Chapter 369
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 369
Im gonna need a bigger yurt.
Sharing my sleeping quarters with sixteen rabbits, five quin pups, three fully-grown quins, three adolescent wildcats, two yearling bears, one baby hare, one octopus, and one fat, flightless bird leaves little room to maneuver. Most of my animals arent even fully grown yet either, so eventually, were not all going to fit. Nothing needs to be said about the quins, and while my snuggle bears and silly cats still have a ways to go, its only a matter of time before they reach full-pony status, if not bigger. Then theres the fifteen baby bunnies who are plumping up nicely into roundish balls of long-haired floofs, but still only half the size of their Mama Bun. Snoring peacefully on my chest, the big girl measures around seventy-five centimetres from tip to tail and weighs close to twenty-five tender, delicious kilos.
No Rain. Bunnies are friends, not food, no matter how delicious they might be.
On a separate note, you are never to make friends with cows, chickens, goats, or pigs, no matter how cute or cuddly they might be. Stay away from horse friends too, because theyre not bad eating either.
Post Script: Again, stop talking to yourself like this. Its weird and unhealthy.
Luckily, not all of my pets are behemoth monstrosities compared to the ones in my past life. I dont know how big Cloud Chaser Hares are supposed to be, but Blackjack hasnt really grown since joining my little pet family, still comfortably nestled under Mama Buns chin and easily fitting in the palm of my hand. Roc is a little smaller than the baby bunnies and takes up almost no room roosting his fat bird butt atop Mafus fatter head. Sir Inky is only the size of a basketball, though his long tentacles make him look a lot bigger, and unfortunately, his tub-turned-octopus-tank requires more real estate than Zabu, Mafu, and Shana combined. Even then I think its too small for Sir Inky to spend all his time in. If hes gonna stick around, then I have no choice but to build him a massive glass-walled aquarium, which will be difficult considering I havent figured out glass yet. It might have something to do with the sand were using, but we wont know until we test samples from all over the Empire...
Whatever. Glass aside, the only solution is to build a bigger yurt so I can better fit all my present and future floofs. A circus tent would be nice, though keeping it warm and lit will be a pain in the ass. Plus, setting it up would require a literal army of workers, and I dont even want to think about travelling with it in tow. Or maybe I should set a rotating schedule and not insist on snuggling with all my pets at once, but in my defence, it seemed like an awesome idea last night when I was drunk and sleepy. No wonder they gave me such a tiny cup, whatever was into those teapots packed a real kick. I should ask Feathered Big Bro what was in them, but not before I figure out what his name is...
Awakened by my sleeping musings and futile attempts to stretch, the ever-alert Zabu opens his eyes to scan the surroundings before checking if his pups are all still breathing. Hes a good quin-daddy, and I swear he checks the bun buns too. It might be because theyre all snuggled together in the most adorable cuddle-pile ever, but Im hoping his instincts have taken over and he thinks the bun buns are his babies, much like Mama Bun adopted the quin pups. Rabbits and quins, BFFs forever, or at least I hope so. Id be heartbroken if my floofs started eating each other, but I should probably hope for the best and expect the worst. Sarankho and Jimjam are already showing signs of their emerging hunting instincts, and Ive had to repeatedly warn the twins not to randomly turn their backs on the wildcats. Then theres Banjo and Baloo, who are delightfully docile now, but whos to say theyll stay this way forever? I mean, theyre bears, solitary apex predators who, barring any magical shenanigans, can out-muscle most land mammals in their biome.
Plus, eventually, my fur babies are gonna grow up and feel the need to procreate, which is an entirely different sort of mess Im woefully unprepared for. I only pray they dont learn from Sir Inky and fixate on me as a target...
Ugh. My pessimism is reaching critical mass. Here I am laying in the warm, if somewhat smelly embrace of all my fur babies, but all I can think about is how things will eventually go to hell in a hand basket. Those problems are for future me to worry about, so I should just lay here and enjoy the moment, but sadly, its too late to turn back. The dam has broken and my brains been flooded with anxiety and apprehension, denying me of all joy and contentment. Plus, I have to pee. Giving Mama Bun and Blackjack one last nuzzle, I sit up and giggle as the big bunny grunts in discontent, clinging to my shirt with her little rabbit paws while refusing to open her eyes. All around, the yurt comes to life as my fur babies stir in their sleep, yawning and stretching with little care for their neighbours proximity or comfort. Even Sir Inky pops his bulbous head out for a peek, scanning his surroundings before skirting as far away from the quins as his tub will allow.
