The sun was still barely cresting over the horizon, casting a soft glow across the sprawling Tabaxi estate. Feng Li, the estate's ever-vigilant caretaker, padded silently through the halls, his white fur pristine and his silver tail swishing with purpose. Every morning he took pride in keeping the estate running smoothly, but there was always something unexpected that made his day just a little more… chaotic.
Today was no different.
Feng Li’s first task was simple: water the estate’s vast collection of indoor plants. Many were delicate, imported from the far corners of Cyndryll, and Feng had a green thumb—or so he thought. With his watering can in hand, he hummed a quiet tune as he moved from plant to plant, adjusting the soil here, spritzing a leaf there.
That was until he reached the enormous fern in the center of the hall. It was his pride and joy, a towering plant that nearly reached the ceiling. As he leaned in to adjust its pot, his tail accidentally knocked over a smaller potted plant that had been sitting on a nearby table. The pot wobbled, teetered on the edge, and before Feng could react, it crashed to the floor with a loud *thud*.
Dirt scattered across the polished wooden floors, and Feng Li winced.
“Well… that’s unfortunate,” he muttered to himself, quickly setting down the watering can. He bent down to clean up the mess, only to realize that his tail had now brushed against the fern, sending it swaying dangerously.
“Oh no, no, no, no—”
The giant fern tipped, and Feng dove forward, catching it just before it could hit the ground. He let out a sigh of relief, holding the enormous plant in his arms.
Then, from behind him, a small voice spoke up.
“Feng, I thought you were good with plants?”
Feng turned to see one of the young Tabaxi kits, a mischievous grin plastered on their face.
Feng smiled sheepishly. “Accidents happen.”
After recovering from the plant disaster, Feng made his way to the kitchen, where breakfast preparations were already in full swing. As the estate’s resident caretaker, he often helped out, making sure everything ran smoothly for the large family.
But today, as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, a strange smell hit his nose. His feline senses immediately went on alert.
“Burnt toast?” he mumbled, ears twitching.
He darted over to the stove where a stack of toast had been abandoned. Smoke was rising from the top slice, and Feng scrambled to remove it before the smoke detectors could go off. He fanned the air with his paws, opening a window to clear the kitchen before it turned into a full-blown disaster.
As he turned back to the counter, something odd caught his eye. A jar of honey was tipped over, spilling its golden contents across the surface, dripping down onto the floor. His fur bristled.
“How does this even happen…?”
Without hesitation, Feng grabbed a rag and started cleaning up the sticky mess, grumbling to himself as he wiped honey from every surface it had somehow touched. He nearly slipped on the floor while scrubbing, catching himself with a quick flick of his claws.
“I swear this kitchen is out to get me,” he muttered.
Just as he thought he was finished, one of the kits poked their head into the kitchen. “Feng! We need help outside with the fountain!”
Feng blinked, staring at the honey-coated rag in his hands. “The fountain? What now?”
Feng arrived at the fountain in the middle of the estate’s garden, where several of the Tabaxi kits had gathered. The fountain, usually a serene centerpiece, was now bubbling… far more than it should have been. Soap suds were spilling over the edge, covering the ground around it in a frothy mess.
Feng’s eyes widened. “Who… put soap in the fountain?”
The kits all pointed at one another, each blaming someone else. Feng let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Alright, alright. Everyone back up. I’ll handle this.”
With a broom in hand, Feng tried to clear the growing bubbles, but it was like trying to fight a losing battle. No matter how many bubbles he scooped away, more would appear. The suds were everywhere, clinging to his fur, his tail, and even his whiskers.
One of the kits giggled, and Feng shot them a playful glare. “You think this is funny, do you?”
The kit nodded enthusiastically, prompting Feng to toss a handful of bubbles their way. The kit squealed in laughter, darting away from the foam.
Feng couldn’t help but chuckle himself. Despite the chaos, moments like this were what made the job worth it.
After spending the rest of the day cleaning the fountain, rearranging a broken vase, and chasing a wayward mouse out of the pantry (with more than a few close calls), Feng finally collapsed into his favorite chair in the estate’s library. His fur was slightly damp from the fountain mishap, but he didn’t care. He was exhausted.
As he leaned back and closed his eyes, the door creaked open, and Tixo poked his head in.
“Rough day?” Tixo asked, his tone amused.
Feng opened one eye, giving Tixo a tired smile. “You have no idea.”
Tixo chuckled, stepping into the room. “Well, the estate looks great. No one would know it almost fell apart today.”
“Almost?” Feng laughed. “More like multiple disasters avoided.”
Tixo grinned and gave Feng a pat on the shoulder. “You handled it, though. As always.”
Feng closed his eyes again, settling into the chair. “Yeah… but next time, someone else is dealing with the fountain.”
