Chapter 67 - Sixty-Five

I felt light and well-rested by the time I woke up again, too lazy to open my eyes as I roll around the sheets, the sunlight passing through the cracks on the window as birds chirped their lullaby, giving me no reason to stand, on the contrary, just helping in my rest.

So I didn't, I enjoyed the well-deserved rest that I lacked from the last weeks and when the light turns out to be too much I simple went underneath the covers.

…Wait…Covers? Bed? How did I get here? Where is here?

That makes me open my eyes only to see that I was inside one of the room that Leo and I had cleaned before, but exactly in which one was impossible to tell since they all looked the same, not that it would matter anyway.

I sigh, pushing the blankets slightly out of me and covering my eyes with my arm, trying to prepare myself to mentally start the day and stand up as I feel movement beside me.

Wait, it couldn't be…Leo, right…?

I turn around and pull the blanket all out only to see… a dog?

I take a sniff, but it was obvious that it wasn't my brother since the dog was white, with only his back turned towards me as he tries to retain the warmth of the blankets my pulling it with his paw, only for it to find nothing and wiggle around midair.

I scowl as I stare at his back, knowing by the smell that Leo was here too, making me search for him first before confronting the dog, only to find him on the floor, his tick arm under his head as he sleeps deeply.

Oh, I must have fallen asleep yesterday, and yet, instead of using this perfect opportunity to sleep with me, instead he kept his promise and has been a gentleman and respected me and my pace and space.

And that, somehow, was far more effective for me than having him sleeping in the same bed for it went straight to my heart, making a fire stir there and warm my face up, making me bite my lip as my tail wiggle behind me.

Th-that was so sweet of him…!

I mean. Wait, we still have a white dog problem oi!

"Leo, oi, Leo, wake up!"

His golden eyes look misty as he yawns, rubbing his face and waking up, making the warmth inside me intensify by his messy look as his eyes lock on mine.

"…"

"What?"

"Oh, right, there is a dog in my bed?"

"There is or there is not?"

At this point I forgot even my name.

I look back towards the bed and, sure enough the dog is there, now with his belly up and tongue out. Leo half stands enough to see him, and say a simple:

"Uhm."

"Uhm my ass, who is it?"

He keeps staring at it, but it seemed that his mind was still hazy from sleep. Really, that was too cute to see, the all-mighty royal elf slowly blinking his sleep away.

Focus now Thilgon, there is a strange creature beside you… Oh, dumb me, I could appraisal it.

Can I mentally facepaw myself?

Once I use appraisal, however, I was shocked by the information that surges:

Name: Shrum, Shu for short

Gender: Male

Race: Puppy Earth Mushroom Hound

And unusual evolution for a mushroom, this kind is not known for being strong nor bright, instead they are usually kept as pets as they are very attached to their owners and are very docile.

…

What…?!

SHRUM?!

"Wait, is that Shrum? But-how? He evolved? Into a hound?"

"Maybe, he helped with the rabbits yesterday."

"But he is a mushroom! How did he become a hound?"

"Maybe he wanted to be like you."

I turn towards him. "You think so?" He nods. If that is the case… then it would be so Goddamnit cute!

Because of our ruckus Shu turns towards us yawning, his little body coming to view as he stretched his paws out.

He wasn't totally white as I first thought him to be, his head, tail and the sides of his body where green with a consistence that looked like leaves, a pair of big pointy fox ears on top of his white face and a fluffy tail that have some long black feathers as well as a pair of those falling alongside his face, close to his ears and framing his snout.

With big white pair paws he paw paw over me, nestling on my lap, not before whining and licking my fingers with his tiny tongue.

I start petting him without noticing, still to stun think clearly, but once I look one more I notice that he is now level 50, one of the thresholds for evolving, and that he had red spots on his head and a pair on top of his eyes, like eyebrows, making me sure that he was, indeed, Shu.

I stopped trying to understand how evolving worked a long time ago, but I noticed that not every aware creatures receives information's nor choice on their evolution, simply evolving to the most fitting one with their character, their will and their most-used skills and element, like my brother went all fire on his evolutions, almost instinctive, that's why those who change away from pattern are so rare.

And that meant that, really, somewhere deep inside Shu he really wanted to be like us, to look like us, to change himself to a hound.

And, to be frank, I didn't even know it was possible until now, it was almost as if change his race altogether.

Leo stands then, gives me a peck on the forehead, a pet on Shu's had, who rubs his face on his palm, and goes to grab some clothes and change, making me focus on Shu as not to see him changing… But, well, I mean, a little peek can do no harm right?

I look up… only to see him turned towards me and looking me dead in the eyes.