Oddly enough, it makes me feel better knowing Im not the only one worried about pet on pet violence, even if said validation comes from a wannabe face-rapist octopus.
After tending to my pets, a cold breakfast of dried meat and water, and a truncated run through the Forms with Mama Bun still clinging to my chest, I turn to greet my most problematic of pets. Ready for another swim Sir Inky? Maybe today, you can show us where you found the Spiritual Algae. Despite our earlier setbacks, Taduk refuses to give up, and since I dont have any better ideas, I cant give up either. Buying food for Ping Ping would drain my dwindling finances dry in a week and I still dont know where Blobby ran off to, so its off to the bay we go.
At least we havent been attacked by sharks again, so theres that. Positive Mental Attitude. I can do this.
Its difficult reading emotions on an octopus, but his skin lightens at the sound of my voice, the colours shifting to his natural reddish-brown hue for a brief moment before donning his wood-grain camouflage once more. Its an interesting sight, but not enough to warrant keeping Sir Inky around forever. Transportation and water temperature will be a real problem, not to mention how I have no idea how to care for an octopus. The best case scenario would be for Sir Inky to swim off and forget I ever existed, so to this end, I harden my heart and decided to stop feeding Sir Inky.
I wouldnt go even if he did. Better to stay behind and defend my loved ones, no matter the cost. If my life is all it takes to ensure they get away safely, then Id call that victory in death.
Taking a cue from Lin, I knock on Taduks door and barge right in, leaving a small pause in between to make sure Im not interrupting anything important. Thankfully, my teacher is packed and ready to go, carrying his empty bowl in hopes of finding a new, Spiritual Algae-covered stone to fill it with. Rain my boy, he says with a hug and a smile. I see youve brought the rabbit with you today.
The decision is out of my hands, I reply, angling aside so he can see her grabby paws. Shes dug in and refuses to let go, which is why Im still wearing my nightclothes. They dont look so bad, as long as theyre tucked into my pants. I think shes tired from grooming her five adopted quin pups, a long and lengthy process considering theyre bigger than she is. Belatedly, I add, Blackjack is here too, buried somewhere around her chin.
Well, no harm. Leading the way, he steps out of his yurt and greets Ping Ping with a pat on the beak, eliciting an adorable squeak from the overgrown turtle. Sometimes, I think Ping Ping only loves me for the water I feed her, because shes much friendlier with the people around me like Taduk, Lin, and Mila. Consumed by jealousy, I follow Taduk to the beach where Guard Leader waits with our skiff, and Guan Suo materializes from out of thin air to take his seat in the centre, puffing away at his pipe without a word of greeting. With Guard Leader at the helm (or whatever it is you call the rowers seat. Boat language is confusing), we set off into the orange-red bay as the sun rises on the horizon over the verdant plains of Central, a sight which takes my breath away no matter how many times I see it.
If it werent for all the bloodthirsty spirits encouraging people to become homicidal cannibals, I think Id fall in love with this beautiful world.
Twenty minutes and many kilometres later, Mama Bun stirs in my arms and releases her grip on my shirt, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, a sight which never fails to put a smile on my face. After showering me with bunny kisses, she settles down in my lap with Blackjack for a hearty, hand-fed breakfast while Sir Inky peers over the lip of his pot and fumes in silence at this blatent discrimination, smacking the metal sides every now and then to remind me of his existence.
Mother in Heaven, its only been a few days and already hes turned into an entitled prick. Go find your own food, you lazy slacker. This here is a floof and feathers only pet menagerie. Yea, I said it. Go back to the ocean where you belong, you damned tentacle miscreation.
Mid-way through her meal, Mama Bun raises her head and twitches her nose, scenting something off in the distance. Leaving the dry comfort of my lap, Mama Bun bounds to the deck and makes her way to the side of the skiff, standing on hind legs to peer westward outside the safety of Nan Pings bay. Noticing Mama Buns actions, Guard Leader immediately veers our ship towards the deep, dark waters, exactly where everyone said to avoid. Neither Taduk nor Guan Suo seem to mind, and my silly teacher even seems excited by our new heading, bouncing in his seat like a child going on a trip. Beside us, the quins squeak up a storm of warnings before turning to head back for shore, though Mafu pokes his head up in chittering concern. Go back, I tell him, pointing at the shore. Home.
