It is currently 11:43 Pacific Time on Tue Jan 7 2003.

Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 43 degrees
Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the
southwest at 9 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.26 and rising,
and the relative humidity is 70 percent. The dewpoint is 34 degrees
Fahrenheit (1 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (29% full).

Farmhouse: Hallway and Living Room

All doorways in the front part of the house lead to the front hallway, a
J-shaped area with the short tail starting at the stairs, the front door
hitting the bottom curve, the doorless opening to the living room halfway
up the long side, and the also doorless opening to the kitchen and dining
room at the very top. The hall has a simple wooden floor, and decorated
with a generic print of soft-colored flowers hanging on the wall to the
right of the front door, and a tall table sitting under the print which
serves as a place to toss keys. A closet under the stairs serves as a
place to hang coats or to toss shoes.

The doorless opening to the living room is halfway up the side of the
hall's J, and the word cozy might spring to mind when looking into is, as
it seems to radiate comforting vibrations. A long couch sits against the
south wall beneath a large bay window curtained only by sheers that
manages to obscure the view in but only filters the day's light. A variety
of out-of-date magazines are strewn atop a low coffee table; more neatly
presented are the plethora of books filling the small bookshelves which
line the eastern wall. Three chairs sit about the room, focused inward, to
allow group conversations. Large floor pillows are stacked in one corner
of the room, except one, which lies carelessly in the middle of the floor,
apparently left out the last time it was used.

An opening in the northern end of the hallway allows access to the kitchen
and dining room at the back of the house, while carpeted stairs twist up
at the other end of the hall, leading to the second floor. A door at the
base of the J lets out to the front porch.

Late morning on a rather warm day - for winter, anyhow. It's bright
outside, so Catherine is taking advantage of the sun's attempts by sitting
on a couch with her back to a window, letting the thin warmth play across
the back of her neck while she reads a book.

Salem enters through the front door without knocking; glancing around, he
spots the Gaian cub. "Mm. Catherine. Is Andrea about?"

"Nope," Catherine responds, without looking up straight away. When she
does, and recognises the speaker, she clears her throat and adds a mildly
sheepish, "-rhya."

Salem regards the girl steadily for a moment. "Hm. What are you reading?"

Catherine closes the book almost fully, one finger still stuck between
pages to keep her pace. "Ghost Steps : Tails of Samurai," she recites.
"S'a book of s'posed wisdom from th' orient." She shrugs and continues,
changing subject without a clutch, "Why'd you take Cat away?"

The Philodox's eyes narrow. "Cat was only visiting here. He's a Glass
Walker. His place is in the city."

"So, not wit' other cubs he can make friends with? He was just gettin'
over bein' termin'ly shy," the Gaian responds blandly.

Salem frowns minutely. "Friends. Like you?" The Walker's voice is just as
bland, though his eyes remain narrowed, displeased and cold.

"All 'f us," Catherine replies, closing her book properly. "How's he gonna
stop bein' so nervous if he ain't never around anyone 'part from Walkers?"

Salem folds his arms across his chest, looking down at her. "In case you
hadn't noticed, there are _more_ people in the city, not less. More people
he has to deal with. And, as I said, his place is in the city. Not out in
the middle of the woods in a house that doesn't even have a single phone
line."

The Gaian cub seems somewhat placated by the assurance that Cat's not
going to be kept inside and away from the general public. "Is he 'lowed
t'visit here?" she continues, one hand absently toying with her lip-ring.

"If he wants. Just as Quentin is." Salem regards the Gaian cub
thoughtfully. "You could, too, ask your elders if they're willing to let
you visit the city on occasion as well. I'm sure Alicia would be happy to
show you the sights."

"I don't wanna visit th' city," Catherine replies, straight away. "I wanna
visit Cat. Th' rest 's crap. Only other place I'd wanna go is th' trailer
park."

The Glass Walker's lips thin. "I see," he replies, in a definitely cooller
tone of voice. "Well, we'll see." He takes out a brass pocketwatch and
clicks it open a moment, glancing at the time. "I'll tell Cat you said
hello, then, and that you're wanting to see him." His tone is dismissive;
he puts the pocketwatch away and turns to go.

The Gaian cocks her head slightly, then nods. "Yeah. Quentin said he'd say
hi for me, but he might f'get. Tell him I said he's gotta keep practicin',
too?" Philo-messaging service?

"I'll let him know." Cool, very cool. "Good day, Catherine." He sweeps out
through the back.

Catherine flicks her fingers in a kind of half-salute. "Gaia watch
y'steps," she offers, mostly politely.