The soft melody of the Cool Breeze record swam around Catherine. She batted her eyes and tried to pretend she was still in her beautiful dream as if it was real, but the morning sunlight shone right onto her pillow. "Mmph." Cathy turned on her other side and laid her cheek on the other sun-warmed side of the pillow, a solace leading her back into pleasant dreaming.

The horse whined and kicked and caused more commotion within the barn. The roosters and hens squawked and the pup yelped and jumped around. There was a gentle chuckle followed by, "Hey now, silly creature."

Catherine pulled herself up groggily, cursing the sun's light. Takukara must have been stopping by with new supplies or information on those new sickles she needed. Her work clothes were laid out on her table but her mood refused to reach over and change if she didn't need to. Takukara was practically family; he's seen her in her tiny shorts and tank top she wears to bed many times before, but when she dragged herself over to the doorway and managed to step into the blinding light, it wasn't Takurara she stood in front half naked.

"Oh. Um. Did I come at a bad time, Cathy?" A slight tint of color rose to Gustafa's cheeks at the sight of Catherine. Her face was flushed with sleep, her hair down and clumped, and she stood awkwardly in hardly any clothing. He could tell she looked uncomfortable but he couldn't avert his eyes.

Catherine quickly turned to the door to run back inside. She thought last night had been all but a nightmare but her hair was still damp and Gustafa still looked like a stranger. Could she ever look at him the same way again?

"Wait!" Catherine…" He spoke very softly and rose very slowly from where he knelt beside the dog. Gustafa held his hand out and took great caution as if Catherine were an untamed animal. She could attack at any sudden movement. Her eyes were looking from behind her shoulder with a crazed look of fear.

"N- Just give me a minute, Cathy."

"What do you want?" It was all Catherine could let escape her lips.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Even with the overly large sunglasses, the pained look on Gus's face was unmistakable. Catherine turned to face him as he drew back.

"Cathy?" He couldn't wring a reply out of her. If her gaunt cheeks and accusing eyes weren't killing him, her trembling stature sure was.

Gustafa took a step forward and Catherine tried to leap inside, but he quickly wound his fingers around her arm. He tried to calm her and whisper his song of the dwarf in love in her ear but she continued her hysteria. She twisted and writhed and kicked and scratched with her free hand. Gus pulled her arm closer so he could take hold of her waist but Catherine pushed against him as hard as she could and fell back into her home. Gustafa reacted instantly when he noticed her loose her footing. He let himself fall forward with him arms behind her to soften her fall. A small backward trip wouldn't hurt Catherine, but Gus didn't need to see her any more hurt than she already was.

"Get off!" Catherine screamed. She tried to push him away but with his arms entangled around her she couldn't set her arms loose. She screamed louder over and over. Hopefully Takukara was close by.