Wishing with all my heart I could go with him, I watch him swim away to safety before voicing my concern. Er, are you sure we should go so far from shore? In case you forgot, there are worse things than sharks out there. Out here, I correct. Holy shit were moving fast. Is Guard Leader working harder or are we caught in a current?
Nonsense, Rain my boy. Carefree as always, Taduk leans over the side for an unobstructed view ahead. Were well equipped to deal with anything lurking in these waters. Look to the turtle, see how calm and carefree she is? Youve nothing to worry about, promise.
While Ping Ping is still in the mood to loop and whirl about, its Sir Inkys reaction which concerns me more, the angry invertebrate seeking shelter inside his pot for the first time all morning. Gathering the tiny hare into my hands, I give it a kiss on the head and stroke its cheeks, more for my comfort than Blackjack's as I pray nothing goes wrong and expect everything will.
Whatever. Its not like Im missing anything important going on back in Nan Ping, just another day of gratuitous cheers and unfounded celebrations. Who knows, maybe thisll work out for the best and all my problems will be solved in one fell swoop. Find the missing Blobby, figure out how Spiritual Algae reproduces, and have an epiphany which makes the whole world make sense once again.
And maybe the next time I squat down for a shit, rainbows and happiness will pour out of my ass and flood the world with cheer and joy.
It could happen.
Chapter Meme
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 369
Im gonna need a bigger yurt.
Sharing my sleeping quarters with sixteen rabbits, five quin pups, three fully-grown quins, three adolescent wildcats, two yearling bears, one baby hare, one octopus, and one fat, flightless bird leaves little room to maneuver. Most of my animals arent even fully grown yet either, so eventually, were not all going to fit. Nothing needs to be said about the quins, and while my snuggle bears and silly cats still have a ways to go, its only a matter of time before they reach full-pony status, if not bigger. Then theres the fifteen baby bunnies who are plumping up nicely into roundish balls of long-haired floofs, but still only half the size of their Mama Bun. Snoring peacefully on my chest, the big girl measures around seventy-five centimetres from tip to tail and weighs close to twenty-five tender, delicious kilos.
No Rain. Bunnies are friends, not food, no matter how delicious they might be.
On a separate note, you are never to make friends with cows, chickens, goats, or pigs, no matter how cute or cuddly they might be. Stay away from horse friends too, because theyre not bad eating either.
Post Script: Again, stop talking to yourself like this. Its weird and unhealthy.
Luckily, not all of my pets are behemoth monstrosities compared to the ones in my past life. I dont know how big Cloud Chaser Hares are supposed to be, but Blackjack hasnt really grown since joining my little pet family, still comfortably nestled under Mama Buns chin and easily fitting in the palm of my hand. Roc is a little smaller than the baby bunnies and takes up almost no room roosting his fat bird butt atop Mafus fatter head. Sir Inky is only the size of a basketball, though his long tentacles make him look a lot bigger, and unfortunately, his tub-turned-octopus-tank requires more real estate than Zabu, Mafu, and Shana combined. Even then I think its too small for Sir Inky to spend all his time in. If hes gonna stick around, then I have no choice but to build him a massive glass-walled aquarium, which will be difficult considering I havent figured out glass yet. It might have something to do with the sand were using, but we wont know until we test samples from all over the Empire...
Whatever. Glass aside, the only solution is to build a bigger yurt so I can better fit all my present and future floofs. A circus tent would be nice, though keeping it warm and lit will be a pain in the ass. Plus, setting it up would require a literal army of workers, and I dont even want to think about travelling with it in tow. Or maybe I should set a rotating schedule and not insist on snuggling with all my pets at once, but in my defence, it seemed like an awesome idea last night when I was drunk and sleepy. No wonder they gave me such a tiny cup, whatever was into those teapots packed a real kick. I should ask Feathered Big Bro what was in them, but not before I figure out what his name is...
