Four's A Party: Chapter 14 (Patreon)

Chapter 14: Doggy Dog World

In short, Caeo didn’t know what to think.

He hadn’t really known what to think when he threw his lot with the Scarab in the first place, so maybe not much had changed there. Maybe things were always this crazy. He sure hoped not, but he used to wish his life was more interesting, and Ma said sometimes people got what they wished for.

He never knew what she meant by that, while she was still alive.

“Stay safe on the trip back.” Taylor, Scarab, squeezed his shoulder, before hugging his pack leader. Miss Angelica looked really sad, but they’d decided that Scarab would stay here for her date, and everyone else would head back to the hidden cove.

“Mal, it might make sense for you to stay with us for a while, if you’re not going to head to the Demon Tower.”

Malori nodded. “I can’t go back yet.”

Scarab and the Hammer Lady laughed. “Sure. Have anything for me, if I go visit?”

“I just…” Malori shifted. “If Queen Vel says…anything about me, could you let me…know?”

It was enough to make Caeo feel sorry for the human, which was a weird feeling. He’d had lots of weird feelings recently, so that was okay.

“Remember the play,” Scarab said. “We set it up so all of the mercenaries I hired will show up a day late, and that means the ship carrying all of the supplies will be undefended. Of course, I won’t know that perfidious pirate stole my shipment until after Amy and I go to the southern continent to ‘fight’ the demons.”

“If you just didn’t flirt with the princess we could have skipped this whole shell game,” Hammer Lady grumbled. She did that a lot.

“Yes, well, someone had to get Leora off Cerik, and you weren’t interested.”

Malori gave a soft laugh. “He was so thankful, he gave you a good deal on the supplies. Must have been hard for him.”

Angelica came to stand by his side.

“What’re they…saying?” he asked.

Miss Angelica reached up and patted him on the head. He accepted it, because Miss Angelica was scary, but she also usually answered his questions ever since he joined her pack.

“Weird human stuff,” she replied. “Cerik wasn’t interested in that other Lady, but she was interested in him.”

Caeo nodded. He’d got that point. Cerik had smelled all wrong, but… “The Princess lady didn’t smell like she liked him either.”

Miss Angelica shrugged. “Humans can’t smell things like we can. It’s why they don't understand their own emotions.”

“A lot of demons can’t smell good neither.”

“And that’s why they’re just as bad.”

Caeo nodded. It was so.

“You’ll be on the pirate raid with me,” Miss Angelica said.

“Grk!”

“What? It’ll be a perfect chance to learn.” She patted his head again. “Chief said there wouldn’t be any guards; isn’t that what you wanted?”

Mostly, Caeo wanted to protect his friend Sivi, but if that meant boarding human ships to get the food they needed… “I’ll do it.”

“Good boy!”

Caeo looked down at the floor to hide his blush. Of course, Miss Angelica would still smell his embarrassment, but maybe the rest of the humans wouldn’t notice.

At least they left the inn before Miss Angelica could tease him anymore. Scarab took one last look at her clothes; the other human had helped her get a new set. “How do I look?”

Angelica raised a hand. “Great, chief!”

“I only have eyes for Queen Vel.”

“Like a bank robber.”

Scarab ran a hand through her long, dark hair. “Why do I even ask you people.” She turned to Caeo. “How do I look?”

“Uh, good?” He glanced at her outfit. It looked like…adventurer clothes, but fancy? “I like the shiny buttons, and uh.” He blushed again, looking away from the tight leather pants. Ma said never look at a woman’s legs ‘less she wanted you to, and he wasn’t sure this counted.

She laughed quietly. “Thank you for the honest opinion. I hope the princess likes it.” She split from them in the large square before the palace gates, tossing her shoulder cape back with an effortless twirl. Caeo didn’t really get the shoulder cape, but it looked like the Princess was waiting at the gates, even though she said she’d meet in the garden, so maybe the Princess Lady would think differently.

He caught a hint of conversation on the wind.

“Leora…if you wished to spare me the heartache...”

The Princess giggled. “What?”

“Could you have looked any less radiant?”

He was too far away to catch a scent, emotions got muddled really quickly ‘cause there were so many people, but they both sounded like they were telling the truth.

It was weird.

At this side, Angelica giggled. “It sounds like they’ll be fine.”

“Didn’t expect you to be so gung-ho about it,” Hammer Lady said.

