Erasmus stretched luxuriously as he settled down into the bay window, snuggling into the warm blankets he had piled up. Rain clattered gently across the window pane, and he looked out through lidded eyes at the fine mist the rain had created, hugging the surrounding buildings closely. His Bukkwheat yawned and rested its head down on his haunches, still licking its lips from the candy he had treated it with earlier.
The serene peace lasted a good few minutes before Erasmus’ ears twitched at a sound: the thump thump thump of young Pouflon hooves on wooden flooring. He buried his snout into the blankets, hoping that if he kept quiet it might deter her.
His attempt was in vein though, and he knew it as soon as the sound stopped for a moment, followed by a weight landing daintily on top of his head. Another, lighter and softer weight fell on top, too.
“Uncle Rasmus! I’m bored” Poppet declared, using one front hoof to dig his head out from under the covers. His pupils shrank as light pierced his eyes.
“And what, exactly, do you expect me to do about it?”
“Make me not bored,” she said, sinking into the blankets as Erasmus pushed himself into a sitting position. Poppet’s doll, Puppet, fell over into her hooves, and she dragged the doll underneath her. She stared up at him with her usual blank look.
“Well, I was enjoying the rain,” he grumbled. “Can’t Celia play with you?”
“She’s busy talking to Uncle Locke,” Poppet said, her ears twitching curiously as she turned her attention to the rain dripping down the window. “How does rain happen?”
“Er…” Erasmus scowled, searching his brain for an answer that wasn’t there. “I’m not sure, actually. We’d have to ask Celia. She’s smart about those kinds of things.”
Poppet’s ears fell backwards for a second as she thought deeply, and then she fell back into a sitting position, letting herself lean on his Bukkwheat, who curiously sniffed at her before curling around her. Erasmus let his scowl soften, and dragged his tail up to coil around both of them.
“Maybe if we watch the rain long enough, we can figure it out together, Poppet.”
