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Wemmbu was sorting through some of his shulker boxes when he heard the floorboards creak behind him. Egg's footsteps were unmistakable—light, almost weightless, and barely made noise on flooring, which was weird to hear creaking. But what made Wemmbu look up wasn't the footsteps.
It was the barking.
"Uh, Egg?" Wemmbu called out, setting down the ingots. "What the hell is that noise?"
Egg rounded the corner into the shed with all their supplies, and Wemmbu had to blink a few times to process what he was seeing. Egg—ethereal, his best friend Egg—was carrying a massive dog in his arms like it weighed nothing. The dog had to be at least eighty pounds (36KG), maybe more, with thick black, white, and rust-colored fur that made it look even bigger.
"Found him wandering near the kingdom’s walls," Egg said casually, as if he hadn't just waltzed in carrying a whole dog.
Wemmbu's tail swished behind him in confusion. "How the fuck are you carrying that thing?"
"Carefully, bro," Egg replied, and Wemmbu couldn't tell if he was joking or not. The eyeball that served as Egg's face blinked once, slowly.
But Wemmbu got distracted from that mystery pretty quickly, because the dog was staring at him. Not just looking—glaring. Its amber (it looked more like red, which was weird, considering most dogs don’t have red eyes) eyes were locked onto Wemmbu with an intensity that seemed way too human for a dog.
The fur along its back bristled slightly, and a low growl rumbled from its chest.
"Okay, what's its problem?" Wemmbu asked, his own eyes narrowing. His horns itched, the way they always did when something felt off.
”He’s a boy.” Egg interjected.
Wemmbu snorted.
That's when he noticed it. Tied to the dog's fluffy tail was a strip of black fabric, dangling like some kind of makeshift accessory. It took Wemmbu exactly three seconds to recognize it.
A blindfold.
Flamefrags's blindfold.
Wemmbu's eyes widened as realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. He looked at the dog—really looked at it. The aggressive glare, the way it was focused specifically on him, the goddamn blindfold tied to its tail like some cosmic joke.
Holy shit. That was Flamefrags.
Wemmbu had to physically clamp his hand over his mouth to stop the laugh that threatened to explode out of him. His shoulders shook with the effort, his tail curling and uncurling behind him in barely contained glee.
"Wemmbu?" Egg tilted his head. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Wemmbu managed, his voice slightly strangled. He waved his other hand dismissively, trying to compose himself. "Yeah, I'm good. Just—that's a really big dog."
The dog's glare intensified, and another low growl rumbled from its chest. If looks could kill, Wemmbu would be six feet under.
Egg set the dog down gently, and it immediately planted itself on the floor, still staring at Wemmbu with what could only be described as pure hatred. "He seems rather aggressive," Egg observed.
"No kidding," Wemmbu muttered, fighting back another laugh. He could feel his claws threatening to extend from the sheer amusement of it all.
"He needs somewhere to stay until I can figure out where he came from," Egg continued. "I was thinking perhaps—"
"My room," Wemmbu interrupted immediately, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. "He can stay in my room."
Egg's eyeball blinked in what might have been surprise. "Are you certain? He seems rather hostile toward you."
Wemmbu couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "I can handle one dog. Besides, If he even pokes your eye, you’re as good as dead.”
The dog barked sharply, snapping its teeth in Wemmbu's direction. Wemmbu just grinned wider.
"Well, if you insist," Egg said slowly. "I suppose it would be helpful. I'll check on you both in the morning."
"Sounds good," Wemmbu said, already walking toward his room. He paused and looked back at the dog. "Come on, buddy. Let's get you settled."
The dog didn't move. It just sat there, glaring at him with those too-intelligent eyes.
Wemmbu raised an eyebrow. "What, you want me to carry you?"
That did it. With an indignant huff, the dog stood and trotted past Wemmbu, its head held high despite everything. The blindfold on its tail swayed with each step.
Wemmbu waited until Egg had turned away before letting himself laugh silently, his shoulders shaking.
Wemmbu's room wasn't particularly large—just enough space for a bed, a corner for all his shulkers, ender chest, crafting table, and a small window that overlooked the Wemmbu kingdom below, he had it built above the meeting hall or ‘The Yap House’. The moment they were inside and the door was closed, Wemmbu let himself laugh properly.
