One Last Thing Pet

Today had been a splendid and exciting day, Pyce thought to themself, far more tired than when they had arrived this morning. Hecate too was looking quite sleepy. It was a big day after all. Getting their admittance letters, turning 11, very important stuff. Tiring too, apparently. There was no more racing each other, or getting ahead of their mother for where to go next. No, both Rotanski twins were rather content to sluggishly trail behind their mother, holding their newly acquired items, making their way back to-

Not the Leaky Cauldron, for some reason. Pyce became aware that they were going in the wrong direction before Hecate. Probably because Hecate was halfway to sleepwalking. They didn’t care all that much, but one last stop meant that they would be getting home later. And Pyce had no interest in getting home later.

Before they could ask about this, their mother stopped in front of a shop. A very familiar shop. One Pyce went to frequently before getting Slime. Slime who was still perched on their mother’s shoulder. He didn’t much like the energy Pyce had earlier. But Pyce knew this shop, knew that they had never bought anything held between its walls before and, no offense to Slime, a perfect and lovely cat, they could get a pet! They could finally get their own pet! Pyce looked to their mother, who merely nodded, before they gave Hecate a hopefully rousing shove and dashed into the store.

Magical Menagerie! The pet store! For pets! Pyce tried to contain their excitement so as to not frighten any of the animals. They did a fine job if they did say so themself. There were so many animals! Pyce’s favorite used to be the owls. Horace, their mum’s owl, made himself very dear to both Hecate and Pyce, and both were used to the owl perching atop their heads. It was fun sending letters with him as well. Pyce used to want an owl dearly. But, they didn’t hold as much appeal after Slime. Slime was a beautiful gray torbie cat with olive eyes, who was currently with Donna, but Slime was the best cat. He simply couldn’t be topped. Rats were also out of the question. Pyce had nothing against rats, but they were... Well, a bit boring. Toads were cool. Pyce liked toads. Ribbit-y and hoppy. Very fun. They would love a snake, but their mother didn’t like snakes much at all. Or- She said she didn’t, Aunt June said she was lying. So, a snake was equally out of the question. But what was left? Pygmy puffs, yes. They were... Nice? Pyce really didn’t like pygmy puffs all that much. They could get a fish. Which had the same problem as the rats, too dull. Or- A lizard!

Pyce made their way over to the lizard terrariums. They stared at all of the little ones inside, warming themselves on a nice warm rock, or snacking on bugs, or just sleeping under their hides. General adorable reptilian activities.

Pyce didn’t know how long they were watching the lizards, but at some point, Hecate had snuck up behind them and-

“Boo!” He didn’t even shout. Just a harsh whisper directly into their ear but it was enough. Pyce whipped around, ponytail smacking into Hecate’s face. The boy spluttered for a moment while Pyce tried to calm their racing heart. The two recovered from their ailments quickly, Hecate removing a ginger strand from his mouth and Pyce no longer hearing their heart pounding in their ears.

“Hecate.” They deadpanned.

“Pyce.” Hecate replied. The two stared at each other before something nearby barked. Pyce turned to the noise and saw a half-crup puppy at their brother’s feet.

“Are you-”

“Yep!” Hecate chirped, scooping the canine into his arms. “I’m going to name him Moxy.” It was a cute name, a short name, tasteful. Very un-Hecate.

“Moxxie?” Pyce said slowly. “Spell that.”

“M-o-x-y. If not, Frü. That’s a good name too, isn’t it?” Pyce huffed and turned back to the lizards.

“I’m not stopping you.” Hecate stood next to Pyce, staring at the lizards.

“What are you~ going to name your dragon?” Hecate sang-spoke.

“I don’t know yet.” The two stared together. Pyce enjoyed watching the lizards anyway. There was this one bearded dragon, a bit on the smaller side, a somewhat brown color with spots that made them... resemble... a cow...

Pyce watched them for a while longer. The bearded dragon sluggishly ate the fruit that had been left in the food bowl. And Pyce fell in love.

“That one.” They pointed to the wonderful dragon that was munching on a bit of banana.

“The one with fruit bits all over its face?”

“Yes” Pyce breathed out.

The two got help from one of the shopkeepers, getting not only the small bearded dragon, but everything they’d need for her.

And out the twins walked, their mother right behind them (someone had to pay for the pets after all.)

“I never heard what you were going to name her,” Hecate said, absentmindedly. Pyce smiled, looking at the small lizard in her travel container.

“Horrorcow.”

Reducio

It was about two days later when Hecate shot bolt upright from his bed in the middle of the night. Pyce, who had been quietly reading by the light of a scented candle, startled something horrible, but managed to keep silent. Hecate turned to their brother slowly, and quite unnerving if Pyce did say so themself.

“The book you’re reading.” Hecate stared at the cover. “Give it to me.” Pyce covered a hand over their mouth, handing the book to Hecate. The boy flipped through it scanning for something. He stopped flipping pages and pointed to the upper part of a page. Pyce had a pretty good idea of what he found. Hecate stared at Pyce, not blinking. "You’re a nerd.” He said before flinging the book at his brother and retreating back under his covers.

Pyce caught the book and snickered. They opened it back up and found their page. Horrorcow the bearded dragon was cozy in her terrarium, and Pyce was completely content. It’s really not their fault that they were so easily lost in the works of Cressida Cowell.