“BOOOOARP!”

“I don’t think this is working,” Hund said as he glared down at Ty.

The large brown canine was on his knees using his malleable ice cream-filled stomach to anchor down Ty’s legs. Meanwhile, Ty was mid-sit up, his upper body crunched forward as he sandwiched his prey against his legs and Hund’s belly.

“Most guys would have apologized by now. I hope I didn’t give him brain damage or something.” Ty remarked as he looked down at his squirming belly. He then laid back on the ground, readying himself for another rep.

Hund just looked at Ty as if he was an idiot. “Three things. One, maybe he ain’t breaking because you keep refilling his air.” Hund lectured as he felt Ty’s gut pressurize with gulps of air. “Two, maybe you shouldn’t be hinting at how you don’t plan on melting down this guy into protein by showing you care,” Hund said as Ty lifted his torso up again, recompressing his stomach. “And three, try belching AWAY FROM ME!” Hund said as Ty blasted another belch in Hund’s face causing the husky to fan the air in disgust.

Ty laid back on the ground, his confidence still intact despite Hund’s berating. “I have three things for you. First, I don’t want to risk killing the guy despite what he did.” Ty said as he inflated his belly with air. Second, even though I said I don’t want to kill him, it doesn’t mean I will make things easy. I just don't think traumatizing them with the idea of dying is part of my method.” Ty said he engaged his core muscles while sitting up again, further restricting the tiger’s movement. “And third SORRRUUUOOORRRY!” Ty belched his apology in Hund’s face again, causing the husky to grit his teeth in restrained anger.

“You are SO lucky you have a good track record,” Hund growled.

“Is that your way of saying ‘I am your friend despite all that I do’?” Ty asked with a smug grin on his face.

Hund took a deep breath, about to argue with Ty over the definition of “friend” when the tiger inside Ty decided to add his own thoughts.

“Since you guys love lists, I got one for you. Real short. First, I am NOT apologizing for what I did, and I still think it’s crazy everyone cheers for you even when you are wasting your time with small fries like that blue mutt. And that’s all.” The tiger spouted.

“That’s two things, dumbass,” Hund said unamused.

“Why do you think it’s a waste of time? Everyone had to start from somewhere, and Dawkins is only just beginning his fitness journey.” Ty said, engaging the tiger.

“Protein nuggets like him can go to some other gym to try to get stronger, not Muscle Beach. Only real athletes can work out here!” The tiger replied.

“That’s rich from someone who just became my ‘protein nugget,’” Ty replied, hitting the side of his stretched abdominal muscles.

“I already know you aren’t digesting me.” The tiger said. Hund shot Ty that nonverbally said, “I told you so.”

“Well, I doubt you want to spend all day in there.” Ty fired back, trying to regain some leverage in this argument.

“What’s the use going back? I spent all summer trying to get the attention you got today, and I got shit.” The tiger confessed.

“Did you come all the way here because you wanted to show off?” Ty asked sounding somewhat sympathetic.

When the tiger affirmed, Hund spoke up. “Isn’t that the same reason you dragged me here too?”

“Sort off, I mean, I like the attention, but really I enjoyed hearing stories about how other people got where they are. You know when I was younger…” Ty replied earnestly.

“Maybe you can give your life story to him later. I’ve heard it enough already.” Hund interrupted clearly wishing to return to eating ice cream rather than kneel in the hot sun while having dog burps blown on him.

Ty gave Hund a glance then shook his head as if dropping what he wanted to tell the husky. “Why didn’t you try, I don’t know, being nice if you wanted attention?” Ty sarcastically asked the tiger.

“Nice didn’t take you far in my home gym unless you want a long journey through some gym rat’s digestive system. Usually, the strongest person at my gym got the most eyes on them. Thought all gyms were like that.” The tiger said as if this were a fact. Hund nodded solemnly while Ty’s eyes fluttered, thinking about how to respond.

“Like people, every gym has at least one asshole. It doesn’t mean you should try to be that one,” Ty said. While Hund was giving Ty a confused look, the tiger seemed to at least engage the idea. “If your goal is to be the most liked, being a dick isn’t going to make you well-liked no matter how great your skills are. And if you are worried about getting hurt while being nice, you can do what I do and eat the competition.” Ty continued patting a bump on his belly that he thought was the tiger’s head.

“I am one of those assholes, and for some reason, people keep coming to me even though I keep trying to push them away,” Hund mentioned.

“I’m sure there is a fan club at our gym filled with people who like hulking fluffy eating machines with bellies that jiggle like Santa after delivering all his presents,” Ty said as he was growing annoyed with Hund’s interruptions to this heart-to-heart moment. “But that’s another talk.”

“I wouldn’t call it a fan club if most of those people keep calling me fat….” Hund grumbled, but Ty ignored him.

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t try it again, but… I am sorry for trying to eat your friend. With that crowd in front of me and my gut rumbling, I figured I could feed both my body and my boner for attention.” The tiger said. Ty retracted his feet from under Hund’s belly and sat with his legs spread apart, allowing his firm tiger-filled stomach to freely surge forward.

“Apology accepted. If you want, maybe we could go for lunch. You’re probably starving in there, and after I let you out, I’ll definitely be hungry!” Ty said. Hund watched Ty walk off without even a thank you. Hund debated whether he should eat Ty to compensate for the ice cream or take notes on this lesson in conflict resolution.

“If he didn’t have such a big ego and a big heart, I’d swallow you real quick butter boy,” Hund said as he watched the yellow canine saunter off to the sea.

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Thanks again to  Rifykoh for this piece! There are many things I could say about them but all of those words would sum up to "they're awesome!".