A Feline Friend Pet

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Saturday, July 13th, 2019
Late afternoon

The day had been absolutely fantastic so far, and Ruby couldn't believe how lucky she was to finally have a best friend. Well, a friend other than her cousins was a novelty this year, but a best friend was something wholly different. Even the two words filled her with a proud, warm feeling, and when the person herself was added to the picture, it was an amazing concept. Marla Quinlan was quite possibly the best thing to have ever happened to her. She looked over at the Gryffindor as they walked into the store, and she beamed. She wished this day would never end. The sounds and smells of the animals reached her upon entering, and she was instantly filled with excitement. A wider grin spread across her face as her gaze swept across the room, observing the happy group of people in the corner and the animals in their various spots. She wanted a companion to love, one that was similar enough to her, would fit with her schedule, and would enjoy adventuring.

Eyes wide, she glanced at Marla with a look of awe on her face before proceeding to wander around the room, lightly trailing her fingertips along the sides of the nearby surfaces. It barely took a moment before she ended up being drawn to the cats. A small smile lingered on her face and her eyes twinkled with amusement as she looked at them.

It was then that she saw him. Almost falling over in her haste, she scrambled over to a cage containing two little kittens. Breathless, she crouched down to be level with them. They were small, fluffy Egyptian Maus, probably from the same litter. They wriggled to get upright, and she was met with two pairs of beautiful round eyes. They were both stunning, but one in particular had caught her attention. Her face softened completely under its stare and she affectionately whispered, “Hello, little one.” She then noticed that Marla had come over too, and she felt a slight, comforting brush against her cheek as her dear friend joined her. She watched the girl turn around and then freeze. Confused, Ruby turned slightly to see what Marla was looking at. It was a stunning owl, and she knew that the other girl had definitely found her companion. Looking back at the adorable kittens, Ruby confirmed that she had, too.

She was focused on one in particular, the one that had somehow caught her attention from halfway across the room. It was a small male kitten with an adventurous, intelligent gleam in his eyes. The first thought for a name as she looked at him was Apollo, god of the sun and light – also associated with knowledge, music, poetry, songs, dance, healing, archery, herds and flocks, and the protection of young. It was perfect. He, too, was perfect, at least to her. Purchasing him only took a moment, and then she was off, accompanied by her best friend and her new fluffy companion. She wore a wide grin on her face as the door closed behind them.

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