It was just as Aubrey remembered it.
Next to the indoor entrance of the animal hospital was a substantial sized fishtank. Placed within the tank was an mammoth underwater castle where several large and small fishes seemed to dance around. Pet food advertisements decorated the peach foam wall. In the waiting area, a large stationary fern (which seemed to be a new addition) was placed next to worn out couches and rusted chairs. The old child's playset she used to play with as a kid (when Bun bun was still around, during those scary vet visits) seemed to outstand the test of time, as it was still there. The black flats she wore clicked against the cream tile as she approached the double doors. Clutching a notebook to her chest, she took her first steps inside. It smelled strongly of pet odor as she walked in, taking her time to look at all the animals trapped in the cages. They're like prisoners, almost.
"There's nothing rewarding about this job, really." A quiet voice states.
Quickly turning her head, she noticed an intimidating looking guy with a bridge piercing and septum piercing looking at her emotionless with his hands in his coat. Something about his black eyes boring into hers like a deadweight made her look away instantly. The stranger fiddled with one of the gates, opening it to grab out a fluffy gray cat with one hand. "Freya needs a stool analysis, first thing."
He began to walk away when she pulled on the sleeves of his coat. "It - It is rewarding. To give owners a second chance at getting their loved one back."
"Their lives are short, and they live in fear of coming here. It's like a prison."
The guy glances at her hand still gripping the labcoat, and she quickly lets go.
Flustered, Aubrey moves over to the microscope, and grabs test slides out. "I'm assuming you don't like it here."
"And I'm assuming you're Aubrey. The new girl."
She smiles a little bit, and slides on a pair of gloves as she turns to face him. "And I'm assuming you're Sunny, the guy I'm shadowing."
Sunny nods, furrowing his eyebrows as he looks inside one of the larger cages on the floor. Opening the cage, the dog hesitantly walks out before stopping in front of Sunny. No emotion passes through his eyes as he takes a collar and leash out of his pocket, putting it on said dog to walk towards the back area. Two minutes pass before the double doors open, and in comes flying in a brown haired girl with an undercut wearing red glasses. "I'm late, I'm late, I'm laaaaaaaaate." She stops in front of Aubrey, surprised. "Oh hey, you're Aubrey, right? I meant to get here earlier to warn you about Sunny. He's the textbook definition of a workaholic, and doesn't talk very much unless it's absolutely necessary. Anyway, that's just one of his quirks. Don't mind it. It might be overwhelming at some points, so that's why I wanted to let you know beforehand. He isn't a hardass though."
"Good to know." Aubrey looks back over to the test slides, and takes a sample of fecal matter Freya passed a few minutes ago. "If you're looking for him, he went to the back."
"Ah, I appreciate it. I'm Kim, by the way. I assumed he already took Zeus to the back for his biopsy anyway."
"Melanoma?"
Kim nodded. "It looks like it spread to the lymph nodes, so Sunny is going to biopsy the tumor there. If nothing else, we're seeking chemotherapy for Zeus, but we need owner approval for it. The owners will be coming by around noon time to discuss this treatment option with us, so I'll have you speak with them about it. We should be done by then, and afterwards, you can take your lunch. Sounds like a plan?"
"Sure."
Aubrey inserts a test slide underneath the microscope, and looks through. As expected, Freya has hookworms.