Freign Dear

A sudden, loud squeak echoed through the otherwise silent room.  Zinfandel jumped, startled by the sudden noise, his attention quickly shifting from his computer screen to the source of the sound.  Asiago, his Lovedrunk Chirop was fluttering excitedly by the window.  It released a few more shrill chirps, causing Zin to wince.

“Asi, stop,” Zin sighed, turning his attention back to the game he’d been playing.

Asiago did not stop.  Instead, his squeaks and chirps grew in volume and frequency, his little feet and tail tapping at the glass with excitement.

“Asiago, knock it off,” Zin groaned.  His chirop was an excitable little creature, always making a fuss over anything and everything it might see outside their home. 

Asiago flew over to where Zin was seated and perched on top of his computer monitor, wigs flapping with excitement, ears perked and alert.  It bounced a few times before quickly flying back toward the window.  More squeaks, chirps, and taps soon followed.  When Zin still didn’t get up, Asi perched itself on top of his head, using its tail tip to poke at Zin’s ears.

“Ugh, what do you want, you little monster,” Zin huffed with affection, pausing his game and standing up to head to the window and see what had his imp in such a tizzy.  When Zin finally stood, Asi’s excitement only grew.  He fluttered between the window and the bun as Zin meandered over to look outside.

When he glanced outside, his breath caught in his throat.  Walking around outside was an imp.  It was an imp Zinfandel had heard of, one he’d seen images of, but he’d never actually seen one in real life.  The creature glanced around before curling up on the ground.  It’s tail wrapped around it’s body as it relaxed.

“Is that… a freign?” Zin whispered.  Asiago squeaked and chirped, pleased that Zin finally saw what it had been so excited about.  It flew toward the front door before flying back to Zin as the succubun marveled at the creature outside. 

Asi chirped with annoyance as Zin once again ignored it.  It flicked its tail against the tip of Zin’s nose, successfully drawing the bun’s eyes away from the freign outside and back onto it.  It then proceeded to fly to the door and back once again.

“You can’t go outside, Asi.  You’ll scare it away,” Zin said, reaching out and letting the imp perch on his hand.

Asi landed on Zin’s hand, wings and ears slumping sadly.  It released a pitiful chirp and turned its big, white eyes up toward the bun pleadingly, knowing full well that Zin could never truly deny it anything.

Zin sighed and rolled his eyes, “No, don’t look at me like that.”

Asi hopped up to Zin’s shoulder and nuzzled against his face.

“Asi…” Zin groaned.  “Fine.  But you can’t mope about it all day if it runs away, alright?”

Asiago chirped with renewed excitement and took to the air once more, flying back to the door and fluttering impatiently as it waited for Zin to open it.  With another huff, Zin walked over and opened the door for the impatient little imp.

He was gone as soon as it was open wide enough for Asiago to squeeze through.  He fluttered over to the imp outside and began squeaking and chirping, almost as if introducing itself to the creature.

The freign jumped to its feet, body tense as the chirop flittered around it.  It took a few steps backward, ready to bolt away.  Asi, sensing the imp’s fear, slowed down a bit, landing in front of it.  The chirop gave a few friendly hops and a couple more chirps.  Slowly, the freign’s body relaxed.  It stepped closer to Asi again, ears pressed against its head nervously.  The tip of its snout wiggled, almost as if it were sniffing the other imp.

Zin watched from the doorway, a small smile on his lips.  He was proud of Asiago.  He didn’t think his little imp had it in him to calm and soothe a startled imp.  Asiago settled into the ground and after a few moments, the freign laid back down beside it.

Soft sounds emitted from both creatures, as if they were communicating with each other.  For all Zin knew, they were.  Several minutes passed.  Zin considered going back inside and letting the two be for a bit, but two pairs of eyes turned toward him before he could step back through the door.  The freign jumped back to its feet upon spotting him, once again fearful.  Asi chirped soothingly and the freign relaxed, but not completely. 

Asi bounced over to Zin, squeaked at him, and headed back toward the freign.  Slowly, Zin followed.  When the strange imp began to tense again, Zin stopped.  He dropped down onto his knees and slowly held his hand out toward the creature.

“It’s okay, little guy,” He soothed, keeping his voice soft and gentle, “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Asi hopped between its new friend and Zin, squeaking softly as it did.  It jumped up onto Zin’s outstretched hand, nuzzled against it, and jumped back down, hopping back over to the freign.

Slowly, the freign took a few cautious steps forward.  Zin held as still as he could, even keeping his breathing shallow out of fear of spooking the skittish creature.  Finally, he felt the freign’s snout press against his palm.  Carefully, he turned his hand over, using the backs of his fingers to stroke the imp’s head gently.

Asiago chirped happily as the freign continued to relax.  It stepped a bit closer to Zin, allowing the bun to pet it and scratch behind its ears.  It released soft sounds of contentment, taking to the attention from the bun very quickly.  Before long, the freign once again curled up on the ground, this time right in front of Zin.  Zin carefully shifted so he was sitting, fingers gently stroking the imp’s flank.  Asi hopped up on top of its newfound friend and nuzzled in.

Zin couldn’t help but chuckle softly, using both his hands to pet each imp.  After all, why else did he have two hands, if not to pet two imps at once? 

“Well, looks like you have a new sibling, Asi.  If the little guy wants to stay, that is.”

The freign lifted its head and rested it on Zin’s knee, blinking up at him, silently accepting the invitation.

“Alright then.  I think I’ll call you Brie.  Welcome home, Brie.”