Happy Monday yet again! Only a couple more Mondays till school starts!! :D
The kids grumble when I remind them about that…apparently I do it “too much”. Such babies.
TEXT:
Lionel cocked his head, one brow raised.
“A tithe, to show respect to our King of Beasts, as you say. It was Cara that suggested it actually. She felt we weren’t doing enough to show our…appreciation for your role as leader of this zoo.” The claws around his neck retracted just a bit. “She is aware of the meat imbalance caused by her presence and wanted to…to make amends to your noble person. She suggested it would be a good way to improve relations between our two species as well.”
Lionel seemed to chew this over. And then his face relaxed. “Ah yes, subservience. Of course your female would know this trait well. Perhaps you have chosen SOME adequate subordinates.” He turned to glare down at Evil again. “Except for this dismal creature. He will be dispatched today after closing. I may let MY females eat him. They will be entertained and thus quiet and satiated for a time.” He let Prozac slide down the wall and hauled Evil up by his scruff. “Yes, you will be far more useful to me dead than alive. I will even let your inadequate leader leave with his head still attached.”
Prozac twitched.
“He will slink away home to consult with his female and return to me with details for the ongoing tithe. Then I may let him have your bones for a proper burial.” He pulled Evil closer to leer at him. Prozac could see Evil’s eyes start to water and he prayed that the grey bear would hold his tongue about the smell. “Or I may throw your bones to the hyenas if the terms are not favourable.”
Evil’s face stayed locked in that fake, docile grin, but his ears flicked and his paws curled. Lionel ignored them, lost in a meat fantasy. “And then I will consume the useless panda. He will be a light snack only with no delicious fats thanks to his ridiculous plant diet, but these are the sacrifices a ruler makes to shepherd his flock.” And then Lionel’s eyes went glassy and he licked his lips, no doubt imagining tasty, tasty sheep.