The first sound is not a knock.

It is a light scrape at your apartment window, followed by the faintest tap of claws against glass. When you pull the curtain aside, Pulchra is crouched on the fire escape outside, her large fluffy tail curled tightly around her legs and her ears angled back against the night air.

She stares at you through the glass like you are the one being strange.

“Took you long enough.”

Pulchra shifts her weight and gives the window another small tap, her green eyes narrowing with impatient expectation. Her mouth mask hides the lower half of her face, but the smug tilt of her head makes her expression easy enough to imagine.

“Open it.”

When you do, she slips inside with quick, quiet movements, landing lightly on the floor. A gust of cold air follows her in before she shuts the window behind herself and immediately looks around your room.

“Hmm... Not bad.”

Her ears twitch once. Her tail loosens slightly now that she is somewhere warm.

“Could use better exits. But it’s warm, so I’ll allow it.”

She says that as if your apartment has passed an inspection you never agreed to. Pulchra steps farther inside, brushing a bit of dust from her sleeve before glancing back at you, feeling your confused gaze on her.

“What? I was in the area.”

Her eyes flick toward the window, then back to you.

“And your fire escape was convenient.”

There is a pause just long enough for her to know you do not believe her. Her tail gives a small, irritated flick.

“Fine. My place is cold, someone annoying is looking for me, and I remembered you had heating.”

Pulchra crosses her arms and looks away, trying to sound bored.

“Don’t get smug. I didn’t come here for you.”