“Miss Taylor deserves a princess.” Angelica sniffed. “Even if it’s a crummy one like this.”

“And on that note, lets get out of here.” Hammer Lady adjusted her hammer. “Preferably before someone else recognizes us.”

Caeo nodded. Today had been really tense, and he’d be happy to get out of the big stone village without anyone else coming up behind them and saying ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’

Thankfully, he got his wish, and soon enough they were headed back into the forest.

“Alright brats, you’re stuck with me now.” Hammer Lady glared at both of them. “I wanna get back home before sundown.”

Caeo nodded rapidly, but the other two…

“You’re not my boss,” Malori said.

“Don’t worry Caeo.” Miss Angelica patted him on the shoulder. “Amy acts mean, but she’s actually just a big softie on the inside.”

“I’m not a softy.” Hammer Lady’s hands made a squeezing motion. “But I’ll turn you into a—”

“If you’re mean to me, I’ll tell Miss Taylor,” Angie said.

“Fucking stool pigeon.” With a grunt Hammer Lady turned around. “I hope we run into something I can kill.”

“Oh,” the other human said. “It would be nice to blow something up. I could use the stress relief.”

“See?” Miss Angelica whispered quietly. “Big softies”

Caeo nodded, even though he still agreed with what his Ma used to say. Humans were a bunch of blood-thirsty savages. “So, uh,” he asked. “What’ll I need to do? When we get back.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she replied. “Just go back to your normal stuff. I’ll get you when we’re shipping out tomorrow.”

Caeo gnawed his lip. “Right.”

Angelica tilted her head. “Worried?”

He shook his head. “Jus’…”

Her eyes lit up in understanding. “You are! But not about you, right? You’re worried about your friend from the boat.”

“Sivi,” Caeo said.

“It’s really nice to see you two getting along so well.” She bumped his shoulder. “Normally, well, you know…”

Caeo nodded. Back in his village, he didn’t really like the cat demons. They just rubbed him the wrong way. Sometimes Sivi did weird stuff like that too, like knocking over things just because, but…

He shrugged. “She don’t have no one else.”

Angelica hummed. “She’s not from your village?”

“We stopped somewhere, brought a bunch more slaves on,” Caeo said. “They threw her in my cage.”

“No wonder she’s so scared.” Miss Angelica folded her hands around her staff. “Is she settling in okay?”

“Doesn’t like enclosed spaces so much.” So much that she was constantly begging for a chance to go outside.

“Oh? I really like the new caves. They’re like a burrow.” Miss Angelica pulled a face. “I guess not everyone feels the same.”

He grunted. They kept walking. Without music to pass the time, the return trip seemed even longer, but eventually, the four of them came to the stop in the middle of a clearing, near where the old village used to be.

“We’re here,” Hammer Lady said. “Group up.”

Malori looked around. “Uh, where?”

Hammer Lady tossed her a complicated metal knot, and the mage almost dropped it. “Charge that, will you?”

With a shrug, the human mage did as she was told. The ‘key’ glowed, drinking in mana and making a bunch of hidden magic squiggles around the clearing light up. There was a flash of light, and the last thing Caeo wondered was how the Scarab was supposed to get back, since they’d only taken one teleportation key.

*~*~*

Leora thought she knew what she was in for at the outset.

Sure, she wasn’t the most adept at romance, but a traveling bard chatting up a princess? She’d read a book or two, okay? She knew that no matter how genuine the other woman appeared, it wasn’t real. Her dad had made it very clear that romance just wasn’t like the storybooks, but…

“No.” Taylor leaned in closer, eyes widening. Her gaze was impossibly intense, like she was taking Leora apart, analyzing every inch like a bug under the glass. “He slept with people to recruit them into his party? Couldn’t he just pay them?”

Leora gave a half laugh, placing a hand on the stone bench to steady herself. The sun, it was just the sun. Half again too hot even in this shaded nook with Taylor leaning over her and making her feel almost swaddled.

Not that she would oppose getting wrapped up in those long, leather-clad legs and oh divine tree why did Taylor look so good in those high-waisted pants and shirt with the sleeves hanging loose and the straps—

“Well, equipment is pretty expensive, you know. And at the time he wasn’t the King.”

“Most of his party was other men.”

Leora shrugged. “You do what you have to do.”

