Suddenly, a four-legged, black creature with friendly eyes greeted Averie.
"What is it doing outside its cage?" He bent the knee to meet its eye level. "What exotic animal is this?"
"That is, um, a watchdog."
Madelyn awkwardly smiled at the nearby security guard holding the leash of the beast.
"Why is it allowed to walk free while others have to stay in?"
"Because it's a good boy."
She pulled him away from the guard and towards a wall full of display cases holding reptiles.
She tapped on one of them. It held a turquoise-colored snake.
"This is a Blue Pit Viper. This is a rare color."
It was a beautiful snake that even Averie felt mesmerized by.
"Is it venomous?"
"Yes." She emphasized with round eyes. "Its venom is hemotoxic. It can paralyze and kill by causing internal bleeding."
"On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is 'they know he tried something funny' and 10 is 'he killed his parents for inheritance,' how venomous is it?"
Madelyn opened and closed her mouth a dozen times.
