This creature was odd, but he had gotten me clothes, and a lot of other stuff. The cart was full of things that were too small for him. We got into line, and soon he were talking to Yellow again.

"Hi!" The boy jumped, trying to see over the counter, Yellow hissed short and picked up him up. He ran across the counter, looking at me. "He got you clothes, I'm glad because you wanted them. But you're going to be hot if his place is anything like Yellow's."

"You're wearing shorts." I blurted.

He looked down, and nodded. "I found a pair in Yellow's bag, and put them on because you didn't like when I was naked. No one has ever cared before." He shrugged like it was normal to go without clothes. It was not!

A hiss interrupted us, and the boy smiled widely at Yellow. "That means she wants my help."

"You can understand her," I turned in the large child seat I was in toward the boy who was jumping into the cart and gathering the least heavy stuff.

He chuckled, "A few words, can't say any of it though." He put a few clothes on the counter, Yellow taking them gently, patting his head once. He only smiled wider, and went back to gathering stuff.

He stopped at the package with the necklace, "It's pretty. Lucky,'' he pouted, "The collars Yellow got me where black cloth ones. He showed off a strap at his neck and wrist, both having a loop of metal.

"Collars?" I squealed, pulling my hood down lower.

"Yeah, and these are pretty." Yellow gave a squawk, and an impatient flip of her hand. "Sorry," the boy turned toward her, smiling showing all his teeth as he passed over the collar.

"But why do I need a collar?" I asked, hand around my neck.

"Because youre a pet," he said, tone telling me that should be obvious.

"But my last one was so tight," I said miserably, my neck was still red.

"not sure why," He said with a shrug, showing me the looseness of his collar. "But collars are good. They put our name and stuff on it so if we get lost we get to go home," he explained, tugging up the last thing he could. "They keep us safe," he said with a grunt of effort.

He pointed at a large box, letting out a firm no. Shockingly, Yellow seemed to understand, and lifted him back into the counter. He rubbed his cheek against her briefly, and returned to my side.

"Safe?" I repeated. The one before hadn't cared about my safety, she just used the collar to yank me around.

"See," he tugged his own collar around, showing some type of lettering. "This is what she calls me. But I can't read it. I've tried to say it." He chuckled, sitting down and hanging his feet off the edge, kicking into the air. "Fluffykins."

"Blue calles me Piper and Good Girl, sometimes Bad girl." She sighed, "I don't know what any of that means.

"I know Good means good. And Bad means bad, but not the rest. Maybe Piper is what he's decided to call you?"

"But I have a name. It's Harper not Piper." I sighed it was so unfair that he renamed me. I gave a embarrassed laugh, rubbingy temples. "Im sorry, I never asked your name."

I groaned as he said Fluffykins. "No. What do other humans call you?"

He shrugged, "Don't meet many humans that ask. Most are too grumpy. Or their owners are in a hurry."

"Didnt anyone ever call you anything?" I huffed. I had been here so long, but I still remembered my name. "My name is Harper."

He thought a moment, resting back on his hands. "Robbie," he said, "Someone used to call me Robbie, I think." He shrugged, "I guess you can call me Robbie, too. But I like Fluffykins more."

I groaned, putting my head in my hands. Was this guy this out of it, or was it Stockholm syndrome? How could he stay with creatures and be happy? He was renamed and made to wear collars! They didn't care about our safety. Blue would hurt me eventually.

I dropped my head in my hand, bumping off my hard cast. He's taken me to get help. Maybe he wouldn't hurt me?

He slipped on the wrist collar. It's just a bracelet, I thought, trying to make myself feel better. He put on the actual collar. It's just a necklace. I told myself, pulling on the beads, still frowning. It marked me as a pet, but maybe being a pet would be different than whatever I was before?

Glancing back at Robbie asking for blueberries, I gave a soft smile. If he was so happy, maybe Blue wouldn't be so bad?

He leaned forward and scratched me behind the ear, it felt weird whenever it happened, but it was gentle. It wasn't like before, I pressed into that hand.

"Please," I reached out my hand toward the bag, it had been a long time since I had fresh food, or any food. He raised his lip, flashing his sharp teeth in a smile, as he handed me a couple.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Robbie complained lightly, "I only got two." I handed him another one of mine.

*The bold words are Harper and Robbie's best attempted and repeating Blue and Yellows language. Of course, it doesn't sound quite right.*

*Please vote and comment!*

*Any plot ideas would be greatly appreciated.*