A few weeks had passed into the month of October. The Halloween fair arriving in town allowing Pennywise to do more regular hunting. Beverly staying home to take care of their cotton balls. Being brought caramel apples as soon as the clown returned. He had become less anxious about her cooking alone. Someone needed to feet the hatchlings and he couldn't be there all the time. The diets of the hatchlings staying varied without any digestive problems.

Beverly and Pennywise guessed that it was because they were more earthly organic. Then compared to their father created from various space dust and energy. They would eat almost anything as long as it was meat, or extremely sweet. Honey was a great distraction for them while Beverly worked for the next few hours. Stopping now and again to watch them lick at the honey with their small blue tongues.

Despite their more earthly digestion then did indeed have deadlights. Every now and again Beverly would catch Pennywise laying on the floor chuckling. Opening his mouth slightly to show a low glow to the fluff balls who would then mimic him. Opening all their little mouths to show a small glow different to each of them. Colors ranging from fiery warm colors to cooler purples and blues. Letting them crawl all over him when ever they played together.

Beverly found their deadlights to work a little differently than pennywises. Although, that could be limited due to their age. She started doing what Pennywise suggested on the live prey. Buying only small batches of feeder fish and nothing else. Trying to promote as much as possible not to eat any line of meats that could lead up to humans. They would snatch the fish out of a shallow bin she set up for them. Watching the fluffs swallow them down whole as birds do. When it got down to the last remaining fish they would open their mouths to show of the lights. Attracting the fish closer to be snagged.

Already turning into efficient hunters at barely a month old. This was having Beverly worry again about them turning aggressive. She thought about how, in the same terms of pets, they needed to be socialized as quickly as possible when young to learn how to act. That wasn't exactly possible as the hatchlings would stick out like a sore thumb out in the world. Bringing home some small creature to accidentally be mauled to death couldn't be an option. They needed something they were already used to as not being food in their eyes.

Beverly had debated what to do every time she cooked for them. Watching them ruthlessly tear into a whole roasted chicken. Between the day they hatched up to now they had grown to half the size of a house cat. Recently she discovered another trait of the little fluff balls. Teasing them once using dangling pieces of long bacon. Their squeaks slowly twisting into a sound of "fuu." that she assumed was a new sound of frustration.

"food?" throwing a piece of bacon to tease them with the next slice. Chuckling at them all chanting fuu toward the bacon piece. "foooood?" teasing them on how their frustrated noise sounded similar to the word. One stopping to call out the sound more for repetition then begging for the bacon to be thrown.

"fuu, fuu, fuu."

"food?" repeating the word specifically down to the distracted hatchling.

" fuu … food!" the hatchlings perfect speaking of the word making all the others go quiet. "food!" it spoke again up toward her. Followed soon after by all the hatchlings speaking the word. "Food! Food! Food! Food! Food!" the swarm chanted.

Beverly stuck staring in shocked horror at them learning to speak. This meant she had to be more careful with how she spoke. Last thing she wanted was 20 voices shouting curse words in the house. If they could speak now, how long before they could change shape? A few more weeks to maybe another month? Overcoming her shock she set down the plate of bacon for them all to dig in. telling Pennywise as soon as he got home about what they were doing.

"they've been talking since they hatched." he took it as nothing.

"not in English!" she stressed.

a long talk of what may happen in the next few weeks passing between them. involving powers possibly appearing in the next few weeks. How he was to continue the teaching of not hunting people. If and when they harness the power to change shape to start hunting bigger things with age. Soon after another talk of them both being more careful with what they were to say around the parroting fluffs.

Between her regular work and feeding the cotton balls she supported them in learning words. Food was obviously their most favorite one and the least being "veggs". Calling anything deemed inedible to them as veggs sprouting from Beverly talking to them about vegetables. When she tried to insist on the veggs as food they would puff up at her. Learning another word, no, to chant at her repeatedly.

The words they spoke for now being limited to minuscule pronunciations. Slowly opening up their worlds to further communication aside from themselves. This made socializing them picking up in urgency. It had to be something alive that could match their size to not simulate small prey. She asked Pennywise to babysit while she went out to fetch something. Returning home, after a few hours, holding a brown box covered in air holes.

They swarmed her to squeak up at her turning into chants of "food! Food! Food!"

