Strong chin and nose.Strong chin and nose. Remember?" "Uh-huh" Ember said. "Just imagine his hands, touching you, like this," Rainy spoke slowly, running her mittens down her back. "You remember how he used to like to scratch you?" Ember nodded. "And remember how he used to tickle you?" Rainy circled her mitt lightly over Ember's sides, trying to tickle her friend. Ember giggled and squirmed. "Do you remember his kiss?" Rainy bent over and kissed Ember lightly, just behind the ear, making it flicker gently, just as a cat's will. Ember sighed softly. "And sometimes he'd move a little further down. Remember... He used to love to kiss your neck." She moved down and kissed the back of Ember's neck, baring her teeth just a little to get through the fur. "Do you remember?" "Uh-huh," Ember said again, this time a little more breathlessly. Rainy pushed herself away just a little and put her mittens on Ember's shoulders. "He used to love to rub your shoulders, just like this." Rainy smiled as Ember's sighed broke. "You miss him, I know, but he's still here, still alive." She eased her way down Ember's back, carefully trying to touch every knot and care. Although she lacked her mother's psionic talent for knowing exactly what was wrong where, she knew where her friend hurt; she could feel it, and she sometimes thought she could see it. |