RoK: Small Puppers

“I wonder what our last test will be.” Lover said as he walked beside Tori and Hanuta. Neither of them had been told what they’d be doing, and could only shrug in reply. Damien had told them to come over as he needed their help for the test, but other than that, he hadn’t said anything that gave them any idea as to what the test might be. Finally they could see the structure in the distance. And even further beyond it the town of Tyonek. Getting to the structure, which turned out to be a nice two story cabin, they found Damien sitting on the porch with a chocolate roan tokota with lots of white spots beside him. They tilted their heads at him, as he barely even accomplished their presence. “Ah I’m glad you’re here. I wasn’t sure if you’d find it or not.” Damien said as he saw the three tokis. “It took a bit of searching, but we’re here now.” Lover said. “Just because you got sidetracked and got us lost.” Hanuta chuckled. Damien laughed at their small quarrel, until he noticed that Tori was standing right infront of Snow, and staring at him. “Don’t mind Snow. He’s a strange one.” he said, petting the male beside him, who still hadn’t even seemed to see that there was a toki staring at him right under his nose.

“So what did you need us here for?” Lover asked, now sitting down in front of the porch. “Ah yes. Come inside for a moment.” Damien said as he stood up and opened the door for them. The three tokis walked past Snow, who just blinked, not even looking at them. Entering the hallway, they looked around curiously. They could see a few pictures of different tokotas framed on the walls, and a few ribbons by some of them. “Nice place.” Hanuta said as they entered the living room. “This is my friends place. She asked if I could watch it for a few days as she’s away, but I need to take Snow to the vet.” Damien said, scratching his neck. “So you want us to watch it while you’re doing that?” Tori asked. “Pretty much.” the man shrugged. “We can do that.” Lover said, sitting down. “I knew I could count on you.” Damien said walking back to the door, “Oh and you’re also babysitting. Good luck.” he added as he closed the door behind him.

Tori, Lover and Hanuta looked at the closed door for a few moments before the looked at each other. “Babysitting?” Lover asked, “What?”. “I have no idea.” Tori said, shaking his head. “Might as well find out.” Hanuta said as he started to walk further into the cabin. The other two followed him, and they as they came closer to the staircase leading to the second floor, they started to hear strange sounds from upstairs. Slowly walking up, they looked to either side to try and find the origin of the sounds. Tori lead them forward and nudged open a door that was open slightly. Lover and Hanuta looked over his back and spotted three pups brawling on the floor. The sound they’d heard were the pups landing on the floor and colliding into the furniture of the room. As if they felt the eyes of the strangers on them, the pups paused, mid-tugging on each other, and looked at them. “Who are you?” one of the pups asked, tilting his head. “Ummm… we’re gonna watch you for a little while.” Lover said, a bit uncertain about the whole situation.

“Where did Damien go?” one of the females asked. “He had to take Snow to the vet.” Tori said. Instantly the pups had run up to them and were bawling their eyes out. “It’s our fault! We were playing to roughly with him!” they cried as they clambered up their legs. Now beyond confused the males looked at one another. How could these three toki pups think for a second that they could have possibly injured a grown tokota? “Easy now. It’s ok. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” Lover said, getting the pups to stop their crying. Looking up at him sniffling, they tilted their heads. “How about we go downstairs and play huh?” Hanuta suggested, getting some nods from the pups. As they made their way downstairs they realized they didn’t even know the names of the three pups. “What are you three called?” Tori asked, sitting down in the living room. “I’m Storytime.” one of the females replied. “And I’m Celli.” the curly male said with a nod. “And my name’s Maca.” the second female smiled. After having told the pups their names, the adults started to wonder what they would play with the pups. But they didn’t have to think for that long.

“You’re it!” Celli laughed after he’d pounced on Lover, before he ran away laughing with Maca and Storytime. “Not for long.” he chuckled as he took off after them. Tori and Hanuta looked after them as they went around a corner, and reappeared from the other side. Lover was running after Storytime and tapped her shoulder with his nose before he spun around and made his escape. As she came to a halt, she saw the two males and ran towards them. Tori quickly ran around the couch, leaving Hanuta to his faith. The pups jumped at him, before tapping him with her paw and running away and up the stairs. Hanuta shook his head with a smile, before he started to look around for the others. Going into the kitchen he saw a curly tail sticking out from a paper bag on the floor. “You’re it.” he said, tapping Celli’s tail before he trotted off. Sticking his head out of the bag, Celli looked around before he crept out of the kitchen. Going upstairs he entered a room and heard someone hush someone quietly. Preparing to jump he leapt up onto a box before landing on Tori and Maca who’d been hiding on the other side.

They kept playing for a while longer, before Storytime wanted to do something else. Gathering in the living room Lover thought about something they could do. Maca, Storytime and Celli were nestled up together looking at him expectantly, which only made it harder for him to come up with something. Tori thought for a second before he smiled. “Since your name is Storytime, I take it you like to hear stories?” he asked, and smiled when her face brightened up and she nodded vigorously. “How about a story then?” Hanuta said, getting eager nods from the pups. “Alright then. I hope you’ll like this one.” Lover said before he started his story. The pups were listening intently as he told it, and nodded whenever he’d ask if they were still following. Once he’d finished, Maca wanted to hear another one. “We can see which of you tells the best story.” Celli added, to which Maca and Storytime agreed. “A competition huh? I’m game.” Tori said looking confident. “I’ll get another shot then right?” Lover wondered. “We’ll give you another go, just so that it’s fair.” Storytime nodded.

A few hours later Damien walked in through the door with Snow stumbling behind him. Going into the living room they found Storytime, Maca and Celli all nestled up to Tori, Lover and Hanuta. “Not gonna ask.” Snow mumbled before going up the stairs to sleep. Smiling, Damien went over to them and gently nudged Tori. The toki grumbled something before he tiredly opened one eye and looked at the man. “Looks like you guys did a good job.” he whispered. “I suppose so.” Tori mumbled, well on the edge of falling asleep again. Damien just smiled at him before standing up and getting a blanket that he put over the sleeping tokis. Lover stirred a little at this, and Damien had to hold back his laughter when the toki in his sleep said that ‘he was the best storyteller’, to which Hanuta murmured that ‘he’d been the best storyteller”. Damien shook his head as he sat down on the couch with a book, and it didn’t surprise him when a very groggy Storytime jumped up on the couch and settled down on his lap, just waiting for him to start reading the book to her. Stroking her back slowly he started reading.