Chapter 2
482words
"We're making a detour to the clinic," I informed it. "If you're staying with me, I need to make sure you're not carrying anything nasty."
Oro lifted its head and gave me a look but didn't protest.
The exotic animal clinic occupied the third floor of a white building downtown. They specialized in supernatural creatures—perfect for my mysterious new companion. I carried Oro's box into the sterile lobby, the sharp scent of disinfectant filling my nostrils.
"Welcome! How can I help you today?" the receptionist asked with a practiced smile.
"I need a full checkup for this snake," I said, opening the box to reveal Oro.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase. A man in a white coat descended, his attention fixed on a stack of medical records. Behind gold-rimmed glasses, intense blue eyes scanned the pages, completely oblivious to our presence.
Without warning, Oro shot out of the box and darted toward the stairs with surprising speed. The doctor had just reached the bottom steps when his foot slipped, sending him pitching forward.
"Watch out!" I called, but Oro was already moving.
The snake slithered to the doctor's leg and somehow—impossibly—helped him regain his balance.
"Is this... a silver-scaled serpent?" The doctor adjusted his glasses, his voice both gentle and authoritative. "Quite a rare specimen."
He carefully lifted Oro, who not only didn't resist but actually nuzzled the doctor's finger with its head.
"Sorry about that. He's mine," I said, stepping forward. "I'm Ivy Blackthorn. I'd like to have him examined."
"Ethan Grey," the doctor replied with a warm smile. "Fascinating little creature. Silver-scaled serpents typically avoid strangers, but this one seems quite taken with me."
Something about his smile eased the tension Oro had created in my life. I found myself smiling back.
"Right this way," he said, stroking Oro's head. "Let's get this little one properly examined."
In the brightly lit exam room, Dr. Grey worked with practiced precision and a gentle touch. He checked Oro's scales, measured its length, tested eye responses—and through it all, Oro was bizarrely cooperative, even shifting position to give the doctor better access.
"He's in excellent health," Dr. Grey finally announced. "All vitals normal. However..." he paused, studying Oro more closely, "he differs significantly from typical silver-scaled specimens."
I shot Oro a sidelong glance, thinking, *No kidding. Most snakes don't give relationship advice.*
"Thank you, Dr. Grey," I said, feeling my cheeks warm slightly under his gaze. "You're clearly excellent at what you do."
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Just doing my job. If you have any concerns about your friend here, my door's always open."