"Oh man," he wheezed, leaning against the door. "Oh man, Flame. What the hell did you do?"
The dog—Flame—growled and positioned himself as far away from Wemmbu as possible, which wasn't very far given the size of the room. He ended up near the window, his body tense and ready to lunge if Wemmbu tried anything.
Wemmbu wiped tears from his eyes, his tail swishing with amusement. “What—“ He snorted, “Oh man, what happened to the big bad Immortal Demon??” He crouched down, resting his arms on his knees. "Oh wait, you can't tell me, can you?"
Flame barked sharply, and if Wemmbu didn't know better, he'd swear the dog was trying to say something along the lines of "fuck you."
"This is the best thing that's ever happened to me," Wemmbu declared, sitting down properly on the floor. His tail’s tip scraped slightly against the wall behind him. "Do you know how long I've wanted to see you completely powerless? And now here you are. A dog."
Flame's lip curled back, showing his teeth. Another growl, this one deeper and more threatening.
"What're you gonna do, bite me?" Wemmbu taunted, extending one claw to examine it. "I've got claws, dude. You've got... what, puppy teeth?"
The growl intensified, and Flame took a step forward. His fur was bristling now, making him look even fluffier and, in Wemmbu's opinion, even less threatening.
"Aww, look at you trying to be intimidating," Wemmbu cooed mockingly. "You're so fluffy."
Before Flame could react, Wemmbu reached out and patted the top of his head.
The effect was immediate. Flame jerked back like he'd been electrocuted, a startled bark escaping him. His fur stood up even more, and he backed away several steps, growling furiously.
Wemmbu's grin was massive. "Oh my god. Did you just—" He couldn't finish, dissolving into laughter. "You got pet and freaked out!"
Flame's response was to lunge forward, teeth bared. Wemmbu jerked his hand back just in time, still laughing.
"Okay, okay!" Wemmbu held up his hands.
Flame didn't look convinced. He backed up toward the corner of the room, his eyes never leaving Wemmbu, his whole body radiating indignation.
"You know what though?" Wemmbu said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "I bet Egg would love to pet you. Should I call him in here?"
The look of absolute horror on the dog's face was priceless.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Wemmbu said, climbing onto his bed. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. For now."
Flame settled into the corner, though he kept his head up, still watching Wemmbu with that intense stare. The blindfold on his tail swished irritably.
Wemmbu stretched out on his bed, his tail hanging off the side. "You know, I gotta ask—can you even do fire stuff like this? Or is that gone too?"
Flame's answer was to open his mouth. For a second, nothing happened. Then a tiny puff of smoke emerged, dissipating almost immediately.
Wemmbu lost it again, laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach. "Oh my god. Oh my god. You can't even—" He couldn't finish the sentence, dissolving into wheezing laughter.
The growl from the corner was murderous.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Wemmbu gasped, though he clearly wasn't.
Flame turned around, presenting his back to Wemmbu, and curled up in a tight ball in the corner. The blindfold on his tail was the only part still visible, along with his fluffy rear end.
Wemmbu sat up, grinning. "Aww, are you sulking? Is the big bad Immortal Demon sulking?"
No response.
"Come on, don't be like that," Wemmbu said, getting off the bed. He crept closer to Flame's corner. "I'm just having a little fun."
Flame's tail twitched in warning, but he didn't turn around.
"What, you're really gonna ignore me?" Wemmbu asked, now standing right behind Flame. "That's kinda rude, don't you think?"
Before Flame could react, Wemmbu reached down and ruffled the fur on his beautifully maintained coat, messing it up completely.
Flame spun around so fast he nearly tripped over his own paws, barking furiously. His carefully groomed fur was now sticking up in all directions, making him look absolutely ridiculous.
"Oh, that's a good look for you," Wemmbu said, backing away quickly as Flame advanced on him.
Flame lunged, and Wemmbu had to actually jump back onto his bed to avoid those snapping teeth. His claws extended on reflex, scraping against the wood frame.
Wemmbu laughed, holding up his hands. "I'll stop messing with your fur, dude!”
Flame stood at the edge of the bed, glaring up at him, his messed-up fur making him look like he'd been struck by lightning while wrestling with a grizzly bear. He barked once, sharply, then turned and stalked back to his corner with as much dignity as he could manage.
