Braq, radji Cradle ecologist.
Date [standardised human time]: November 14th, 2118
(17 years, 9 months, 20 days before the invasion of the radji Cradle).
The waves crashed somewhere between anarchy and tranquillity. Braq had always loved the ocean, it’s staggering weight. Not just in the physical sense, but in the knowledge that it took the movement of celestials to create it, to shape it. To little things like people, it was an unstoppable force and an immovable object. It was… elemental. Primal. Beautiful.
He had been sceptical when Turin had insisted they come out here, but it was worth it to see their children play in the open. Most of the western coast was all cliffs, falling away into the ravenous waves beneath. This patch of sand was still within their estate, but much further south than they usually ranged, in line with the town of Yuret on the eastern side of the roughly L-shaped Brackwood. A long winding arterial road stretched around the southern edge of the continent, encircling the estate and separating away the shore.
It was rare that they visited this section of the wild, but Turin had been quite enthusiastic about the idea.
“It’ll be a good opportunity for the kids to see something different!” she had insisted, a light smile on her lips. “Besides, we need to monitor the rate of sea encroachment anyway.”
The journey down here had been a long one, even using the main road. An hour and a half of keeping Ki-yu hidden beneath a blanket, her body now finding the footwell overly cramped and uncomfortable even with a pillow. Gone was the slight, stick thin child that had snuck out to Bendara with him. Whilst she was still slender and graceful, her time in the woods had made her more athletic, her rolling shoulders almost as defined than his. She looks more like a pyq, he realised, glancing at her contorted body as he drove. She was still small however, putting on weight in muscle rather than shooting up. Her shaded hide was now definitely melanistic, of this Braq was certain. In the sun her scales shone, revealing the hints of her juvenile mottled patterning, but in darkness she was a walking shadow.
Imdi was growing more slowly, as befit a radji. He was no longer on the teat, much to Turin’s delight. The siblings had been getting on better Braq thought, Ki-yu seeking out her brother more often. Or at least… tolerating him more… seeming less… agitated? Okay maybe he was not quite sure what had changed, but something had changed. Perhaps she had taken his advice to heart.
And they were still rascals, always up to no good. A few days prior Braq had gone to pick up his work boots only to nearly pull his back out when he found the children’s little ‘game’. Imdi had somehow lugged a rock the size of his head into the home and deposited it into his boot. Quite how he managed that feat Braq could not imagine; the rock weighed more than he did. When the boy found out he had apparently ‘won’ both children were beside themselves with laughter.
When the road had at last given out, Braq scouted ahead to make sure the beach was empty. The highway sat between the coast and their property, marked by the immense woodwaif trees, their ochre red bark a barrier against the sea. In the building of the highway, many an ancient creche of these sentinels were cut away, and the strong roots that held the soil together gave up their grip. For the maintenance of the road, Turin and Braq had to monitor the soil quality, and gauge the advancement of the sea. It was as though three gods were waging a war of attrition here and had drawn up their battle lines. It is also government property, not open to the public, so there shouldn’t be anyone about… The height of the sand hid its occupants from the view of anyone on the main road, but they could not be too careful when there was nowhere for Ki-yu to run to should they have company. The beach was empty, but Braq brought the buggy onto the sand anyway, just to be safe.
The kids leapt out at once, desperate to explore this strange alien landscape. Ki-yu immediately started digging at the sand, feeling its coarseness against her paws. Imdi waddled up to the water, jumping back with a surprised cackle as it tickled his toes. This drew his sister’s attention, who pranced on over. She too jumped back with a spin as the water chilled her claws, before leaping forward to try and catch the ocean in its retreat. Braq chuckled as Ki-yu skidded on the sand, and before turning tail as the foamy water chased her back again.
Turin sat on the sand beside him, rubbing the back of his paw as they watched the children play. She was not wearing her overalls, Braq noted, which she usually did whenever she left the lodge. Neither am I, come to think of it… where did they run off to? The wind groped at their fur gently, reminding Braq of their earliest days together.
Ki-yu eventually braved the ocean, seemingly not wanting to be outdone by her brother, who was up to his little knees in water. The next wave toppled him, sending her hissing with laughter as he came up sodden and freezing. The pair came shivering with cold and excitement back up to them.
“Baba, can we go exploring!” Ki-yu asked, desperate to see this undiscovered country. It’d probably be safer to keep together, he thought.
