“I, um, I came to apologise.” Summer ducked her head, canvas bags swinging from one hand. “I … said some really inexcusable things last time, and I’m sorry.” Looking up at Loki, her mouth quirked a bit, and a little hope, a little laughter crept into her eyes. “Do you have an altar I should lay my offerings at?”
Loki’s glower had lightened somewhat as she spoke—and the last sentence brought a smile and an appreciative gleam to his eyes.
“No. I have no altar, but Macrowafter seems to think he deserves one. Come in and he will tell you what he would like you to do.”
As if on cue, Cat rose and trotted into the parlor, mewing imperiously.Summer laughed a little, out of relief as much as anything, and followed the little black kitten. Setting one bag on the floor, she delved into it and emerged with a handful of fuzzy, brightly coloured things — toy mice. The other hand came up with another mouse-shape, but a dark green-brown. This one she held out and waggled at Cat, before spreading them all out on the floor.
The next thing to appear out of the bag was a smallish paper box. “I brought an offering for the master, too. I hope you like chocolate.” She rose, and held out the box with a hopeful smile.
Cat followed the movements of her hands, seemingly mesmerised. As Summer waggled the dark green mouse, Cat tensed—and then fairly flew forward, attacking with paws and teeth and fierce little feline sounds. Loki was watching with eyebrows still raised, and accepted the box of chocolates with a rather bemused face.
“…thank you. Macrowafter seems to approve of your offerings.”
“Well, that one is compressed catnip. He can’t get blissed out on that. He might de-tail the others, though.” She gestured at the more brightly coloured ones scattered about. “And yourself? Do you approve?”