The lamp creaked as it swung in Orion’s paws, scattering the shadows its light cast beyond the tall bookshelves and tombs. Air tinged with the scent of musky pages and leather covers, but not a speck of dust was to be seen. Every day he came in, lamp in one paw and duster in the other to make sure everything was pristine. His books were his treasures. For a long moment, he simply stood there, admiring his beloved library.

Then he set to work.

The Kumos worked diligently, gently shuffling the books and reaching to dust all the nooks and crannies. It was times like these that he was grateful he was made of plush, or he would have to worry about his breath or skin oils. Ceilings were checked for cracks that could leak moisture, walls were checked for unwanted pests. His sisters had been annoyed when he evacuated all his store to the living room at the sight of a moth. For nearly a week he hadn’t let anyone in until he had moved all the books back to his library after ascertaining that there was no more risk. They didn’t seem very pacified even when he told them it was a necessary inconvenience. A moth could do a lot of damage.

Several hours passed. Finally satisfied with his work for the day, he left to put away his cleaning tools before returning with only his lamp. Carefully selecting a book, he sat down to read. Maneki padded up next to him, curling into his side with a purr. So engrossed in the story, he didn’t notice until he got up for his next one. His paw drifted over the spines of the books, some woven, some leather, some paper, until he came to one unlike the rest.

He paused when he came upon it. The only one that wasn’t in perfectly pristine condition, its pages were worn with use. Many were dogeared or torn, and the woven cover frayed at the spine. It had been one of his earliest books. His favourite. All of his other childhood books had been replaced with newer, more cared for copies, but this one remained. He pulled it out carefully, laid it across his paws and began to read.

“Can... Can I see it?”

Orion jumped at the voice, not having noticed the other’s arrival. He hadn’t been expecting anyone. The door had a sign with the words “No Entry” written in very big letters on it, and even if it didn’t, his siblings knew better than to disturb him. Looking up, he noticed that it was Tasukeru - fondly nicknamed Tasu - the reborn Kumos they had adopted not long ago. Orion’s fur bristled with annoyance. Why had he ignored the sign? Then he remembered Tasu telling them he couldn’t read. Sighing, Orion was about to explain it to him before noticing his awed face. Tasu was staring, wide eyed at the book in Orion’s paws. There was silence as the plush Kumos registered the question.

Orion hesitated, but only for a moment. Scarcely did he ever let anyone else into his precious library, even his own family. Mayuka and Chaser were only allowed in wearing hazmat suits under careful supervision, Bandit was too clumsy in the ever changing bodies and Diana hadn’t been allowed in since she tripped over the doorframe and knocked down a bookshelf on her first visit. His books were his treasures, and treasures needed to be cared for.

But Tasu was different. From the moment he had met them, tail between his legs and flames flicking with what they quickly learned was mistrust, he had always been on edge. Wide amber eyes narrowed in suspicion, he kept his distance from the others. And they let him - they had seen the scars. This was the first time, to Orion’s knowledge, that he approached any of them first, eyes round with wonder. Orion worries about him, like they all did, and had a protective instinct he didn’t feel for his other siblings. Probably because they could all protect themselves, but that wasn’t the point. That the two of them were both Kumos was part of it, but it was more than that.

What could he do though? He wasn’t Mayuka, cheerful and bubbly and always knowing the right thing to say. He wasn’t Chaser, gentle and caring and motherly. He wasn’t Bandit, who looked fear in the eye every day and laughed. He wasn’t Diana, who could tackle any challenge head on and win.

He was only Orion, a bookworm who was more interested in tales bound on paper than in people or pets.

But if his books could make someone happy, if they could bring light to those dull, wary eyes, then what were a few more scratches to the worn pages?

With that thought, he nodded, shuffling over. Any last traces of doubt he might have had scattered at the sight of Tasu’s smile. His eyes lit up, ears perked and tail swishing. Eagerly plopping himself down, the fiery Kumos pressed his side against the plush and glanced rapidly between him and the book. Orion huffed, amused at the other’s eagerness. He didn’t know it, but the constellation he was named for shone brightly in his star filled eyes.

Eyes twinkling, he began to read.