“Go on then!” Turin grinned eagerly, as the two children laughed happily. “Just keep your radio on!” she called after them as they ran off into the trees. Turin chuckled wryly.
“Is that wise?” he asked softly, his brow raised. Turin shrugged, standing and reaching into the buggy.
“They’d find this boring anyway,” she said, stretching onto her toes as she leaned into the backseat. Braq reached around her to retrieve the rifle.
“Soil sampling is boring,” he mumbled, fiddling with the weapon as he looked half-heartedly at the sea. Turin rolled her eyes at him over her shoulder, pulling out a radio handset and the soil sampler.
“You never know what you might find out here,” she said as he heard the sampler hit the sand where the beach met the asphalt nearby.
“I don’t see why we needed to do this so urgently,” Braq said, looking again out at the sea. Turin coughed behind him, and he turned to see that she was on her hands and knees, her dark nethers peeking out from beneath her fur. Oh… that’s why she left her overalls at home. Chuckling Braq leaned close behind her, tossing the rifle where she had discarded the tool.
“Still think sampling is boring?” she purred.
“It has its moments…” he replied, placing a paw on her behind. “Was this the whole reason you dragged us out here?” he chided playfully, his paw caressing her fur as he kissed at the nape of her neck. “Naughty girl…”
“Amongst other things…” she clucked at him as his fingers felt their way down her stomach. “And ‘naughty girl’? I’m not the slight young thing you used to fuck in the mud you know?” He rumbled at the memory of their wanton youth, Turin shuddering as his fingers brushed against her. His mouth journeyed further and further down her back, inching toward his target.
“Funny,” he said as he stopped oh so deliberately. “Sure tastes like that slight young thing…”
From this position on the sand, they were dreadfully exposed, so much so that were a vehicle to come along this patch of road there would be no hiding what they were doing. The odds of that were slim, but it was deviously arousing, nonetheless. Turin moaned as he touched her zealously, the feeling divine.
“Fuck…” she panted. Her desperation, her desire in their lovemaking sent shivers through him. “Go on…” she gasped, Braq’s paw was now slick with her lust. “Don’t make me beg…”
Licking his paw, he rumbled as he leaned over her, tenderly kissing her cheek as he placed his muzzle beside her ear.
“Say please,” he whispered, teasing at her entrance.
“Please…” she groaned. He nibbled on her ear as she panted in yearning. Her flesh was wet and warm as he gradually entered her, Turin moaning as he started slowly thrusting.
Turin tried to swallow her sighs, hide them. Can’t have that… Braq gripped her by the hair on her head, pulling it firmly back. Her muffled moans became eager yips.
“Ohhh, just take me, ah- fuck me beloved!” A heat overtook him, and Braq spun her over, pulling her hips up off the ground. Turin gasped out a half giggle as he positioned himself over her, gripping one of her legs as he drove himself into her. Turin’s eyes rolled back as almost his full weight was put behind each thrust.
“Fuuuck…” he panted, shudders surging through her.
“Yes! Ah- ah-, I can g-give us more! P-please… give it to me!” she mewled. At the last he let go of his control, almost yapping as he succumbed to pure feeling.
Turin all but screamed as she climaxed, her orgasm triggering his own. Waves crashed within and without, their voices carrying across the open air. When time began again their shuddering had seemed to pass. Braq pulled his glistening manhood from her and leaned forward as they shared happy moans and kisses. Turin pushed him onto his back, Braq marvelling vaguely as they lay shaking and spent before the world. She’s so perfect. They just lay there for the longest time, the soil sampler abandoned beside the radio in the sand.
“Fuck…” Turin gasped, her paws working their way beneath the fur on his chest. “Were you trying to break my hips?” her eyes shone with devious praise. Braq managed a rumbling chuckle.
“S-something like that. Kay-ut, woman… you’d think I never give you any.” She snickered evilly atop him, brushing the sand from his face as she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly.
“What makes you think we’re done?” she whispered between kisses. Before Braq could think of a clever retort they were startled by screeching static. The radio crackled repeatedly beside them, five beats followed by a three second pause, repeated quickly over and over. The panic alarm! The perfect moment was shattered, replaced by fear and confusion.
