Jesus. How much dust could really settle in just one night? Nox ran the pad of his index finger along his shop counter. It was made of wood from the nearby forest and had not been properly oiled in a few years - this was something on his to-do list. When clean, he could see his reflection on the glossy surface. However the store was old, even for Main Street, it was one of the last structures standing from years ago. The building had what he considered âcharmâ. A word many of his friends easily rolled their eyes at.
He grabbed a rag and started wiping down the surface of the counter until the dust was all but gone. Didnât do much for the shine, but at least it was clean. Every bottle lining the wall at his back had been dusted earlier. They sparkled in the morning sunlight and waited to be filled with potions.
Customers didnât usually start pouring in until the afternoon. It was a sleepy neighborhood, after all - there was little to no traffic, and thatâs exactly how Nox preferred his life. Quiet. Calm. Boring.
Grabbing a chair, he sat down and unfolded a newspaper. Yes. A newspaper. The thing made of recycled material and blurry ink. Generally, he would read stories until someone entered his shop looking for a remedy to their problems - depending on who they were would determine what type of medicine he would distribute.
There was a girl, though. She was new in town and came by every now and then. For a while there, he thought maybe she had a crush on him. Making up reasons just to see him. She did this like clockwork each week: every Thursday at 11am he knew the bell over the door would jingle and there sheâd beâŠ
The clock struck 10:55 only it wasnât the mysterious girl who entered - this time it was someone else. Someone that managed to make Nox grin even on the dullest of days.
Cieran played nervously with his hands as he walked down the smooth concrete sidewalk. He and Nox had been friends since school, but it wasn't often that Cieran stopped by the shop. Nox had always been something of a big brother to "Key Key", and he hesitated to ask Nox for help unless he needed it - if he didn't really need it, Nox would never let him hear the end of it.
Nox was also Cieran's only friend that knew about..the odd things that happened in the Neighborhood. The lights and sounds that came from the forest at night. The residents that were...not quite what they seemed. And this time, the help that Cieran needed was for one of those residents.
It was a cool morning in the Neighborhood, and a light breeze scattered the leaves on the ground and blew Cieran's long black hair out of his eyes. Cieran walked past #deleted-channel, and the smell of freshly buttered croissants made his mouth water. It was nearly tempting enough to force him to make a detour - but he continued on, resolving to return after he'd taken care of business.
Cieran approached Nox's shop, #deleted-channel. A wooden sign hung from the doorway, and the front of the shop was painted in a deep forest green. When Cieran turned the doorknob, cracking the door open, a gust of air rushed out of the shop and a complex potpurri of scents filled his nostrils. The crumbling paper of ancient tomes. Sharp notes of chemicals unknown. Rich mahogony leather. The scent of wax candles, indescribable but absolutely there, floating on top of all the rest.
Cieran entered, hearing the familiar jingle of the copper bell attached to the door frame. Light poured through the window frames, motes of dust sparkling in the cool morning air. The sun cast down onto a large, plush chair made of deep green velvet, with gold-painted-wood accents.
20:18
"Was walking past and thought I'd pop in." Cieran smiled nervously at Nox - he knew his closest friend would never buy that. The nervous smile turned into a genuine grin as he waited to see Nox's reaction to his attempt at nonchalance.
âWell look what the cat dragged in,â Nox said as his hand continued to wipe the counter for the tenth time. It was clean, but not clean enough - or was that the OCD kicking in?
He grabbed a tiny bottle from one of the shelves and set it on the counter that would never meet his high standards. His fingers filled the contents of the bottle with something purple that smelled like gasoline.
âYou know, Iâm thinking about getting a cat,â he mentioned absently while keeping his eyes on the bottle. âA black one, specifically, if I am allowed to be picky.â Nox cringed. The smell from the concoction was burning his nostrils now. âI saw one just the other night and thought about bringing out a can of tuna to entice them inside. What do you say, feel like grabbing me a can from down the street? Or maybe I should stop by the pet shop to pick up some fancy treatsâŠâ
For quite some time, Nox had been meaning to stop by the pet store, but every time he found himself looking into the window, the urge to adopt all the animals hit him hard causing him to pull away for fear heâd turn the potions shop into an animal sanctuary.
Luna wandered the streets, sniffing the air and exploring as per usual. She typically had the same route every day, she loved exploring and seeing all the people that wanted to pet her.
She passed by #deleted-channel , sneaking a half eaten croissant given by a civilian, then trotting to the magical shop. From there, the cat would look up at said shop, eat a bit of the treat before leaving it and then approach the shop. Climbing up to prop her paws up on a window, looking inside.
