a hush pervaded the shop, and the absence of sound irked the dark haired owner, who moved restlessly through the rows of cages. hidden within the metallic traps, animals slumbered, content to waste the day away in their slumber. exhaustion weighed upon the male as he stumbled closer to the counter, feet tripping over the furry form of his beloved companion and hands catching himself by grasping at the nearby windowsill. dark brows furrowed as crimson hued eyes shifted to connect with the luminous gaze of his feline friend, and despite the serious repercussions of her actions, soren found himself releasing a relieved sigh, lips quirking into a grin and frame leaning against the window. a chill seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt and pressed into his shoulder, eliciting a shiver from the petite male. dyann unleashed a probing meow as she prowled closer, rubbing her body against his leg and then staring imploringly up at the confused man; however, her demand for attention went unheeded.

soren merely forced himself away from his chosen support, stumbling toward the counter and then leaning himself against the sturdy object. one trembling hand lifted to run through his hair while the soft chiming of dyann’s bell greeted his ears. the cat pranced over, launching herself onto the counter, and upon gracefully landing, she turned to face her master, rubbing her muzzle against his cheek and meowing plaintively in an attempt to coerce the purplette into paying attention to her. despite his obvious unease and exhaustion, he insisted that his brother enjoy himself, shoving the younger male out of the shop and then turning to meet the agitated gaze of his cat. dyann’s reprimand remained firmly lodged in his memory as the cat insistently rubbed herself against his exposed skin, baiting him into petting her and attempting to soothe his ruffled feathers in one fell swoop. she, however, never expected the man to hold a grudge against her, having become spoiled by his obvious reluctance to deny her.

another pleading meow issued from the cat, causing the black market merchant to release an exasperated sigh. you’re a pest, he proclaimed while eyeing dyann in obvious disdain, but the feline merely purred and pushed her head against his arm. a sigh escaped him as he unfolded his arms, lifting one hand to brush his fingers lightly over the top of dyann’s head. her purring increased in volume, drowning out the soft sounds of the slumbering animals; however, she did not overpower the soft yip of the young pup, whose cage was situated near the door. the dog balanced on two legs, front paws pressed against the wall and eyes watching the approaching visitor. his tail wagged back and forth as the man’s hand landed on the door, and in one rapid movement, the puppy moved from one side of the cage to the other, barely dodging his slumbering siblings in his haste.

amusement colored soren’s features as the chiming bell echoed through the shop, rousing a small portion of the animals and garnering an excited bark from the puppy. the visitor, however, ignored the pup and strode toward the counter, gaze locked on the informant’s prone figure. the amusement morphed into confusion as tanned hands gripped at his shirt, pulling him off the ground and causing his hand to fall away from dyann’s furry head. a yowl sounded from the enraged cat; however, instead of assisting her owner, she jumped off the counter, trotting over to the caged pup and plopping herself down before the cage. carmine hued eyes narrowed as he shifted his gaze toward the cat. grazie per l’aiuto, la principessa, he grumbled with the emotion vanishing from his features, leaving him with an apathetic mask and a disgruntled customer. what a wonderful day, a voice drawled in his mind.

LAIKA OF GS!