Day 1
"Is this some form of a jest?" Ethan said, staring down at the small human with surprise.
Layla folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Hey, you should feel lucky. When I asked for a pet goldfish my dad was all for it. We were gonna go to the carnival, win those rigged games where you throw a ball in a cheap colorful cup, and everything. My mom though, she kept on complaining about how I'm gonna forget to feed the fish. I'm 15! I don't forget things! Well… I did forget to put water in the Cup Noodles once before I put it in the microwave… but that was only one time!" Then embarrassment rubbed her arm. "One time every two or three months anyways…"
The dino nodded in understanding, but still utterly confused. Curled up and sleeping peacefully in his left palm was a small little kitten. It yawned a weak adorable yawn, stretched its fluffy small limbs and nimble tail, and then went back to snoozing in its scaly bed. And contradicting to his left's peacefulness, his right hand secured a hyper active puppy desperately trying to relinquish Ethan's strong hold so it could run up and lap up his master's muzzle in loving slobber.
Giving Ethan the responsibility of pets is yet another experiment conjured from the system to see how well he does with other animals. Choosing the kind of pets the dino would have was the hard part. Claire chose something simple: a small orange kitten bought straight from the pet shop for maybe about 300 dollars, but its cuteness was worth it! Just one look at her glittering emerald eyes will melt you like that witch who got doused with water. The dog however, was completely free! If you don't count the thousands of dollars spent into mixing the genes of a German Shepard and a velociraptor inside an oversized test tube, anyways. From afar, nobody could really tell there's nothing ordinary about the pup, but up close the canine's head resembled much like the ferocious reptilian predator but with brown/black fur, a shiny black nose at the tip of his snout, chocolate eyes, and emotion indicators in the form of pointy doggy ears. Then there's his scaly dog paws with unnaturally large sharp claws and long furred serpentine tail wagging with uncontrollable excitement.
Dr. Malcolm was the one who suggested a dog.
I love animals! They're so cute! his heart cheered.
I absolutely despise these creatures. They're a nuisance his brain stated.
"Am I really supposed to give care to these creatures?' Ethan asked.
Layla patted his arm assumingly. "What else are you going to do with them? Leave them out the in the streets? They're only a few months old. Besides, you've probably already read some old crummy textbook about pet care or something."
"Of course I have, why wouldn't I? But actually having the presence of this responsibility in reality…"
The human chuckled and motioned the dinosaur to lower his palm to her height. Carefully, she took the sleeping kitten and cradled the bundle of orange fur in her arms. Squirming a little, the feline snuggled into her new bed. "Well, don't worry because you should feel lucky that I'm here. I can totally help!"
"And exactly what help will you provide?" he eye browed as the pup's efforts finally pulled off. He scaled up his master's arm and jumped right on his shoulder.
"I can start with the names."
The German velociraptor licked Ethan's head. "Names?"
"Yeah, names! And they gotta be cool too! You know like Naruto, Sasuke, Ichigo, Ryuga, and maybe even Genos!" She counted each name each with a finger. "Just make sure it's not something lame like Goku or something. Oh, there're other cool names like Luffy, Zoro, Natsu, Saitama- "
"Shakespeare," Ethan interrupted.
"What you wanna shake?"
Ethan grinned and shook his head. "No no no. I mean I want to name my canine friend, Shakespeare."
Layla bit her lips and crossed her eyes. A million thoughts were in and out of her head, but she couldn't find the right one. Even the dog stopped wagging his tail and tried to think who the heck was Shakespeare, but came to the same result as the human. The cat just rolled over and snored. "Who's Shakespeare?"
"Surely, you must've read one of his fine works in your school."
"I read comics books in school. Does that count?"
"Sadly, no."
"Whatever, Ethan. Is this Shakespeare guy even cool?"
Suddenly, his stance grew taller and prideful. "If you count his numerous works of masterful pieces of literature that arguably birthed an entire new era… then yes; I believe him to be cool as you put it. Which is why I wish for my dog to be named after my second favorite human, Shakespeare!"
"Um… are you sure? He sounds a little-"
Not a word reached his ear holes. Very gently, one hand wrapped around the German velociraptor's form and Ethan held him inches away from his muzzle. "How about it? Shall I forever dub thee Shakespeare?"
Somehow, the dog understood Nerd. Shakespeare barked happily in agreement.
"Then it's settled. Welcome Shakespeare!" he cheered and squeezed Shakespeare with joy as he barked in appreciation.
