Marika had spent a full day setting up the safe room for her new fluffies. He felt tired, and her back ached, but she was honestly a little impressed with herself for not giving up and collapsing into bed. A low bar, but it counted as a success to her. Now, she had just finished cleaning up and was returning some of her paint brushes to their designated space in her small studio. Her drafting table was still tilted up, a half-finished illustration of a lonely unicorn that seemed to call out to her, urging her to finish it before the commissioner questioned what was taking so long.
Marika sighed down at it, and silently promised herself that she would sit down with it and finish it in the next couple days. The commissioner was an author who had sought her out for her soft watercolor style that would go nicely in their latest children’s book.
That wasn’t the only unfinished project she had waiting for her. In the corner of the studio stood a simple tailor’s mannequin with blue fabric pinned in place, waiting for her to turn it into a fashionable top she had been thinking about. A sketch of the design laid nearby, collecting dust. Marika stared at it for a brief moment, the gears slowly turning in her head, clicking toward an idea she couldn’t quite reach. Perhaps more inspiration would strike her later.
But now wasn’t the time! Her fluffies were still in the garage, and although she had checked on them periodically throughout the day, they had clearly been getting less and less happy with their kiddie pool abode. She double-checked that she hadn’t forgotten anything, and then hurried down to the garage.
It was dim and cool in there, and Misty laid there in the towles on her belly with her legs held close to her body, her mate Cosmo flopped over her back. Marika walked over to them, moving a stack of wood aside so she could kneel at the edge of the pool.
“What are you doing there, Cosmo?”
“Cawsmo am bein bwankie fow Mistie!” Cosmo answered with a proud smile. He had tried about a hundred times to flick a towel over his special friend, but the towel was a dummy and fell over every time. But he was so clever he figured out he could be her blanket instead!
“Cawsmo am su smawtie!” Mistie giggled.
Okay damn it that was actually really cute. Marika chuckled at his antics.
“That was very nice of you Cosmo. You don’t need to be a blanket anymore though. Your new safe room is finally ready!”
The two fluffies both gasped excitedly.
“Weawwy???” Cosmo asked. He didn’t wait for confirmation though, he was ready to go! He moved his legs, but couldn’t seem to find purchase with his hooves. Laying on top of Misty, big and round with her tummy babies, his hooves couldn’t fully reach the floor.
“CAWSMO STUCKIE!” He panicked, wiggling his hooves frantically.
Marika stood and simply picked him up off of Misty’s back, placing him back down on the floor next to her feet.
Cosmo stood there, taking a couple seconds to process that the crisis had been averted.
“Oh. Fank ou Mummah!”
“Welcome,” Marika chuckled again, reaching down to scoop Misty up in her arms. “Misty, I’m going to carry you to the safe room. Cosmo, can you walk with me?”
“Yus!!” Cosmo nodded and puffed his chest out proudly. He was a good fluffy! He trotted just behind Marika’s feet, keeping his eyes on Misty in her arms, who waved down at him with a hoof. He had a little trouble pulling himself up the few steps from the garage into the main house. As soon as they crossed the threshold, it was so much warmer! He hurried to catch up with Marika as she walked down the hall.
Marika checked to make sure Cosmo was still with her as she stopped in front of a door. It looked slightly different than the other doors in the hallway. It had a colorful knob, and down at the bottom there was a barely visible childish drawing that had been painted over with a single coat of white. Marika didn’t notice Cosmo lightly pawing at the lines, trying to make out the drawing. She opened the door, and both fluffies gasped in delight once again.
The room had once belonged to a little girl before the previous owners of the house moved out. There wasn’t a whole lot of evidence left behind, but the walls were already a shade of light blue. Marika had spent the first part of her day painting clouds onto them, as well as a pastel rainbow in the corner. The softly colored safe room kit she had bought was now set up, taking up most of the room with a low plastic fence to keep the fluffies corralled in. Within the fence was everything the fluffies would need, as well as a number of toys to play with and soft pillows to cuddle.
Outside of the fence was a couple of storage shelves with supplies like extra blankets and towels, a basket of items to deliver the foals, and even diapers just in case. She even put a leftover box against the wall to prop up her ipad where it would be out of their reach while watching FluffyTV. It was already plugged in and softly playing music at the moment. And lastly, there was even a star shaped nightlight plugged into an outlet for when it was time to sleep.
