"Eeeugh"

The sound that escaped Pen's lips in front of the DPIP representative was complete mild disgust, followed by her looking surprised. She smiled apologetically at the representative who had just furrowed their brows at her.

The poor woman had been doing her best to show Pen around, get the basics of everything on Xiunus instilled into Pen. And the final task for the day had been for the DPIP rep to give Pen her own little colonist. Or, rather, a sneak peek of who she could have. The genetic coding would be provided so that new researchers could make an educated and logical decision on who they wanted to live with while on planet. Pen had chosen Mireh as her base of operations and had been looking for something that would be suitable for the plains and whatever lived there.

The genetic code that had been shown to her was rather…dull. Some poor creature with only underbelly and some stats that were mild at best. Or so she had figured. And that was when the disgusted sound had come from her.

"I will be sure to not tell that Tsabhua how uninterested you were with them and I will politely decline their request to join you. I can try to find another that would like to work with you, but it will take some time. You're free to look around. I'll get a hold of you on your telepad once I've found someone." The representative said.

"Oh, uh, thank you! I'll see you soon, then!" Pen said and smiled quickly, giving a thumbs up before hurrying off.

She was at least thankful to have fur to hide the embarrassed blushing she could feel. But how soon would 'soon' be when it came to seeing the rep again? How long did it take to find another Xiunus native that would want to work with a new researcher? An hour? A day? A few weeks? Pen just wanted to get started on discovering the planet, the natives, the everything.

When she had got on world, she had picked up on the tense feeling. Something was going on, but she wasn't sure what. She only knew that trade ports and towns had been recently opened by the natives to allow DPIP researchers and personnel in. But that was the extent of Pen's knowledge. And she figured a colonist would be able to help her fill in all the blanks she had.

For now, however, Pen kept to herself as she wandered the Central Zone. With only a little bit of the native currency in hand. Not enough to really get her anything aside from supplies at that point. Building her colony outpost had taken a lot from the grant she'd been given. But…

Her fingers flicked at the vouchers in her pocket. She'd been given them the first day she had arrived on planet, just after her outpost had been built and the official go ahead for her to move in had been given. They were apparently to trade in to the local Immigration Department, to adopt a native that had no colony. Pen furrowed her brows as she kept her hands in her pockets while she wandered.

Well. If it would take an unknown amount of time to get a new native found for her, she could at least go and adopt one. It would be like they both would be discovering the world at the same time. There was a sort of magic to that idea. A Tsabhua whelp would know the basics of Xiunus for sure, but past that? They would be two peas in a pod! Just trying to figure shit out as they went along. And that whelp would be the 'in' Pen needed to speak with the natives.

She turned on her heels, a new purpose in her stride as she walked back towards where she'd seen the immigration office.

((The building looked rather inviting on the outside. A neon sign with 'Immigration Department' hung at the top of the building, glowing a soft blue even in the daylight. The walls were clean, white, and had various signs and posters neatly put into the windows to try and convince passers-by to come in and look at the colonists that needed new homes. Her eyes caught on one of the posters, a small child of some unknown race crouched beside a Tsabhua whelp, his arm apparently wrapped around his new friend.

Pen found the inside to have the same feel. Clean with off-white walls to give the people waiting around inside a sense of calm and happiness. There were researchers talking to Xiunus native children, smiling as they shared snacks and fruit drinks. The whole scene Pen saw as she made her way to the long center reception desk was adorable.)) She smiled a bit as she made her way over to a DPIP Immigration officer that didn't have anyone in their line.

"Good afternoon, ma'am! What can I do for you today?" The officer said, looking from her terminal to Pen with a pleasant smile.

"Maybe looking to adopt? I got here earlier this week, today was the last day of orientation and my representative said they needed some time to find a new initial colonist for me. I remembered I had these vouchers, so I figured I'd come and take a look at who needs a home." Pen replied, taking the little red 'vouchers' and set them on the counter for the officer to see. She wasn't sure what she could get with seven of the things, but Pen was hoping it was someone that would be able to fit in well with her.

It felt like adopting a puppy. Except the puppy was sentient. The thought alone made Pen question her morals a little bit. She hoped that, with time, she'd see the Xiunus natives as actual people. Not just animals.

