Trouble with four paws
It was a month since Spot had returned, and was now the middle of August. It was gone midnight, when Max slipped out of the castle. On the bridge he met a beautiful collie called Sky, both nuzzling each other before heading away from the castle.
Reaching the town centre they met their other friends, a bloodhound called Trusty, and a Dalmatian called Patch the latter belonging to the local apothecary. The group chatted for a while before Max and Sky left, soon reaching The Mermaid and Dolphin pub. Sitting on a barrel outside the front door they saw a ginger and white tom.
"Evening Max" said the cat.
"Evening Oliver, what's it like inside?" asked Max.
"Packed as usual, Mitch has just thrown two out for fight, an he's barred them for a fortnight. I'd go in the back door if I were you Sky, it's the darts semi final tonight" the cat replied.
"Thank you for the tip Oliver, we will do just that" Sky replied as she and Max vanished round the back of the pub.
A week later Eric walked along the beach, the night sky above him full of stars.
"MAX, MAX HERE BOY, MAX COME HERE"
"Eric" came a voice and Eric jumped around to see Ariel standing behind him, one hand on his shoulder.
"Come inside it's nearly midnight."
"I know Ariel, I'm really worried about Max, he's been missing for a week. I've had him since he as a pup and he has never done this, he could be hurt or………"
"He will come back to you when he is ready, maybe is his visiting friends. Nothing has happened to him, trust me, tomorrow morning he will bounding in."
"I suppose your right, I need some sleep" Eric replied, allowing Ariel to lead him to their room.
The following day the pair were sat having breakfast with Moina, when Carlotte entered followed by Mich Maltman, the landlord at The Mermaid and Dolphin, and with them came Max.
"Max your back it's great to see you boy, thank you so much Mitch. Where the devil did you find him?"
"In one of fourth floor bedrooms, he's fathered a litter of pups with my collie Sky, a litter of eight pups!"
"Puppies! Well that explains why he has been missing, I can come down to see them now if you like" replied Eric.
"I would appreciate that your majesty, it would be nice for you to see them, this has thrown a spanner into the works."
"I told you he would come back Eric, you have caused a lot of worry for Eric Max" said Ariel looking at the dog.
At this Max barked and licked Ariel's hand, before setting off to the pub with Eric and Mitch. On reaching the pub the group walked up to the fourth floor bedroom where they saw Sky and eight bundles of fur. Entering the room, Max stood protectively over them as Eric looked at the pups with Mitch.
"Well we can't move them yet, if they stay here for three weeks, I can have them after that".
"A fine idea your majesty, I just can't believe I didn't pick up on this earlier! I've owned dogs since I was a lad."
"MITCH!" came a call from below followed by footsteps coming up the stairs, moments later Millie's head appeared round the door.
"Ah there you are. I've got the lads from brewery on back step wanting to know where to put ten barrels o cider. Oh I see you have met the new additions prince Eric" Millie said bowing.
"I have and they are fine pups, they can come and live at the palace in a few weeks."
"Mille you can tell lads to put the cider in the cellar next to the barrels of malt whisky" replied Mitch.
"I'll do that" Mille replied heading back downstairs.
That night Eric told his family what had happened and everyone had a good laugh about it. In the Mermaid and Dolphin that night the story of Max and Sky was told to the patrons. In hearing it many broke laughing, with Mitch getting some stick for not picking up on it.
Three weeks later the pups arrived at the castle, with everyone fussing over them and admiring them.
"They're going to be a hand full to look after" said William as one of the pups chewed his finger.
"There so sweet thought all fur and fluff" replied Ariel as she and Moina stroked them.
"They are I just hope they do not make too much mess" laughed Sofia.
A week later, Max and Sky were playing with the pups in the palace garden, with the pups playing ball and swimming in the sea.1 The pups had grown, all were lively and full of mischief nose for adventure. The litter was dived equal among male and female boys, and most were a perfect mix of both parents. However there were two exceptions, a boy pup that looked like his Father and a girl that looked like her Mother. The boy was called Ged and was the pup that Eric had decide to keep out of the littler. Playing with the pups in the water Max laughed as three jumped on his back.
"Wow you three get off" he cried as two more jumped on him.
On the grass Sky laughed at the sight as she played ball with the other three, when one of the pups sent the ball flying up the steps and through the open ballroom door.
"Oops" said the pup in question.
"Oops is right, you need to be a little gentler when you hit the ball" replied Sky,
"I can go and get it" the pup replied before Sky could protest.
Running up the stairs the pup raced into the ballroom, leaving muddy paw prints in his wake. See the ball in the room's centre the pup picked it up, and then stopped in his tracks as he saw William and Grimsby walking along the veranda. Holding his breath the pup waited for them to look in his direction, breathing a sigh of relief when they walked off. Seizing his chance he bolted out of the room and back into the garden as fast as his paws could carry him.
"I made it" the pup said as he placed the ball down at his Mother's paws.
"You did, thought I doubt Carlotte will be terribly pleased when she sees the paw prints" replied Sky smiling at her son.
Leaving the garden the family raced along the beach, with the pups chasing seagulls and running through the water. As they reached the bridge they looked up and saw Sofia and Ariel riding back cross it. Seeing the pair, the dogs barked their loudest, causing the pair to look down. Seeing the family, Sofia and Ariel waved and the dogs raced up the stairs to meet them in the courtyard.
"Where on earth have you all been?" Sofia asked as Max jumped up and licked her.
"Swimming by the look of their coats" Ariel replied.
Later that evening Eric, Ariel, William and Moina were sat in the drawing room, Ariel and Moina were reading and Eric and William were deeply involved in a game of chess. Then came a tremendous crash followed by several curses and barks, causing all to look up. Moments later Carlotte ran in.
"There has been an accident, it's the pups" she gasped, her faced flushed.
"What have they done now?" William asked putting his hand to his forehead.
"Well" Carlotte said nervously wringing her hands.
"Out with Carlotte, the sooner I know the better, I will find out eventually."
"You are not going to like this your Majesty . They have knocked over a suit of armour on the first floor, it was standing next to the workman's bench, paint is everywhere."
"Brilliant just brilliant" muttered William.
"I'll go and see to it Father, I am responsible for them" said Eric getting up.
"You do that son, I must have been mad when I agreed to have them here" William replied.
Leaving the room Eric followed Carlotte to the scene of the accident, stopping in his tracks when he saw the mess. The suit of armour was knocked over, it's spear was pushed thought two cans of cream paint, with paint running everywhere. Sections of armour littered the floor, with the shied imbedded in a wall. The perpetrators were covered in paint, with their parents stood on the stairs leading the second floor. Both were glaring angrily at their offspring.
"LORD ABOVE! This is worse than I thought; my Mother is going to hit the ceiling when she gets back tomorrow!" Eric said in shock.
"It is a good thing she is visiting her friend tonight, she would not be at all pleased" Carlotte replied.
"Right you eight, you are going to pay for this," looking around they saw Moina walking up the stairs with Ariel in tow.
"Eric you grab three and Ariel and I will get the rest. Carlotte, a large tub of hot soapy water and three aprons please."
"Certainly Princess, where would you like it?"
"The kitchen, tiles will be easier to mop then a carpet" Moina replied as she, Eric and Ariel grabbed the pups.
Leaving the servants to clear up the corridor the three made their way to the kitchen, where under the eyes of Max and Sky they bathed the pups. Sensing the trouble they were in, the pups didn't resist, but let themselves be bathed without complaint.
1 Garden is as seen in LM2 just minas the large wall.