Kitty had been dreaming something soft and now her eyes opened a little. She was laying on something hard, grey
clouds surrounding her. It must be about to storm, but Kitty felt warm. Her head was clouded nausiatingly. To not
puke, she closed her eyes and breathed for ten minutes. Kitty's brain felt like it was doing the wave inside her skull.
She bit her lip to focus, and shifted.
"Stay still." A voice murmured close beside her.
"Ugh." Kitty slapped the wall of grey. Her hand hit warm rock. "Who?"
"Who do you think, idiot?"
"My head is funny." Kitty moaned quietly.
"Oh. Uh, sorry?"
"I can't see you. Where'd all the light go?"
"Shut up and be quiet." The voice hissed angirly.
"There's too much grey. Too warm. Ugh." Kitty moaned louder.
"Where are you?" Kitty reached her palms, touching a bumpy wall of solid, warm, rock.
"Stop that!" A voice murmered irritably. The noise of gravel shifting, and the grey parted a little. A quarter-sized spot
of light lit Kitty's surroundings.
"Ah, light!" Kitty whispered, her eyes flicking around her. It didn't take her a nanosecond to see one grey sculpted
hand folded under her knees. She felt another hand supporting the small of her back. Kitty barely had time to see
she sat on a sculpted lap before the light died away. No matter, she was already beginning to recognize who "who
do you think?" was.
"Bartimaeus." She murmured, struggling to string thoughts together. "Why...why are we hiding under your wings?"
"I was hiding from the magicians while you were drooling on my knee." He snapped irritably.
Kitty blinked, and had a moment of rationality. Maybe the rationality would have continued if Kitty's head hadn't
been throbbing, making her feel like an entirely different person. But Kitty was warm, comfortable, except for her
head pulsing. She felt horrible. She sat up and snuggled in the crook of the gargoyle's neck, slumping herself on its
bumpy torso.
"Sleep now." She muttered. "We'll discuss this tomorrow."
The claws of the gargoyle tucked around the sides of her belly, pulling her closer.
"Sleep doesn't sound like a bad idea." For once she noted the exhaustion of Bart's tone. Stoney wings wrapped
around her back tensely. Bart was trying very hard with every last bit of strength to hide and shield Kitty under
cover of wings.