Naomi kicked open her sister's door hoping to get her to jump, but Marasi merely rolled over on the queen-size bed and glared at her. "Mimi, it's the middle of the night, I was about to go to bed." "What's that then?" retorted her sister, sitting down on its edge and pointing at her distinctly glowing phone she had obviously just put down on the nightstand next to it. "I finished texting Felder, caught him up on all this." The older Ambivian for once looked guilty. She'd learned after their little meeting had ended that Verbena had kept Marasi's phone to prevent her from alerting Naomi of what was coming. Her fists clenched, claws digging

PRODIGUS INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY, PLANET AMBIVIA, PRESENT DAY Roads of concrete and asphalt had not been necessary on planet Ambivia for centuries. While much of the world's infrastructure was still not up to date with current technology, the network of magnetic lines in the country of Prodigus providing lift for hovercars had been established almost a century back. Many artistic depictions - at least, those not in protest of how they had reshaped the landscape - liked to depict the shining metal network crisscrossing the nation in a dreamy or almost surreal view. Some painted personal vehicles peaceably drifting above them, others depicted th

Standing on the hard surface of the landing pad, unsure she'd even heard correctly, Naomi frowned. Then she laughed. Her sister pulled back from her, looking scandalized. Countess Verbena's ears lowered her muzzle shifted from smugness to a distinctly miffed expression. "Wow! I thought you were pranking me, but I guess they're the ones pulling a fast one on you, Mara." "Why aren't you taking this seriously?!" Her sister hissed, forked dark purple tongue flickering in agitation. "Did you go deaf or something?" Naomi just shook her head and snorted softly, taking a few steps back as she put her hands in the pockets of her silk knee shorts.