Chapter Text
For Mabel, it was mind-blowing how quickly she’d won over the entire animal kingdom in less than a day. In her new beaver form, she’d managed to suppress the loud sound that drove them away from the glade and help rebuild their home. These crazy turns of events were a lot to take in, and by night, she was limping with exhaustion.
The beaver populace already encouraged her to join them back at the Superlodge, and she hesitantly tagged along. After King George taught her how to paddle as a beaver, they became much more comfortable exchanging some small talk on the way there. Once he gave his backstory on becoming the heir to the throne, it was now Mabel’s turn to share hers.
“So, what about your parents?” George asked, beaming with curiosity.
Mabel’s eyes widened, and her paws clenched tightly, hesitant to speak up. How was she supposed to explain that her parents moved across the country?
“I presume you got banished as well?” he added.
She gritted her buck teeth, slightly relieved by his assumption, and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“Ugh, typical,” George huffed. “What kind of jerk banishes someone before teaching them how to swim?”
She grinned a bit, amused that he recycled the same insult she used for his parents.
He cooled off some steam and asked sympathetically, “Must be a long way from home, eh?”
Mabel nodded once. “Yeah…uh, I once came from a place known as, um, Beaverton,”
“Hmm, what a fitting name!” George chuckled to himself, his flat tail splashing the water with glee. Then, he turned to her and gently took her paw. “Well, don’t worry. You're safe here, now. That's all that matters.”
She smiled in response to his warm affection as they arrived at the Superlodge, climbing out of the water to sit at the edge. George pulled out his tail between his legs to make himself comfortable while Mabel sat right beside him. They spent a moment just looking up to the skies, admiring the calming nature. But Mabel had this pleasant, fluttering feeling that she just couldn’t get out of her chest. For the first time in a long while, someone genuinely cared for her well-being, even though he wasn’t human.
The lodge continued buzzing full of quiet activity with many beavers roaming about the lodge, settling into place. He then outstretched his arms one last time with a loud yawn and all of a sudden clapped his paws together. “Alright, everyone! Time for a royal nap!”
All of the animals froze in place, and Mabel blinked twice in confusion. “A…what?”
“Well,” George explained, “when the party’s over, everyone’s gotta rest first before the next one.”
Mabel scratched her chin and nodded in understanding as she followed him across a narrow wooden log bridge that led to a hidden communal area. Some beavers entered underwater, while others followed behind them through the main dark hole. Once they went inside, King George led her through a maze of narrow tunnels, some leading to underwater exits and others to sleeping chambers.
She tried to memorize the path, but everything looked the same: sticks, mud, more little sticks. As she looked around, most of the rodents settled into pairs, curling up and snuggling close. She could’ve sworn beavers were nocturnal, but at this rate, she’d already suspended her disbelief.
“Here, you can sleep over there,” George said, pointing to a vacant burrow on her right. “And, since you’re new here, I’ll help make your bed.”
He stepped inside with her and began arranging a few aspen sticks upright, forming a tiny tent just big enough for her. After smoothing it with a pat of his flat tail, he hopped back outside with a proud little grin. “There, all ready!”
Mabel crawled in on all fours into her miniature room, her paws dampening in the mud. She settled on her stomach beneath the wooden awning, safe and snug in her new bed. She glanced at George, who watched over her like a quiet guardian angel, and couldn’t help but smile at the care he put into it.
“Everything to your liking?” he asked, clasping his paws together.
“Yup, all good!” she nodded, giving a thumbs-up and a wink.
“Ok, now that everything's taken care of, it’s time to get some shut-eye. We have a big day tomorrow.” He turned to leave, then paused and looked back. “Oh, and if you need help with anything, just ask.”
Before he turned away from her, she suddenly shouted, “Wait!”
“Yes, Mabel?” he responded with a wide smile, turning back to her.
“Let’s say I got lost, how would I find my way out?” she asked.
“Oh! Well, you’d just head down this tunnel, then make a right to the emergency exit,” he answered.
“Got it, thanks!” Mabel muttered without question, slumping back into her sleeping position. “Night, George.”
He smiled back at her. “Good night, Mabel.”
