The creature moved through the brush, stealthily and sleek. It was almost as if the wind itself was parting the leaves and branches to allow it passage. It’s sweet scent lingered as it passed, earthy, and warm. She crouched lower as she watched it, her heart was beating in her chest so loudly, she was afraid it would hear her and give away her presence. Slowly, she moved as silently as she could, stalking ever closer as the intruder moved closer and closer to her house. 

Her view narrowed down to almost a tunnel, she could almost taste the creature; her prey. The creature stilled almost as if sensing her. Tensing, she knew she had to protect what was hers. Springing up, she ran at the creature with a howl of rage…

 

Ugh! Ezza stomped her foot in frustration. This was the third pile of puke she had found today. She could hear the running of small feet towards the bedroom.

Momma!

“Tixxis stay back.” Ezza said stepping over the puddle and heading towards the door to stop her daughter from coming in. “Cameron! I found another one, can you keep them away?” 

She heard Cameron come down the hall.

“Come on you two away from the bedroom for now.” Cameron said. 

“Okay Daddy. Come Tiks.” Nigel Su said holding out his hand. Tixxis held his hand and followed him down the hall back towards the living room. 

Ezza could hear Cameron yelling at the boys to stop shoving food down each other’s shirts as she closed the door. They’re trouble-makers like their Father, Ezza sighed to herself in exasperation. She went into the bathroom and gathered some cleaning supplies from under the sink. After she had finished cleaning up, she went looking for Pepper. 

 

She found her whining to herself under the dining room table. She had thick saliva coming from her mouth, and her eyes were red. As if that wasn’t enough unlike Pepper to tell Ezza something was wrong, Pepper was getting mean with the children. Ezza knelt by the table as Pepper growled at her.

“Zas won’t be home for hours. Go, I can handle the kids.” Cameron said crouching down beside her, and looking at Pepper. 

“Are you sure? They are a lot to handle. Especially Yara and Xias.” Ezza said a little worried about Cameron’s welfare if she did go.

“Pretty Baby, they are exact copies of your Boy Toy, if I can handle him and put him in his place, I’m sure I can do it with these two. Now go. The poor thing looks dreadful.” Cameron said glancing over at the two boys whispering together on the couch quietly.

That’s never a good sign, he thought as he raced over.

 

 

Ezza sat in the waiting room at the vet clinic. It was nicely furnished for animals, a little uncomfortable for humans though. She sat on the bench by the fish tank and watched as people came after her and were taken in. Ezza was getting frustrated, why wasn’t Pepper being looked at? Huffing in frustration, she watched as the next person came in. She watched him closely as he made his way up to a small machine, punched a few buttons, and then he began looking into a vending machine. A short while later, A man dressed in a clinic uniform came out from the back and led him and his dog inside a room. Sighing, she got up to see what all this was about.

The machine had a screen that said WELCOME on it. Nothing else was there, no buttons, nothing. Hestitantly reaching out, she touched the screen and it flashed.

Ezza blinked as it asked for her name. Shrugging she touched the letter keys on the screen to spell it out. Then Pepper’s when it asked for her pet’s name. Finally it asked the species and then the breed. Ezza wasn’t sure what Peppers breed was. She touched the button that said Mutt-mixed breed. Hopefully, that was right. The screen then asked her to PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY, A TECHNICIAN WILL BE WITH YOU SHORTLY. Then it directed her towards the vending machine. 

Ezza laughed at herself as she stood in front of the vending machine.

This is exactly what everyone else had done as well. Simple minded creatures who follow orders, no matter which planet we’re from, she thought. She spotted a wellness treat in the case. MAKE YOUR PET FEEL BETTER IN ONE BITE, the tag read. Ezza selected it and popped her card in to pay. Then she heard her name called. Turning she saw a small petite brunette woman in clinic clothes. She was bent down talking to Pepper. Ezza came over, and was welcomed to the clinic. 

She followed Pepper who followed the dark haired vet into a room. Pepper was ushered onto an examination table, and then the exam began. The woman looked closely at Pepper, and checked her coat. It was glossy and soft to the touch. Then she opened her mouth trying to avoid the gooey saliva, and flashed a light into Peppers eyes. She took a swab of the saliva and then excused herself from the room to check it out.

Ezza pet Pepper who had been let down for a few moments. They had been asked to wait out in the lobby while the Vet ran tests. Trying to tell her it was going to be alright, she felt a little lost. The Vet came back and led them back into the room, and ushered Pepper back onto the table again. She got even closer to Pepper’s hide, and began to look at it more thoroughly.

“What is it?” Ezza asked.

“Well, it would seem like your dog is suffering from an infection from a Squirrel bite. Nasty little critters in actuality, cute to look at from a distance though.” The Vet said checking Pepper over very slowly. “Ha! Found it. I’ll disinfect it, and bandage it. I’ll also give her some antibiotics which should clear up the infection. I see you found our treat corner. Pepper’s in pretty good health otherwise, just don’t give her too many of those at a time.”

Ezza clutched the bag to her person, and watched as Pepper was treated. Thank goodness it was easily fixable, if something had been really wrong, she didn’t know how to break it to the kids, let alone Zas. He would be devastated.  After the vet had left, Pepper looked a thousand times better, and she should have for the price she’d had to pay for the treatment. Dang dog had better be made of gold, and rare oxygen! Ridiculous pricing, Ezza thought to herself as she and Pepper made their way to the car. 

Arriving home, Ezza found it strangely quiet.