Like Something From a Fairy Tale {Peony}

[Daisy Woods]

Daisy's day began as it always did. Up at 4:30, morning routine finished at 4:47, a 10 mile run through the city, back by 6:13 and in the shower. While she put on her clothes for the day, a light blue sundress with darker stripes around the bottom, her brother was stumbling out of his own room. Since she had made the coffee while taking her shower, all he had to do was pour it in a cup. Admittedly, this was more troublesome for her brother than she could ever understand. 

"Is there anything you need from the store? I'm going shopping today." She asked, probably too peppy for him. All she got in return was a low grunt from Mr. Sunshine. It was fine really. She knew what he wanted anyways. Having known him his whole life helped a lot. She left him flopped across the couch with his coffee while she went out.

Daisy left the apartment for the second time with her usual wide brimmed hat and polarized sunglasses and a good sized shopping list. They had finally run down to the last bit of food in their house, most of it her brothers. So on top of her usual stuff, she was also going to pick up plenty of microwave dinners and several jars of peanut butter. Hunter had been going through it like no tomorrow lately. And maybe while she was out, she'd go down to the shopping district. It was time for their seasonal sales. She could always use a few more pairs of yoga pants and tights. And the cheaper the better. And if she could find more of the ones she found last time she went shopping, she would be doing really well. Before all that though, she needed something to eat. She knew just the place too. 

The cafe wasn't one of her usual stops but it was one of her favorites. It was the perfect place to go on her days off. It was down one of the streets that branched off from main street. Just a nice lazy place that didn't seem to get the huge rush that Snarlbucks got in the morning. The best part was that it was just across from a small put pretty park, that way after she ordered, she could sit outside and enjoy the weather. 

Since it was one of her favorite cafes, the employees knew her well enough not to be surprised by her appearance. Some of the other patrons stared at her when she walked in but she didn't have to deal with as much stuttering and staring from the barista. Since it was a Monday, she might have opted for one of their more interesting items, but since she let Hunter talk her into having a bowl of ice cream last night, that was off the table. Instead she settled for her usual; a green tea latte with coconut milk and a multigrain scone with honey. Now all she had to do was wait and she would be outside enjoying her day.

[Peony Rìluò]

Peony had spent almost the entire morning outside - she'd managed to convince Zira that she shouldn't go to school that day. She was very fortunate that they seemed to understand her not wanting to go to school, especially since she was still being bullied. Although, she was still going to get in some trouble. Peony had told her new mother that she was going to go hang out with Clawhauser - yet, here she was, not at the Zootopia Police Department.

Instead, little Peony had gone off to the park. It was one of her favorite places to go when she wasn't home. It had a huge jungle gym, fit for holding what seemed like tens to millions of kids. As of now, though, the gym was empty; perfect for her imaginary games.

Climbing up into the structure, Peony huddled into the corner of it, her ears falling to the back of her head as a determined look fell onto her face. She was entering her own world - one that she often hid away into when distraught, mad, or blue. It never stayed the same, though; it was drastically changing depending on what she wanted to see. That one fact made it the perfect paradise.

Smiling, Peony stood up and poked her head out of the nearest window. The gym had begun to sway back and forth, signaling something that was very fulfilling to her desires. Outside had become an ocean, with dark clouds circling around the sky. Peony grabbed her kazoo and climbed to the top of the playscape. It was time for adventure.

After almost thirty minutes, the small pup had been worn out, adventuring around the playground as she traveled the seven seas. She'd even found two dollars lying on the floor! Excited at her find, and no longer interested in the little game she was playing by herself, Peony ran out of the park and began to walk down the street, her kazoo still in her hand as always.

Peony's ears were perked as she wandered down the familiar sidewalk, looking for good places to spend her money on. Suddenly, the pup's light blue eyes caught sight of a small cafe. Licking her muzzle as her stomach growled, Peony eagerly walked inside, clutching her kazoo tighter than she did her money.

Peony stepped in line behind a white deer. Nothing out of the-

Wait. A white deer? Were deer usually white? Peony quickly thought up a picture of a deer. Immediately, a brown deer came to mind. Now that she thought of it, the mammal in front of her looked like something from a TV Show.. or better yet, one of her adventures.

The small pup watched the deer quietly as she moved from in front of the line. Looking away, just in case the deer saw, Peony made her way to the front. She gave a small smile to the lioness working the cash register.

"Can I have a peanut butter cookie, please?"  Her small voice chirped as she stood on the tips of her toes, trying to reach the top of the counter. She watched as the lioness nodded and grabbed a cookie, setting it on top of the surface.

