Page 45 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
“They don’t?” Wendall asked in surprise. “You don’t celebrate your birthdays?”
“Fairies deem such celebrations pointless. One must accomplish something to earn a reward.”
“Like what?” Dillon asked.
Ray shrugged. “Typically, it is combat-related. When Queen Silvidia tasks me with dispatching another, should she deem the task worthy, she may offer a boon.”
“What does dispatch mean?” Ruthie questioned.
Johnny cleared his throat and rubbed Ruthie’s back. “That’s not something you’ve gotta worry with for a while.”
“That is true,” Ray agreed.
Curious, Dillon asked, “What kind ofboon?”
Ray’s crimson eyes momentarily lit with fire. “Lands, special time with the queen herself, a rise in status, the weapon of the vanquished, the head of—”
“I think we get the point.” Wendall sent a very directed glance Ruthie’s way. “I don’t believe the gifts that Ray has in mind would be something Phil would…appreciate.”
“Agreed. Pixies have far more tender hearts than fairies.” Ray sounded more factual than irritated.
Scratching the back of his neck, Wendall gave Dillon and Ruthie an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’re very helpful.”
Dillon’s shoulders sagged. “Maybe we should ask Uncle Sed.”
“Why haven’t you yet?” Johnny asked.
Instead of Dillon, Ruthie answered. “We wanted to find something on our own. Something special.”
Trinket let loose something close to a growl before hopping off Dillon’s shoulder and running toward their latest storage room guest. Unbothered, Phlox, in Pallas’s cat form, swatted at Trinket before manifesting his pixie wings and flying upward. Pixie dust filled the air and instantly created a collective sneezing fit.
Settling on a higher shelf, Phlox transformed back into his pixie form. “Sorry about the dust.”
Johnny waived a hand in front of his face, dissipating as much of it as possible. Soon the dust evaporated, taking care of itself. “It’s fine. No worries. I’ll just be sneezin’ my fool head off the rest of the night.”
“Stop being dramatic,” Phlox scolded.
Ruthie clapped her hands. “You’ve still got a tail,” she happily giggled.
Said tail swept out, nearly knocking off a bottle of quality burnt rum. “Helps me balance when I’m up high.” Phlox grinned before sticking his tongue out at a very perturbed Trinket. “That’s what you get for showing me your teeth.” Phlox held out a hand, transforming his fingers into lethal claws. “You get the claws.”
Trinket padded back and forth, barking her distress.
“Come here.” Wendall scooped his scuttlebutt into his arms, rubbing her fur. “You did a fine job protecting them. But it’s just Phlox. You’ve seen him in his Pallas’s cat form before. He’s no threat.”
Trinket huffed and calmed, barely mollified.
Swinging his bare feet back and forth, Phlox stared down at the odd mix. “So, this is where you’ve all been. You know, if you’re planning on having a secret meeting, you should have a better cover story for why all of you are MIA at the same time. Also, a secret meeting isn’t worth its salt if I’m not invited. Honestly, I’m hurt you’d exclude me.”
Wendall continued rubbing Trinket. “I don’t think it was planned. Besides, Ray and I weren’t exactly invited either. We just sort of barged in.”
Phlox appeared appeased. “Well, then, I suppose that’s acceptable.” Turning his attention back to Dillon and Ruthie, Phlox cocked his head to the side, sending his horizontallyblue-and-tan striped hair shifting over a shoulder. “What’s this about a present for Phil?”
“You heard all that?”
Phlox waived Johnny off as if his question was inconsequential. “I hear everything. Now, what’s going on?”
For the third time that night, Dillon and Ruthie explained their predicament, along with the suggestions they’d been offered so far. Phlox dutifully listened and only snickered a little.
