Quin wiggled his way upwards to sit atop Blue's head, pushing his front paws onto the top of the dragon's blush head and arching his long weasely body. He held that position for a good half a minute, while opening his muzzle in a broad and happy yawn. The stoat was still a plush toy, he had no muscles to stretch or lungs to fill, but it still relaxed him. Quin peered down at the riotous display of colour and noise that now filled the hotel lounge. There were plushies everywhere; big ones, small ones, some even bigger than Blue!

All the boring old sofas and armchairs seemed to be gone now. The ermine wasn't sure where they were, or who had moved them, but it allowed more room for the giant sofas and many different beanbag plushes. The swarm of possats that used to be Azi the fruit bat were still running the bar, although as well as beverages they were busily serving up beans and soft cotton and other novelty fillings for the hotel's toy patrons to enjoy. It was really looking quite special, everything was just as it ought to be, and he still had half an hour to go to meet the deadline!

"Ok everyone, you know your places! Let's make sure everything is in place for when they arrive."

His words galvanised the lazy, happy, plush toys into action! Soon enough cheerful fuzzy critters were charging around everywhere, getting ready for the big finish. Some plushies were packing themselves in present boxes. The smaller ones scrambled in to fill them, with the help of some of the larger toys. Once a box was full, it sealed itself up with ribbons and lids and big sparkly bows! The swarm of possats took up positions behind the bar and on its counter, while in the dining room Skyler was busy arranging everyone just so around the tables heavily laden with delicious food.

Snack crawled up to take his place on Blue, the grey house cat curling up and mewling happily before drifting off to sleep. His solid white paw rustled occasionally, as it kicked and twitched in it's sleep. Nall the mischievous pine marten appeared a few minutes later, leading the giant rainbow Forest sofa-plush-taur along, and directing him to lay down where the chessboard had once sat. Job done, the familiar then floated over to join his master. Hanging in mid air, the cinnamon plush looked around then sat down on the bridge of Blue's muzzle. The blue and green dragon sofa had been a plush for over a day now, and he seemed to be enjoying himself!

"This is looking good, have we missed anything?" he asked the ermine plush Quin, snuggling up against him. For a minute or two there was no answer as they slinked around each other, nuzzling and hugging close, squeezing those stuffing-filled bodies and dooking in delight. Finally Quin raised his head, nuzzling along Nall's snout and smiling.
"Ah, I think so! What's our final count for plush toys?"

"One hundred and forty-six plushies, and that's everyone including us two, those in rooms upstairs, the few in the pool and the group still being silly in Deez's plush penthouse up top!"

Quin frowned, his snuffly white muzzle twisting up as he considered this. He rolled onto his back and wiggled his paws, counting his mittens again, then again and again...

"This counting thing is hard without fingers! Hm, hmm hmm.... no, wait. Nall, we've failed! We don't have enough, all counted there are a hundred and fifty plushes I was asked to provide. We're still four short!"

Nall perked up at that and looked around worriedly, "No, that can't be right! There aren't that many people in the hotel. Maybe some escaped? Nobody is missing from the invite list so there's nobody left to get. Eek, that'd mean I had failed at the job you summoned me! I'd get a black mark on my record, and not be allowed out for fun and games again for years!"

Dooking frantically, Nall slid down Blue's neck, vaulting over Snack's snoozing form and landing on the hearth rug to run around in a circle. "Who are we missing! I'm certain we have a plush for everyone."

Quin followed Nall to the carpet by sliding down Blue's muzzle, landing with a similar thump on the carpet. "Remember, I was behind to begin with, and there were those extra caterers Skyler had working for him. But however we cut it, we are four short, what are we gonna do?"

Before Nall could think of an answer the reception bell rung, the clear chimes dampened a bit by the sheer amount of plush fur in the lounge. Quin looked away from his fellow weasel plush to stare at the group now standing before the reception desk. There were two otters; one red furred, the other brown with a cascade of dreadlocks. They were joined a few moments later by a pair of giraffes; tall, furred yellow with little ossicones on their heads and big winter coats on their bodies.

"What're we gonna do? They might find out we don't have enough plush for everyone..."

"Stall them," Quin squeaked. "I'll have a nose around, see if we've missed anyone." With that he scampered off through the door to the dining room, and Nall darted forward into the lobby; seemed he still had some work to do!

-0-

Ross, the warm red-furred otter, rang the reception bell again before turning back to his twin brother. "This is a bit weird, I thought someone would be here to greet us."