The shop itself was beautiful just to see from the outside. And Luna saw two people within, her tail slowly moving from side to side in curiosity.
From the corner of his eye, Nox noticed a small furry face in the bottom window of the shopâs creaky front door. A black cat with long whiskers staring at him. Weirder things had happened in the Neighborhood, yet this encounter made it to the top of his list - what were the odds a black cat, the one he specifically wanted, would appear out of thin air.
He handed Key Key the vile of purple liquid and stepped away from their conversation. Nox approached the front door cautiously, turning the doorknob slowly as to not frighten the feline away. When the door opened he bent at his knees, extending his hand toward the animal to see if the cat would approach his fingers.
Luna would watch with even more curiosity as the person with hair colored to match her coat approached the door. She would retreat down onto her fours and back away from the door as it opened. After all, he was a stranger!
When he knelt down and extended his hand forward, Luna cautiously approached his hand. She gave his fingertips a few sniffs before she deemed him safe and friendly, then proceeding to rub her head into his hand. She accepted him!
The tips of his fingers gently stroked the top of the catâs head, allowing a set of clean fingernails to dig into their fur just right. Slowly at first, then he let the center of his palm rub against the animalâs face and ears. He continued to caress the feline in hopes it would begin to purr for him. Was he doing it right? At any moment he expected the cat to change its mind and give him a good scratchâŠ
âNow the question is, little kitty, if I stand up, are you going to run away or follow me inside?â Nox was grinning now. A first, since it was before 10am on a weekday, and he still had loads of OCD dusting to do within the shop.
Luna allowed the affection, she didn't get it often like this after all! A purr began to stir within the animal, and she started to walk about in front of him and rub against his leg.
When he asked the question, it almost seemed like she knew what he was saying. She would curiously look into the shop past him, as he pet her still. A small meow would emit from her, one of caution and question.
Nox gave one good, long pet down the catâs back before standing to a full height. He towered over the small animal, careful to not step on its paws as he turned and opened the door for them both. He walked to the counter and grabbed his dusty rag.
âHere kitty, kittyâŠâ Nox bent at his knees once more, though instead of using his hand to coax the cat to him, this time he used the rag. Dragging it across the wooden floorboards back and forth. Curious if the cat would be playful and pounce or if theyâd think he was an idiot moving a piece of cloth on the ground for entertainment.
The feline watched as the human stood up, letting out a curious mew. She watched him as he opened the door, moving so that he could step easily and not worry about harming her. She took a few steps to the doorframe, sniffing it before she entered.
Once she finally entered, Luna would sniff the ground and the nearby shelves. When Nox called out to her her head swivled, then seeing the rag being moved back and forth. Her hunting instincts kicked in, and she ran over to the counter. She stayed on the floor, her pupils growing huge...after a few seconds of her head tracking the rag, she jumped and pounced on it!
âExcellent,â he said as the cat pounced on the moving rag. His hand stroked its head once more, enjoying the way the black fur felt against the calloused skin of his fingers. âYou are no boring creature, are you?â
Nox scooped the dainty animal into one of his arms just to set it down on the counter. From this vantage, the cat would be able to see the entire store without being accidentally stepped on.
âWith no collar, eitherâŠâ Nox realized he now had a genuine reason to visit the pet shop down the street, yet he knew he was getting ahead of himself. What if the cat belonged to someone already? He moved his index finger around on the counter, which was dust-free, and waited to see if the cat would swipe at the movements or grow bored of his efforts, seeking to jump off the counter to explore the shop or stay with him for more attention.
The cat enjoyed the attention for sure, being a rather curious animal at that too. Any chance she had she was sniffing around.
When Luna was placed on the counter to seenthe whole store, she let out another tiny meow but allowed it. She had no collar, assuming that meant she had no owner.
As Luna started looking in various random spots from her spot, her attention snapped to the moving finger. Her body lowered, and her eyes went wide. Her rear started to wiggle, like she was winding up an attack!
It was clear the cat was going to pounce. He could tell by the number of hunting wiggles its rear made. Impressive, to say the least, which made him smile without warning - that too, was oddly impressive.
Nox gradually slid his index finger over the counter, creating circles to entice the cat to attack his hand.
âLetâs see how hard you use your claws, or if youâre a nice kitty that doesnât bite.â To him, it was worth the effort to get scratched. The moment Nox set eyes on the black cat, he knew she was here to stay. Bizarre things like this always happened to Nox. He had a way of knowing when someone or something would enter his life, and if he was meant to help or set said thing free.
He leaned against the counter, muscles tense, his hand waiting for the cat to make its next move.
