Excerpt: A Land of Yay Tail Tale

"Why can't I have a person?" whined Cordy.
“Because it was only a dream,” muttered Buttercup."Now sit up straight and stay."
“Why can’t we just eat?” asked Cordy as he dipped his head backward to look at his mom. “It’s only Cap and Cabal.”
“Because you two need the practice and this is Jeeves’ favorite part of the day. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him, would you?” Argus murmured into his ear.
Cordy, was a perfect combination of his hound dog father and his German Shepherd Mom. His coat was fluffy with all the hues of an autumn forest, his ears were floppy, and he had a black saddle on his back and a two-pointed black cap on his head known as the Royal Crest. He let his head loll to the side and grinned at his dad. He liked Jeeves. He felt a weight ease onto his tail and knew that it was his mother’s signal for him to straighten up. He did and shared a grinning glance with his sister, Rainy who had been scratching behind her left front leg. They giggled. Rainy took after their father more than her twin brother. Her coat was smoother, her head rounder but she had her mother’s ears.
A line of twelve Harlequin Great Danes sat at attention, six on either side of a silver limestone path kept clear of grass and other debris, known as the Royal Walk. At the very end of the line was a much smaller Great Dane who was busily scratching behind his left ear. His father, Titan, remained impassive as he whipped his tail around behind his son and flicked him on his rear end. Joshua, the pup, squealed, scrambled to his feet, and spun in a circle to see what had attacked him. A low growl sounded deep in his father’s chest reminding him that he was supposed to be sitting up straight next to him; he began to sit down when he noticed his friends Rainy and Corduroy standing at the entrance.
“HI GUYS!” called Joshua as he gamboled up the path to say hello. The royal twins met him half way, tails wagging hard enough to set up a dust storm behind them.
“I had the coolest dream last night!” Cord told him.
“He thinks he has a Destiny,” Rainy teased him and hip checked her brother for good measure.
“Wow, cool! I wish I had a Destiny,” replied Joshua as his paws left the ground to dangle in the air high above them when Titan grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
Cordy and Rainy looked up squinting at the bright blue sky behind their friend’s dangling body. However, a moment later, they joined him as Buttercup and Argus retrieved them.
“See you later,” said Corduroy.
“Bye,” called Rainy.
“See ya at school,” called Joshua as his father marched back to his place. “What?” they heard him call, “Oh yeah, I forgot.” in answer to something his father said.

Cordy felt his father chuckle as they too went back to their places. A few moments later the pups were back on the ground, sitting up straight and no longer giggling.
Jeeves, a tidy silver miniature schnauzer with magnificent bushy eyebrows and a pointed goatee trotted smartly out in front of them, centered himself on the path, and waited. Corduroy was moments away from asking what he was waiting for, no one was talking or even moving, when Jeeves took a single step forward, raised his head, and announced in a surprisingly loud voice, “The Royal Family, King Argus of the Tame, Queen Buttercup and the royal pups, Corduroy and Irenellla.”
Rainy’s head dipped low. “Why can’t he call me Rainy like everyone else?” she muttered as one of her mother’s front paws poked her in the behind to indicate that she could get up.
“Ok,” they heard their Mother whisper, “you can get up now.”
The pups scrambled to their feet and charged at their Uncle Cap who was sitting in his normal spot under his favorite Maple tree. He dipped into a playboy at their approach and let them crash land into his chest.
“Good Morning Uncle Cap,” they said in unison.
“Good morning pups, did you have a good sleep?” he asked.
Jeeves hung his head and sighed. Puppies had no decorum. It had taken him a thousand People years to rub the rough edges off Argus and it looked like the son would go the same way. Buttercup had been easier he had to admit, though he hadn’t expected anything less from such an educated young female. Jeeves looked at her released a wistful sigh. So refined, so elegant, her long lines, her golden fur...he was optimistic for the girl pup though he suspected that she took after her father as well. It was in the eyes. With a sigh, he trotted off to check on their breakfast.
“That was better but you still need some practice. The Celebration of the Tame is only a few weeks away, “laughed Buttercup as she joined them.
The pups grinned back at her and then pounced again on their Uncle.
“He thinks he has a Destiny!” Rainy said with the scornful tone reserved for brothers and sisters.
“Corduroy it was just a dream,” sighed Buttercup. “Here come Zip and Kip, let me know if they become a problem”
“So, tell me about this dream,” said Cap.
