"Aww! Look at him. He's so cute!"
"Kaylee." Mal said as he prodded the side of the furry little ball. "Wh-What is it?"
"Don't know Captain. It was just in that crate over there." She pointed absentmindedly over to the box in the corner of the hold, tickling the small furry object with her hand. As she did this it began to growl and Kaylee let out a short, cheery giggle. "Cap'n, it just purred!"
"Uh-huh." Mal responded dryly, staring at the small creature for a moment. "Kaylee, what have I told you 'bout opening things don't belong to you?"
"Don't you get the least bit curious sometimes?" She asked, looking up from the creature.
"No." He answered simply. "See when we got curious back in the war and looked inside boxes, they usually blew up in our faces."
Kaylee eye's widened for a moment and she held up the animal for Mal to see. "Does he look like he's gonna blow up t'you?"
"It looks like something that came off Jayne's back…"
"Hey!" Jayne called over from the upper walkway. "I hear voices talkin' 'bout me. If this is River locking herself in the kitchen, it's not my fault."
"Nah, it's nothi- wait River did what now?" Mal asked a little startled, folding his arms as Jayne began to descend the stairs towards him and Kaylee.
"And this wouldn't have nothing to do with the fact you threatened to kill her if she pulled another butcher's knife on you." Kaylee piped up.
"Idle banter." Jayne replied as he made his way over to them. "Hey! 'The hell is that thing?"
"It's my new pet." Kaylee said proudly, stroking the creature affectionately.
Jayne looked at the thing, a little perplexed. "Her what?"
"You're not keeping it." Mal said shortly.
"But Cap'n-"
"No buts!"
"But he's so adorable! Can't I keep him for just a little while? What's the worst he could do?"