Papa did not seem to have any objections to her choice, and, taking this as an indication of his approval, she was pleased with herself. She would save the toad, and prove herself both a formidable and charitable witch in the process. Perhaps in two, three years, she might find herself on the front cover of the Prophet beside a very human Mr. Afton, presenting him to the family that had lost him long ago. Her Mama would be so proud!
She looked over both shoulders, a frown forming across her lips as she realized there was no shopkeeper in the near vicinity. How rude! It wasn't as if there were many people shopping there that day, anyways. Feeling anxious to ensure that she grabbed the right toad (as opposed to having it get mixed in with the other ugly-looking ones), Flora took it upon herself to push back the glass tank's top so she could fish out Mr. Afton by herself.
It took a few moments - even one in which she almost tipped the entire tank over - but she eventually managed to snag the freckled creature out of the tank, it's long legs flailing behind it as she extracted his limbs from the glass. Upon closer examination, Flora noted that he was large, but not too large, and definitely not as slimy as she imagined. Her eyes went to the little paper stuck to the side of the tank, which fortunately listed instructions.
"It says they eat..." Her gaze traveled down the list; it first gave a number of basic facts about where the creatures were found, what environments they best flourished in, their lifespan and breeding habits, and then - "Ew! It says they eat worms, Papa, worms!" Her nose wrinkled in disgust, and she could only feel pity for the poor human man who was now being fed toad-food. A second glance, however, led her eyes further down the list, which only revealed other gross (but some less-objectionable) options.
"Well, it says some can also eat lizards and spiders." Both were still disgusting, but none as bad as worms. "Perhaps I shall take him outside and let him hunt for himself. That way, he will only be eating what he wishes to eat?" It seemed like a much better option than forcing him to eat the scum of the Earth!
She looked over both shoulders, a frown forming across her lips as she realized there was no shopkeeper in the near vicinity. How rude! It wasn't as if there were many people shopping there that day, anyways. Feeling anxious to ensure that she grabbed the right toad (as opposed to having it get mixed in with the other ugly-looking ones), Flora took it upon herself to push back the glass tank's top so she could fish out Mr. Afton by herself.
It took a few moments - even one in which she almost tipped the entire tank over - but she eventually managed to snag the freckled creature out of the tank, it's long legs flailing behind it as she extracted his limbs from the glass. Upon closer examination, Flora noted that he was large, but not too large, and definitely not as slimy as she imagined. Her eyes went to the little paper stuck to the side of the tank, which fortunately listed instructions.
"It says they eat..." Her gaze traveled down the list; it first gave a number of basic facts about where the creatures were found, what environments they best flourished in, their lifespan and breeding habits, and then - "Ew! It says they eat worms, Papa, worms!" Her nose wrinkled in disgust, and she could only feel pity for the poor human man who was now being fed toad-food. A second glance, however, led her eyes further down the list, which only revealed other gross (but some less-objectionable) options.
"Well, it says some can also eat lizards and spiders." Both were still disgusting, but none as bad as worms. "Perhaps I shall take him outside and let him hunt for himself. That way, he will only be eating what he wishes to eat?" It seemed like a much better option than forcing him to eat the scum of the Earth!
