Page 21

TWENTY-ONE

Time passed unexpectedly quickly and every time I checked up on Obie, he was visibly doing better and gaining confidence.

Instead of staying confined to one corner or his den, he'd gradually started to venture out and explore his habitat.

He stopped hiding his tail between his legs and was no longer nearly as picky when he ate his dinner.

It was wonderful to see him change and blossom into the majestical creature that inspired the legends and stories.

I stopped by more than necessary which Mandy graciously never complained anything about.

Just like Felicity said, she was genuinely only interested in Obie's welfare.

And with her attention and expertise, Obie came even more out of his shell.

He would vocalise his demands more, spritz around the habitat to mark his territory, and once I saw him sleeping in the sun with his belly up.

That was the kind of bliss any animal deserved and it was the most lovely sight for someone that used to cower in fear of his own shadow.

If he kept making progress like this, the habitat might even become available for the public.

Considering how adorable he was, I had no doubt visitors would love him.

With a smile, I walked into the building.

The signs had been replaced and now proudly declared it the Hellhound House.

I made my way towards the enclosure, my heart leaping when I saw Obie watching Mandy as she cleaned his habitat.

He was lying on his stomach and had a curious relaxed look on his face that was the most wonderful thing to see.

His coat was shiny and gorgeous and his tongue was hanging out of his mouth.

I could see his nails had naturally worn from the stone floor and his eyes were bright and full of life too.

He was unrecognisable from the malnourished hellhound we rescued and I loved seeing him like this.

I waved to get Mandy's attention who waved back which I took as an invite. I didn't waste a moment going through the gates to get into the habitat, pleased when Obie looked up when he saw me. He didn't come leaping and bounding my way but he wagged his tail and licked his lips.

Mandy laughed loudly, a sound that previously would've scared Obie but didn't faze him anymore. "Look who it is! It's the pepperoni lady!"

I couldn't help but smile. I'd definitely gained an interesting reputation around the sanctuary but at least pepperoni lady was better than bitten-in-the-butt lady.

Obie trotted towards me, maintaining a safe distance as always. He still wasn't super comfortable around people but this was such a massive difference with when he came here. I was so proud of him.

"I brought treats," I said, reaching for the packet of spicy salami.

As soon as I showed it, Obie's eyes widened and his ears went up. He trampled impatiently and barked, clearly excited for his snack. I tossed a slice towards him and he hoovered it up in seconds before looking at me with the same inquisitive look.

I gave him a few more slices and put the packet with the rest back in my pocket. Too much pepperoni wasn't good for him but it was still his favourite treat.

Mandy approached, broom in hand, and with a big smile. "You know, you remind me a little of my daughter."

"I do?"

She nodded. "We have a dog at home and my daughter has that same focused look on her face when she feeds him treats. It's adorable. My daughter is five though."

I laughed. "I just really love animals."

"I can see that. It's a wonderful thing. Obie is very lucky he had someone like you to look out for him. You have a talent for it. If you're ever looking for a different job, the rescue I worked with is always looking for more people."

"I appreciate that but I'm happy here. Working in the Griffin Sanctuary is my dream job," I declared.

Something nudged my side and I looked down, gasping when Obie was pressing his snout against my pepperoni pocket. He'd never approached me like that before and my heart felt like it could burst.

He flinched slightly when I turned to face him but didn't run away and kept sniffing my pocket, clearly determined to get some more. He had come such a long way, it was enough to make me tear up. And now he was looking at me with those bright happy eyes. It was like falling in love all over again.

Mandy looked enamoured too. "He's never done that before. Wow, what a brave boy you are."

"So brave," I agreed while I gave him more slices of pepperoni. It didn't matter that I shouldn't have, I was ready to give him the world.

Obie happily munched on his treats, gave the empty packet a good sniff to make sure it was empty, and trotted away after that.

I laughed. "I feel so used and honoured at the same time."

Mandy chuckled too. "They're cheeky, aren't they?"

"So cheeky," I agreed, smiling so much it was making my cheeks hurt. "I can't believe he just nudged my pocket for more treats. That's so bold."

"It's a fantastic sign, it means he sees you as a safe person."

I melted even more when I looked at Obie. It wasn't often that I questioned what my favourite mythical animal was. I'd always always loved unicorns. Obie was giving them a run for their money though. Maybe not as a whole species but as an individual for sure.

My walkie-talkie chimed. "Requesting veterinary assistance for the peryton park, please."

Someone else answered, likely Ivan based on the voice. "On my way."

Mandy looked intrigued. "Is that about the pregnant peryton?"

"It might be. Or one of the perytons got something stuck in their antlers. You never know, animals are silly."

"That's right. Speaking off silly animals, if you don't mind, I need to do some poop scooping."

"I will leave you to it," I said, waving at Obie when I left. It was such a joy to see him like this, even if I couldn't visit as much as I wanted. Still, my heart was full and I felt a kind of pride in myself that I hadn't before.

I made this happen. Not on my own, not without help, but that didn't take away the accomplishment. Maybe we weren't changing the world just yet but all our efforts had changed the world for Obie. That was good enough for today.