Cages

"Let me go!" Millianna screams, trying to wiggle her way out of the store owner's strong grip. She desperately kicks at him, but his hold doesn't waver as he drags her towards the door. "Let them out! They shouldn't be like that! You need to-hey!"

Wally jumps as the door of the pet shop slams open, a loud crack resounding when the metal knob hits brick. He's shocked when the pissed owner throws a screaming Millianna out of the shop, the door slamming shut behind her. He adds panic to the mix when she starts to cry.

Unsure of what to do, Wally kneels down next to the sobbing girl, carefully putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a one-armed hug. "Don't cry. That's not very dandy.'

Millianna looks up at him, rubbing her hand across her cheeks and sniffing. "But…but…they're…" She burst into more tears, startling Wally. "It's not right! It's just not right!" she wails over and over.

"What isn't?" Wally asks, wondering what could make her so upset.

"The cats…they're in cages." Millianna's face pales, and her body starts to shake. "What if they're mistreated? What if they never get out and are controlled like we were?" Wally pulls her tighter, knowing exactly what she's getting at. "No one should live in a cage! It's wrong! They shouldn't stay in there forever! We need to get them out and-"

"And what?" Wally inquires softly. Millianna falls silent, looking away. "We can't keep them all with us when we're trying to get back on our feet, and we can't let them out to fend for themselves in town. We just have to trust someone like Erza will come for them to get them out. We can't help as we are now. Besides, I don't think that guy's like Jellal. Relax and have some faith in people."

Wally helps her up and leads her back to towards the hotel they managed to pay for. Millianna looks back at the pet shop, slowing down to look through the window. She sighs in relief when she sees the owner feeding them, a small smile on his face as he opens the cage to let them stretch.

Maybe she should try and trust people again after all.