She rested her head in her furry arms, making herself comfortable with a little snuggle on the wooden surface, smiling peacefully.
“Good night, Ron!” George’s voice echoed through the walls.
“Good night, George.” Ron’s voice echoed back.
Mabel’s eyes widened, her tiny ears perked up.
“Good night, Tom!”
“Night, George.”
“Nighty night, Eric, Corey, Shawn, and don’t forget Topanga.”
A small colony of young beavers waved back at him with big smiles.
Mabel lay down with a scowl, shaking her head as she rolled her eyes.
This was gonna be a long night.
ONE HOUR LATER…
Mabel tossed and turned, growing increasingly frustrated at her inability to fall asleep. No matter what sleeping position she tried: on her side, her back, or her stomach, she just couldn't get her darn beaver body to rest.
Maybe that was it. Maybe a robot animal would need to recharge through other means. Without lab assistance from the scientists, she was stumped on how to fall asleep as a robot beaver.
She tapped the tiny button in her ear, attempting to radio them, but there was only static on the other end.
Figures.
Honestly, who even knew how late it was at night? It wasn’t like anyone here knew what a clock was.
Mabel closed her eyes harder this time, but still nothing. Maybe they hadn’t factored in REM sleep when they 3D-printed her? But then again, she did tear up before, so who knew how sophisticated this thing really was?
Maybe there was a power switch? Nah, even if she found one, who was gonna turn her back on? Her secret would be exposed by sunrise.
If things weren’t bad enough, a beaver suddenly snored so loud that the sticks rattled beneath her, causing a large cloud of dust to sprinkle directly on her face.
Mabel’s eyes shot open and twitched, and she angrily muttered, “I’m out of here.”
She hopped onto her feet and dashed out of her room, retracing the directions George gave her earlier. The robot beaver crawled a few steps through the tunnel until her paw crushed a twig and…
SNAP!
Mabel froze for a moment as the lodge went dead silent, holding her breath until a few snores sputtered back again. She sighed in relief and took the next few steps, carefully navigating through the dim light. Once again…
CRACKLE!
Her eyes widened as she looked down at the cracked, dried leaves beneath her paw, grumbling under her breath. She glanced to her left, a beaver cuddled a pile of sticks like a stuffed animal, and on her right, another beaver sucked on chopped wood like a pacifier. Mabel blinked, dumbfounded.
She gave up trying to keep a low profile and slid downhill, snapping sticks every few seconds. She made a sharp right like George said and POPPED straight out of the exit, underwater.
Mabel resurfaced and swam as quickly as she could until she scrambled onto shore, stopping at the first tree to catch her breath. Now, she was torn.
“What do I do? What should I do?” she panicked, gripping her head tightly between her paws while her flat tail thumped against the grass.
On one hand, she should go back. If she stayed much longer, who knew what condition her human body would be in? She prayed the scientists wouldn't kill her when she finally hopped back.
On the other hand, she didn’t wanna leave George, not without saying goodbye. Not after everything she had done for them.
She'd befriended so many animals in the past day: Loaf, Tom, Ellen, and a king whose blinding optimism was naïve but somehow admirable. She'd watched them reclaim their home, seen them hail her for her bravery. Maybe she could help them more by following the original mission: study animal behavior, learn from them. Heck, the longer she stayed, the more she felt like she was becoming one of them.
She stood there, caught between two worlds, but then realized she didn't even know the way back. Thanks to that owl, she was completely lost. Maybe that was a sign.
Out of sheer frustration, she punched the nearest tree, and THUNK! A pile of acorns rained down on her head. “Whoa, didn’t know I could do that.”
A quiet whimper came from above, and she looked up, noticing a grey squirrel clinging to his remaining acorn stash. He scurried inside the trunk and slammed a little bark door shut. Mabel sighed, lowering her head.
“Having trouble with your sleep?” George asked from behind.
“Aah!” Mabel jumped a few feet in the air. “You’re still awake?”
“Yup, always have been,” he sighed. “Just having my usual midnight snack.”
“Don’t scare me like that!” she snapped, fists clenched.
“Sheesh, sorry,” George mumbled before he took another bite of his snack.
Mabel peered closely at the half-eaten carrot in his paws, and George noticed her curiosity. “Ah, a kind human left some delicious food back at the glade.”
