North Beta Town, Gu Diao Street.
Sakura Pub.
Upstairs, in the lounge of Jini Cottage, before the bar.
A black cat arched its back, shoved its front paws into a basin of water, and vigorously scrubbed them. Pink bubbles spilled over the edge, nearly submerging half the cat's body, but it did nothing to hinder its engrossed cleansing task.
Behind the bar, two witches laughed so hard they bent forward and backward, unable to control themselves.
"Don't cats usually lick their paws to clean themselves? Did you try licking your paws just now?" Korma held a Green Bee drink, wiping the tears from her eyes. She had cried from laughing too hard after hearing Elena's account of the black cat's ordeal.
"It was a nightmare," sighed the Gypsy witch, shivering with pity as she glanced at the black cat. "I bet that skinned toad had been rotting there for over a week."
"I suddenly fancy some anchovy paste," Korma grunted, beginning to giggle foolishly again.