The Ageless sighed as he sat upon his throne of gold within a small workroom full of instruments used in torture. Before him was Sia and four other Chosen, each standing with their heads down before their God. Whereas Nox and the twin kits played inside a small ball pen off to the right with Zabartik nearby. These three were oblivious to the world around them, as they each chewed or gnawed on the malleable material, or simply wrestled with one another.

"Nox says you five scared Maya and Mia," he began slowly, which caused the metallic, skeletal Wolfwoman to lift her head. There, she began to speak something, but was cut off by the endarkened furred Kitsune, "I do not wish to hear any excuses, Sia, nor do I desire to know of the scheduling you have. For I was there when it all occurred so long ago, remember?"

To which she simply nodded whilst he continued, "Good. However, Zabartik notified my person that he was the original instigator in their fear."

"Then-"

"I am not through speaking, Sia," which caused her maw to snap shut, "Although he is the original, your appearances caused their terror to only increase." He sighed once more, placing his right elbow onto the arm of the throne, and leaned his head against the closed paw , "I am unsure as to what punishment I should give you six, as I still have need of you. No. I will not let you off with a warning." This caused their eyes, which flared with some slight hope to dim as the God King contemplated on what to do.

"Do you need some assistance, Ageless?" called out Sarah, of whom stepped through the doorway at the opposite end of the room, and slowly sauntered to his position. Whereupon she was greeted with a small smile by the other, but soon became a frown as his gaze went towards those that slighted his family.

"Perhaps," he muttered softly, and waved at those before him, "These Chosen and Zabartik need a punishment for frightening the twins, Mia and Maya, but I do not know what to give them. For all of my punishments normally result in death when it comes to the abuse of children. No matter how slight it may be."

"Well, perhaps give them over to the servants of the castle," pondered the Goddess Wolfwoman, of whom tapped her right foreclaw against the side of her muzzle. Whereas the other simply tilted his head towards his right shoulder, whilst his ears swiveled in her general direction.

"Why?"

"Because they've been short on help recently, and would be happy to have those with extra hands for various tasks. Not only this, but they could learn a few skills."

"Very well," nodded the Ageless, and summoned up a portal the colour of shadows and chaos to his left. Whereupon an elderly, female High Elf stepped out whilst wearing a pristine, white robe stepped out whilst leaning left upon a short cane. This was used to not only help her walk, but to also "discipline" those who fell out of line.

"Ah, Anatalla," sighed the Kitsune, who waved away her desire to curtsey towards his person, "You need not bother, my dear, as I've called you here for a little present."

"A present? From you?" she asked with a haughty laugh, which ended with a wry smile, "And what, pray tell, is this present?"

"These five Chosen and Zabartik. They will be in your care for a full season, as is their punishment for frightening children."

"Oh?" The elder's eyes, which were a pair of crystal blue orbs, quickly became a baleful, crimson colour as the gaze slowly drifted over their person. However, they did not flinch when such a gaze fell upon their person. For the God King before them was far more terrifying than the Elf. Well, that was what they believed at that time.

"Yes," he nodded slowly, making a "shooing" motion towards their persons, "They are yours to do as you see fit. Just be sure to have them learn some new skill by the end of it all. Oh, and one more thing, Anatalla," the Elf turned towards his person once more, the eyes becoming their normal colour, "Although they are under your care, they still have their own duties to perform. So please bear in mind when you give them their tasks."

"Yes, Ageless," grinned the female, who turned around and began to bark orders for them to follow. If they were not quick enough, they found out, then the cane would rap sharply across their backsides. However, they were each metallic in some way, which meant they did not feel much of anything from the first few strikes. That is, until after she applied her own magicks to the walking stick, and watched as Sia flew across the room. Whereupon she did crash through the doorway, which caused a pair of Living Armour to peer through, then snap back to attention once they noticed who it was that caused such damage.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

*****

Later during the turn, and after the door was replaced, did the trio of friends find themselves back inside their play room with a small table with platters of sliced fruits and meats, cups of fruit juice, and a bull full of jam filled sweet biscuits laid out in the centre of the table. Of which had four chairs of whicker, with three occupied by the children whilst the fourth was reserved for the last of their little group, but won't be joining them for some time yet.

However, instead of acting like animals, they instead ate slowly, and in a more sophisticated manner. One of which would startle many adults, as they believed the children were still in their animalistic stages, but of course, they were want to reveal such a thing to them. For if they did, then all would try to force them to perform as such forevermore, but that would not be as fun for them.

Now, after the doors had shut on the room, and they had taken up their seats, did that which created realistic illusions come to life. Whereupon it did paint a picture of a quiet cottage in the woods, with only the dining/receiving area and an adjacent room which was simply a bedroom used by Nox and the twins. Of whom were painted as a husband with his two wives, whilst the fourth member of their group was the family friend.

Yes. This was their version of "Playing House", one which caused the young hybrid much grief, as it was "boring" to his young mind.

At the time, however, the trio had grown up due to the magicks of the illusions cast before their eyes. In that Nox wore simple leathers of deer and rabbit about his person, along with a pair of long, skinning knives which were strapped to his outer thighs. Not only this, but his nine tails which were normally present, had shrunk down in number to three, and were considerably soft and bushy.

Whereas the other pair each wore something similar to his own, but were painted with light shades of green and brown to mirror the trees surrounding their small cottage in the woods. This was simply due to the fact that the magicks of the room portrayed them as bow-women, and had even included a pair of unstrung bows by the door to the outside world, next to a few half filled quivers of arrows. Now, their own tails, which numbered as three each, had shrunk down to one upon their backsides. This was due to the mechanics of the room itself, as well as their own imaginations. For although they enjoy the extra appendages, especially Nox's, they really do not pay much mind to them when playing.

"Nox?" called out Mia with a soft voice, of which garnered his attention just as he place a cut of what appeared to be deer meat into his maw, and was chewing on it slowly, "How was your day?"

Of which led to him holding up a foreclaw as he finished chewing and swallowing his food. Not only this, but also took a slow swig of juice from his mug. For he must now play along with their persons, and "pretend" to have done something worth boasting about. However, he could not come up with anything at that time. So, just as he was about to open his maw to speak, did the door open up to allow a large, dark coloured, and wholly male, Arachne appear in the doorway.

This being had the lower body of a Shadow Spider, and the upper torso of a High Elf. However, the upper torso held the colour of pitch, whilst the hair and eyes of one such as he was the colour of bright blood. His name was, "Anasi," cried out Nox, as the illusions faded away. Of which caused everyone caught within to shrink down into more child-like statures, as the hybrid danced and hopped around the new being in the room whilst chanting his name repeatedly. This led to the pair laughing and giggling as they greeted one another in their own special way.

However, at the table sat the twins, Maya and Mia, who were not at all happy to have their "House" play interrupted.