"You know you're gonna have to fix that, right?" Wemmbu called after him. "Can't walk around looking like you lost a fight with Manepear, can you?” The smug tone in his voice was very evident now.
Flame's response was to very deliberately turn his back on Wemmbu again and curl up tightly, facing the wall.
Wemmbu watched him for a moment, still grinning. Then he noticed Flame trying to smooth down his fur with his paws, an action that was both adorable and pathetic.
"Need help with that?" Wemmbu offered innocently, laying on his stomach and kicking his legs up in the air like an annoying teenage girl.
A growl was his only answer.
"Suit yourself," Wemmbu said, lying back down on his bed. "But you're gonna be licking yourself for hours to fix that mess."
The growl intensified.
"What? That's what dogs do, right?" Wemmbu continued, unable to help himself. "Lick themselves clean? Or are you too proud for that?"
Flame gave up on his fur and just pressed himself further into the corner, as if he could disappear into the wall through sheer force of will.
"You know what the best part about this is?" Wemmbu said after a moment. "It's not just that you're a dog. It's that you're a dog and you can't tell me to shut up. Can't threaten me. Can't do anything except sit there and take it."
Silence from the corner.
"Must be driving you crazy," Wemmbu continued. "All that shit you probably want to say to me right now, and all you can do is bark and growl and look pathetic."
Flame's shoulders—or whatever dogs called that part—tensed.
"I mean, what would you even say if you could talk right now?" Wemmbu mused, staring at the ceiling. “Probably something with a ‘Bro’ in it.”
Flame turned around and barked. Not a warning bark or an angry bark—a single, emphatic bark that clearly meant 'shut the fuck up.'
"Oh, sorry, did I nail it?" Wemmbu asked, grinning. "Was that pretty accurate?"
Another bark, louder this time, like a ‘Oh my god please be quiet you are so annoying.’
"Yeah, I thought so," Wemmbu said smugly, ignoring the threat. "I know you pretty well, Flame.”
Flame’s ear twitched, before he turned around and faced outward so he could keep Wemmbu in his line of sight.
"You're an asshole," Wemmbu muttered, lying back down. "You know that?"
Flame's tail twitched once in response.
They fell into a strange rhythm after that. Wemmbu would make a comment, Flame would respond with a growl or a bark or just an intense stare, and Wemmbu would laugh and make another comment. It was almost like their normal interactions, except Flame couldn't actually fight back with words or fire.
"Hey Flame," Wemmbu said after a while. "You hungry? Do you eat regular dog food now or what?"
Flame's head popped up, and he turned to glare at Wemmbu.
"I'm genuinely asking," Wemmbu said, though his grin suggested otherwise. "I don't know how this works. Should I get you a bowl? Put it on the floor for you?"
Flame barked sharply and stood up, taking a few menacing steps toward the bed.
"Okay, okay, no dog bowls. Got it." Wemmbu held up his hands. "What about a collar though? I bet Egg has one somewhere. We could put your name on it and everything."
Flame jumped up, getting his front paws on the edge of the bed, snapping his teeth at Wemmbu. Wemmbu scrambled back, laughing, until his back hit the wall.
"Alright, alright! No collar!" Wemmbu said through his laughter. "Man, you're a sensitive dog."
Flame dropped back down and returned to his corner, huffing indignantly. His fur was still messed up from earlier, sticking up in odd directions.
"Your fur still looks stupid, by the way," Wemmbu called out.
Flame's response was to very deliberately start grooming himself, using his tongue to smooth down the offending fur. It was such a dog thing to do that Wemmbu had to bite his lip to keep from laughing again.
"Need help with that?" Wemmbu offered, already knowing the answer.
Flame paused in his grooming to give Wemmbu the most withering look a dog could possibly give.
"Yeah, didn't think so," Wemmbu said.
Wemmbu continued to talk, pressing at topics that he was sure to make Flame annoyed.
Finally, Flame stopped grooming and turned to face Wemmbu fully. The growl that emerged from his chest was long and deep and very clearly meant to convey 'shut the fuck up right now.'
Flame moved closer to the bed, placing his front paws on the edge. He growled again, this time with more force, his teeth showing.
