When Equius went into the room again, he found the two youngest members of the group studying Cronus. The three of them had officially decided to watch over the grub while everybody else was off doing more important things. Equius knew for a fact that Feferi was responding to people on the facebook page, Jade was trying to find people she knew or mutual friends who could take in the olive-blood. The Striders were separated at this time, Dave was babysitting the trolls and Dirk was helping out with Jade.
The grub was purring slightly when Cronus pet her hair. The cleft lip was unfortunate, she was scarred for life before her life actually began. He once heard somewhere that our bodies were like canvases, clean when we came out into the world. As times goes by, the canvas is decorated with scars, emotions, memories, etc. When we die, the canvas would be a masterpiece and the title of the perfect art would be your name.
Her canvas had gotten a head start and was damaged a bit on the way there. But all the same, her soft features made up for it. In fact, with the framing black hair, the cat like horns, the soft grey skin tone in the light, her baby teeth barely poking out from the lips, all of it seemed so perfect. So her.
The vet smiled to himself and crossed his muscle covered arms. Yes, it seemed as though her canvas had gotten a head start and was already adding to other people's canvases. He glanced at the clock. Not even an hour old, and he already could swear she was changing his life. The puppy love was strong with this one, he could tell. Sometimes, if a caretaker was lucky, they would be able to keep whatever it was that gave them that infectious disease.
In the middle of winter, the little grub was the center of attention, but it seemed as though all of her attention went directly to Equius when she saw him. She started to squirm in Cronus's arms and squeaked loudly. Equius slowly kneeled down onto the floor and nodded for Cronus to let her go. The purple-blood did, but with a tad bit of concern written on his face.
The olive-blood started to crawl towards him. She started slowly and wobbly at first. It was her first time walking on actual floor. When Equius glanced around the room, everybody was watching him. Dave had his phone pulled out and seemed to be filming this for more "aww" effect online. The other three trolls in the room were watching her as well, they wanted to hold her, but they knew to let him have his time with the grub while he still could.
"Squeak?" The grub spoke up with her opinion. It was a soft little squeak too, but it seemed as though it took a lot of effort to make that sound. And just like that, all who were in the room with them disappeared to Equius. It was just him and this adorable little olive-blood who just started life. She had no idea what was going on, oblivious to everything in the world. So innocent, so young, so...perfect.
She started to go a bit faster in walking. Every now and then she would stop and watched him intently, but always continued on. He spoke encouraging words to her softly, as though he was apart of a musical. He refused to sing, but just in that moment, it seemed as though his whispers were of that; soft notes being hit perfectly.
When she was close enough to pet, he started to encourage her further. Before she had made it to the finish line, he noticed that she was slowing down significantly. "You're almost there, now. Don't stop, it's okay. Keep going," he repeated to her. She made a noise that sounded like she was agreeing and continued on to him.
She eventually made it to him and collapsed in his waiting hands. She yawned and curled up in the massive, protective, loving, hands that were of Equius Zahhak. She rubbed her head on his palm and licked it delicately. He watched over her as she slowly went to sleep. His face was full of love for this small being. When he finally tore his gaze from her, he was met with two smirking faces and two of just normal curiosity.
He blushed slightly, but didn't mind the attention. In that moment, all he really cared for was the bundle of olive in his grasp. But first…
"Cronus, I need you to take her for a moment." Equius whispered to Cronus. He didn't want to wake her just yet, she was tired from her first walk.
Cronus came over immediately and gently, they switched the troll from the vet's arms to the former patient's. "The two have been arguing what her name is, chief." Cronus whispered to Equius when he got the grub. "When do you think we can all do that?"
Equius paused in his thoughts and considered it. "Give me an hour and we can think of something."
Cronus nodded and looked at Karkat and Sollux. They were standing near him and he went down on his knees so the two could see her better. He began murmuring something to them, probably along the lines of being careful with her and to be quiet when she's asleep.
Equius nodded at Dave and the two went out into the hallway. They gently shut the door and walked a bit further away from the door before the conversation began.
"So, Dr. Z." Dave smiled. "Do you want to keep the little bundle of joy?"
Equius sighed and pulled out his sunglasses. "She is cute."
"But nothing other than cute out of you? Damn, man, she is adorable." After getting no response, Dave added. "Chicks dig cute things."
Equius stopped and looked at Dave carefully "I am not going to keep her just so Feferi will gawke over her."
Dave continued to smile in the way that taunted he knew something.
"Why are you still smiling? I told you that I wasn't goi-"
"Ah. But you said you'll keep her."
Equius paused to realize what he let out and shook his head. "Mr. Strider, I am keeping her because I want her. The darn puppy love, as the ladies called it, had gotten me and," He paused and looked back at the room she was in. "I can't let her get hurt. I love her already."
Dave bobbed his head slightly with a smirk on his face and turned around. "I got you, bro. I feel the same way about Karkles and Sollux."
Equius nodded. "I think we all share some love for those two."
Dave smiled again and slapped the vet on the back as he passed him to go back to the room.
He smiled to himself for a second, but then moved into the room where Dirk and Jade were working on finding the grub a home. Jade was on the phone with somebody and Dirk was shooting out emails on the computer in the room.