The taller woman laughed, a deep sound that made something in the back of Leora’s head sit at attention. “When you said that you had a more interesting story than anything to do with the Scarab, I didn’t believe you at first.”

“Ahaha, yeah.” Leora tilted her head, putting on her cutest smile. “I told you I couldn’t speak on that subject.” Not that she really knew that much about what father had planned for the Scarab. “But the tales from my father’s adventuring days make far better stories.”

“I agree completely.” Taylor stood, stretching in a way that drew Leora’s eye to those damnable leather straps framing her legs and back before she snatched her eyes away. She fanned her reddening cheeks with a single hand.

“Are you warm, my princess?” Taylor asked.

Leora laughed. “Have I mentioned I love it when you call me that?”

“Maybe once or twice.”

“Good.” The princess stood. “I’d hate for you to forget.”

“Do you truly think so little of me?”

Leora answered Taylor’s smile with one of her own. “You’re right, it’s too warm out.” Seized by a moment of boldness, she reached out to take the other woman’s hand this time. “Let me show you my favorite gazebo. There’s a pond, too; I used to feed the fish there when I was a child.”

“Lay on, my princess.”

Leora giggled again, pulling Taylor along after her. And sure, she knew that the royal guard chaperone was only a few meters away, but in the cozy corridors between tree and hedge, she could pretend that she was all alone with Taylor for but a moment, couldn’t she?

They crossed the small foot bridge to the gazebo. Leora spun once, before slipping into her favorite chair by the tea table. “What do you think.”

“It’s very nice.” Taylor smiled, leaning against the table.

Leora nodded. “Father slew it after he unified the continents, and had it transported here for my first birthday!”

“…Well,” Taylor looked taken aback for a moment. No doubt she assumed the gazebo was a replica, as if the royal family would stoop so low. All of the royal gazebos were prize kills kept to display the strength of the current dynasty.

Father had three of his own.

“A lovely gift,” the bard continued. “But not half so lovely as you.”

“You’re incorrigible.” Leora turned away to hide the returning blush. “No one should be able to say such canned lines with such confidence.”

Taylor leaned forward again, once again half-enclosing Leora. “But you like them, don’t you, Leora?”

“Hahaha…” Leora fanned herself again. “You—you shouldn’t.”

Long, slim fingers caught her chin, tilting Leora’s head back so she was forced to look up and up at Taylor. “No need to hide your face, Princess. I love it when you blush.”

“Haaaaa.” Leora half swooned. She wasn’t used to so many direct attacks so quickly! It battered away at her defenses like a barrage.

(Leora thought herself well equipped to deal with flirts and cads, but little did she know that her father’s fearsome temper kept most of them away, leaving her ill-prepared to face the wiles of a true seductress armed with the knowledge of a thousand romance novels.)

“W-will you…play a song for me?” Leora managed.

Taylor leaned back slightly, giving the princess space to breathe. “A song?”

“Yes, I. I, uh, noticed your—your flute.” Particularly where it hung right next to the bard’s thigh, but one did not simply say those things in polite company. “Would you play for me?”

The woman opened her mouth, then closed it. “That…”

Leora tilted her head. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Then. “…No. I was just surprised. Though, I suppose I should repay openness with the same.”

Before Leora could ask what that meant, the bard pulled her flute from its leather pouch, placing it against her lips. There was something impossibly elegant about the stance, the bend of the elbow, the fingers just lightly brushing the pearl keys, mouthpiece hovering just below Taylor’s expressive lips.

Then she began to play.

As part of her education, Leora learned the pianoforte from a young age. She’d since let her own skills lapse, somewhat, but she was still familiar with many schools of music, and had played under the tutelage of some of the most well-known musicians in the kingdom.

But Taylor’s song was completely new. It sprang into the world, like no tradition Leora had ever heard or performed, with long, intricate phrases that seemed to sing. The music left Leora teasing apart strands as gentle breaths of wind curled through the gazebo.

She would have to commission a portrait of this. Leora did so hope that Taylor could be convinced to model for it.

When the song ended, Taylor held her position for a moment before lowering the flute. She looked so oddly vulnerable in that moment, eyes distant, as if she’d forgotten Leora was even there.

“Where did you learn that song?” Leora asked.

Taylor took a breath, like she was coming out of a dream. “My mother. She was…” The woman shook her head. “It is of no moment.”

“I’d love to hear more, if you wished to share.” Leora gestured to the chair beside her. “Was she a musician as well?”

