Dinner Time
When they arrived back at the cabin, Soda, Fizz, and Night were all out of breath. Day smiled at them.
"Have fun?" she asked coyly. Night smirked at her.
"These kids are really fast," she said, winking at Day. Day winked back.
"Oh yeah, they outran you for sure!" She smiled. Soda and Fizz grinned.
"Hehe, that was fun!" they said. Thinking about it, Grundy decided that maybe it wouldn't be so bad having them along. They seemed to get along with the girls really well. Although, Day seemed to be getting along quite well with someone else, lately…
"Let's go in and get Lyndsey," Night said, stepping up to the cottage. She knocked, and someone called "Come in!" The twins followed close behind her. Grundy was still on her shoulder. The Brain Coral water floated in between Day and Night. Day entered the cottage last, still holding Raven's hand.
Lyndsey was waiting there to greet them. First she hugged the twins, then Night. Then she hugged Day, who had let go of Raven's hand. "I'm glad you're back!" she said with a smile.
"Did you have a nice time with your parents?" Day asked.
"Yes, I did. We talked about everything! We're all caught up, now. And tomorrow, I'll be ready to leave." She smiled, but it was slightly wistful.
"Don't worry," Night consoled. "You'll be back soon enough." Then they all smiled.
"Mama! Daddy!" the twins cried, running into the next room. "We had a picnic, and Soda solidified Day, and a race, and-"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Bhut-Khiss said, laughing. The girls, Grundy, and Raven stepped into the next room.
"I see you had a good adventure?" Seven half-stated, half-asked. She was smiling, and hugging the twins.
"Oh, it was wonderful," Day said brightly.
"Just one little mishap," Night said, slightly darkly.
"Hey!" Grundy exclaimed. "You two just spoke according to your names. That was very Xanthly!"
Day and Night looked at each other, abashed. "So you're right!" Day said, smiling.
"I guess it's because we've been here for a while…we're getting used to it," Night said thoughtfully.
"And Day usually comments first!" Lyndsey added, standing next to her parents.
"Wow!" Day said brightly.
"Yeah, wow," Night said, not-so-brightly.
"Back to matters at hand!" Seven said, smiling happily. "I believe it is about time for dinner!" Eight tummies rumbled in response. Seven laughed heartily. "It shall be ready in a moment. Please have a seat at the table, in the meantime." Then she turned, and went into a different room.
"Your mom is so nice!" Day commented, sitting down. Raven whispered something in her ear, and she giggled. He sat down next to her. Lyndsey looked at them, interested.
"So, tell me what happened on your 'adventure'," she said, sitting down. Night also sat down, next to her, and the twins plopped themselves next to Night. Remembering Grundy, Night took him off of her shoulder, and set him on the table. He walked over to the edge, and sat down.
"Well…" Day began.
"Raven kissed Day and she melted and then we woke up and then Soda had to solidify her!" Fizz said in one breath. His hair was fraying out everywhere, apparently affected by his mood.
"And we had a picnic and a race and it was so much fun!" Soda said, similarly fast. Her hair was dancing about, likewise.
Lyndsey laughed. "So, I take it you two are together?" she said, eyeing Day and Raven. Raven looked confused, but Day laughed and squeezed his hand.
"Yes, we are together," she said. Raven looked more relaxed, apparently accepting whatever Day said. In this instance.
"Dinner is ready!" Seven said, bustling into the room. She had armfuls of food. She placed everything on the table, then went back for more. After the second load, she sat down, and her husband sat down after her. "Help yourselves!" she said. So they all did.
Day and Night dug in, Day eating chips of potatoes and drinking milk from a milkweed pod, and Night eating blackberry pie and chocolate milk from a chocolate milkweed pod. The twins were eating everything in site. Grundy was eating a piece of redberry pie, and Lyndsey was eating some yellowberry pie. Raven was eating some punwheel cookies and cheese.
"Please pass me the butter-fly, Bhut-Khiss," Seven requested politely. Day and Night burst out laughing. Seven looked at them oddly, and Grundy shot a Look at them. They quieted down.
"Um, they aren't used to Xanth terms. In Mundania, their butter isn't in the form of a fly," Grundy covered quickly. Seven nodded.
"That's quite understandable. Don't worry about it, girls," she said, taking the butter-fly from Bhut-Khiss. She pulled its wings off, and spread the butter on her bread. Day flinched.
"Is it really necessary to hurt that butter-fly?" she asked.
"Yes, it does seem cruel," Night added.
Seven just smiled at them. "Oh, don't worry, dears. The butter-fly can't feel anything. It's like your butter, in Mundania, only in a different form. It's not good to eat the wings." The girls settled back down, relaxed.
"Please pass me the milkweed Pod, dear," Bhut-Khiss said to his wife.
"Certainly, Bhut-Khiss," Seven said, smiling prettily at him. Day and Night stifled their laughs. Lyndsey had apparently stopped thinking her father's name was overly amusing, as she was his daughter. But she grinned at the two. They grinned back.
Soon enough, everyone was done eating. The twins were covered in food. Seven laughed.
