Companionship at last! Pet

Elodie trembled in the threshold of the quant pet shop, her knuckles white as she clutched her bag of money. She'd spent forever doing chores to raise money, and finally had enough for a pet. The girl sighed, took a deep breath, and stepped into the store.

The cheerful chime of a bell startled Elodie into stumbling further into the store, her eyes widening with awe. There was a chorus of animal noises, frogs croaking and cats meowing as she stared around in amazement. She'd never been anywhere as wonderful as this, surrounded by incredible creatures, one of which would soon be hers. With renewed confidence, Elodie marched up to the front desk, her gaze fixed on the elderly woman who stood in front of her.

"I- I'd like to adopt a cat." The girl said, tugging on a stray lock of her hair nervously. She'd spent days mulling over what kind of pet she'd want. Not a frog. She loved all animals, but wanted something she could touch without shuddering at the texture. Not a pymy puff. Not only would she never be able to afford one, but the magical creatures also made her uneasy. She craved familiarity, and she'd never get that from something she didn't even know existed until a couple weeks ago. Not an owl. She loved them, but just couldn't imagine an owl being able to provide her what she so desperately craved. So, a cat it was.

The elderly woman nodded, giving Elodie a comforting smile. "Alright, dear. Did you have a specific breed or pelt color in mind?"

Elodie froze. "uhm.... No?" Was that something she was supposed to have thought of? She had no idea. Elodie had had only one pet her entire life, and she'd been forced to leave Sir Barkington at home.

The woman offered her another smile. "That's alright, dear. Follow me." She stepped up to a row of cages as Elodie followed, gesturing to the cats that stared out at him. "See anything you like?" Elodie hesitated, bending down to peer into the first cage, and starting at the green eyes that stared back at her. She paused, then moved to the next one, then the next.

Elodie leaned back on her heels, sighing. "They're all wonderful, but none of them feel... Right." The old woman nodded, her smile never leaving her face. "Very well. We've got more over here, alright?" They moved to another row of cages, and the girl bent down to look at the cat in the first cage. Gleaming eyes stared back at her as she gawked at the cat who sat primly in her cage. She was hardly more than a kitten, a small gray mackerel tabby with hazel eyes that were fixed on Elodie. She sucked in a breath, rising to her feet. "She's the one. How much?"

(476/400)

What animal do you wish to purchase? Grey Mackerel Tabby
What do you want to name it? Minnow
Is this a boy or a girl? Spayed Female
What is your pet's date of birth? 10/01/2023