(Harper's collars look like this gorgeous pup's collar.)

I had managed to coax Piper back into the carrier with more of the blue treats and a reminder that she had a soft blanket inside. She climbed in, rubbing against the blanket, and then completely covering herself. Concerned at first, the small happy chittering followed by a soft snore made me less so.

It was still baffling how a creature that made her own heat wanted things to cover herself. Should the blanket be removed? What if she overheated?

"She'll be fine," Yellow assured me, waving as we left the shop. *~*

With Piper's carrier on my hip, the same way I'd entered the store, I started taking boxes into the house. She snores lightly until the last trip when I slammed the door with my tail.

A whimper came from the carrier. "Oh, sh*t, I'm so sorry, Pipes." I set it down on the floor, unzipping the front. Piper glared at me from inside, but pulled the blanket back up, and flopped back down. "Sorry."

I started to put the different things away, deciding to make her kennel last. It was much bigger than before, with a built-in bed, and an extra water bowl. Her main water bowl would be in the kitchen. Yellow had been upset when I got them, handing Fluffykins a water bottle that he easily opened and sipped from. But I was worried, what if Piper didn't know how to use one? No, a bowl was best until I knew for sure.

Looking at the time, I frowned at how late it was, my stomach grumbling. I hadn't eaten in nearly four days, a little longer than I should go, but work had been so busy! A quick glance at Piper's diet restrictions, and I decided on a salad for us both.

I heard Piper leave her carrier, and wander around the living room, but molting season almost came early as I felt a little paw on my leg. I forced a smile as I looked down, wondering how she had moved so quietly.

The human's teeth still made me a bit scared, but it hadn't tried to bite me yet. However, the way it pulled back it's lips, showing it's teeth in what I could only assume was a smile, didn't help my nerves.

It whimpered, but stiffened when I reached down, and picked her up. "Hungry, little one?" I showed her the mixed salad topped with grilled meat and some beans; my favorite. Since it didn't seem to have anything in it to hurt her, I decided to make her one. "Daddy made dinner, don't worry." I chuckled at that absurdity, but I'd called myself Arlo's dad, so why not her's?

She gripped my arm tightly as I walked, leaning into me, and not looking down. "Not a fan of heights? That can't really be helped." I was almost twelve feet, even holding her in my arms was still high.

She whimpered, and pressed back into me. "Maybe you'll feel better in here?" I set her down in a chair much like a hatchling's eating chair. Yellow had assured me that Fluffykins loved his. But Piper pulled at the straps, chittering at them. "You'll have to get used to it, you're not eating on your own, and making a mess somewhere." I'd learned that lesson with Arlo, his favorite hiding place for food had been under my bed. It always left a mess as he'd save some for later, much later. It would cause the whole house to stink!

I didn't know if her kind liked to store things away like that, but I wasn't risking it. I put down the plate, and handed her a small fork. Oddly, human mimicking abilities mean they could learn to use simple tools. "Like this," I said, showing her a few times, bringing food to my mouth.

She snorted, grabbing her fork, and taking a big bite. Someone must have owned her before her abuser for her to know how to use a fork. Her face scrunched, and she reached inside her mouth, pulling out a bean. She held it as she chewed and swallowed. Then she stuck out her tongue and threw the bean onto the floor.

"Piper!" I stood to get the food, and she cringed away. "Good girl, good girl," my hands were stroking her ears. "We don't throw food, I mean-" There was no way for her to understand.

I took her paw, gently leading it to another bean. She glanced between me and the plate before picking it up. "Good girl," I praised, guiding her paw over my other hand. There was another moment of confusion, but she dropped the bean. "Good girl." I tilted my head, and tossed the bean into my mouth.

She giggled that bell sound again, but settled into eating alongside me. A routine followed, she would make a sound, hand me a bean, and I'd throw it into my mouth and catch it. She would laugh, and it would start all over again.

She huffed when there were no more beans, but ate quietly until she pushed the plate away. "Full," I wondered, she was underweight, eating a full portion may not happen for a while. "That's ok, good girl, I'll be done soon."

It was quiet for a bit, but my pet began to whine, and fidget, pressing her legs together, and pulling at the table portion of her chair. "Almost done, then we'll have fun." I promised, finishing my food, and taking our dishes to the sink. She continued to whine as I washed everything. "Please, Pipes, I'm almost done."

*Harper liked the salad, the beans she hated. I love salads for dinner. Does anyone else like salads?*

*I think Harper is being loud for a reason. Does anyone have any ideas what that reason could be?*