Beasts

35: All The Animal Puns

  Falling again. An endless fall through the sky. This time, I land on the ground. When I stand up, I'm alone in my cabin. In the middle of the room is a large mirror. I walk up to it and lean in. My fangs and claws are out along with the dull throb of my blood  coursing through my veins.

  In a blink, my reflection changed to a brown and gold wolf. It stared coldly at me. No. I started coldly at myself. Then the mirror cracked. I jumped back but the wolf remained there. It pawed at the mirror like it was trapped before it completely shattered. Then it was as if I was punched in the stomach and all the air was knocked out of me. "Don't forget our deal." Eddison whispered from behind before I woke up.

  As soon as my eyes opened, I knew I had a fever. My skin was hot to the touch and I felt tired just lifting the blanket off. "Sleep well?" Elle smiled as she played with a rope that, I'm guessing, was from her wrists.

"Who untied you?" I ask and prop myself up on my elbow.

"Your dad cut us all free. Sure we'll get in trouble later, but those things were uncomfortable as heck." She turned her head around and said, "June's awake." In a plain voice. "By the way, whatever dream you had, you sure released a lot of magic." She said then got up and walked away.

  Phoenix ran up to me and plopped himself down like there would be an explosion if he kept standing. "Sorry I was such a mess." I said and lowered my head. Phoenix lifted my chin with his finger so I faced him. He looked at me with concerned eyes.

"I can't believe you see yourself like that when you're the strongest person I know. Not physically of course. That would be my uncle. Unless you can lift me."

"Sadly, I can't." I weakly laughed. Phoenix moved the back of his hand to my cheek. For a second I thought he was going to kiss me until he said,

"You're burning." He moved his hand up to my forehead.

"Please do not touch my face like that." I said when he moved back to my cheek.

"Fine, would you like it more if I did this?" He said and spread his entire hand over my face.

"No, not really." I said and nudged it away.

"I'll be right back. Also, I broke your record while you were asleep."

"You what!?" I took out my phone as quickly as possible as Phoenix got up. He came back a minute later and sat back down in his spot. "246!? Did you cheat or something!?" I yell and turn the phone to him.

"Nah, I just got mad skills." He said with a smug face.

"How am supposed to beat that?" I say and gesture to the obscure number.

"You don't. If you do, I'll do whatever you want."

"If I don't...?"

"Than you suck." He smiled. I growled at him before starting the game. Would you look at that, died at 25. This is going to take forever.

  "Here Phoenix. I got what you wanted." Iridescent said and set down a bottle of water and granola bar beside him. "Get well soon, June. I gotta get back to planning." She said and did fairy thing away. I guess she goes faster like that.

  "Eat this." He said and held out the granola bar.

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry."

"That's because you're sick. So eat." He shoved it into my hand. "I'll fed you if I have to." He winked. I narrowed my eyes at him but couldn't hold back the smile.

  "So, want to talk about earlier or no?" Phoenix asked as I took a bite from the bar. I held out a finger and chewed before swallowing.

"I-I-" My thoughts get jumbled as I come up with the right words to say.

"I understand if you don't want to. I just want to know if I can help."

"You've helped so much already."

"Doesn't mean I can't anymore." He said and broke a bit of my bar off and popped it into his mouth. "You saw nothing." He said innocently and looked up. "Nothing at all." He said as he chewed.

"I don't care if you eat some of it. I do care that you're talking with your mouth full again."

"Nom nom nom." He said and chewed with his mouth open and in front of my face.

"That's disgusting!" I say and push him away.

"We all chew so who cares?"

"That's like saying you wouldn't care if I sneezed into your face."

"Ew! That's messed up!"

"Exactly!" I laugh. "So don't chew with your mouth full!"

"Whatever. Just finishing eating then drink your water."

"Yes, mom." I say and take another bite.

"The after, go wash the dishes and clean up your room. It's like a tornado came by there." He said with his hands on his hips.

"But mom! There's a party at Iridescent's after!"

"Too bad. That's what you get for always having your head in the clouds." He warned. 

"Ugh!" I groan loudly before we burst out laughing.

"God, if your mom is really like that. I would love her." Phoenix said.

"She sometimes is." I chuckle.

"Speaking of which!" Dad chimed in. "How is your mother?" My smile fades away and I look over at Phoenix. He nods.

"She got into an accident and is in a coma now..."

"Oh. How long has it been?"

"About a week now. Danny told me."

"I see..." He said before turning back to the others.

"You better not go into any comas on me or I swear to God I will kill you. Then I'll kill myself for killing you." Phoenix said.

"I'll try not to." I say and finish the bar.

  The rest of the day I spent it in the hut. Iridescent was the one who went in and out for us all. These Wolves came in and let me tell you, they were not happy to see that the others has cut off their ropes. It took a lot of talking but they finally let them be as long as they stayed inside the hut. Dinner was a dinner roll with lintel soup. It wasn't even a full bowl. We had to share with someone else. They also gave me an orange as well which I promised to share with everyone.

  "Won't Danny be mad you're here?" Iridescent asked.

"He'll understand." I said as I peeled the orange.

"Hey, wanna see something cool?" Phoenix said and took an orange slice. He lit a small fire with his fingers and held the orange in front of it. With a squeeze, the juice from the orange made the flame erupt.

"Nice." I said and blew out his fire. "I have a joke for you guys." I said as I handed out the orange slices.

"What is it?" Charlie asked, leaning forward.

"What did one whale say to another?" They took a moment and looked at each other.

"What?" Phoenix finally asked.

"Whale hello there!"

"Oh my god." Phoenix said.

"What? I think she snailed it." Charlie laughed.

"You have cat to be kitten me." Elle joined in.

"If I were an owl, this would be a hoot!" Bear said.

"I'm quaking up!" Dad laughed.

"Phoenix, I deer you to make one." Isaiah said.

"You people are unbearable. Please stop." He smiled.

"Never! Owl never stop!" I said and fell back on his arm in laughter.

"You otter be ashamed of yourself." He shook his head with a smile on his face. Oh the humanatee!