The rain had returned to the Capital, washing away the last traces of the party. The black balloons were shriveled on the floor, and the legendary Meat Cake was nothing but a few crumbs on a platter.
In the kitchen, Primrose was scrubbing a pan with aggressive energy. Her Sun-Fire Tail was flickering with irritation, drying dishes as fast as she washed them.
"It doesn't make sense," Primrose said, tossing a spoon into the drawer. "Jax is a prankster. He's a Fox. Maybe he was drunk? Maybe he was undercover?"
She turned to the table. Luna sat there, clutching a mug of tea with both hands. Her long rabbit ears were drooping so low they touched her shoulders. Her eyes were red and puffy.
"It wasn't a prank, Prim," Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "He looked at me like I was a stranger. No... worse. Like I was furniture."