“The kids!” Turin called out, throwing herself from him, any sense of modesty lost. Turin tossed Braq the rifle as she snatched up the radio, Braq close on her heels as they shot up the beach and into the trees. “Ki-yu?!” she panted into the radio. “What is it? Where are you?” They were greeted with silence, and shortly the pattern changed to four beats.
“The hush alarm,” Braq whispered, grabbing her paw as they ran. Ki-yu will be hiding, lest something find her… but what about Imdi?! He forced them both to a stop, to listen. The passion of their lovemaking had seemingly evaporated from them, lust replaced by fear. Beneath the tall triangular awning of the woodwaifs, smaller trees had found root blocking his view, but through the barrier Braq thought he heard voices and a childlike laugh. Someone’s found them! He ran for the sound, the rifle still firmly in his grip. Ahead he could just make out figures standing in a clearing through the shrubbery. He shouldered his way through it, Turin close behind. Wood and leaves snapping as they burst through the trees, and Braq found the spikey back of an adult radji standing to him. The man span at the sound of their advance, a casual smile on his lips and his paw on Imdi’s shoulder. Teraka’s expression fell.
“Get away from him!” Braq all but roared. He had not yet primed the rifle, but he could still bludgeon him with it. The adversary backed off at once, his posture wide as he hid something behind his back. Ki-yu?! A weapon?! Braq ratcheted the lever aggressively, his expression severe. “What’re you hiding?! Don’t move!”
“Baba!” Imdi called out.
“C-calm down…” Teraka said, his eyes wide and fearful, his stance defensive. Braq seethed as the weapon heated in his paws. He shot at her! He tried to kill her! He looked about for any sign of his daughter, any sign of a scuffle. If he hurt her… The firearm primed, the power of it set his spines tingling. He’d kill her in a heartbeat, something abysmal whispered and Braq’s stomach lurched. A tiny voice whimpered as the thundering in his head reached a crescendo.
“Braq…” Turin whispered beside him, one paw on his shoulder. “Beloved… it’s okay. There’s nothing to fear.” Her other paw went to the barrel of the rifle, Braq did not even realise he had pointed it at the man. His partner tried to take the gun from him, but it was glued to his paws. “Look,” she whispered, her paw shifting to his racing chest. “Really look.” Braq blinked at his rage and looked.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Imdi was almost in tears, his expression raw and afraid. Teraka looked… coiled, as though ready to spring, but his expression was… Confused? Scared? Everything about his posture screamed anxiety. But behind him Braq realised there was another pair of legs… those of a child. His jaw hung open, and he looked down at the wretched weapon, the one that had saved him from the roht. His grip went slack, and Turin took it from him.
“I… I’m sorry…” Braq murmured, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t mean to…” The fuzzy face of a young radji peeped around Teraka’s legs, but the man pushed her head back. A daughter? he realised. “Oh, Imdi…” Braq sobbed, turning to his son. “Oh, I’m so sorry my boy… I–” Imdi ran to him, throwing his arms around his leg. Braq reached down pulling the lad up to him, the pair of them snivelling and wiping at the tracks of their tears.
“A son…” Teraka murmured, but otherwise remained unmoved.
“I’m so sorry…” Braq whispered as quietly as he could. He tried to quietly ask where Ki-yu was, but the boy was a shaking wreck. Turin deactivated the rifle and slung it over her shoulder. Braq noted the way she subtly looked about the clearing as she took a cautious step toward the huddled father and child.
“Teraka, right?” she said, pretending to not recall his name. “You visited us some time ago, left us some lovely anuana.”
“Y-yes…” he said absently, his eyes on Braq. With a sharp inhale his gaze darted back to Turin. “Turin. You were kind enough to offer me some water.”
“I was?”
“Yes,” the man said, a shadow of a smile tugging at his face. He gestured to Imdi. “I take it this is your son?” Turin looked back at them both, her eyes holding the same protective fire as their passion.
“Imdi,” she said with a nod.
“Congratulations. ”
“Thank you.”
“But… why was the boy left alone?” he pressed with a tilt of the head.
“He wasn’t,” Turin replied honestly. “’The boy’ ran off, had us worried.” Her sweet voice turned icy. “Why are you here?”
“I must apologise,” Teraka said, his casual smile restoring itself upon his well-groomed features. “We are trespassing on government property.” Turin did not waiver.
