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Ere growled with sheer territoriality, practically plastering himself to his Mate’s side like a second skin.
Divina snickered and looked innocently away.
“But I like small things too. Like my baby hedgehog, Benny. Or Sunny, my koala.”
“You have koalas here?”
Ere looked around, scanning her front yard, his eyes rounding comically as if he just noticed the collection of jungle, forest, desert palms, eucalyptus and bamboo trees.
“I have all sorts of earth’s most precious creatures here,” Divina said proudly. “I offer all of them a sanctuary where they can be their best selves. You can meet more of my babies inside. Come rest a bit and have some oolong tea.”
“Shi-mei…” Cloud warned, his exasperation evident in his tone.
Really, as much as Divina loved her big brother Cloud, he needed to loosen up. He was strung up too tight. She hoped his Amazon Mate curled his toes on a regular basis. That much tension in a person’s body couldn’t be healthy.
“We must depart,” he insisted.
“Oh, very well,” she acceded. “I’ll just go inside to pack my things.”
“You will be traveling light,” Cloud said quickly, stopping her with a gentle clasp of her upper arm.
“What you are wearing is all that’s needed.Shifuwill make sure you have the rest once you are sent to the right place and time to complete the quest.”
“You rhyme beautifully, dear,” she complimented, patting his arm. “No wonder Fufu made you his dragon trainer and guide. You do us proud.”
Cloud blinked, nonplussed.
“But this is my homebody outfit,” she added reasonably. “I have to bring at least a morning, afternoon, and evening outdoor outfit and my sleeping clothes. An assortment of panties for every day of the week. At least two pairs of sandals and booties in case it gets cold. And a trunk for my jewelry, hair brushes, toothbrushes, pastes, soaps, lotions, perfumes, puffs and grooming implements for Chewie.”
All three men simply stared at her, flummoxed.
“What?” she asked, not understanding why they looked confused. “I’m only bringing the bare necessities.”
Cloud’s grip on her upper arm grew firmer as he pulled her along behind him.
“We really must be going. You will have to make do and find what you need once you begin your quest.”
Divina supposed that was true. Where she was going likely didn’t come with stretch limos to transport all of her things. Or even a well-trained caravan of camels if she had to rough it. At least no one argued any more that she had to leave Chewie behind.
“Come on, baby,” she coaxed. “You’re coming with mommy on a grand adventure!”
Together, the five of them made their way through winding mountainous paths and valleys to a bridge that led to the Celestial Palace gardens.
As the three men strode briskly and purposefully through the lush landscape, Chewie bounding happily behind them, Divina slowed her footsteps to take in the gorgeous surroundings as she always did.
There was no other place like the Celestial Palace gardens, even in the Heavens. Everything was magical here, and time seemed suspended so that anyone who came here could enjoy it to the fullest without feeling rushed.
“Good day, dear sister.”
Divina raised her eyes from perusing the lush, exotic blooms decorating the ground she walked upon at the familiar voice greeting her.
“Oh, hello, Seventh Sister!” she returned affectionately. “Whatever are you doing here?”
The seventh daughter of the Jade Emperor seldom spent time in the Celestial realm, preferring to help the creatures of earth in her various human forms. And when she was in the Heavens, she was always busy. Divina could not recall the last time she saw Miss Seventh. But she was delighted to chance upon her now.
“Waiting for you, darling,” the lovely woman smiled at her. “As usual, you are never on time.”
“Me? Why ever are you waiting for me?”
