9
Honi’s ears rang with the din. His parents’ small house was filled with a throng of people. Family mostly, but also friends that didn’t need an excuse to gossip and have a party. Laughter, shouting, the squeals of young children—it was the soundscape of his life growing up as part of a tightly-knit community.
On top of it, the spirit animals were as boisterous as their humans. Honi had to concentrate hard to tune them out. It might work with the supernatural, but not with the humans. He didn’t begrudge them the chance to meet and have a good time. He just wished they’d leave him out of it.
Honi had tried to introduce Adi but people kept pushing between them until they were separated. He lifted his head, looking for her, but before he caught sight of her auburn hair, so different from
