We sat in the waiting room, my new pet at my feet, sniffing the air. I felt it poke at me, little arms digging at my short's pockets. "I'm out of food," It jerked away at the sound of my voice, running under the chair.

"Is that your pet?" I looked up from my pet toward the woman that demanded an answer. My nod was enough to set her off, neck frills raised in anger. "Why does she look like that! She's filthy. You shouldn't see their ribs. And they aren't supposed to be that color," she was talking about all the bruises. "And her hair is nothing but mats, it can injure her scalp! How do you call yourself a pet owner?"

She held her own exotic pet, sitting in her arms like a hatchling. This specimen was much happier with skin all a natural color and shining hair down to its shoulder. "See, Mr. Fluffykins is how they're supposed to look. Perfectly healthy. And only coming to the vet for a checkup."

She hissed in annoyance, and her pet whined. "Momma is ok, baby, just upset." She rubbed Fluffykin's tender stomach and he made an odd sound, relaxing in her arms.

I held up my slightly webbed hand, "I just rescued her," I said softly, my pet had been leaning away as the woman got louder.

"I'm so sorry," she gasped, anger towards me completely gone. "It's just that I love animals, this species, especially. I couldn't stand to see her hurting." She apologized.

"It's fine. But you called it her?"

The new woman let go a hissy laugh, "Yes. They have male and female, like us. Yours is female. How do you not know?"

"It-she is my first," I admitted, feeling overwhelmed. "How do you know she's a she?"

She gave another laugh. "She doesn't have a mating leg."

"Huh?" She flipped her pet over in her arms, spreading his legs, "See? Mr. Fluffikins has a mating leg, yours doesn't." My Fluffikins blinked slowly, settling into his owner's arms. "There are other differences, but this is the most obvious."

"Mr. Fluffykins," a nurse called the pet's name, "I have to go," she said, "but call me if you need help," she passed over her number.

- Standing beside a metal table, I set the creature down, she shivered, but settled quickly, pulling her legs up again. "What is your name?" I wondered, reaching for her collar. She flinched, so I slowed. Hooking the collar, and giving it a little spin, I don't know why I felt hopeful; there was no name.

I sighed, head instinctually falling onto her shoulder. She stiffened, and I ignored it. She had to know touching was ok. "You wouldn't pipe down, so how about Piper? Are you my good pet, Piper?" I lifted my head and she looked at me with wide eyes.

"Pi. Pipe. Piper."

It took everything not to jump away from that squeaky voice, and instead stroke her ear, "yes, Piper, good girl." I tried to calm my breathing, "Can you talk Piper?" She didn't even look at me, freezing at the new touch.

A snicker came from behind me. "No, they can't talk. But I understand why you think so, they can mimic some sounds, like birds." A low voice met my ears and I couldn't help but jump at its suddenness, Piper pressed her face into her knees again, not looking up.

"Doctor," I sighed in relief, not sure how to calm my pet, besides to whisper, "The doctor won't hurt you pipes." I turned back to the tall green male before me. "I'm so glad you could see me. It's hard to find a human vet on short notice."

He shook his head, looking at the few notes he had on Piper. "So you just rescued her, and she was living in filth." I nodded. "Her previous owner will be charged with animal cruelty," he said simply. I really wished Piper understood that, and knew her last owner wasn't going to get away with treating her so badly.

"Are you certain you don't want to put her down? It may be kinder." That was like a weight on my shoulders. "She is severely malnourished. I can tell just by looking at her she has a few broken ribs, and a broken wrist. As well as probably something called osteoporosis."

"How do you know all this without examining her?" Why would he not want a new patient? Was she really that poorly?

"Humans need a certain diet. And what you told me she was eating and when, I doubt she had enough of what she needed." He shook his head as he walked around Piper, digging in the medicines, "I know that look. No, I don't want to put her down. I want to run tests for diseases, for vitamin deficiencies, and a pregnancy test-"

"A what?" My eyes grew wide. I just got Piper, and she could have an egg? No, I shook my head, humans don't lay eggs. What were human hatchlings called again?

"I doubt with her being in such bad shape she could carry to term. But plenty of people think they can breed humans for a quick buck. Hopefully Piper, at least, avoided that."

He turned with a tiny syringe, "But all these tests will just prove Piper has a long way to go to heal. She may not even be able to heal." He tapped the syringe, "It may be kinder for her, and you, to just end her suffering now."

I shook my head, unable to let this poor animal go. "Do the tests," I decided.

The vet looked toward the medicine in his claws, "Piper," I put a finger under her chin, careful of my nails, and lifted her head, the other hand stroking her ear. She stayed stiff, eyes wide as she looked at me. "Good girl."

She whined softly, but pressed into my touch, probably starved for it. I felt so guilty when she yelped, looking behind her in time to see a needle exit her rump.

She tried to pull away, but I held tight as she thrashed, and keened. I half expected the woman from the waiting room to barg in, and yell that something was being done wrong. But hearing Piper scream was enough punishment.

It didn't take long for her to calm, and lose consciousness.

*That is Yellow up top. Haven't figured out her name either, but Yellow is what Fluffykins calls her. I wouldn't want her mad at me.*

*Would you like to read these two chapters in Harper's P.O.V.?*