Ouch... pet

What animal do you wish to purchase? Great Horned Owl
What do you want to name it? Admiral
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? May 30th, 2022

Suzuki’s mother had given him just enough to purchase a pet. Of course, Suzuki’s mother couldn’t come with him to choose one; she was too busy.
Like always. Suzuki couldn’t help but feel a little resentment. His mother was never there. Always busy.
Pushing open the door to the Magical Menagerie, Suzuki took a step inside, and-

“Ow!”
Suzuki had never thought owl beaks could be that sharp. The owl who’d nipped him stood on a large wooden post, watching him with glowing yellow eyes. “What’s wrong with you?” Suzuki asked, annoyed. In response, the owl spread its wings, tilted its body forward, and fluffed up its feathers. Then it nipped him again.
“Hey!” Suzuki jammed both his hands in the pockets of his fatigues.

“Sorry about that! All great horned owls are pretty aggressive, though that one’s the most aggressive one we’ve probably ever seen.” A rather tall man wearing glasses and a checkered shirt rushed over. The owl made a loud hissing sound. The man backed up a little.

And then, as if two nips on the hand weren’t enough, the owl flapped its giant wings, landed on Suzuki’s shoulder, digging its sharp talons into his shoulder, and nipped his ear.

“HEY!” Reflexively, Suzuki ducked just as the owl took off from his shoulder again. Of course, the duck didn’t do anything. In fact, it worsened matters. Suzuki tripped over the leg of a table, and slammed into the ground. The owl hooted twice, and landed on his back.

“Oh- I’m so sorry-” The shopkeeper tried to help Suzuki up but the owl kept him away. He nipped at Suzuki’s ear again, and perched on top of his head.

“Get off!” The owl clicked its beak, and flew off his head. Suzuki got up, and narrowed his eyes at the owl. The owl glared back, and made the hissing sound again. Then it took off, and before Suzuki or the shopkeeper could react, it landed on his shoulder.

“GaRgh…” Suzuki tried to get it off, but it just hopped onto his other shoulder. Then, it nipped his ear. This nip felt different; it was gentle, and it didn’t hurt. The shopkeeper’s worried expression suddenly turned into a smile.

“You felt that nip? That means he respects you- he likes you too, I think! It’s understandable, as most people won’t even go near him- especially when he puffs up his feathers and hisses.”

“Grr... “ Suzuki stopped trying to get the owl off him. “What did you say he was again?”

“Pardon?”

“What species?”

“Great horned.”

“Oh.” Suzuki had heard about great horned owls before. Or rather, he’d read about them before. They were the most aggressive species of owls, the only species to have killed a human before. Naturally fierce, these giant birds were great hunters, and their talons could do great damage too. Then he remembered the note his mother had sent to him about getting a pet.

Suzuki half didn’t want the giant demon creature, and half wanted it. Might as well, I guess.
Now that he could look at the owl without fearing it might claw his eyes out, he could see how beautiful it was. It had copper feathers streaked through with darker shades of brown and black, and its giant yellow eyes looked like gold in the light. It looked cruel, and somewhat regal.

“Alright then… Can I get him?” He said, wincing as the owl dug its talons into his shoulder again.

“Of course! Excellent; this guy needs a good home. What will you name him?”

That was a hard question. Suzuki thought about what the guy reminded him of. Then he remembered those butterflies- red admirals. They had this beautiful streak of red on their wings- very prominent. They were also large, strong. And- the second meaning of admiral; an officer with a very high rank. Very admirable.

“Admiral.” The owl clicked its beak, almost as if a note of agreement or approval. Suzuki scowled at it on his shoulder. The owl leaned over and nipped his nose, gently. The shopkeeper laughed.

“Great!” He smiled at him and the owl. Suzuki went over to a table with the shopkeeper, and made his transaction. After the typical goodbyes and hope you enjoys, Suzuki hurriedly left.

Just as he exited the store, he pried the owl off his shoulder, dug around in his pocket, and pulled on one of his old work gloves. The owl flapped its wings a few times, and perched on his hand, the gloves protecting Suzuki’s hand from its sharp talons. Then the two headed back towards the entrance of Diagon Alley, ready to go back home.

WC: 778 words