A sketchy pet whump shop that keeps their whumpees in cruelly tight cages. Only when the business is investigated do they realize most of the whumpees are traumatized and abused, some illegal without proper paperwork.
There’s a shy one that cries out at every gentle touch, their treatment has to be forced on them while they’re restrained because they claw at every hand that comes within proximity. Except that one worker… the only one whumpee will let close to them. They’ll reach their arm through the bars to grab their sleeve every time they pass to plead for attention.
Soon, the worker starts staying late and letting whumpee out so they can sleep on their lap, instead of crying all night long.
Still remember how Michi, my cat, came to the house like this tiny cute kitty that loved playing. But as soon as the vet that brought her went off, she was terrified of people and hid everywhere. She was the sensation, so everyone wanted to give her attention. Something she most definitely didn’t want at all.
So while my fam just slowly lost interest in her because she was above shy, I just let her be. A touch away from ignoring her and slowly, her little head would poke out before I turned to see her scurry and hide. Every time longer than the one before. Then, she just started curling up with me.
I didn’t touch her, just let her sit by me.
I think kind of slowly, it gave her the certainty I wouldn’t harm her and she began curling in my lap and purring. The cat that spend 2 months hiding from everyone. She even began to play and chase.
She is a lot more social with Valkyria now, but she’s rather timid and prefers lonely places. She still cries for me when I’m gone tho. She’s learning I’m coming back when I go too.
So…idk you. But a pet that has such a history may just need a little bit of time alone. Something people who wanna help it now, may not understand and only stunt their growth. Something that worker does understand.