"Oh come on, you can't be mad about me calling you cute," Wemmbu said. "You're one of those popular mountain dogs. That's like, objectively one of the cutest and friendliest dog breeds—"
Flame's growl turned into a sharp bark, right in Wemmbu's face.
"Okay, okay, not cute. Got it," Wemmbu said, though he was still grinning. "Fierce. Terrifying."
Another bark.
"But seriously though, if Egg takes a picture of you like this, I'm definitely keeping a copy—"
This time Flame's bark was so loud and insistent that Wemmbu actually had to cover his ears. When he lowered his hands, Flame was still standing there, glaring at him with an intensity that somehow managed to be threatening despite everything.
"Alright, alright," Wemmbu said, holding up his hands. "I'll stop talking about how you look. Happy?"
Flame continued to stare at him for a long moment, then huffed and dropped back down to the floor. But instead of returning to his corner, he stayed near the bed, sitting down and fixing Wemmbu with that unnerving stare again.
"What now?" Wemmbu asked.
Flame just kept staring.
"Seriously, what?"
More staring.
"You want something?"
Flame tilted his head slightly, and Wemmbu could swear there was a calculating look in those eyes.
"Food? Water? A walk?"
Flame shook his head at each suggestion and made a face at each word Wemmbu uttered out of his mouth.
"Then what?"
Flame let out a long, exasperated sigh—which was weird coming from a dog—and then very deliberately looked at Wemmbu, then at his own head, then back at Wemmbu.
It took Wemmbu a second to process what Flame was implying.
"Wait," Wemmbu said slowly. "Are you... are you asking me to fix your fur?"
Flame's ears flattened, and he looked away, but he didn't move from his spot.
"Oh my god," Wemmbu said, his grin returning full force. "You are! You want me to fix your fur because you can't do it yourself!"
A low growl was his answer, but Flame still didn't move.
"This is amazing," Wemmbu said, sitting up properly. "The mighty Flamefrags, asking me—me—for help."
Flame's growl intensified, and he started to stand up as if reconsidering the whole thing.
"Wait, wait, I'll do it, bro," Wemmbu said quickly, unable to pass up this opportunity. "But you have to let me pet you properly. No freaking out, no biting, no running away."
Flame froze, and the look he gave Wemmbu could have melted steel.
"That's the deal," Wemmbu said, crossing his arms. His tail swished behind him with barely contained glee. "I fix your fur, you let me pet you. Take it or leave it."
For a long moment, Flame just stood there. Wemmbu could practically see the internal struggle happening—pride versus the inability to properly groom himself with paws instead of hands.
Finally, with what could only be described as the most reluctant movement Wemmbu had ever witnessed, Flame sat back down and lowered his head slightly.
"Holy shit," Wemmbu breathed. "You're actually agreeing to this."
Flame's only response was a low, warning growl that clearly said 'don't make me regret this.'
"Okay, okay," Wemmbu said, trying to contain his excitement as he slid off the bed. He knelt down next to Flame, who was visibly tense. "Just... stay still."
He reached out slowly, half expecting Flame to bolt at the last second. But the dog stayed put, though every muscle in his body was rigid with reluctance.
Wemmbu's hand made contact with the top of Flame's head, and he felt the dog flinch slightly but hold his ground. The fur was incredibly soft, even when sticking up in all directions.
"See? Not so bad," Wemmbu said softly, starting to smooth down the messed-up fur. His fingers worked through the ruffled tufts gently, careful not to pull. "I'm barely touching you."
Flame's response was a barely audible growl, but he didn't move away.
Wemmbu took his time, carefully working through the cowlicks he'd created earlier. The fur was thick and plush under his fingers, surprisingly warm. He could feel Flame trembling slightly, whether from anger or just the sheer indignity of the situation, Wemmbu couldn't tell.
"You know, this would be easier if you relaxed," Wemmbu commented, moving his hand to smooth down the fur behind Flame's ears. “Actually, bro, speaking of relaxed, I wonder if you have an off-switch. That would be funny as fuck.”
Flame let out a long growl, warning Wemmbu.
Wemmbu’s fingers found the spot right behind Flame's left ear, and he scratched gently.
The effect was immediate and unexpected. Flame went completely still, and the growling stopped. His head tilted ever so slightly into Wemmbu's hand.
