Night Festivities

There was a night festival happening in one of the towns that he and Margaret were passing by. She had insisted on going, and he obliged her whim to attend. Puck—that was his purrmaid's name—had begun to stir in the backpack and demanded to be let out. He obliged Puck too. A purrmaid's whims were not to be taken lightly either. He carried her on his shoulder, patting her affectionately.

When they arrived at the festival, Margaret gasped. 

"Oh, isn't that so pretty?"

"I suppose so."

The glow of golden lanterns strung across the festival grounds was warm and inviting as they illuminated the various stands. There many colorful stalls and delicious smells coming from the festival, and the joyous music was punctuated by chatter of the crowd. 

Though the sights and sounds overwhelmed him, Margaret kept him grounded. That is, until she started buying snack after snack, trinket after trinket, and left him behind holding one of the candied apples she had asked him to hold. He stood there with Puck bewildered in the crowd. 

"Aw, hey there little guy, what's your name?"

He turned to see a blond Sealomimi smiling. 

"Harper," Harper replied, adjusting his grip on his things. 

"Harper. What a cute name." 

It had taken Harper several moments before realizing that this Sealomimi was petting Puck and more than likely asking about the purrmaid. "The purrmaid's name is Puck." 

"Puck?"

"Yeah. Puck."

The blond Sealomimi stared expectantly for some elaboration. "Why is its name Puck?"

"Her name is Puck because we found her on a frozen lake, curled up and sliding around."

"Like a puck...?"

"Like a puck."

The blond Sealomimi beamed. "That's a funny story. My name is Callum, by the way. You must be Harper, then."

"Yes. I am sorry for misinterpreting when you first asked."

"Don't be," Callum laughed. "It was rude of me not to ask for your name first."

He readjusted Puck on his shoulder. "That's ok."

There was a pause before Callum replied. "Is it your first time at the festival?"

"I've never been to one."

"I can show you all the good vendors here! Though I see you already got some of the good stuff," he said, pointing at the candied apple in Harper's left hand. "Personally I think that's the best thing here."

Harper nodded.

He followed the younger Sealomimi as he pointed and chattered excitedly at the various stalls. Along the way Callum bought various snacks and allowed Harper to sample some. Octopus balls, stir fry noodles, fried squid...

Puck was attempting to bat at the fried squid in Callum's hand, much to his amusement. "Is it ok if Puck has some?"

"I don't see why not."

"Go on little buddy, you can have some."

"I don't particularly think that's a good idea," said a taller dark haired Sealomimi.

"Oh, Jian Guo, good to see you," Harper said.

"Likewise," Jian Guo greeted back.

"Why isn't a good idea?" Callum asked.

"Salt and seasonings aren't good for cats."

"But this is a purrmaid though?"

Jian Guo thought for a moment. "Regardless if cats and purrmaids are different, it is not good to feed an animal heavily seasoned food."

Puck began to sulk as Callum pulled the fried squid away from her. Callum pat her head apologetically. "Sorry little guy."

Jian Guo turned to Harper. "Haven't seen you in a while, Harper. I'm surprised to see you this far out from the rivers."

"Decided to travel a bit is all. Following something different from steelheads now. Much like how you follow your cats, I too am following something with uncertain whims."

Both Sealomimi nodded at one another, while Callum looked at the both of them somewhat confused. 

"Oh, by the way, this is Callum," Harper gestured with his candied apple wielding hand. He's been showing me around. Do you want him to show you around too?"

"That's quite alright."

"You can join us," the young Sealomimi said, helpfully. "I really like having lots of people to talk to!"

"If you insist, I'll join the both of you."

Despite how overwhelming the environment was, Harper felt better with Callum and Jian Guo talking and leading him around. Little by little he was learning how to face new environments and make friends. The night was only beginning, after all. There were more things to eat, places to explore, and new friends to make. He would catch Margaret up on everything later. For now, he was enjoying his candied apple, his teeth cracking into the candy shell.