Page 39 of The Centaur
"So if I grab that, you won't be able to talk or call me Horsey anymore?"
She narrowed her eyes at me, wrapping a protective hand around the pendant. "Try it, you quadruped."
I raised my palms in surrender, turning back and pushing the door open. "I won't, I won't." I wanted to be on good terms with her since she was a part of Zephyr, and I knew it would trouble him if we didn't get along. If that meant I had to put up with being treated as a horse every once in a while, then so be it.
"What was Zephyr like as a kid?" I asked, realizing she was the only person I could ask that of. Nolan had met Zephyr when he was fifteen, but Rei had known him when he was even younger.
"Oh, I have so many stories!" she exclaimed, instantly delighted, and I grinned. I wanted to know all about little Zephyr.
As I gave Rei a proper tour of the Sanctuary, she told me stories about young Zephyr. Mostly funny ones, but some made my heart ache.
If the sorcerer who'd hurt Zephyr wasn't already dead, I'd have wanted to kill him myself. Not that there was a single violent or fighter bone in me, but I would've learned for him.
Just as we were leaving the last room in the grand tour—the library—the dinner bell rang, and Rei perked up.
"What's that?"
"Dinner time," I explained as I headed toward the Dining Room. "You hungry?"
"Fuck yes! I'm starving."
Chuckling, I pushed into the room, and people who hadn't met Rei yet stopped short. I knew a few people here had never seen a raccoon at all, so I imagined they were doubly shocked.
"Everyone, this is Rei. She's Zephyr's familiar."
Rei hopped off my back and waved at everyone, and after another moment of silence, Jacinta shuffled forward.
"Oh, you poor thing! Look how thin you are. Come on, let me set you a plate."
Before Rei could react, Jacinta picked her up with two tentacles, cradling her like a baby as she made her way to the buffet.
I heard them introduce themself as Rei shot me a wide-eyed look over their shoulder. I grinned, then gave her a finger wave before grabbing a plate for myself.
More people arrived, and there were a few more rounds of shock and surprise when they spotted Rei. I wondered if I should make a board for her to hang around her neck that said "Zephyr's familiar" until everyone got onboard.
When Zephyr came into the room, he was bombarded with questions until I shut everyone up and filled a plate for him. Let the man eat in peace, damn it.
Zephyr
In a matter of hours, Rei had become the most popular resident in the Sanctuary.
When we finished dinner, she decided to stick around and 'make some friends.'
I wanted to stay too, but I felt bone-tired after the day I'd had. Finding Rei again had filled me with immeasurable joy, but it had also brought up old memories I didn't wish to remember.
"You wanna head to bed?" Keoni whispered, his blue eyes soft as he gazed up at me. Somehow, he always seemed to know what I needed without me having to spell it, which was nice because I sucked at asking for things.
I nodded, and we wished everyone good night.
"Rei, you sure you don't want to come with us?" I asked, and her whiskers twitched.
"No, thank you," she replied, and I blinked as she turned around and skipped off toward a full table.
We were in the hallway before I managed to say, "I thought Rei would want to stick close, at least for the next few days."
"Aww, are you sad she doesn't?" Keoni asked as he slid his arm through mine, and I shook my head.
"No," I mumbled, though I wasn't sure it was true.
