Upon Three Paws

Chapter 17

Change

Almonds POV

With a single beat of my wings, I sail over to the table between the two couches. Fesco sits there waiting with the smell of food on him. I didn't get much food in my food bowl for breakfast and it's halfway till lunch.. I think. The sun isn't in my line of sight for me to tell exactly.

I'm rewarded with a small morsel of meat.

"Peppa, sit."

A growl works it's way up my throat. The streak of rebellion in me refuses to do what Fesco wants, especially since he used my 'name' in the same sentence to order me around. The hunger in my stomach knots in protest to where my trail of thought is going, producing a loud growl of its own. Baring my teeth in a silent snarl, I very reluctantly lower my rear enough to be considered sitting.

"Good girl." Fesco brings out another piece of meat and passes it to me. The bit of food is gone in seconds just like the last.

The remainder of my early lunch consists of coming when called, sitting, and staying. I've never felt this defeated before, all because my hunger over-rid my urge to rebel, and Fesco knows it. His victorious smirk fuels my anger and frustration at myself for giving in so easily, him for putting me in this situation, and my stomach for making me give in.

He must've noticed my worsening mood because next thing I know I'm being picked up and held by his warm arms. I'd get up and hop back down if it weren't for the hand resting and petting my back. The temperature helps give me comfort as does his scent, but I'm still agitated from before. I don't like how easily Fesco got me to obey his commands.

"You're a good girl, Peppa." My wing accidentally flicks back and hits his hand, but Fesco ignores it and continues trying to sooth my ruffled emotions. "There's no need to be angry."

My paws find the padding of my enclosure seconds later and Fescos hands retreat away from me. Shaking myself off, I go over to the blankets and burry myself under them. My instincts don't want me to be seen after going through that ordeal and I'm just fine with this arrangement.

Small noises of objects clashing together comes from the other side of the room. The strangely entrancing noise catches my attention. Shifting around, a flap of the blanket falls from my face, allowing me to peek out to see what Fesco is doing.

Like I suspected, Fesco is crouched on the other side of the room rattling something in his hands and rolling it on the ground. The strange, round metallic object is what seems to be the source of the noise. Curiosity battles with my embarrassment for multiple seconds before it strengthens when Fesco changes the pattern in which he fiddles.

The warm blankets slides off my smooth fur easily. When I open my wings and smoothly fly over the sound grows closer and to my surprise a feeling of giddiness settles in my stomach.

Landing quietly a few paces away from it, I watch with fascination as the strange glittering ball rolls around under Fescos fingers. Except it isn't a ball, instead it seems to be a circular cage with small bars forming its shape, allowing the outside world to see the inside. The inside also holds small cage spheres. Absolutely fascinating.

I'm brought out of my daze when the cage ball abruptly rolls over towards where I'm standing, causing me to instinctively jump back and show my teeth. Obviously the object doesn't understand my warning as it isn't actually alive and doesn't have any form of a working brain.

The feeling of Fescos eyes burning into my body unsettles me, combined with the strange, yet intriguing ball it's starting to overwhelm my senses. Do I go back, or play with it? Wasn't Fesco just playing with it; so I can't play with?