The next morning arrived like a soft sigh against her cheeks, the sunlight slipping in through pastel curtains and painting the room with warm golds and sleepy pinks. Evelisse's eyes fluttered open slowly, her head half-buried in a pillow that now bore the imprint of her tangled hair.
"Ugh," she groaned, voice scratchy. "I look like I fought a thundercloud."
Fluffy appeared above her, arms crossed, ears twitching. "You look like a squirrel built its kingdom on your head."
Evelisse smirked and stretched, yawning like a lazy kitten. "Good. The squirrel owes me rent."
She sat up fully, blinking at her reflection in the wall mirror. A frizzy, brilliant nest of red hair sat proudly on her head, a chaotic crown that defied all sense of order. Her cheeks were still flushed from sleep, and her nightgown was twisted like she'd spun in her dreams.
But Evelisse didn't care.