Layla groaned and slapper her forehead. "Really? Fine, but at least give your cat-"
"Antoinettte!"
"Antoinwhonow?"Taking a deep breathe, Ethan prepared a spoken three-paged-essay answer, but knowing the risks of how brain-dead it would make her, she quickly interjected. "Never mind. Just… just ask your damn cat if she likes it and see how that goes."
He crouched down and massaged Antoinette's perky ears, stirring her from her sleep as she turned her head towards the gleeful dino and revealed her sleepy gaze. "Good morning, Antoinette."
Holy cuteness morphed into terrible terror. The kitten retracted her ears and head far away as possible, baring razor white fangs that no cat so young should have yet as she glared Ethan with demonic emerald eyes. "Uhh…" Ethan promptly backed away wary of her unsheathed knives and Shakespeare cowered in fear.
"I think she knows your names sucks, Ethan," Layla giggled and held the still somewhat adorably sadistic feline inches from her face. "So how about I name you … Ginger!"
Upon that one word, Ethan hanged both head and tail up high with smug. Really? Ginger? How does a plain unoriginal name, Ginger, fare any better than his super special awesome fancy Mcfancy name, Antoinette? Almost feeling guilty, he couldn't wait for Antoinette to at least show some disgust by giving out a good swipe across Layla's falsely triumphant face.
Terrible terror morphed into holy cuteness. Ginger closed her eyes in satisfaction and gave off an adorable little smile that could melt ice faster than the sun. "Meow," she meowed.
Day 5
"Aaaaahh, you're so cute, Ginger," Layla said and scratched the laid back cat's belly. The human sat on Ethan's pleasant couch feeding the orange fluff ball a warm bottle of milk as tiny paws aided in her work.
"Shakespeare, I command you to stop!" Ethan demanded as he chased the brown/black fluff in an endless cycle with a full bottle of milk in hand. Shakespeare had his tongue whipping freely across the blowing wind as he had ever-growing speed and joy. Suddenly, patience as thin as a paper sheet, Ethan lunged forward, sliding across the clean floor, but in a flicker of light, Shakespeare jumped high over the air and ran across the dino's broad back. And the last thing Ethan felt and saw was a grey wall coming at full force.
A good few minutes later, Shakespeare's incessant barking stirred Ethan from his death sleep. He sat up, rubbed his sore snout in pain, and felt a stinging sensation burning at the tip of his limp tail. Looking back in painful shock, he made the discovery of his dog snarling madly as he bit and pulled on his crying tail. "You dare…" Ethan growled. His eyes became dangerously predatory. Fueled by unforgiving rage, he jumped off the floor with Shakespeare still biting on like a mad canine.
And the chase continued between the two, but this time with the pup still fiercely clamped on Ethan's tail as the dino blind ragingly ran in circles vainly trying to catch the ball of growling fur, roaring out maybe offensive words that you had to be a total book worm to understand.
Day 21
In a field of grass, one tall proud tree stood out amongst the small flimsy green where the sun reached its brightest during the day. And would occasionally have its warm brightness be rudely blocked by a pair of lazy puffy clouds.
Layla had settled her back against the lonely tree as she stroked the snoozing Ginger on her lap with one gentle hand, and the other wasting no time to scroll through infinite messages in her phone that didn't have to be blasted to full brightness thanks to the charitable tree's shadow.
"All right, Shakespeare my friend… let's see if you can catch this!"
Curious, she moved her phone about an inch to the side. It was Ethan preparing who had already twisted his upper body as far as he possibly can, a Frisbee in hand. Shakespeare stood completely vigilant 20 feet away, eyes trained on the red plastic that mysteriously called to him.
"And…" Ethan whispered tucking in his body even farther before he chucked that piece of cheap circly plastic out in the sky. "Fetch!" It flew way past Shakespeare's head swirling the wind around and he immediately bolted for it, barking every step of the way. By the time the Frisbee was in arm's reach of the pup, he stopped for a split second summoning and directing all his power into his legs, then sprang, spun in the air like an ice skater, caught the whirling whirlwind in his maw, and made the most perfect landing against the soft grass that bowed to his awesomeness.
"Excellent catch, Shakespeare!" Ethan congratulated. He wore a prideful smile with one hand on his hips while the other proudly gave his dog a claws up.
Layla could feel herself be mesmerized by him yet again. He was a scary looking 8 foot tall dinosaur on two legs yet he was so peaceful, loving, and annoyingly smart. Not to mention a rock hard bodybuilder who also doesn't skip leg day, a spectacular chef who takes the job way too seriously, and now a pet owner who loves his pets as much as they love him.
