by Bill Tiepelman
The Fluff of Wrath
A Feathered Menace is Born The villagers of Ember Hollow had many things to fearβrogue spells, mischievous sprites, the occasional fire-breathing goat (long story)βbut nothing prepared them for the wrath of a particularly tiny, exceptionally furious ball of fluff. It began, as most catastrophes do, with an innocent mistake. Old Maeryn, the townβs eccentric herbalist, had discovered a peculiar egg nestled in the roots of a charred oak. Thinking it abandoned, she took it home, set it by the fire, and promptly forgot about it. That is, until it hatched. And oh, what a hatching it was. With a crack, a snap, and an explosion of embers, out popped a creature so ridiculously adorable it should have been illegal. But instead of soft peeps and wobbling steps, this fiery fledgling locked eyes with Maeryn, fluffed up its smoking feathers, and let out a shriek of pure, unfiltered rage. βWhatβ¦ in the blazesβ¦ are YOU?β Maeryn muttered, brushing soot from her apron. The chickβs eyes burnedβliterallyβlike twin molten suns, its expression that of a tiny overlord who had just discovered his empire was made of peasants. With an indignant chirp, it stomped forward, radiating a heat that singed Maerynβs hem. She grabbed a wooden spoon and pointed it at the chick like a sword. βNow listen here, you little fire hazard,β she scolded. βI saved you, so youβd best drop the attitude.β The chick did not drop the attitude. If anything, it doubled down. It flared its wings (adorably useless), puffed out its chest (somehow even fluffier), and narrowed its smoldering eyes with all the menace of a pint-sized warlord. Then it sneezed. And set the curtains on fire. βOh, fantastic.β Maeryn groaned as she grabbed a bucket. The fire was quickly extinguished, but the chick remained, unbothered, glaring at her with the silent fury of an emperor insulted by an unworthy subject. With a sigh, Maeryn folded her arms and stared back. βI suppose you need a name, donβt you?β she mused. βHow about Ember?β The chickβs feathers flared brighter. It did not look impressed. βIgnis?β The chick let out a disgusted chirp. βOh, for the love ofβFINE. You tell me then.β The chick blinked. Its beak curled in the tiniest, most mischievous smirk. Then, with slow, deliberate menace, it hopped onto a wooden spoon, balanced itself like a feathered king upon his throne, and stared deep into Maerynβs soul. βBlaze.β Maerynβs jaw dropped. βDid you justβdid you actually just name yourself? By the stars, what are you?β Blaze said nothing. He simply fluffed up, smirked again, and hopped off the spoon as if to say, Youβll find out soon enough. And that was the moment Maeryn realized she had made a terrible mistake. The Reign of Blaze It didnβt take long for the villagers to realize something wasβ¦ different about Maerynβs new βpet.β For one, Blaze had opinions. Strong ones. And he expressed them with fire. The baker learned this the hard way when he refused to give Blaze an extra pastry. A perfectly golden croissant was exchanged for a pile of ashes. The townβs blacksmith, a burly man with the patience of a saint, tried to βtrainβ Blaze into behaving. Blaze responded by perching on his anvil and making every single horseshoe he forged mysteriously melt into puddles. And poor old Thom, who dared to call Blaze βcute,β found himself inexplicably locked in his outhouse for three whole days. βThat chick is pure chaos.β Thom declared once freed. Maeryn, now sporting singed eyebrows and an ever-present air of exhaustion, could only nod. βIβd give him away, but I think heβd just set my house on fire in revenge.β Meanwhile, Blaze was busy asserting his dominance. He had claimed a spot on the village fountain, where he would sit, fluffing and glaring, as if he were the self-appointed king of Ember Hollow. Passersby would cautiously nod in greeting, lest they incur his wrath. The mayor, in a last-ditch effort to regain control, even tried offering Blaze an βOfficial Town Mascotβ title. Blaze listened. Considered. Then set the mayorβs hat on fire. Things only escalated from there. It started smallβchamber pots mysteriously heating up, porridge bowls boiling over before anyone touched them. Then, Blaze discovered revenge. A woman who shooed him out of her garden woke up to find every vegetable in it roasted. A man who laughed at Blazeβs size found his boots melted to the cobblestone. By the time the villagers realized they were living under a tiny, flame-feathered tyrant, it was too late. Blaze had taken full control. βWe have to do something!β one of the council members whispered at a secret meeting. βLike what?β another hissed. βHeβs unstoppable! He sneezes, and half the town needs repairs!β βThen we outsmart him,β Maeryn declared. βHeβs got power, but heβs also got an ego bigger than his body. We just have to make him think itβs his idea to leave.β And so, the next morning, the town gathered at the square, where Blaze sat atop his usual perch, peering down at them like an unimpressed deity. Maeryn stepped forward, clearing her throat. βOh great and powerful Blaze,β she began, barely suppressing her sarcasm, βwe have an honor to bestow upon you.β Blaze blinked, intrigued. βYou, our glorious overlord, have clearly outgrown this humble village,β she continued. βYour power is too grand, your presence too mighty. It is time you take your rightful place in the Royal Palace.β Blaze tilted his head. Palace? βYes, yes!β one of the council members jumped in. βA legendary place where great beings such as yourself are worshipped and given endless food.β Blaze ruffled his feathers, considering this. Worship? Endless food? A palace? He let out a smug little chirp. βWe shall escort you there in glorious procession,β Maeryn said dramatically. βImmediately.β With that, they placed Blaze onto a velvet pillow, carried him to the grandest carriage in town, andβwith a final chorus of exaggerated praisesβsent him off to a castle many miles away, where he would definitely be someone elseβs problem. The villagers watched as the carriage disappeared over the hills. Then, in unison, they exhaled. βDo you think heβll actually make it to the palace?β Thom asked. Maeryn shook her head. βOh, absolutely not. But thatβs a future problem.β And with that, Ember Hollow was free. For now. Β Β Bring the Wrath Home! π₯ Blaze may have left Ember Hollow, but his fiery spirit lives on! Want to add some smoldering attitude to your space? Check out The Fluff of Wrath collection and take home this mischievous little tyrant in style: π₯ Tapestry β Let Blaze loom over your kingdom (or living room) like the tiny overlord he is. π₯ Canvas Print β Perfect for anyone who appreciates a side of attitude with their dΓ©cor. π₯ Tote Bag β Carry a little chaos with you wherever you go. Warning: May intimidate lesser bags. π₯ Round Beach Towel β Because nothing says βdonβt mess with meβ like sunbathing with a furious fireball. π₯ Throw Pillow β Soft, sassy, and slightly menacing. Just like Blaze. Get yours now and channel your inner firebird! π₯π€