Of course, she didn't want to ACTUALLY hurt him. Luna would wind up quite a bit more before she suddenly ran forward and attacked!! Her toe beans were the only thing she used, bapping at his finger over and over until he retreated it.
Luna then shortly after that stood back upright and licked her paw, cleaning herself up before looking to him and his hand again. What was he going to do next?
He let the cat swipe at his fingers a few times before taking his hand away, the action was gentle from the feline, which told him this cat was a lover and not a fighter. Nox propped his elbow on the counter and leaned into the dust-free surface.
âWhere did you come from, little kittyâŠâ he said quietly.
Hours went by. Customers shuffled in and out of the store. During the afternoon, a few adults made their way to the stray. They wanted to pet the cat, to which Nox did not say no - he was curious if the animal would allow others to touch them or not.
The cat had made herself comfortable on the counter as hours went by. She had laid down in various positions, napped a few times, and even explored a little when she wasn't asleep.
As customers wanted to pet her, she let them. Except one guy tried to pet her and he was just too rough, she actually swiped his hand away. Otherwise, she was pretty relaxed, until she got hungry. Upon waking up, Luna would jump down and start sniffing around for any food.
Key Key took the vial from Nox, holding the purple liquid up to the light so that he could see glistening silver swirls moving through the potion. I have no idea what I'm looking for... he thought to himself, and chuckled softly as he slipped the vial into his pocket. Movement at the doorway caught his attention, just as a small black cat entered the shop. His eyes widened as he watched the feline slink past. Could...could this cat have smelled the potion? It was for Cie Cie, after all. It was odd that Nox hadn't questioned Key Key's need for the elixir, but it also wasn't the first time Key Key had assisted some of the neighborhoods "shyer" residents.
"Th-thanks again, Nox," said Key Key nervously. "Oh look at that, the time. Need to open the shop and all. See you later around the square maybe? Well, gotta go."
With that, Key Key departed hurriedly, giving the cat one last look of concern before turning around and walking out towards the bakery, and his shop.
As Key Key departed, Nox gave him a short wave. His attention then returned to the animal on his counterâŠ
âI have no food for you, little kittyâŠâ he said. Nox planned on coming up with a better name for the cat, that is, if he saw them again. The day was winding down and it was nearly time to close the shop. Customers, the ones who Nox considered to be regulars, commented fervently on the cat being a great addition to the store.
âWho knows, if youâre here tomorrow, maybe I will take you to the pet store to get a few things. A bed, catnip, treats - what else do cats like, anyway.â
The clock said 4:55pm, which meant it was time to go. Heâd swept the store with an old broom and restocked the shelves with empty bottles. All that remained was the nameless cat and deciding what to do with them.
Nox approached the door to the shop and opened it wide. âTime to go, little kittyâŠmaybe I will see you tomorrow and bring you something special to eat.â
Luna pouted at this, she would have to...well. She'll figure it out.
When the day went by and it was for him go close up shop, Luna mowed in protest. She didn't want to leave yet, even if it was time to go. She planted her butt on the counter and stared right at him.
Nox came into work later than usual on Monday morning and the first thing he did was look for the cat. Secretly, he hoped heâd see them again. Mewing near the front door to the shop or poking its head around the corner.
On Friday night, since the cat did not want to leave on its own, Nox was forced to scoop his arm under the animal and bring it outside so he could close up for the weekend. He wasnât sure about owning a cat. Or a bird. Or any animal for that matter - yet there he was looking for the stray to see if it would be back.
The bell hanging over the door to the shop jingled as he walked in and flipped the sign to read âOPENâ. He took his place at the counter, unfolded his newspaper, and kept an eye on the door just incase the little black kitty decided to stop by againâŠ
The cat wasn't too pleased that they were escorted out to leave for the weekend. Thankfully they seemed to be just fine once they returned the following Monday.
As the day went on, it seemed the kitty didn't come by until later in the afternoon, but just as Nox anticipated, the cat had arrived at the door and curiously peeking through the window. Giving the door a paw or two.
As the morning dragged on and there was no sign of the cat, Nox set his newspaper down and started to frown. Who knew heâd be this disappointed by the absence of an animal he hardly knew. One that wasnât his and did not belong to him.
His focus drifted to the side, watching the sunlight pass through the old glass windows of the shop until his attention was stolen by something at the bottom corner of the front door.
Nox smiled. He approached the door and opened it a foot, giving the animal enough room to enter on its own. âHello, thereâŠâ he said to the creature, allowing it to come inside if it wished.
The cat would walk in and meow up at Nox, then sniffed before entering. Her curious eyes scanned the area...yep! Nothing much changed. Phew.
