through the dark side of

Demeter didn’t know how it was she ended up with her arms around Bombalurina. But once she found herself there, she squeezed her eyes shut and locked her grip so tightly she felt surprised, if distantly, that she heard no complaint for Bombalurina’s breathing. Instead Bombalurina recovered quickly from her surprise, wrapped her own arms around Demeter’s shoulders and leaned her cheek against the top of Demeter’s head as though it was only the natural process of things, petting the furs on her shoulders in slow strokes of her fingers.“Oh, darling,” she said softly, drawing in a long breath for a sigh as she brought out her claws ever-so-slightly, scratching between tufts of Demeter’s fur, and gentled her on, “You’re all right. I’m right here.”