It's time for a book club meeting! Melia dusts off the mushrooms table and chairs hurriedly, rushing too and fro. He mutters to himself as he searches for tea leaves. The first meeting today, he needs to make sure everybody felt welcome. He gulps down a deep breath.

"Now- where's my copy of-"

His ears perk up, glancing towards the door.

What might he hear?

Otter slowly pushed open the door to the Book Club meeting. She'd been very hesitant about this, but she eventually decided to go. What could go wrong, anyway?
She cleared her throat before saying "Hello?"

Melia blinks a few times before waving a paw in greeting. The tea
would have to wait, he muses.

"Hello! Hello- can I help you with anything?"

He waves for a moment too long. The nerves hadn't got the better of him yet!

"Uhm..." Otter looked around the room, noticing how tidy and clean it was, making her feel a bit more comfortable. "This... is the Book Club meeting, right?" She stepped inside, her appearance becoming more noticeable. A basket was wrapped around her side and it held two books. She wore a dianthus flower on her ear, a strange ammonite necklace, and some runestones hung from her body.

I think I might be too early... or too late. Which one is worse? Spruce wondered as he strolled through the hallway, his hulking figure taking up almost half of the space. Missing the very first book meeting would be embarrassing, so he came prepared. He stress-cooked cinnamon apple-chips a few hours before the meeting just in case he was tardy.
Home-baked goodies are a good bribe, right? Spruce thought, spotting the door. He poked his head in curiously.

Melia purrs reassuringly, nodding his head. He could do this! He could do this. He admires the runestones for a moment before speaking.

"Yes- yes it is! I'm the cat-"

"-I'm the not-cat who put out in the flyers, the invites, the organizer- I'm Melia. Very nice to meet you!"

He flicks his tail to one of the chairs with a warm smile.

"Feel free to take a seat, we can- oh!"

Turning to the door again, he spots the comicallly large cat in the doorway. With a soft *oh*, he pads over, holding it open. Squeaking,

"Come on in!"

(@ivy)

Otter smiled, appreciating how welcoming this not-cat was. "Very nice to meet you too!" Otter made her way over to an empty seat and sat down, making herself comfortable. She pulled the books out of her basket and placed them neatly down onto the mushroom table.

The room was cozily warm, in light and temperature. Flames pops in the corner, licking the bricks of the fireplace gently. It cast a warm glow. Some glow mushrooms were placed in lanterns, too. One was placed in one of the bookshelves, casting a glow on a manga collection called "Meowlicious in Dunegon".

Placing the books was easy- the table was recently cleaned, after all. It had scratches in places, evidence this furniture had been well-used and loved.

Spruce blinks in surprise, not expecting the kindness in the cat's voice. The fireplace's embers reached his face, lighting up his murky brown eyes, his scarred muzzle, and his jawless coyote skull with an inviting shade of orange.
He gently shouldered the door open wider with a little smile. "Thank you," Spruce sheepishly thanked, ducking his head as he edged into the mushroom-riddled room.

"I really hope I'm not late," he rasps, and with one armored claw, he hooked a medium-sized cloth bag out of his massive scarf. It was packed to the brim and filled the space with a faint cinnamon scent.
"I brought apple chips." he spoke, leaning down a little to offer the bag to Melia.