The cat would then hop up on the counter, sitting down and meowing once more. Like they wanted something...
His eyes squint upon trying to figure out what the âmeowâ meant. Could it be a head pat? Or perhaps a head scratch? He would try both - starting first with the pat.
Nox casually let his palm graze the top of the felineâs head once, then twice. When that was done he used the tips of his fingers to scratch the fur lining the area between the ears.
âWhy do I have a feelingâŠyou want food,â he said, continuing to scratch the cat just in case they liked the way his touch felt.
Luna would accept both either way. Her small head pushing into his hand as he opted to pet her first. Her eyes closed once he started giving her head scratches.
The cat would begin to purr, eventually laying down on their side, relaxing and stretching. Food wouldn't be something the cat would be opposed to. Like ever.
Key Key passed Bright Moon just as Nox looked like he was closing up. The black cat he'd seen at the shop earlier in the week was dancing around his feet as he walked back and forth across the shop floor, putting bottles away and cleaning up for the night. Key Key peeked his head into the shop to see what Nox was up to. "Looks like you've made a new friend, eh? Must have come from the forest, I hear there's lots of cats out there."
âA new friend is one way of putting itâŠâ Nox said and lift a single eyebrow into the middle of his forehead. He had not seen Key Key in a hot minute. One last visitor before closing up shop, especially when it was an old friend, was not something he was opposed to.
âIâve yet to name her,â he said, eyeing the black furball stretching on his counter. Nox let his hand pet the cat, toying with one of its paws, and couldnât stop a smile from spreading across his face - the dumb animal made him grin even when he did not want to.
The effort had meant to be subtle, but the sound of a tuna can opening was something Nox remembered as drugs for his new feline friend, simply based on past experiences where their pupils expanded. He set the can of tuna down on the counter and offered it to the stray in hopes they were hungry.
The cat would look towards Key Key in a curious manner, its tail waving quietly. Allowing Nox to play with its paw, she didn't care after all. Not like it hurt her.
But then, a sound caught her attention, and her head snapped towards the sound. Immediately standing up and meowing, walking over and giving the tuna a few sniffs. Then diving into her food, eating away at the soft delicacy as purrs emanated from the creature.
It was a short walk to his shop, which was just down the street from Nakaâs pet store - still closed up from the weekend, he unlocked the door, which gave a large creak on its hinges, and showed Naka in. The air was heavy and old, filled with dust that Nox could never get rid of. The store itself was dark minus the single ray of light shining in from a window perched high aboveâŠ
âCome on in. If you need anything for headaches or just to relax at night Iâve been known to whip up something decentâŠâ He wandered over to the wooden counter and set down all the items he purchased for the cat. Nox spotted an empty tuna can from when he last fed the stray. He wondered where she was, turning his attention to the front door. He walked over there and made sure the door stayed open so whenever she arrived that day, she could come and go as she pleasedâŠ
âDo you think Barkley will be fine around the cat?â Nox turned his attention to the dog, pet him on the head until they wagged their tail, then went back to the counter to unpack all the items he bought for the stray.
She gladly gathered up the things he had bought and helped him carry it towards his shop. She had quickly leashed Barkley up and took him along to. He as not a dog to tug on leashes so she knew she would be fine with her arms full of things.
She gladly walked into the shop as Nox opened the front door. She walked in with Barkley, who seemed excited to be in a new place and placed the things on his counter along with him. âWow.. it is quite a shop.â She said looking around. It looked like a small alchemy shop that you would read about in fantasy books and stories. âI didnât even know this was here.â She admitted with a guilty smile. She followed his eyes down to the can of tuna that was on the floor and found herself smiling. âYou already got them to come inside huh? That is big. Most strays wonât do that.â She said to him.
âBarkley? Ooh no, he will be fine. He likes cats, thinks he can play with them.â She said as she motioned for him to come back to her and let Nox to his thing. With a simple snap of her fingers he came back to her and sat at her heel. âIt is more if the cat will like him. He can be a bit to excited for them to be comfortable around him.â She explained. âI will try and keep him close to me though if she does show. He is well trained.â
After a small while, the cat that was being anticipated to show up had revealed herself. She walked up to the open door and headbutted the propped door, eyeing the inside cautiously. It was clear the cat wanted to enter, but seemed off put but the new person, along with the dog.
It was not an ideal situation for the cat. Not only was Naka unfamiliar, but a dog was standing at Noxâs feet, wagging its tail back and forth with a happy tongue hanging absently out of the side of its mouth. What most would consider a friendly encounter was an uncomfortable one for Luna - and Nox knew this.
