“Nnng....”

The morning light flittered through the stained glass windows of the library, tickling Alina’s nose. She had fallen asleep in an alcove at the back of the library. She stirred, and pulled the blankets closer. Kiko’s face bulged out of her other arm, for Alina had been squeezing him quite strongly.

Am I forgetting something?

Still feeling sleepy, Alina sat up and rubbed her eyes with her free hand. Where was she? What was she doing?

After a second of observing her surroundings she hopped off the alcove and looked around. It looked like the maids had cleaned up her stacks of books after she had fallen asleep and given her the blanket, for which she was grateful.

But there’s something I am forgetting.

Deciding that she should probably leave the library, Alina buttoned up her parka and clutched Kiko, looking for the exit. Finding the library door was easy. but she didn’t really know where to go after. Picking a direction at random, she skips off with the narwhal.
September 10, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
Felix yawned, stretching, and closed his eyes in an exaggerated fashion to show how tired he was. If the bed head didn’t give it away he had woken up recently. Actually that probably wasn’t a good tell tale sign. Felix could go a whole day before realizing he had bed head.

Albert had kept him up all night just two days ago. He had been exhausted by the end of it, but yesterday was easy recoup day comparatively. Today would probably be the same.

He was not watching where he was going.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
As she skipped through the halls, Alina realized she was lost. Not that it was a bad thing, lost just meant more exploring!

Her skipping slowed to a halt upon noticing the short red haired man, her side tail bouncing to a halt a few steps slower. Although he was short compared to most other people, he was still taller.

As he walked closer, yawning and stretching, Alina realized that he wasn’t watching where he was looking. In order to not get hit she stepped out of the way, hugging Cookie a slight bit closer. Once he had passed Alina built up the courage to bug him.

“Um, excuse me? I’m lost.”
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Uwah what da ya-“ he gave a big yawn. “Need?”

He rubbed his eyes a little and looked at Alina, and the stuffed animal. Didn’t think we had many kids here besides uhhhh. Names, names. Ah right Lucy.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Alina quickly realized that she had forgotten her hood and flipped it up, causing the fluffy lining of her hood to flop over her eyes, which she pushed up with the hem of her sleeve. The man looked familiar, yet she had never seen him in her life.

He yawned, and rubbed his eyes like he was very tired. It wasn't that early in the morning, so maybe he had slept in.

"I dunno where to go. I fell asleep in the library and now I'm lost."

She pressed Cookie to the side of her head with 1 arm so that the fluffy lining of the hood rubbed against her cheek.

Grrrrrr

Alina's stomach grumbled, indicating her hunger. She hadn't eaten much yesterday due to her focus on new books but now that she wasn't reading she began to feel hungry again.

"And maybe a bit of food as well..."

Alina mumbled under he breath nervously.(edited)
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
He chuckled with an easygoing and unworried air. “Lost huh? Boy do I know the feeling. Alright let’s get you some grub then, I’m hungry myself. Follow me!”

While they were walking Felix made light conversation.

“Cute little stuffed animal you got there. Ya know I had a dream once with one of those. Was a dragon stuffed animal! No wait was it a person? It was super cute!” He paused in his tracks confused, his brain trying to process information that was clearly not there.

“A little fuzzy on the details. Was it a gift? Had a name I swear...” he realized he had halted mid stride and apologized.

“Woops sorry zoned out there.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Anyway away we go!”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Dragon...person?

Alina tilted her head and tried to remember if she ever saw a dragon stuffed animal. Unfortunately her fluffy hood flopped in front of her distracted her from her thoughts.

Alina skipped after Felix happily, her hood bouncing along with her. For some odd reason looking at Felix made her feel lonely. But that was ok, she had made a lot of new friends recently so she shouldn’t be lonely!

“Do you like stuffed animals?”

 Alina held Cookie on top of her head and squeezed the sides. People who liked stuffed animals were usually nice people.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Oh yeah, I can sew em too if they get damaged.” He nodded.

“I like hand made stuff like that- something comfy about em.” They continued down turns. We should be getting close...I hope.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
“Uh huh! Momma made Cookie too!”

Alina held Cookie in the air triumphantly. Although he was almost 20 years old, he had never been damaged at all.

“What kind of food do you eat?”
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“She must be talented.” He laughed.

“Uh- people can actually pick favorite foods to eat? I just like eating ya know? So all kinds. Auntie makes really reallyyyyy spicy food.”

