JP - The Keep - Morning

With the wards on the walls reinforced, Bai made his way to the room the Spenser family was staying in. He wanted to see what Pinja had given birth to, he had been told about what had been done to her, and had seen the seamstress shop within days of the attack. Too many signs to ignore. Jack and the raiders might be dead, but he was pretty sure Galina was behind what went on in the seamstress shop.

Bella was slowly following Bai out of curiosity, looking over the wall as they went. Every now and then she would get distracted by a scent, but would somehow find her way back to the man, that curiosity written on her face. She had been nibbling on the last of her snacks, but now that all four limbs were free, she followed with much more ease and anytime she fell behind, she was able to catch up quickly.

At some point, she sniffed something she didn’t like and barked toward the wall.

Bai frowned, he hoped it was just a rat. “What are you barking at?” Bai asked the dog girl.

Bella stopped barking to look at Bai and just started panting happily. She had been barking at literally nothing.

Bai sighed and massaged his temples. He continued on his way to the main building, the Spensers were staying on the second floor. He puffed his way up the stairs, blaming his short wind on his shorter legs. Everything was built for people taller than himself.

In order to follow, Bella had to climb the stairs as well. Being both short and not very well coordinated with the damned things, she kept slipping back down a few steps, but eventually caught up. At the top, she turned to bark at the stairs, expressing her distaste for them, and followed Bai once more.

Every time she got close, though, she playfully snapped her teeth at him.

Cyan was leaving the room the Spensers were staying in as Bai arrived, her own small son held close. She nodded to Bai and Bella.

Bai nodded to Cyan and tapped on the door. It was answered by Shawn, the former captain of the guard of Buckley Village, future farmer. He smiled warily at Bai, but opened the door wider to allow Bai to come inside.

Bella stopped at the door and looked up at Shawn, not sure if she was welcome.

Shawn put a finger over his lips, silently telling her to be quiet.

“They’re healthy… I think they’re just normal babies.” Brighid told Bai, protectively standing between the crib and Bai.

“I’m not going to hurt them.” Bai said, spreading his hands. “I just want to look at them.”

Brighid stepped out of Bai’s way, but watched him like a hawk.

Bai looked in the crib. The babies were sleeping. They both looked like Pinja but they were not identical, one was a boy and the other a girl. “Any birthmarks?”

“Nothing.” Brighid said. “No marks, not even that circle with lines.”

Bai closed his eyes, sensing. He did not feel anything evil or dangerous coming from them- which was good because they were just newborn babies. That did not mean that they were safe. Someone wanted Pinja to get pregnant, he doubted that those responsible would just let the babies be happily raised by this nice couple.

At Shawn’s demand, Bella kept quiet and made her way into the room. Staying by the door, she sat down and watched them, tail wagging as she panted. How long could she keep herself from causing trouble?

“Let me know right away if there is ever anything unusual.” Bai told Shawn and Brighid. He set a ward on the crib, and the room, before leaving. He hoped they would keep anything bad from happening.

Bella waved at Shawn before following Bai out of the room.

Bai was tired. He knew things were going to get harder. So he had better get some sleep.

Following him into the room, Bella found a comfortable corner and laid down there. Using her fluffy tail as a pillow, she would sleep well until morning came, which was when she started to trot around the bed, whining. When that didn’t get him to wake up, she started barking.

🌅***
Bai grumbled and buried his head under his pillow.

Bella barked a bit more and tried to get to the bed, but whatever magic he used kept sending her tumbling away. She was not one to give up easily, though, and kept trying to wake Bai up, probably waking the entire building…

“Will someone shut that damned dog up!” Someone shouted from another room. “Some of us were up late last night having sex!”

Bai grumbled something that sounded like It wasn’t you either. He crawled out of bed and shuffled to the door and opened it to let Bella out.

She did not leave the room, but stared up at Bai as her tail wagged. There was a proud look in her eyes because she thought she had done a good job and woken him up.

“Go, chase rabbits or something.” Bai groaned, fully intending to go back to bed.

Bella whined, not moving an inch.

“Go. I’m not getting dressed in front of a naked dog girl or going outside in my pajamas.” Bai said.

Ears falling down and feeling like she’d done something wrong, Bella left and made her way outside.

As soon as Bella left, Bai closed the door and fell back into bed.