Page 50 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
Laughter burst through the house as everyone agreed it was time to eat. Phil spent his precious two hours with his parents, introducing them to his friends and family, cherishing the time he could remain in their presence.
Phil wasn’t sure how the kids pulled it off, but hands down, this was his best birthday ever.
A Scuttlebutt’s Loyalty
TRINKET
Skeets!
Soooo soft. I nuzzled deeper into the fur on top of Wendall’s head. The two-leggeds didn’t call it fur. They called it hair. Wendall’s was exceptional and made a blissful place to perch. My toes dug deep, my nails wrapped within its tendrils. Sitting atop my tribe leader’s head gave me the best vantage point to scout for danger. Wendall was strong, but he still required protection and that was my job.
“Careful, Trinket. Don’t forget, I need to breathe now.” Wendall’s voice was soft and not chiding. Itwasan important reminder. Wendall was wonderfully alive now, and I needed to be careful regarding how tightly I anchored my tail around his neck. “Thank you,” he said when I loosened my hold.
My answering chitter made Wendall chuckle and earned me a scritch on the side. I leaned into the touch. Nothing was as good as Wendall’s scritches.
I shifted my weight when Wendall leaned over a table, gathering dirty glasses and loading them into his bin. Wendall swayed to the music. It was softer now as Dusk wound down for the night. I liked this time the best, when the musicquieted and the crowds lessened. While I was still vigilant, the threat level was lessened.
I’d had to be even more watchful this time. Wendall’s mate had business in Fairy. I puffed up with pride. Ray trusted me to protect his mate. He was the one who brought me into Wendall’s life. Ray gave me the beginnings of a tribe when he delivered me to the human world. Wendall and I’d grown our tribe since then, and our members were many. We were formidable.
I remembered our first meeting. Wendall had smelled…off. He’d held the scent of decay, and when I listened, I could hear no heartbeat. I’d met a few others like him before, yet not like him at all. I’d been confused and hesitant. But I knew, just as all scuttlebutts know, that Wendall was worthy. Scuttlebutts are never wrong. We are excellent judges of character.
“Busy night,” Wendall mused, mostly talking to himself. He did that more often than his mate realized. “Sometimes I miss the days when I didn’t get tired.” Wendall straightened, shifting his bin of dirty glasses on his hip. “But I don’t miss my diet of brains.” He made a strange gagging noise. For a moment, I thought my tail was too tight again, but that wasn’t the cause.
Wendall’s body shivered. He did that sometimes. Mostly when he thought of how he used to be. Zombies didn’t come back from being dead. Wendall hadn’t been like most zombies. Shifting forward, I nuzzled Wendall’s hair, inhaling his very alive scent. I could feel the steady beat of Wendall’s heart through my tail. Queen Silvidia was disappointed Wendall didn’t have two hearts now that he was just as much fairy as human. Wendall didn’t need two hearts. The one he had was good enough. Better than good enough.
“How you doin’?” Lizbeth asked. The fur on top of her head was bright pink tonight. I licked my lips. A human earlier this week brought in something called cotton candy. I relievedthe fool of much of his tasty treat. It had been pink too, the same shade as Lizbeth’s hair. I needed to find a way to get Wendall to get me some more of the sweet, fluffy substance. It melted so wonderfully in my mouth.
“Just a couple more tables. How about you?” Wendall replied.
“I’m caught up. I think all we’ve got left are the dishes out on the floor.” Lizbeth glanced around. “The only ones left are Lucroy’s nestmates.” Lizbeth checked her watch. “The sun will be up in another two hours, maybe less, so they’ll be heading out soon too.” She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “If things keep going like this, Leon’s going to have to hire more help.” Lizbeth wrinkled her nose. I’d learned that meant she didn’t like something.
“I could offer to work more hours,” Wendall said. The tone of his voice indicated he didn’t really want to do so. I’d found Wendall often did things like that. I gave a low grumble of displeasure. Wendall was important. He was my tribe leader and should be able to do as he wished.
Lizbeth shook her head, her pink fur blurring around her head. “Thanks, but you work enough. And I think if you even suggested it, Ray would be tempted to burn Dusk to the ground.” Lizbeth grinned while fingering the spiked collar around her neck. She did that a lot too. I still wasn’t sure what that gesture meant. “He doesn’t like it when you’re apart.”
I could feel the heat of Wendall’s blush through my tail. “Well, that… I’m sure he’d be fine,” Wendall sputtered, and I chittered with amusement.
Lizbeth reached up and ran her fingers through my fur. I leaned into the touch. “You think that’s funny too, don’t you, Trinket?”
In response, I chittered louder, and she laughed. Pulling her hand away, Lizbeth checked her watch again and grewmore serious. “You should get out of here. I can handle the rest. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“I can keep working. I—”
“Nope.” Lizbeth wagged her finger from side to side. “It’s not every day a fairy shares their bond.” Lizbeth’s nose crinkled again. It was slightly different than before. “Not that I know what that really entails.”
Wendall leaned against the table he’d just cleaned, easing his bin down on its surface. Scurrying off his head, I settled on Wendall’s shoulder, wrapping my tail around his upper arm for stability and comfort. Wendall’s heart rate increased at the mention of the bond he was going to share with his mate. I wasn’t sure why, but it made him nervous. Anything that made Wendall nervous got my attention. But it was more than nerves. Wendall worried.
Pushing my body into his neck, I softened my chitters into coos. Wendall liked this sound. It slowed his heart rate and eased the tension tightening his muscles.
“Thanks, Trinket. How do you always know just what to do?”
I cooed louder, pushing even harder into Wendall’s neck. He leaned into the touch, filling me with pride. I was such a good scuttlebutt.
“What’s wrong?” Lizbeth asked. “Are you having second thoughts?” Worry shot through her voice.
“Second thoughts about what?” Johnny asked. I’d heard the clop of his hooves as he drew nearer. Johnny was fine. He was a good tribemate. Johnny was steady, and he treated Wendall kindly—both as a zombie and now that he was truly alive again. Tossing a dirty towel over his shoulder, Johnny rested his fisted hands on his hips. Johnny’s kilt showed off his furry faun legs.
“Sharing Ray’s bond,” Lizbeth answered, and Johnny sucked in a harsh breath.