"no, not food." she sat on a nearby couch. Carefully opening the box to pick up a tiny yellow duckling. "no food." repeating a second time as the duckling was set down among them. Her thought process going on the hopes they wouldn't eat it as it resembled the rubber duck they played in the bath with. The swarm stared at it blankly looking confused as to what it was. It was fluffy like them and a bright yellow color speckled by a bit of brown. Almost being as big as they were unlike the live fish pray they swallowed down.

The little duckling ruffled its fluff with a shake then let out a few cheeps. The sound caught their attention and they squeaked back at it. Mimicking the little duck noises as they did with every new sound to them. Excitedly prancing around to chirp at one another.

"duck." speaking to them as she pointed to the duckling.

"dak." some repeated back.

"duuuck." pronouncing it out further.

"duck."

"yes, duck." nodding her head. Smiling when the word was repeated.

" duck! Duck! Duck! Duck! Duck!" they threw the word around between their squeaks to the little duckling. Who in all the strange fuss wasn't at all stressed. Meanwhile Beverly was relieved they didn't devour the poor thing while accepting it as one of their swarm. Pennywise seeing the yellow thing for the first time was confused as to what invaded his little hunter pack running around the house. Sounding displeased his young were interacting to a prey creature, but Beverly made sure he accepted the duckling as part of the house.

The duckling doing far more good then simple socialization. It helped the cotton balls eat further things out of their usual pickiness. Spreading out into nibbling on pumpkin bits, cucumber slices, peas, and oatmeal mixed in warm milk. Continuing to be messy eaters spreading half the food across the floor. Explaining to them that some of the foods were veggs was met by multiple no's. How dare their mother suggest veggs being a food.

Bath time more exciting alongside their new living duck friend to swim with. The following sleep time having them all cuddle together under a warming lamp. Beverly thought over how with their new friend they should further explore the outside. They wouldn't live in this house forever after all.

"we should get a fish pond in the backyard." speaking to the clown hugging her close in bed.

"what, for decoration?"

"not for that. The fluff balls need some time out of the house. They swim as well as the duckling can. It'd be a bigger space to hunt fish then in a plastic tub." catching the attention of his promotion of hunting skills.

"I'll make the biggest pond for them to hunt in." nuzzling her face.

kissing his cheek happily in return. "don't go too crazy. I don't want to see our house become ocean front property." joking, but also somewhat serious. Knowing Pennywise went over kill when it came to spoiling his children.

"aww, but think of the big fish they could catch." joking back.

"or what big fish could catch them." burying her head into his chest.

The next day the two got up to head for their daily routine. Pennywise heading out to hunt for most the morning to then return by the afternoon. Beverly cooked up a breakfast of blueberries and a pile of scrambled eggs. The hatchlings following her into her office to eat in their large playpen while she worked. Their little cocoon den being too small and far too easy to climb out of. Beverly needing to round up the hatchlings now and again as their climbing skills had greatly improved. Sometimes spotting one that managed to make it up to the ceiling.

Unable to stay up there for long before falling down. The first few times it happened she feared they would break something from the fall, but after the 20th time it still did nothing. Their more independent nature coming forth in exploring without Beverly being in the lead. Causing more havoc by them climbing onto shelves to knock everything off. Catching them once trying to pull the fridge open one night without success.

By the time her clown husband was back her work was done. Preparing to feed the little cotton balls when he stopped her.

"the pond is ready in the yard. Surrounded by a tall fence to keep nosy humans out. Also made sure the young cant climb out into the street. The waters already filled with fresh things to hunt in the sun." excitedly telling Beverly as he gave a bag of treats for her and the fluff balls to eat. A few caramel apples for her next to a smaller bag filled with chocolate coated cherries.

"perfect timing on the lunch rush. They can get some sun as they run after their food." leading the herd of cotton balls.

All of them chanting "food" as they followed behind her out the back door. Stopping at the edge of the back door in curiosity at the new environment. Sniffing at each concrete step down into the grassy backyard. Beverly needing to herd them along when they all stopped to lounge on the warm stone pathway soaking in the sun. the pond they rushed over to when spotted. Surrounding the water to look down into its depths. Attention caught by the larger fish than what they were used to. Already attempting to hunt them using their normal methods. Having trouble as the fish were able to swim away instead of limited to a shallow bin.

