I Woke Up to a Beast Parade and They Called It “A Courtesy Visit”

Rei woke up to the sound of drums.

Which was, historically speaking, never a good sign.

He sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, and listened again.

Yup. Drums. Rhythmically precise. Coming from the street.

He slid open the window and leaned out just in time to see—

—a bear in ceremonial silk armor, a phoenix with decorative tassels, and a line of spirit beasts walking in orderly procession down the main road.

They were heading directly toward Fluff Co.

Rei groaned and closed the window.

"Not again."

By the time Rei made it downstairs, Ellyn was already at the counter with her event ledger and a fresh inkpot.

"There are seventeen species represented today," she said briskly. "Most are treaty-aligned, a few are 'curious neutrals,' and at least one is a celestial fish being carried in a bowl."

Rei blinked. "Why?"

"They say it's a courtesy visit. To 'show respect to the Neutral Nexus of Harmony.'"

Rei stared. "We're a tea shop."

"You were. Now we're a tea shop with diplomatic status in at least two beast clans and one minor principality."

Fluff waddled across the floor, dragged a pillow to the center of the room, and flopped down on it like a chancellor preparing for parliament.

Kreg entered from the back, carrying a tray of "treaty muffins" and three calming root pies.

"Just in case things go full spirit duel again," he said cheerfully.

Rei didn't answer.

He just poured a cup of strong tea, drank the whole thing in one go, and sat down beside Fluff.

The procession arrived in stages.

First came the otter delegation, resplendent in leaf-crowns and tiny ceremonial beads.

Then a pair of armored badgers bearing tokens of soil and salt.

A cloud fox glided through the window and delivered a formal scroll written in celestial ink that read:

> "We recognize the Sanctuary of Soft Paws and Shared Silence."

Rei didn't even ask what that meant.

He just made more tea.

Eventually, even the phoenix bowed—to Fluff first, then to Rei.

Ellyn whispered, "You're a head of state now."

"I am absolutely not."

Auron arrived mid-procession carrying his sketchbook and a headband labeled "Deputy Sage of Peace."

Rei wanted to scream, but it wasn't very diplomatic.

At midday, a gray-furred squirrel with unnervingly intelligent eyes approached the counter and sat upright.

Rei stared.

It cleared its throat.

Then spoke.

> "We bring warning."

Rei blinked. "You talk."

"Most don't listen. But you have a reputation."

Rei looked over at Fluff.

Fluff gave a single approving nod.

The squirrel continued. "The beast alliances have drawn attention. Not just from tamers and guilds. But from things older."

"Define older."

"Worms beneath the roots. Shadows that never took sides. Forces that envy peace."

Rei set down his teacup very carefully. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you brewed tea for a dying wind wolf once and didn't ask for payment."

"I just thought it looked cold."

"Exactly."

Then the squirrel saluted—paw to chest—and darted back into the crowd.

Later, while guests mingled in and around the garden, Rei stood beside Ellyn under the herbal trellis.

"This isn't sustainable," he murmured. "We can't keep being neutral ground. We're not trained. We don't have guards. We don't even have a broom big enough for a sky elk."

She shrugged. "And yet they come. Because of Fluff. Because of you."

"I didn't do anything."

"You offered safety. Consistency. Tea. That's rare."

Kreg added, "Also, our scones are under spiritual protection now."

"Not helping."

Ellyn placed a hand on Rei's shoulder. "You don't have to fix everything. Just be who you are. That's why they're here."

Fluff, listening from a nearby bush, blinked slowly.

Then rolled over like a satisfied god.

As the crowd began to thin, and Rei finally dared to sit down again, a final visitor approached the shop gate.

Tall. Cloaked in travel-worn silk. Masked.

The beasts all turned, but none challenged the figure.

Even Fluff sat up.

The stranger stepped forward and set a single gold coin on the counter.

"I was told," she said softly, "that this is a place where beasts and humans are treated the same."

Rei nodded. "That's the goal."

"Then I'd like a cup of the same tea you made for the phoenix."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "How do you know about that?"

"I was there. Watching. From above."

She pulled back her hood just enough to reveal shining amber eyes—slitted, ancient.

"May I sit?"

Rei gestured to the seat beside Fluff.

She bowed once.

"Thank you. I believe... I've been waiting to meet you for a long time."

They drank in silence.

Outside, the last of the drums faded.

The clouds parted over Orenth, and the breeze smelled of wild mint.

Rei didn't know what the future held.

But for now, the shop was still standing.

The tea was still hot.

And no one was screaming.

Yet.