You enter the adoption shelter, looking around with interest at the large offering of dogs that the owner has. The tags are all written in some language you can't quite place, and the dogs themselves seem a little .. odd. The owner is there, hovering by the register, a too-sharp-smile fixed on his face, with too-sharp-teeth flashing at you. You can tell he's eager, but for what you don't really want to know.
You smile back hesitantly, watching as his own expression widens in response. Holding back a shiver, you turn back to the kennels, checking out each dog within. There's a wide variety here, ranging from massive beasts to strange little things to - is that an African Wild Dog? No. You shake your head, it looked similar at first but it couldn't possibly be one.
As you continue your wanderings, you realize something with a start. These creatures? They're not quite dogs.
WIP! They're basically going to be my take on a bunch of dog-like cryptids, feel free to suggest any that aren't on the list!
Adopting | OPEN
The shopkeeper stretches at his desk, watching as you approach with your questions. He listens as you inquire about the adoption process and nods along at the end. "So basically you and all the other applicants will throw your hat into the ring for a dog, and then I'll sort through all the forms to see who I think is the best fit. There's no real limit on how many you can apply for at once, and I suppose as long as you have the space for them, there's no real limit to how many you can adopt." He pulls what looks like a store catalogue over. "Each dog comes with a free collar - or harness - something to hold their tags. I'll provide the current proof of vaccination and a name tag, but you'll need to register them with your town afterwards. You can change their accessories all you want after they're yours, just don't change the dog itself." He winks but you stare, wondering how one could go about changing a dog. "Oh, and if you find you can't handle any of my dogs, return them here, okay? Don't hand them off on an unsuspecting stranger."
The Nursery | CURRENTLY CLOSED
You noticed all the dogs here are fully grown and, curious, ask the shopkeeper if he has any puppies for sale. "Puppies?" He laughs. It's a weird laugh. You don't know how to feel about it, let alone respond. "Eh, yeah, every now and then I'll pick up one of those little rascals. You'd be surprised how exceedingly uncommon it is to find any of these dogs before they're fully grown." You think to yourself that you wouldn't exactly call any of his dogs common in the first place, but don't comment. He's giving you a weird look. You wonder if he can read your mind, or if you're just that obvious. "Look, I'll put up a sign when I have any, but as of right now I don't have the proper set up to handle puppies." His voice is still friendly, but you get the distinct feeling that you're being dismissed. You thank him and hurry away.
The Store | VISIT
Outside of the dogs, you notice a section by the register that has a collection of odd items. Glancing around, you don't immediately spot the shopkeeper to ask him about them, and so go over to check out the shelves yourself. You reach out to grab a bottle, wanting to get a better look at the label, but the shopkeeper materializes at your elbow and slaps your wrist. "Ey - those aren't for sale. Yet. Wait until I can figure out how to make it safe for mortals to handle." You back up, spooked, and apologize, but he already lost interest in you and is distracted with paperwork at his desk. Did he just call you a mortal? Was that some sort of power play? Isn't he one as well? Unnerved, you go back to the dogs.
Update: store is now open!
