Outside on an open terrace, the two mice found a large table covered in desserts. Freya grinned as they walked in, each grabbing one.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” Freya said, over bites of tiny carrot shaped pastries.

“You don’t have to explain, Freya, your mother has been over the moon about you possibly being a druid, but, oh my these are delicious,” Muk said.

Captain Bell and Holly disengaged from the dance and were floating out to the outside area where Muk and Freya had wandered to in search of food. Captain Bell selected a sword shaped cookie as Holly just fumed.

“I daresay, Lieutenant,” Bell said, “You’ve finally learned how to dance. Perhaps this is your year! Why a few kind words could get you promoted up to my level!”

“My dear Captain,” Muk said, inspecting a cookie in the shape of a fox head, “And this is dreadful, ‘Invite the guests in dear, and let’s feed them cookies in the shape of our heads,’ isn’t it?”

Holly bit through the head of a fox cookie she was handed and kept her eyes locked on Freya.

“It’s a pity,” Holly said, “That the Richards’ didn’t make any mouse cookies.”

Freya could feel her enmity as the two males seemed oblivious of anything that happened between the two of them.

“If they had, I assure you that they would be perfect,” Muk said, his posture showing none of the tension that Freya felt in the air.

“I think I could do for a rabbit shaped cookie,” Bell said, similarly oblivious, “One could pretend it was one’s worst grammar instructor as one went for the head.”

He bit down on a fox cookie.

“Oh bother, I think that the ears would be a little big if they did that, but such is life, am I right Lieutenant?” The rabbit chuckled.

Muk nodded absentmindedly as he narrowed his eyes at Freya. The party inside took that time to clap at the completion of a song.

The four munched on fox cookies, drowned out by the music.

“Miss Bun, would you care for a visit to the powder room? I feel that I don’t want to go… alone,” Freya said, eying Holly pointedly.

Holly opened her mouth for what Freya thought would be a retort, but Muk cut her off.

“We’ll meet the both of you inside,” Muk said, a pleading look on his face.

“These cookies are great Lieutenant,” Bell said, eying the table.

“Perhaps, we need to get away from the cookies before you eat them all, Miss Uki,” Holly said.

“I don’t need the temptation, Miss Bun,” Freya said.

Captain Bell grabbed an armful of cookies and trotted off none the wiser, with Muk at his heels.

“Those two are an odd bunch,” Freya said.

“Powder room. Now,” Holly said.

Holly marched ahead of Freya, as the mouse’s confidence wavered. Should she stay with Muk and Bell to avoid the inevitable trouble Holly would bring? The finishing course said a lot about how to deal with suitors, but precious little about what to do when one’s oldest friend started sniping.

The pair went off to the nearest room. Freya started panting, her every step feeling like it was another step closer to doom. In fact, she decided that this would probably be a terrible idea and would have stopped, had Holly not been insistent in her body language. Freya’s shoulders tensed and she found that she couldn’t unclench her jaw without trouble.

They passed by several groups of foxes chatting until they found the well lit doorway into the powder room. Freya did her best to put on a neutral, detracted face in front of them.

Holly stepped in ahead as Freya braced herself for the worst. She embraced calm, trying to channel the Raven’s love in that long moment.

She entered to find Holly checking to see if the coast was clear.

“I’m going to need you to stop talking to my intended,” Holly's voice was ice, as she stalked back towards Freya.

Freya shot a look back at her.

“What if he comes to talk to me, huh?” Freya said, her paws shaking.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“You think I want this? You hate me, Bell thinks I am going to deliver all of these chickens and… I just can’t,” Freya said. “He keeps coming up to me, I can’t stop him!”

“It’s starting to look bad for me that you keep seeing him. Don’t you have enough with the boot baron and the lieutenant? Do you really have to have this one as well?” Holly snapped, standing taller. Her ears loomed over Freya.

“What are you getting angry for, I’m just saying—”

“Is there some reason that you need all this attention? Didn’t get it at home or something?” Holly said, “Because I can’t see this…”

Both of their maquillage started to run, as Freya’s tears gushed out. She pressed a shaking paw to her mouth but Holly wasn’t finished.

“You’re doing this all so well, that I keep forgetting. "weren't all the mice suitors enough for you?"

He’s a rabbit! You’re a mouse! What are you even thinking! None of my other suitors even gave me the hour of the day after they saw you except for Bell! You know what? This is just going to take longer to explain to you than it’s worth it and honestly? You don’t deserve an explanation. Just go home, and stay away from my rabbit!”

Hollys eyes grew narrower, as Freya started sobbing.

Holly turned to leave, finally finished with her, but was stopped by a silent hand from Tulip.

Inwardly Freya sighed even as she knew that she’d lost it. It was all she could do to stop herself from hyperventilating.

“You and you,” Tulip growled. ‘You are both better than this. Now both of your maquillage is ruined and I am going to get both of you out of here under a false pretense.”

Holly raised a paw.

“No, Miss Bun, my employer would not let either of you make a fool of yourself like this. I’m going to extract you both from this and save your season.” Tulip peeked outside. “One at a time.”