"…"

"…"

He smirks, having caught me red-handed, and starts opening his shirt on the front and giving me a very good view of his collarbone before I look down again towards Shu.

T-That was dangerous, he was trying to seduce me again… I mean, trying would not be the word I would choose to use but…

Well, I can enjoy this cat and mouse play…

He finishes soon after and goes for the door.

"I'm going to make breakfast, anything you want in particular?"

"Uhm… not really, everything you do is great so…"

"Glad you enjoy it. Meet you at the dining room?"

"Sure elfy."

He gives me a crooked smile before he turns and walks away. I smile at the lasting image of him in my mind, absently stroking Shu until he had been lazy for long enough on my lap and stretches up, tail high and with a big yawn, showing his little teeth.

Oh my, what an overload of cuteness!

He looks up at me with big black eyes shining like a night sky full of stars as his little pink tongue licks my chin by surprise.

"Haha, good morning to you too Shu."

He bumps his nose on my palm, as if responding, some squeaking sounding like moma coming from his little mouth until he stands and branches grow out from his back and help him to get on the floor, as he trots out of the room to do who knows what.

Sigh, so cute, but I can see myself having troubles with his new form in the future.

Wait.

Could he… learn how to take a human form too? He would be soo cute! Ok, as his mom- I mean, as the one who made him this way I should take responsibility, right? So how about setting it as my personal goal? Need to keep an eye out for any shape-shifting creatures who could help out on that regard, pity that the ones we got from before were locked down in a dungeon.

With those thoughts in mind I change my clothes and go out, following the smell I soon arrive at the already set table, ogling down the food with my eyes even before saying hi to the twins who were talking to the side drinking some wine.

Uf, never got why some people drank ale or wine for breakfast, would it not be a bad way to start the day? Or rather, those usually drank it no matter the time, for lunch and dinner included, so it should taste almost like water at this point right?

Anyway, I look down at the contents being put on the stone plates, feeling my mouth water before even tasting it, knowing that, coming from Leo, it would taste wonderful.

There was a fresh bread cut in half with some sort of sauce on it and melted cheese, with a cooked egg on the side accompanied by a salted fish with green leaves and oregano, and from the smell a drip of lemon too, lovely.

Hm… I wonder where that fish come from…

To top it all a cup of warm tea, still steaming.

"Sit down, I'm almost done." Says Leo as I hum in response. I look at him towards the kitchen beside the little campfire that was out now, having the bread and boiled water made at the little furnace on the back where another fire stood, hidden behind piles of wood, a stone cover and a metal door.

Leo was cleaning and organizing his tools, his back towards me, but as if feeling my eyes on his figure he looks back at me, our eyes meeting as a warm smile spreads on my lips, making him smile back.

My eyes go back to the hall when I hear my brother grumbling, his hand covering his eyes and massaging his forehead, arching forward as if with a stomach ache.

"Oh God why is the world so bright?"

"Pff, I told you not to drink."

"But I thought it was ok since we don't get drunk!" He says, sitting beside me and laying his face down on the table, covering his face with his arms.

"Silly you, what happens when you put alcohol in a fire?"

"I don't know, but I bet I'm feeling it right now, ugh."

I chuckle, petting him on the back as he kept grumbling as his stomach rumbled together. I wonder if medicine would help since it would be melted away in our stomachs… Oh, I know something, or rather, someone who can help.

"Can you call the others for breakfast?" Asks Leo as I nod. Perfect excuse to go and bring that annoying woman in and finally have some use for her.

I mean… cough cough, try to be nice, try to be nice, I'm going to ask for a favor, be nice…

Nah, I can just force her right? If she refuses to heal him I would rather have her out of the group, it would be pointless to have such an annoying useless creature around in this dangerous adventure.

See? It makes sense! Shit, I'm almost wishing that she denies it now, damn.

I pat my brother one last time, giving a peck on top of his head as he grumbles again, making me unable to give him the scowling that I had prepared for him, the sickness being punishment enough.

Now if he will learn with that or will repeat the mistake… that's another story.

"Drink some tea, I will be right back."

"Uhum…"

I walk in the halls, looking out at the garden with my ears up and tail high, taking in the smells and feeling very relax today.

I follow her smell until the last room, and knowing that the others were not there I simply knock and turn the knob of the door, distracted with my thoughts enough to not realize something was amiss.

And that I would soon learn that, when you knock, you should wait for the person to answer back.

****

I'm not late because I totally forgot to finish the chapter and had to write the end down minutes before publishing it, noooo, not at all, lol.

… I did.

BTW next week is full of surprises, the Vampire book is launching(25) and I have a Halloween surprise for ya!

See ya next Friday!