“Good morning, and thank you for calling the Maui Humane Society!” was practically sung from the phone. Granted, 2am was too soon ago and you’re out of energy drinks.
“Hi,” you croaked, tired and slightly parched. “Is Miko there?”
“Speaking, how can I help you?”
“I reported a pregnant mare the other day. Her name is Saffron. I was just calling to see how she’s doing.”
“Ah! I remember you,” Miko replies. “I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“Is there any way to find out? She’s got some friends of hers, some neighborhood fluffs, that would like to make sure she okay.”
“Well, I’ve got your information here. I can check with Officer Celario if you like but I can’t guarantee an answer.”
“That’d be great, thank you.”
“Hello, this is Officer Celario with the MPD. Miko at the Humane Society let me know you’re asking about how Saffron is doing. She’s doing well and is being taken care of. I can’t comment any more on the matter as there’s an ongoing investigation. Thank you for your concern, and have a good day.”
“Make say again?”
You press play again on your phone’s voicemail app. The four fluffs all stare intently at it, listening. Officer Celario’s voice is the same, the message is the same, and yet…
“Make say again, pwease?”
“Well, its been three times Sonic. Is there something you don’t understand?”
“Nu… just wike heawing Saffwon otay.”
The others nodded in agreement.
A smile slowly grows. Its good to see them looking happy again. Hopeful. Sonic dances in place before just getting a case of the zoomies, running around the yard as fast as a fluffy can. Coco seems to relax a bit, laying down on the shelves. Hulk and Bubblegum just lean up against each other, the younger brother having a big smile across his face, tail wagging about.
Its about then you see him biting around his hind leg.
“Itchee.”
Last night was fun. The fluffs were more than in the mood to play. Even Coco. Huggy tag was entertaining but calling it a game would be a bit generous. Regardless, it was Bubblegum’s favorite. They took off with one of the balls to make something resembling a goal-less version of soccer, Sonic clearly loving it. Coco and Hulk seemed to prefer tussling with each other, being the largest fluffies in the group. It could almost be likened to sumo, honestly. “Owies” could be heard from the pair when one hit the ground, signaling they had lost that bout.
Today? Well, this should be quite the test of things. On the way home you picked up some flea and tick shampoo plus some fluff-brushes. Thankfully fluffies didn’t have claws like cats, but honestly this wasn’t something you were looking forward to.
“I’m home,” you announce to the back yard, laden down with a shopping bag, bucket of water, towels and other supplies. Almost on cue the fluffs come out from shady places in the yard with a chorus of “hewwow”s.
“Okay, can everyone go make good poopies for me, please?”
They look at you funny but do it anyways. Watching them descend and ascend the ramp you put in for the compost pile reminds you its probably about time to collect a healthy amount of the stuff for the folks’ gardening.
“Has anyone been itchy lately?”
Bubblegum raises a hoof as does Hulk. Sonic looks at you a little blankly. Coco tilts her head.
“Itchee?”
“Itchee!” Bubblegum exclaims. “Meanie widdwe buggies cwawl on fwuff an giff bites!”
Hulk nods. “Huwt wittwe when dey du, but den no feew gud aftew.”
“Mebbeh?” Sonic asks. Given how active he is, its easy to believe he simply doesn’t pay enough attention.
Coco looks away then down.
“Can you come here, Coco?”
She obliges albeit hesitantly. Cradling her in an arm, you run your fingers through her belly fluff, pushing it away to see the skin underneath. Little black specks appear then disappear as the fleas jump away.
“Did you see that?”
“Yesh.”
“Those are called fleas. Do you know what they are?”
“Nu. Nebbah see befowe.”
“They bad little bugs that bite you, making an owie,” you explain. “They drink your blood, your boo-boo juice. Sometimes they can even make you sick.”
“No wan buggies!” she says with sudden alarm.
“Well, I can help make them go away if you want.”
The fluffs all gather closer, very interested.
You let Coco go, moving the bucket of water next to you. Inside it a good size cup. Taking the shampoo, you pop the cap, offering the each fluff a chance to smell it.
“Smeww pwetteh.”
“Wike dat.”
“Smeww gud.”
“Wan’ smeww wike dat!”
“This is shampoo, and it’ll help get rid of the fleas.”
Bubblegum walks up and surprises you.
“Can hab baff, pwease?”
“Yes, yes you may.”
“T’ank yu. Bubbwegum wan smeww pwetteh again. No wike itchee buggies.”
He’s a little surprised when you don’t place him in the bucket but instead ladle out water from it to pour slowly over him. Two more cup fulls and he’s well soaked. A quick brush of the hand moves his mane out from over his eyes.
“Wawa no gud fow fwuffy?” Sonic asks, eyes open wide.
“Dis gud wawa,” the pink stallion replies. “Sham-pu gib meanie buggies sweepies an’ make smeww pwetteh.”
Hulk nods. “Den tow-els hewp make fwuffy dwy an’ wawm again.”
Bubblegum coos as the shampoo gets massaged into his fluff, lathering up nicely. The instructions say to wait a few minutes, so you beckon Hulk over to get both at the same time. The little fluff feels like you’d expect, but Hulk is oddly muscular. Strong. You always thought his was chubby under all the fluff but apparently not.
Hulk leans in to your hands, arching his back as massaging fingers work in the flea shampoo.
More water is poured over top of them, rinsing the shampoo off. Grabbing the towels you start drying them off, then move to brushing the two brothers. They’re still a little damp, but clean and pleasant smelling.
“Who is next?”
Coco and Sonic practically stumble over themselves trying to get to you.