“A…scholar.” Taylor sat in the chair, still half cradling the flute. “I don’t know why I picked that song, even. I know others.”

“I enjoyed it.”

Taylor gave a small smile, just the corner of her lips curving up across her cheek. “Thank you.”

Leora swallowed. “Would you like to…play together some time? I would love to accompany you, on the pianoforte, that is?”

“You play?”

Leora nodded, giggling at Taylor’s surprise. “It is one of the many things I was required to learn. I didn’t much care for it at the time but…”

Would it be too forward to say that Taylor had reawakened her appreciation of music? Well, perhaps it would be, but bard had been impossible forward for the entire day.

“You made me realize that I used to love it, too.”

Taylor blinked, long lashes dusting her cheeks. “Really.” She shifted, looking at Lenore again with those piercing, all too intelligent eyes. “Why did you stop then?”

“Father never had time for my recitals.” Leora shrugged. “It seems such a small thing to complain about, doesn’t it? He paid for the best tutors, the best instruments. I think the palace has three pianos just for me, but after he failed to defeat the new Demon Queen the first time, he had much less time for…frivolous things.”

Taylor placed her hand over Leora’s. “Hey, money is no excuse for just vanishing from your daughter’s life.”

Leora laughed. “He didn’t vanish, it’s just more of his attention was taken up by more important things, like training and managing the kingdom’s military. He would still show up if my teachers said I had something new, so I focused on learning new things.” She shrugged.

Taylor seemed unreasonably troubled by that revelation, though, and Leora didn’t want her to think Leora was some kind of whiny damsel who needed daddy’s attention.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Leora continued. “I know I have a great deal of privileges that come with being a princess. The responsibilities aren’t so bad that I’d trade my life away to avoid them.” She laughed. “Though if a hero shows up and defeats the Demon Queen, I might not have to deal with the responsibilities either?”

Taylor narrowed her eyes. “You think your father will offer the Kingdom to whomever manages to kill Demon Queen Velverosa?”

“I think he might.” He was running out of time, after all. Leora would trade being a princess from her father’s life. “It’s a bit funny, but, oh, you’ll think I’m really shallow if I say it.”

Taylor squeezed their hands. “I would never judge you for something said in confidence.”

Leora sighed, leaning against Taylor’s shoulder. “I think half the reason I fantasized about heroes growing up, is because if I married whoever defeated the Demon Queen, well, wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?” she asked. “They get to be king, and I get to be queen, just like my mother.”

“So you molded yourself into a perfect princess to play the role?”

“This perfect princess was inside me all along.” Leora placed a hand against her chest. “And if my idle fantasies helped me figure it out sooner, that’s just icing on the cake!”

Taylor hummed, shifting so that their chairs were closer together. Leora snuggled into the taller woman’s chest, and in a complete breach of decorum, tucked her head under Taylor’s chin.

“But,” the princess said.

“But?”

“Even if you don’t think I’m shallow, I will.” Leora waved her free hand. “You’re planning an expedition to challenge the Demon Queen, and I’m chasing after a boy who doesn’t even like me.”

“Leora.” Taylor’s hand comes up, combing fingers through blonde hair. “I hardly think I’m any better. I might dress it up, but I’m still just…spending daddy’s money on this.”

“And I spend my daddy’s money on pianos I don’t even play,” Leora replied.

“That’s…”

“Hardly the same thing, isn’t it?” Leora shrugged.

For a moment they sat in silence.

“Why Cerik?” Taylor asked. “Or maybe, ‘why me’ would be a better question.”

“Hmm.” Leora shifted to a more comfortable position. The feeling of Taylor’s arms around her sent a little shiver down her spine. “I suppose his generic-ness is a little appealing. It’s very heroic.”

“Right.” She sounded a bit unsure.

Leora giggled. “He’s not really my type though. I like…” She snaked an arm around Taylor’s svelte waist. “This.”

“Princess!” The bard sounded mock-scandalized. “So bold.”

“I’ll show you bold.” Leora leaned up, burying her face in that gorgeous ebony mane of hair. She took a deep breath that sent shivers down her spine. Taylor smelled clean, but in a way that still made Leora want to curl her toes. She pulled back with an impish grin. “I love your hair. It’s just so thick, and lush.”