Wemmbu froze, his eyes widening. "Did you just...?"
Flame's ears twitched, but he didn't pull away. In fact, if Wemmbu didn't know better, he'd say Flame was leaning into the scratch just a little bit more.
"Oh my god," Wemmbu said quietly, a grin spreading across his face. "You like this. I didn’t know you had an off-switch.”
A halfhearted growl started up again, but it lacked any real conviction.
Wemmbu continued scratching behind Flame's ear, his fingers working through the soft fur there. He moved to the other ear, giving it the same treatment, and Flame's whole body seemed to relax incrementally. The tension in his shoulders eased, and his breathing evened out.
"This is insane," Wemmbu muttered, but he kept going. His hand moved from behind Flame's ears to the top of his head, stroking down in long, smooth motions. The messed-up fur gradually settled back into place under his careful attention.
Flame didn't make a sound now. He just sat there, his head slightly lowered, allowing Wemmbu to pet him. It was possibly the most humiliating decision Flame’s ever done.
They sat there quietly, Wemmbu running his hand down Flame's neck and along his back. The thick coat was plush under his palm, the white and rust patches just as soft as the black.
Wemmbu worked his way back up to Flame's head, his fingers combing through the fur on top before moving back to that spot behind his ears. He scratched there again, a bit more firmly this time, and Flame's head tilted into his hand with what could only be described as contentment.
"Okay, this is actually kind of nice," Wemmbu admitted, his tail swishing slowly behind him. "I mean, you're not trying to bite me, you're not growling... this is probably the most peaceful interaction we've ever had."
Flame's ear flicked, but he didn't respond otherwise.
Wemmbu continued for another few minutes, his hand moving in gentle strokes down Flame's back, then up to scratch behind his ears again, then smoothing the fur on top of his head. It was oddly meditative, the repetitive motion and the soft fur under his fingers.
"Alright," Wemmbu said finally, giving Flame's head one last pat. "You're all fixed now. Fur looks good."
He pulled his hand back and sat back on his heels, expecting Flame to immediately bolt back to his corner.
But Flame didn't move.
He just sat there, his head still slightly lowered, his body relaxed in a way Wemmbu had never seen before. The seconds ticked by, and Flame remained perfectly still.
"Uh, Flame?" Wemmbu said. "You can go now. I'm done."
Flame's ear twitched, but he didn't move. If anything, he seemed to lean forward slightly, as if...
"Oh my god," Wemmbu said, realization dawning on him. "Do you... do you want me to keep going?"
Flame's head snapped up, and the look he gave Wemmbu was mortified. A growl started up immediately, defensive and embarrassed.
"You do!" Wemmbu said, his grin returning full force. "You don't want me to stop!"
Flame stood up quickly, backing away, his fur bristling with indignation. He barked once, sharply, and the message was clear: 'No I don't, shut up.'
"Dude, you literally didn't move for like thirty seconds after I stopped," Wemmbu said, standing up. "That's the universal sign of 'please continue.'"
Flame's response was to turn around and march back to his corner with as much dignity as he could muster, which wasn't much considering his tail was tucked and his ears were flat against his head.
"Hey, it's nothing to be embarrassed about," Wemmbu called after him, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice. "Dogs like being pet. It's, like, hardwired into you or something."
Flame curled up in his corner, facing the wall, and Wemmbu could see his shoulders hunched with what could only be described as mortification.
"You know what the best part is?" Wemmbu continued, climbing back onto his bed. "You liked it. Like, actually enjoyed it. I could tell."
A muffled growl came from the corner.
"And you know what else? If you want me to do it again later, all you have to do is ask," Wemmbu said, his tail swishing with barely contained glee. "Well, not ask, since you can't talk. But you know, come over here and look pathetic or something."
The growl got louder.
"I'm just saying, the option's there," Wemmbu added. "No judgment. Well, okay, lots of judgment. But I'll still do it."
Flame pressed himself further into the corner, and Wemmbu could swear he saw the dog's shoulders shake slightly—whether from rage or embarrassment, he couldn't tell.
"This is definitely going in my top three favorite memories," Wemmbu said, lying back on his bed with a satisfied grin. "Flamefrags, the terrifying Immortal Demon, enjoying getting pet like a regular dog. Classic."