Cordy hip checked his sister out of the way lay down and started telling his story. Rainy who had already heard the story several times got up and wandered after their mother.
Jeeves trotted forward and announced Kip, the King of the Tame, Zip, the Queen of the Tame and their two royal pups Sip, and Pip. Buttercup trotted forward to greet their best friends with Argus close on her heels.
The Tame Royal family lived in the Royal Cavestal, a mountainside honeycombed with chambers, caverns, and passageways. They slept in the Sleeping Grotto, a room filled with souvenirs that their mother had brought back from her Field Assignments and gifts to their father, Argus King of the Tame. Their beds were made of shed fur and wool from the Other Side covered in what their mom called Material, made by the People. The Eating Hall was a large open air space that served as a dining room and a reception hall for formal functions. When Rainy had asked why it was outside and so big, Argus had pointed out that dogs were not the largest of the tame. Rainy had thought their father was teasing until the following week when they had met their first elephant during the Zoological and Performers Annual Gathering and Dinner. The Elephants name was Higudishu and Rainy still believed that their father had somehow tricked them with his appearance.
Two grey fur balls shot past Rainy as she trotted up to greet them. She grinned and puppy hopped after them. The two wolf pups raced around and pounced on top of her.
Jeeves sighed. He’d never been able to rub the rough edges off the mangy Timber wolf but at least his mate Zip, an elegant black she wolf was refined and graceful like his Queen Buttercup. The pups didn’t deserve thinking about; they’d go the way of their father just like all of the others had in the past. One day, Jeeves vowed, they’d have a proper royal family for him to look after. A royal family with style and panache as befitted their station. With another sigh, he wandered off to check on their breakfast.
Get off!” she cried as she struggled to her feet. Sip, scrambled off her best friend immediately, but Pip, her brother stretched and pushed down on Rainy with all of his might. Rainy oofed and scrambled more fervently but she couldn’t budge him. Sip, used to her brother’s wrestling holds trotted around to his rear end and nipped the end of his tail. He shot up into the air and off her friend with a yelp.
“Hey,” he said pawing at his sister’s face,” You cheated.”
Sip yawned right in his face and then puppy hopped over to Rainy.
“Where’s Cordy?” she asked.
“He had a dream last night and is convinced that it’s his Destiny,” said Rainy. “He’s telling Uncle Cap.”
“Cool,” said Pip. “I can be his wingman.”
“His what?” asked Rainy?
“Our big brother Tip,” explained Sip,” keeps taking him over to the Other Side to watch that box that the People like so much through their windows. He’s addicted. Ignore him.”
Rainy panted a little in confusion. She wasn’t sure she knew what box the People liked or what a window was but she didn’t want to ask. She prided herself on being the smart one of their group.
“Race ya!” she squealed to change the subject and she dashed down the long lawn with Sip and Pip hot on her heels.
The Eating Garden's lawn was thick with grass, the kind you slept on and rolled in not the eating kind. The eating kind, or belly grass, was hidden behind a blind of bamboo at the end for those moments when a large piece of bone needed to be dislodged or you simply overindulged. Various fruit trees lined the walls on the two short sides while large palms, banana trees, acacia, oak, maple, eucalyptus, and various others lined the long sides. In the center of the long Cavestal wall, a waterfall fell into an oval shaped pool for drinking. Known only to a few, the waterfall split. The outside was in the Eating Hall and the inside was in the Planning room and served as Argus’ primary communication post to the Other Side. From there he could contact anyone on Earth who happened to be near a body of water, a reoccurring puddle, or an indoor fountain. The water that drained out of the indoor waterfall supplied the Cavestal with its water supply. Every room had a pool of cool, clear water for drinking or bathing that replenished endlessly. The unused water and dirty water fell through the Cavestal’s many levels to a large deposit of limestone that filtered and purified it before it hit the water table. From there it flowed to the main water fountain in the Village Round below providing the same service to the inhabitants there. Most had an indoor fountain in their homes but the central water fountain was a time honored gathering place and where Argus and the others often dropped by to keep in touch with the community.
“Interesting,” said Cap, his mouth suddenly dry. “So, do you know where she is?”
“Nope, but I know that I have to find her,” said Cordy.
“Hey is that Sip and Pip?” asked Cap.
“Where?” asked Cordy leaping to his feet and looking around. He spotted them and with a quick goodbye, he raced off to play with his friends.