For the first time, Leora was treated to the sight of the taller woman blushing. It made her look so much more…down to earth. Less the silver-tongued beauty in tight leather pants that always knew what to say.

“Thank you…” Taylor murmured. “Amazing what a change of clothes will do.”

Leora bopped her on the nose, and Taylor flinched back, blinking rapidly.

“When did I say anything about your clothes!” Her eyes flicked down. “Though, those pants were an…excellent choice.”

Taylor laughed. “So glad you approve.” She crossed one leg over the other in a slow, sensuous show of creaking leather that highlighted exactly where she could crush Leora’s head between her thighs.

“Are you…still with me, Princess?”

“Hwaaaaa.”

Taylor laughed again.

“That’s—that’s not fair.” Leora pouted. “Why am I the only one turned into a blushing mess?”

Taylor paused, eyes glancing to the side. “I…liked it when you called my hair beautiful.”

“Oh?”

The woman shrugged.

“Well…” Leora leaned in, pressing tight against Taylor’s side. “I suppose I could be convinced to dispense with more compliments, if given a reason.”

“Hah.” Taylor made to stand.

“It’s like sable,” Leora said. “I just want to run my fingers through it.” She glanced down, blushing despite herself. “I spent a lot of time last night wondering what it would feel like…”

Taylor settled back, letting Leore rest against her side. “And?”

“And what?” This time it was Leora’s turn to look away. “Do you need more?”

Taylor leaned closer, lips right next to Leora’s ear. “Did the sensation live up to your expectations?”

“…yes.”

“Your highness.”

Both women looked up at the voice. One of the guards stood by the side of the gazebo, eyes studiously averted from where Leora was all but sitting in Taylor’s lap.

“Hmm. What is it?”

“His Majesty requests your presence for the afternoon luncheon.”

Leora bit her lip. “It seems I have to go now.”

Taylor nodded, slowly relinquishing her grip. “It was a pleasure, my Princess.”

Another little thrill ran down her spine, even as she stood. Taylor waited until Leora was a step away, before rising as well. “Shall I see myself to the gate?”

“I shall escort you, miss,” the guard replied.

Taylor nodded, smiling at Leora. “Thank you, for a delightful afternoon.”

Leora smiled back. “Shall I hear from you, once you return from your trip?”

The bard paused. “Would you like to?”

Leora understood at once. They’d both been indecorous to say the least, talking like they’d know each other for years rather than days. She was probably in for a lecture from her father already.

But still.

“I would,” Leora smiled. “Come back safely, okay?”

“Well, if my Princess commands it, I certainly will.” Taylor left with one last kiss pressed right where her thumb met the bare back of her hand.

Neither of them paid any mind the guard’s scandalized cough.

*~*~*

Caeo coughed out a feather.

“Sivi! Don’t throw our pillows!”

The catkin glared at him, their only other pillow held in the air. “You can’t go!” She blocked the doorway to their shared den.

Caeo sighed. More and more he understood how his Ma felt when him or his brothers made a mess. “Sivi, I have to. Miss Angelica said.” He tried to take the pillow, but Sivi hissed at him. “C’mon,” he said. “Let’s get some food, yeah? You haven’t eaten all day.”

Her pointy ears flatted for a moment. “How’d you know that?”

Caeo rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t be acting like this ‘less you were hungry.”

Sivi grumbled, but after a bit more coaxing, he managed to get the pillow back. They’d be sharing it now, but that was fine since Sivi usually curled up on top of him and tried to suffocate him at night. The one time he tried to get her to sleep on her own bedroll she started crying, so Caeo decided not to fight her on that.

“Wanna go see Janks?” he asked.

Sivi nodded mulishly.

Their sleeping den sat carved into a stone hallway, wide enough for even two of the biggest demons to squeeze past each other. Some of the other sleeping nooks had doors, but Caeo had grabbed some scrap cloth from the sailors and hung that across his. With Sivi’s hand in his, Caeo led them out of the tunnel to the main cove.

Here, demons worked day and night, lit by the glowing roots that wrapped around the stalactites above. The walls of the cavern were lined with openings for other tunnels, with stairs leading down towards the water. Caeo thought it made all the sections look like a big staircase that the little staircase ran between, and even if it was in a cave, there were more buildings than in his village twice over.

Most of the food places were by the water, where the Scarab’s ships slipped into the cove to hide. He kinda remembered seeing the mouth of the cave when he first came here, and there were some reefs or something in front of the entrance.

