, leaning back until the pillar creaked under him. His fangs flashed in a grin too awake for this hour.

Raskor
Well, you shouldn’t have let that performer drag you behind the curtains. They had a grip on your chin like they owned you.

Tavrik’s ears flattened, tail flicking dust irritably as he resettled his armor strap.

Tavrik
I... was being polite. They asked. Nicely. With both hands.

Raskor barked a laugh that echoed off the sandstone walls.

Raskor
Polite, yeah right. You nearly tore the beaded curtain down with your tail...

A deep growl rolled from Tavrik’s chest, friendly warning rather than threatening.

Tavrik
You! You saw that?! Urgh... instincts. They got… overexcited.

Raskor clapped his claws together, delighted.

Raskor
Hah! Let’s see if Officer Argent buys that excuse when he catches your scent with his big tendrils...

Tavrik winced, whiskers folding in on themselves.

Tavrik
Oh boy, not his tendrils! The horror!

Raskor tilted his head toward The Hold's Entrance as though expecting Officer Argent to just appear at the mention of his name.

Raskor
Last time someone came in smelling like the lounge, he twitched those things so hard I thought they’d tie themselves in a knot. Tavrik rubbed his face with both claws, dragging down his eyelids in despair.

Tavrik
Urgh... And he stares while he does it. Like he’s tasting the shame in the air...

Raskor’s voice dropped to a mock-serious rumble.

Raskor
Mmh. He’s got a nose for trouble… and you reek of it.

Tavrik jabbed him lightly in the ribs with his spear.

Tavrik
As if you stink any better than me! But yeah… we should get ourselves together.
Luminary Day’s coming up at the end of the month. Today they’ll decide if we’re reassigned elsewhere in the city.

Raskor tossed his head and mane back with a theatrical sigh, rolling his shoulders to shake off last night’s fun.

Raskor
Elsewhere, huh? With our luck, Officer Argent will toss us into the Verdant Gardens...
Stand still for hours while performers wave sun disks in our faces.

Tavrik visibly shuddered, tail bristling at last year’s memory.

Tavrik
Please. If we get stuck near the cub's processions again, I’m quitting.
Last year, one of them tried to braid my tail.

Raskor’s grin sharpened.

Raskor
Well… it is rather sensitive, isn’t it?

Tavrik whipped his tail sideways, thwapping Raskor’s shin.

Tavrik
Oh shut it, Rask.

Raskor adjusted his belt, pretending not to limp.

Raskor
But with Luminary Day coming... the city’s going to turn into a glowing mess again.

Tavrik shook his head, amusement tugging at the edges of his mouth.

Tavrik
“Glowing mess.” Only you could describe a sacred celebration like that.

Raskor pressed a claw to his chest in mock reverence.

Raskor
Hey, I respect it. I’m just saying... when the Verdant Gardens light up with sun-reflecting mosaics, half the crowd will blind themselves.

Tavrik’s face softened, thoughts drifting to the quieter day before.

Tavrik
Better than the day before. Remembrance Day’s always heavy. Quiet. Even the inmates go quiet for a while.

Raskor nodded slowly, claws tapping softly against his spear.

Raskor
Even the worst of them know that black page of history.

Tavrik exhaled through his snout, tail curling inward.

Tavrik
And the horns, when the ships blast the Roar of Mourning toward the sea… my tail stands on end every time.

Raskor smirked gently.

Raskor
Yeah... I’ve seen that.

Tavrik elbowed him in the side.

Tavrik
Oh shut it. Even you get misty-eyed when Luminary Einar gives his address.

Raskor scoffed, looking anywhere but Tavrik.

Raskor
Misty-eyed? That frost-covered hermit knows how to tell the tale...
When he speaks about the Day of Unmaking, even my teeth hurt.

Tavrik nodded, solemn.

Tavrik
Remembrance Day is somber. Makes the whole city quiet. But then—

Raskor lifted his chin toward the sunrise, bright and animated.

Raskor
Then comes Luminary Day! Solaris giving us permission to breathe again.

Tavrik’s shoulders eased.

Tavrik
Exactly! Performances start, performers dance through the Gardens, kiddos running around dropping tiny sun disks into the fountains…

Raskor’s eyes gleamed.

Raskor
And the robes! Flowing everywhere, swirling like flames! You know I have a soft spot for a nice robe...

Tavrik stared flatly.

Tavrik
Rask… you have a soft spot for anything that moves.

Raskor
Pah! I appreciate grace! And hips. Mostly hips...

Tavrik finally laughed.

Tavrik
And you call the festival a glowing mess…

Raskor
A beautiful glowing mess. Makes my whisk—ah ahem!— instincts curious...

Tavrik narrowed his eyes.

Tavrik
Just try not to flirt too hard with the performers this year. Last time you nearly fell into a pond.

Raskor
That illusion looked solid! And it smiled at me!

Tavrik
Everything smiles at you after you’ve had a drink...

Raskor shrugged, unapologetic.

Raskor
Speaking of which… if we get reassigned to the Ember Prom—

Tavrik
Then you’ll behave.

Raskor’s ears drooped slightly.

Raskor
Heh… I’ll try.

Tavrik flicked his tail against Raskor’s ankle.

Tavrik
Only if you keep your claws sheathed. The processions get crowded… we can’t have you poking a performer because you got “curious.”

Raskor
Hey! I poke... Respectfully.

Tavrik
Hah! That’s what worries me.

Raskor snickered, rolling his shoulders.

Raskor
Fine, fine. I’ll be a model sentinel…

Tavrik
Mm-hmm. And hopefully Argent won’t have us cub-sitting the courtyard during the vigils.

Raskor
If he does, those nose tendrils will be twitching all day with cheapest perfume!
Just out of spite, and he’ll suffer more than I will.

Tavrik’s grin split wide.

Tavrik
Heh, I’d like to see you try that.