Cap an Alabai, looked much like a Holstein calf and was about the same size. The fact that he and his brother looked nothing alike was a family secret that was never discussed. He was the Master Trainer of Yay. It was his job to train all of the young who wanted to become Field Agents or People Trainers to help ensure their safety on the Other Side. He stood up, glanced around, and trotted over to speak to Cabal, the Master Sage.
“We may have a problem,” Cap said in his ear.
Cabal glanced up at Cap.
“So you’ve heard. I was hoping that my information was inaccurate,” sighed Cabal.
“Huh?” asked Cap. "You know that young Corduroy may have dreamed of his Destiny last night?"
“Pups! Come on it’s time for Breakfast!” called Buttercup, “Everyone if you’ll take a seat, I think breakfast is ready.”
“What?” asked Cabal, “That is a problem, are we sure it wasn’t just a dream that young Corduroy had?”
“Well, he’s Buttercup’s son,” said Cap, “So, we have to assume that it’s real.”
“True, how old was she when she had her first vision?” asked Cabal
“Six weeks, if the stories are true. She doesn’t talk about it much,” said Cap “I’m starving.”
“You’re always hungry,” said Cabal who prided himself on his ironclad self-control in all areas of his life.
“That’s very true,” said Cap as they took their places. "What were you talking about?"
"Nothing, I'll tell everyone after our meal," said Cabal.
"The news is that good, eh?" asked Cap.
Once they had taken their seats Jeeves pranced into the middle of the lawn and hoisted his tail with a snap. As one, the Harlequin Great Danes stood and trotted into the Cavestal with Josh trailing behind, puppy prancing in the delight of finally being able to move. A few minutes later, they returned carrying four deer and four squirrels that were retrieved from the roads of the People. Titan presented the largest deer to Argus and Buttercup. Argus sniffed it, licked it, and nodded his acceptance.
“Thank you, Titan,” said Argus formally.
The Dane placed the deer in front of them; stood up and pivoted to prance back to his post against the wall. Argus loved that part and grinned at Buttercup. She laughed and nuzzled his neck. Josh, who had been standing underneath his father, remained, sniffing at the deer, and wagging his tail at the King and Queen.
“Don’t worry, Josh,” whispered Argus. “I’ll save you some.”
Titan cleared his throat and Josh trotted back to his post beside his father, his tail still wagging. The Danes placed the remaining deer in front of their honored guests. Finally, the pups received their squirrels.
“Not again,” whined Rainy.
Buttercup gave a sharp bark.
“Thank you, Seymour,” the tame twins muttered with clear protest.
“Thank you Penelope, “the wild twins muttered with equal enthusiasm.
The pups had graduated to Big Dog food just a few weeks earlier to celebrate their first day of school. At first, they were given mice, which they had quickly figured out. However, squirrels were harder to get started.
Rainy sighed. She hated having to work for her breakfast. She longed for the days of the regurgitated Mom food. It was quick and simple but best of all it had been warm. She hated a cold breakfast.
Corduroy and Pip began flinging their squirrels around by the tails while Rainy and Sip pawed at their squirrels, hoping that they would open by themselves. Corduroy, accidently flipped his squirrel across the room where smacked Cabal upside his head.
“Ooops,” said Corduroy in a small voice. Rainy accompanied him as he scurried across the room to retrieve it.
“Sorry Master Sage,” said Corduroy as he rolled over to show his tummy in apology.
The Master Sage, a massive brindle and white pit bull, leaned down and nibbled Cordys’ tummy with his front teeth- making him squeal in delight
Buttercup shot a Mom Look at her pups.
“Our apologies, Master Sage,” said Buttercup.
“No harm done,” said Cabal.
He leaned down so his mouth was right next to Cordy’s ear, “There’s nothing in the tail to eat. Just bite it off at the top,” he whispered.
Cordy shared this valuable piece of information with his twin. They gave the Master Sage a wag of thanks and raced across the field to try it out. Kip and Sip watched them closely and soon everyone was enjoying their meals.
Chapter 2

Once everyone had finished and the Danes had cleared the grounds Cabal stood up and bowed to the Royal Couples.
"I have news," he said.
Argus stifled a sigh and shared a glance with Buttercup. If Cabal had good news he would have shared it before they'd eaten. Only bad news came after a meal.
