A Hard Day's Work: Chapter 1

When Seth had asked him to help tend to the pumpkin fields, he acquiesced. And when the boy asked him to drag a cart behind him like a filthy beast of burden, he did it with barely a lip lift. But now? Oh no, certainly not. He would not lower himself further. He was degraded enough for one day.

“C’mon, can’t you help clean up the broken ones? If they stick around, they could get moldy! And if the other plants get mold before the frost sets in, there won’t be enough squash or other veggies for the feasts coming up!”

The Lycan didn’t see how that was his problem. Who needed vegetables at a feast! He snorted and sat down, tossing his head. Seth sighed and trudged over, shoving his flanks. “Get up, get up! Work isn't over yet, lazybones!”

Moonhunt swatted the rider with his tail, neatly slapping him upside the head and knocking him off his feet. The boy lay on top of a now squished pumpkin, thinking a hundred things about this salty, not very good stryx. He slowly, gingerly, got to his feet, making sure he wouldn’t fall on his face once he started moving. He walked a few paces away, keeping an eye on the surly Lycan. Once he was out of lunging distance, he dipped a hand into the pack he kept on his belt and pulled out something small and silver. He brought it to his lips, gave Moonhunt a level look, and blew.

The Lycan jolted and howled in pain. It was rare that Seth used the dog whistle, but harming a rider is a crossed line that needed punishment. Moonhunt cried and whimpered, lowering his head and letting his tail go limp. The boy felt the point was made, and replaced the whistle.

“Ready to work now?”

Moonhunt sourly nodded.

Seth cocked an eyebrow. “No more slapping?”

He nodded again, ears slicked back in humiliation.

“Excellent!” The rider grinned, sins forgiven. He pointed out the broken pumpkins, still keeping a healthy distance. “Can you move these to the compost pile? And be careful not to step on any of the banana squash!”

This time Moonhunt didn’t try to hide his lip lift and he dragged away the pumpkins.