Chapter Seven

The four Head Housekeepers stood by the balcony.

“So, what do you think?” said Love, leaning against the banister and looking down into the entrance hall. White marble statues of various predatory animals lined the walls, in between spiral green shrubbery that was maintained by one of the other Housekeepers.

“Well, I only just met him, but he seems polite. And he has that characteristic stubborn streak of lion-Beasts,” said Amarok.

Love wrinkled her nose. “It’s not nice to stereotype, you know.”

“Stereotyping? You know it’s true; each Beast has certain characteristics by nature. For example, wolf-Beasts may roam alone, or they may have a pack. But they're always loyal,” said Amarok.

Linia groaned.

“And another example, fox-Beasts tend to be fickle and tricky little bastards,” added Maru.

Amarok asked, “Where did Kuma assign Shiv to?”

“Patrol guard, with us,” replied Maru as he picked at his arm hair. “Where he’ll probably stay, unless he shows incredibly cooking prowess.”

"I figured as much. He’s a big guy, and he’ll be back in shape in no time. Though, I’m not quite sure why Kuma would assign a hot-dry-land Beast to the outdoors here up North."

Love laughed, “He can deal with it. He has to. But do you think he’ll cause any trouble like some of those others we picked up?”

The others flinched. Eyes darted towards the corridors and floating stairs.

“Don’t say things like that out loud here,” hissed Linia.

“Well, they’re wasting our time and resources. I’ve always thought we should call them out. Sometimes I just want to rake their faces for complaining incessantly about the conditions here. It’s like they forgot what it’s like to be out there,” said Love. Her eyelids lowered slightly, turning her eyes into amber-sunset slits.

“Yes, but if you call them out, they’ll just get embarrassed and leave the House. We don’t want Kuma to have enemies. As much as I’d wish they would just get the hell out,” mumbled Maru darkly.

“Or, you know, we could just kill them.”

“Love!” exclaimed Amarok with a frown.

“I agree with her. It’d make things a lot easier. They’re immature and selfish cowards,” said Linia.

Maru barked with laughter.

“That’s against our bound morals and it could make Kuma look bad one day,” said Amarok, though he added exasperatedly, “But, you’re a fox-Beast. Your loyalties tie you not to Kuma, but towards some obscure goal, am I right?”

“You could be right, or you could be wrong,” said Love impassively. “That doesn’t matter very much, as long as that goal makes me loyal to Kuma, don’t you agree?”

Before Amarok could respond, Linia said, “You two can have your intellectual sparring later. We need to discuss next week’s meal plans.”

Secret smiles passed between the four Housekeepers.