Bending at both knees, he reached his hand out to see if the cat would still come to him. The idea crossed his mind of walking to the door, yet he hesitated, not wanting to risk the cat running off.
Noxâs fingers touched the air in a wave pattern, beckoning the feline to him. Curiosity held steadily within Noxâs black pupils, covered by strands of dark hair from how he styled it that morning.
âItâs alright, little kittyâŠâ he said in a way that might convince the cat to betray their senses. This was about trustâŠand Nox wondered if heâd earned it with Luna or not.
Luna cautiously started walking towards Nox, keeping her eyes on the two newcomers. She would eventually brush her head up to Nox's hand, then rubbing along his crouched legs. Wanting all the attention, she even went as far as flopping onto her side, her belly facing him.
His finger slowly parted Lunaâs fur, running the tips through the soft hair until he was confident he stroked her the right way. Nox kept watch for signs of a claw or dilated pupils indicating heâd done something wrong, but no scenario ever presented itselfâŠinstead, he was allowed to graze his hand over Lunaâs belly. Did this submissive act indicate he could pick her up? There was only one way to find out.
The idea had been planted. Nox maneuvered his hands under the cat until he had a good grip on her, rolled her over, and gently lifted Luna from the ground, positioning her against his chest as he stood. Both eyes gazed down at the cat in his arms. Heâd never owned an animal before and didnât intend to now - yet, the piles of cat toys, a litter box, and canned food he purchased not more than an hour ago would say otherwise.
âI think she likes me,â he said to Naka with a smile, one that was small and faint yet carried a world of satisfaction riding under the curve of his lips.
The feline clearly enjoyed his attention, her purring clearly audible. Even the belly pets! She loved it all, it was very exciting to experience.
The cat would let out a faint meow of surprise at the act of being picked up. However, she did not protest, as once she found herself in his arms, she was more than happy. The cat would let her purrs grow louder, her tail flicking in glee. She would even lick his hand if it got close enough!
Cat licks. Strange at first, yet oddly adored after the first couple on his hand. He continued to pet the cat on the head, keeping her in the crook of his arm as he approached the counter to set her down. Figuring if she were high up enough she would feel more comfortable being out of reach from the dog.
Nox gathered all the items he purchased from the pet store and arranged them on the counter. He planned to start opening them for the cat one by one. He began with a toy first. A long black stick with a string attached to one end, tied to a fluffy green ball with a bright-sounding bell. He dangled the fuzzy toy in front of the cat to see what sheâd do.
Luna would stay in one spot for a few moments on the counter, in a new spot. She then slowly moved so that she faced everyone generally, keeping her eye on that dog.
Her feline eyes then traversed to Nox, seeing items being put on the counter. For her? Surely not...oh yes! A toy! A fluffy thing! Luna enjoyed this deeply, as her paw reached out and started to bap and play with it.
Success. Who doesnât love fluffy green balls? Nox continued to tease Luna with the toy, letting her swipe at it a few more times before he set it down and left Luna on the counter by herself.
A flame sparked and Nox lit an incense in the corner. A trail of thin smoke rose into the air then swirled gracefully into small circles once it was high enough. Naka and the dog departed shortly after, leaving him and the cat alone.
Nox opened a can of wet food and left it on the counter for Luna. He filled a bowl of water for her, too. Even set out a fluffy bed for the cat and a liter box. Everything was ready, exceptâŠone last package, which he put in a drawer. Promising that if the cat stuck around he would consider opening it.
Customers came and went all day. Nox sat on his chair behind the counter and played with Luna from time to time, in between filling bottles with orders and taking phone calls. The sun started to set and it was time to close up the shop - Nox was surprised by how fast the time went with Luna around.
âNow the question is, are you going to be alright here by yourself, kittyâŠor do I leave you outside until tomorrow?â There was enough dry food and water to survive the night, but he didnât know if Luna would start marking her territory, leaving piss for him to clean up the next morning. Thatâs what cats did, right?
âI could take you home with me,â he mused, looking into Lunaâs big eyes.
Luna would happily mess around with the toy, at one point she was on her back. The ball held to her stomach with her front paws as her back paws kicked at it at a rapid pace. Why did cats do this? It's fun.
When Luna heard the cat food can pop open, you already know she was on top of that. She lightly cat jogged over and snacked away. Taking naps on the fluffy bed throughout the day, yawning, playing with Nox.
When the question came for her to be alone, the cat seemed to be...hesitant. Luna glanced around and flipped down before him, rolling from side to side. An enticing kitty, there's no way she could be left alone here, right?
Bright Moon Bottles & Brews
