Normally, I have my stories beta'd through Project Team Beta. However, I need to get all 4 of the first challenges posted by 02/08/2013. So I'm going to post challenges two and three unbeta'd, then go back and edit later. Sorry in advance for any errors.
As always, I don't own Twilight. I just appreciate the loan.
Challenge #2 – Empty Glass
Date Posted: 1/31/2013
Fandom: Twilight
Rating: K+
Genre: Canon
Content Descriptors: Mostly Fluff
Character Pairing: Bella/ Edward/ Nessie
Nessie's POV
About three years after I was born, I developed the ridiculous idea that something under my bed was going to eat me.
My Mom pressed a kiss to the top of my head as I snuggled into her shoulder. "Renesmee, sweetie. I don't know what it is you've been hearing rustling at night, but you don't have to keep worrying about it. Daddy and I are going to help you fix it."
I looked up at her, "What can we do?"
Mom answered, "We're going to set a trap and catch it."
Personally, I wondered if she'd seen one too many episodes of Scooby Doo with me. Rosalie had gotten me the series as a joke. She started calling Jake Scooby and making jokes about why he always ate so much.
However, it would feel good to know what was going on.
"How are we going to catch it, Momma?"
Mom smiled. "We're going to outsmart it. You think it's hungry. Other than you, what do you think it might want to eat?"
I stopped and thought for a second. What was the most delicious thing ever?
"Cookies," I answered. "We can bake some up this afternoon. We'll just have to hide a couple so they don't all get eaten."
Mom grinned. "That sounds like a plan, then."
The next morning, I was excited to see if the plan had worked. We'd set three cookies on a small plate, and put a box over it. The box was propped up ever so slightly in such a way that it would fall over as soon as something went in.
As soon as I woke up, I immediately slid down to the floor and pulled the box we'd set up from under the bed. Eagerly, I propped up the edge of the box and peeked inside.
I hissed as a small gray shape rocketed out from underneath the edge. I scrambled after it, lunging with my entire body to catch it as it went past.
Luckily, I managed to catch the little thing without squashing it.
When I looked into my hands to see what I'd caught that had been scaring me for so long, I giggled. Of all things that could have scared me that bad, this had to be the most ridiculous.
The tiny creature nearly shaking itself to pieces in my hand was nothing more than a mouse.
I ran out to the kitchen to show Mom and Dad, but was soon reminded why we hadn't kept pets until this point. The mouse took one look at my parents and freaked.
She (or at least I was assuming she at this point) scrambled up my arm and ran for cover.
She nestled under my hair, shaking and squeaking.
I giggled at the ticklish feelings her little claws and whiskers were creating.
"Mom, Dad? This little mouse here is what was frightening me. Can I keep her?"
Mom looked at dad, questioningly. "Renesmee, you know why we can't have pets."
Trying to keep the whine out of my voice, I answered, "Animals can be friends, Mom. They don't have to always be food. I'll take care of her. We can put a cage in my room."
Dad chuckled. He said, "Well, she can't stay on your shoulder all day. Your Aunt Alice is probably already heading out to the pet store to get her supplies after seeing you decide to keep her, but for now I'm going to go get an empty glass. We'll put her down on the counter, and put the glass over her."
I nodded. "Only for a little while. I don't think she'll be comfortable like that for long."
Dad replied. "Let me get the glass for now, then we'll look around for something better for the mean time."
Returning with the empty glass he'd gotten from the kitchen, Dad asked, "Have you thought of a name yet?"
I walked into the kitchen so I could set my new friend down. "I've been thinking about Gremlin. At least, that's what I thought she was until this morning."
Dad grinned. "That sounds like a good name. Tell you what, while your Mom is getting you something for breakfast let's see if we can get some information on what to do. I don't really remember much about taking care of animals."
Mom popped her head up from where she was cooking my breakfast. "I had a couple pets as a kid with my Mom, but never rodents."
Over the counter, I saw her smiling sadly, remembering her own mother who she hadn't been able to see since her change.
My dad looked up at her, "We'll find a way if that's what you want."
Mom shook her head. "Never mind me. Go find out what you can about that critter, but get Renesmee back in here in a couple minutes. Breakfast's almost ready for her."
I knew Dad couldn't read Mom the way he could everyone else, but it looked as if they were having a silent conversation.
"Come on, Dad, let's go get the laptop. I can check while I eat."
Dad went and got the laptop from his and Mom's room. We pulled up a search engine and searched for all the information we could on mice while I ate my bacon and eggs.
"I know Aunt Alice is probably getting ready to head out for a shopping spree, but could you and Mom take me instead? It looks like we could get a plastic tub and put Gremlin in it for the moment if we poke some holes in the lid as long as we line it with some shredded newspaper."
Dad called, "Bella, how strong are you feeling today, dear? We just hunted yesterday so I don't think you're too thirsty."
Mom answered, "I'm feeling really calm today. I remember seeing a small pet store over in Port Angeles. That shouldn't have too many people around."