Her jaw dropped to the ground. That came from the same pile of fruits and veggies she set out the night before. “Oh…that’s very nice of her.”
“Her?” George questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Just a lucky guess!” Mabel responded and raised her paws defensively, sweating bullets.
“I thought you said you hated humans,” he said with a smirk, now munching cabbage leaves with both paws like corn on the cob.
“Well, not all humans, obviously,” she clarified with a nervous chuckle.
“Oh, so you know this gal?” he teased, eyebrows raised.
“No!” Mabel shot back, crossing her arms. “I mean, yes, but this one’s different. It’s…complicated.”
“Well, your life sounds complicated enough already,” George commented. “I’m not gonna even bother asking,”
Mabel smiled in relief. “Good, don’t!”
“Anyway, what brings you out here?” George asked. “Lemme guess…beaver issues?”
“Um, totally,” Mabel answered with hesitation.
“‘Cause you know how those loud snorers can be, catching some z's, amirite?” he joked, nudging her shoulder.
“No, George,” she sighed, twirling her fingers. “It’s just that no matter how hard I try to fall asleep, I still feel…”
“...restless?” he guessed.
She nodded in agreement.
He shook his head with pity. “Oof, you must’ve been through a lot, if you can’t even snooze in the comfiest of all lodges.”
“Then, what am I supposed to do?” Mabel asked for his help.
“Hmm…” George pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “Ooh, I got it! Maybe you need…some royal treatment.”
“Huh?” Mabel tilted her head in confusion.
“How about you come sleep with me?” George proposed innocently.
The first thing that flashed through her mind made her physically recoil.
“Don’t worry, it's nice and quiet inside,” he added assuredly with a soft voice.
She did not need to hear that.
Mabel tried not to gag, squirming as her voice trembled, “N-no, I really shouldn’t.”
“Please, I insist,” he begged, holding out a hand for her. “Just the two of us…napping in my royal chamber.”
Mabel still shuddered nervously, and George finally took the hint. He puffed out his chest, then gently placed a paw on her shoulder, lowering his voice. “Mabel, I’m just trying to help you.”
She frowned, remaining silent.
“C’mon, I already told you, I’m married to the job. Did you think I meant anything else?”
“I mean, kinda,” she admitted with a shrug.
“I see,” the king nodded. “Well, it’s my job to make sure no one feels uncomfortable around these parts.”
Mabel began to smile. “So, it’s completely normal for beavers to sleep in the same room as the king?”
“Nope, this is my first time,” he answered nonchalantly.
Her black pupils shrank. “How is that supposed to help?!” she asked nervously.
“For starters, I learned this one trick that helps me to get better sleep,” he said, utterly oblivious to her panic. “Come on, I’ll show you! Let’s go!”
He playfully noogied her head, leaving her fur all scruffy, before darting off. She then charged after him with a battle cry, following him back to the lodge.
Once they returned to the Superlodge entrance, George beckoned her over to the other side, where the courtroom was situated. Inside, an array of rooms lined the curved interior, each wooden door reserved for a member of the council.
“Here we go, this should be my…” he opened the door.
It uncovered a hidden closet packed with golden crowns, and he shut it almost immediately, leaning back against the door, panting. “Um, that area’s restricted.”
Mabel let out a small chuckle. Then he opened the next door, the correct one this time, and welcomed her inside his humble abode. She took the first step and gazed upon the glimmering little trinkets scattered about his bed. George shut the door behind them and even knocked on the wooden wall to test its sturdiness.
“Hear that?” he said proudly. “Quiet as a mouse. Completely soundproof.”
She continued circling around the room with paws on her hips and suddenly gasped. “Wow! My very own cabin!”
“What was that?” George questioned.
“Nothing, nothing!” Mabel stammered.
He instantly shrugged it off and moved on, eager to show off his mini collection of human inventions. The first thing showcased was a pair of black headphones, the wire riddled with bite marks. “It helps keep my teeth nice and filed.” Mabel blinked and cringed a bit.