"It has come to my attention that Saeth, the Guardian of the Mosquitoes, is claiming that the DNA bank is almost full. She is using this as an excuse to call for a full Gathering of the Animal Receiving Council at which time she will enter a motion to have the People evicted once and for all," Cabal intoned.
"But Saeth's always trying to get the People evicted. No one ever listens to her," said Kip.
"I'm afraid that this time she has created an up swell of support," said Cabal.
Buttercup shot a look at Zip.
“Cabal, a moment please. Corduroy, Rainy, it’s time to go to school, please wash up and Jeeves will take you,” said Buttercup.
“Sip, Pip, you two. Jeeves would you mind?” asked Zip.
“Actually, I’d like Jeeves to stay, Titan, would you please take the pups to school?” asked Argus.
“Of course, I was just going to take Joshua. I’d be happy to your highness...esses” said Titan with a bow.
“But MOM! I want to stay!” cried Corduroy
“Me too!” Rainy cried.
“Us too!” cried Pip who was the more vocal of the wolf twins.
“No buts, off you go wash your paws and muzzles and not another word. Josh, remind me tomorrow that you will eat with the other pups, you can’t go to school hungry. Jeeves, please bring something that Josh can eat while the others get ready. I don’t want to hear it Titan, he’s a pup, and he needs to eat. Off you go. Now.” directed Buttercup. The pups dragged their feet but went to the waterfall to wash while Jeeves appeared with a half dozen already prepared mice for Josh who gulped them down eagerly. He’d finished before the others and joined them at the waterfall to wash up.
“Your mom is seriously scary some times,” he whispered to Rainy.
“It’s her Queen’s voice. Once she goes into Queen Mode or Field Agent mode there’s no arguing with her. Once, she washed my ears every day for a week!” Rainy hissed back.
“No way! What did you do?” asked Josh.
“That’s enough washing up now come say good bye and thank Jeeves and the Danes for a wonderful meal,” said Buttercup. She kissed the pups good bye, saw that they thanked everyone properly and accompanied Titan to the Cavestal opening.
“I mean it Titan, Josh will eat with the pups. He can train before and after but it’s cruel to make him watch.” Buttercup insisted.
Titan grinned at her. “Thank you your highness, but I do feed him before we come to work,” he said in his slow, deep voice.
“Of course you do, but he has a lot of growing to do, so would you please do me this favor?” she asked embarrassed.
“As you wish,” he said with a dip of his head.
“And Titan, if Saeth is on the move...” Buttercup whispered.
“I know what to do,” said Titan as he snapped his tail over his over back with his head cocked to one side.
Buttercup laughed. “Ahhh, if only it was that easy. I’d fill the castle with Shetland ponies and send her back to her Maker,” she said. “Thank you.”
“Ok pups, listen to Titan and I want to go to school and stay there until one of us picks you up. Do I have your word?” she ordered.
“Yes ma’am,” they intoned.
“Thank you for a wonderful breakfast!” chirped Joshua.
‘You’re welcome Josh; you have an open invitation to join us, ok? You pups have fun and pay attention to what Sarge tells you, ok? Oh Titan, would you please let Sarge know that Cap will be down later? I will probably join him,” said Buttercup.
“Of course, now, we will be off. Come on little ones,” said Titan as he ushered them into the Cavestal.
“We really need to get a Nanny,” she said as an aside to Zip who fervently agreed. If Saeth was on the move, not only would they need more help with the dynamic duos but also a few extra eyes for protection wouldn’t be a bad thing either. “Thank you Cabal, please continue.
Kip was twisting his head this way and that. Zip nudged him with her shoulder to get his attention and then looked pointedly at Cabal. He shrugged her off.
"I'm afraid that Saeth has gathered quite a following," replied Cabal.
Argus looked at Buttercup. He knew that Saeth had never liked the People but he never thought she would go this far.
"What does Kele say about this?" asked Argus.
"As far as I know the mate of Saeth has said nothing. I am not sure he is aware of her plan yet. I, myself, only learned of it last night," said Cabal.
"Does anyone hear that?" Kip asked, still twisting.
"Hear what your Highness?" asked Cabal.
"It's a buzzing. Bzzzz, bzzzz, bzzzz, can't you hear it?" he asked getting up to investigate the bushes closest to him.
The dogs went silent to listen.
