Lottie opened her mouth to reassure Idon that of course there would be a next time, and it would be very soon, because she was just wonderful and Philotes coudln't see not being friends with her for a long time to come. But even as the first little peep of sound began to pass her lips, her hand was being grabbed and her arm being pulled as Idun yelled. Lottie was momentarily confused, but then her face cleared as realization sank in. Oh she yelled! She yelled run! That was the plan!
Lottie took off after Idun, her free hand clutching at her skirt to yank it up. There was just no way to run in the stupid outfit, what with the chemise and the tunic and the kirtle. Who had come up with these clothes anyway? She yanked the hems up to heights that would be considered inappropriate by the mortals of the time, showing enough leg that she might even shock some members of her pantheon. Friendship didn't care, she didn't want Idun to miss the show when the magic sent the fireworks skyward, so they needed to be in place.
When they neared the treeline, Lottie slowed, certain that was far enough. After all, they didn't want to be under the trees, did they? They wouldn't be able to see what the fireworks did if their view was blocked by leaves. This had to be a good spot, so with her voice staccato from the running steps, Lottie puffed out, “This is far enough, don't you think?”
Without letting go of Idun's hand, she turned to look back to where they'd left the fireworks. From this distance she could see the faint sparkle of the burning fuse, and then all of a sudden it was gone. Had it gone out? Oh no! Maybe the fuse had fallen out? Or perhaps part of it was wet? Why had it disappeared? She went up on tiptoe to see if she could get a better view, though why she didn't know because it was too dark to actually see. “You don't think--”
Her question about what may have happened turned to an abrupt squeal as the firework did a little half-spit of sparks out the side. Oh, it was going to happen! The magic was going to happen! Lottie was torn between wanting to watch the firework do what it was going to do, and looking skyward to where it would be going. She didn't want to miss it when it got up there, but she just couldn't tear her eyes from in now.
Then they widened.
Because what happened next was not at all what they expected to happen.
“It's going not going up!” Oh this was bad. This was bad. This was so so so so bad. “It's not going up, it's going sideways!”
What came out of her mouth next was a little shriek because not only was it going sideways, it was turning. And not only was it turning, it was coming towards them. And not only was it coming towards them, it was leaving a trail of fire in it's wake. As Idun had just minutes before, Lottie yelled, “RUN!”