They soon arrived at the kitchens, there was quite a bit of hustle and bustle.

“At this time there’s maybe some breakfast still available. Anything you want in particular? I’ll slide in and grab it. Perks of being a kings guard.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
“Spicy food....is scary.”

Alina recalled Cheshire’s bowl of horrors and shivered, hugging Cookie to her chest. Next time she would have to make sure there was something less spicy. So when Felix said she could get anything she wanted her eyes lit up.

“Cookies! I want cookies!”
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Ey cookies? Not sure we will have any of those. I did stash some for a private stock in my room however. Made by a friend, they make a wonderful snack at tea parties.” He smiles.

“Anyways I’ll go check, wait right here.”(edited)
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Alina nodded and tried to wait patiently, occasionally giving Cookie a rub on the tummy. But soon the smell of breakfast tempted her, and she began to wander the kitchen. Although she was excited for cookies, maybe she could find something else to fill her tummy while he went and grabbed them. Once again she stuffs Cookie into his parka pocket and pushes the door into the kitchen open.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
Plenty of servants working, Felix was talking to one of them. They seemed to nod their  head and hand two plates off to him with breakfast foods.

This hadn’t taken that long. He was balancing them carefully one per hand. He spotted Alina slinking in.

“Hey! Come on then. Couldn’t wait? I was grabbing you breakfast too.”(edited)
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Alina shook her head and happily grabbed a plate of breakfast. She opened her mouth to say something but her stomach grumbled again instead.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Eat eat, come on let’s get out of their way.” Two large cookies on her plate too.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Alina happily followed Felix out, snarfing down the 2 cookies within seconds.

“Mamf ouou!”
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Careful or you’ll choke!” He laughed. “Now where to sit...”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
Alina tilted her head upwards to swallow. She grinned and looked around for a nice spot to sit. Today was already pretty good, considering she got a cookie.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
Felix steered them to where the banquets were usually held and sat down upon arrival.

“Hmm, I forgot most of the nobles are heading back home. Gonna have to be all geared to leave soon.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
"Where are you going?"

Alina shoveled a spoonful of breakfast into her mouth as she asked.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
He shrugged. “Won’t know until an announcement, and I don’t really worry before hand hehe. Anyway who are you exactly? I haven’t seen you around. Related to a noble? New worker? Wait maybe that’s not it...” he tapped his chin with his fork, before shoveling food into his mouth.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
"I'm Alina! I come here to read books in the library!"
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
Felix gave her a grin.

“Good name. And the library huh? Pretty neat in there, don’t really have the time myself though. Well nice ta metcha Alina. The names Felix.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
"Nice to meet you too!"

Alina grabbed Felix's hand that held the fork and shook it.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Oh!” He lost some food that couldn’t stay attached to his fork.

“Woops, I’ll be sure to clean up later. Anyway you said you were lost too? Can I give ya directions?”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
"I forgot"

Alina was more than happy to just chomp food all day.
ExcaliburShines09/10/2018
“Haha alright.” Unfortunately they were soon done with the food at their fast rate of consumption, and Felix seemed satisfied.

“Alright well that was pleasant.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/10/2018
“Yup!”

Although Alina had finished almost everything, there were still a few pieces of green matter meticulously pushed to the very edge of the plate.
September 11, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/11/2018
Good thing Felix wasn’t Bernard, he didn’t care about the greens being eaten whatsoever.
“Want me to take the plates back?”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/11/2018
Alina nodded, and handed Felix the plate.

Once done she wiped her hands against her parker and whipped out Cookie.
September 12, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/12/2018
He nodded, back to balancing plates.

“Well after this I’m afraid I’ve got to check up on Mekodoragon.” He says the strange name of his puppet completely casually.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/12/2018
"Mekodragon? You have a pet dragon! I wanna see! Does it like cookies too?"

Alina jumped up excitedly.
September 14, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/14/2018
“Pet dragon? Haha wouldn’t that be cool. Nah, it’s a puppet. I gotta check it for routine maintenance.”
He thought for a bit.
“I suppose I’ll show her off, wait here for me to drop off these dishes okay?”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/14/2018
Alina nodded and fidgeted excitedly. Even if it was a puppet it sounded cool. Anja made it seem like dragons didn’t exist but if the red haired guy had a puppet one then they clearly did!
ExcaliburShines09/14/2018
Felix returned, and motioned for Alina to join him.

