8. Syrup and pancakes
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As soon as Marcelline carried Mia into the dining room, the little girl gasped as if she had discovered hidden treasure.
"PANCAKES!!"
Sister Florence smiled warmly.
"Yes, darling. Fresh and warm."
Mia stretched her arms dramatically.
"Put me down! I must fight the pancakes!"
Marcelline carefully placed her into her tiny chair.
"You're not fighting them, baby. You're eating them."
But Mia ignored that.
"Same thing!"
Within seconds, she grabbed the syrup bottle with both hands—
Which was a terrible idea.
SQUUUUUIIIIRT!
A fountain of syrup shot across the table like a golden waterfall.
Onto Alpha's fur.
Onto Leo's mane.
Onto Paradus's whiskers.
Onto Amara's face.
Amara froze.
Slowly wiped her cheek.
Then glared.
"MIA."
Mia gasped, eyes wide with horror.
"I—I made you SWEET!!" she declared proudly.
Alpha tried to lick the syrup off his paw but ended up tasting the table.
Leo shook his mane, sending droplets everywhere—
Marcelline had to shield Mia like she was protecting royalty from a rainstorm.
Paradius stared at the syrup on his nose in pure betrayal.
He looked at Marcelline as if asking, Why am I alive to suffer this?
Mia reached across the table, cupped Paradus's face in both hands, and said softly:
"Kitty Pancakes… don't cry. You now taste DELICIOUS."
Paradius let out an offended growl—more dramatic than dangerous.
Alpha leaned in to sniff Mia's plate.
Mia smacked his snout with her tiny spoon.
"No stealing! Bad doggie!"
Alpha huffed, deeply insulted.
"I told you," Amara muttered while wiping syrup from her eyebrow, "she is your child, Elli. Mine would never hit a giant murderous - wolf with a spoon."
Mia held the spoon up like a sword.
"I protect my pancakes."
Leo, curious, nudged Mia's hair with his huge head.
SQUISH.
Her head whipped sideways.
"Fluffy King!!!" she squealed, hugging his muzzle.
"Do NOT eat my hair—it not noodles!!"
Leo made a dramatic roar of innocence.
Mia grabbed his face.
"Say sorry!"
Leo blinked.
She waited.
He blinked again.
Then, slowly…
"Rrrrr…..owrr."
Mia gasped.
"He talked!!! Mama he talked!!! He said sorry!!!"
Amara sighed.
"That was not 'sorry.' That was a lion noise."
But Mia was thrilled.
"Fluffy King loves me!"
Leo's giant mane puffed proudly as if he had just won the "Best Boy" award.
Meanwhile, Paradus climbed silently onto the table—stealthy as shadow—and tried to snatch a pancake.
"PARADUS!" Marcelline scolded.
He froze.
Mia leaned in, whispering,
"Pancakes… steal pancakes…"
Paradius took that as permission.
He grabbed three pancakes at once and sprinted away like a shadow comet.
Mia clapped.
"GOOD PANCAKES!!"
Marcelline rubbed her temples.
"Please don't teach the panther crime."
Mia puffed up.
"I teach him FUN!"
Alpha, not wanting to be left out, placed his massive head in Marcelline's lap, begging with puppy eyes.
"Auntie Elli," Mia whispered urgently, "doggie wants pancake too."
Marcelline not-so-secretly broke a tiny piece and held it out.
Alpha gobbled it gently, tail thumping the floor.
Mia gasped.
"WE FEED THE MONSTER!"
Alpha froze mid-chew.
Amara choked on her tea.
Sister Florence giggled behind her hand.
And Marcelline—unable to help it—laughed softly, her heart filled with the warmth only this chaos could bring.
Breakfast was a disaster.
Breakfast was sticky.
Breakfast was noisy.
Breakfast was syrup-covered madness.
But with Mia laughing, the beasts purring and rumbling around her, and Sister Florence smiling fondly…
The entire room felt alive.
Felt like home.
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Thank you for reading chapter 8. Syrup and pancakes...
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