Chapter Three

Lyla's Point Of View

"Ben, sit down please. Elisa, stop trying to eat Nalla's feathers. Nick, Don't fall out the window." I looked back at my pets.

Ben was jumping over the seats, exploring everything. Elisa stuck her paw through Nalla's cage's bars and was trying to reach a feather. She succeed once and put it in her mouth. But I grabbed it from her before she could swallow it.

Nick has his head stuck out the window and his tongue is out, enjoying the wind against his face. It was Dylan's idea.

He said that dogs like it. But I'm worried that he might fall out.

Sammi meowed in protest as I kept moving around. She was asleep in my lap, but my movement woke her up.

"Sorry Sammi." I apologized and scratched behind her ears while she purred and fell back asleep.

Nalla's cage was seat belted in a seat. She stood peacefully on her little swing in his cage. For a bird, she is super mature.

Jameson and Peter were securely on the ground, and they haven't caused much trouble. I'm pretty sure they are both eating as well.

Dylan was driving us all back to my apartment. I saw him stifle a laugh.

"What? What's so funny?" I asked as I felt a grin creep up on my face.

"You sound like a mom." He glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road. There wasn't much traffic anyways.

Philadelphia was a little crazy at times, but I live on a calm street.

"Well, they are my children now." I shrugged and looked back at the road.

Nalla squawked, causing me to turn around to see what was the matter.

"Elisa! Don't eat the feathers!"

—-

"One two. Three four, five. Six. Where's Elisa?" I sighed after the numbers weren't right.

"Found him." Dylan snickered.

I looked and saw Elisa jumping around on the car's roof.

"How-Whatever. Elisa, come here." I opened up my arms for her to jump. She did so and started licking my face,

"Uh, I thought she was a cat?" Dylan asked from beside me.

"She's special." I laughed and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Alright little dude." Dylan tried to pry Elisa off me. She meowed loudly and held on tight.

"She's alright." I reassured Dylan as Elisa sat down in my arms.

"Alright, Nick and Ben." I grabbed their leashes and wrapped them around my wrist. "Dylan, can you get Peter and Jameson?" I asked him.

"Yep." He held them by their cages' handles.

"Uh, now..." I looked at Sammi and Nalla and Dylan and I's full hands. Elisa seemed to see the problem and jumped out of my arms and onto Nick's back. Nick seemed to sigh but didn't to try get him off. "That works." I smiled.

So Sammi is now where Elisa used to be and Nalla was in my other free hand.

"We'll come back for the other stuff later." Dylan told me as he locked the car.

I nodded and walked towards the apartment. Sammi fell asleep in my arms. I rolled my eyes at her and smiled. "Sleepy head." I teased quietly.

—-

I sat Nalla down softly on the ground and then dug my keys out from my pocket. After I unlocked the door, I swung it open so everyone could see it and picked Nalla back up.

"Welcome to your new home everyone." I smiled proudly, watching the ones that could run inside.

Ben and Nick ran inside, dragging me as well.

"Woah, slow down." I laughed, stumbling inside, trying not to restrain them too much.

Dylan walked inside behind me, closing the door.

I set Sammi down on the floor and she joined Elisa roaming around my apartment.

It's decently big, but not enough for seven pets. There is a park down the road, so that'll be helpful with the dogs.

I set my purse down by the kitchen and smiled as I saw Sammi had already made herself comfy on the couch. Elisa was rubbing herself against a plant pot.

I rolled my eyes. What a strange cat.

Ben was sniffing around with Nick sitting still, watching me. I sat Nalla's cage on the tv stand for now. Elisa lunged at Nalla's cage, but I caught her in midair.

"Not so fast Mister." I told him and sat him down on the sofa. Dylan sat Peter and Jameson down on the kitchen counter.

"I'm gonna go grab the rest of the stuff." He told me, already walking towards the door.

"Wait, don't you need my help?" I stopped him, pulling my attention away from Elisa.

"Nah. I'm a strong man, remember?" Dylan smiled arrogantly and flexed his muscles. I'm gonna have to admit, Dylan has worked on his muscles a lot lately. "Besides, you need to get the seven of them settled in."

"Thank you." I told him sincerely.

Dylan smiled proudly and walked back to the car.

"Alrighty, Peter, Nalla, and Jameson." I mumbled to myself. I picked their cages up and walked up the stairs to my room. I set them down on the desk a couple of feet away from my bed.

Peter was on the left, Nalla in the middle and Jameson on the right.

"I'll let you guys out in a little bit." I promised them, bending down to their level.

I started looking around, already regretting not buying the dogs and cats a bed. I have no carpet, so it probably isn't very comfortable. Well, there is the couch, but it isn't that big.

I pursed my lips, making a mental note to buy them beds.

I walked over to Nalla, Peter, and Jameson's cage.

I brought their water containers out of their cages and filled them up. I placed them back in their respectful places afterwards.

Sammi stretched and yawned while Elisa jumped on top of Jimin.

Chuckling to myself, I realized I adopted two cats with completely opposite personalities. This will be interesting.

I heard a knock on my door.

"Dylan." I breathed and walked to the door.

I opened the door and there was Dylan, balancing 6 bags of food on one arm. His other arm was filled with bags of toys and bedding.