“That’s what you’re doing, not why you’re here,” she said with an unimpressed expression. The man clicked his tongue before he slowly turned his back on them. He kneeled in front of the girl, who Braq could now see. She was decidedly less ‘normal’ looking than Teraka, which was something of a relief. Her fur was a lighter, creamier colour, her claws and paws dirty and unkempt as a child’s should be. She was breathing raggedly, her eyes wide as she looked at the strangers.
“Are you alright, darling?” Teraka asked her.
“Um…” she had a light, sonorous voice, perhaps seven or eight years old. There was a small gap between her front teeth. “Who-? Why-?”
“They look after this property, my dear,” Teraka said with a sideways glance. “I think we startled them is all. Would you like to say hullo?”
“H-hello,” she squeaked, leaning against her father. He patted her gently.
“This is Callio,” he said, keeping a tight grip on her paw he stood, “my daughter. I wanted to show her the trees, the beach. I spend so much time working that we don’t get the chance to get out, you see.”
“I see,” Turin said, quietly.
“When we stumbled across the boy, seemingly all alone,” Teraka glanced around the clearing, “I feared that he had become lost, or worse… abandoned.” His eyes fell to Imdi, and Braq held the child closer to himself. “But I am glad to see all is well,” the other man said, his brow furrowing slightly. He can tell something’s amiss… did he see her?
“Can we still see the sea, Papa?” Callio asked him, pulling the adults from the standoff.
“Alas, I fear we shall have to leave,” Teraka said forlornly. “That is, if you’re not pressing charges?” Braq looked at the girl, Callio, and saw how she shied behind her father. Just a girl…
“No,” Braq said slowly. “You’ve come all this way. We can make an exception.” The girl lit up at once, but her father regarded him sceptically.
“Are you sure? We wouldn’t want to impose,” Teraka said, Turin even raising a brow at him.
“A child should see the sea,” he said.
~*~
Imdi and Callio ran along the beach, laughing as the waves tickled against their paws. Braq had always marvelled at how children could play so quickly with someone they did not know, as though all people fundamentally wanted to get along. Of course, children can be bullies too…
As they had made their way from the forest, Braq buzzed the radio three times, a check to ensure Ki-yu was alright. He received three back, an affirmative. She would have to remain hidden for now, as anxious as it made him. Imdi was more talkative, but the longer Teraka stuck about the longer the lad might let something slip. If he hasn’t already…
“Ah,” Teraka sighed, closing his eyes to feel the wind on his face. “There’s something to be said for the salt spray is there not?”
“Quite,” Turin said innocently, her eyes anything but as she met her lover’s gaze. Her coyness slipped as she saw Braq’s expression, and she rubbed his arm as she passed. “I’ll go keep an eye on them,” she said amicably, her paws leaving sandy tracks behind. Tracks… Braq had a fit of worry when he thought Ki-yu’s pawprints might be visible in the sand. Fortunately, most of the beach was quite loose grains, and the wetter sediment that held a better track were being swallowed by the incoming tide. In the distance, storm clouds gathered over the open ocean.
“I… need to apologise–” Braq started.
“It’s perfectly understandable, considering,” Teraka tried to mollify him.
“No,” Braq insisted. “It’s not.” The two men regarded each other. There are moments when a person can look into another’s eyes and know what they’re thinking; this was not one of them. When he looked at Teraka, he saw… a father, desperate to protect his child. What’s more, he knew Teraka had seen it too.
They both turned to the sea, and Braq thought it simpler by far.
“Imdi was… a blessing,” Braq said, absently listening to himself speak. “We… had long abandoned any hope of having a child. When… it finally happened… Heh… it wasn’t exactly what we’d have expected.” Teraka chuckled beside him.
“Aha. No… it’s not, is it?”
“We almost lost him when he was born. Membrane slip.” The man breathed in through his teeth.
“Is Turin…?”
“Recovered… but the doctors said…” he let the silence speak, and the short man hung his head.
“Those damn doctors…” he muttered, the ocean melting against the shore.