Ginger opened one eye and gazed up at her, smirking a little. You totally like him she meowed that only a cat could understand.
Day 33
"Shakespeare, please contain yourself from jumping around so much!" Ethan pleaded as a blast of soapy water slapped him square on the face.
"Ginger, you're not mad, are ya?" Layla whimpered as she fought to resist an evil glare from a certain uncomfortably soaked-to-the-bottom kitten.
Giving pets a bath weren't as easy as Ethan had first read, and how Layla first saw on YouTube. They didn't just sit there quietly in the bath tub gratefully accepting the refreshing water and sweet scented soap.
No.
You had to hold those violent furballs down as they continuingly try to escape the bone chilling water and overpowered soap, then you feel pissed when they shake off the pet shampoo you worked so hard to put on, then cringe and curse when some of it gets in your frickin eye.
It was a long bath.
Night 54
Whimpers stirred Ethan from his sleep. Though like anyone, especially in the middle of the goddamn night, he ignored the calls. They never stopped.
It was maybe about the 64th whimper that edged him out of sleep. He moaned in inner pain and searched for his glasses on the nearby table, grudgingly sat up, and took a look around in the darkness.
Just for some insight, Ethan had long outgrown his old bed years ago when he found his legs sticking out the end and when the sheets have long lost their durability against sharp objects. Now, he sported an XL king size bed with fabric as unrippable as its infinite softness. A good thing too. Ginger had a habit of trying to claw through her pillow in her sleep.
The 65th whimper led his eyes to the source. It turned out to be Shakespeare, whimpering sadly at his tired master with beady eyes. Where's Layla? Ethan could hear him whimper somehow.
"Not here, most likely in a hotel room," he groaned and hoped that would end everything for the night, but he persisted.
Why?
"She's no longer a child, Shakespeare my friend. Her maturity has reached a point where she no longer requires me to protect her in her sleep." Then he stopped for one second, chuckling afterwards. "Though, in actuality, it's always been her protecting me during the cold nights like this."
How?
"I've always had nightmares consume me. You know, illusions casted by the brain caused by-" Shakespeare angrily pouted for him to stop, baring teeth. "Continuing on, Layla would always be something I can hold onto during those terrors… something to give me assurance…something to give me good knowledge that I'm not alone… someone who loves me…"
And who's this?
Tucked in Shakespeare's maw was a certain green dinosaur with googly eyes. "Ah I see you've become acquainted with Mr. T. Rex, another good friend of mine." He reached for him. "Do you mind?"
Shakespeare shook his head and allowed his master to grasp around the stuffed doll and carefully settled it on his lap.
"Now, it's Mr. T. Rex, a parting gift left behind by my best friend, who protects me in these dark times. Not a single nightmare reached me. Believe it or not, I hypothesize my nightmares cower in fear before him."
Satisfied and happy, Shakespeare curled back to sleep.
Ethan continued to stare at Mr. T. Rex, lost in thought. "If only I could give Layla and everlasting gift too…"
Day 58
"Shakespeare, pass me the salt," Ethan requested as he placed all his focus on the sizzling pan in front of him.
Shakespeare, sitting patiently on a countertop ruled by sauces and spices, complied with a bark before gripping the can of salt with his maw and tossing it into the air. It almost meteorized on the solid ground, but Ethan's tail caught it in the nick of time. Then passed it to his awaiting hand.
"Shakespeare, pass me the Italian seasoning."
Again the process was repeated. However, there was a problem.
As Ethan poured the Italian seasoning, he realized it wasn't Italian seasoning at all! "Garlic powder?" he gasped in horror, the earth shattering realization crushing him like a heart attack.
Master' what's wrong?
Ethan laughed and placed a shaky hand on his snout. "Oh nothing my dear friend. No problem at all! It's just that…" Then completely out of nowhere, he whirled around and shoved the garlic powder all over the dog's face! "This isn't the Italian seasoning! Nowhere near it!"
But I thought garlic powder would do better than Italian seasoning.
"You diabolical fiend! Thanks to your foolish antics, the balance of my master piece is off balance!"
Glaring right back, Shakespeare took a brave step forward. Maybe your master piece was never a master piece at all, master! Maybe I'm just doing my best to make sure your food doesn't taste too much like garbage!
"Why you…" Ethan snarled and Shakespeare snarled right back.