Awakened by my sleeping musings and futile attempts to stretch, the ever-alert Zabu opens his eyes to scan the surroundings before checking if his pups are all still breathing. Hes a good quin-daddy, and I swear he checks the bun buns too. It might be because theyre all snuggled together in the most adorable cuddle-pile ever, but Im hoping his instincts have taken over and he thinks the bun buns are his babies, much like Mama Bun adopted the quin pups. Rabbits and quins, BFFs forever, or at least I hope so. Id be heartbroken if my floofs started eating each other, but I should probably hope for the best and expect the worst. Sarankho and Jimjam are already showing signs of their emerging hunting instincts, and Ive had to repeatedly warn the twins not to randomly turn their backs on the wildcats. Then theres Banjo and Baloo, who are delightfully docile now, but whos to say theyll stay this way forever? I mean, theyre bears, solitary apex predators who, barring any magical shenanigans, can out-muscle most land mammals in their biome.
Plus, eventually, my fur babies are gonna grow up and feel the need to procreate, which is an entirely different sort of mess Im woefully unprepared for. I only pray they dont learn from Sir Inky and fixate on me as a target...
Ugh. My pessimism is reaching critical mass. Here I am laying in the warm, if somewhat smelly embrace of all my fur babies, but all I can think about is how things will eventually go to hell in a hand basket. Those problems are for future me to worry about, so I should just lay here and enjoy the moment, but sadly, its too late to turn back. The dam has broken and my brains been flooded with anxiety and apprehension, denying me of all joy and contentment. Plus, I have to pee. Giving Mama Bun and Blackjack one last nuzzle, I sit up and giggle as the big bunny grunts in discontent, clinging to my shirt with her little rabbit paws while refusing to open her eyes. All around, the yurt comes to life as my fur babies stir in their sleep, yawning and stretching with little care for their neighbours proximity or comfort. Even Sir Inky pops his bulbous head out for a peek, scanning his surroundings before skirting as far away from the quins as his tub will allow.
Oddly enough, it makes me feel better knowing Im not the only one worried about pet on pet violence, even if said validation comes from a wannabe face-rapist octopus.
After tending to my pets, a cold breakfast of dried meat and water, and a truncated run through the Forms with Mama Bun still clinging to my chest, I turn to greet my most problematic of pets. Ready for another swim Sir Inky? Maybe today, you can show us where you found the Spiritual Algae. Despite our earlier setbacks, Taduk refuses to give up, and since I dont have any better ideas, I cant give up either. Buying food for Ping Ping would drain my dwindling finances dry in a week and I still dont know where Blobby ran off to, so its off to the bay we go.
At least we havent been attacked by sharks again, so theres that. Positive Mental Attitude. I can do this.
Its difficult reading emotions on an octopus, but his skin lightens at the sound of my voice, the colours shifting to his natural reddish-brown hue for a brief moment before donning his wood-grain camouflage once more. Its an interesting sight, but not enough to warrant keeping Sir Inky around forever. Transportation and water temperature will be a real problem, not to mention how I have no idea how to care for an octopus. The best case scenario would be for Sir Inky to swim off and forget I ever existed, so to this end, I harden my heart and decided to stop feeding Sir Inky.
I wouldnt go even if he did. Better to stay behind and defend my loved ones, no matter the cost. If my life is all it takes to ensure they get away safely, then Id call that victory in death.
Taking a cue from Lin, I knock on Taduks door and barge right in, leaving a small pause in between to make sure Im not interrupting anything important. Thankfully, my teacher is packed and ready to go, carrying his empty bowl in hopes of finding a new, Spiritual Algae-covered stone to fill it with. Rain my boy, he says with a hug and a smile. I see youve brought the rabbit with you today.
The decision is out of my hands, I reply, angling aside so he can see her grabby paws. Shes dug in and refuses to let go, which is why Im still wearing my nightclothes. They dont look so bad, as long as theyre tucked into my pants. I think shes tired from grooming her five adopted quin pups, a long and lengthy process considering theyre bigger than she is. Belatedly, I add, Blackjack is here too, buried somewhere around her chin.
Well, no harm. Leading the way, he steps out of his yurt and greets Ping Ping with a pat on the beak, eliciting an adorable squeak from the overgrown turtle. Sometimes, I think Ping Ping only loves me for the water I feed her, because shes much friendlier with the people around me like Taduk, Lin, and Mila. Consumed by jealousy, I follow Taduk to the beach where Guard Leader waits with our skiff, and Guan Suo materializes from out of thin air to take his seat in the centre, puffing away at his pipe without a word of greeting. With Guard Leader at the helm (or whatever it is you call the rowers seat. Boat language is confusing), we set off into the orange-red bay as the sun rises on the horizon over the verdant plains of Central, a sight which takes my breath away no matter how many times I see it.
