"And then after ya have finished exfoliating the bottom of the foot with a pumice stone, proceed to apply the first coat of clear nail polish?" Tino frowned and scratched his head "Ya know, I admit that I've never done this breeding thing before but I'm pretty sure this isn't how it's done. No Berwald-hatchlings have appeared and our clothes are still on."

"Hm."

Inside Berwald was rolling around laughing to the point of tears. Outside not even a smidgen of a smile could be found on his face. There were only two advantages Berwald had found to having limited to no ability to make facial expressions. The first was that he won every poker game he ever played. The second was the ability to remain composed in situations like this one.

"-of the-WHAT?! I could've sworn that I was reading "Endangered Species Preservation", section "Berwaldo oxenstiernas", not "You Too Can Own a Business", section "How to Run a Day Spa"!"

That explains a lot. Berwald hadn't actually been able to see anything that was going on since Tino had put cucumber slices over his eyes at the beginning of all this. Kinda started t' wonder what exactly he was trying t' accomplish once he started doing a "skin cleansing seaweed wrap" on m' feet.

"Waah! There was never an "Endangered Species Preservation" book, section "Berwaldo oxenstiernas". I must be delusional!" Tino sniffled and tossed the book to the side before hanging his head in shame. "I'm sorry magnificent wildlife creature, I was trying to increase your numbers and save ya from extinction, but all I was able to do was feed ya an entire bowl of raspberries and exfoliate your pores..."

"It's 'lright," Berwald replied as he took the cucumber slices off his eyes and patted Tino on the back "Can't remember th' last time m' feet felt so silky 'nd rejuvenated."

Tino's face brightened "Well as long as it made ya happy, magnificent wildlife creature." He smiled warmly at him while reaching down and scratching the hair behind Berwald's ear. Berwald's eyes closed and his toes twitched as Tino moved the scratching up to the top of his head, pausing a moment to brush the fearsome predator's hair away from his eyes.

This is such a gentle and sweet species, Tino noted as he slid his hand slowly down the side of Berwald's face. The creature sighed and leaned into Tino's touch. The more time I spend around him the more I feel that being by his side is the most safe and comfortable that I've ever felt in my life. Why is there only one of him? There needs to be more like this guy, I refuse to let my new favorite species disappear!

"I promise that I will help ya spawn more of yourself magnificent creature! No matter how hard it is, I will keep trying until I find a way to keep ya from disappearing! And then I'll make sure to have as many Berwald-hatchlings as we possibly can."

Berwald nodded and gave him a thumbs-up.

Tino gave the fearsome predator one last scratch on the head before drawing his hand back. "Glad ya can trust me big guy." He looked up at the ceiling and stared off into nowhere as he tried to think through the situation.

Spawning more Berwalds...hmm. Ya know I guess when it comes down to it I really just need to try and learn more about him. Tino looked back down at the "You Too Can Own a Business" book and picked it up.

"Does this belong to ya?"

"Yah."

"What do ya have it for, if it isn't too rude for me too ask?"

"Course not. Got it for th' part about restaurants. Always wanted t' open m' own cafe. Thought it'd be fun. Could have Snowball help me serve th' customers."

"Arf!" chirped Snowball in agreement as she cheerfully wagged her tail while sitting on a nearby pillow.

"Aww..." Tino clasped his hands together and his eyes lit up "A cafe run by the two most adorable animals I know! That is so sweet! I would eat there all the time!"

Berwald's status has been upgraded to 'adorable'.

Sweet lovin' probability is increasing at an exponential rate.

Berwald = very pleased.

"So when are ya gonna open one?"

Berwald's heart sank. The severity of the emotion was so intense that it caused him to frown for an entire two seconds.

"Oh I'm sorry! Was that a bad question? I didn't mean to upset ya, please forgive me!"

"Nh," Berwald sighed "Not a bad question. Somethin' happened couple years back that…it's just not possible anymore."

"Something happened?"

"Yah. Makes m' kinda sad t' think about. 'm sorry."

"What? No, why are ya sorry? I'm the one who messed up and asked ya something that made ya depressed! I'm sorry. I promise I won't ask ya any more questions about it. Okay, I lied. Could I ask ya one more little question about it?"

"I guess yah."

"Does it have anything to do with the crazy pack of horned demons I met while picking raspberries in the forest this afternoon?"

Berwald's eyes shot open "What horned demons?"

"Oh that's right! That was all mentioned back in one of the deleted drafts of last chapter. Here, let's review that bit-"

Back in one of the deleted drafts of last chapter:

"You're watching Wonderful Wildlife Weekly! Right behind me we have a member from a newly discovered species of red-glowing-eyed goats. Oh-!"

Tino turned around "Now there's three of them, er…five. Ten red-glowing-eyed goats. Aww…cute, they're social! And, growing…Yah that's interesting!" Tino noted as he started backing up.

"They are literally expanding in size right before me. Alright, they are now each approximately the size of a smart car…or, SUV...Okay! It seems they all have expanded to the size of a school bus and are hovering over me in a somewhat menacing manner which makes me think this might me a really great time for a commercial break. Stay with us! We'll be right back."

Present time:

Berwald sat up and took Tino by the shoulders. "What did they do?"

"Well see that's the thing! They looked like they were going to kill me but instead they just gave me a traffic violation ticket. The only thing is, I don't know how to take care of it because instead of a money amount there's a picture of your boss. Do ya know how much that payment would be for?"

Berwald snatched the paper away and stared at it with wide eyes.

"Were ya by a clearing when this happened?"

"Yah actually, I was, how did ya know?"

Berwald took a deep breath in and ran a hand back through his hair. His gaze snapped over to the clock.

Still couple of hours before midnight, still time. Good thing it's Friday night 'nd m' boss doesn't make m' work weekends. 'll have enough time t' recover."

"Hey, hey wait! What are ya doing?" Tino looked on with confusion as Berwald stood up and ran out of the living room. He pulled himself off the floor and followed him into the hallway. "I'm not angry or anything but I hope ya do realize that I still need to pay that!"

Berwald was trembling as he stood in front of the sink, a glass of water in one hand and the paper in the other. Th' boss says it hurts worse when yer paying for someone besides yerself. Doesn't matter, it's all worth it as long as Tino doesn't have t' suffer.

That thought in mind, Berwald crumpled up the paper, stuffed it in his mouth and swallowed it. He'd had barely a sip of the water to wash it down when the cup fell from his hands and Berwald collapsed on top of the glass-covered floor.

"Berwald?" Tino pushed the bathroom door open and screamed. The only living member of his favorite species was lying facedown in a pool of blood and glass shards.

Berwaldo oxenstiernas pulled his face off the floor and looked up at Tino "…it's 'lright. Th' payment has been made. Ya have nothing t' worry about."

"The payment? What did ya-? No Berwald, no!" Before Tino could move the creature fell back onto the bloody tile and became motionless. "BERWALD!"

…

(He's not dead…just so you know. I'll try to update soon though. I hate leaving characters in scenarios like this.)