Breakfast this morning was simple. English muffin sandwiches, with an egg and cheese on top. Somehow, the Cat ate it, though since he wasn’t a real Cat his odd habit of disappearing food made more sense. Did I only see a Cat, and his true form was actually in the room? How did that work?

Thinking about it made my head hurt, and instead I finished my sandwich with a little hot sauce and then headed toward the front of the shop. While the shop was warm and bright sunlight drifted down from above, I was inclined to make a warm fall drink. It felt like fall, somehow.

Hot chocolate with some cinnamon was just perfect. I even topped it with some whipped cream. The cat received a smaller version, which he promptly demolished.

“That hit the spot,” said the Cat.

His praise made me smile as I sipped on my drink.

“Anything special about today?”

The Cat shook his head. “Another easy day, though they will be shopping, I think buying a few things.”

I studied the store in front of me, trying to spot anything different. The children’s area wasn’t there, just more bookshelves, and another table with various goods on it. Candles, books, and crystals covered the big center table, and the newer small one contained some of the knitted goods from yesterday. Plus a few pillows, which I hadn’t seen before.

The bookshelves along the back wall were arranged differently, and the hanging signs that dictated the genre were in a different order. Still, everything looked ready to go.

“I’m ready when you are…” I quickly removed the Cat’s teacup as the door unlocked.

The door shot open as two women entered the shop.

“Welcome to the shop,” I called out, then quickly took a sip of my drink to study the newcomers. Yet, they weren’t the only ones who entered. Another set followed them in as well.

All the women had ears poking out of some kind. It took a second before I realized they were some sort of animal people, not something I’d met before. They weren’t like the cat worshipers, but they were like humans, with various animal characteristics. Fur, sometimes whiskers, and pointed ears.

One of them waved in my direction while the others grabbed baskets by the door that I hadn’t noticed. Then, off they went in various directions.

“Cat, are those…?” I couldn’t finish my question since they did not look like the cat person who I’d gotten the painting of the Cat from. The painting hung up in my room.

“Forest Creatures, usually very good customers. They are preparing for a holiday festival focused on giving a gift to the one they want to… be with over the winter.”

My jaw dropped, but I quickly closed it, as the ladies moved fast around the shop. Faster than a human could. One carefully sorted through the knitted goods on the smaller table. She focused on the green-colored goods, stacking them in a pile. Her bright red fur made her stand out, along with her whiskers.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Nearby, one lady studied the books with an intense focus. She had little horns in front of her brown ears.

The other two spoke softly next to the bigger table, looking at the crystals and candles.

“So, they are picking out gifts for a significant other…” I whispered to the Cat, for clarification.

“Kind-of. Partners only commit for one winter, then everyone goes their own way in spring.”

That was new, and not something I heard about before. I’d need to check my book to see if anything else popped up, since I’d now met a few different species and it’d been a while.

The one studying the bookshelf pulled a book down and then marched my way. The two near the table went silent, and the one still sorting through the yarn goods snapped her head up.

“I’d like to get these two books,” the horned girl said, setting her basket on the table.

I smiled at her, then quickly rang her up. She paid using weird metal coins, but they matched what the register said. “Good luck.”

She blinked a few times then smiled at me. “Ah, I know she will love them. They’re from one of her favorite authors.” A light blush covered her cheeks, but she headed out the door with a swagger in her step.

The others moved faster as soon as she left. The one looking through the knitted goods was next, purchasing a bright green scarf with darker leaves. The red-eared one looked less certain, and fretted as she paid for what she’d found.

“Thank you,” she whispered quietly, before fleeing the shop.

That left the two next to the table, still whispering back and forth. Finally, they both approached with a few different candles and crystals. “We would like your thoughts,” one of them stated. Her brown ears twitched back and forth, while her tail flickered behind her. “The person we desire loves warmth and stones, and we can’t decide.”

They placed two candles on the table, both dark gray, along with a crystal that flickered with an orange light.

“Better you than me,” grumbled the Cat.

“Do they have any color preferences? Things they like to eat?”

The two girls turned to one another, shrugging. “They are a bear creature, nice and fuzzy…”

I resisted the urge to ask more questions and instead motioned back to the table. “I think there is a beeswax candle there. It would smell like honey. That, plus the orange crystal, would be a delightful gift.”

The two of them quickly turned to the table, almost running into one another. I waited until they brought over the candle I had pointed out. Both smiled. “You are brilliant,” whispered one of them, though I couldn’t tell who as I rang up the purchases.

“I appreciate that. Good luck.”

Both nodded at me, but one of them gave me a lingering look. She went to say something, but the other girl yanked her out of the store.

“I think you were going to be propositioned there,” added the Cat.

“What?”

“Yep.”

My head tilted to one side as I thought through that whole shopping experience. The forest creatures gave gifts to see who would stay with who through the winter. If the system worked for them, more power for it. That would make dating a ton easier. First dates were the worst. They were why I hadn’t dated anyone in a while. Maybe after my contract was up, I’d find someone. Then again, with the Cat and Indigo, I wasn’t exactly bored, or lonely. It was something to consider.