Marika carefully placed Misty down on the bed with her rear end drooping off of the cushion into the litter box, and then picked up Cosmo to put him down next to her. The little couple oooed and aaaed at their surroundings, especially the toys. The ones in the brightest colors caught their attention the most, and Cosmo eagerly rolled a hot pink ball over to Misty.
Misty held it between her two front hooves and cooed. “Dis am bestest safe woom ebah!” she exclaimed, “Tummeh babbehs wiww be su happy!”
Cosmo nuzzled his stubby snout against hers, and then excitedly ran around in circles as fast as he could (which wasn’t very fast.) “Dis am da bestest day ebah! Fank ou Mummah! Wub ou!!”
Marika got down on her knees just outside the fence to reach in and run her fingers over Misty’s fluff. It felt like reaching into a cloud. She noticed the aqua blue streaks in her mane and tail were just about the same shade as the fabric she had pinned on her mannequin, and she imagined Misty wearing a tiny version of the top she had planned on making. Ha! Wouldn’t that be cute?
Click click, the gears turned.
It was interrupted when Marika’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She stood up and pulled it out, checking the caller ID. Her mother.
“I have to take this,” she said to the fluffies, as if they understood how phones work, “You two behave and enjoy your new room, okay?”
“Otay Mummah!” Cosmo answered happily. Misty was already comfortable with her eyes closed, starting to sing the mummah song to her unborn foals.
Marika stepped out and closed the door before answering the phone.
“Hey Mom.”
“Marika!” her mother greeted her loudly, enough to cause her to hold the phone away from her ear. “I’m surprised you answered so quickly! Usually you let it ring for ages. I suppose the new meds are working?”
“Maybe. I just started the new meds, so it’ll probably be a little while before I notice the results-” Marika was cut off.
“Oh hun, now don’t be a downer!” her mother’s voice chimed, “I’m sure things will be looking up for you soon. Have you been getting out of bed? Showering? Eating enough??”
“Yes Mom,” Marika answered flatly as she wandered down the hall and into the kitchen.
“Good, good! See? You’re doing better already,” her mother continued, “Now I just got off the phone with your brother, and he asked me to let you know he’ll be in town with the family for the weekend. They’re gonna stop by to visit you, so make sure you’re presentable, yeah?”
“Oh…” Marika hesitated, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. She turned to glance down the hall at the safe room door. “Are they bringing Mia?”
“Of course!” her mother answered, “You know it’s important to spend time with your niece. She misses you.”
“I, um…” Marika stammered, tugging at the lock of hair she had curled. “Look, mom…The thing is…I just adopted a pair of fluffies, and-”
“Oh that’s perfect!” her mother interrupted again. She could hear the smile in her voice. “I’m sure Mia would love to play with them!”
“No, Mom, don’t you remember what she did to her last three fluffies?” Marika questioned, bringing the lock of hair to her mouth to chew on it anxiously. “She got one for two Christmases and a birthday, and none them lasted more than a few weeks!”
“Marika,” her mother said more seriously, “Mia’s getting older. She’s not as rough with them anymore. You know, if you spent more time with your family you’d see how big she’s gotten. Besides, they’re just biotoys! They’re meant to be played with. Your brother and Maura are planning on getting her a real pet in the future once she proves she can keep a fluffy alive. This’ll be good practice for her!”
“Mom-”
“Ah ah, I don’t want to hear it,” her mother insisted, “You can tell Mia your expectations for handling the fluffies when they visit. Flex those communication skills! It’ll be good for you.”
“But Mom-”
“Oops, I’m running late for book club. I’ve got to go sweetie,” her mother suddenly rushed to say goodbye, “I want to hear good things about your visit! Make sure to take care of yourself hun. Mmmwah!” And with that, her mother hung up.
Marika stood there in the entrance to the kitchen. She had given up on her hair in favor of gnawing on her fingernails. She stared at her phone for a few moments, and then slowly stuffed it back in her pocket. Then buried her face in her hands. And let out a frustrated scream, muffled by her palms.
Please God. Not Mia.