The Snow Leopard Chronicles: Chapter 2- Earning Your Keep

by Alexis in

Two months went by of getting taking care of Adrian. I had needed to upgrade his nest because of his rapid growth. Finally I just gave up on the nest and bought a large dog bed. "Your very expensive and soon I'm going to need to do something with you so I can go back to preforming on the streets." I said in a matter-of-fact way.
[No! Don't leave me in here all day. I'll come with you.]
"And do what?"
[I don't know. How about while you dance I can just watch out for you.]
"Watch out for me?" I said tossing away an apple.
[Yes, no one will mess with you because I'm getting big. Anyway people trow money into your hat and I can gaurd it.]
"Hmmm...maybe it'll work. Let's try it." I said walking out of my condo.
[Wait up! Aren't you going to carry me?] He said running along side me.
"No, you are getting heavy and you want to be big so you have to walk." I said stolling down to my usuall preforming spot. I stopped dead. My enemy preformer had taken my spot under the arch going into the market. It was the most profitable spot in the area because people had lots of money then to spend in the market and were easy to persuade to drop a bit of it to a preformer.
I stole a look at Adrian and said [You want to earn your keep? Go get me my spot back] pointing to were Jemal was dancing in time with Kira's flute playing. Adrian sprinted to Jemal and let out a terrifying roar bearing his teeth just inches from him and showing long black razor sharp claws. Being the size of a medium sized dog dog and wieghing in at 40 pounds he was good enough to scarce away Jemal, Kira, and everyone else within 20 feet of him. I hid my face to cover up fits of laughter for I had never seen Jemal so terrified.
[Good?]
[Great, I loved the face he made, pure terror.] I went to the spot and started preforming. Slowly people came back to watch me dance and to marvel at Adrian who was basking in the sun near me. I got alot of "Is he tame?" "Can I touch him?" "Where'd you get him?"
After such a profitable day I decided to take Adrian with me everyday to preform as my preforming leopard. People expecially liked it when he'd roar or when he'd do his form of dancing, padding around me in circles.
Adrian loved coming to work mostly to say that he earned his keep, but he also loved the attention. "We make a great team." I said to him.
[Yes we do. Now can we go home. I have an idea for a bit more money tommorrow.]
"Sure, and what is it?"
[I'll tell you at breakfast tommorrow.]
"Ok, I never thought a leopard could come up with a profitable idea, but you did."
[Yes I came up with it when I thought of a steak reward.] He said glancing up at me.
"A steak reward, huh. Only if it will get enough to cover it then more."
[Oh it will trust me] he said curling up in his dog bed. [Good night]
"Good night," I said. What could he be up to? Well I don't know but I'll find out soon. Exausted from dancing I soon sliped into a dream filled sleep.