Atomic CritterS
Volume I | Part I
Chapter 6: “The Koi Pond”
The koi pond sat at the center of Sunrise Sanctuary,
the one place everyone passed through whether they meant to or not. Paths bent toward it. Voices softened there. Even the animals slowed, as if the water asked for restraint.
Slug Cat lay at the edge of the bridge, exactly where the boards narrowed. Not blocking the way—just close enough to make moving around her mildly annoying. Her eyes were half-open. She looked like she’d been placed there and forgotten.
Renji slowed. “She likes that spot.”
“She’s in the way,” he said.
“She’s adjacent to the way,” Renji replied.
Slug Cat did nothing.
Kagen shifted his weight, stared down at her. “Slug Cat.”
Nothing.
He nudged the plank near her with his boot. Not enough to touch her. Enough to suggest movement was an option.
Her tail flicked once. That was it.
Renji crouched. “We’re heading across.”
Slug Cat’s gaze drifted to him. One eye opened a fraction more, assessed the situation, and closed again. Whatever effort moving required, she had decided it wasn’t worth it.
Kagen exhaled slowly through his nose. He felt the familiar irritation settle in—not sharp, not explosive. Just constant. The kind that never left.
Coop trotted up, barked once, tail wagging.
Slug Cat looked at him.
Coop stopped barking.
Fin padded forward and leaned against Slug Cat’s side, small and careful. She didn’t acknowledge him. Fin stayed anyway.
Kagen watched the exchange, jaw tightening. “You don’t have to encourage her.”
Renji glanced up. “I’m not. I’m just letting her be.”
That was always the difference. Renji let things be. Kagen fixed them.
The water beneath the bridge rippled, slow and uneven. The koi clustered tighter than usual. The boards vibrated faintly underfoot.
Kagen noticed.
“Renji.”
Before he could say more, Murder Otter surfaced on the far side of the pond. Red eyes caught the light. He stared.
Then raised a paw.
Waved.
Renji snorted. “That’s normal. Right?”
“No,” Kagen said.
Slug Cat opened her mouth.
“…No.”
The sound was flat. Dry. Final.
The pond went still.
Renji straightened. “…Okay.”
They crossed the bridge. There was room. There always had been.
As they walked on, Kagen looked back once—at the pond, the water, the cat who hadn’t moved an inch.
Slug Cat hadn’t noticed them leaving.
Or she had—and simply hadn’t cared.