The muffled growl from the corner was his only response, but Wemmbu didn't need anything else.
He was never, ever going to let Flame forget this.
The rest of the evening passed in relative peace. Flame stayed in his corner, occasionally shooting glares at Wemmbu when he thought he wasn't looking—though his glares had a bit less heat to them now, tinged with embarrassment. Wemmbu, for his part, tried to give Flame some space, though he couldn't resist making the occasional comment about soft fur or ear scratches that would earn him a mortified growl.
As the sun started to set, casting orange light through the window, Wemmbu noticed Flame shifting around again, trying to get comfortable.
"Can't get comfortable?" he asked.
Flame ignored him, pointedly facing the wall.
"Want that blanket?"
Flame's ears perked up slightly, but he didn't turn around.
Wemmbu sighed and grabbed the spare blanket from his nearby chest. "Come on, don't be stubborn."
He started to get up to bring it to Flame's corner, and the dog finally turned around, watching him warily. His ears were still flat against his head, clearly still embarrassed about earlier.
"Here," Wemmbu said, holding it out. "No tricks. Promise.”
Flame hesitated. But eventually, he stood up and walked over slowly, keeping his eyes on Wemmbu the whole time.
"Just take it," Wemmbu said, holding it out further. "I won't mess with your fur again. It looks good now anyway."
Flame reached forward carefully and took the edge in his mouth, his eyes still fixed on Wemmbu suspiciously.
And Wemmbu, being Wemmbu, couldn't resist reaching out and giving Flame's head one more quick pat, his fingers finding that spot behind his ear for just a second.
Flame froze, the blanket still in his mouth, and for a moment Wemmbu thought he saw his eyes half-close. Then the dog seemed to remember himself and jumped back, dropping the blanket, a startled bark escaping him.
"Sorry, sorry!" Wemmbu said, though he was laughing. "I couldn't help it! You make it too easy!"
Flame glared at him, smoke puffing from his nose in that pathetic way that only made Wemmbu laugh harder.
"Okay, I'm done, I swear," Wemmbu said, pushing the blanket toward Flame with his foot. "Take it and go."
Flame grabbed the blanket and dragged it back to his corner, shooting Wemmbu one more mortified glare before settling down. He curled up tightly, wrapping himself in the blanket until only his head was visible, and even then he was facing the wall.
"Goodnight, Flamefrags," Wemmbu called out cheerfully.
The growl that came from the corner was long and low and promised violence, but there was an undercurrent of embarrassment to it that made Wemmbu grin even wider.
"Sweet dreams, bro," he added, and the muffled sound of frustration from the corner was music to his ears.
Wemmbu rolled over, his tail curling around himself contentedly. He closed his eyes, still grinning.
Morning light filtered through the window, and Wemmbu woke to the sound of... nothing.
No growling. No huffing. No sounds of a large dog shifting around in the corner.
Wemmbu sat up, rubbing his eyes. His horns felt heavy with sleep, and his tail was tangled in the blanket. He blinked a few times, trying to focus on the corner where Flame had been.
What he saw made him freeze.
Flamefrags—human Flamefrags—was huddled in the corner, his arms wrapped around his knees. His usual blindfold was back over his eyes where it belonged, and his clothes looked rumpled but intact. The spare blanket Wemmbu had given him was draped over his shoulders. Small wisps of smoke curled up from his hair, a sign of his blaze heritage that always appeared when he was stressed or just waking up.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Flame's head snapped up, somehow sensing Wemmbu's gaze despite the blindfold. "Don't," he growled, his voice rough from disuse—or maybe from all that barking. "Don't you fucking say it, bro."
Wemmbu's grin was instantaneous and massive. "Sleep well?”
“I'm gonna burn this entire kingdom down," Flame snarled, smoke puffing from his body. "With you in it, bro."
"Uh-huh. Sure." Wemmbu stretched, his tail uncurling from the blankets. "That's a lot of big talk from someone.”
Flame's hands ignited with small flames, and he pushed himself to his feet. The blanket fell to the floor. "You tricked me, bro."
"I did not," Wemmbu protested, though he was grinning. "You couldn't fix your fur yourself, and I offered to help. That's called a transaction."