The entire time, Layla giggled on the couch as the barking and Ethan's use of fancy insult words escalated, all the while gazing into her phone. Those two are such a riot. Then she frowned. Her phone warned her of its imminent death! Only two percent of its life remained! "Hey Ginger, mind passing me my phone charger?" she asked the cat snoring on her head.
Ginger opened her eyes, growled terrifyingly like a horrid beast, then went straight back into snoozing.
"Guess that's a no then…"
Day 96
Layla had taken the first step on the roaring plane's step, but a titanic tug on her suitcase nearly made her fall over.
Turns out it was Shakespeare, no longer a pup, but a whiny adolescent who clanged onto her bag desperate for her not to go.
Layla sighed and knelt to the whimpering canine's level and grasped his flopping ears. "When I first met you, a super cute pup, I knew you weren't any ordinary dog. You were probably gonna be grown into the most vicious dangerous dog ever. But that's okay because you look so cool now, man! Wicked claws, little spikes popping all over your back, and everything! Way cooler than any dog I've ever seen! Kinda of wished I could bring you back home to shut that spoiled brat in my class about her ugly poodle," she cooed, massaging his ears.
His tail wagged without consent. Then he couldn't control anything anymore. It all came boiling out from inside. His tongue lunged for her face, covering everything in loving slobber. I'll miss you! he whined then ran back to his master.
Ethan towered over her, even when he took a knee to try to meet her eye-to-eye. "And I'm sure Ginger will miss you too."
"Yeah, the thing is… I'm not sure if that's true."
"And why is that?"
Pointing a wavy finger, she sort of chuckled at the snoozing kitten cradled in Ethan's arm. "Because it looks like to me she has no problem sleeping me off a goodbye."
Ginger opened her eyes. "Meow," she meowed.
So was that supposed to be a bye? Well, whatever it was, Layla noogied Ginger's head and the cat almost swiped her hand off for disturbing her important nap.
"Um, are you forgetting something?"
Layla stared up for the source. Ethan had his head and eyes held high towards the sky as if expecting something very important. "No, not really," she shrugged deciding to play a little game. "I mean, I got everything I need in my bag so…"
Ethan huffed. "Oh, if I really must do it myself." Suddenly, his arm draped over her body in no time flat. Her being so light, it was easy for him to wrap her in his familiar scaly embrace.
Only, it wasn't so familiar. This time felt different for Layla, like trying diet coke instead regular coke, but in a strangely good way. There wasn't just heat radiating off of him, but inside her too. Especially when she fell to the irresistible urge to run her fingers over his silky chest feathers that coated his steel hard muscles. Then end up burying her entire face in it like it was some sort of feather pie.
Like always, Ethan purred into Layla's sensitive ears. "Until next time…" he whispered and pulled away.
Day 274
At first, the dark screen of Layla's computer had nothing but the endless swirling dots of loadingness. And throughout the entire insufferable, migraine inducing ordeal, Layla continued to drum her head against her table into a steady beat, her dead bored face never feeling any pain. Then finally color exploded her screen.
Layla did her best not to laugh at the sight bestowed before her. A large excited German velociraptor, almost the size of regular human, continued to win dominance over the laptop's camera against his master.
"Salutations, Layla!" Ethan struggled to say, pushing the canine with all his might. "One moment please, but I have an important matter to attend to."
Ethan shut off the camera and left behind a screen of darkness. However, she could still hear everything. There was a sentence that began with "Get back you insufferable little-" then the connection got screwed for a few seconds, cracking at the end.
"That's much more tolerable." Ethan appeared on screen, brushing off any loose fur off his body. Pretty noticeable rips appeared everywhere on his muscle shirt, but hoped Layla would never notice, which she kind of did, but decided not to point out.
"Now, shall we catch up on- Shakespeare, refrain from consuming that!" He launched himself off his rolling chair and rushed off screen, and Layla watched the chair roll farther and farther away.
This might take a while.
Log: Dogs and Cats
At first, I was afraid for Shakespeare and Ginger. Despite my knowledge of pet care, it was meaningless without true experience. It was a possibility that they may have ended up dead in my care for the first week.
But Layla helped me in my struggled. She-
(*Bark! Bark!)
Excuse my friend. She-
(*Bark!)
She-
(*Meow)
All right, fine! You two have broken me! I'll take you guys on a walk!
(*Bark!)
And Ginger, no longer will you sleep on my head this time. This time, I implore you-
(*Groooooooowl)
Never mind. Forgive me. Do as you wish.
Review if you care! :D