The Purugly sat heavily at her desk, the chair creaking softly under her weight as she typed at her computer. Her plump paws moved with practiced precision across the keyboard, the faint clack of keys mixing with the hum of the office. A steaming cup of coffee rested beside her, its scent cutting through the faint warmth of electronics and paper. She took a careful sip, her round middle pressing gently against the desk’s edge as she leaned forward. Being the lead accountant for a marketing firm kept her busy, and though she carried herself with calm focus, the stress of deadlines was beginning to settle in her shoulders like an extra weight. Still, she powered through—numbers didn’t wait for anyone.

By noon, the tension began to ease as lunchtime crept closer. She stretched in her chair, letting out a quiet sigh. “Finally,” she murmured, tail flicking lazily. The thought of discovering the new flavor of the ramen was enough to brighten her mood.

Her moment of peace was interrupted by the sudden buzz of her phone. She jumped, ears twitching before picking it up. It was from Felix. A smile tugged at her lips as she read the message: “Dinner maybe tonight? Got a new menu item you might like.”

Her heart gave a tiny flutter. She glanced around the office—no supervisors in sight—then quickly typed back: “Sure! Can’t wait.”

Sliding the phone into her pocket, she pushed away from her desk and started toward the break room, already imagining the evening ahead. But before she got far, she bumped right into someone.

“Hey—sorry, sir!” she blurted, looking up to see her boss, a tall Zebstrika named Alex.

He chuckled, flicking his striped tail. “No worries, I didn’t even see you there! Headin’ on break?”

“Yeah,” she said, a little flustered but smiling. “But before I go—the files are done and emailed to you. Just waiting on a couple more forms to come in.”

“Great work,” Alex said with a grin, giving her a thumbs-up. “Keep it up, and enjoy your break.”

The Purugly nodded, pride swelling in her chest as she continued on her way. Her tail swished behind her in a happy rhythm—today was turning out better than she’d expected.


Sliding the phone into her pocket, she pushed away from her desk and started toward the break room, already imagining the evening ahead. But before she got far, she bumped right into someone.

“Hey—sorry, sir!” she blurted, looking up to see her boss, a tall Zebstrika named Alex.

He chuckled, flicking his striped tail. “No worries, I didn’t even see you there! Headin’ on break?”

“Yeah,” she said, a little flustered but smiling. “But before I go—the files are done and emailed to you. Just waiting on a couple more forms to come in.”

“Great work,” Alex said with a grin, giving her a thumbs-up. “Keep it up, and enjoy your break.”

The Purugly nodded, pride swelling in her chest as she continued on her way. Her tail swished behind her in a happy rhythm—today was turning out better than she’d expected.