Ria explored their room with curiosity. Fallios was testing the ledges on the wall, hopping from one ledge to the other and shook them with his body to test their durability.
She tapped her foot on the water and nodded approvingly. The pond was built into the ground, and unlike their previous enclosure, which was just a pit in the sand and filled with water, this one was built with stone bricks. It meant that the sand wouldn't mix with the water and make it foggy.
The pet shop didn't pay much attention to detail since Ria would suck up the water anyways, but it was still uncomfortable for her to swim and drink from foggy water.
But there was one thing about this pond that she was hesitant about. She looked at Fallios for confirmation.
[Tortoises can't swim, right?] She asked him. Fallios thought for a moment. [Some can, but most can't] He said.
Ria pursed her lips and looked back down at the water. It was too deep for her to stand in without having to swim.
She looked back up at him. [Do you think I can learn though?]
[Uhm..] He tilted his head and looked at the pond from his place on the ledge. [I don't see why not..] He shrugged.
She hesitantly stepped in and walked until her feet couldn't touch the ground anymore. Ria took a deep breath. She heard that as long as you had enough air in your lungs, you would be able to float.
Ria relaxed her body and didn't panic. She closed her eyes and kept her breathing steady. Her body destabilized for a moment before she started to slowly bob up and down in the water.
She released the breath she was holding and opened her eyes in relief. Ria looked up at Fallios. [Come and jump in] She happily said.
She was really glad she could still swim, or at least float since it was her favorite sport in her past life.
Fallios crouched down low and pushed his feet off the ledge. He unfurled his wings with his front paws outstretched in front of him and dived in the water.
Pa-Shii!
Ria shook off the water droplets which splashed on her and waited until Fallios's head broke out of the water to spray a jet of water at him.
[Wah!] He shrieked. Fallios glared at her with a challenging look.
-
After they spent the rest of the day playing, they retreated into their bedroom, which had a hole for a door.
[Not bad] Ria nodded in approval. Although the builders didn't have enough time to carve a cave into rocks, they seemed to still have enough time to decorate the walls with rocks to simulate a cave.
The floor was smooth and also seemed to be made out of smooth stone. She appreciated the coolness on her feet.
She chose to lie down in the left corner, leaving enough room for Fallios to curl up around her. He did just that, spinning around her a few times with half-open eyes until he settled down.
She shook her head and retracted her head into her shell. Fallios acted just like a cat, lazy but playful.
Ria closed her eyes and fell asleep within a few minutes.
But this time, she had a dream…
-
"Ria! Have you packed everything yet?!" A voice from downstairs yelled. Ria sighed and rolled her eyes, shouting back to the voice. "Yes, mom. Give me a second!"
She taped up the last box and carried it down the stairs, she passed her mom, who was standing in the front door and placed the box inside the moving truck.
Her mom walked outside and placed her hand on her chest with sadness etched on her face. "Will you visit often?" She worriedly asked.
"Yes mom, don't worry." Ria said with annoyance. Her mom didn't seem to mind as she burst into tears and went to embrace Ria in a hug.
Ria slowly wrapped her arms around her mother's back and placed her head on her shoulder, finally showing an emotion other than annoyance.
"I will miss you." Ria said, her voice choking up. She felt grateful for her mother despite always acting so rude to her. It was just her personality, she truly did love her mother.
"Me too, baby. Now get going!" Her mother wiped her tears and pointed at the moving truck while shooing Ria with her other hand. She didn't think she would be able to part with her daughter if she stayed longer.
Ria smiled and entered the drivers seat, locking her seatbelt. She looked back up at her mom and waved at her with a smile on her face.
Her mother blew a kiss at her. Ria rolled her eyes and started the truck.
-
"Ugh." Ria's shoulders slumped. She plopped down on her chair and placed her hand on her forehead.
She had just gotten fired from her job for some small mistake she made. Ria took out her phone from her pocket and looked at her phone contacts.
(Mom)
That was the name she was staring at. Her finger hovered over the call button for a long time.
Despite her mother already having a lot of money, Ria still supported her financially with the meager money she made from her previous job as a waiter, which she just got fired from.
She wanted to call her mom to ask her if she could move back in. Not to freeload, of course. Ria wasn't the type of person to rely on anyone.
Ria pursed her lips and turned her phone off, flipping it over as she placed it on the table. She leaned back in her seat and ruffled her long brown hair, which hadn't been brushed since she had just gotten home after a long day at her job.
"I don't want to bother you." She said, closing her eyes and took a deep breath before picking up her phone again and started to search for a new job.
-
Ria leaned back in her seat and sighed. It was a slow day at the gas station. She checked her phone.
(Payment went through)
Ria sighed in relief and sat up in her seat. She put her phone down on the counter and stood up to stretch. Suddenly, her phone buzzed.
Ria was flipped it over and was just about to pick the phone up, but she heard the bell to the gas station door chime. She retracted her hand and looked up.
"Welco-" Suddenly, she notice the attire the man who just walked in was wearing. He was wearing an all black biker's outift with a ski-mask covering his face. Even his hands had gloves on them.
Ria instantly raised her hands up. The man approached her and place a gun on her forehead.
"P-please.." Ria managed to squeeze out a plea as tears inadvertently started to escape her eyes.
BANG—!
The sound of flesh hitting the floor sounded moments after. The robber looked down at the body for a few seconds before he picked up the entire cash register and placed it in his backpack.
He looked back behind the counter, at the dead body, before he spotted something. The robber reached over the display of gum and candy. Hr picked up the phone on the counter and looked at the message which appeared on the home screen.
(Ria, I really don't need money. I just want you to come home and visit me.) -Mom
The robber threw the phone back on the counter before running out the gas station and hopped on his motorcycle.
He sped away, leaving the gas station, which was now empty in the dust behind him.