A Puppy For A Girl

Posted on Wed 17th Apr, 2013 @ 4:10pm by Maia Dalton & Lieutenant Colonel Tallus Karikkar & Lieutenant Colonel Cara Karikkar & Jessica Karikkar

1,466 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: https://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Feathers and Fur
Timeline: Current

Jess bounced along in excitement even as she kept looking back at her mom and Colonel Karrikar uncertainly. Things had changed so quick and suddenly they were under guard in his rooms, then her mom was bonding to him, and now they were letting her get a pet and it was all a little overwhelming. She didnt really know what to make of the situation or the fact that she now had a second parent ... and how was she even supposed to see him? Was he her dad? Did he even want kids? What if they had kids together? Would they still want her or would she become the third wheel?

As the door opened to the shop, Jess wanted to run from one display to the next as she saw the array of different animals. Walking toward the back of the shop where the more exotic animals were kept, just to see what was there, the three of them came across a young woman with dark hair on her hands and knees. She'd climbed into one of the displays and was leaning down face to face with three fluffy critters. She was saying something to them. She hadn't noticed someone in her shop.

Cara bit back a laugh watching the woman out of the corner of her eye even as she kept an eye on Jess worried about how she was coping with the changes.

Jess snuck up slowly on the woman and the little critters she was talking to "Hi ... "

Maia jumped up from her knees and knocked her head on the tree branch above her. "Oh! Ow, Hi." She grinned at the girl as she rubbed the top of her head. "Well what do we have here?" She inclined her head. "Welcome to Feathers and Fur." She leaned down until she was eye level with the little red head. "My name's Maia." She shot her hand out to shake the girl's hand.

Giggling Jess took the hand "I'm Jessie ... and that's my momma and da ... daddy." She said the last bit a little hesitantly as she looked at him for a reaction either way.

Tallus gave a brief nod.

Relaxing at his approval she turned back to Maia and asked curiously "What are they?"

Lifting one of the furry creatures up so Jessica could see it, "This is a Rigellian lopfoot." She grinned. "Those two are girls and this one is a boy. I was trying to explain to the girls that they shouldn't be fighting over their brother's attention because there's plenty of him to go around."

Reaching out to gently pet it she giggled at that "Theyre soft." She thought they were cute but then her attention was caught by a cage a few over from the fluffy critters.

"They have the softest fur in the whole world." Maia informed her.

Cara turned to look in the same direction and could see that Jess was fully focused on a litter of pups. "You like them Jess?"

Nodding Jess moved closer to them and stared in fascination through the cage window.

Setting the lopfoot down, Maia hurried over to the gated area Jess had found herself fascinated with. "Ohh, those are Kyrian Long haired Mastiff puppies!" Maia got excited whenever she could talk about any animals. It had been her passion since she was a child. "These are great animals for watch dogs, they are loyal and they bond with their families." She looked at Tallus and cleared her throat becomming more serious. "They're really protective."

Watching them Jess giggled at their playful antics before turning pleading eyes on Tallus and Cara.

Turning to Tallus Cara asked silently ~What do you think? A watch pet would be good considering our jobs ... although we do have a whole marine contingent watching her as well.~

"Which ever animal you want it can be yours." Tallus said with a nod. ~I agree. It will also make her more comfortable.~

Looking at the puppies carefully Jess pointed to a golden coloured one that was one of the only males in the litter "That one?"

Tallus nodded his head. "If that is the one that you want then that is the one that you shall have." He said grinning. "Ms. Dalton?"

"Good choice." Maia laughed. "Let me his instructions. And what will you name him?" She asked as she hurried toward her desk and began tapping something into her console.

Jess looked surprised "I get to name him?"

"Well, I would assume you'd want to give him a name. I"ve been calling him Charlie but only because he looks like a Charlie to me. If he is going to be your puppy, then you should give him a name that suits you." She looked at the girl and shrugged. "I can't let him go unless I'm sure you love him enough to give him a name."

Getting a thoughtful look on her face and holding the puppy gently but firmly to let Maia know there was no way she was willing to give him back Jess tried to think of a name. She liked Charlie but was afraid Maia would take him back if she couldnt come up with anything. Listening to his puppy thoughts she giggled as he licked her and said absently "He says his name is Seeker."

"Seeker it is." Mai typed in the name and pulled a small crystal from the console. She handed it to the girl. "This has all the instructions you'll need. What he likes to eat, how to train him. Oh and Char- Seeker likes to be brushed every day." She moved over her shelves and pulled several things off. Tossing them into a small bag, she handed Cara a collar, a bowl for food and water, a dog brush, and a small tag with the name "SEEKER" engraved on it. "This should get you started. You can pick out what dog food you'd like and I'm open three days a week for check ups, advice, or if you're in the market for other creatures or toys for puppy." She gave a smile and a shrug.

Cara smiled back deciding to ignore for now the fact that her daughter appeared to talk with dogs at least "What sort of toys would you suggest? I'd prefer Seeker didnt start chewing on shoes."

"If you don't want him to chew on shoes, don't let him play with old shoes. I would suggest bones, and one toy that will be his baby. My Nikki has a pink gorilla that he has made his favorite toy for the last three years. It goes everywhere with him. But then Nicodemus has always been a little eccentric."

"Could we get a couple of rawhide strips and bones off you ... and ..." Cara looked round and found a couple of toys one a long rope with a knot on the end and the other what looked like an old earth Koala bear "These two as well please."

"Sure sure sure." Maia was always a little animated. Even more so when she was nervous and most people in higher positions made her nervous. Commander Karikkar being as stoic as he was made her even more animated and nervous. "I'll just pop them in the bag." She took the items from Cara and then gave them back and smirked. "Oh yeah, you have the bag."

Cara laughed. "That I do."

"Thank you Ms. Dalton." Tallus said with a smile.

Holding Seeker Jess gave Maia a big hug "Thank you Ms Dalton."

"Oh no...no no no. Please it's Maia or Mai...Ms Dalton sounds all stuffy and proper...I'm not any of that. I mean I am proper but..." She blushed. "Nevermind, just call me Maia please."

Nodding Jess said "Thank you Maia ... I'll look after Seeker really well. I promise."

"Good." She nodded and then looked at the girl's parents. "We have a nine hundred day compatibility guarantee. If you find that Seeker isn't who you seek?" She held her arms up, "We'll find something else for you or just take the critter back." She didn't want any abandoned animals on the station and made sure to let every customer know that.

"I doubt that we will have any reason to take him back." Tallus said looking at Cara.

Cara shook her head in agreement "Jess is already smitten."

"Good, good." Maia smiled. "Well if that's all then, I still have to hang the Bajoran Gurber bats for their sleep period." She nodded to the three and headed back toward the exotic animal exhibit in the back.

END

Lieutenant Colonel Tallus Karikkar
Marine Commanding Officer and Acting Executive Officer

(NPC)Maia Dalton
Civilian Owner Fins & Feathers

Lt Colonel Cara Treia
Executive Officer

(NPC) Jessica Treia
Civilian Child

 

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