Cover Girl

"Stop. Wait a moment." Murph played LUCID and updated his points before looking between Levity and Torloo. "Did you say you're going to sleep for a week ?"

"Yes. I need to. We call it going deep."

Torloo looked apologetic. "We had not spoken about sleep patterns yet, but the matter would have come up when I next need to rest."

"So my insomnia might be hereditarily linked to my mixed ancestry? Lovely. Ah, it follows, though. When this all happened, I slept four days straight. Angelo couldn't rouse me. So maybe I went deep?"

"Alone?" Levity looked stricken. "Oh, Murph. I didn't know."

Torloo helpfully added, "To sleep alone? It goes against pack tradition. Possibly against our very instinct. We retreat into a safe den, and the ones we trust most watch over us."

"And for you, that's Divinity Highstreet."

"Mmm." Levity built off his word with CLASP, covering a double word square in the process. "For now, yes."

Which suggested a future change. But Murph needed to focus on work first. "So on the eve of everything, our star reporter will be out-of-pocket."

"But I'll be in your pocket as soon as I'm back."

Murph begged to differ. "We'll all be in Tippy's pocket. She's the one coordinating with Canarian and his people."

"At work, yes. But when at home, won't we be living in each other's pockets?"

"Not sure my pockets are deep enough."

Levity considered for a moment, then smiled. "I'll keep a pocketful of stardust."

"Then mine will be a pocketful of posies."

"Pocketbook."

"Pocket change."

"Lining one's pockets."

"Burning a hole in one's pocket."

She needed a moment, then suggested, "Pocket watch?"

"Speaking of time." Torloo played TRAIL. "When will you shed the illusion of humanity?"

"Tomorrow. Last order of business before I go deep," answered Levity. "I'll be recording an Emergence Day greeting, surrounded by coworkers. Then Angelo is all set to do a photoshoot. Divinity and I are making the leap to cover girls for the Perspective 's first post-Emergence issue."

Murph studied the board, fit his last three tiles into place with ANON, and announced, "I'm out," tail wagging.

"And I should be going."

Though he wanted to protest, it was after two. Murph might not sleep much, but he couldn't do without. So he saw Levity to the door. Clearing his throat, he urged, "Pick my pocket."

Levity searched his face, then looked him up and down. "Are we back to our little game?"

"Let's call it a segue. But I'm being literal."

"Hmm?" She considered her options, bit her lip to tame her smile, and dipped into the pocket of his cardigan. A clay whistle rested on her palm. "You didn't know about sleep patterns, but you're well-versed in courting lore."

"My mentor is letting me follow my interests and sets his curriculum accordingly." He cleared his throat and softly added, "This one appealed to me because it allows a human to emulate wolf song. Well, with practice."

"Yes. I'm familiar." She set her fingers carefully and blew a series of eerily beautiful notes.

Then she pocketed his gift, winked at Torloo, and whisked away.

"Good for you," said Torloo, who came to his side. "She has accepted every gift."

"Am I rushing things?" Murph had given her a new token nearly every day since the first. "Am I being too eager?"

Torloo crooned the same notes Levity had played, then offered a translation. "Make ready and make good, for your promises please me."