Children’s Hour
© 2022 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  dragonmelde, color by  marmelmm



The furniture was far too small for a vir, and Varan had at first been concerned that the chair wouldn’t hold her weight. Amazingly, it had held up. Meredith was in much the same predicament due in part to the weight of her armor. All of the furniture was obviously designed and scaled for small children.

The room was decorated in Terran heart-symbols in red and pink on a white background, the curtains on the windows were gauzy, and there was only one exit.

“Don’t you like your tea?” the little girl asked. She was a feline, perhaps six Terran years old, and wearing a mismatched set of clothes that were topped off by a small diadem set between her ears. A fake pair of wings protruded from the back of the ensemble. Of the three of them, only she actually fit the furniture.

Varan regarded her empty teacup, and glanced at Meredith. The mare looked . . . afraid, and she pantomimed drinking from her own cup.

Her fear was somewhat justified; the vir felt more than a bit apprehensive. Partly on the incongruity of the game dumping them into a scene from the book The Little Princess’ Tea Party, and partly because of the sextet of teddy bears that loomed over them. The smallest was taller than Varan.

Of course, this was a children’s story; these bears would have been poorly-equipped for the Teddy Bear Picnic.

The vir took a sip and smiled. “It’s very good tea, Princess. Thank you for inviting us.”

“You’re very welcome,” the kitten said in a pleasant tone. She picked up the teapot and pantomimed pouring another cup for Meredith, who glanced up at the stuffed bears looming over her before sitting back and faking another sip.

Ears swiveled at a knock on the door. “Patty?”

“Yes, Mama?” the kitten said.

The door opened and the kitten’s mother stood in the doorway. “Are you finished yet? It’s almost time for your bath.”

Varan looked at Meredith.

Meredith looked at Varan.

The paladin and the mage bowled the older cat femme over as they darted out of the room, the vir just missing a grab by one of the bears.


***


“That was . . . bizarre,” Vesan said. The admiral had joined Varan in the simulator to observe the progress of the game. Her rogue character had just made it the twelfth level, and after Varan had assisted her in navigating around several of the traps, she had to see what the Demonic Library was like.

“Yes,” Varan said. “I fear that it’s not going to get any better. Still, we have managed to get out of that.”

Vesan gestured affirmatively. “Terrans have an interesting idea of ‘cuteness,’ if those bears were any indication.”

“If there’s one thing that the game teaches,” Varan said, “is to never trust anything cute.”