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Evangeline tried not to gawk at the parade of beings bustling about their own business as she shopped. Tall, short, fat, thin, hard-shelled, scaled, soft-skinned, and furred, the collection of beings ran the gamut of sizes, shapes, and colors. She saw no Sivuul and was grateful for it.
“I need food for Poppet,” she said.
Still puzzled by the practice of having coddled pets, Horas expressed surprise at seeing a storefront sign indicating it specialized in pet supplies.
“This keeping of pets must be an imported affectation,” he commented.
Sarus shrugged. A culture with a perennial food shortage did not keep pets. Nor were pets permitted on the military outpost where he’d been stationed. However, it appeared that his people were sufficiently affluent to import pets, pet food, and the accouterments to indulge in such frivolous interests.
They followed their mate into the store, ever ready to defend and protect her. A clerk approached and greeted them with a wide, toothy smile. Sarus hissed and placed himself in front of Evangeline. Horas drew his ever-present blade. The clerk, not Ahn’hudi, cringed and backed away in terror.
Turning on her heel to face them, Evangeline slapped Horas’ arm and snapped, “Stop it! I’m perfectly safe.”
She turned to the clerk who watched with four wide eyes and smiled, baring her blunt teeth. “I apologize for my mates’ unwarranted aggression.” She tossed them a disgruntled glance. “I need some supplies for my cat. Do you carry such supplies?”
“Cat?” the clerk echoed, its voice high-pitched and whistling.
“A small, furry, carnivorous animal from the planet Earth,” she explained as Horas sheathed his sword. “It needs a meat-based diet.”
“Ah, you have a pet carnivore,” the clerk said with a nod of understanding. “Such animals are becoming popular on this planet. Is this a companion animal or a future source of nutrition?”
“My cat is a companion animal,” she explained and tried not to feel either disgusted or annoyed by the question.
“Very well, my lady. Follow me.”
The clerk turned away and headed down an aisle. Evangeline would have fallen into step behind him but for the brawny hand that clamped over her shoulder and the big male who preceded her. She sighed with ill-repressed irritation.
“Are you guys always going to be like this?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Sarus replied.
She thought his tone rather smug.
The clerk led them to an area where products intended for carnivores were sold. She perused them, but could not read the packaging.
“I need some help here, guys.”
Sarus stood guard while Horas read and explained the packaging. She chose those she thought her cat would prefer and carried them to the cashier’s table where Horas entered the necessary information to pay for the purchase.
“You know, next time I could come here by myself,” Evangeline suggested.
“No,” both males replied.
“Ugh.”
Overhearing that exchange, the clerk had the temerity to chuckle. Evangeline ignored him.
They explored several more shops. Her eyes caught by the sparkle of jewelry, Evangeline paused to gaze at a window display. After a moment spent admiring the glittering stones and gleaming metal, she moved away with a small shake of her head.
“Do you not want such adornments?” Horas inquired. “You admired them.”
“Just because I think something’s pretty doesn’t mean I want it,” she said. “I grew up in foster care—”
“What is foster care?” Sarus asked.
Evangeline frowned and tried to think of a tidy explanation that wouldn’t invite persistent questions. Finally, she merely said, “On Earth, sometimes a child has no family of his own. My parents died when I was a child, remember?” They nodded. “When that happens, the government assigns the child to a family who are paid to provide food, clothing, and shelter. I was one of those children.”
Both males looked appalled.
