Cover Picrew



Kat Moonwood, an odd nineteen year old girl, had always known she would become a seamstress. It’s almost fate when you come from such a long line of dressmakers and suit tailors. It’s a really good thing she loves it so much!
Kat, this 5’8” girl, with her heterochromia and slightly messy brown hair was just trying to finish her newest creation in time for the ball. With all the orders from other people, she had hardly had time for her own gown, but how can you be a proper seamstress if you don’t make your own gowns!
As she was sewing in the final touches in the embroidery on the hem she heard a tap at the window. She looked up to find a small, black cat staring back.
With a sigh, she unhinged the latch at the window to open it. “Salem, what have I said about going through the window? There’s a literal cat door right next to it!” She pointed towards the small cat door beside the bookshelf. Kat, of course, did all her sewing in her small room in her small cottage. Her family wasn’t poor, but they preferred a cozier life, even before her mom had passed away.
”Kat!” Came a faint shout from the kitchen, “please take the pie out of the oven in thirty minutes! I’m going to the market to buy groceries and materials.” It was her dad. Unlike many of those cliches you read about, her dad wasn’t the shell of a man most are made out to be when their wives die. If anything, he’d come alive.
Kat’s mother had been sick for a long time before she finally greeted Grim. It had been weighing her father down, with the medical bills, the constant sickness of his wife wasn’t easy. Of course, when Kat’s mom let go it broke him, but if the Moonwood family was good for one thing then that thing would be only letting your trauma make you stronger. Much stronger.
After thirty minutes of playing with Salem and trying her best to finish the dress, Kat took the pie from the oven and set it on the counter to cool. As far as she knew, she’d be the only one in her family to go to the ball.

(The ball happens and all that fun stuff that you crazy people caused, yay, chaos!)

After the ball Kat slowly wiped her makeup and peeled her dress off of her skin. The ball had been honestly more than a little boring, until, of course, all the events at the end. She had opted to rush home before those events occurred, though. She drew herself a bath and slipped into the tub.
From outside the bathroom her father called to her, “Kat, darling? Did you get home safely? I heard what happened!” He asked.
“Yes, Dad, I’m okay. I left right before the craziness began.”
“I’m glad you’re safe. I’m not sure even a Moonwood could carry on if they lost their wife and daughter!” He joked. He was always trying to lighten the mood.



(The next day, life returns as normal for the seamstress and seamster)

At just seven AM Kat was startled from her breakfast by a knock on the door. She walked to the door, teacup in hand.
“Hello, can I help you? If you have any gown repairs that are needed I’ll be there in a minute, if you need a new gown welcome in.” She plainly stated the policy her family operates by before 9. Kat hadn’t even bothered to look up at the person.
“Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to go out for lunch today? If you’re not too busy?” Kat looked up, startled by the proposal. “I saw you at the ball yesterday and I thought how much I would’ve loved to dance with you.” The warm voice speaking belonged to a handsome gentleman, seemingly around Kat’s age.
“Then why didn’t you ask me to dance yourself? I would’ve accepted. Do I know you, though?” She asked him.
He stroked his hand through his tousled blond hair. “My name is Devlin Kane. I’ve only lived here a few months,” he said, quickly adding “my home is down by the lake if you ever need magical assistance.”
Kat had to admit, Devlin Kane seemed quite hot. She was curious about the magical assistance part though.
“Sure, I’d love to go to lunch with you. We’re not normally busy the day after a ball, most can’t afford to buy new garments right after such an event.” After thinking for a second, Kat said this as well, “My dad will wake soon, what time do you wish to have me for?”
“Does 11:30 work for you?” He says after considering what she had just said.
“Yes, that will do fine. I will see you then. I have no opinion on where we should go, but I can point out some of my favorite places.”
A few hours passed and she found herself growing more and more excited for her date. Her dad was quite excited for her when she told him.
A knock sounded at the door. Kat padded over towards it, but her father got there first.

“Hello. You must be Devlin.” He paused to check his watch. “Right on time, exactly as I’d expect for my daughter.”
Devlin appeared taken aback by this. “Yes, I- Uh… I’m here to pick up your daughter to take her out to lunch…” Devlin looked over her father’s shoulder and spotted her. “Is that okay with you sir?”
”Yes, of course! I’m glad to see Kat letting herself out of her shell a little more lately!”
Kat groaned behind him. “Daaaad. Why?? Why must you embarrass me every time???”
“I’ll be taking her now, uh, walk with me?” Devlin said, reaching out his arm to Kat.
She pushed past her father, but not before planting a kiss on his forehead. “Love you, Dad. I’ll be back by midnight!” She turned to Devlin and took his arm, glad for the escape from her dad.
As the pair walked down the road, far away from her home, they began to talk. “What’s your favorite part of living in the PMC kingdom?” Devlin asked.
“I love that it’s one big community. We all know each other. Can I call you Dev?” She returned with her own question.
“Sure, you can. Another question, where should we eat?”
“I know just the place. We’re going to the Berry Bakery. Name a berry and they’ve baked a pie with it, that’s for sure! It’s one of my favorite places and it’s not far from here.”
”Okay, next question, are your balls always as chaotic as yesterday’s was?”
”Not quite, that was an outlier.”
The afternoon continued that way, Devlin asking questions, Kat answering. As they got to know each other, Kat came to see Dev as more than just a pretty face.

After they finished their lunch at the bakery, the pair continued to walk around the town, chatting and Kat teaching Devlin about her favorite things in town.
”Oh, wow, it’s almost seven!” Dev said. “I should head back home and make dinner!”
”Oooor, you could come by my house and eat dinner with me and my father…” She trailed off.
”I’d love to.”

(Complete, but I’m willing to edit or make a part two!)