Tale of a Pup: Part Time at Retail

[Isabelle]

While Isabelle and Digby took turns taking showers, Rosie headed out to get some breakfast. By the time the two of them were finished, she was already back with a trio of muffins. The three of them sat in the circular table located in the kitchen area, Digby and Isabelle sat across from each other, while Rosie sat between them. The cat was eagerly chowing down, while the two dogs in the room were taking their time, averting their gaze. Finally, Isabelle spoke up.

“I’m sorry.” She said, mournfully. “The omniverse has been nothing but chaotic since I got here. It’s been one thing after another, I just lost track of things.”

“That doesn’t sound like you.” He responded. “You’ve managed the chaos of town hall so masterfully, it’s odd for the Omniverse to get you down.”

She finally looked up from her muffin to check if he was kidding with her, but was met with his gaze. He was looking at her, his expression was dead serious. She felt her face grow hot, she veered away from eye contact.

“I wasn’t that masterful.” She said, raising a paw trying to hide the red in her face.

“Look, Isabelle. I believe you. I doubt you would have done that intentionally.” He said, as he reached and took a sip from his coffee. “I guess getting taken here must have been rough. I forget sometimes that even you have limits.”

Her face was scorching like lava. She knew her brother thought the world of her, but she could never get used to him vocalizing it.

She was never used to compliments really; at least not for things she personally achieved.

Digby quickly picked up on her sister’s embarrassment and decided to spare her more of it. He turned towards the cat in the room.

“So who’s your friend here? I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Yes you have.” Isabelle cocked her head. “She lived in our village, remember?”

“Yeah!” The blue cat cried out, spilling muffin crumbs in front of her. “I’m Rosie! Don’t you remember? I hung out with Ai all the time and I won the fishing tournament the previous season!”

Digby looked at her longer, squinting his eyes as he leaned in forward.

“Nope, never seen you before in my life.”

Rosie, devastated, forlornly turned her attention to her muffin, slowly chewing on her food as a contemplated being forgotten. However, her emotional downward spiral was interupted be a comforting canary yellow paw. She looked up towards Isabelle who was giving her a warm smile. This was enough to raise the cat’s spirits as she smiled back and then went back to devouring her muffin at a “normal” pace.

Isabelle turned to her brother.

“So what have you been up to outside...” On second thought, she didn’t want to remind her brother of earlier. However, lucky for her, he answered her question without incident.

“Oh, I’ve been working on starting a village, much like what we had back home.”

“Really?” Isabelle said, intrigued by her brother’s oddly ambitious goal. He was always known to be so laid back.

“Yeah, a place for our kind to live and be secure. I’ve been in contact with Tom Nook.”

“Nook is in the Omniverse?” Izzy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah! He’s been the lead real estate developer in Ambrosia. We’ve been communicating on establishing in a patch of land just outside the main city, a place that’s quiet.”

“That’s incredible! And a good idea to boot!” Isabelle exclaimed. She was impressed, and a bit proud. Her brother had been using his time wisely.

“Yeah, actually I was kind of hoping..” Suddenly, he averted his gaze again as he rubbed his paws together. “I was kind of hoping you and your friend here could join me. I mean, you don’t have lead the place or anything, but I’d love if we both called the same town home, like how it was before the Omniverse.”

Isabelle went cold. She knew the answer immediately to Digby’s request, but she didn’t want to disappoint him after so soon from what just happened. In the end, she couldn’t lie.

“I’m sorry, but I already have a house in the Omniverse.”

“Oh, right, the Ashen Steppes house.” He responded, rubbing the fur on his chin. Isabelle wondered how he knew about the geode, but he responded before she could ask. “Well, I really hope you consider it. The Ashens is far from the safest place to live. Just please give it some thought.”

Suddenly, Rosie shot up. She had finally finished her muffin, and she had to finish a thought she had earlier. It was imperative.

“Tom Nook!” She yelled with a big ol’ smile on her face as she swallowed the last bit. “I saw him on Twitter!”

“Nook uses twitter?” Isabelle asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, we communicate there often.” Cited Digby, reaffirming Rosie’s claim.

Isabelle just had to take a look at this. She pulled out her phone and pulled up twitter. Before she could search for Nook, she couldn’t help but notice a news story that was trending, one she couldn’t help take note of.

“Ashen Steppes Invaded! Situation Grim!” It read.

How long had this been going on? Is her home in danger? What’s happening with the geode? She needed to investigate, but what about Rosie and Digby? She wouldn’t put them in danger for her curiousity.

By now, the other two had noticed the look on her face.

“What’s going on, Izzy?” Said Rosie concerned.

Isabelle, silently pulled out her key and slid it towards her cat companion.

“Rosie, go get your stuff, get ready to leave. Digby? Stay here, I’ll be back for you two.”

“Whatever it is, I can help.” Offered Digby.

“Look, my house might be in danger. I just need to check in on it, make sure it’s okay.” She said, her face full of concern. “Don’t worry about me, I’m a prime, I’ll make it out. You two just stay here, I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Isabelle stood up and activated the recall station countdown. Suddenly, Rosie wrapped her arms around her, giving her a big hug.

“Come back to me safe, okay?” Rosie requested.

“I will, don’t worry.” Izzy reassured.

From over the shoulder of her companion, her eyes met Digby’s who simply nodded. It was clear he was trying to bury his concern. He was fighting to keep it from showing on his face.

“Stay safe.” He said simply.

To be continued in “Tale of a Pup: In the Doghouse”