"Why hello there Lyla. Nice to see you." Dylan grunted sarcastically. I hefted 4 of the bags off of Dylan and helped him inside.

"How did you manage to get all of that in one trip?" I plopped the bags down in the kitchen.

Dylan set everything down on the living room floor. "I have my ways." He stood up straight and stretched, his back cracking. Then his phone rang. "One second." He told me and walked off with his phone, talking to whoever called.

I bit my lip and fidgeted with my fingers.

Please don't say you have to leave. Please stay.

I saw Sammi pick up her head from the couch and looked at me. Ben stopped running around and walked over to my side, also looking up at me.

Dylan walked back over to me, looking down at his phone. "Hey Ly, I gotta go. My classes are starting early today." Dylan sighed and looked up at me.

My hopes dropped. "Oh. Ok." I looked down, reminding myself to keep a smile on my face.

"You'll be alright by yourself, right?" Dylan placed a hand on my shoulder, double checking.

No. I miss you every time you leave.

"Yep. Everything will be fine." I forced a smile.

"Ok." Dylan smiled as well and walked to the door. "Peace." He told me, holding up a peace sign.

"Dork." I replied, waving him off. Dylan started to walk away. "Wait!" I lunged forward.

Dylan turned around. "Yeah?"

"When do you think we can hang out again?" I asked him hopefully, standing up straight.

Dylan grimaced. "Probably not for a while. We are going to this police training boot camp. It lasts for a week and a half. Plus all of the studying that goes with it. It might be two or so weeks." Dylan explained, waving his hands slightly.

I wanted to cry.

"Ok. Have fun." I smiled, gesturing to the door for him.

I felt tears prickle at my eyes. I kept smiling to keep the tears hidden, everything screaming for me to cry..

"Bye." Dylan smiled, stepping out into the hallway of my apartment complex.

"Bye." I whispered, shutting the door and locking it.

I hung my head and felt the tears fall. My bottom lip quivered as I sniffed.

All of my pets watched me as I walked over to Nalla's cage and opened the door.

I did the same with Peter and Jameson's cage. Jameson walked out slowly, the first of the three.

Peter nudged my hand that was resting on the table.

I took the hint and picked him up.

Jameson squeaked and I picked him up as well.

As I walked, I wiped away some of my tears. Nalla flew onto my shoulder and nuzzled my face with her head. I smiled sadly, hoping it would reassure her.

Once I got into the living room, I sat down on the floor next to the bags.

Sammi hopped off the couch and walked over to me. Elisa also jumped off the couch and began walking between my legs, nuzzling against them. Nick whined and plopped his head in my lap.

Ben tilted his head as he watched me sniff.

I cautiously sat Peter and Jameson down on the floor, eyeing Elisa.

Elisa crouched down low, staring at Peter.

Namjoon squeaked.

And Elisa pounced.

"No!" I gasped and lunged forward to catch Elisa.

I missed her.

But Peter wasn't touched.

Nalla saved him

She had squaked at Elisa, flying in front of Peter.

Elisa inched forward and Nalla flew forward in retaliation. Elisa scrambled backwards and I finally got to grab her.

"No Elisa." I scolded softly, not really having the energy to be a mom. "He is your friend now. Not someone to pounce at."

Elisa meowed.

I pursed my lips and sat her down slowly. I watched her carefully, making sure she didn't go for Peter again.

Elisa laid down and outstretched her paw towards Peter.

Peter hesitated for a bit, but walked closer to her paw and sniffed it, then nuzzled it with his head.

"Good." I whispered. They better get along.

That's when I felt something shift in my lap.

I frowned and looked down, but I immediately smiled softly.

Jameson was curled up in my lap, eyeing everyone else and shaking softly.

"Aw. You alright little James?" I asked him softly, picking him up so he is eye level with me. He didn't respond. "Go on." I sat him by the others. "Go hang out with them."

But Jameson quickly scurried back into my lap.

I giggled.

"Or you can stay here." I picked him up and held him in my arms. I stroked him repeatedly.

After a few minutes of petting Jameson, I decided to do introductions.

"Gather around everyone." I said softly, still sad about Dylan.

Everyone formed a circle in front of me, with Jameson still in my lap.

"Hello guys. You probably think I'm weird because I'm talking to animals. But I don't really care because you are my only company right now." I sighed and looked around at them all.

Peter has made himself comfortable on top of Elisa's head. I did see Nalla eyeing the two off to the side.

"Well, my name is Lyla Evans. I'm an only child." My voice broke off as I said the last sentence. My memories collided with me.

-No! He's still out there! You can't stop! He is alive!-

-Miss, Drew's body was found in a cabin.-

-I'm sorry to announce, but Anna Evans has died in combat.-

I swallowed back my sob. But the tears weren't stopped.

Ben licked them off my face.

"Thanks buddy." I mumbled before clearing my throat. "Anyways, I live by myself, and, yeah. That's it." I said, shrugging and looking down at Jameson.

"This is Everyone, Jameson. Everyone, this is Jameson. He is a bunny." I introduced him to the other pets.

I stroked Nalla's head.

"This is Nalla. This is everyone. Nalla is a parrokie." I did the same introduction for everyone.

After everyone was done I went to the next thing.