It was unusually quiet.
No paws galloping across the floor. No toys flying. No midair tackles.
Just a peaceful hoomin in bed, enjoying a rare moment of stillness.
That peace lasted exactly 6.5 minutes.
From the living room came a rising murmur—muffled voices, energetic thumps, and a suspicious squeak.
The hoomin cracked one eye open.
Hoomin (yawning):
“Morning conference again? Must be the Zoomie Summit…”
Still half-asleep, he wandered into the kitchen and served two fresh bowls of breakfast noms.
Benno strutted in immediately, tail held high.
Hoomin:
“There’s the reliable one. Morning, Benno. Where’s your partner-in-crime?”
Benno just blinked slowly and began munching—very casually.
Lohe was nowhere to be seen.
Hoomin (calling out):
“Lohe? Breakfast time!”
No response.
Then… a giggle.
A faint, mysterious giggle.
Hoomin (squinting):
“Wait a second… do cats even giggle?!”
He peeked under the bed.
He opened the wardrobe.
He even checked behind the curtains.
Benno followed him around, doing a suspiciously bad job at “helping.”
Benno (pretending):
“Try the bathroom. He might be brushing his whiskers.”
Hoomin:
“…That’s not how anything works, Benno.”
Suddenly, tap-tap.
Something brushed hoomin’s head.
He froze.
Looked up.
There, camouflaged like a jungle ninja, was Lohe—perched on top of the bookshelf, perfectly still, beside the fake plant.
Only his eyes moved.
And his whiskers twitched with suppressed glee.
Lohe (whispering to Benno):
“He didn’t see me! I am the bookshelf.”
Benno:
“I think you’re the plant.”
Hoomin decided to play along.
He walked dramatically into the hallway.
Hoomin (loudly):
“Well, no Lohe here. Maybe he evaporated… Guess I’ll eat both breakfasts myself!”
Lohe’s pupils went full saucer mode.
Lohe (to Benno, panicked):
“HE’S GONNA EAT MY BREAKFAST! Initiate Phase 2!”
But before Phase 2 could begin, hoomin sneaked silently back into the room, stood directly under the bookshelf and—
“PEEKABOO!”
“SURPRISE!”
Lohe startled into a spaghetti noodle shape and yelped:
“He’s got wizard powers!”
Benno rolled on the floor laughing.
Benno:
“Next time pick the closet, genius.”
Lohe (regaining cool):
“No. The high ground is key. Obi-Wan said so.”
⸻
All was forgiven when breakfast was served again (Lohe’s bowl hadn’t been touched, after all).
The hoomin smiled at his two goofballs and whispered:
Hoomin:
“You two are my chaos. And I love every bit of it.”
Benno purred.
Lohe licked his paw dramatically and said:
“We know. You’re welcome.”