If it werent for all the bloodthirsty spirits encouraging people to become homicidal cannibals, I think Id fall in love with this beautiful world.
Twenty minutes and many kilometres later, Mama Bun stirs in my arms and releases her grip on my shirt, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, a sight which never fails to put a smile on my face. After showering me with bunny kisses, she settles down in my lap with Blackjack for a hearty, hand-fed breakfast while Sir Inky peers over the lip of his pot and fumes in silence at this blatent discrimination, smacking the metal sides every now and then to remind me of his existence.
Mother in Heaven, its only been a few days and already hes turned into an entitled prick. Go find your own food, you lazy slacker. This here is a floof and feathers only pet menagerie. Yea, I said it. Go back to the ocean where you belong, you damned tentacle miscreation.
Mid-way through her meal, Mama Bun raises her head and twitches her nose, scenting something off in the distance. Leaving the dry comfort of my lap, Mama Bun bounds to the deck and makes her way to the side of the skiff, standing on hind legs to peer westward outside the safety of Nan Pings bay. Noticing Mama Buns actions, Guard Leader immediately veers our ship towards the deep, dark waters, exactly where everyone said to avoid. Neither Taduk nor Guan Suo seem to mind, and my silly teacher even seems excited by our new heading, bouncing in his seat like a child going on a trip. Beside us, the quins squeak up a storm of warnings before turning to head back for shore, though Mafu pokes his head up in chittering concern. Go back, I tell him, pointing at the shore. Home.
Wishing with all my heart I could go with him, I watch him swim away to safety before voicing my concern. Er, are you sure we should go so far from shore? In case you forgot, there are worse things than sharks out there. Out here, I correct. Holy shit were moving fast. Is Guard Leader working harder or are we caught in a current?
Nonsense, Rain my boy. Carefree as always, Taduk leans over the side for an unobstructed view ahead. Were well equipped to deal with anything lurking in these waters. Look to the turtle, see how calm and carefree she is? Youve nothing to worry about, promise.
While Ping Ping is still in the mood to loop and whirl about, its Sir Inkys reaction which concerns me more, the angry invertebrate seeking shelter inside his pot for the first time all morning. Gathering the tiny hare into my hands, I give it a kiss on the head and stroke its cheeks, more for my comfort than Blackjack's as I pray nothing goes wrong and expect everything will.
Whatever. Its not like Im missing anything important going on back in Nan Ping, just another day of gratuitous cheers and unfounded celebrations. Who knows, maybe thisll work out for the best and all my problems will be solved in one fell swoop. Find the missing Blobby, figure out how Spiritual Algae reproduces, and have an epiphany which makes the whole world make sense once again.
And maybe the next time I squat down for a shit, rainbows and happiness will pour out of my ass and flood the world with cheer and joy.
It could happen.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 369Im gonna need a bigger yurt.Sharing my sleeping quarters with sixteen rabbits, five quin pups, three fully-grown quins, three adolescent wildcats, two yearling bears, one baby hare, one octopus, and one fat, flightless bird leaves little room to maneuver. Most of my animals arent even fully grown yet either, so eventually, were not all going to fit. Nothing needs to be said about the quins, and while my snuggle bears and silly cats still have a ways to go, its only a matter of time before they reach full-pony status, if not bigger. Then theres the fifteen baby bunnies who are plumping up nicely into roundish balls of long-haired floofs, but still only half the size of their Mama Bun. Snoring peacefully on my chest, the big girl measures around seventy-five centimetres from tip to tail and weighs close to twenty-five tender, delicious kilos.No Rain. Bunnies are friends, not food, no matter how delicious they might be.On a separate note, you are never to make friends with cows, chickens, goats, or pigs, no matter how cute or cuddly they might be. Stay away from horse friends too, because theyre not bad eating either.Post Script: Again, stop talking to yourself like this. Its weird and unhealthy.Luckily, not all of my pets are behemoth monstrosities compared to the ones in my past life. I dont know how big Cloud Chaser Hares are supposed to be, but Blackjack hasnt really grown since joining my little pet family, still comfortably nestled under Mama Buns chin and easily fitting in the palm of my hand. Roc is a little smaller than the baby bunnies and takes up almost no room roosting his fat bird butt atop Mafus fatter head. Sir Inky is only the size of a basketball, though