Guests

Aldrieth’s breath puffs hot against the back of my neck as Anisa bustles around the kitchen, laying newspaper on the floor. “This will do, right? For your uh…” Anisa gestures vaguely. She’s looking at me, avoiding Aldrieth’s red-eyed stare.

Claws click irritably against the tiles. Does she think I’m one of those hairy beasts you keep as pets?

“Dragons are quite clean, actually,” I say, trying to hide my amusement, “but if you’re worried about your cats, salt is an excellent deterrent.” 

 Salt?!

“Pepper also makes a good substitute.”

Anisa’s eyes are wide. “H-how long will you be staying?”

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Written for The Prediction. This week’s challenge words were newspaper, salt, and substitute.