A paw collides with the back of Asphodel’s head, causing him to stumble, and he yelps. He swivels to gaze pitifully behind him.
The owner of the paw, his best—or only, depending on how pessimistically you slice it—friend, chirrups in sadistic glee, snickering.
“Pei-Pei,” Asphodel sighs, “why?”
“Chin up!” The larger Stelciar bounces around to his side, one massive plume of fur, practically glittering in the fading light of the sun. Asphodel squints, bewil...