his long tentacles make him look a lot bigger, and unfortunately, his tub-turned-octopus-tank requires more real estate than Zabu, Mafu, and Shana combined. Even then I think its too small for Sir Inky to spend all his time in. If hes gonna stick around, then I have no choice but to build him a massive glass-walled aquarium, which will be difficult considering I havent figured out glass yet. It might have something to do with the sand were using, but we wont know until we test samples from all over the Empire...Whatever. Glass aside, the only solution is to build a bigger yurt so I can better fit all my present and future floofs. A circus tent would be nice, though keeping it warm and lit will be a pain in the ass. Plus, setting it up would require a literal army of workers, and I dont even want to think about travelling with it in tow. Or maybe I should set a rotating schedule and not insist on snuggling with all my pets at once, but in my defence, it seemed like an awesome idea last night when I was drunk and sleepy. No wonder they gave me such a tiny cup, whatever was into those teapots packed a real kick. I should ask Feathered Big Bro what was in them, but not before I figure out what his name is...Awakened by my sleeping musings and futile attempts to stretch, the ever-alert Zabu opens his eyes to scan the surroundings before checking if his pups are all still breathing. Hes a good quin-daddy, and I swear he checks the bun buns too. It might be because theyre all snuggled together in the most adorable cuddle-pile ever, but Im hoping his instincts have taken over and he thinks the bun buns are his babies, much like Mama Bun adopted the quin pups. Rabbits and quins, BFFs forever, or at least I hope so. Id be heartbroken if my floofs started eating each other, but I should probably hope for the best and expect the worst. Sarankho and Jimjam are already showing signs of their emerging hunting instincts, and Ive had to repeatedly warn the twins not to randomly turn their backs on the wildcats. Then theres Banjo and Baloo, who are delightfully docile now, but whos to say theyll stay this way forever? I mean, theyre bears, solitary apex predators who, barring any magical shenanigans, can out-muscle most land mammals in their biome.Plus, eventually, my fur babies are gonna grow up and feel the need to procreate, which is an entirely different sort of mess Im woefully unprepared for. I only pray they dont learn from Sir Inky and fixate on me as a target...Ugh. My pessimism is reaching critical mass. Here I am laying in the warm, if somewhat smelly embrace of all my fur babies, but all I can think about is how things will eventually go to hell in a hand basket. Those problems are for future me to worry about, so I should just lay here and enjoy the moment, but sadly, its too late to turn back. The dam has broken and my brains been flooded with anxiety and apprehension, denying me of all joy and contentment. Plus, I have to pee. Giving Mama Bun and Blackjack one last nuzzle, I sit up and giggle as the big bunny grunts in discontent, clinging to my shirt with her little rabbit paws while refusing to open her eyes. All around, the yurt comes to life as my fur babies stir in their sleep, yawning and stretching with little care for their neighbours proximity or comfort. Even Sir Inky pops his bulbous head out for a peek, scanning his surroundings before skirting as far away from the quins as his tub will allow.Oddly enough, it makes me feel better knowing Im not the only one worried about pet on pet violence, even if said validation comes from a wannabe face-rapist octopus.After tending to my pets, a cold breakfast of dried meat and water, and a truncated run through the Forms with Mama Bun still clinging to my chest, I turn to greet my most problematic of pets. Ready for another swim Sir Inky? Maybe today, you can show us where you found the Spiritual Algae. Despite our earlier setbacks, Taduk refuses to give up, and since I dont have any better ideas, I cant give up either. Buying food for Ping Ping would drain my dwindling finances dry in a week and I still dont know where Blobby ran off to, so its off to the bay we go.At least we havent been attacked by sharks again, so theres that. Positive Mental Attitude. I can do this.Its difficult reading emotions on an octopus, but his skin lightens at the sound of my voice, the colours shifting to his natural reddish-brown hue for a brief moment before donning his wood-grain camouflage once more. Its an interesting sight, but not enough to warrant keeping Sir Inky around forever. Transportation and water temperature will be a real problem, not to mention how I have no idea how to care for an octopus. The best case scenario would be for Sir Inky to swim off and forget I ever existed, so to this end, I harden my heart and decided to stop feeding Sir Inky.I wouldnt go even if he did. Better to stay behind and defend my loved