The twins waited until the last night to spring it on her.
"Family dinner," Mei'Lin said, leaning in Aegis's doorway with her tail curled lazily around the frame. "Properly this time, nya. Grandmother wants to meet you."
"Your grandmother," Aegis repeated. "Not Zafira?"
Kai'Lin made a strangled noise from the hallway.
"Auntie Zafira is the First Matriarch. Grandmother is... Grandmother, nya."
[... Why does that sound oddly threatening?]
---
"The family" turned out to be about forty catgirls spread across three terraces, connected by rope ladders and an alarming number of hanging lanterns. Kids chased each other between the cushions. Somebody's uncle was asleep face down in a plate of dates. Every tail on the cliff swung toward the guests at the same time.
Kai'Lin planted herself in front of the party and sucked in a huge breath.