"Anything else, sweetie?" She asked. Peony's eyes lit up.

"Do you have any tea?" The lioness nodded. "What kind?"

"Matcha, Black, and Hibiscus."

Frowning as her all time favorite, Oolong did not come out of the employee's mouth, Peony scrapped the idea of having tea and got water instead. Taking her food, drink, kazoo and leftover money, Peony sat behind the mysterious white deer. Still somewhat staring as she ate, Peony fell into thought.

What if that deer is on a mission, and is undercover as a regular civilian? Peony thought, suspiciously looking over the albino deer from behind as she chewed.

Does she have superpowers? She pondered, rubbing the bottom of her muzzle. Swallowing the last of her cookie, Peony continued to sit in the chair, staring at the strange deer from behind.

Can she fly? That would make sense - white is the color of the clouds, after all. Peony nodded and took a sip of her water, her ears falling back with a tiny bit of pride at her conclusion.

But what if she's not? What if she's... a sheep! That is really tall? And skinny...? The small pup could feel her head start to hurt - all this thinking was wearing her out. I should just go up to her and ask her... But what if she's evil? Peony gulped, grabbing her kazoo from the table, holding it with a tight grip.

Well,she can't be evil here, if she is. Animals are watching- and if you want to continue being evil, then you don't wanna expose yourself. It's the smart thing to do! So! I might as well ask her while I can! Peony stood up, tired of having this argument with herself. Wandering up to the albino deer, Peony gulped and tapped on her arm, not quite tall enough to reach the top of the deer's shoulder.

"E-excuse me, miss." Peony squeaked. "Why are you white? Are you special?"

[Daisy Woods]

Daisy was used to the staring. She'd gotten used to it quite some time ago. She knew how unusual she was but there was nothing she could do to help it, so the others around her would just have to keep staring. So when the little pup came up behind her in line, it didn't really phase her. Daisy didn't need to turn around to know she was there. She could practically feel the curiosity coming off the little wolf in waves. Daisy caught her quickly trying to cover it up when she moved away from the counter. How cute. But since the pup wasn't doing anything, Daisy just ignored her for the most part. Even when she followed her to her table outside. Now that was a little annoying but it wasn't as though it hadn't happened before. She'd gotten all kinds of responses from animals, the younger ones especially. Strange questions, long looks, their mothers pulling them away and scolding them for being rude. It was nothing new. So for the time being, she just pushed the little wolf out of her head. 

As always, the food from the cafe was good and Daisy had just finished her scone when the little girl came wandering up. She could have told anyone who it was without looking too. Most of the older mammals said hello and stood a little to the side in an attempt to be polite. It was only the little ones who actually touched her. Daisy was sure to give the pup her full attention when she turned to her. She couldn't help but smile at her question. 

"You could say that. I'm what's called albino. That means I have a disorder that makes me all white like this. We're very rare." Hopefully that would satisfy the girl. And in a few seconds, her mother was sure to come along and shoo her away, apologizing as they went. 

Except she didn't. Not within a few seconds at least. Daisy looked up and through the cafe window. There didn't seem anyone inside that would fit as the pup's mother. There wasn't anyone outside either. Most animals around them were either watching them out of the corner of their eye, or pretending not to pay attention at all. That was strange. 

"Are your parents around here?" It was strange for a child to be wandering around alone. Not unheard of, but this wasn't exactly the part of town where you caught one out on their own. There weren't many homes on this street and most of the children that played at the park had at least a pupsitter with them. And now that she got a closer look at the little wolf, she looked the right age to be in school. This was starting to make her worry. 

[Peony Rìluò]

Peony tilted her head. An albino? So you had to be an albino to be white? Was it like that for everyone? The small pup followed the deer's eyes as she looked around. Was she looking for someone? Maybe she was lost? When the deer turned back towards her and began to ask questions, Peony could feel her tail jolt up. What would she say if she told her no? Would she take her to school? She knew Zira would be angered at the thought of her wandering all the way to the park, which was some ways away from the school and the ZPD. 

"Well, no, not exactly." Peony answered, swaying on her feet as she tried to avoid eye contact. She let the sentence fly in the air for a few seconds before she added anything else, stopping to think about how she was going to word the next sentence. "My dad is a Police Officer, and he's working today." she said, not sure if she should add more or not.

Dad. He was a dad now. Peony had been thinking about it and had decided that dad fit best for him. She still called him Ivan sometimes, and Zira Mrs.Tigorov,since she was still adjusting to everything that'd happened.