The Joy (?) of Giving

Blanche shuffled her front paws together uncomfortably, stepping on one set of toes and then the other. They still stung from trekking through the snow. Her skin wasn't used to it, thanks for the grand fires at the winter lodges doing their job. She ducked her head and attempted to look invisible while she surveyed the room. It was big and bright and -worst of all- jam packed with other Evoloons. Everything was awash with rich orange light and, while clearly illuminated, it was hard to see. The shadows were so harsh against the firelight and the colors were so washed out... Did she know anyone here? Would it be a reassurance if she did?

Standing motionless for too long at the entrance was sure to garner unwanted attention. Blanche instructed her shivering legs to move, hopping lightly across the thick, aged wood that made up the floor. It creaked treacherously despite her ginger steps, but thankfully the babble of the room drowned it out. For now, anyway. Heartbeat starting to feel truly uncomfortable in her chest, she swung almost desperate eyes once more over the area. There were work tables everywhere, scattered with wood and fabric and tools, everything one would need to build a modest toy for a little loonling. She didn't need that, though. The burlap pouch she held tightly in her mouth already contained her donation to the hatchery. The thought of a child's eyes sparkling in delight at her hard work within was the only thing that had brought her here and the only thing keeping her from bolting out the massive entryway in which she'd tiptoed

She tried to swallow, but her mouth was bone dry. She hadn't been noticed yet, but every second felt like a hundred in the spotlight. The walls unmercifully curved inwards, herding her ever closer to the bustle. And then-! Just when all hope seemed like it was lost, she saw it. A simple, unfinished table made of sandy colored wood sat quietly on the sidelines. A sign was propped up against one of its legs that said something in Loonian. She had no way of reading it, but thankfully, she didn't need to. Toys overflowed from the table, proving that this was the place where Evoloons deposited their finished crafts. Blanche was awash with relief, but not enough to truly feel better. That would come after she'd set her pouch on the table, fled from the building, and had long since made her way into the dark and the snow