"Oh I don't mind there not being any fuss over us turning up. Gives us a chance to unwind," shrugged Garn. He walked over to admire the huge pair of caribou flanking the dining room doors. Garn himself was huge for an otter at nearly ten foot tall, well muscled and sporting a kilt that barely reached his knees. It was a plain and earthy brown, with bronze lines woven around the hem. It matched the bronze silk shirt he had over his torso, revealed as the giant otter shrugged his way out of his heavy greatcoat.

Ross shook his head and tried the bell again, seeming a bit disappointed. Unlike Garn, he had been looking forward to a big welcome wagon when they arrived. He kept quiet though, it wasn't that big a deal really. Ross spent a couple of seconds extracting his long ponytail from the hood of his coat, before picking up the plush toy perched invitingly on the countertop.

"I know you said you commissioned Quinten to do us some plushie decorations, but these are really something else," said Ross, turning the blue fox around in his hands and peering at the tag, "Flinty... hey, wasn't that the name of the receptionist we met when we booked this place?"

Patting the blue reindeer's muzzle, Garn turned and started to wander around the hall. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I think it was." He stopped in front of a huge polar bear sitting in the luggage cart, who was dressed as a bellboy. He had a smaller otter plush in a identical uniform sat on his stomach, and Garn couldn't resist the urge to pick him up and hug him.

"Oh wow, did we ask him to make plushies for the staff too? Dalis, do you remember?"

Dalis, a giraffe with a white muzzle and the traditional browns and yellows of his species, turned away from the lounge. "Ah, you know...I can't remember now." He running a paw through his shaggy hair, and walked over toward Ross. "The lounge is empty, there's only more plush toys in there. You'd think someone would be around. Please tell me they aren't all hiding in the ballroom, waiting to jump out and shout surprise?"

"Yeah," Florin muttered, pulling off his gloves. "Where is everyone, certainly at least someone from the staff should be here. We said we would be here around now." The tall giraffe tugged his bobble hat away from his shaggy purple hair, carefully easing his black ossicones through the holes made for them. He was quite different from his twin brother Dalis, though the ridges running down his spine couldn't be seen under his heavy winter wear. He had brown furry legs instead of the usual splotched yellow like his brother, and neither giraffe wore shoes so their hooves clopped against the for.
"It's a bit weird, no one is here... Oh! Where did you come from?"

Nall had appeared quite suddenly, smiling at the giraffe and giving a gentle bow. He'd only had a few seconds to think how best to delay them - so he'd quickly added a bit of size to his body, stolen some clothes from the staff laundry room, and popped up behind the reception desk. All four of Quin's commissioners were staring down at him now, as he hadn't gone to any length to hide the fact he was a plush toy.

"Aha! Welcome, sirs. So sorry to keep you waiting, we are just putting the finishing touches to our decorations today. My name is Nall, I shall guide your tour tonight!"

The big brown otter leaned forward curiously, and poked the marten toy square in the nose, "You're a walking, talking plush? I take it you are one of Quin's creations, then?"

Rolling with this idea, Nall hopped up onto the counter. Garn still towered over him, even so. "Yes indeed, you could not be more right! I'm here to show you around, to unveil the marvels my master Quin has crafted for your party. And all your friends are scampering around to prepare for your big welcome. So, until then, come with me!"

Jumping off the counter, the marten led the way forward and into the lounge, twirling a big striped blue and white striped candy cane he had snaffled. May as well ham it up, he thought!
"Monsieurs Uxibarae and Doodlebug, I give to you the Grand Floret Hotel's main lounge."
Nall span and gestured with his cane, and right on cue a row of presents popped open! Many toys poured out - kittens and weasels, birds and mice, and a group of opossums of different shapes and sizes! They wandered around, nosing and playing with one another, a few invited their hosts to join in the fun. The giraffes were amused, and the otters were quite impressed with the magical skill; seemed Quin had been hard at work!

Truthfully Nall was improvising with every ounce of skill he could muster, but it seemed to be working. Otters and giraffes spread out, exploring the lounge and fussing over the various plush toys. Snack and Blue were the first centre of attention, though Vikja, Static and Erakir were fawned over as well. Especially the former moogle turned girafarig, Florin had a soft spot for those. He decided he wanted Erakir for himself, and so the plush found himself squished into one of the big pockets of his coat. This left his legs trapped with just his head poking out, and Nall winked at him as the marten bounced along energetically. Dalis decided to try one of the sofas instead, sinking with a happy sigh into the warm rainbow beanbag embrace of the giant wolf-taur with Forest on its tag.