"Alright, then, let me call off Alice then we'll head out and get the supplies."
Dad fished his cell phone out of his side pocket and quickly dialed my Aunt.
"So you guys are adding another pathetic life form to your family?," she asked immediately.
Dad answered, "It looks that way. Renesmee is saying since she's taking responsibility for it, she'd like to go get the supplies for it. Please head back home, we'll call you when you're back so you can come see her."
"And just why do you think I'm already two thirds of the way the the pet store?"
Dad chuckled. "I've known you how long? There's no way you'd see an excuse to shop and not take it."
My Aunt's giggles were audible even on the other side of the table where I was.
"Fine," she sighed. "I'll turn around. But expect company as soon as you guys get back."
"We'll see you then," Dad said.
While they'd been talking, I finished breakfast. I pushed my chair back and ran to my room to get dressed for the day. As I dressed, I heard my Mom and Dad whispering. They were still a little bit worried about this working, but were willing to give it a try. They found a tub and lined it with shredded paper the way the website had said for a temporary home.
As I got out to the living room, I saw them finish putting the holes in the lid.
Dad turned to me. "I think it's best if you're the one to pick Gremlin up and put her in her temporary home. She seems less frightened of you."
After we walked into the kitchen, I arranged myself with my hands cupped around the empty glass as Dad lifted it. This time, when Gremlin took off, I caught her easily. She still was pretty shaken up, but didn't seem as freaked out as when I'd showed her Mom and Dad.
About an hour later, we arrived at the pet store in Port Angeles. I had a list in my hand of suggested supplies, and we went inside to go and find what we needed.
"Welcome to Tiny Bubbles," the clerk greeted us. "How can I help you today?"
I still only looked like I was about four, so I was usually careful not to talk much around humans. I held out the list. "I found a mouse this morning, and I'm going to keep her. We looked it up, and it says we need this stuff for her."
The clerk smiled, seeing an adorable girl and easy sale. "Right this way, Miss. We've got everything you'll need right over here."
She looked down at the list. "A lot of this is for a tame cage mouse. I'm going to suggest a couple different things since you'll be trying to tame a wild mouse from the sounds of things. Just be careful to ask your Mom and Dad to help with it so you don't get bitten."
I worked on trying not to laugh. If only this lady knew it was the mouse in far more danger of getting bitten.
She continued on, not even noticing me trying not to laugh, "Here's a good food mix. It's mostly seeds and dried vegetables. You won't want to get your pet the pellet stuff since she won't be used to digesting that. She'll be more used to natural food. You can occasionally give her a bit of a fresh vegetable like a carrot, but you'll need to cut it up small and make sure it's not more than once a week."
The clerk, whose name tag named her Patricia, passed Mom the bag of food she'd mentioned. "Now we just need to find a cage she won't be able to get out of. She's going to be a bit more escape prone starting wild. Are you sure you want to keep her and don't just want to get a hamster or gerbil who is meant to be a pet?"
I nodded. "I like Gremlin. She's soft and cute."
"Gremlin?," Patricia asked. "That's a unique name."
Mom answered, "My daughter didn't understand what was making all the noise in her room. She thought there was some kind of boogeyman under her bed."
Patricia giggled. "That explains it. Just remember you can feed this one after midnight and you don't need to worry about giving her plenty of water to drink. You probably won't want to try and give her a bath, though. I've got some dust bath over here in case she gets itchy."
We completed our shopping just a few minutes after that. We got a cage with a solid plastic bottom, only the top half being made of wires. To keep Gremlin entertained, it had a slide that could be climbed to an exercise wheel sitting on top of the cage that would spin around in a circle as she ran. It was an observation tower and a workout center all in one.
When we got back home, Aunt Alice was already sitting and waiting for us. She had a small bag in her hands. "I couldn't resist. I ran into Forks and got a couple housewarming items for your new friend. I know you wanted to take care of it, so I didn't get much. I promise."
I rolled my eyes. Telling my Aunt Alice not to shop was like telling my Jacob not to eat. It just wasn't going to happen.
We headed inside and got Gremlin settled in her new home. I set the little hut and wood chews Aunt Alice had been brought inside the cage we assembled, then scooped Gremlin out of her temporary house.
For the first couple minutes she hid in her little hut, but as soon as my parents and Aunt left the room to let her get more comfortable, she ran right up to the bars and squeaked at me. I realized I hadn't put any food in yet, so I filled her dish with some of the mix and set it inside the cage for her. Then I made sure the water bottle was filled and hung on the cage side.
"There you go, Gremlin. I hope you'll be comfortable. Please stay and don't run away. I'll take real good care of you."
I had read on the website that most mice that were domesticated lived about two to three years. Gremlin was still fairly small, and didn't look like she was all that old. Wild mice tended to survive less than a year, so I was hopeful of a couple years at least with my friend. I didn't know what it was going to be like to say goodbye, but I figured I'd deal with that when the time came.
