Christmas dinner with her mother had been awkward. With just her mother, Gothrak and Her, the gathering was small, and all night they tiptoed around the fact that there was one person missing from the gathering that should have been there. And The whole night Gothrak was edgy, feeding off of her nervous energy that he felt from her through their bond, the beautiful and savage marking that covered her back, save for the tattoo of the moon?s phases that trailed down her spine.

By the time they had left, and returned to her apartment, she herself, was feeling caged, frustrated, and filled with a sadness she felt was never going to go away. She let Gothrak kiss away her tears, and lost herself in the throes of passion for an hour or two. Either way, the distraction was short, and did little to pull her mind from the thoughts of her brother that it had been heavy with. So as the large demon slumbered, she slipped out from under his arm, and mumbled something to him about going out for a walk, when he stirred briefly, and that she just needed to clear her mind.

She was quiet as she moved through her living room and aimed not to disturb Terry, who snored on the couch. The door, was eased open with little effort, and was quietly pulled shut behind her. She hurried down the steps that led out to the street. The moment her feet hit the cobbles, she was toying with where to go. The inn would be dead. Everyone would be back home if they could get there, or home here in Rhy?din, nestled up with friends, and family in all but blood. Her greenhouse would provide her with things to do, and cats to distract her, but it wouldn?t provide the release that she was searching for.

So she kept to the cobbles, wandering the deserted streets aimlessly. As she walked her hands worked their way into her hoodie pockets, and pulled free her soft leather cigarette pouch. Once she had worked it open, she stopped to consider the choice between a hand rolled joint, or a cigarette. It wasn?t long, until she settled on the first, and decided to save the latter for later. The joint was tucked between her lips, and a touch of her finger, and a heavy pull of her lungs had the tip flaring to life. Smoke, heady and herbal curled up and away from her mouth and the tip of the roll as she exhaled, and rolled her shoulders. She watched for a moment as it rolled up, bright against the dark of the night sky. Then she started moving again, a slight bounce in her step.

She had missed Rinn?s goofball jokes and comments at dinner. She missed the dorky faces, and silly things that he did.There had been a lack of life at the party, a luster that had been absent in her brother?s absence. And it made her painfully aware that he was not there. but constrained, and hidden away, hopefully somewhere that Beleth would not manage to escape from. Right? She wanted to give Cane his holiday and perhaps a day to recover, before she contacted him. She was certain that he would her chide her if he found out, but she let the worry roll from her shoulders. She was stubborn, and didn?t wish to be a trouble.

As she walked, cat?s eyes took in her surroundings. The warm glow that permeated the air, thanks to the lights and christmas and other various holiday decorations that had been put up and proudly so, for others to view. It made her sad, even more so than her thoughts had earlier. Then she came upon the clearing with the fountains that resided in it, void of water for the simple fact that it was winter, and they didn?t need to freeze solid, water included. Slowly, her attention turned from the fountains to the large tree that had been lit and decorated for christmas. There were large glass and plastic spheres that hung, bows with glitter, lights, candy canes, and so many more things, including hundreds and hundreds of handmade ornaments that came from a slew of varying schools and orphanages.

All in all, it was a beautiful tree that came about as a community effort of those that lived in Rhy?din. She had spent all these weeks leading up to christmas hating it. Hating the wreaths and lights and everything else that had been put up to celebrate the holiday. Once again, she was reminded of how badly she wished to see everything burn.... And christmas was almost over, right? She would be merely helping with the disposal of everything christmas. She?d speed up the welcoming of the new year.

She turned on her heel, and let her eyes wander, dancing over the various things that she saw within a close distance. Strings of lights that hung from one lamp post to another, wreaths that hung from doors and posts, and lights that decorated shop fronts. And for a moment, she pondered how she could blow all the lights with one go. And an idea ticked into her brain. Without hesitation she seized it. For a moment, the air tingled with electricity, before the energy surged. Five strikes of lightning, in rapid succession lanced out. One hit the tree while the four others hit the beginning lamp post on each of the four streets that branched out from the square. With a series of pops, the lights on the tree and hanging from the lamp posts, along with the lights inside the lamp posts, went off with little pops as they exploded, leaving her in complete darkness. Even the shop fronts lining the way were darkened, the surge in electricity had blown more than she wanted, but she merely shrugged. Someone would have it fixed.

Something residual sparked on the tree, and then, a moment later, a flame sparked to life, and started to devour the pine needles, various paper made decorations and tinsel quickly. It wasn?t long before the whole tree was beginning to flame, and burn, clearly illuminating the fountains of the marketplace to those, sleepy and confused, that had come out of their apartments above the shops, confused at the lack of power. Her eyes danced toward one, before she started backpedaling, then disappeared down an alleyway to leave the tree to burn, and the citizens in the marketplace to deal with the fire in the wake of their holiday joy.

Maybe she should have gone to her greenhouse instead.