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The bug slept upon your shoulder, curled around your neck. Florian was dozing off. You, too, should have joined them in slumber by now. Your bruised and weary body demanded as much.
Yet you found yourself here, looking for your little sheep, like you couldn't live without her. And maybe you couldn't, in a world like this. But...
You let your thoughts grow silent as you continued searching the tiniest nooks and crannies that the town had to offer.
You could see a glow to your far right.
Slowly, surely, you stepped out of the small alley you'd dipped your head into. You quietly turned, silently praying that it didn't belong to the tree-ghost from before, almost forcing yourself not to look until you could resist no more...
...
...had she found more of her kind?
There were multiple lights now, all the same shade of warm orange that Mary's tail glowed. It was hard not to be cautious as you snuck closer... and closer... and...
<span class="mu-i">WHUMPH</span>
You were tackled to the ground. Panic shook your body until--
Your head was nudged into the dirt. You gasped for air, shaking your head, trying to free yourself from...
Mary! <span class="mu-i">Mary's</span> grasp!!
The little sheep loomed over you, nudging you fiercely, slowly getting off of you and baahing loudly.
As you got to your feet and reoriented a stirring Florian in your shirt pocket, the sheep took it upon herself to dance in a little circle and express the kind of joy you'd only seen from your dogs back home. Seeing her beady eyes reflecting the distant light her tail gave off, you noticed a similar kind of shine to them...
It didn't hurt to give her what you gave them, then, did it?
You crouched down and gave your sheepy friend a firm hug.
And... well, you couldn't tell for sure, but you felt that her chin on your shoulder was the best she could do for a hug back.
<><><><><>
Steele's room was dark when you returned to the inn.
Good, then, he was asleep. As you should be.
Even knowing the town's attitude towards your critters, your brain brought up the obligatory reason to be thankful. 'At least everyone is asleep, so nobody will mind the menagerie.'
You let the door slide open. Mary brushed past you and instantly began to settle down in the corner. You followed soon after, kneeling down and placing the bug by her side with Florian and his little berry soon joining him. Indiana, though he scratched at Steele's door and was clearly asking to get in, ended up having to settle for joining your creatures in a strange little neofauna pile.
Once all the creatures were together and properly asleep... you hit your mattress and fell asleep near-immediately.
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