“It’s just us,” Teraka said after a long while. “Mela was Callio’s mother. We met at the academy, a friend of a friend.” He paused, a light smile on his lips. “She was a bookish thing. Always off to the library or staying up late reading some article online. I was more into the phys. ed.; raccato, sophet, you know? So, I’d attend a lot of parties, see lots of people, have a grand time. I’ll always remember, I went to the food stand to sample some… anuana of all things, when I found her sitting in a chair reading a book.” He rubbed his chin with a claw. “She wore these silly old spectacles, big, round things that always seemed to be falling off her nose. Never without them. ‘What’re you doing here,’ I asked her, ‘you’re missing all the party!’ And she smirked at me, oh that little half-smile… like she knew some joke you were missing out on, and she said, ‘Oh you silly boy, I’m all the party right here!’” He laughed; decades removed he still laughed. His voice broke as he sighed, and his paw went to his face as he turned to the sea. “Bayel’s disease,” he said, straightening. “Took her quick, Protector be good.”
Down the beach, Turin laughed as Imdi and Callio started digging trenches in the sand. Braq grunted as he snuffled against his own wet eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “About today, as well…”
“Oh, I understand, Braq,” Teraka said, his eyes earnest. “What wouldn’t we do to protect our family?”
“This… isn’t the first time you’ve snuck onto our property,” Braq said, turning to him. Teraka’s tongue went to his teeth as he held open his mouth.
“No,” he admitted. “I’m sorry, I should have asked.”
“Asked?” Asked to release predators and shoot at my animals? My family?
“Yes… I’ve been trying to set up a fence, a perimeter to stop any of your predators coming through.” Braq hid his expression by pretending to turn and look at the kids. Bastard is still playing the game; still thinks he’s winning. Braq turned back to him.
“I’d have no issue with that, so long as it doesn’t impact the other animals. But this is government land, you’ll need permits.”
“A fair arrangement,” Teraka nodded, “I’ll look into it.” The storm clouds out to sea were starting to look fearsome, and the distant rumble of thunder carried across the waves.
“Sounds like rain,” the other commented. “We’d best be leaving.” Couldn’t agree more.
“Yes,” Braq said, as they wandered toward their families. “One last thing,” Braq said coolly, “a word of advice?” Teraka raised his brows beside him expectantly. “Don’t go walking in the Brackwood.”
“Braq, my friend, you don’t need to tell me twice–”
“This isn’t about me. Us,” Braq said shaking his head.
“What do you mean?”
“I think there could be something in the woods,” Braq said, stopping a short distance between Teraka and the others. The man’s eyes narrowed.
“If that’s so, shouldn’t you alert someone?”
“Just a thought,” Braq smiled. “You once told me that you’d kill any predators that came onto your property. So, rest assured,” he said, his paw falling heavily on the smaller man’s shoulder, “I will do the same.” To Braq’s perverse satisfaction, Teraka’s quills bristled ever so slightly. Message received.
“All good?” Turin called out to them, a hint of nervousness creeping into her tone.
“I think so,” Teraka said, smiling lightly as Braq patted his shoulder. “Ah. Wind’s picking up,” he said his eyes bulging, “best make for shelter. C’mon Callio darling,” he said, extending a paw to his daughter. Callio wandered to him nervously, skirting a distance around Braq. I’ve traumatised her… Oh, Protector. Braq backed off a pace, looking down at his feet.
“Did you end up having fun?” Teraka asked her. She smirked shyly, fidgeting with her claws. “Good. Say goodbye.”
“It was nice meeting you,” the girl said as she smiled at Imdi. She even gave a timid wave to Turin, but Callio chewed on her lip as she glanced up and then away from Braq; the girl could not look him in the eyes. Teraka patted her on the back and took her paw.
“I hope we next meet under better circumstances,” he said with a light smile. “Farewell.” They padded away down the sand, holding each other’s paws.
“Did you make a friend?” Turin asked Imdi, picking him up. The little boy snuffled and giggled against her, curling up in her arms. Braq considered asking him about Ki-yu but decided against it; their words could carry on the wind, and it was better to let him rest. Braq was putting his arm around his partner, nuzzling her forehead, when Callio ran back to them, her little legs kicking up clouds of sand.
“S-sorry for scaring you, M-Mr Braq!” she called out, her voice shaky as she screwed up her paws. Braq glanced behind her to where Teraka had stopped a short while away. If he had to guess, they were probably both wearing the same shocked expression. Swallowing, Braq knelt where he stood so he was at eye level but did not approach.
“That’s okay. I’m sorry if I scared you,” he said softly. She smirked nervously, a little half-smile as she met his eyes for a moment.
