Upon Three Paws

Chapter 12

Check Up

Fesco's POV

I'm unsure if Peppa will make a break for the door when she sees the outside world. I've been trying to get her used to being confined in my home, although I will allow her outside in the backyard once she's more used to me and the fences are finished and secured. So when I see her not even budge from her spot beneath the table when I open the door, most of my worry disappears. If I were to do this a day ago she would've bolted, which shows how much progress I've made.

"Sahala," I greet with a nod of my head. I must treat this visit as business, or I would've just called out for her to come in.

"Hello Fesco," she nods back at me in acknowledgement, meaning she agrees that this is a time for professional acts. I may be courting her, shown by the grey stoned bracelet on her wrist, but Kymari are very professional with our partners.

I quietly shut the door and glance back down at Peppa who's watching Sahala with intense curiosity.

"Shall we get started?"

"Yes. But where is Peppa?"

Refraining from immediately giving away her spot, I keep my eyes on Sahala's who's are occasionally glancing around the room, both floor and furniture. She doesn't know yet that Peppa hardly flies.

"One word of advice to you. Don't look straight at her, she gets increasingly skittish and agitated."

Nodding she responds, "I expected as much."

Satisfied, I gesture at her walled area. It's surprisingly still clean. Peppa mustn't like mess.

I'll keep that in mind.

Sahala looks at it before thinking of looking down. Despite her keeping her face tilted away from Peppa's immediate direction, a growl can be heard in response as Peppa lowers herself to the ground and makes herself slightly smaller. It makes me proud that she doesn't act like that towards me. Although with this check up that might change for a little, hopefully she'll accept the memory later on.

"Hello Peppa. I'm Sahala. I saw you at the vet clinic. Remember?"

A moment of silence passes before she turns slightly to look back at me. Out of my peripheral vision I can see Peppa take a step back and relax a little now that the attention isn't all directed at her.

"I'm going to try approaching her now. Have you tried hand feeding her yet?"

Nodding already knowing where she's going, I pull out a small plastic bag with the other half of the peach in it. If Peppa liked the treat earlier, which I could tell she did, she'll be more willing to come grab the remainder of it. Although, even with the treat I highly doubt she'll take if from Sahala. But it's worth a try.

Taking it out from the plastic baggy, I hand it to Sahala and put the bag back in my pocket.

When the attention centres back on Peppa, she visibly stiffens and bares her teeth in a silent growl. It looks funny though. It hasn't escaped my attention that a small bump has been forming on the left side of her snout. She must've hit it whilst exploring the place during my absence, likely searching for an escape, but that is to be expected.

Knowing that it'll help Peppa if I stay somewhere I frequently go when it's just the two of us, I quietly walk over to sit on the couch in my usual seated position. If things end up going south, we'll have to reschedule for when she's more lenient with being handled.

Almond's POV

I'm not liking this Sahala character. She seems nice and caring, but a little too caring for my taste. From what I've gathered so far is that she came to see me and is now trying to get me to eat the other half of the peach in her hand. Fesco obviously had knowledge of this and is now sitting on the deformed cloud like he usually does. That lends me comfort knowing that he's still the same. If it really comes down to getting away from this Sahala I'll count on him to know my limits.