ones, no matter the cost. If my life is all it takes to ensure they get away safely, then Id call that victory in death.Taking a cue from Lin, I knock on Taduks door and barge right in, leaving a small pause in between to make sure Im not interrupting anything important. Thankfully, my teacher is packed and ready to go, carrying his empty bowl in hopes of finding a new, Spiritual Algae-covered stone to fill it with. Rain my boy, he says with a hug and a smile. I see youve brought the rabbit with you today.The decision is out of my hands, I reply, angling aside so he can see her grabby paws. Shes dug in and refuses to let go, which is why Im still wearing my nightclothes. They dont look so bad, as long as theyre tucked into my pants. I think shes tired from grooming her five adopted quin pups, a long and lengthy process considering theyre bigger than she is. Belatedly, I add, Blackjack is here too, buried somewhere around her chin.Well, no harm. Leading the way, he steps out of his yurt and greets Ping Ping with a pat on the beak, eliciting an adorable squeak from the overgrown turtle. Sometimes, I think Ping Ping only loves me for the water I feed her, because shes much friendlier with the people around me like Taduk, Lin, and Mila. Consumed by jealousy, I follow Taduk to the beach where Guard Leader waits with our skiff, and Guan Suo materializes from out of thin air to take his seat in the centre, puffing away at his pipe without a word of greeting. With Guard Leader at the helm or whatever it is you call the rowers seat. Boat language is confusing, we set off into the orange-red bay as the sun rises on the horizon over the verdant plains of Central, a sight which takes my breath away no matter how many times I see it.If it werent for all the bloodthirsty spirits encouraging people to become homicidal cannibals, I think Id fall in love with this beautiful world.Twenty minutes and many kilometres later, Mama Bun stirs in my arms and releases her grip on my shirt, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, a sight which never fails to put a smile on my face. After showering me with bunny kisses, she settles down in my lap with Blackjack for a hearty, hand-fed breakfast while Sir Inky peers over the lip of his pot and fumes in silence at this blatent discrimination, smacking the metal sides every now and then to remind me of his existence.Mother in Heaven, its only been a few days and already hes turned into an entitled prick. Go find your own food, you lazy slacker. This here is a floof and feathers only pet menagerie. Yea, I said it. Go back to the ocean where you belong, you damned tentacle miscreation.Mid-way through her meal, Mama Bun raises her head and twitches her nose, scenting something off in the distance. Leaving the dry comfort of my lap, Mama Bun bounds to the deck and makes her way to the side of the skiff, standing on hind legs to peer westward outside the safety of Nan Pings bay. Noticing Mama Buns actions, Guard Leader immediately veers our ship towards the deep, dark waters, exactly where everyone said to avoid. Neither Taduk nor Guan Suo seem to mind, and my silly teacher even seems excited by our new heading, bouncing in his seat like a child going on a trip. Beside us, the quins squeak up a storm of warnings before turning to head back for shore, though Mafu pokes his head up in chittering concern. Go back, I tell him, pointing at the shore. Home.Wishing with all my heart I could go with him, I watch him swim away to safety before voicing my concern. Er, are you sure we should go so far from shore? In case you forgot, there are worse things than sharks out there. Out here, I correct. Holy shit were moving fast. Is Guard Leader working harder or are we caught in a current?Nonsense, Rain my boy. Carefree as always, Taduk leans over the side for an unobstructed view ahead. Were well equipped to deal with anything lurking in these waters. Look to the turtle, see how calm and carefree she is? Youve nothing to worry about, promise.While Ping Ping is still in the mood to loop and whirl about, its Sir Inkys reaction which concerns me more, the angry invertebrate seeking shelter inside his pot for the first time all morning. Gathering the tiny hare into my hands, I give it a kiss on the head and stroke its cheeks, more for my comfort than Blackjack's as I pray nothing goes wrong and expect everything will.Whatever. Its not like Im missing anything important going on back in Nan Ping, just another day of gratuitous cheers and unfounded celebrations. Who knows, maybe thisll work out for the best and all my problems will be solved in one fell swoop. Find the missing Blobby, figure out how Spiritual Algae reproduces, and have an epiphany which makes the whole world make sense once again.And maybe the next time I squat down for a shit, rainbows and happiness will pour out of my ass and flood the world with cheer and joy. It could happen.Chapter Meme