“Now, granted it’s modeled after wyverns. Gosh dragons are the next tier of fang and fire goodness! Well actually most wyverns can’t breathe fire so...but yeah! I know they exist, I just know it! My friend once mentioned people can be descended from them! And it was like that back in her home! Or rumored anyway. I’m totally gonna see one someday! Not just in a dream too!”

Felix prattled on and on as they walked.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/14/2018
Felix seemed to know quite a bit about dragons, which made Alina feel a bit happy. Her mother had mentioned a fee things about wyverns, but she didn’t really think they were like dragons. Kinda like hoe humans and monkeys were similar. But when he mentioned fire breathing Alina couldn’t help but interject.

“Some dragons have an ice breath too!”
ExcaliburShines09/14/2018
“I like the way you think! Oh and there’s gotta be some with lightning breath! Oh and rancid breath! And minty breath too!”(edited)
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/14/2018
“I guess.”

Alina didn’t know anyone that didn’t breath ice.
September 15, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Limitless possibilities. Anyway is reading all you do in the castle? I’m sure Albert would approve.” He chuckled.

“Ah he’s my friend.” Felix explained, realizing she might not know others.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
"Uh huh! Albert read me a book yesterday! Zaldosian Ecology!"

Alina nodded happily, her forhead poking in and out of her hood as she did so.
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Huh for real? I’m surprised he’d read someone something. Although that book sounds up his alley.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
"I dunno, he seemed to like the boring politics books too."(edited)
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“He just likes knowledge a lot.” Felix shrugs. The amount of books he read were, well few and far between. Mainly stuff that fit his tastes.
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“What about you? what books do you like?”
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Me? Oh um hmmm.” He thought for a moment.

“I like adventure books!”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“Adventure books are fun too.”

Alina didn’t read as many adventure books, since they all felt very similar. Perhaps she could write one herself!

“So why do you have a dragon puppet?”
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Wyvern actually. I don’t know, why do you have- whatever that thing is for a stuffed animal.”
“I just like em.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“It’s a narwhal!”

Alina took out Cookie again and poked Felix on the cheek with Cookie’s horn.

“He’s super fluffy and soft! Is your wyvern thing fluffy and soft too?”
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“It’s made of wood, metal and strings.” He ticked those points off.

“I’m going to go with not fluffy haha.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“Maybe you could make a fluffy one next. A fluffy dragon!”

Alina would have liked a fluffy dragon
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Uh I suppose I could add some soft and fluffy things- but if they get wet it’d be all wasted. Ah here we are!”

They arrived at a workshop where Felix stored his gear. Inside there was the very same puppet he mentioned.

It was made from a strange wood, with odd colorations. The wyvern bit of this thing was the head, which was crafted in their likeness and made of metal. Mekodoragon looked big enough to let 2-3 people ride perhaps. But it looked uncomfortable to sit on for long periods of time. Strings that fed into the inners of the beast were attached to puppeteer gloves.

He nodded. “This is her!”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“Woaaaaah!”

Alina ran inside the workshop and circles the contraption excitedly.

“Does it have a name? Is it a he or a she? Can I ride it?”
ExcaliburShines09/15/2018
“Yeah Mekodoragon mark 8. She. And I can take you for a quick test spin, but then I’d like to do some work in private.”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/15/2018
“Private?”

Alina wondered why Felix wanted to work in private. Whenever Anja did anything in private she was almost always doing “that” and Alina wasn’t allowed to watch.

“Oh uh....”

Maybe Felix was weirder than she thought.
September 16, 2018
ExcaliburShines09/16/2018
“Yeah, I prefer it like that. Ya know! Just a guy and his machine, it’s an intimate moment for a creator!” He explains enthusiastically, with flourishes of hand movement.

He really needed to work on this sort of thing...

“So still want that quick ride?”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/16/2018
“Uhm.”

Alina fidgeted with her sleeve and looked to the side. Felix didn’t actually do “that” right? It certainly sounded like it. Maybe riding it would be rude. Alina wasn’t sure what to say.

“If you have to work on it maybe I shouldn’t ride it, just to be safe.”
ExcaliburShines09/16/2018
He nods. “Alright!”
Cyber, Empyrial Flufftician09/16/2018
Alina awkwardly shuffled out of the workshop quietly, making sure Felix and his puppet got plenty of privacy.
ExcaliburShines09/16/2018
Let’s leave the rest to her imagination.