“You don’t scare me,” she said. She glanced back at Teraka, then offered the slightest of nods to Braq before running back to her father. He picked her up and sat her on his shoulders, his eyes bore into Braq as he turned from them. Braq buried his face in his paws as they walked away. Turin rubbed his back as she squatted beside him, whispering soothing sounds.
“Why is it always the little girls who are so brave?” Braq wondered aloud.
~*~
They waited until the pair had long since disappeared into the trees before he went out to look for Ki-yu, but he did not have to search for long. The girl startled him when she called out to him from above, and Braq looked up to see the dark little predator lounging on a sturdy tree limb.
“Are you okay?” Braq asked. She nodded cautiously, sampling the wind.
“They’re gone,” she said, a statement not a question.
“What happened? Did they see you?” Ki-yu shook her head, casually standing on the branch and turning toward the trunk.
“No, I don’t think so. They heard Imdi talking and came to see. I smelt them coming but couldn’t get to him in time, so I hid up a tree and called you.” She shimmied her way down the trunk, her claws leaving defined scratches as she went. “Is Imdi okay?” she asked hastily, her sharp-edged claws kneading at the ground. Braq knelt down, stroking her head as he put his forehead to hers.
“I think so,” he murmured. “I… think I scared him more than Teraka though.”
“Are… you okay, Baba?” she asked him as he pulled away, her eyes glittering light in the darkness that was her. “You seemed… angry.” She heard? Of course she did, she probably saw the whole thing. Braq tried to force a smile but hung his head instead.
“I was worried,” he said. “I thought he might have… was going to…” Ki-yu licked his snout. He picked her up, her body coiling in his arms as he turned back toward the beach.
“I’m okay Baba,” she said. “I’ve met worse than him. But…” She laid her head against his chest. “…we’re going to have to explain all this to Imdi. I… don’t know if he’s ready.”
“He’ll be alright,” Braq said, his mind elsewhere. “Did you hear what Teraka said to him?”
“A little,” she said.
“Did he mention you?” he asked her, hooks of dread trying to pull his heart through his kidneys.
“I don’t think so,” Ki-yu muttered, much to his relief. “I think the girl spotted him first, while I was trying to get him up the tree. When he wouldn’t come I…” she hissed, irate at herself. “I should have smelt them earlier…”
“It worked out. You did well,” Braq tried to soothe her. “We got to him in time.” The girl pressed her head more firmly against his chest.
Turin was waiting by the buggy, their son in her arms.
“Ku!” Imdi called out happily when he saw her. Ki-yu whined and sprung from Braq’s grip onto the beach. She trotted over to them, standing up as she leaned up to them.
“Are you okay?” she asked him, her voice sounding tight. She ran her hand over her brother’s head, smiling as he nodded. She pinched his cheek between her claws, earning a yelp from Imdi.
“Next time I say, ‘Up the tree!’, you get up the tree!” she barked at him. Turin snatched her paw away.
“Hey! No claws!” she scolded her. The pyq’s lip wobbled but she nodded as Imdi looked up at her with wide eyes.
“Sorry Imdi,” she said, her quiet voice holding back a storm. Braq rested a paw on her back, and suddenly the girl sprang forward, wrapping her arms tightly about her brother in a fierce hug. “I-I’m sorry. I left you…” she mumbled. Imdi just snuffled against her.
“Home?” he said in a quiet voice.
“Yes,” Braq said tiredly, “home.”
They all seemed to settle a bit once the buggy roared to life, and Turin turned it back up to the road. They’re adorable, Braq thought to himself as he looked at the siblings laying across one another on the backseat. Ki-yu glanced at Turin oddly as they were driving up the beach, then she turned to Braq with the same look in her eye, taking a deep inhale.
“Did you both fall asleep?” she asked, and the vehicle lurched as Turin tapped the brakes accidentally.
“W-whatever do you mean darling?” she replied.
“You… smell like your bedding room,” the girl said, tilting her head inquisitively. Turin opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“Well… we do sleep there Ki-yu,” Braq said as innocently as he could, making a mental note to find some air fresheners.
“Hm,” was all the pyq said, setting her head on the pillow and shutting her eyes. He turned to his partner’s mortified features, hiding his smirk behind a paw. They sniggered together as Turin turned onto the highway.
They were half-way home when they realised they never took those soil samples.
---
“Man’s enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.”
– Lao Tzu.