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Aggie had, as always, made all the correct decisions Rue didn’t have to like the woh, annoyed by how the pads of her paws picked up soot No wonder Tasherit avoided the boiler rooie

Rue blinked at her slowly Cat trust, cat cal

"Shoo! Get out You’re not welcoht in her whiskers and then continued walking towards the back corner of the room where the preservation tank nested under its tea-cosy cover She went up on her hind legs and kneaded it with her front paws

"What on earth?" Aggie followed her

Rue continued to pick at the cosy

"You want to get inside it? Why? It’s not gassed at the moment"

"Rrrrrourrt," said Rue

"Oh, of course If you iet your humanity back Certain you want that, ladyship? You’re a whole lot easier to kill when you’re nothing

"How could you let Quesnel get hurt? He was only up there because he orried about you I told hiie pulled off the protective cover and cracked the tank top

Rue leapt inside

The orange-tinged liquid was cold and weirdly slimy She took a breath and lowered herself until she was totally subed in the stuff, even the tips of her ears and tail At which juncture, the liquid cut off her tether

She turned back into a prissy huone froeneral disco feel of liquid She hoisted herself out, entirely naked except for the slime, and decided to simply be at peace with this She was a metanatural after all She was bound to be naked in front of her crew The two sooties on duty carefully pretended not to look

Aggie didn’t care "You’ve treated hie of his expertise and affection Iine boldly as to ask for an education of that kind!"

So Quesnel told Aggie that, did he? Well, to be fair, I told Primrose "Noho’s prissy?" Rue wiped liquid from her eyes, nose, andto blow the foul-tasting stuff off her lips

Aggie alry "You owe hiree with you Unfortunately, he was unconscious last I checked"