"You scratched behind my ears, bro," Flame said, his voice rising. The flames in his hands grew brighter. "And you kept going for like ten minutes!"
"Because you liked it," Wemmbu pointed out. "You literally leaned into my hand. And then you didn't want me to stop."
"I did not—" Flame started, then stopped, his jaw clenching. "That's—that was just—bro, that doesn't count!"
"You didn't move for thirty seconds after I stopped petting you," Wemmbu said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice. "That's pretty damning evidence."
Flame's jaw clenched so hard Wemmbu could hear his teeth grinding. Smoke poured from his fingertips now, filling the corner of the room. "I hate you so much right now, bro."
"Yeah, I got that impression." Wemmbu stood up, his claws extending briefly before retracting. "Multiple times."
Flame's hands were fully engulfed in flames now, small sparks dripping onto the wooden floor.
"You're gonna burn a hole in my floor," Wemmbu pointed out.
"Good, bro."
"Egg's gonna wonder about that."
The flames extinguished immediately. Flame stood there, his hands still raised, smoke rising from his palms.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Wemmbu said. He walked to the door and opened it, gesturing out. "Come on. Time for you to leave before Egg sees you."
Flame didn't move. "What?"
"Egg thinks you're a dog that wandered off," Wemmbu explained. "And I didn't tell him otherwise. So you need to get out of here before he comes looking for his new pet."
"You didn't tell him it was me?" Flame asked, surprise evident in his voice despite the anger.
Wemmbu shrugged. "Figured that was your mess to deal with. Now get out before I change my mind."
For a moment, Flame just stood there, smoke curling from his shoulders. Then he moved toward the door, his footsteps heavy.
As he passed Wemmbu, he stopped, turning his blindfolded face toward him.
"If you tell anyone about this, bro," Flame said, his voice low and dangerous. "Especially the dog thing. I don't care what it takes. I don't care how long. I will make your life a living hell."
"Yeah, yeah, death threats, burning, whatever," Wemmbu waved him off. "Now go. And try not to turn into a dog again.”
Flame's jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything else. He just turned and walked down the hallway toward the exit, his footsteps echoing in the quiet morning.
Wemmbu watched until he heard the main door open and close. Then he shut his own door and leaned against it, a grin spreading across his face.
He'd just turned around when there was a knock.
"Wemmbu?" Egg's voice came through the wood. "May I come in?"
Wemmbu quickly glanced around the room, making sure there was no evidence of Flame's human form. The blanket was still in the corner, and there were no scorch marks on the floor. Good.
"Yeah, sure," he called.
Egg opened the door, his wing headdresses catching the morning light. His eyeball blinked as he scanned the room, immediately noticing the empty corner.
"Where's the dog?" Egg asked.
Wemmbu paused, then shrugged. "Disappeared overnight."
"Disappeared?" Egg's eyeball fixed on him, unblinking.
"Yeah. Woke up this morning and he was just... gone." Wemmbu gestured at the empty corner. "Window was closed, door was closed. No idea where he went."
Egg was silent for a moment, his eyeball scanning the room. It lingered on the blanket crumpled in the corner.
"That's... unusual," Egg said finally.
"Weird, right?" Wemmbu agreed, trying to sound casual.
"Yeah bro, It was weird," Egg said slowly. He walked further into the room, picking up the blanket from the corner.
"He looked cold," Wemmbu added, his tail swishing slightly.
"That was kind of you, bro." Egg folded the blanket carefully. "Even though he was aggressive."
"Yeah, well. He calmed down eventually."
Egg set the blanket on Wemmbu's bed, then turned to look at him. "I'm glad he didn't cause you too much trouble."
"Nah, he was fine," Wemmbu said. "Just... you know."
They stood in silence for a moment, and Wemmbu got the distinct feeling that Egg knew more than he was letting on. But his friend didn't push it.
"Well," Egg said finally, moving toward the door. "I'm glad he didn't cause you too much trouble. I really liked that dog, man." He grumbled a little.
Wemmbu felt his grin threatening to break through. He forced it down, keeping his expression neutral.
"Yeah," he said. “I’ll be downstairs for breakfast in a second. Gotta tidy up.”
Egg sulkily nodded and left, closing the door behind him.