Pet meeting (Patreon)

Being a pet was never Peter's goal in life, but upon being claimed by the lion he had offered no real protest. He had no real obligations at the time, and the care and attention given, especially do his ears, had teased out any protests that may have formed in the back of his mind. 

At first things had gone well. Spending times in backpacks, laps, pockets and even the soft warm mane were certainly a difference from his old life of tending to the hedgerows of the stations gardens but it was an interesting change. He had been fed well enough and been cared for. All in all it was a pretty good deal.

Things certainly were a bit curious when the lion took him to meet their other friends pets. Normally it was some fancy feral creature, often his size or smaller. Sometimes it was a larger beast. Rarely were such creatures as intelligent as the usual person.

However, there was this one creature. At first he thought the large canine was just a regular animal, some feral form labrador with an average animal mind. However after the first meeting of his feline owner showing him to the dog Peter noticed two things. The  first was that this creature was as intelligent as him, even capable of talking though it rarely did. The second thing the Springhare noticed was that the dog was more interested in him them he expected. 

The reteaver sniffed and nosed at the springhare, even nibbled abit. At first he thought it just being friendly, until the whisper came as the larger canine gave broad slurps at his ear. "Delicious" it... he.. whispered, low enough to escape hearing by others, and in a teasing, dominant and almost alluring way.

Peter has been taken aback by this, enough that he did not even notice the talk of his feline owner and friend, of them talking about how well the two pets got along, or of the quick snacks in the kitchen they should both get. The pets could be left to relax, they said. The pets like each other, they said. The pets would be fine together, they said.

Remarkably... they were right. Despite that single word combining threat, desire and admiration, the retreaver did not prove aggressive, or mean. Certainly, he has tasted Peter more, even held the springhares paw.. wrist.. arm.. in his maw and throat, but he did not harm him. Some part of him wondered if this pet dog knew he'd be discovered with a belly full of rodent, another wondered if he was genuinly complimenting Peter's taste or teasing him. A smaller part of his mind wondered if it were both.

The meet up only lasted another hour, with the retreaver (which Peter soon overheard was called Toby while he was being petted himself) msotly relaxed on the floor, sitting at the side of the table, or curled around Peter's waist, halfway hiding him. 

For his part, Peter soon relaxed around the large beast, accepting the broad tongue wipes of seemly affection and eventually leaning back against the canines soft and warm midsection.

Before long though, the lion stood up. "Well Clint, you were right, that springhare pet of mine certainly did get use to ol' Toby fast, it's like they were made for each other. Do let me know if you need any advise while petsitting, though I doubt anything'll come up in just a single weekend."

Peter looked up at his lion owner and tilted his head. So that was the reason for the visit. A weekend away from his new home... perhaps peter could ask his petsitter if he can go do some clothes shopping. 

Perhaps this will be a fun weekend with new friends, Peter mused.

Sadly, Toby was thinking of another outcome.