username + number: 76heart + 395288
kalon name: Ephraim
prompt:
xxxThis world was filled with many strange and truly wondrous creatures. He often counted himself lucky to be the chosen companion of one; the only one in the world Melchior could stand.
xxxMost of the time.
xxx“Foolish,” A slender paw batted at the plate, disdainful and displeased, “if you insist on acting like a pup, how am I to believe you are grown as you tell me?” Melchior’s voice penetrated his mind, lips moving only to snarl.
xxx“Foolish?” He balked, “This is your favorite dinner! You know birds don’t give you eggs on command!”
xxxMelchior stood, almost as tall as him, and circled until his elongated snout was a hair away from his nose. “This filth,” he spat the words in his mind, “is not my favorite.” He turned away, ears pinned back, and looking wounded. “It’s not on my special plate!” His voice was quieter this time, as if he didn’t want to admit it. As if he didn’t want to profess that he had come to enjoy the palace luxuries, and now did not wish to live without them.
xxxEphraim pinched his brow between tired fingers. “You broke it yesterday, don’t you remember? While chasing my birds?”
xxxAt least he had the decency to look a little sheepish. “I recall no such thing! You accuse me!”
xxx“And you lie.”
xxxMelchior scoffed, eyes narrowed. Then, he hung his head, tail between his legs, fur soft and wavy. xxx“Can you repair it?”
xxx“In time.”
xxxA mournful puff of air was his only response. He stretched, lithe and long – too long, and curled in his plush bed (made of the finest pillows, naturally); velvety soft head resting on his front paws, red eyes looking up to him. “Then I shall languish here until my treasure has been returned to me.”
xxx“Very well.”
xxxHis head lifted. “Very well? Just 'very well'? No sympathies as I waste away to nothing?”
xxx“Goodnight, Melchior.” The door shut behind him, heavy, but not heavy enough to block the high pitched whine and betrayed howl that came from the other side.
xxxWhen the sun rose, and Melchior was freed from his prison of torment, Ephraim noticed the plate empty, and clean. It almost appeared to glow in the sunlight, like the white fur of his creature – doglike, but bigger, something different, something more. In this light, his spots of golden caramel almost looked like fresh honey, drizzled straight from the hive.
xxx“I see you finished your filth.”
xxx“I was starved, I had no choice.” He lay indignant upon his pillows, long claws almost tearing at the fabric.
xxx“Well,” he entered, steps slow and languid, hands behind his back. He didn’t miss the way his companion’s ears perked up. “I might have something to remedy your terrible plight.”
xxxMelchior whined, tail hopeful.
xxxSlowly, much too slowly if you asked the impatient and pampered furred one, he revealed the plate behind his back. Free of cracks, and piled high with his favorite; eggs brimming with magic, like the birds that so kindly provided them, like the both of them. And a treat of honeycomb; a gift that always came with a dreaded bath and brushing after it clung to his long fur and much of the room.
xxxBut Melchior never cared about the promised baths until he was done and the realization set in. He leapt at Ephraim, wagging and knocking them both to the floor. The plate fell with them, announcing it had done so with a loud shatter.
xxx“No!” He wasn’t sure if he, or the howl that escaped Melchior was louder.
597/600 words
melchior the giant magical borzoi is inspired by this honeycomb ice cream, and red velvet ice cream
extra (optional): My culture has a holiday that includes cheesecake, so I should say cheesecake for that reason and because it’s my favorite, BUT it’s usually too rich for me and I don’t really like cake all that much, plus I can’t deny the aesthetic beauty of a molten lava cake. However: consider a molten lava cake, but with marbled mirror cake icing on the outside 👀
Kurai | She/her 