"Oh, I'm sure we can find someone for you! Keep your vouchers for now, in case we don't find someone you're looking for. Or in case who you DO find isn't that many. Though the donation of vouchers is always appreciated. It's how we get more food and supplies from DPIP down here for these kids." The woman said and smiled, waving for Pen to follow her as she made her way out from behind the counter. The two women making their way across the room to a set of double doors.

Pen was surprised. The building didn't look that big out front, but apparently it was longer than it was wide. Through the doors they had gone through were various hallways and rooms, making the place feel more like a dormitory than a governmental department office. At the end of the hallways Pen could spot common areas, tables with desks and entertainment areas. It wasn't as welcoming anymore, but it wasn't completely devoid of hope.

It was a solid hour before Pen found her.

The little Tsabhua whelp had caught her attention as soon as they entered the fourth common's area. The officer that had been with her the whole time was still happily introducing the children to Pen the whole time, her attitude never changing the entire time. Pen appreciated that. The woman was there to help these lone colonists find new homes, and she could tell the woman legitimately cared for each and every one that was there.

"…And then back there we've got Whiplash. She'll come around if she wants. I never like to intrude or make the kids do anything they don't want. It would be fake, and no good adoptions happen when introductions are faked." The woman said and smiled over at Pen as she pointed out and named all the whelps in the room and then pointed to the little black and yellow one in the back that was simply eyeing Pen.

Pen smiled back at Whiplash, giving a small wave to her as some of the other whelps quickly made their way over to introduce themselves to her. After a while the room settled back down, the kids going about what they had been before she had interrupted them. That was when Pen carefully made her way back to where Whiplash was sitting at a table and putting a puzzle together quietly.

"Whiplash, right? I'm Pen." She said quietly, smiling as she sat down at the table and looked over the puzzle.

"Hi. I like your fur. It's pretty. Not a lot of people are as brightly colored as you are." Whiplash replied, glancing up once from the puzzle to eye Pen before looking back down.

"Thank you. I like it as well. But you know what I find just as pretty? Your own fur. Black and gold, or yellow, is such a nice combination. I bet all the other whelps are jealous." Pen replied and smirked a bit as she started to idly put some of the pieces together.

"Mmm. Maybe." Whiplash replied and fell quiet again.

At some point the officer that had accompanied Pen had excused herself, Pen smiling and giving a nod while she continued to hang out with Whiplash and help with the puzzle. She wondered how old the whelp was. The puzzle wasn't an easy one at all, not really one made for kids. Her attention had drifted over to the box, seeing that it boasted being five hundred pieces. And with the rate they were putting it together, it would be done within an hour or so, if that long.

"Who were you hoping to adopt you, small fry? Someone with a bunch of other Tsabhuas? Or maybe just a little colony?" Pen asked idly, pushing a puzzle piece over to Whiplash who eyed the piece and then took it to set it into its place.

"I don't like big colonies. Do you have a lot of people with you?" Whip asked and frowned.

"Nah. It's just me right now. Looking for someone to help discover things with me and explore a bit. Hopefully someone that likes to figure things out. And someone that enjoys the quiet moments in life. It's not always all about talking and being the center of attention." Pen replied and smiled.

"That sounds nice." The whelp said, her eyes lighting up slightly though she was trying to keep her excitement a secret.

"You think so? What about the land of Mireh? Think you would like living out there?" Pen asked.

The little Tsabhua stopped what she was doing, putting her hands into her lap and looked at the puzzle before giving a nod. She looked back up at Pen, her yellow-red eyes wide with hope. Though her expression was still as if she was trying to hide what she felt. It made Pen sad to some degree. To see a whelp trying so hard to not get her hopes up. How many times had she been hopeful to be adopted and then it fell through?

"You want to come with me?"

"Yeah. I think I'd like that, please. You seem nice, too." Whiplash replied, making Pen just chuckle a bit.

"Come on then, little one. Let's go talk to that officer and get the paperwork all filled out. And then we'll see about getting a puzzle or two on the way out of town since you seemed to be enjoying this one quite a bit." Pen said and stood, making her way to leave the room but stopped and looked back to ensure Whiplash was following behind her.