Part 1 of 3.
Chapter 4
Zara Makes Mischief
Zara woke up first. She whined and laid on me, pushing me. I think she wanted pets and food.
"Mistress, Mistress?" Zara said.
"No wanna." I rolled over.
"Mistress!" She rubbed her face on me.
"Sleepy time." I whined.
"Cuddle time." She insisted.
I held my arms open and she laid down next to me. Her tail wagged. All was well and good …for about a minute. Ragen woke up and wanted attention.
"Mistress, Mistress. Gimme pets. Pet me." He rubbed his face on me.
"Mine!" Zara snapped.
"Hey! Behave." I scolded them.
"Mistress pet?" Ragen asked.
"Yes, you can has pets." I rubbed his ears.
"Talia, breakfast time." Owen called.
I got dressed and we went to the dining hall. We had omelets and bacon. Zara finished first. She went to Alex and begged for a bite of his cinnamon pancakes. He gave her some. She wanted more. He wouldn't give her any more. She whined loudly.
"This is my food." Alex told her.
"Gimme bite." She said.
"You had a bite." He pointed out.
"Gimme more." She rested her head on his lap.
"Don't antagonize her, Alexander." Owen told him.
Alex gave her another piece then Ragen wanted some. He was given a piece too. Ragen gave him kisses. Then he went back to his seat. I started to get up.
"Not you too!" Alex cried.
"I want pancake." I demanded.
"Mom!" Alex whined.
"Just give her a piece." Fox said.
"I liked it better when I was the only child." Alex huffed.
"I distinctly remember you asking for siblings." David said.
"That was different! I was 4." Alex argued.
"What about when you were 12?" He posed.
"No comment." Alex replied.
I was given my pancake and it was good. Soft and fluffy. Alex noogied me. I whined. Zara came to my rescue. Alex reassured her it was ok and I was fine. Zara licked my hair. I nuzzled her. After breakfast, we went off to go do our own things.
As the weeks went on, Zara and Ragen grew more comfortable with house and us. I occasionally found one or the other napping around the house. Our rooms were their favorites, though. Zara liked hanging out with the gargoyles and getting belly rubs from them. Ragen was still wary of the male family members. I figured that would take longer to sort out. He was doing better than before. Zara and Ragen were also getting magic lessons from Alex and Puck. They were adjusting well. For the most part. One day, Zara had carried me away after lunch; she was strong, and wouldn't let me go. I wasn't sure what was going on. She had made a nest and refused to take it down.
"Zara, this is not your room." Alex told her.
"I marked, is mine." She proclaimed.
"This is a guest room. For when guests come over." He spelled it out.
"Zara, you already have several beds through the house." Owen added.
"Dis mine now." She insisted.
"Will you let Talia out?" Owen tried.
"No." She laid on me.
"Do you want more cuddles?" Alex asked.
She thought about it and waited for Alex to lie down. He sighed but did so. Zara whined. Alex petted her. She marked him too. I petted her butt. She relaxed and her scent mellowed. Blackberries and clover smoothed over the bitter pine nut.
"Zara's a cutie, she got a fluffy booty." I sang. Her tail wagged happily.
"Did you just want to mark them?" Owen asked.
"Ragen had Mistress all morning, it my turn now." Zara told him. She rolled over. I rubbed her tummy.
"I will remind him to share." Owen said.
Once Zara was done with cuddles, I had my lessons for the day. It was a math worksheet and science. I think I did ok. Then I had playtime with Ragen and Zara. They wanted to play outside, but it was still too cold. They chased each other and wrestled. Sometimes I threw toys for them. Zara was very excited. She liked to jump on me. Ragen also jumped up too, but not as much.
"Ragen, Ragen." Zara darted around him, getting close.
"My bone!" He snarled.
Zara turned into her wild fox form. She took the bone from him and ran. He shifted into his fox form and followed her. He was a completely brown fox expect for the tip of his tail. Zara was a little faster than Ragen, but he caught up. He took the bone back.
"Who want a treat?" I asked.
They barked and were at my feet. I gave them a treat and bent down. Zara licked my face. Her nose was cold and wet. I pushed her away. Then I petted them both. Their fur was soft and fluffy. After playtime, they wanted to nap. We went to one of the beds. They lied down on the same one. Ragen wanted his toy elephant. I got it. He chewed on its ear. I rubbed their heads, brushing the scent glands. They fell asleep. I covered them with in a brown blanket with bones on it.
I went to my room and worked on some for fun writing. Then Owen got me for dinner. It was chicken rice casserole. The food was on the table, but Owen said he had announcement. Alex was also late. We were getting hungry. Ragen tried to sneak food, but Fox stopped him. Zara whimpered because everything smelled good. Alex walked in.
"Food now!" Zara demanded.
"Gimme din din!" Ragen added.
"This will be quick. Alexander was on the phone with your mothers and they will come next week." Owen explained.
"Mama!" Ragen barked.
"Mommy come home!" Zara's tail wagged furiously.
"Mommy visiting." Alex explained.
"Mommy coming!" She whined.
Dinner was charged with excited energy. Zara wiggled in her chair. Her scent filled the room. Alex and I were the only ones to seem to notice it. The others weren't bothered by it. Ragen was planning what do when his mama came, talking to anyone would listen. He had several helping of casserole.
After dinner, we let them run around and do whatever it was that would settle them down. Zara demanded many cuddles and pets in between marking the house. Ragen fixed up his nest before scent marking everything. They had a bit of argument when the marks overlapped. We got it figured out. They were excited all week long.
Then the day came. Sanuye and Renee's flight had touched down in the evening. We were in the gargoyle's living room. Alex and Owen were getting their bags to their room. Ragen was marking Renee and whining. He didn't know what to do with himself. Zara kept bonking Sanuye with her fuzzy bone and then chased it. She saw Goliath and then bonked him with the toy. He tossed it. Zara ran after it and then went back to her mom. She dropped the toy, rolling over.
"Oh, you're so happy, aren't you, Zar-zar. You missed me." Sanuye rubbed her tummy.
"My mommy!" Zara yipped.
"They have missed you." Goliath told them.
"Good thing it's Spring break. We don't have school." Renee said.
"School bad!" Ragen said.
"No, school good. Anyway, I am here now so we can play all you want." She rubbed his ears.
"Yes, good." He agreed.
"Talia, it's your bedtime." Owen came in.
"Do I have to?" I whined.
"Yes, Talia, it's bedtime." He said.
Zara and Ragen marked me then I said good night to everyone. Ragen and Zara probably wouldn't have any lessons today since their moms were here. They were getting better with their magic. I hadn't seen how they had been in awhile. Owen opened my bedroom door. I was tucked in bed. Owen kissed my forehead and left me to sleep.
Part 2 coming soon.