"That's right, she's an olive-blood." Jade spoke into the clinic's phone. She took the phone off her face and mouthed to him that she found somebody. "In fact, Dr. Zahhak is here in the room. No, ma'am, he just walked in. Would you like to speak to him? He would have more details then I would."
She nodded and spoke when needed. She looked to him and smiled. "Yes, ma'am, he sure can. Alright. Alright. Sure! Just one moment."
She took the phone off her face and pressed the 'hold' button before setting the phone down on the receiver. "We found somebody!"
Dirk nodded and continued to type on the computer. "She lives fifteen minutes away from here, has a huge back yard, plenty of room for the grub, no pets, no kids, and agreed to switch over her from her usual vet so you can see her."
Jade winked at him when he glanced at her. "What else did she say?"
"Her name is Mrs. Wilson, but she's a widow. She's been wanting a pet for a while now and has been hearing about the troll rights lately. She's a full supporter and feels that if she got a troll she could do more for them."
"Occupation?" He began the drilling. Whenever they had a pet that they needed to give away and somebody was offering to take them, they always did a background check. And he felt it was right to ask as many questions as he could about this one. Especially if it were for the little grub.
"She's a dental assistant at the office by that bookstore."
He sighed and pinched his nose bridge. "I hear bad things about that one."
"She's trying to get a new job someplace else."
"Does she live in apartments or a house?"
"She and her roommate are living at a house." Jade turned around on the wheely chair to face him. "Equius, usually these type of people check out okay in our book. I think we should let her take the grub."
After a moment's pause he went around Jade and picked up the phone and took it off hold. "Mrs. Wilson?"
Jade and Dirk were watching him closely. Something was up with him. If this were for a dog or cat, he wouldn't have blinked an eye at them and let the animal go with them. What was he planning?
After a moment of listening to her talking, he shook his head and smiled gently. He made sure to turn to the wall and avoid both of their gaze. "Mrs. Wilson, I'm terribly sorry, but we already found a home for the small grub."
Jade turned to Dirk and smiled brightly. She turned back and jumped up and hugged Equius. He almost fell forward, but managed to hold himself up by throwing his arm up on the wall. "Oof! No, no, sorry. That was my associate. Sorry, what was that? Yes, it is in a good home, thank for you asking. Yes, ma'am. Alright. Have a good day."
He hung up the phone and tried to block out the squeals Jade was making.
Later that day, the eight of them were sitting in the waiting room watching her run around. She had so much energy for something that size, it was entertaining for them to watch. They pulled the lunch break out early and was closed for the next hour or so. Karkat and Sollux finally got their cookies and were munching on them peacefully.
Equius was going without lunch that day, while Feferi made do of his salad for him. Jade had a sandwich and the Striders had gotten McDonalds for themselves and Cronus. The small grub had received a very yummy treat of green apple slices, ironically enough to match her blood color.
"So, I think it is high time to name her, don't you think?" Equius spoke. His voice was now in his normal deep tone and it seemed to snap everybody out of their trance of watching her.
"Yeah, but what should we name her?" Dirk sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"Olive!" Karkat shouted, the grub flinching a bit.
"Karkat, remember that we have to be quieter around her right now," Dave chided. "She has sensitive ears."
"What about Candy?" Jade spoke up. "She's sweet enough it could work for her."
"No, I'm not going to name her after food or have her get a pet name like," he turned to Feferi, "tuna."
She giggled and playfully pushed him. "I told you I was kidding!"
Sollux was studying her deeply. Her hair was a mess, almost tangle and bangs everywhere. The ends seemed to point straight back up and curled a bit as well. Her small fangs poking out from her cleft lip, making a three appear on her face. Even her horns, which were extremely sensitive for the first few weeks. "She looks like a cat," he observed.
The others looked at her and tried to figure out her features as well. "Sorta, yeah." Jade remarked. "Maybe we should name her something that deals with cat-like stuff!"
"'I told you, no pet names." Equius sighed. "Trolls are not pets."
"I know, but hear her out." Feferi defended. "I think I like where she's going."
Jade smiled at Feferi and went on. "I think if we gave her a name that's uncommon, but deal with cats, it won't count as a pet name."
"And I doubt that a troll would like a human name," Cronus pipped in. "I sure as hell wouldn't. No offense or anything, but I doubt that a troll would really like the name 'Susie.' All of our names are unique."
Silence filled the room and Dirk reached for Sollux's Ipad. He started typing in things in google and quickly found what he was looking for. "Nepeta. AKA, catnip. Well, a type of."
The grub looked up when he said that and blinked questioning what was going on.
"Dirk, say that again. Everybody, look." Cronus said.
"...Nepeta?"
The grub looked around at the name being called. "Nepeta," Dave laughed. The grub turned to him and squeaked.
"Nepeta," Karkat clapped and giggled when she turned to him.
"Looks like we got a responder." Dave smiled. "What do you think, Equius?"
He studied her for a second then pronounced the name, "Nepeta?"
She turned to him and crawled over to him and squeaked, putting her legs up on his foot. She rubbed her head onto his jeans and he smiled softly.
"Not only that, but I think grubby chose you." Feferi smiled and pecked his cheek. "I think you just got a new friend, Equius."
"Nepeta." Equius agreed. The name sounded right. "Her name is Nepeta."