Then they discovered frogs at the ponds edge. Discovering them to be even harder prey to catch. Their not so subtle approach of them hunting in a pack of bright white fur chanting "food". Scaring all the frogs away before they could get close. Eventually coming back to their mother to complain about the lack of food caught. Fluffing up in frustration the hungrier they got while stalking something. Pennywise tried to help by teaching them to be silent when stalking. It worked, but a bunch of obvious white things rushing at their food still gave them away.

Beverly ended up rolling her pant legs and left her shoes off to the side to step into the water. Convincing them to enter the deeper darker water to fish. Helped by their duckling friend following Beverly first. Taking naturally to the water when they got in. loving that they could hide inside the reed plants for the fish to pass by. Having more success in dark cover to catch things. Although frogs were still a problem that always managed to jump away. Pennywise helped with that too by catching a frog for them to drop away from the water. Their long leaps managing to still get them to freedom into the pond while being chased.

Seeing their yellow friend eat some of the floating plants in the water they mimicked him. Finding it to be another thing deemed as a vegg. Spitting out the greenery in their many agreed "no's" of rejection. Beverly promoted them to eat various plants around the pond. Receiving only fluffed up "no's" or hissed out "veggs". She shrugged it off as a can't win them all. Happy that at least they were adapting really well to the water life. Hoping her plans of them living off fish in large bodies of water would turn into a reality for them.

Thinking one day if they were to leave, would there be strange news of monsters spotted in lakes around the world? Recognizing one of her children in a cryptids TV show featured in a blurred wrecked photo. She still had yet to name them. They had no gender from what Pennywise confirmed. The names needing to be gender neutral in her mind off that. Scanning on her phone through suggested baby names. Remembering all 20 names would be difficult on top of each one looking like a twin to each other. Relying on personality alone to tell them apart. Pennywise jumping in once to say he wanted one to be named after popcorn. Beverly refused to name one popcorn along with rejecting the many other food names he came up with. Finally agreeing on one, toffee, sounding the most normal for one. Leave it to the clown to name one of his own children after something small and edible.

The name given to the one who loved sneaking out of their bed at night. The one usually leading the charge to break into the fridge. Toffee was definitely the biggest troublemaker of the cotton balls. He was also the one to go after the frogs long after his siblings gave up. Managing to catch one after it landed in the water. Diving in after it to snag it by the leg. Soon chased by his siblings for it when he started eating on land. Shouting out multiple "no's" while the rest yelled "food."

Beverly had been looking in various baby name books while they played in the pond. Some lounging nearby in the warm sun. leaving clumps of fur across the grass they rolled in. shedding much more than when she brushed them, but that could be their fur snagging on all the various plants they were new to exploring. peeking up from her books to count that all of them were still there. Most crawling over their father laying in the grass with them. Finding gender neutral names to be harder than expected. Giving up on the pile of books she read through repeatedly.

"I don't like any of the names in these. One is already named after a food, may as well keep with the theme." Beverly abandoning the books on a small table by her lounge chair. Pennywise happy to suggest more food names. Needing Beverly to again deny his suggestion of popcorn. One of them had to be named honey after their love of the sweet goop, same with maple. Clove as one was currently prancing around a patch of clovers. Saffron, Kale, Clementine, Nori, Ambrosia, Kobe, Colby, Cane, Graham, rose, persimmon, pepper, Quince, cider, eclair, and taffy. Taffy going along with toffees name as he seemed to be the one to usually follow him everywhere. The two names being Pennywise favorites of the list with eclair and cider being a second.

Beverly already having trouble who was named who, while Pennywise took to it instantly. Easily correcting her on which one was which. After a while Beverly was considering making color coded ribbons for them to wear for easier identification. Later in the day she started rounding them up to head inside. The pond turning cold as the sun headed lower in the sky.

"come on, inside." gesturing for them to go.

"no. no. no. no. no. no. no." they chanted. Being named their personality seemed to shine all the more to Beverly. Their voices chanting closely together, but she could see some voices spoke first faster than others. Mainly toffee followed by taffy, then clove followed by about everyone else.

"you have to come in." she told them again.