"Please excuse me while I take these two to bathe," she said, standing up. "Bhut-Khiss, do you mind clearing the table?" she asked. This brought light sniggers from Day and Night, but they went ignored.
"Of course I will, sweetheart," he said, standing up. Seven left, dragging two un-impressed twins behind her.
"If you wish, I can show you to your rooms now," Bhut-Khiss offered.
"Hmmm…ok," Day said. It wasn't very late, but for some reason, she was tired.
"Yes, please," Night said. She was apparently tired too.
"Do I still have a room here?" Lyndsey wondered aloud.
"Of course you do! We left it exactly as it was," Bhut-Khiss said. Lyndsey smiled.
"Day and Night will join you in your room, if you don't mind," Bhut-Khiss said. Lyndsey nodded.
"Oh, of course!" she said, smiling at the two. They smiled back.
"Just like...," Day started.
"…a sleepover!" Night finished. The three girls laughed.
"And you two will be in the guest room," Bhut-Khiss said, indicating Raven and Grundy.
"That will be fine," Raven said, standing up, and picking up Grundy to place on his shoulder. He went over to Day, and looked at her. Day shivered, slightly uncomfortable. She wasn't used to having someone look at her light that. "Have a good sleep," he murmured. Then he leaned down and kissed her hair. She shivered again, but not from discomfort, this time.
"Well, let's get going to bed!" Grundy said. He had to intervene before things proceeded any further. Bhut-Khiss nodded. He showed each of them to their rooms, then returned to finish clearing the table. Grundy and Raven settled down and went to sleep right away. The girls weren't so quick to.
"So, how are you holding up?" Day asked Lyndsey, concerned.
"Yeah. I mean, sure things look great, but you must be on a roller coaster right now," Night added, also concerned.
Lyndsey smiled. She understood what Day meant by "holding up," and what Night meant by "roller coaster," as in a roller coaster of emotions. Any other Xanthian might not, but she did. "I'm doing ok. It's a big change, but I really like it here. With my family, I mean. It's nice to finally be back." Day and Night nodded, although it was hard to see them in the dark.
"I wonder what we'll find tomorrow," Day said dreamily.
"Hopefully something as nice as Lyndsey did," Night said realistically, but still dreamily.
"I'm sure it will be wonderful," Lyndsey said. "And who knows- maybe your village will have a boyfriend for me and Night!" That made the three girls erupt in laughter, including Day, who was now blushing so dark that it could be seen, even in the blackness. After the laughter subsided, the girls all settled down, and went to sleep.
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When they arrived back at the cabin, Soda, Fizz, and Night were all out of breath. Day smiled at them.
"Have fun?" she asked coyly. Night smirked at her.
"These kids are really fast," she said, winking at Day. Day winked back.
"Oh yeah, they outran you for sure!" She smiled. Soda and Fizz grinned.
"Hehe, that was fun!" they said. Thinking about it, Grundy decided that maybe it wouldn't be so bad having them along. They seemed to get along with the girls really well. Although, Day seemed to be getting along quite well with someone else, lately…
"Let's go in and get Lyndsey," Night said, stepping up to the cottage. She knocked, and someone called "Come in!" The twins followed close behind her. Grundy was still on her shoulder. The Brain Coral water floated in between Day and Night. Day entered the cottage last, still holding Raven's hand.
Lyndsey was waiting there to greet them. First she hugged the twins, then Night. Then she hugged Day, who had let go of Raven's hand. "I'm glad you're back!" she said with a smile.
"Did you have a nice time with your parents?" Day asked.
"Yes, I did. We talked about everything! We're all caught up, now. And tomorrow, I'll be ready to leave." She smiled, but it was slightly wistful.
"Don't worry," Night consoled. "You'll be back soon enough." Then they all smiled.
"Mama! Daddy!" the twins cried, running into the next room. "We had a picnic, and Soda solidified Day, and a race, and-"
"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Bhut-Khiss said, laughing. The girls, Grundy, and Raven stepped into the next room.
"I see you had a good adventure?" Seven half-stated, half-asked. She was smiling, and hugging the twins.
"Oh, it was wonderful," Day said brightly.
"Just one little mishap," Night said, slightly darkly.
"Hey!" Grundy exclaimed. "You two just spoke according to your names. That was very Xanthly!"
Day and Night looked at each other, abashed. "So you're right!" Day said, smiling.
"I guess it's because we've been here for a while…we're getting used to it," Night said thoughtfully.
"And Day usually comments first!" Lyndsey added, standing next to her parents.
"Wow!" Day said brightly.
"Yeah, wow," Night said, not-so-brightly.
"Back to matters at hand!" Seven said, smiling happily. "I believe it is about time for dinner!" Eight tummies rumbled in response. Seven laughed heartily. "It shall be ready in a moment. Please have a seat at the table, in the meantime." Then she turned, and went into a different room.
"Your mom is so nice!" Day commented, sitting down. Raven whispered something in her ear, and she giggled. He sat down next to her. Lyndsey looked at them, interested.
