Its Soul. Pet

𝕽uth grasped her older brother’s hand tightly, almost fearing to lose him in the crowds. Oh, yes. Him, not Ruth. Despite her telling Aaron to remain nonchalant, the boy was gasping at every corner and shop and person, talking animatedly as he commented on almost everything possible. She sighed quietly to herself but couldn’t help but smile up at him. She understood. To be a muggle with no magical connections whatsoever, and suddenly you’re led through a wizarding world by your witch sister, who’s the closest thing you can get to magic. But now…it’s all not so much out of reach.

She managed to tug him back from the shop across Magical Menagerie, earning a bummed groan but a chuckle that followed suit from him. “Oh, come on Aaron,” she chided, still clutching his hand as they entered the shop.

Lovely, lovely shop indeed. Warm, comfortable. Ruth waved at the shopkeepers, then prepared herself to get dragged by Aaron as soon as he managed to take in everything. Sure enough, just a moment after Ruth had done a quick examine, Aaron took over the position of leading and pulled her to the owls section of the store, beaming.

Yes, the moment had come. The reason Ruth Fairchild had asked Aaron to come along to buy a pet—so he’d be able to back up her decision. Nobody knew as much about owls and birds as much as Aaron did. It was the greatest opportunity to score some sibling bonding in the meantime too, now that Ruth was so busy away from home. She missed them terribly everyday, but now all she could think of was buying an owl functionable enough that she could let the school owls take a break.

Ruth stood close to a cage while Aaron hopped about, muttering to himself as he stared at each and every one carefully. Ruth could barely hear him about the squawking, the barks and all sorts of noises. The pet shop was certainly packed. The girl turned to smile at the approaching shopkeeper and his wife, both lips upturned and jolly. "Hello dear, what might you be looking for?" Mrs Witticker asked, chuckling at the sight of Aaron's frantic lookaround. "Your brother seems to be the one who's come to buy, actually." The couple chortled in unison, making it hard for Ruth not to join in the giggle fest.

"Well, I was thinking of getting myself an owl," she said, gesturing at her brother's clear steer away from the rats and cats. "Maybe a larger species, so that it can carry the boxes of pastries my mother makes."

Mr Witticker nodded to himself, then bent down so he was slightly eye level to Ruth (which was a lot of bending. Ruth wasn't even sure how he did that) and pointed at the cage behind her. "Maybe this one would do for you, aye?" He asked as Ruth turned around and gasped.

It was a beautiful Great White Owl, its feathers clean of dark spots (though she spotted a phew). Ruth wondered if it was covered in snow. Mr Witticker clasped a hand on Ruth's shoulder, the three of them huddling around the cage to take a look at it.

"Has it got a name?" Ruth mumbled, finding her eyes locked on the owl's, its goldenrod eyes unblinking as it stared into hers. "No, not yet. We just found this little one a few weeks back. He's a beauty, isn't he?" Ruth found herself slowly nodding as she continued to watch the owl, his head titling ever so slightly, his once narrow, slit eyes growing rounder and curious.

Ruth kept quiet. She didn't feel the need to say anything. As Aaron bounded closer, ready to report his findings, she jabbed an elbow to silence her older brother.

The owl continued to stare at her, still and frigid as much as she was. Slowly, however, he began to blink. Ruth smiled softly as he came closer to her, as if intriguid. His presence was left Ruth awestruck, as if she knew something had clicked inside of her.

This owl was just...like her.

"Soul..." she muttered, stepping back and glancing at her brother. Aaron stopped staring at the Great White and turned to her "Pardon?" "It....its got a soul. It's not just another pet." Ruth's eyes brimmed with passion as she cast a look up at Aaron, who slowly nodded.

The smell of sugar cookies wafted back to the two of them and Ruth turned to acknowledge the owners. "Well, dear, have you one the one of your choosing?" Mrs Witticker asked again, her kind eyes wrinkling. Ruth beamed and nodded, moving to stand beside Sol's cage. "I'd like to take him, please."

What animal do you wish to purchase? Great White Owl
What do you want to name it? Sol
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? July 5, 2024