Getting another refusing chorus of "no"

not willing to chase the cotton balls over the yard, even with Pennywise help, she falsely gave in. "fine, no food." leaving them behind to head for the door. Taking up at least the duckling who couldn't argue with her. the two ending words catching their attention. Causing the herd of fluff to chase after her in a panic. Squeaking to chirps up at her to plead for their food privileges to return.

"inside if you want to eat. Food inside." talking through her pointing for them to go inside. Taking them a second to climb back up the steps to get inside. Pennywise getting ingredients ready for dinner. Chopping up most things while Beverly went upstairs to feed the duckling. Coming back down to prepare meat for cooking. Big slabs of fish to bake along side diced sweet potatoes. Another meal for her of fried zucchini slices sided by lemon to squeeze on.

The baked fish not lasting long enough to cool down after being served. The meals needing to be bigger more and more each day. Reminding Beverly of when she had her meat cravings. The fluff balls then turning to beg her for her food. She thought it was cute watching them all chirp up at her.

"its veggs." she warned them. They liked plain zucchini, but she knew they would hate the lemon she squeezed on. They paused their squeaking for only a moment, then started right up again as if they didn't believe her. Smelling the food they usually ate under the lemon coated fried breading.

"give them one anyway." Pennywise smiled, knowing full well what their reaction to the lemon would be. She grabbed one piece especially covered in lemon juice. Handing it to one of them who chewed half of it down. Stopping to twist their face in disgust and spit out the revolting food.

Screeching out "veggs" while they fled away from begging their mother for food. Followed by the rest smelling lemon more clearly now over the fried zucchini. Leaving behind more clumps of loose fur that needed to be swept up. The batch shedding even more from then that Beverly was beginning to worry.

Heart jumping at seeing them develop bald spots. Why were they losing so much fur in a small time frame. Was their diet not enough to keep them healthy? Did they really need to eat humans not that they were getting older. She showed Pennywise how one of the balding fluffs was.

"their shedding the fuzz now that their hard scales are coming in. look." rubbing away some more fur to show the hardening grey scales underneath. Her worry's shrinking at seeing the reason to their massive fuzz loss. Needing to make sure the bath drain stayed clear for the rest of the bath rime. Half her cotton balls looking more like snakes that had glue and feathers thrown on them.

"guess I can't call you guys cotton balls any more." drying them all off quicker than she was used to. More fur rubbed off onto all towels to make another separate layer on the fabric. Taking them to bed next to their duckling friend. Beverly had trouble sleeping that night after seeing them shed instantly. Needing Pennywise to help comfort her that it was fine. In the back of her mind reaffirming that he didn't truly know that. Finding the time without her anxiety's long enough to fall asleep.

Waking to an explosion of fluff across the room. Her once poofy cotton balls now covered in hardened dark scales. Being much closer to how their dad was in his true form. From then on they were far more independent from their parents. No longer following Beverly around or traveling as a pack. Needing Beverly and Pennywise to keep close track of where they all are. Their climbing skills showing as they appeared more on the walls.

The next week they were speaking almost in complete sentences. Asking more clearly for what exact food they wanted. Starting arguments with other siblings over toys or sleeping spots. Bringing their mother presents in the form of dead things they caught around the house. She wasn't excited to see them bringing her a dead rat, but she faked it for their happiness.

Another month the ultimate part of their independent life was coming forward.

They wanted to leave.

Despite not being very big, slightly bigger than a house cat, or able to communicate as well as her or Pennywise. They were skilled hunters capable of hiding better without glaringly bright fur covering them. Climbing over obstacles no longer a problem. Exploring further outward into Derry away from the house. Pennywise always knew where they were and was sure to answer the many times Beverly asked where they were. Afraid they'd be noticed, yet Pennywise certainly never was despite being 16 times bigger in his true form.

Fully hunting their own foods out in the wilds. Preferring to catch live prey in the running river nearby. Doing fine the same as on the dry land to pick off rabbits. Avoiding the main parts of town swarming with people. Their powers of shape shifting not coming to fruition yet, if it ever would. Their biggest power so far being their dead lights able to attract small prey close.

The further they got away from the house the more she could see them wanting to pass the Derry town line. Pennywise felt the same, not wanting to let his mini hunters go so soon after only 4 months of having them run around. They both had to accept their baby cotton balls were ready to move on from under their care.

