A solitary tower stood by the sea.
Raging waves crashed against the rocks, raising a thin mist that concealed the tower. Occasionally, black-robed creatures could be seen moving through the fog.
It should have been a despairing sight, but the itch on the sole of her foot interrupted it. She instinctively pulled her foot back beneath the covers.
Before long, there came a clattering sound, as if something made of metal had fallen to the floor. Pomona tried to recall what had been left on the table before bed last night, and what could have knocked it over.
"You can't resist, can you?"
She heard a voice say, then long arms hooked around her and held her tightly against a body.
She could not see his face. She could only feel kisses falling beside her ear, lips closing around her earlobe.
She woke at once, struggling to push herself upright. Her ear really did feel wet. In an instant, she saw a Puffskein leap onto her blanket. It gave her a startled glance, then jumped off the bed and vanished beneath it.
"Ohhh..." Pomona touched her ear. It was covered in Puffskein drool.
Then she saw that the leftover pie and its plate from last night had fallen to the floor, while another Puffskein searched the table for something edible.
"How did you get in here?!" Pomona shouted, getting out of bed and slipping on her slippers.
The Puffskeins bounced about to evade her pursuit, and soon that one too darted beneath the bed. Pomona stared at the two Puffskeins hiding under there, considering how to get them out.
She watched them for a while and noticed a black, fluffy mass behind them. It looked like the fur of some animal.
Then she remembered the solitary tower by the sea,