PA 3.5: End of a Tail

Chapter XVII Part I

The bedroom was clogged with the scent of old linens and dusty books. Although Brownie had been in the place once before, she quickly realized just how different it was now that their lives weren't in immediate danger.

"Don't touch that," Coco casually said, not bothering to look towards the corgi. Somehow, she could sense that the dog had found what looked to be a particularly volatile potion.

On second thought, the room was incredibly exciting; she could spend a lifetime here- were it not for the claustrophobia afforded by Coco's constant doting. Brownie could wile days away sifting through the compact library of messy notes, books, and magical trinkets. She would hope to find a diary or journal filled with embarrassing secrets she could lord over Coco, just to stay around the cat more.

Brownie immediately complained, "Seriously, do you not have a laundry room or something? You have like- two sheets, your bed must reek."

Coco frowned and rolled her head in tandem with her eyes. "Magic. How many times do I have to say it?"

"That doesn't sound sanitary," Brownie said, looking back at the cat in bemusement.

Coco sighed, turning to the dog and removing her paw from her muzzle, letting dust dance around in front of it as she spoke. "... Just look for the blankets, alright?" Her voice was filled with the same dejection it had since Patches had pulled his stunt in the schoolyard. It filled Brownie with shame, knowing that all the time she spent with the cat only seemed to annoy her.

Dust flew from a toppling pile of books as Brownie shoved it out of the way. She gasped as some of the literature bent under the weight of the vast stack, desperately lunging forward to stop the tower from falling. The documents flowed past Brownie's arms like leaves in a storm; although she managed to keep a few from collapsing, the majority were splayed out on the ground, displaying their illegible contents.

"Aaaaa! Brownie!" Coco complained, rushing from the wardrobe over to the ruined pile, quickly picking up each of the books and stacking them back together into a disorganized heap, grumbling at the ones that scuffed in the fall.

"Coco, this is so stupid. How did you even lose a set of blankets, and why would they be behind your desk?" Brownie said, crossing her arms and standing up in a dignified manner.

The cat slammed the last book back onto the pile. "You know Brownie? I didn't ask for your help, and right now, you're being really distracting. If it's such a bother to you, then you're free to leave at any time." The cat said with a voice full of sass, looking at Brownie from a crouched position, frowning intensely at the dog.

Brownie couldn't help but look back at the cat's stare, beginning to sweat as the yellow eyes beamed discomfort. "I- I just want to help, alright? You don't need to be such a dou-" Brownie interrupted herself, going starry-eyed as she spotted a light yellow wand with a set of white angelic wings flanking the tip of the handle. However, the thing was missing a head, unlike the star that adorned Coco's. "Oooohh! What's that?" Brownie asked, beaming with interest as they curled their mouth into a narrow smile.

"Oh?" Coco noticed the thing, instantly becoming exhausted at the sight of it. "Isn't it obvious? I was making a wand for Angel... Or, well, tried making a wand for him." She shoved the books back into place, giving Brownie ample time to pick the implement up and dust it off with her grubby paws.

"It looks really cool! How'd you make the wings?" Brownie asked, being mindful not to accidentally break the thing in her excitement.

"Eh, I made that in arts class, actually." She brought a paw up to her face, scratching the side of her cheek as she smiled wide. "It's amazing how far a simple solidification spell and some heat-treating will go on clay."

"Wow!" Brownie exclaimed, genuine amazement running through her tone. "Is that why it looks like it's made from marble?"

"Heh, no, actually." Coco said, closing her eyes as she smiled and continued to explain her expertise. "The teacher helped me with that part, I went through so much clay, you have no idea."

Brownie wagged her tail furiously, seeing how happy Coco was getting. Her heart felt like it was lifting itself out of her chest and into her throat with how hard she started blushing. "Could I try it?"

"Uh..." Coco opened her eyes, looking pensively at the corgi, "like I mentioned, it doesn't work." She looked to the side in thought. "The handle and decor can be made out of anything, but the enchantments needed for the head are highly secretive and powerful. My parents told me I'd probably blow up trying to make it, not to mention the cost, but..."

"But what?" The corgi asked, looking over to the cat. "Couldn't you get his wand from the same place you got yours?"

Coco furrowed her brow, her features sinking in disappointment. "Well... The wand was my grandmother's; they gave it to me when I got into Kemono Woods High, but... I don't think they're going to waste time and money on Angel like that."

Brownie grimaced. "Woah, what the hell?"

"Oh! No, not like that! Mom and dad love him to death, but he's not exactly gifted when it comes to magic. I've tried to see if he can use wands, but at one point he just sorta... gave up. He loves brewing things though, and boy am I glad for that!" She smiled, shutting her eyes contentedly.