Chapter 182: Chapter 182 Dramatic mom
"This one no, this one yes, this one maybe... ohhh noooo Rocky doesn’t know!" He covered his face with his tiny hands, peeking through his fingers like the stones might whisper the answer back to him.
His little shoulders slumped. "Maybe I should just give all stones to Lucien... but then my bed will be lonely." He pouted and hugged his box close again, rocking back and forth like a pebble himself.
He was so confused his little stone-marked cheeks puffed like a dumpling. His round eyes stared at the whole glittering spread of pebbles on his bed, and finally, with a tiny huff, he decided to put them in a line. Carefully, one by one, he pushed the pebbles until they formed a neat little row like tiny soldiers waiting for inspection.
"What..." he muttered, poking the first pebble with his small finger, "should Rocky gift Lucien?"
He moved to the next one, poking again. "This one? ...No, too flat."
Poke. "This one? Too bumpy."
Poke. "This one? Too round, Lucien might roll it away."
He kept poking and talking to each pebble as if they were alive, his tiny voice getting softer every time. Finally, his finger landed on a sparkling, multi-coloured pebble that sparkled faintly under the lamplight—green, pink, and gold swirls dancing on its surface. Rocky froze. His little lips parted.
"This one..." he whispered in awe, cradling it in both palms like treasure. He really, really liked this pebble—it was his favorite. His heart squeezed as he stared at it, but then he thought of Lucien, of how happy he might look if he held it.
Rocky’s eyes wavered, but at last he nodded to himself seriously. "Lucien will like this one. Rocky... Rocky will give Lucien."
And he tucked the pebble gently into a tiny cloth pouch, hugging it close to his chest like he had just made the biggest decision of his little stone life.
**
"Mom!!! Help me to find gift for my bestfriend," Felix said, tugging at his mother Aine’s sleeve, his red eyes blinking hopefully.
Aine’s fox ears twitched and she smiled slyly. "Darling, maybe we should give him a pretty toy! You know your grandmother has a whole collection locked away." Her tails swayed behind her as if already plotting.
Felix nodded his head quickly. "Sound good, Mom! But..." his ears flattened, "...you’re not coming, right?"
The moment he said it, Aine froze. Then, in dramatic fox-mother fashion, her eyes shimmered with sudden tears. She clutched her chest and staggered back as if struck by lightning. "Babbbbyyyyyyy!! I want to come!" she cried, her voice cracking as though her heart had broken in two. "It’s your friend’s birthday! As mama, how can I miss such an important day? Do you want me to die of sadness while you go off and eat cake without me?!"
Felix’s jaw dropped, his tails puffing out like brushes. "MOM!!! Don’t be so dramatic!" he shouted, face turning pink. "It’s a kids’ party! Everyone will laugh if you show up!! Please, Mama, don’t embarrass me!"
Aine gasped again, as if his words had pierced her soul. "Embarrass you?? After all I’ve done for you? I cleaned your ears when you were a toddler! I untangled your tails every morning! I even fought a goblin horde with one paw while carrying you in the other!"
"Mamaaaa!!!" Felix whined, covering his red face with both hands. "You’re making up stories again! Just help me pick a gift!"
And then—just like that—Aine dropped her act, a mischievous grin curling her lips. "Alright, alright, my serious little fox," she said, tails flicking slyly. "We’ll find something more special. Maybe... one of grandmother’s jeweled charms? Or that tiny sword with gems on the handle?"
Felix peeked through his fingers, his blush deepening. "Y-yeah... something like that. But no tricks, Mom. No glitter bombs, no exploding peaches... promise?"
Aine laughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Fine, fine, no tricks. But~" she leaned close, whispering into his ear, "tonight, we sneak into grandmother’s treasure room together. Mama knows all the secret locks."
"MOM!!!" Felix wailed, pulling at his ears, half exasperated and half amused.
But as his mother ruffled his hair and swished her tails around him, Felix couldn’t help smiling shyly. His mama was embarrassing, dramatic, and impossible... but he knew she’d help him find the perfect gift for Lucien.
***
Meanwhile, Kelpie had already found the perfect gift for Lucien. With the help of his father, he had packed a small, elegant box made of smooth coral, tied together with sparkling seaweed ribbon. Inside, nestled in soft kelp, were tiny treasures from the ocean floor—round pearls of every shade, small seashells shaped like stars, and even a few sparkling sea-gems that glowed faintly when touched, like they had trapped drops of moonlight. His father had also placed a polished turquoise scale, rare and precious, "for luck and protection," he had explained.
Kelpie had gasped when he saw everything inside. "Lucien will love it!! He’ll be the happiest ever!" he said, hugging the box close as though afraid it might swim away.
Not only that, but preparations for his birthday party clothes were also underway. His mother had already chosen a deep teal tunic stitched with silver threads, and a matching little cloak that shone like water under the sun. "Our little tide must look his best," she declared proudly, brushing his damp hair into neat little waves, though Kelpie kept shaking his head until droplets splashed everywhere.
"Moooom, not too neat! What if my hair dries out during party??" Kelpie complained, pouting, but his eyes shone with excitement. He was already imagining the big moment—running into the party, handing Lucien his box, and watching his friend’s eyes sparkle when he opened it.
He even practiced what he would say in front of the mirror: "Happy birthday, Lucien! From your best friend Kelpie!!" But then he grew nervous and whispered, "No, no, too much! Maybe just say... happy birthday...?" Then he flopped dramatically on his bed, groaning, while his little water droplets bounced on the floor like giggling bubbles.
Kelpie was so excited he could barely sleep. Not only did he have the perfect gift, but he also felt like tomorrow was going to be the best day ever.