"So, tell me what happened on your 'adventure'," she said, sitting down. Night also sat down, next to her, and the twins plopped themselves next to Night. Remembering Grundy, Night took him off of her shoulder, and set him on the table. He walked over to the edge, and sat down.
"Well…" Day began.
"Raven kissed Day and she melted and then we woke up and then Soda had to solidify her!" Fizz said in one breath. His hair was fraying out everywhere, apparently affected by his mood.
"And we had a picnic and a race and it was so much fun!" Soda said, similarly fast. Her hair was dancing about, likewise.
Lyndsey laughed. "So, I take it you two are together?" she said, eyeing Day and Raven. Raven looked confused, but Day laughed and squeezed his hand.
"Yes, we are together," she said. Raven looked more relaxed, apparently accepting whatever Day said. In this instance.
"Dinner is ready!" Seven said, bustling into the room. She had armfuls of food. She placed everything on the table, then went back for more. After the second load, she sat down, and her husband sat down after her. "Help yourselves!" she said. So they all did.
Day and Night dug in, Day eating chips of potatoes and drinking milk from a milkweed pod, and Night eating blackberry pie and chocolate milk from a chocolate milkweed pod. The twins were eating everything in site. Grundy was eating a piece of redberry pie, and Lyndsey was eating some yellowberry pie. Raven was eating some punwheel cookies and cheese.
"Please pass me the butter-fly, Bhut-Khiss," Seven requested politely. Day and Night burst out laughing. Seven looked at them oddly, and Grundy shot a Look at them. They quieted down.
"Um, they aren't used to Xanth terms. In Mundania, their butter isn't in the form of a fly," Grundy covered quickly. Seven nodded.
"That's quite understandable. Don't worry about it, girls," she said, taking the butter-fly from Bhut-Khiss. She pulled its wings off, and spread the butter on her bread. Day flinched.
"Is it really necessary to hurt that butter-fly?" she asked.
"Yes, it does seem cruel," Night added.
Seven just smiled at them. "Oh, don't worry, dears. The butter-fly can't feel anything. It's like your butter, in Mundania, only in a different form. It's not good to eat the wings." The girls settled back down, relaxed.
"Please pass me the milkweed Pod, dear," Bhut-Khiss said to his wife.
"Certainly, Bhut-Khiss," Seven said, smiling prettily at him. Day and Night stifled their laughs. Lyndsey had apparently stopped thinking her father's name was overly amusing, as she was his daughter. But she grinned at the two. They grinned back.
Soon enough, everyone was done eating. The twins were covered in food. Seven laughed.
"Please excuse me while I take these two to bathe," she said, standing up. "Bhut-Khiss, do you mind clearing the table?" she asked. This brought light sniggers from Day and Night, but they went ignored.
"Of course I will, sweetheart," he said, standing up. Seven left, dragging two un-impressed twins behind her.
"If you wish, I can show you to your rooms now," Bhut-Khiss offered.
"Hmmm…ok," Day said. It wasn't very late, but for some reason, she was tired.
"Yes, please," Night said. She was apparently tired too.
"Do I still have a room here?" Lyndsey wondered aloud.
"Of course you do! We left it exactly as it was," Bhut-Khiss said. Lyndsey smiled.
"Day and Night will join you in your room, if you don't mind," Bhut-Khiss said. Lyndsey nodded.
"Oh, of course!" she said, smiling at the two. They smiled back.
"Just like...," Day started.
"…a sleepover!" Night finished. The three girls laughed.
"And you two will be in the guest room," Bhut-Khiss said, indicating Raven and Grundy.
"That will be fine," Raven said, standing up, and picking up Grundy to place on his shoulder. He went over to Day, and looked at her. Day shivered, slightly uncomfortable. She wasn't used to having someone look at her light that. "Have a good sleep," he murmured. Then he leaned down and kissed her hair. She shivered again, but not from discomfort, this time.
"Well, let's get going to bed!" Grundy said. He had to intervene before things proceeded any further. Bhut-Khiss nodded. He showed each of them to their rooms, then returned to finish clearing the table. Grundy and Raven settled down and went to sleep right away. The girls weren't so quick to.
"So, how are you holding up?" Day asked Lyndsey, concerned.
"Yeah. I mean, sure things look great, but you must be on a roller coaster right now," Night added, also concerned.
Lyndsey smiled. She understood what Day meant by "holding up," and what Night meant by "roller coaster," as in a roller coaster of emotions. Any other Xanthian might not, but she did. "I'm doing ok. It's a big change, but I really like it here. With my family, I mean. It's nice to finally be back." Day and Night nodded, although it was hard to see them in the dark.
"I wonder what we'll find tomorrow," Day said dreamily.
"Hopefully something as nice as Lyndsey did," Night said realistically, but still dreamily.
"I'm sure it will be wonderful," Lyndsey said. "And who knows- maybe your village will have a boyfriend for me and Night!" That made the three girls erupt in laughter, including Day, who was now blushing so dark that it could be seen, even in the blackness. After the laughter subsided, the girls all settled down, and went to sleep.
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