Ocean Kisses

Shopping

Zedaph POV

After what felt like hours of warmth and tangled limbs in the biggest cuddle fest I'd ever experienced, they all decided it would be smart to go to the “store.”

Now, I didn’t know what a store was. It sounded like an important place—maybe something like a communal hunting ground? Surface dwellers were odd, so maybe they hunted for their food there, like a big open field where you picked your prey. Or perhaps it was a place to trade? I tried to imagine Tango and Skizz chasing after some creature with spears or bows while Impulse carried the spoils back to their den. The mental image made me snort.

Tango noticed and gave me a curious look as he pulled on his shoes. “What’s so funny?”

I blinked at him innocently. “Nothing. Just... you’re all hunting, right?”

Impulse stopped mid-sip of his coffee, staring at me over the rim of his mug. “...Hunting?”

Skizz paused, one wing half-outstretched as he struggled to get his coat on around it. “What do you mean, hunting?”

I frowned. “At the store. You said we’re going to get food. Isn’t that what hunting means?”

The three of them exchanged a look—one of those silent, unspoken conversations that made me feel like I was missing a lot of context—and then Tango burst out laughing, doubling over against the back of the couch. Impulse cracked up next, his laugh more controlled but still amused, while Skizz just looked entirely delighted as he beamed at me.

“Oh man, Zed,” Tango wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. “You’re gonna love the store.”

Impulse grinned at me, shaking his head as he set down his mug. “No spears needed, don’t worry.”

“That’s what you think,” Skizz teased, finally managing to wrangle his coat on. “I still need to fight off impulse buys.”

I tilted my head, thoroughly confused. “Impulse buys?”

Tango groaned dramatically, pointing at Skizz. “Don’t encourage him, Zed.”

Skizz just smirked proudly, clearly satisfied with his joke. Meanwhile, I was no closer to understanding what exactly a store was. Whatever it was, it couldn’t possibly be as wild as they were making it sound.

“Fine,” I muttered, pulling on a coat Tango handed me. “But if we’re hunting something, I want the first shot.”

Tango chuckled, shaking his head as he held the door open for us. “Don’t worry, Zed. The only thing you’re hunting today is which flavor of chips you like best.”

I had no idea what that meant. But I followed them anyway, hoping the answers would reveal themselves soon.

"You need to get you some shoes so you don't slip anymore, and a few other things," Tango said, pulling his coat tighter as we stepped out into the crisp afternoon air.

I blinked at him, completely confused. "Why do I need shoes not to slip?"

Impulse chuckled from behind me, shaking his head like I’d just asked why water was wet. “Because your hooves aren’t exactly designed for smooth surfaces, Zed. Shoes help with grip.”

I frowned, looking down at my hooves. They were perfectly good hooves—strong, sturdy, excellent for climbing rocks or kicking away unwanted predators. “I don’t slip on normal ground,” I pointed out, mildly defensive. “The ground here is just... strange.”

Tango snorted, trying not to laugh. “Yeah, welcome to floors and tile, buddy. ‘Normal’ ground doesn’t really exist up here. You’ll get used to it.”