"Kip, you're King of the Wild Ones, why don't you tell her to knock it off?" asked Argus
"Sure, yeah, tomorrow .…you really can't hear that?" asked Kip.
"Your highness, while I realize that this does not affect your kind directly, it is important that we provide a unified…..there is a buzzing," said Cabal.
He and everyone else swiveled their heads. The buzzing abruptly stopped.
"Your Highnezzez, Mazter Trainer, Mazter Zage, I zee that you've beaten me to our illuztriouz leaderz door," came a high pitched voice, "I waz of courz coming to inform him of my motion myzelf. You zhould have known that."
"See? I knew I heard a buzzing," said Kip, triumphant.
"Good morning, Saeth," said Argus politely.
"Good morning, Arguz. I am zorry that you had to find out thiz way. I waz coming to talk to you myzelf but waz zimply waiting until your young had left," she said.
She gave Cabal a nasty look that he couldn't see since she was so small and hovering around Argus' left ear.
"I don't doubt that for a moment Guardian Saeth," replied Argus. "But, may I ask why you are doing this?"
"I believe that it iz in the bezt interezt of Yay," said Saeth. "Yay iz our common interezt iz it not?"
"Of course it is. Everything we do is for the best of Yay, but we must also consider what is in the best interest of the Other Side as well," said Argus.
"But, even the People know that what I zay iz true. Their zcientiztz have zaid that if the inzectz- their name for the family of Buzz-were to leave the planet, that they would perizizh in ten yearz. But if they were to leave, the planet would thrive in five."
"Really? Is that true?" Argus asked the others.
"The People have a right to…,"continued Argus.
"They have been given ample time and they have failed," said Saeth. "They corrupt everyone who zpendz time with them. Four timez you have zought an extenzion. I do not believe that they dezerve another. Are you afraid for them King of the Tame?" she asked, her voice full of scorn.
"So what are you saying? We have until their Sign Stones dim to reach their quota?" asked Buttercup.
"I will agree to that," said Saeth.
A whoosh of relief filled the room.
"Thank you Guardian Saeth," said Argus.
"However, theze are my termz," continued Saeth.
"Their Original Zign Ztone muzt be moved to the Zpeaking Chamber and dizplayed publically at all timez, zimply zo there iz no confuzion. The People will have no more chanzez. When the Zign Ztone nezt goez dark, it will not be re-Illuminated. To enzure that it will not be rezet, my family and I will zeaze zending our offzpring to the Other Zide. Az iz our right," said Saeth.
"Geseundheit," said Kip proud of himself for noticing Saeth's' sneezing fit. Everyone was always accusing him of being self-obsessed. He turned to Zip for praise.
"She didn't sneeze. Can mosquitoes sneeze?" Zip thought about it for a moment and then she shook her head to clear it. "She said 'cease.' They're not going to send any more of their young to the Other Side," Zip whispered.
"And this is a bad thing?" asked Kip. "Those stingers of theirs hurt!"
Saeth gave a Gallic shrug that no one in the room appreciated since they couldn't see her very well.
"To me thiz izn't a tragedy," Saeth said aloud. "I underztand, however, that it iz a tragedy to you. I am zorry for thiz but I believe that the real tragedy iz that the People have corrupted you with their fear. However, you are free to join them in their new home. I hear it'z nize there."
"How dare you!" said Cap.
"Dare? I am not daring anything Mazter Trainer. I am zaving uz all. You are free to ztay with thoze you love and we will have peaze onze more. It iz a win-win zituazion, iz it not?" Asked Saeth.
"You will have my answer by the end of the week," said Argus.
"Oh, you mizunderztand me, your highnezz, my termz are not negoziable. Az Zoon az the Zign Ztone goez dark, the Buzz will no longer zend their offzpring to the Other Zide. Period. Thoze that are living on the Other Zide may remain and produze on their own for az long az they chooze to do zo. However, no new coloniez and no new familiez will be ztarted until The People have gone, "she shrugged again." It iz our right to decline to go to the Other Zide at any time. We are choozing to exzerzize thiz right. No different from the Dodo bird," said Saeth and she left.
"What's a Dodo bird?" asked Kip.
"Marvin. We've had him over for dinner," replied Zip.
"Oh yeah, I like Marvin. He's funny," said Kip.
"There are no more Dodo birds on the Other Side Kip," said Argus tightly.
"Really? Why not?" asked Kip.
"The People ate Marvin in 1661," said Argus.