Next, he showed off a CD spindle containing a large stack of blank disks. “Ooh, watch this!” He popped off the plastic cover, plucked out the top CD, and flicked his wrist, sending it spinning across the room until it crashed on the other side. “I’ve been trying to get these little birdies to fly out, but they never make it too far.”
And finally, George amassed a small bottle collection near his bed, their paper labels mostly featuring famous celebrities, along with a lone fast-food Styrofoam cup tucked in the corner. Mabel stared in awe at his massive stockpile until she began yawning a bit.
“I don’t really get to show these to anyone,” George sighed, tapping a clinking bottle with a stick. “The other animals just don’t understand this cool stuff these humans bestow upon us.”
Mabel smiled with appreciation before asking, “George, this is nice and all, but what about those tips for getting better sleep?”
“Oh, thanks for reminding me!” he raised a finger with anticipation. “Here’s what you do.”
In seconds, he made his bed and set up a spare across from his side, neatly arranging a few extra pieces of wood. Mabel covered her mouth from his delightful persistence and wasted no time lying down in her new sleeping spot.
“Just follow my lead, ready?” he hyped her up with a wide grin. George pulled up the tail between his legs, laying it flat against his pudgy stomach. “First, you just wrap your arms around your tail like this, give it a nice squeeze, and think of the most calming thing you remember. For me, it’s all the times I’ve seen the good in people.”
Mabel furrowed her brow, confused. “That’s it?”
“Yeah!” George answered. “It’s that simple. You’d be surprised how effective it is.”
“Ok, then,” Mabel whispered to herself.
They both went to their respective beds, and she gave it a try and followed his instructions to a tee. For her, she thought back to all those good times she’s spent with her grandma and the calming, therapeutic side of nature. And just like that, everything went black, a low drone humming as she lay motionless on the wood, finally at peace.
THE NEXT MORNING…
King George outstretched his arms and stood up, arching his back until a loud pop cracked with a satisfied smile. “Oof! That’s the spot!” He took a deep breath, bent down to touch his feet, and kicked his legs out, despite his large figure. Then he turned to her body, eagerly awaiting her to wake up next.
“Mabel, it’s time to eat!” he called to her. “Mabel?”
Nothing.
“Mabel? Heh-heh, you’re pulling my leg here,” he nervously chuckled and leaned closer, staring down at her limp body.
He then grabbed her shoulders and began shaking her awake. “Come on, Mabel. I knew my method would be efficient, but not that efficient.”
Still nothing.
“EARTH TO MAAABEL, I know you’re in there!” he yelled in her ear.
Out of desperation, he grabbed a twig and began poking at her limbs. “Come on, you gotta be ticklish somewhere!”
Despite his best efforts, her eyes still couldn’t open. “Gosh, this usually works well with other beavers.”
Now it was time for the last resort. “Don’t worry, Mabel! I’ll go get you some help!”
He scooped her up in his arms and bolted out of the lodge as fast as he could. All those aerobics sessions were finally paying off as he made it to shore and gently set her limp self at the wooden edge.
Then, George dove headfirst into the water and slapped his tail against the water as hard as he could, splashing wave after wave into her face, like he was trying to revive her. After a few swashes, her eyelids twitched erratically until she jolted upright, regaining consciousness. She looked up at the blue sky, wondering why she was now outside.
“Mabel!” George immediately pulled her into a warm embrace. “Oh, thank goodness!”
“Whoa, is it morning already?” she muttered.
“Yeah, you weren’t moving, but at least you’re finally awake now,” he said. “You had the best sleep out of the whole dam, so good you didn’t even make a peep…or move at all.”
Mabel gasped in shock and couldn't even begin to fathom how she’d powered down overnight. All she could remember was thinking of the memories with her grandma, everything went dark, and the next thing she knew, she was outside. The only explanation she could come up with was that there had to be some kind of standby mode built into her.
“Anyway, it’s breakfast time, my second favorite part of the day,” George cheered, stepping away as he hummed a melody from the karaoke machine.
Mabel's face fell as she stood there, motionless. She knew that someday, she’d have to tell him the truth eventually.
“Let’s go, Mabel!” George called back from the trees. “Everyone’s waiting for you!”
“Coming!” she responded, quickly catching up to him.
But until then, she’d cherish every hour spent with him in the meantime, saving another day.