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+--- Thread: Christmas Shopping (/thread-1702.html)
Christmas Shopping - Marta - 12-18-2024
Marta looked around the store, thinking how things had changed so much for her. Ricky had taken her in - saved her life in fact. He'd even adopted her, which made him her legal guardian. Their relationship had changed as her understanding had shifted. She had called him dad at first, but now, it was just Ricky. He was more of a big brother than a father, but in the earlier days, it had helped Marta to understand what was going on with the simple moniker of "dad." Since then, she had moved to Moscow and had learned she could talk to wolves. Elyse and Sierra had helped her understand what she could do, and she felt safer with their knowledge. Elyse still stopped by. Marta had actually seen her the other day at a coffee shop with some of her friends, but Marta hadn't seen Sierra in a long time. Marta missed her.
Every week, Ricky gave Marta a little to spend on herself. Marta had grown up with little, so she never really thought to spend much on herself. So her money was mostly saved, except for an occasional sweet to eat or soda to drink. Today, she planned on spending some of that money on Christmas presents for Ricky and Elyse. Ricky was nearby - in the same store as she was in the GUM, but she had convinced him to let her have space so she could find a present for him. As she had matured a little, he had relaxed a little on his restrictions and trusting her instincts. He wasn't far away, and she had her wallet to call if she needed anything. And she had Splash.
Splash had been the runt of the litter, so she was smaller, but still a fierce companion if need be. Being smaller and still young besides, Splash could still pass for a dog, especially with the red vest she wore that said "Emotional Support Animal." Marta had thought the she-wolf would hate the vest, but she wore it with pride, taking it as some sort of honor that made her feel important. She was important, and the vest wasn't really just for show. Splash was her emotional support. When Marta was sad or upset, she unconsciously would send messages to the wolf who would come comfort her, often just laying by her side and resting her head in Marta's lap.
Marta had one gift. A wolf statuette for Elyse, but still she looked. Ricky's gift was nearby. She was sure of it. She just had to find it.