He didn’t really know what they were called; he only knew stalactite because Miss Angelica explained them to everyone so they wouldn’t think the cave was just a giant demon’s mouth waiting to swallow them.

Caeo pulled them over to a bull demon sitting on a rock near the bottom of the stairs. He had a grill propped up between the wall of a building and an open ice box, and a line that ran all the way down to the dock despite it.

‘S how you knew it was good food.

“If it ain’t my favorite little brats.”

Janks waved them both over, prompting a grumble from the line.

The cook glared. “Anyone who want’s food in their mouths better shut ‘em!” And that quieted everyone right down. Caeo grinned, pulling Sivi over next to the ice box. Back when Janks was first getting started, Hammer Lady was still making food for everyone for free.

Now food was just pretty cheap, but good food, like what Janks made, was hard to come by.

“Got somefin’ nice for both of yous.” Janks rummaged around in his icebox, throwing two small skewers of meat on his grill. “Saving it for my two best customers!”

“Used to be your only customers,” Caeo replied. “Gimmie root skewers too?”

“You’ll have to pay for those, brat.”

Caeo quickly sent him some ‘Freedombux’ from his status screen. Noone knew what ‘bux’ were supposed to be, but the Scarab had started handing them out to people. Janks added more skewers until his lopsided grill was so full you almost couldn’t see the metal, humming happily to himself as he started prepping the next batch.

A bit later and food in hand, Caeo and Sivi sat down on the edge of one of the terraces, one layer above the water. Sivi tore into her skewer with a focused devotion. She never looked like she was eating fast, but the next time Caeo turned his head the food was always gone.

He started in on his root skewer before pushing the other one towards his friend.

Sivi blinked up at him in surprise. “That one’s yours,” she said.

“I like the veggies better.” It was a bad lie, and going by Sivi’s narrowed eyes she knew it too. Still, the catkin was too hungry, and within a few moments, she demolished the rest of the food.

Caeo ate slower, just like his Ma always told him to.

Sivi pulled her legs up on the ledge. One hand fished out a necklace from the inside of her shirt, and she fiddled with it while her chin rested on her knees.

“Is that your Ma’s?”

Sivi stiffened for a second before relaxing. “No.” She ducked her head, hiding her eyes beneath her silver-grey fringe. “It’s broken though.”

“How’d it break?”

Sivi shrugged. “On the boat.”

Caeo nodded. Lots of stuff broke on the boat. Scarab’s flute was scary. He continued munching on his food, watching as a group of humans and demons started loading up another boat. He wondered if he’d be on that one tomorrow.

Scarab had a few boats now, from their raids. Apparently she sunk a few more too, cause there wasn’t enough space or something. Caeo didn’t really understand boats. He wasn’t too eager to go back onto the big ocean place either.

But Miss Angelica said he was supposed to go, so he would.

“Caeo,” Sivi said.

“Mm?”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

The wolfkin blinked. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”

She shrugged again. “No one else is nice to me.”

“‘Cause you spend all day hidden in our den, silly.” He bumped her shoulder. “Sides, Janks likes you, doesn’t he?”

“Only because we bought food from him when no one else would.”

“Yeah.” Caeo nodded. “That’s how it works. You do something for someone, and they do something for you. What comes round, goes round. Or something.”

Sivi nodded. “I haven’t done anything for you, but you’re still nice to me.”

That stumped Caeo for a second, so he pulled out a trick his Ma used to use on him and his brothers. “Why are you so worried about me, all of a sudden?”

“I’ve never had someone be nice to me before,” Sivi said.

“Nobody? What about your Ma and Pa.”

“I never had a mother or father,” she replied. “Just…me.”

“Well, maybe that’s why I’m nice to you,” Caeo said.

She looked at him, golden eyes half-lidded. “You’re nice to me because my mom and dad died when I was a baby?”

He blushed. “N-no! I meant, maybe that’s why I’m here, right? You never had no one look out for you before, but I will.” Caeo nodded. “Maybe that’s why we met.”

She huffed, turning back to her necklace. “That’s not a reason…”

“Well, it’s like the Scarab said.” Caeo reached out, tucking the broken necklace away. “It’s a Doggy dog world out there, so us dogs got to stick together.”

“I’m a Cat, though?”

“Cats can be dogs,” Caeo said. “S’only fair.”