Submission (#7759) Approved

The Sun & Sand Inn was a charming place - tucked between other sandstone buildings in Devara. It had a big, open garden, with rivers meandering through it. All the open doors were covered in flowing silks to keep the sun at bay. The scent of fresh herbs and sweet spices drifted from its kitchen, mixing with the cool, misty breeze that rolled off the small waterfall in its garden. At night, colorful glass lanterns bathed the inn in soft sparkles, making it feel like a safe haven from the vast desert beyond the city borders.

Harun had opened it many years ago and was running it with Jirai, a kittom he had found abandoned and living alone in an oasis far outside any cities; and Nico, Mary, Greywind and Cinder stayed at the inn every time they visited Ahza, alongside many other elnin that adored the place. Especially Nico and Mary were good friends with Harun and Jirai. 

And today, Yoru and Shiro were going to help clean the inn - no matter what.

"Are you sure about this?" Jirai asked, watching as Shiro balanced a tower of folded blankets on his back. The sand-colored kittom sat perfectly still, his ocean eyes skeptical. He already knew this was going to be a disaster.

"Of course!" Shiro grinned. "It'll be easy! We clean a little, make things cozy and then Harun will be so impressed, he’ll give us extra snacks!"

Yoru, ever the voice of reason, sighed. "We’re helping because we offered, Shiro? Not for snacks…"

Shiro huffed. "You say that now, but wait until we’re done. You’ll see!"

Harun chuckled from where he stood near the front desk. His fur was cream with brown highlights and he had a naturally relaxed way of moving - like a breeze through an open window, his long, slender tail swaying gracefully behind him. "I appreciate the help, truly," he said. "Just… be careful. No rushing, no climbing where you shouldn't, and no - "

THUMP.

The tower of blankets had toppled and Shiro was now buried under a heap of fabric, paws sticking out dramatically. "...- chaos," Harun finished with a small sigh, though his voice remained calm and he laughed softly. Some kittoms never changed.

Jirai rolled his eyes. "I knew this was going to happen."

Yoru walked over and casually pulled one of the blankets off Shiro’s head. "Let’s just start with the beds. One by one this time."

.

Cleaning the guest rooms should have been simple. Fluff the pillows. Tuck in the blankets. Maybe add a fresh flower from the garden to make things feel welcoming.

Instead, it became a battle of Shiro vs. The Sheets.

"I swear these things are alive," Shiro grumbled as he tried - again - to tuck the sheet under the mattress. But every time he did, it slipped back out. "Yoru, help, it's fighting me!"

Yoru, who had already neatly tucked in his side, smirked. "Maybe if you didn’t jump on the bed every time you finished, it wouldn’t come undone."

Jirai, perched elegantly on a finished bed, flicked his tail. "Do you two even know what hospital corners are?"

Shiro flopped onto the mattress with a groan. "I don't need fancy corners, Jirai. I need victory."

Harun peeked in, holding a tray of cool drinks. "How’s it going in here?"

"Finished!" Yoru pointed at his half, while Shiro buried his face in a pillow.
"Defeated..."

Jirai smirked. "Supervised incompetence."

Harun chuckled, setting the tray down. "You’re all doing fine. Why don’t you take a short break before we decorate?"

Shiro perked up and grinned at Yoru. "See, this is why working at an inn is great! I knew there would be snacks!"

.

After their break, it was time to make the inn feel extra cozy.

Yoru focused on arranging handmade lanterns in the common room, making sure their soft light cast a warm glow over the rich desert rugs. Harun handed him dried flower arrangements, which he carefully placed near the windows.

Meanwhile, Shiro had been given the very serious responsibility of arranging cushions on the lounge seats. Instead, he built a fort out of them.

Jirai narrowed his eyes. "You cannot leave it like that."

"But look at it, Jirai!" Shiro gestured to the masterpiece of chaos he had created. "It’s perfect!"

Yoru, placing the last lantern, turned to see the pillow fortress taking up half the common room. He sighed. "Shiro, it’s a lounge, not a battlefield."

"It’s a cozy battlefield!" Shiro grinned and wouldn’t take no for an answer. He was incredibly proud about the pillow fort. If he stayed at an inn, he would love to see something like that! 

Harun, standing by the entrance, laughed and tilted his head slightly, trying a new perspective.  "As long as guests have somewhere to sit, I don’t mind a bit of creativity."

Jirai groaned. "You're too nice..."

.

The last part of their task was tending to the beautiful garden that wrapped around the back of the inn. The small waterfall trickled into a crystal-clear river, its sound blending with the soft rustling of the trees and dense bushes. Colorful desert flowers grew in stone planters, and a few lanterns hung from twisting tree branches.

Yoru helped sweep the stone pathways, ensuring they were free of fallen petals. Harun taught him how to trim the overgrown herbs, explaining their uses in tea and cooking while they were at it. Yoru took mental notes of everything and already planned to write it all down later in the evening when he had a bit of time to himself. There was so much to learn and he was eager to hear it all. 

Jirai, practical as ever, watered the plants with measured precision. "Too much, and they’ll wilt. Too little, and they dry out. It’s about balance."

Shiro, on the other hand, had been given the job of feeding the koi fish in the river. Which he took very seriously. "You guys are so lucky," he told the fish as they gathered near the surface, gobbling up the food pellets. "Your job is just to swim and eat snacks all day. Dream life."

Jirai, carrying a basket of freshly picked flowers, rolled his eyes when he overheard the white kittom. "I think you are a koi fish, Shiro."

The other one grinned. "The biggest of them all!"

.

By the time they finished, The Sun & Sand Inn looked fresh, cozy and ready for new visitors. The rooms were tidy, the common area inviting, and the garden as peaceful as ever.

Harun smiled at them all, his voice soft and full of warmth. "You did very well. Thank you for your help."

Shiro stretched dramatically, looking with puppy eyes at Harun - and Yoru could tell what was coming next.

"Soooo... about those extra snacks?"

The innkeeper chuckled and nodded toward the kitchen. "I think we can manage that."