Chapter 60 (1/2)

“Ah, I think I traveled too far south,” A fairy said to herself as she crossed her arms and flew through the air. “There’s just too much good fruit to eat past the dragon’s roost.” She sighed as drool leaked from her mouth. Movement beneath her caught her eye.

“What kind of creature is this?” she asked. She hovered above a blue, four-legged creature and tilted her head. The creature had the body of a boar, blue wings, and pointed teeth. Its eyes were reptilian and blue tufts of down sprouted from above its hooves.

The fairy shrugged and flew down in front of it while waving her arm. Black tendrils swirled out of her body and enveloped the feathered pig. It let out a squeal as it ran around, trying to escape the smoke, before finally collapsing in front of the fairy. The fairy grinned and flew down on top of its head.

“Don’t worry, little piggy,” she said as she rubbed its ears. “The queen will take good care of y-, eh?”

The piglet shuddered and flung the fairy off its head. It dashed forward and grabbed the fairy with its needle-like teeth. It shook its head and rattled the fairy around until she stopped moving. It snorted and trotted north towards the dragon’s roost, still carrying the fairy in its mouth.

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“Stella’s really gone too far,” Lindyss said as she narrowed her eyes at the fairy's corpse. “Coming this far south? She must be looking for a fight.”

A high-pitched squeal interrupted her train of thought. Vur was holding the piglet upside-down by its tail as it flapped its wings and struggled. He poked it with his finger and received a bite in return. “What is it?” Vur asked as he sucked on his bleeding finger.

Prika laughed. “It’s your grandchild,” she said and grinned. “Just wait til you meet your daughter-in-law. You’d be surprised.”

Vur tilted his head and placed the piglet on the ground. It hissed at him before hiding behind Prika’s leg. “Does it have a name?” Vur asked.

“Nope. Snuffles can’t speak,” Prika said as she nudged the piglet with her snout. “Neither can your daughter-in-law. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you named her.”

“Floofykins,” Vur said without hesitation and pointed at the piglet. It squealed and rapidly shook its head back and forth.

“Floofykins?” Lindyss asked as she raised her eyebrow. “You’re going to name her Floofykins? She’s the offspring of a phoenix with a dragon-imprinted boar and you want to name her Floofykins. Can’t you think of something a little bit more awe-inspiring?”

Vur’s body blurred and he reappeared behind the piglet. He lifted her up and with one hand. “But she’s so fluffy,” he said and pointed at the bits of down on its legs. “See? I like Floofykins.”

Tears formed in the corners of the piglet’s eyes and it whimpered. Lindyss sighed. “Sorry Floofykins,” she said. “He’s being stubborn.”

Vur whirled the piglet around to face him. “Do you really hate it that much?” he asked the crying piglet.

It nodded and sniffled. Vur sighed. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll think of something better.”

He hummed. “Maybe if I add a title… How about… Little Miss? Yes, Little Miss Floofykins sounds nice.”

The piglet spat a white fireball into his face. Vur nodded. “It’s settled then,” he said as he wiped the flames off his eyebrows and smiled. “Henceforth, your name will be The Awe-Inspiring White Flame, Little Miss Floofykins.”