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Go to Betti’s Fruits, drop off the egg basket, collect the strawberries, and return to the stall. Go to Betti’s Fruits, drop off the egg basket, collect the strawberries, and return to the stall.
Garth repeated the instructions in his head as he wiggled his way through the throngs of people, taking the familiar route to Betti’s Fruits. He had made this trip plenty of times, but repeating it helped him stay focused, lest he get distracted by the other sweet-smelling stalls. He would visit those on the way back.
He was only one row of stalls away from Betti’s when something unseen crashed into him, sending him to the ground with a yelp.
Garth distantly noticed the eggs that had fallen out of the basket and cracked on the floor, but he didn’t pay them any mind as his view was completely obstructed by an oddly furry head.
The equally furry body connected to the furry head scrambled off of him, although it didn’t feel like much of a change in weight at all.
“Ah, I’m so sorry about that, mister!” The person said, and finally Garth got a good look at them. He had the distinct feline features of a tomcat tabaxi, and was soft like a kitten with his brambled fur.
“I— I’m not a mister. I’m only fourteen.” Garth said.
“Well, I’m only twelve, so you’re a mister to me!” The boy said. He looked at the eggs that were now lying open on the ground. Actually, it seems that all of the eggs had dropped onto the ground. “Aw, did I do that? I’m so sorry.”
Garth nodded. “It’s, um, alright. I was going to trade them, anyway.”
The boy stepped back and put his hands on his hips, allowing Garth to stand up.
“Well— Woah! You’re tall!” The boy exclaimed in wonder as he craned his neck to look up at Garth.
Garth rubbed the back of his head, a bit bashful. “Yeah. Still growing, too.”
“I think I’ve already stopped growing.” The boy sighed. He didn’t even come up to Garth’s shoulders. And he was twelve? Actually, tabaxi’s were usually pretty small, to Garth’s limited knowledge.
“Well, anyways, I feel bad. What were you going to trade those eggs for? Maybe I can buy it for you if it's not too much money. I’ve only got a little bit on me, though…”
Garth nodded. “You don’t have to, but I appreciate it. I was going to get some strawberries from Betti’s Fruits.”
The boy nodded. “Alright. Well, let’s go! My name is Trix. What’s your name?”
“Garth.”
“C’mon, Mr. Garth!” Trix yelled as he dashed through the hordes of customers, weaving in and out with his feline agility.
Garth tried to follow as best as he could, but he ended up stuck behind some people every now and then. When he made it to Betti’s Fruits, Trix was already there, striking up a conversation with Betti herself. He was holding a bag full of strawberries in his left paw, and some kind of bottle in his left.
Garth approached, hearing the tail-end of Trix’s pitch. “-otion! In case you’re not around a doctor or something. They can come in real handy!”
Trix handed out the bottle to Betti, who took it gratefully. “Thank you, young man. You don’t need to pay me for those strawberries, this will be enough. Oh— Garth! You’ve made it.”
Garth smiled in greeting. “Hi, sorry I don’t have the eggs.”
Betti waved her hand. “Don’t worry. Trix explained the situation to me. Is it alright if I just pop on over to your house tomorrow to collect some? I still have cooking to do, you know.”
“Yeah, that should be alright. The chickens have been quite productive this season. We’ve always got an excess of eggs. You can have some for free since you missed out on them today.” Garth offered.
Betti smiled. “You’re too kind, boy. Parents did a good job raising you. Here’s to hoping your little siblings follow in your footsteps.”
Garth warmed at the thought of his siblings. “Rand will be coming by to deliver the eggs soon enough.”
Betti nodded. “You know, Garth, you should’ve introduced me to your friend Trix earlier! He makes excellent potions, and he is such a charming boy!”
“Oh, I actually only met Trix today.” Garth explained, looking to the boy at his right.
“Better keep him around, then! Thanks again for the potion, Trix. Now, you two should be on your way, I’ve got more customers to serve.” Betti waved them off politely.
“Goodbye, Betti!” Garth waved.
“See you, Betti!” Trix yelled. Did that cat ever speak at a lower volume?
Trix hummed. “I guess we’ll have to be friends now, won’t we, Garth?”
The statement caught Garth off-guard. He hadn’t actually had friends that weren’t his siblings before. He was friendly with the folks in town, but no one that he actually called a friend. Garth looked down at Trix’s furry little head. He was a little bit overbearing and enthusiastic, but positive emotion was never a bad thing. A friend. That sounds nice.
Garth nodded. “We can be friends… If you show me these potions that Betti mentioned.”
“Follow me! I brought my stall today!” Trix jumped up, eyes lighting with excitement.
Trix grasped Garth’s hand and ran through the rows of stalls before they made it to a small little cart tacked on to the end of one of the rows. There was a sign on top of it with a drawing of a potion and some words next to it.
He let Garth’s hand drop as he jumped in front of the stall with his arms outstretched. “Ta-da!”
“What does it say?” Garth asked.
Trix blinked. “Can you not read?”
“Uh. No.” Garth shook his head.
Trix hummed. “Oh! Okay. It says ‘Trix ‘n’ Sips!’ That’s the name of my shop!”’
“And you sell potions?”
Trix nodded. “Yup! Potions and trinkets. I’ll give you one for free on mates-rates!”
Trix scurried into the cart and rooted around for a couple of seconds before emerging with a small golden object glinting in his hand.
“This is a ring I picked up some while ago. It comes with a second, so they can be our friendship rings!” Trix smiled, handing out the ring to Garth. His own finger glinted with the matching one.
Garth took it and inspected it. It was a simple gold band with vine-like etchings on the side of it. “Thanks, Trix. It’s really pretty.”
“You’re welcome, best friend.”
Garth frowned. “Isn’t it a little early to call me your best friend?”
Trix shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t have any other friends, so you’re my best friend by default!”
Oh. Trix was just like him, then.
“Alright, best friend.”