Korby's Change

~

"Mom! I'm bored. And my wings hurt," he cried out, as he flew out of his room and into the kitchen where I was fixing breakfast.

      "Okay, well, after breakfast I'll give you a back rub," I said sweetly, looking down at my sulky little red Korbat. He had just plopped into his chair when Constantia, Sawney, and Nightfall came into the kitchen. Sawney, a red Lupe, yawned and rubbed his eyes.

      "You should cover your mouth when you yawn. It's the polite thing to do," said Constantia, my Christmas Peophin. And of course, Korby immediately found something to complain about.

      "Mom! I want to be painted Christmas! And I don't wanna be a Korbat anymore. There's nothing special about us," he whined. Nightfall clacked his beak in annoyance.

      "Is there anything else you'd like to complain about, I mean, since you're on a roll there," and his ear tufts went down.

      "Moooom!"

      "Oh Korby, act your age," I said, rolling my eyes and setting faerie toast, jelly, and pancakes down for them all.

~

It was early afternoon, and Korby had just left the house to go to his friend Kaylara's house for the afternoon. I had just called an emergency meeting with the rest of my pets.

      "Okay guys. Korby isn't responding to his punishments for skipping his chores and such. We've just got to do something about him," I said, opening up the discussion.

      "Well, I think he ought to read more books, mom," Constantia said very matter-of-factly.

      "Not everyone in this family is as smart as you are, Constant. And we don't like sitting inside all day with our nose shoved in a book," snorted Sawney as he stretched across the living room carpet.

      "I've tried to get him to go flying with me, mum, but he always says that he has 'stuff to do'. Stuff my tail! All he does is sit around and be slothful. Hehe. He's becoming the new Dr. Sloth!" Nightfall laughed. We all giggled a bit.

      "Yes, except that Sloth actually does something. Our little Korby doesn't."

      "Well, if he won't change by himself, why don't we change him?" Constantia pointed out.

      "Well, that's what we're here for. We need ideas on how to change the little whiner," I said with a sigh. We all sat there for a moment, hard in thought, when I noticed Nightfall give his little Eyrie-grin.

      "What? What's your idea Night?" we all asked excitedly.

      "What are the things that Korby wants the most? What does he always whine about?"

      "He wants to be painted Christmas, like me," the Peophin put in.

      "And he's crazy about Kougras," Sawney offered.

      "Exactly! Okay, here's the plan..."

 ~

It was late afternoon, almost dinner time, by the time that Korbo499 got back to the Neohome on Aisha Avenue. He pushed through the front door, and plopped on one of the bean bags in the family room. Constantia was lounging on the couch, reading her newest book, Sad Peophin Stories, and was sniffing. Korby rolled his eyes at his older sister's emotions and asked rather rudely, "Where's everybody?" Constantia looked up, as if just noticing him.

      "Oh. Hello. Mom took Sawney for a jog, and Nightfall is in the back yard practicing some of his aerial maneuvers. Dinner is omelettes," she said, turning back to her book, and deftly stroking her petpet Gruslen, Damascus.

      "Where's Mad?" Korby asked, referring to his petpet, Madravinka the Christmas Harris.

      "Go check Sawney's couch. He's 'prolly there with Glorfie and Far," she said with a wave of her hoof into the next room. With that, he hauled himself off the bean bag, and flew into the next room to see his petpet. Once he left, Constantia smiled and watched the door. Oh boy. He's never gonna guess! She thought.

~

"Come on MJ! Come on!" Sawney said, tugging at my arm to hurry up and get inside the Neohome. We were just returning from our trip to the market and the helpful Shop Wizard, who helped locate our treasure. I smiled and followed my Lupe, as my Eyrie followed me. Constantia leapt off the couch and ran to us.

      "Didja get it mom?! Didja get it??" She asked excitedly.

      "Shhh. Of course we got it. Here it is," I said as I opened up some blue velvet just enough to show the contents. They all "oooohhed" and "aaaahhhed" at it then giggled.

      "Enough. Constantia, get your brother." And she walked off.

      She got to his door and knocked loudly.

      "Korby! Mom's home and wants to see you right away. She sounds angry. You better hurry before she totally flies off the edge of Terror Mountain." And without even waiting for a reply, went back to the family room. Korby wondered what he had done this time, but came out, with his little Harris following him.

      He got to the front room, and looked up at all the scowling faces, and his face showed clearly that he was frightened.

      "Korbo," I said sternly, and I never use 'Korbo', so he knew that he was in for it. "Korbo," I repeated, "How many times have I told you to never leave your stuff lying around the house? And to stop whining and complaining? And to do your chores without me having to tell you? And to obey your siblings? And to finish your dinner without picking at it? And to clean up your room on a daily basis? Hmm?" I said, eyeing him severely. He looked at the ground, twirling patterns on the carpet with his paw, and didn't answer.

      "Well, I expect that ALL to stop, now that you have this," as I lifted out the velvet and opened it before his fast growing, round eyes, wide with disbelief.

      "Oh. Oh MOM!! It's a Christmas Kougra Morphing Potion!" and he threw himself at me. We all had a group hug, as I explained that it was really Nightfall's doing.

      "Now, you can only have this if you promise to do the things that I told you. You promise?" I asked, looking deep into my youngest pet's eyes.

      "Ohhh! I promise!!" he squealed, took the bottle, and poured it's contents all down.

      "Eeee! It's bubbly!" he said, a few bubbles coming out of his mouth. We all watched, Korby was watching in a mirror, and we all held our breath. He wavered and bubbled, and rippled and tossed. He grew larger, different fur growing, and his paws were enormous, with claws. He looked back and saw that he now had a tail, and it was white with black stripes. He shook himself, then let out a roar. It shook the house and everything in it.

     "Momma! I'm a Kougra!"

The End

Thank you for reading this. This is my first try at a short story. If you have anything that you'd like to comment on or whatever, I welcome it. Hopefully if this story gets accepted, or my series one about my Black Lupe Assassin, I shall be writing more for the Times. Hope you enjoyed.