Freewrite #13. This short story was written as one of a series of quick exercises designed to be both an outlet for refining vague ideas and an opportunity to improve the flow and dynamics of my writing.

"Gefros Zhe Baringod, if you don't get back in that bed this instant, you'll be in more trouble than you've ever seen before," came the growl from the bottom of the stairs, startling the little figure huddled by the railing at the top. Before his father could start his thundering advance up the steps, he hopped up and darted off to his room, jumping into bed and pulling the covers over his head. He wasn't quite young enough any more to hope that he could fool his sire with the trick, but he closed his eyes and hoped that this would prove to be the first time.

After a few tense moments of listening to heavy foosteps down the hall, he lay there in silence, acutely aware of the weight of the much-larger body standing by his bed. There was no sense in trying to hide any more, so Gefros slowly peeped out from under the covers, blinking up at his father's crossed arms and stern frown.

"Daddy!" He feigned innocence, smiling with that dimpled grin that always got him his way with Mother. His father, however, just glowered. Apparently, it was a one-parent effect.

"Gefros, what were you doing out of bed? Don't you know it's bad luck to get up once your parents have tucked you in?" his father grumbled, coming closer to begin rearranging the covers the child had mussed in his mad dash from the stairs.

"Bad luck?" Gefros mimicked, snuggling more comfortably into his little bed. "Why's it bad luck, daddy?"

"Because the covers protect you from the boogey man, little nugget. That's why." The bed squeaked as his father's sizeable bulk settled on the edge, and Gefros couldn't help but slide over into the new 'mattress valley' surrounding where his father now sat. "If you get out of bed, you're not protected from him any more, and he might pop out of the shadows and grab you, stealing you way from me and your mother."

The child squeaked, snuggling closer against his sire. "I don't wanna get stealed away, daddy."

Patting his son's head, the elder softened a bit. "I dare say you don't, nugget. He takes the little kids he steals and locks them up in little cages where he can poke and prod and examine them from inside to outside. He uses lots of needles and shots. You don't like shots, do you, Gefros?"

"N...no, daddy," Gefros stammered, peering at his father with wide, grey eyes.

"Does that mean you don't want to go with the boogey man?" his father pressed, leaning closer.

"No, daddy. I wanna stay with you and mommy!" the little one whimpered, wrapping his arms around his father's sizeable waist.

"Good, then," the older of the two responded, "you won't risk getting out of bed after I've tucked you in, again, will you?"

"No, daddy. I'll be careful!" Gefros nodded to emphasize his intention, still clinging to his father. "You're sure he can't get me in bed, right, daddy?"

"I'm sure, nugget. You just stay under your covers and get some rest, and that mean old boogey man won't be able to touch you." He smoothed the hair back on the top of his son's head, smirking down in appreciation of his own handywork. Though Gefros was frightened, he was also not going to be loitering at the top of the stairs next time he couldn't sleep. A little fear could be good for a child.

Gefros' father stood, then, and leaned down to give his son a comforting hug and a kiss on the forehead. He smoothed the covers and tucked them in snugly before muttering, "Goodnight, son. Sweet dreams."

"G'night, daddy. 'An I'm glad the mean ol' boogey man didn' get me. Humans are scary! I'll be good next time. I promise!" Gefros insisted, raising one red-furred paw as a pledge.

"That's my monster," his father smiled, his sharp, jagged teeth flashing. With a flick of his wrist, he flipped out the light, being very careful that his long claws didn't scratch the wallpaper, again. After all, if Esmerelda had to repair that section one more time, she might very well bite his head off. Literally. She'd been known to do that.