"should we let them go when December starts? Or wait till it warms up in spring?" asking Pennywise during the lunch time they were most alone. All their children out hunting in the forest for themselves.

"it's better to let them go, when they need, then to hang on."

"the rivers will freeze over. They won't be able to fish for food."

"there are more foods to hunt away from the river. Rabbits, snakes, raccoons, birds, and even deer when they grow enough. Then there's always territories to the south they can migrate into." hugging her close.

She sighed in nodding her head. Forcing them to stay home for the next few months wouldn't support their growth. They were the size of cats now, but in another 3 to 4 months they could be closer to a dogs size. all of them cramped up in even the large Neibolt house would drive everyone mad. "DEC 1st then." finalizing the date to send them out into the world.

When the day came she cooked a large meal to send them off on. Turkey, honey ham, mashed sweet potatoes with red gravy, pumpkin pie, and sweet corn on the cob. Seeing as they wouldn't be around for Christmas she made each of them a simple gift. Carefully threaded ribbons she spent all night weaving together with Pennywise providing the thread. Dyeing them separate colors to attach silver charms of a caramel apple with a colorful gem for most the apple. Alongside one of Pennywise's costume bells to make the gift give a part of both of them for their kids to carry around.

Having a cheerful chat about their shiny gifts they were happy to wear. Careful to not get any food on their precious gifts the entire time they ate. Talking of where they would go upon leaving today. Some speaking of heading south along the coast. Others heading west and a couple heading straight north into Canada. Beverly feeling slight disappointment that none of them were going to stay nearby, but proud to have raised them so well.

The meal long finished they said their final goodbyes before heading off to travel. Disappearing off into the night leaving their parents alone in the large house. The place feeling much emptier, quieter, and colder this night. Beverly taking to hiding under the covers of the bed in her depressing mood. Rolling her gifted star between her hands while thinking back on when the spider-lings played with it around the room. Glancing over to Pennywise shifting in under the covers next to her. She didn't want to think it, but their relationship was in limbo.

Sure they stayed together for these past months, but basically for the kids … and the deal. The whole thing that started it all was now fulfilled.

He was taking their leave far easier than she was. due to his past history of failures in raising eggs, she guessed as the reason why. These were her first children ever, now gone after such a small time together.

"are you thinking of leaving?" approaching the subject of her thoughts gently.

"..." she found it too difficult to answer. In a way, yes, only to get away from the new emptiness of the house more than anything else. Accepting that escaping the emptiness wasn't possible with a move It would only follow her. Burying her nose in her work could strive off some of it. Thinking back on how working on those gifts of ribbon charms greatly helped. She wanted to break out into fashion long ago before starting her plain old office job. Maybe it was time to put her hand into the business. Off to attend some college to break out into the work.

"I can give you that. I can bring that all here."

"..."

"I can give you fame." his offering continued. It wasn't about that though. She wanted a distraction from the ache in her chest. "... what about another deal?" he grinned. "want to have more?"

her mind took a split moment to think it over. "allow more possible world eaters out into the world? The ones we raised caused no trouble. That fully remains to be seen, They hadn't reached full adulthood yet." shoving aside the worrying fear.

"yes." was her answer.

THE END

eiahmon

not little floofs anymore, mini apex predators. XD

i have highly considered adding the losers in this story. but i was afraid they were going to fall into this dark hole of them turning into assholes.

they want to kill the floofs, bev says no, they say yes, lots of fighting. rinse repeat for a few chapters.

i still may do a small sequel involving the losers finding out, but i want to be sure it doesint fall into that black hole before i do.

since iam not sure of a sequel i will confirm that the other and maturin are very aware of the situation. and both are watching the situation to make sure it doesint turn sour. pretty much the only reason pennywise is allowed to have young is because he chose Beverly to mate with. allowing him to do so alone and raise his spawn into an aggressive plague is something the other wont allow. its the big reason why pennywise cant properly raise eggs or carry them naturally like any other mother. despite trying eons of different ways around his problem.

pennywise having children with a human that wouldn't have raised them as strict as Beverly would have failed as well. the little floofs definitely would have been picked off in one way or another after growing so hostile under their dads teachings.

vampgirliegirl

all good things must end sadly. glad you liked the story. :3