Ross tried to take one of the possats as his own, but it wiggled free of those webbed paws and jumped up onto the bar when he tried to walk away. For a moment Nall thought the jig might be up, but the ginger furred otter just called his brother over. They laughed and clapped as all the Azi's started to pounce and roll and play about, so many near-identical toys covering the bar counter.

"Follow me, follow me! For your entertainment tonight, I give you Chef Skyler and his dining room staff! Artfully arranged plushie table decorations, with some of the chef's finest cuisine!"

The gang in the dining room did their bit to keep their the quartet of friends entertained. The bright yellow bunny chef had been joined by the four caterers who'd arrived later that afternoon. All of them had been speedily inducted into the plush toy fun. Green the norn and Randall the raven were perched on the grand piano, and Morty the dining room's very own coffee squirrel gracefully scampered over to Nall and the pair of twins. He served them all a fresh and hearty cup of christmas blend coffee, before sloshing off to join Skyler. The yellow bunny then spent a good few minutes introducing the giraffes and otters to all the delicious cakes, snacks and finger foods he had prepared.

They were reaching the end of the last table when a bright white head poked around the doorway. Nall made a gesture at him, but the ermine shook his head negatively and scampered off. No, he hadn't found anyone else! Sighing, starting to worry now, Nall drew his focus back into the group, getting their attention by whirling his candy cane in a series of flourishes.

"Here we have shown you the dining facilities, and shown you the warmth of the Grand Floret's lounge," he beamed at them happily. "Now there is just one place left for me to show you to - and that is your rooms!"

"Are you sure we can't go through and join all the others?" Ross asked with a smile. "We are already checked in, and it's been so long since I saw everyone last. What can they be preparing that is taking so long?"

"Sorry, sir. I was given strict instructions, no joining your friends in the ballroom until I get the signal. It's a surprise!" he explained, sweeping forwards with a sneaky little whispered spell. The otters noticed that, but curiosity got the better of them anyway - and the group had no choice but to follow him after that. One express lift up to the penthouse level, and Nall led them into the grand living room with it's magnificent Christmas tree.

They oooooh'd in appreciation, and Dalis hurried over to circle the tree, "Now this is cool! Ooh, wow," he said, leaning forward to touch the pine needles. "The tree is a plush, it's got velvet on the outside! Did we really ask Quin to do that much?"

"Hey, you arranged it with him," declared Ross as he moved over to join the giraffe. The otter paused, and picked up the bright orange skunk lying on one of the chairs. "Wow, this one is great as well, I want it too. Who's it for?"

"Check the tag," Florin said with a grin. "You might be able to trade for it, I've got Erakir's here." He took out the girafarig and showed it to Ross. "I am hoping he'll accept whatever Quin made for me in exchange."

"Look's like it is Deezberry's? Yikes, how is he going to get this home? It's bigger than he is!" Ross held up the skunk and giggled at it warmly. "These toys are really cool, did you see the really shiny plushie for Static over in the lounge? I want that one as well. Ahh, so much choice, I think I need to get a set from Quin once the year is over."

Nall had a flash of inspiration listening to this discussion, and almost dropped the candy cane in surprise. He allowed the group of friends to get talking around the tree, before diving behind a pile of presents.

"Quin?" he said quietly, squeaking in surprise as the ermine's head popped out of a pile of nearby plush toys.

"What is it? I've still not found anyone, there isn't anyone left to turn into plush in the whole hotel."

"Not true!" The cinnamon weasel went back to his normal size, letting his uniform slip off as he dived into the pile. Rufus shifted slightly out of the way, and Nall wiggled in deeper until he and Quin were safe and cosy at the centre of the pile.
"Four more, you said?" He nuzzled Vulpine gently, until she shifted out of the way, and pointed out of the pile towards the party's hosts, giraffes and otters chatting together. "Which is based on making one for everyone. Now they think the plushies are for all of their friends, because of the names on the tags. And I thought, of course we haven't made one for each of them, have we?"

Quin's muzzle stitched itself into a big grin and he shook his head. "Ooh, yeah! That's right, but like you say there won't be any plushies with their names on. So that's the missing four."

Giggling warmly, the marten bounced up and down. His marten tail flicked from side to side, and he grinned at Quin as he wiggled back and forth excitedly.
"So I guess this job still needs finishing," said Nall, gesturing from Garn to Ross, from Florin to Dalis. "Shall we?"

"Ooh yeah, absolutely!"

~fin