Jane was the first to fall asleep. Chase gently licked her head while they were both in their lion forms. Briefly, before going to sleep, Chase investigated the food bags and found a little crusty French fry tip was still in there. After lapping up the crumbs, Chase wandered over to his sleeping mate and laid down to sleep.

After the nap, everyone was refreshed and ready to go. The sun was making its way down to the horizon, but the temperatures outside didn’t seem to be dipping as fast as the sun. Chase took the lead again, swishing his tail excitedly as he padded along. Thomas, however, stayed towards the back, still ashamed of the others for eating humans.

“Jane, are we traveling at a comfortable speed?” Chase asked.

“Yes, this is fine. Are we going to make it to your pool house before sunset?” Jane asked.

“Nooooo! We are going too fast! How does someone so fat travel that fast?!” Madeline complained.

“Yeah, we can make it before sunset! Just think, soon enough, we will all be refreshed in a cool crystal clear pool!” Chase said, briefly glancing behind himself at his companions.

“Tree!” Jane cried out.

Chase slammed into a tree. Because of Chase’s strength, the entire tree cracked and began to topple. Everyone stared as the birds and other wild animals fled from the falling tree. BOOOOOM!!! A massive cloud of dirt and dust spiraled into the air.

“Chase! Are you alright?!” Jane asked.

“Ehhhh, my face is a little sore…” Chase said with a groan.

***

By the time the pride actually made it to Chase’s pool house, it was really late. Fireflies danced merrily, glittering to call their mates. The last strands of sun light were quickly fading as twilight faded into dusk. Chase’s golden eyes began to glow in the dark.

“Chase, your flashlights are on,” Jane said.

“Yeah? So?” Chase asked. “Wait, your eyes are also glowing!”

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“My leg is sooooo sore…” Madeline complained.

“Which one this time?” Jane asked.

“The same as always! My back right leg!” Madeline snapped.

“I believe it was your back left leg earlier today,” Jane said.

“Lies!” Madeline snapped.

“Guys, guys, guess what?” Chase asked.

Madeline and Jane didn’t seem to hear Chase and continued arguing about wether or not Madeline’s leg is actually injured. Everyone in the family, well, maybe not Thomas, was aware that Madeline is not disabled. This was an old trick the older woman came up with before she met Chase in order to stay on the government help program. She didn’t need that program anymore, obviously, as Chase is filthy rich, but still, the thrill of being dramatic rushed through her old veins.

“GUYS!” Chase roared.

“What?” Jane asked, quietly.

“We’ve arrived!” Chase announced.

“IT’S NIGHTTIME, FATTY! WE CAN’T SWIM IN THE DARK!” Madeline yelled.

“CAN YOU STOP CALLING ME A FATTY?!” Chase roared. “YOU’RE SO LUCKY I’M NOT ALLOWED TO SWIPE YOU!”

“I’m only playing, you know that,” Madeline said with a smirk.

“Mom, please…” Jane said with a groan.

“Ahem, anyhow, check this out,” Chase said.

Chase reached and grabbed a switch. Pulling the lever, the entire pool lights up, almost blindingly. Chase grins. The entire pool is so large, it’s like an entire public pool complete with waterslides.

“I can’t fit down the waterslides anymore, I don’t think, but I used to have a blast hanging out here during summers between traveling to various places,” Chase said, a bit of nostalgia lingering in his tone of voice. “The others used to tell me I was too small to use the waterslide, but I would do it anyhow. There was one time I…well…I had to be rescued, but, well, I learned a lot from that day. By the way, Jane, there’s a shallow end over there you can play in.”

“Chase, ummm, not to ruin the fun, but… This pool doesn’t look like it has been cleaned in ages,” Jane said.

“Oh gosh darn it! I forgot about that!” Chase cried out in frustration.

“Soooo, what now?” Jane asked.

“I- I don’t know… It seems nothing is working,” Chase said, sounding utterly defeated. “I’m so sorry, guys… I let you all down. Worst summer ever…”

“Oh, Chase. Summer isn’t ruined. We still have time to make this better,” Jane said. “Let’s all go inside. Maybe tomorrow we can clean the pool out, or something…”

There may not have been air conditioning at the other mansion, but this one’s gotta work, for sure. The pool, as it stood, looked like a swamp and needed a serious cleaning. Chase turned the pool lights off and escorted everyone into the mansion. This one was less fancy and more comfy as it was the vacation house.

“Ooh, cozy!” Jane said, transforming back into a human.

The others also transformed back. Quickly, Chase went to get a clean shirt. Thomas sprawled out on the nearest couch and fell asleep almost instantly despite the nap earlier. Jane smiled and fetched a blanket from a bedroom and laid it on top of her sleeping friend.

“Rest well, Thomas…we might have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,” Jane said.

“Find a bedroom, any bedroom. My houses are your houses,” Chase said, straightening a photo of himself over the fireplace.

“This isn’t a bedroom! Make Thomas wake up!” Madeline whined.

“If he doesn’t want a luxury bedroom, he doesn’t have to have one,” Chase said with a shrug. “Also, I’m hungry again.”

“How hungry…? And is a bedroom really luxury if you’re not in it?” Jane asked.