Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Hazards of Partying as a Beast

Have you ever partied so much that all four of your feet ache and your belly is about to burst from how much you ate?

I’ve done that before as a human. I didn’t know it was possible to do that as an animal outside of cartoons, comic books, Webcomics, books, and greeting cards. You see pictures of happy, smiling, silly animals behaving like humans. It’s meant to be cute and fun. Or, in the case of great literature, satirical. But I just thought that animals partying was the stuff of fiction and fantasy.

That was before I was reborn in a fantasy video game world. And in this world, tamed beasts get to party. We also suffer the same consequences as humans. Well, with certain differences. None of the animals here have had too much to drink or taken any illicit drugs. At least, not as far as I know. And if the animal and bird guests behave obnoxiously, they do it stone cold sober. Lobo has no excuse. And neither would I, if I fought with him.

I yawn, nodding off, and have to ask Demos and Gussie and Demos’ bear friend Ursula (literally, “little she-bear”) to repeat themselves.

[Not used to parties, are you?] Ursula asks with a giggle. [Don’t worry. We all get to bed down soon. This is a house party. Everyone goes home in the morning.]

I’m too exhausted to care. [I didn’t know that.]

[We didn’t either.] Demos sounds as indifferent as I look. [Lady Lammermoor just told Mistress Minette and Mistress Vedette, and Vedette told me.]

[You’ll like it here.] Ursula smiles kindly, baring her teeth. [It’s comfortable. You get to sleep with your mistress or master. Or, if you prefer, with your fellow beasts.]

I purr. [You are way too good for Demos.]

[Why, thank you.] Ursula puffs out her chest and lifts her head. [Demos, will you bed down with all of us in the Beast Wing? Lightning will be there too.]

My heart lifts, punching through the fog of exhaustion. [Lightning? She’s not sleeping in her master’s quarters??]

[Please.] Lightning joins us, her fur adorably rumpled. [I get to sleep in his room every night. On occasion, it’s good to bed down among my own kind. Among tamed beasts. You can join us, Blaze. You must join us.]

[I’m game.] Gussie’s feathers droop. [I love being with Master, but it would be interesting to sped time with my own kind. Tamed beasts.]

If you looked up “agreeable” in the dictionary, and also “biddable,” Gussie’s picture would accompany both entries. Oh, she can be as spunky and vibrant as her red, gold, and orange coloring. But she’s definitely someone who thrives on getting along with others. She wants harmony. That’s my impression.

[Blaze, you will join us, won’t you?] Gussie presses.

Demos nudges me with his wet nose. I catch a whiff of decidedly human punch. It doesn’t smell alcoholic. [Yes, Blaze. Join us.]

My eyes don’t seem to want to stay open, and my feet feel like they’re stuffed with cotton. Or like they’re made of marble like my vision. No! That can’t be.

Giving each of my feet a shake like I’m doing the Hokey Pokey, I yawn, a little more alert. [Let’s continue the party in the Beast Wing. A slumber party!]

My friends all embrace the idea. We do our best to prevail upon our tamers to lead us to the Beast Wing, even though Lightning knows the way. I just want to reassure Kaline that I’ll be OK. I haven’t been apart from her since she tamed me.

However, she yawns and looks as tired as I feel. “How far is it to the Beast Wing? I hope not far! After dancing all night with Hans Lammermoor, I won’t be able to move!]

[Hans is my master.] Lightning sounds faintly amused. [He’s never even noticed a human girl child before. This is a good omen.]

My brain feels foggy, and I can’t make sense of her meaning. [He tired her out. How is that good? She sounds exhausted.]

Lightning smells offended. [But she had fun. And stop whining. Your human will be fine.]

I mumble an apology. Lightning accepts, and we all head to the Beast Wing, which, as near as I can figure, is located near the veterinary center in the Lammermoor mansion. Kaline yawns the entire way. Both of us must be feeding on each other’s fatigue, because we practically have to drag ourselves to the Beast Wing.

My friends and I howl, roar, and squawk impatiently, waiting for Lady Lammermoor and Kallen Lammermoor to open the door to the Beast Wing. Made of stained glass, it features scenes of nature and wild creatures. Very pretty, but I’d rather see what lies just beyond the door.

Finally, the door opens, and the light spills out to welcome us. We all amble inside, and a delightful vision meets our eyes.

Soft pillows. Patches of greenery for our private time or for eating so we can improve our breath. All kinds of perches and beds. Ledges to climb and to rest on. Soft music playing. All sorts of interesting scents. This is my kind of place! It reminds me of the pet hotels in W City. My family used to board our various pets at one of the pet hotels. We could even watch them online on an app or on the hotel’s private members-only section of the Website.

[This is heaven.] Demos can barely sit still. He has his eye on a grassy bed near a pool of water. [I want that one!]

{I will pick for you.] Lightning plays the perfect hostess. [You can have that bed, Demos, although I must warn you, it is Lobo’s favorite, too.]

Sure enough, Lobo darts out and flops down on the grassy bed. [Mine.]

[You have to share.] Lightning escorts Demos over. [You both get along. We do not want any noises in the night, or the humans will be unhappy.]

Indifferent, Demos flops down a safe distance from Lobo. [I’ll get along if he will. Blaze? Are you going to lie down or just fall asleep right where you are?]

There’s enough space for me to lie down. I wander over and curl up on the other side of Demos, putting him between Lobo and me.

An irritated growl tells me that I’m not far enough away for Lobo’s liking. However, Lightning purrs her approval, so Lobo is outvoted and out of luck.

[You best not come over to my side in the night.] Lobo’s voice is petulant. [Or you will have a rude awakening.]

Demos’ loud snore drowns out Lobo’s griping.

Sleepiness takes over, and I barely notice Gussie flapping off to find a perch, or Kaline and Vedette and their parents bidding us goodnight. I drift into dreamland.

Until a strange noise wakes me out of a sound sleep!

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